New Stage Adaptation of FLASHDANCE Comes to the Marlowe

Flashdance: The Musical stars former Strictly Come Dancing pro Joanne Clifton and A1 heart-throb Ben Adams. It tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Clifton's character, a welder by day and 'flashdancer' by night, who dreams of going to the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy and becoming a professional dancer. When a romance (with Ben Adams' Nick) complicates her ambitions, she harnesses it to drive her dream.

Based on the Paramount Pictures film (screenplay by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhas, story by Tom Hedley) Flashdance is an inspiring musical about the power of holding onto your dreams and love against all odds. Flashdance proved a hit with audiences, and remained in the Top 10 Box Office in the USA for 15 weeks after release. The original score also proved hugely popular, with the soundtrack album selling 700,000 copies within two weeks of release.

The platinum-selling hit title track Flashdance...What A Feeling won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in 1983, with the soundtrack winning the Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special in 1984.

The stage show is a musical spectacle with phenomenal choreography to accompany the iconic score, which includes the smash hits Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria, I Love Rock & Roll and the award-winning title track Flashdance...What a Feeling.

Joanne Clifton has been a world and European Champion ballroom dancer, and has won both the main Strictly glitter ball with Ore Oduba in 2016 and the Christmas Special in 2015 with Harry Judd.

Joanne made her musical theatre debut in the UK premiere of The Irving Berlin musical Face The Music, for which she was nominated for an Off West End Award. She followed this up with a turn as Marilyn Monroe in the Norma Jean Musical and then trod the boards as Millie Dillmount in the UK tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Of her role as Alex Owens in the UK Tour of Flashdance, Joanne says: "This is just another dream come true! I think everyone in the world, whether dancer or non-dancer, as soon as they hear What A Feeling, remember that iconic scene at the end of the film and I'm so incredibly lucky that I get to do that every night in a UK tour along with fabulous numbers like She's A Maniac. I'm over the moon! It's another amazing opportunity in my musical theatre career and I can once again sing and act alongside dancing!"

Ben Adams, who joins Joanne on stage as Nick Hurley, has been singing and performing since the age of eight. At 16, he became the lead singer of the band a1, who racked up 10 million record sales, two UK number ones, five studio albums and toured throughout the world, winning a Brit award among many others.

Of his role in Flashdance, Ben says: "It's amazing to be part of such an iconic story, and as an 80's child I was brought up on this music so I couldn't be happier playing Nick. Whilst I continue with my own music career and touring with A1, musical theatre has always been a real passion of mine, so to be playing this role and to be working with such an amazing cast and crew is a real honour."

Flashdance: The Musical is at The Marlowe Theatre from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 June, with performances at 2.30pm (Thursday and Saturday) and 7.30pm. Tickets, priced from £25.25 to £45.25 (concessions available) can be purchased from the Box Office on 01227 787787, and marlowetheatre.com. See the website for details of accessible performances.

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