It looks like it’s going to songsheets at dawn, as both the BBC and ITV decide that they want in on the next phase of musical theatre based reality shows.
The BBC were first off the mark, slipping out a press release yesterday evening announcing Any Dream Will Do, a Saturday night spectacle reuniting Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber. As well as casting the male lead, they’ll be looking for a Pharaoh/Elvis impersonator, female lead (Pharaoh’s wife?) and a school choir. This will culminate in a production of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the West End next year. Over at our companion blog, Mark Shenton wonders whether Joseph ought to be returning so soon. Myself, I wonder whether the hunt for so many stars is mainly to cover up the fact that, actually, Joseph isn’t really inspiring enough to concentrate on a solo quest.
Of course, the immediate successor to How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? was a sale of the format by BBC Worldwide to the US market, who are about to launch You’re The Ones That We Want with Maria judge David Ian on a quest to find the ideal Danny and Sandy for a Broadway production of Grease.
Now, curiously, ITV has revealed to Broadcast (subscription required) that it has commissioned You’re The One That I Want from Talkback Thames and Simon Cowell’s indie, Syco.
It’ll be interesting to see how Cowell adapts the format to avoid a difficult and potentially embarrassing lawsuit of the type that he settled with Simon Fuller over X Factor/Pop Idol similarities.
But potentially more interesting is another big clash in the offing. ALW’s fellow judge on Maria, theatrical impresario David Ian, is conspicuous by his absence from the BBC press release. Ian will be jetting off to America to help judge their Grease-based talent show — and, as The Stage can reveal, will be working on the UK show as well.
Of course, next week sees the pair face off anyway, as this year’s Stage 100 is announced. Our annual list of the most influential people in UK theatre saw Lord Lloyd-Webber toppled in 2006, falling to third place behind Cameron Mackintosh (2nd) and a silver-haired young upstart bounding straight in to the number 1 spot. His name? David Ian.
Who will win the coveted title this year? You’ll just have to wait until next week’s print edition of The Stage to find out…
Hi, have been searching high and low to find out audition or application information for these two shows for 'Joseph And His Technicolourd Dream Coat' and 'Grease'
Was wondering if you could provide more information about both of these if possible
thanks
Michelle O'Broin.
They've just announced the Grease one on TV - you need to go to the ITV website: www.itv.com/grease
please can you tell me if you know when the joseph auditions are taking place have looked everywhere i can think off
Hi!!
I was just wondering if in the musical 'Grease' the auditions consist of looking for dancers?
Please could you send me information on where the auditions are taking place and when.
thank you.
Fay Lunn.
@Wallace: The BBC have released the phone number for application forms for Any Dream Will Do -- it's 0901 293 15 15 (calls cost £1).
@Fay: The Grease auditions that ITV are doing will be for Danny and Sandy only, Fay. I guess that all the other roles, including dancers, will be recruited through conventional routes.
Can you please tell me which theatre Joseph and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat will be in? I am refering to the BBC Any Dream Will Do show.
I really want to book this as early as I can, to avoid disappointment as we have been with Sound of Music.
Many thanks
Helen Driscoll
Do you know how to get information for the grease audition?
i really want to have my shot at it!
many thanks
Laurie Horsfall.
I really want to audition for shows like 'Billy Elliot' and 'Grease', but do I need an agent or do they hold open auditions? Could you please send me any information that could help, thanks.
i applied for a grease auditon and i have got one!! I have never auditioned for anything like this before , but its my aim to get there one day!!
Have you any helpful ideas / contacts or no where i can find more auditions??
Thanks
hey ive actually got an audition for grease is the word and im really looking forward to it whether i get through or not the experience will be good for me.
louise
Would love to hear from anyone who has got through to the next stage of auditions...
hey, i went to the grease audition on thursday and im through to the next round in london on 2nd march! Had a fantastic day and cant wait for the challenge :)
for nicky!! well done for getting through! i got through the first round too! was such an amazing day! i really can't wait for the next audition in london on the 2nd of march. do you have any idea if they're booking hotels for the auditionees or not? i caught word of one of the producers saying something along those lines at my manchester audition and that they'd be contacting everyone. havent heard anything more though. thanks! london here we come! :D
hi, i worked on the grease auditions in manchester, i really miss it, it was so much fun on the last day when us lot the workers had to dance oh my god i could of died. anywayz i wish u all the best of luck.
hiya i got through the manchester auditions and just wondered how many others have got through if any one nows?? im so excited im goin london for next audition 2moz!
Hi
I was wondering if you could help me. I applied for Grease is the word for an audition and i never got a reply back. I emailed a few times.
I was suppose to be having an information pack come through to my email about the auditions etc and im upset if i miss that chance.
I have emailed loads, why havent i heard?
many thanks
kat
DO YOU KNOW WHEN THEY WILL AUDITION FOR THE OTHER CAST MEMBERS FOR 'OLIVER' (THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & CAMERON MACKINTOSH ONE) PLEASE? MY SON IS INTERESTED IN AUDITIONING FOR THE ARTFUL DODGER BUT CAN'T FIND INFO ANYWHERE.
yeaah i really want to audition for dodger tooooo.?!?!?!?!?!?!? pleeeeeease someone reply?!?!?!?!?!?