Rhydian Roberts to Star in GREASE UK Tour

Blonde baritone RhydIan Roberts will bring some added X Factor to Grease when he joins the smash hit musical to guest star as ‘Teen Angel' for a limited 6 week season later this year. The singing sensation will leave audiences hopelessly devoted to his charms when Grease rocks into Blackpool (17- 22 October), Sunderland (24 October- 5 November), Liverpool (8- 19 November) and Norwich (22 November-3 December) where he will play 1 week only of the show's 2 week run at the Theatre Royal.

Following its electrifyin' 4 year London run and for the first time in over 5 years, the hit West End show Grease began a new tour this spring. Back by popular demand, Grease premiered at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 6 May 2011 and continues to rock 'n' roll around the UK and Ireland this year and into 2012.

Danny Bayne (winner of ITV's Grease is the Word, Hairspray) stars as ‘Danny' with Carina Gillespie (Grease, Buddy) as his sweetheart ‘Sandy', as the couple follow in the footsteps of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John who famously played the roles in the hit 1978 movie. Liverpool's own Ray Quinn will play the role of ‘Danny' for 2 weeks only at the Empire Theatre (8-19 November) opposite local star Carina Gillespie.

The cast also includes: Ricky Rojas (‘Kenickie'), Kate Somerset How (‘Rizzo'), Derek Andrews (‘Roger'), Laura Wilson (‘Jan'), Richard Vincent (‘Doody'), Lauren Stroud (‘Frenchy'), Josh Dever (‘Sonny'), Lois Urwin (‘Marty'), Darren John (‘Eugene'), Sammy Kelly (‘Patty'), Nancy Hill ‘(Miss Lynch') and Sophie Zucchini (‘Cha Cha'), with other parts played by the ensemble.

Classically trained Welsh singer RhydIan Roberts rose to fame in 2007 after becoming a finalist on ITV1's hit show The X Factor. Watched by millions, he captivated audiences with his powerful voice and passionate performances week after week. RhydIan Went on to sign a record deal with Sony BMG and whilst with the label, focused on classical crossover material. His debut album ‘Rhydian', released in 2008, went double platinum and the following year he completed a 27 date sell-out solo tour of the UK. His second album ‘O Fortuna', released in 2009, went Gold and was nominated at the Classical Brit Awards for Best Album of the year 2010. Rhydian has performed at arenas and concert venues around the country with some of the world's biggest artists including The Stereophonics, Celine Dion, Michael Buble, Bryn Terfel and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and at major events including Andrew Lloyd Webber's 60th Birthday Party in Hyde Park (2008) and more recently at the opening ceremony for the Ryder Cup. In 2010, he appeared in the European arena tour of The War of the Worlds and this year has starred as ‘Khashoggi' in the musical We Will Rock You (UK tour). Rhydian's new album ‘Waves' (Conehead records) is released in August and his own TV series is due to broadcast later this year.

Since breaking out on Broadway in 1972, Grease's place has been firmly established in the cultural Hall of Fame, having seduced the hearts of millions with its back-to-back sizzling tunes. It's the original high-school musical featuring everyone's favourite characters - ‘Sandy', ‘Danny', the groovy ‘T Birds', the sassy ‘Pink Ladies' and the whole gang at Rydell High - with all the unforgettable songs from the hit movie including ‘You're The One That I Want', ‘Grease Is The Word', ‘Summer Nights', ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You', ‘Sandy', ‘Greased Lightnin' and many more.

Voted the "No 1 Greatest Musical"* Grease has proved that a musical love story, bursting with denim, cheerleaders, slick hairstyles, rock 'n 'roll, 1950's pop culture and an irresistible mix of teenage angst and young romance is timeless and universal. Grease is the ultimate feel-good, pick-me up musical - an electrifyin' extravaganza, packed with fun, energy and vibrant physicality. The show is guaranteed to thrill audiences and leave everyone hand-jiving the night away with "a-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, a wop-bam-boom!"

Grease returned to the West End in July 2007 and during its triumphant run, the audience favourite played over 1,500 performances and was seen by over 1½ million theatregoers at the Piccadilly Theatre (where became the longest running show in the venue's history). Grease closed in London on 30 April 2011 after a hugely successful 4 years and immediately began its new tour.

This production originally opened in the West End in 1993 (co-produced with Robert Stigwood) where it enjoyed a fantastic run of 6 years. The last international tour of Grease was a phenomenal success, playing to sell-out audiences and smashing records at many venues. Since 1993 the show has been seen by audiences totalling over 12 million people in the UK alone. Last year, a second production played internationally in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Auckland and Hong Kong.

Written by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey, directed by David Gilmore (Daisy Pulls It Off, Happy Days, Song & Dance, Footloose) and choreographed by Arlene Phillips (Starlight Express, Saturday Night Fever, Flashdance The Musical & BBC's Strictly Come Dancing), Grease is produced on tour by Paul Nicholas and David Ian and is presented by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.

 

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