Five Reasons To See … Woody Sez
New musical Woody Sez arrives at the Lowry next month – following a successful West End run. We asked the producers for five reasons why should go along and here’s what they said.
1. The Songs
More than two dozen of the renowned, biting, buoyant songs of Woody Guthrie, the balladeer of the common man: “Bound for Glory”, “Pastures of Plenty”, “Dust Storm Disaster”, “The Jolly Banker”, “This Land Is Your Land” are featured in Woody Sez.
2. The story of the legendary Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie’s life from Oklahoma in 1912 to his death in New York from Huntington’s Disease in 1967. His travels, his family, friends, partners, wives and children…Adventuresome, fun, funny, obstinate, raucous, tragic and uplifting.
3. The Politics
The history of the 1930s, 40s and 50s in America and across the world produced the poetry and the personage that are still palpably alive and scathingly relevant today.
4. The Cast
It has been noted that Helen Russell, Will Wolfe-Hogan and Ruth Clarke-Irons have an ‘Open-hearted rapport’, being ‘Unglamorous and at ease’. They play their multiple instruments ‘with impeccable finesse’. David M. Lutken, in the role of Woody, ‘strikes an air of disarming modesty while delivering a performance of real virtuosity’. His rendition of the song ‘Dust Storm Disaster’ promises to ‘Knock you back in your seat’.
5. The Reviews
Internationally acclaimed: Winner: Best Musical (Oklahoma ’09), Argus Angel Award (Brighton Festival); Edinburgh ‘Hot Ticket’ (The Scotsman). Nominated for the Evening Standard Ned Sherrin Best Musical Award (West End 2011). Berlin, Boston, Belfast, Chicago, Glasgow, Munich and Washington, D.C. GO BASK IN IT!” (The Daily Telegraph).
Woody Sez is at the Lowry from 7 – 9 February.
