Preview: Save The Last Dance For Me at Sunderland Empire

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FINAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2016 UK TOUR OF
SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME

Starring Antony Costa & North East Star Elizabeth Carter    
Introducing Lola Saunders

Save The Last Dance For Me

Sunderland Empire

Monday 9^th  - Saturday 14^th  May 2016

Final casting has been announced for the UK tour of Save the Last Dance for Me. North East’s Lola Saunders, a finalist on The X Factor 2014, will make her theatrical debut in the role of Jennifer starring alongside previously announced Antony Costa as Milton, with Wayne Robinson as Curtis and Elizabeth Carter returning to the role of Marie.

From the writers, producers, creators and director of the huge success Dreamboats and Petticoats, Save the Last Dance for Me will take you back through the 'music and magic' of the early 60's, a time when each passing week brought another Rock'n'Roll classic. The production will start its UK tour at Theatre Royal Windsor from Wednesday 6^th April.

Written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran (of ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’, ‘Birds of a Feather’ and ‘The New Statesman’) the show features the unmistakable music of Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman, authentically recreating the Rock 'n' Roll sound live on stage with hits including Sweets for my Sweet, Please Mr. Postman, Viva Las Vegas, Can’t Get Used to Losing You, the title track Save the Last Dance For Me and more. This nostalgic, feel-good journey will transport you back to music's golden era.

Save the Last Dance for Me follows two teenage sisters through the summer of '63 as they embark, for the first time without their parents, on a holiday to the seaside. Full of freedom and high spirits they meet a handsome young American who invites them to a dance at the local U.S. Air force base... But young love and holiday romance is never as simple as it sounds, and the sisters soon realise that while the world around them is still watching itself in black and white, life and love can be much more colourful.

Lola Saunders (Jennifer) came to the public’s attention on The X Factor in 2014, becoming the UK’s most famous fishmonger almost overnight! Originally from East Boldon in South Tyneside, Lola wowed the judges with her powerful voice and soulful tone taking her as far as the judges’ houses before being sent home - only to return for the live shows as Cheryl Fernandez-Versini’s wildcard. Most recently Lola has been headlining concerts around the UK and writing and recording new music. Save the Last Dance for Me is her theatrical debut.

Elizabeth Carter (Marie) played Marie in the 2013 UK tour of Bill Kenwright's Save the Last Dance for Me. Her theatre credits include Dreamboats and Petticoats (UK tour 2012 for Bill Kenwright Ltd) and the original cast of Dreamboats and Miniskirts (UK tour 2014/15 for Bill Kenwright Ltd). Elizabeth also appeared in The Wizard of Oz (Popular Productions) and Peter Pan (Evolution Productions).

Wayne Robinson (Curtis) most recently appeared in Kiss Me, Kate (Opera North / National Tour), Thriller (West End/International tour) and In The Heights (Southwark Playhouse). Wayne’s many other theatre credits include Stephen Ward (West End), We Will Rock You (West End) and The Wiz (Birmingham Rep/West Yorkshire Playhouse).

Previously announced, Antony Costa (Milton) has previously appeared on stage in Blood Brothers (West End) and Boogie Nights (UK Tour). He is best known as one of the members of Blue, one of the biggest British boy bands of the Noughties, who enjoyed chart success with three number one albums and 11 Top Ten singles including their debut song All Rise. Blue, which also included Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan and Duncan James, disbanded in 2004 but then reunited in 2011 and that year they represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. This year they released their fifth studio album Colours before embarking on a UK tour.

The cast also includes: Sackie Osakonor, Rachel Nottingham, Kieran Kuypers, Joe McCourt, Andrew Joseph, Michael Kantola, Chris Coxon, Sheridan Lloyd, Josef Pitura-Riley, Alan Howell, Anna Campkin and Kate Hardistry.

Directed by Bill Kenwright; Designer Mark Bailey; Sound Designer Dan Samson; Lighting Designer Tim Oliver; Musical Supervisor Tom de Keyser; Choreographer Bill Deamer.

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/preview-save-last-dance-for-me-at.html

Tickets:

Tickets available from the Box Office on High Street West, via the ticket centre 0844 871 3022* or www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland

*calls cost 7p per minute plus standard network charges. Booking and transaction fees may apply to telephone and online bookings.