Judy and Liza
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Judy & Liza Tour from November

Over 45 years after Judy Garland and her daughter Liza Minnelli performed together at The London Palladium, these iconic performers are back together again thanks to Judy and Liza, a new musical experience, which previews around the Northwest this November before touring nationally in 2011.

This all new production presented by Waverly Productions will feature live performances of Judy and Liza hits including Cabaret, Maybe This Time and The Man That Got Away performed by Emma Dears (Mary Magdelene-Jesus Christ Superstar, Ellen –Miss Saigon) and Lucy Williamson (We Will Rock You, Fame). The performances will be intertwined with images of Judy and Liza, whilst Dears, as Liza and Williamson, playing Judy, tell the sensational stories of the lives of two of the world’s most legendary stars of stage and screen.

Dears and Williamson will be backed by a four piece band arranged by Greg Francis, providing the setting for the songs of Judy and Liza, with Musical Direction from renowned conductor and composer Michael England, who has worked on a number of West End productions including Phantom of the Opera, Spamalot and Miss Saigon. Michael also conducted the 25th Anniversary cast recording of Les Miserables.

Judy and Liza is a dream that Dears has had for a number of years. She has created the concept, written and also performs as Liza in the show. Now, her vision is coming to fruition.

Dears said: “About ten years ago I had the idea for a show about Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. I had always been compared to Liza as a performer and so I started to look into her life. The one thing that these two fascinating women share is the rare ability to move an audience and yet their personal lives are blighted with tragedy and loneliness. When you look deeper into the songs which they have both made famous over the years the parallels with their own life experiences are uncanny. This is why “Judy & Liza” works and why the audience will be taken on an emotional rollercoaster whilst at the same time enjoying some of the most beautiful and familiar songs of the last sixty years.”

Judy and Liza opens at the Hope Theatre at the Capstone Building on Thursday 4 November before touring to the St Helens Theatre Royal on Saturday 6 November and the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton for two performances on Saturday 13 November.

- by Michael Hunt

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