Upstagers' Classes

Sorry for the short notice, but our Dramavox classes will not be running this evening. Our teachers have not been available this week for a number of reasons including holidays and performing in London.

We will make a proper announcement hopefully tomorrow, but we will be starting on Saturday 12th September with Ash's drama classes.

Introducing our Fabulous Anything Goes Cast

Let's start introducing the cast of Anything Goes to you. Here is Emily Carroll who is playing the lead role of Reno Sweeney. Reno, once an evangelist, is now a nightclub singer and is aboard our transatlantic cruise ship with her banker boyfriend. She is confident, sassy, charismatic, clever and funny and is extremely comfortable in herself. 

Emily has performed before with Upstagers having a lead role in Sister Act at the Alhambra and appearing in the chorus of Les Miserables. She has been appearing in amateur theatre productions since the age of 6 and says that she is delighted to have the opportunity to play such a strong character and can't wait to perform in such a great show.

The show is being performed at the Kings Hall in Ilkley between the 15th and 18th July. Tickets on sale now and start at £8. Please visit our online box office for more details.

Upstagers Announce Anything Goes as the Summer Show

Upstagers are bringing Cole Porter’s classic, multi award winning musical  comedy, Anything Goes to the Kings Hall in Ilkley this  summer from the 15th to the 18th July. The show will transport us to a magical age of dance, high society and fabulous musical numbers all set aboard the  S.S. American cruise ship that is sailing from New York to  Southampton.

   

When Billy Crocker discovers that his heart’s desire, debutante heiress Hope Harcourt is engaged to English aristocrat Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, he stows away aboard the ship in order to win her  back. Aided by a string of eccentric passengers on board the luxury transatlantic liner including the  evangelist nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and not-so-notorious mobster Moonface Martin, can the web of  love be untangled before they reach their destination?  Hop aboard to meet sassy heroines, mischievous gangsters, comedy capers and dancing sailors in a hilarious tale of romance and high jinks on the high  seas.

   

The show is Cole Porter’s uplifting masterpiece of music, dance and comedy and includes the magnificent songs, I Get A Kick Out  Of You, You’re the Top, It’s De-Lovely and of  course, Anything Goes. His music, lyrics and dialogue  set a standard of sophistication and wit seldom matched in musical  theatre. Anything Goes certainly showcases his skills in a  willfully silly tale of love, deception and celebrity chasing.

   

Show director Gill Jackson is excited to be performing this classic musical. “Whilst Anything Goes was penned in the 1930’s  it is still relevant to today’s audiences. It was  originally meant to be a form of over-the-top, escapist entertainment in tough times. Cole Porter’s shows have amazing  longevity, as witnessed by the professional revival of High  Society that has just opened in the West End that includes our own Upstagers alumni, Katie Pearson, in the cast. The humour and music is guaranteed  to bring laughs and get your toes tapping. We have pulled  together an exciting and talented cast of performers and we are working hard to create a wonderful spectacle for the  local people to enjoy. Anyone who has seen our shows will  know to expect a high quality production”. 

   

Tickets are on sale now priced at £12 and £10 for concessions. There will be a  preview night on Wednesday 15th July where  tickets are available at £8 and there will be a special  “gala” night on Friday 17th July.

Tickets are available online at the Upstagers website  www.upstagers.org.uk/boxoffice, by telephoning the box office on 0333 666 33 66 or the local box office on 01943 607944.

Coming in 2015...

We've had a few enquiries about what's coming up in 2015. We will be announcing these shows very soon, but in the mean time please check out this YouTube video to see WHEN the 2015 dates will be!  

http://youtu.be/j--EZhD5zeE

Thank you Team DW!

A big 'thank you' to everyone who worked so hard towards our 2015 Pantomime 'Dick Whittington', it was a great success! Also, thank you to everyone in our great audiences who came to support us, we really appreciate it!

A night to remember on 13th December!

It's a night to remember on 13th December (hey, that rhymes) at King's Hall, Ilkley!

It'll be a fantastic evening of entertainment featuring Tom Ramsay, Robyn McIntyre, Luke Bayer, Sally Hall, Michael McGeough & Bethany Hare performing a showcase of Christmas songs, followed by our wonderful Wednesday Night Dramovoxers performing Honk! Jr.!

Book your tickets now!

Pantomime Auditions!

It is that time of year again. Oh no it isn't, Oh yes it is!

The Upstagers pantomime for 2015 will be Dick Whittington. It will be performed at The Kings Hall in Ilkley between the 23rd and 31st January 2015.

We are currently looking for cast members and will be holding open auditions on Sunday 19th October at The Upstagers Barn, next door to the Kings Hall/Winter Gardens on Station Road in Ilkley. If you or any of your family and friends would like to be involved in the show then please come along. No previous experience is necessary, but we will be looking for dedicated young performers who will be available for rehearsals that will commence in November. The timings of the auditions are detailed below.

10.30 - 11.30 - Senior Dancers (age 16+)
11.30 - 12.15 - Tinies (age 6-8)
12.30 - 13.00 - Inters (age 9-11)
13.30 - 14.15 - Juniors (age 12-13)
14.15 - 15.00 - Chorus (age 14+)

You do not need to register in advance, that will be done on the day, nor do you need to prepare any audition material, but please be prepared to dance, act and possibly sing. Principal roles will be cast separately and are for performers who are aged 17+. If you are interested in auditioning for a principal role then please contact us directly BEFORE the main auditions by emailing upstagers@upstagers.org.uk.