| Description | Material Relating to the stage production and to the musical version of Blood Brothers.
Blood Brothers was commissioned by The Merseyside Young People’s Theatre Company and first performed in 1981. It was performed at schools around Liverpool and featured one song, which includes the Marilyn Monroe refrain. This piece was adapted and developed into a musical by Willy Russell which was first presented in 1983.
Material relating to the stage production and the musical of Blood Brothers.
The musical version of Blood Brothers premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. It was produced by Bob Swash, initially directed by Chris Bond & later co. directed by Danny Hiller and starred Barbara Dickson, Andrew Schofield, George Costigan, and Andrew C. Wadsworth. This production transferred to Lyric Theatre in the West End in 1983, and won SWET (Society of West End Theatre), Plays & Players, and Ivor Novello Awards for Best Musical, and Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Musical and Best Actress. In 1984, a national touring production of Blood Brothers began its run at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, produced by Robert Fox and Bob Swash, directed by Chris Bond and featuring Liz Brailsford, Peter Capaldi, Lezlee Carling, John Conteh, David Edge, Judy Holt, Joe McGann, Mark, McGann, Philip Manikum, Ian Puleston-Davies, Rebecca Storm & Leslie Whiteley. Blood Brothers has been produced in multiple theatres and countries in Europe, and in Mexico, Japan, Canada and Australia.
In 1987 another national touring production of Blood Brothers was presented, produced by Bill Kenwright, directed by Bob Tomson and starring Kiki Dee, Warwick Evans, Con O’Neill, Robert Locke, Terry Melia, Annette Ekblom, Joanne Zorian. The production transferred to the Albery Theatre in the West End in 1988 and earned a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Con O’Neill. The production ran until 1991 when it was transferred to the Phoenix Theatre and played in the West End continuously until 2012. During its run the production has also starred Stephanie Lawrence, Angela Richards, Denise, Linda, Maureen and Bernie Nolan, Lyn Paul, Rebecca Storm, Marti Pellow and Carl Wayne. Blood Brothers continues to be presented on national tours in the UK.
In 1993 Blood Brothers opened on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre, directed by Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright and starring Stephanie Lawrence, Warwick Evans, Con O’Neill, Mark Michael Hutchinson, Jan Graveson & Barbara Walsh. Later in 1993 the lead roles were taken by Petula Clarke, and David and Shaun Cassidy. The production was nominated for 7 Tony Awards and 2 Drama Desk Awards, one of which, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, was won by Mark Michael Hutchinson. During its run, the Broadway production also starred Carole King and Helen Reddy. Blood Brothers was presented on Broadway until 1995, and was followed by a national tour starring Petula Clarke and David Cassidy. Recordings of Blood Brothers were made by the West End cast in 1983, 1988 and 1995, by the Australian cast in 1994 and by the Broadway cast in 1995.
This series includes manuscripts, publicity and media material and correspondence including invitations to performances of the stage production. In relation to the musical version, the series includs cast recordings, manuscripts both drafts and published ( including translations and original cast rehearsal diaries), programmes from productions around the world, publicity and media material from 1983 – 2000s, correspondence relating to the original 1983 productions, actors' CVs and casting notes, and weekly financial summaries from 1983.
The West End and UK touring productions of Blood Brothers have had prolonged and continuing runs, with multiple cast changes and many cast members returning to play roles multiple times. Therefore, the publicity & media material records only the actors mentioned within the material by name, as it is not possible to accurately deduce a full cast list.
This material was created by Willy Russell, or in the course of processes relating to the production of works by Willy Russell.
The item level catalogue descriptions refer to a single individual item, unless otherwise stated in the notes field.
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