Dirty Rotten Scoundrels THE MUSICAL is Coming To Blackpool Opera House

Blackpool Opera House has added yet another show to its packed 2015 schedule with the announcement DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS The Musical will come to the theatre this November.
 
The production is staged by The Ambassador Theatre Group (Jersey Boys, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, West Side Story) and Jerry Mitchell Productions with Blackpool set to stage the show from Wednesday November 4 as part of a UK-wide tour.
 
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS stars Michael Praed as Lawrence, Noel Sullivan as Freddy, Carley Stenson as Christine and Gary Wilmot as Andre.
 
Prepare to be transported to the luxurious lap of the French Riviera where the decadent world of sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson is set to come crashing down with the arrival of larger-than-life Freddy Benson – a conman of an entirely different order.
 
Soon realising the town ain’t big enough for the both of them, the two find themselves going head to head in the con of their lives, pulling out all of the stops in a bid for the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate.  Little do they know what they’ve let themselves in for.
 
Direct from London’s West End, the critically acclaimed Best New Musical of 2014 ran for a year to rave reviews, packed houses and was also nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Choreography.  The hit musical DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS is based on the legendary 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin. 
 
Winter Gardens Managing Director Michael Williams said: “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has enjoyed fantastic success in the West End so we are delighted Blackpool is to play such a big part in the national tour.
 
“It is such a great story that millions are familiar with following the hugely successful movie. I am thrilled Blackpool Opera Opera House is now to stage the amazing stage production.
 
“The Blackpool dates coincide with the end of the Illuminations so it’s a great coup for the town to have such a big production during that week which will hopefully bring so many additional visitors.”
 
Michael Praed (Lawrence) is best known for his TV roles including ‘Robin Hood’ in “Robin of Sherwood”, ‘Prince Michael’ in “Dynasty” and ‘Phileas Fogg’ in “The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne.”  On stage his credits include ‘Captain Von Trapp’ in the national tour of “The Sound of Music”; ‘Tony’ in “Copacabana”; ‘Alex’ in “Aspects of Love” and ‘Sir Robert Chiltern’ in the national tour of “An Ideal Husband”.
 
Noel Sullivan (Freddy) is best known as a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. His theatre credits include ‘Drew’ in the national tour of “Rock of Ages”; ‘Tick’ in the “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and ‘Galileo’ in “We Will Rock You.” His TV appearances include a guest appearance in the hugely successful “Gavin and Stacey”.
 
Carley Stenson (Christine) is best known to TV audiences for her long running role as ‘Steph’ in “Hollyoaks”.  Her recent theatre credits include: ‘Lady of the Lake’ in “Spamalot” at the Playhouse Theatre; ‘Princess Fiona’ in “Shrek” at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and ‘Elle Woods’ in “Legally Blonde the Musical” at the Savoy Theatre.
 
Mark Benton (Andre) is known to millions for playing maths teacher, ‘Daniel Chalk’ in “Waterloo Road”.  He has had a prolific TV career with roles in “Kavanagh QC”, “Ballykissangel”, “Silent Witness”, “Doctor Who”, “Murphy’s Law”, “Holby City”, “Hustle” and “Northern Lights”.  In 2013 he was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. His stage credits include ‘Henry Horatio Hobson’ in “Hobson’s Choice” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, ‘Edna Turnblad’ in the UK tour of “Hairspray” and ‘Mr. Perks in the “Railway Children” at Waterloo Station.  His film credits include: Mike Leigh’s “Career Girls”, Anthony Minghella’s “Breaking and Entering” and Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus”.
 
Gary Wilmot (Andre) originally played the role in the West End production of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and is currently appearing as ‘Ali Hakim’ in the UK tour of “Oklahoma!”. His previous theatre credits include: ‘Vernon Hines’ in “The Pajama Game” at the Shaftesbury Theatre; ‘Caractacus Potts’ in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at the Palladium; ‘Fagin’ in “Oliver” on UK tour and ‘Tony’ in “Copacabana” at the Prince of Wales Theatre. His TV credits include: “Don Black – Diamonds are Forever, “Cue Gary”, “Showstoppers”, “The Saturday Gang”, “Copycats” and “Never Mind The Buzzcocks”.
 
The rest of the company includes Emma Caffrey; Andy Conaghan; Phoebe Coupe; Geraldine Fitzgerald; Soophia Foroughi; Jonny Godbold; Orla Gormley; Patrick Harper; Justin Lee-Jones; Jordan Livesey; Lisa Mathieson; Andy Rees; Freya Rowley; Regan Shepherd; Kevin Stephen-Jones; Katie Warsop and Jenny Wickham. 
 
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS is directed and choreographed by the Tony Award winning Jerry Mitchell in his debut production for Jerry Mitchell Productions. Recently nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Choreography for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, Jerry’s many other award winning credits include the direction and choreography for Kinky Boots, currently Broadway’s biggest Tony Award winning hit and due to open in London’s West End this Summer, Legally Blonde and Hairspray. DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS has music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award winner David Yazbek (Late Night with David Letterman, The Full Monty) and book by the Golden Globe and Emmy-Award winning Jeffrey Lane (Mad About You).
 
Jerry Mitchell Productions is a partnership between the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.  Jerry Mitchell Productions will work to develop, create and produce new productions, focussing on a wide range of projects from new commissions to fresh, innovative versions of classic pieces for ATG Theatres in London, New York and around the World.
 
Tickets priced from £20 go on sale Monday June 22 and are available from www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk
 
Showtimes
Wednesday Nov 4 – Saturday 7 Nov
 
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
www.scoundrelsontour.com
 
ENDS
18 JUNE 2015
Notes to editors: 2 Pics attached of the DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS production
 
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Rhodes, Rhodes Media
T: 01253 477480 E: [email protected]
 
Blackpool Opera House is one of the UK's largest theatres, with a seating capacity of almost 3,000. It's a world famous venue which has seen performances from some of the greatest entertainers and shows such as stars of yesteryear Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bob Hope to today's biggest names including Bob Dylan, Peter Kay, One Direction and Little Mix. Many of the most popular touring shows have graced the stage including Mamma Mia!, Starlight Express, Calendar Girls and Scrooge.
The Winter Gardens Blackpool offers a variety of venues for events ranging from business lunches to exhibitions and conferences. 11 separate spaces are available for hire either individually or in combination. Whether it be the grandeur of The Empress Ballroom or The Opera House, the vast space of Olympia or the more intimate surroundings of The Spanish Hall Suite, each of the venues has its own unique character and history – the perfect setting for any event.
The Winter Gardens celebrated its 135th birthday in 2013.

 
Sarah Rhodes
 
Tel: 01253 477480 M: 07547404267
Web: www.rhodesmedia.com
Facebook: facebook.com/rhodesmedia
Twitter: @rhodes_media
Address: Unit 8, FYCreatives, 154 – 158 Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 3PS