Blood Brothers Opens New Booking Period, Now Taking Bookings Through 31 July, 2010.

Blood Brothers, one of the West End's longest-running shows, has opened a new eight-month booking period and is now taking bookings through to 31 July 2010.

Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences. The incredible score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It's Not True.

Twins Ben and Michael Sewell recently joined the cast as twins Mickey and Eddie, with X Factor's Niki Evans continuing to wow audiences with her performance as Mrs Johnstone. Blood Brothers celebrates its 21st Birthday in July 2009.

Blood Brothers is directed by Bob Thomson and Bill Kenwright and designed by Marty Flood.

Blood Brothers performs at The Phoenix Theatre (Charing Cross Road, London WC2H OJP) Monday through Saturday at 7:45pm, with Matinees Thursdays at 3pm and Saturdays at 4pm. Tickets are priced £22 - £52.50 and may be purchased by calling 0870 060 6629, Online at Ticketmaster, or in person at The Phoenix Theatre. The Box Office is open Monday-Saturday from 10am-8pm.

Blood Brothers got its start as a school play in 1981. Fresh from the success of Educating Rita, Russell was commissioned to write a 70-minute piece for Merseyside Young People's Theatre Company, a small touring company that visited schools in the area. That version had only one song in it, but the day it opened Russell started work on the full-length piece. Blood Brothers opened at The Liverpool Playhouse in 1983, transferring to London for a six-month run, where it won the Olivier Award for Best Musical. Following a national tour, it reopened in 1988 at the Albery Theatre in London before transferring to the larger Phoenix Theatre on London's West End where it's still running, now in its 21st. year.

Members of the original British cast opened in a Broadway production in 1993, which received six Tony nominations. Petula Clark later joined the cast along with real-life brothers David Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy as her sons, and they also starred in the U.S. national tour. Following Clark's portrayal, Mrs. Johnstone becoming a calling card for other 1960s pop singers, with Carole King and Helen Reddy later playing the role on Broadway.

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