George and Ira Gershwin’s smash-hit musical comedy Crazy For You will be staged at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 May as Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society makes a welcome return with a large cast of local talent. This high energy, high kicking and gloriously glamorous golden-age production showcases a host of famous musical numbers written by the Gershwins including I Got Rhythm, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Someone To Watch Over Me and Embraceable You.
In the 1930s, everybody dreams of being a star in the bright lights of Broadway. Everybody including Bobby Child, a young New York banker who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre. There, Bobby falls for feisty Polly Baker, the theatre owner’s daughter, but she’s not quite so taken with the city slicker. Bobby vows – through cunning, razzmatazz and a hilarious case of mistaken identity – to win Polly’s heart and save the theatre.
Crazy For You is packed with wit and wry humour and makes everything old seem new again with its fresh interpretation of timeless musical songs spanning a variety of styles from cabaret and variety-show to jazz and tap. Largely adapted from Girl Crazy, a musical written by the Gershwins in 1930, Crazy For You originally opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1992. It ran on Broadway for four years, where it won three Tony Awards and toured America. In 1993, a successful West End production opened starring Ruthie Henshall and Kirby Ward.
Recently seen performing Legally Blonde in 2020 and Fiddler on the Roof in 2019, Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society (BODS) is one of the most praised amateur companies in the region. The company returns to the Theatre Royal Bath with a cast of 38 local performers, aged from 20 to 73 years, who hail from Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire.
Director Steve Blackmore returns to lead the creative team following the success of BODS’ last TRB production, Legally Blonde. Steve has been involved in local theatre for over 40 years; acting in over 100 productions for a range of companies in Bristol including Bristol Musical Comedy Club, Backstage Productions and his own theatre company, Theatreworx. He has also choreographed 15 productions and directed 20 productions, including The Producers and Jekyll & Hyde for Bristol Amateur Operatic Society and the UK premieres of High Fidelity, Side Show and The Life for his own company.
The lead role of Bobby Child is played by Arnie Richardson, who last performed with BODS 10 years ago playing the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. Since then Arnie has worked on Cruise Ships for a number of years performing whilst sailing the high seas before moving back to Wiltshire. Rosie May Cook, who plays love interest Polly Baker, trained in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting and is returning to BODS 5 years on from her appearance as Helene in Sweet Charity. Rosie’s other previous roles for BODS have included Maria in West Side Story and Cinderella in Into the Woods.
Grant McCotter, who plays Broadway theatre impresario Bela Zangler, has appeared in over 50 productions with a wide range of companies across the Bath and Bristol area since he first started performing with the award-winning Sodbury Players in 2004. Zangler’s Follies are a troupe of 13 female dancers, including Grant’s real-life fiancée, Lydia Marsh, who by day works in the Theatre Royal Bath offices.
Pip Knowles, who plays the sneering saloon owner, Lank Hawkins hails from Radstock. He last performed with BODS in Legally Blonde, playing the role of Emmett Forrest. Pip is also part of a 6-piece singing group called Upfront & Casual, who perform songs from a range of genres and eras at parties and weddings across the country. Pip will be celebrating his own nuptials later this year with fellow cast member Jane Morgan, who plays Follies Dance Captain, Tess. Jane is also the company’s Dance Captain. With a background in tap dance, she has worked with the group to achieve the many high-energy, dynamic routines. Making her debut with the BODS, Annabel Latham plays Irene, Bobby’s New York socialite fiancée.
Crazy For You features a professional orchestra conducted by Musical Director Peter Blackwood, who has directed music for over 200 theatre productions. For over 30 years, Peter was a pianist and teacher at Bath Spa University. His many credits include the acclaimed community play, The Day That War Broke Out in Bristol, which was staged at Temple Meads. He has also worked extensively with BODS, most recently as Musical Director for Legally Blonde, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Sweet Charity and West Side Story.
Choreographer Annette Wilsher completed a Dance Degee and runs her own community dance school, Bop About Dance, teaching children and adults in Bradford-on-Avon. Annette has choreographed a wide range of musicals since 2010 and continues to perform as well as teaching. Her choreography credits include the Rose Bowl award-winning The Mikado in 2013, The Witches of Eastwick in 2014, Me and My Girl in 2017, Sister Act in 2018 and Legally Blonde in 2020.
Established in 1894, and originally called Bath Amateurs, Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society’s illustrious history includes many acclaimed performances. BODS success at the Rose Bowl Awards has included Best Opera for their production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado in 2013, Best Dramatic Production for Arcadia in 2018 and Best Choreography in West Side Story in 2016. Most recently, Annette Wilsher’s choreography for BODS’ 2020 show at the Theatre Royal, Legally Blonde, received a Rose Bowl nomination.
Crazy For You appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 3 May to Saturday 7 May. Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk
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