Blood Brothers swaps Phoenix for Playhouse theatre?

While rock ‘n’ roll compilation musical Dreamboats and Petticoats may be sailing out of the West End’s Playhouse Theatre on 4 August 2012, another Bill Kenwright musical may soon be sailing in. We hear that one of West End’s longest-runners, Blood Brothers, which Kenwright has been producing at the Phoenix Theatre since January 1991, could move house. It’s currently booking at the 1,000-seat Phoenix until late November but may curtail that to take up residence at the 800-seat Playhouse in September.

Kenwright’s other West End projects this year include: Tina Turner musical Soul Sister and Noel Coward play Volcano, starring Jenny Seagrove, opening in August at the Savoy and Vaudeville theatres respectively; as well as Kander and Ebb musical Cabaret, starring Will Young and Michelle Ryan, and Christmas favourite Scrooge with Tommy Steele, at the Savoy and London Palladium theatres in October.

Blood Brothers, the Willy Russell musical originally premiered in 1983, tells the story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be re-united by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The score includes “A Bright New Day”, “Marilyn Monroe” and the emotionally charged finale song “Tell Me It’s Not True”.