Martin Harvey, the new Johnny Castle in the hit show Dirty Dancing, was today honoured with the acclaimed ‘Spotlight Best Male Dancer Classical’ Award at the prestigious Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2009, held at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. The Critics’ award was in recognition of Martin’s outstanding 11-year career at the Royal Ballet, dancing many of the great principal roles. Martin stunned the ballet world when he decided, last Summer, to take the unprecedented leap from classical ballet to the star acting role of Johnny Castle in the West End’s hit show, ‘Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage’ at the Aldwych Theatre.
Martin Harvey on winning his award said:
“I’m delighted and honoured to receive this prestigious award. I started out acting and performing from the age of six before moving onto the Royal Ballet School at 11 and went onto to have the most amazing 11 years with the Royal Ballet.”
Martin saw off competition from the English National Ballet’s Esteban Berlanga and Eric Underwood of the Royal Ballet. The Spotlight Award was presented to Martin by Eleanor Bergstein, scriptwriter and creator of the phenomenally successful film and theatre show, Dirty Dancing.
Martin Harvey auditioned for the role of Johnny Castle while still with the Royal Ballet. He had been taking acting classes for several years; however he never expected to get the first part he auditioned for. Martin was on tour in Beijing when he got the call offering him the role, immediately accepted, and says his life turned around in that one phone call: his debut performance in Dirty Dancing was in September 2008.
Since opening at the Aldwych Theatre on 24 October 2006, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage has been seen by over a million people and is now booking for dates through to April 2010 to meet public demand!
Get your London Theatre Tickets for Dirty Dancing Here
Just a quickie to advise you that Carousel (which has been hailed as a “Total Theatrical Triumph” from critics all the way from hither to thither) will now be adding a second midweek matinee to the already busy schedule of performances. The change comes from an overwhelming public demand for afternoon shows.
Tell me why…I don’t like Mondays?
This new addition will replace the Monday night show, so from Monday 23rd March 2009 the performance schedule for Carousel will be as follows:
If you already have tickets for a Monday evening performance after this date never fear, one of our >>Tactical Theatre Operatives<< will be in contact shortly to assist you with rebooking.
*Please note that Lesley Garrett will play all performances*
These new dates are already locked and loaded in our ingenious booking system, so you can pull the entertainment trigger at will.
Speak soon…
BS
Book your Carousel Theatre Tickets Here
Reports are coming in of a strange happening involving Peter Wilson (clever producer of The Woman in Black) and funnyman Griff Reece Jones, which has all been played out aboard Mr Wilson’s luxury holiday boat in the Pacific Ocean.
It’s said the unlikely pair and entourage were interrupted in their revalry by smoke and flames, forcing them all to dive head first into the rippling Ocean and avoid injury.
The little craft was soon totally consumed by FIRE sinking to the bottom like a stone, and the horrified unfortunates found their predicament had taken an even more sinister twist…the shivering party was surrounded by a school of Hammerhead Sharks! The Sharks ultimately turned out to be as friendly as Granddad and rescue came within half an hour, so all was well.
Before the boat burning it must have been quite a party with Griff’s humour and Peter’s knack for the macabre combining to cause horrendous sparks of joy. Luckily I can be slightly flippant about it now as no one was hurt. (I’m just off the phone to Stuart, my flippancy lawyer.)
The Woman in Black is the West End’s scariest show, all about a sunken faced ghost woman whose appearance signifies the death of a child! Spooky…and Disturbing!
Funnily enough I’m probably the only person in the country not to have seen a single performance in its 19 year run at the Fortune Theatre,
Why?
Because ghost stories cripple my fear gland, playing on the mind and inducing “Twisted Night Terrors”.
It all started when my Nan showed me a haunted picture in her house. Some black and white distant relatives posing for a family portrait shortly after the death of their eldest son in the Great War, BUT THE SON IS IN THE PICTURE!!!
“We’re going to need a bigger boat”
Let me just take a moment to wish the cast and crew of the boat and shark incident a very a speedy emotional recovery.
BS
Book London Theatre Tickets Here
