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PREVIEW: Grease – Tom Parker from boy band to leading man

Besi Besemar September 22, 2017

Voted The No.1 Greatest Musical in Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Musicals – GREASE comes to the Theatre Royal, Brighton for Christmas 2017!

Danielle Hope, Tom Parker and Louisa Lytton on Brighton Palace Pier: Image ©Pete Jones
Danielle Hope, Tom Parker and Louisa Lytton on Brighton Palace Pier: Image ©Pete Jones

In the absence of a traditional Christmas Pantomime at the Theatre Royal again this Christmas, it’s time to dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby socks and catch Brighton’s biggest Christmas party as Danny and Sandy fall in love all over again by the seaside.

Making his musical theatre debut, Tom Parker from boy band The Wanted plays heart-throb Danny Zuko, Danielle Hope winner of Over the Rainbow plays Sandy and Louisa Lytton from Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders plays Rizzo.

GREASE, a musical love story, bursting with denim, leather, cheerleaders, slick hairstyles, rock n roll, 1950s pop culture, is an irresistible mix of teenage angst and young romance.

It is timeless and universal, the ultimate feel good musical, an electrifying extravaganza, packed with fun, energy, vibrant physicality and great musical numbers including You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted to You, Sandy and Greased Lightnin’.

Having amassed worldwide success with boy band The Wanted, achieving two UK number 1’s and 9 top 10 singles as well as 4 Billboard 100 singles between 2009 and 2013, Tom Parker, with his first foray into musical theatre plays the iconic role of Danny Zuko made famous in the 1978 movie by John Travolta.

Tom says: “I originally auditioned for the role of Teen Angel doing just one song in the show, but the director called me back to audition for Danny Zuko. I had never done musical theatre before so it was a very big role for me to step into. Following my days with The Wanted which were a total free for all, the discipline involved in performing eight shows a week has been tough. I eat regular and well and had to learn to really look after my voice. I have loved every moment of the experience and learnt so much from it.”

Tom is just 29, feels he has got the party days out of his system and is knuckling down and taking the acting thing very seriously. Apart from a few acting lessons before he went into The Wanted, he is pretty much learning on the job. In his spare time he produces music for other artists to perform. “Just give me a piano and a computer screen and I am as happy as Larry.”

Joining Tom playing Sandy is Danielle Hope who made her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, after capturing the hearts of the country and winning the BBC’s smash hit Over The Rainbow show.

Completing the star lineup playing Rizzo is Louisa Lytton who played Ruby Allen in Eastenders and Beth Green in The Bill.

Completing the cast are Tom Senior as Kenickie, Michael Cortez as Sonny, Oliver Jacobson as Roger, Ryan Heenan as Doody, Callum Evans as Eugene, Lauren Atkins as Marty, Rosanna Harris as Jan, Rhiannon Chesterman as Frenchy, Gabriella Williams as Patty and Ailsa Davidson as Lynch. The ensemble includes Charlotte Coggin, Anthony Hughes, Alessia McDermott, Natasha Mould, Anna Murray, George Olney, Rory Phelan and Grant Thresh.

GREASE is written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, directed by David Gilmore,  choreographed by Arlene Phillips and designed by Terry Parsons, with costumes by Andreane Neofitou.

GREASE is presented by Paul Nicholas and David Ian.

 

Image: © Pete Jones
Image: © Pete Jones

Event: GREASE

Where: Theatre Royal, New Road, Brighton

When: Monday, December 11 until Sunday, December 31.

For Times: click here:

Cost: £20.90 – £49.40

To book tickets online, click here:

Or telephone 0844 871 7650 (booking fees apply: calls cost up to 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge).

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