BWW Previews: ON THE TOWN at Spira

Several of the country's leading dancers and musical artists stand on stage together with Jönköping's Sinfonietta when the Broadway Music On the Town comes to Scandinavia and the Spira Culture House for the first time. There will be lots of dance, humor and music on a colorful exploration in The Big Apple - a city that never stops!

World War II is over and the air is vibrating with anticipation and future confidence when the sailors Gabey (Rennie Mirro), Chip (Denny Lekström) and Ozzie (Karl Dyall) land on permission in New York. They have settled in a day full of romance and adventure, but confusion arises because Chip's guidebook is at least ten years old. Thanks to the help of the much more tricky Ivy (Hanna von Spreti), Hildy (Vera Veljovic) and Claire (Linda Olsson), it will be an unforgettable day with a mix of love, upror and euphoria that only New York can offer.

In total, about 20 of Sweden's leading dancers and musical artists participate in On the town. Roine Söderlundh is director and choreographer and he asrecently worked with musical successes such as Billy Elliot at Stockholm Stads Teater and Mamma Mia The Party in Tyrol, Stockholm. The music is performed by Jönköping's Sinfonietta under the direction of conductors Bjorn Dobbelaere, who is also musically responsible, and Christian von Gehren. Fashion designer and costume Camilla Thulin have designed the costumes and Frida Arvidsson, who worked with the Melodifestivalen and Eurovision Song Contest, is the scenographer.

Broadway, West End and Hollywood

On the town had Broadway Premiere in 1944 and was played there again in 2014-2015. The musical was created by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein. The latter also did the music to the West Side Story. Some well-known songs are New York, New York and If I can cook. On the Town was filmed in 1949 with among others Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra in the roles. It opened in 1963 at the West End in London. In the summer of 2017 it was played at Regent's Park Open Air Theater, the largest dance music of the theater so far.

The lead roles are played by:

Gabey - Rennie Mirro

The actor, dancer and musical artist Rennie Mirro was for many years part of the Royal Opera Ballet and has starred in several musicals. He has been awarded the Gold Mask for the role of Danny in Grease and the male lead in Singin 'in the rain. Rennie is one of the artistic leaders and elders of the theater behind the theater at Södermalm, Stockholm, where he played the lead in the Vapenvila play in 2016. In recent years, he and Karl Dyall have had great success with the performance From Sammy With Love, which was played among other theatres at legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.

Chip - Denny Lekström

Denny Lekström started his acting career as a child in Tjadden Hällströms summer productions in Linköping, Sweden and then went on to work as a children's actor at Östgötateatern in performances such as Samhällets Stötteplare and Oliver. After vocational training at the ballet academy in Gothenburg, he played the title role in Peter Pan at Liseberg Theater and participated in the Östgötateater's production of Chicago where he played the squeaking soprano Mary Sunshine. At the Östgötateatern, Denny has also participated in the performances Family Addams, the Russian music theater The story of a soldier and actor in Hamlet and in the British play Bluebird. At Uppsala city theater he was the cover for the role of the conference in the musical cabaret and at the city theater in Stockholm he has participated in the performance of Chicago. At the Gothenburg Opera, he was seen as Riff in the West Side Story, and most recently at the same main star theater as Bobby in the Crazy for You musical and in the Park Theater in the role of Puck in Midsummer Nights Dream.

Ozzie - Karl Dyall

The singer, actor, dancer and choreographer Karl Dyall is one of the Swedish entertainment industry's most important names for over 30 years. He became Swedish champion in Breakdance in 1984, founded the dance group Bounce and is one of the key figures behind the street dance's emergence in Sweden. He played security guards in the TV series Rederiet and has formed the title role in Othello at the Stockholm Stads Teater. As a musical artist he has, among other things, been awarded the Gold Mask for his role in Fame at Chinateatern in Stockholm, and is acclaimed for his participation in the Singin 'in the rain at the Oscar Theater. In recent years, along with Rennie Mirro, he has had great success with the show From Sammy With Love, which was played at legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.

Ivy - Hanna von Spreti

Hanna von Spreti (formerly Lindblad) is one of Sweden's greatest musical stars with a long list of successes on the merit list, last on Göta Lejon in The Drowsey Chaparone and in the arena concert I Love Musicals with Peter Jöback at Ullevi. Her biggest challenge was at the Chinateater when she was playing Alex in Flashdance. Otherwise, it's at the Oscars Theater that we used to see her brilliant in roles like Sugar in Some like it hot and as captivating Anette in Saturday Night Fever, a role that gave her a gold mask nomination. Hannas major breakthrough and first Gold Mask was for the lead role in Singin 'in the rain. A musical so successful that it was even set up a second time with Hanna in the lead. She has also been touring her own project Showgirl and participated twice in the Melodifestivalen.

Hildy - Vera Veljovic

The visitors of the Culture House Spiras recognize Vera from, among others, Maria Stuart, The Flying Officer, Blåvingar, Besatt and Fiddler on the roof. She is also active at Teateri as one of two artistic leaders and has been featured on both television and in movies. In 2016 she played in Hamlet and Katitzi, for the spring of 2017 to resume the role of Yasmina together with Hans Mosesson in it, by the audience and the press, celebrated the drama La Paloma. Now last time she did the title role as the eccentric opera singer Florence Foster Jenkins, and is seen in the spring in the Czech-style Cherry Orchard.

Claire -Linda Olsson

Linda has worked as a musical artist, singer and dancer for many years and we have seen her in succession productions like My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, Rivierans Guldgossar, The Producers, etc. However, she received her great breakthrough as Mary Poppins at the Gothenburg Opera. A celebrated performance where Linda really proved that she is one of Sweden's most versatile artists. We have also been able to see Linda's Julie in the classic musical theater, Sweeney Todd at Stockholm Stads Teater with Peter Jöback and as a leading role in Charmörer på vift at the Krusenstiernska gården in Kalmar. Linda also dubs many series for the Children channel at Swedish Television.

The opening night is the 22nd of September and tickets are on sale.

https://www.smot.se/on-the-town/

Cast

• Gabey - Rennie Mirro
• Chip - Denny Lekström
• Ozzie - Karl Dyall
• Ivy - Hanna von Spreti
• Hildy - Vera Veljovic
• Claire - Linda Olsson
• Maude P. Dilly - Åsa Arhammar
• Pitkin - Petter Andersson
• Lucy Schmeeler - Josefin Silén (internship HSM)

Ensemble

• Sofia Jung
• Emma Kumlien
• Hanna Ohlsson
• Hanna Carlbrand
• Rachael Ireson
• Lisa Agby
• Leila Jung
• Niklas Löjdmark
• Gustav Kvale
• Tony James Andersson
• Christofer Lindström
• Niklas Blomqvist
• Robert Sillberg
• Jesper Blomberg

Picture: Lars Kroon

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