Today brought an interesting chapter to this story. Two shows announced that they are extending their run – and what do they have in common? Well, they are both light entertainment stories set in the 1950's.
Grease announced that it's extending box office bookings at the Piccadilly Theatre by a full 12 months from 4 September 2010 to 3 September 2011. This means the show will have been running for five years at the Piccadilly, a record for that theatre. Noel Sullivan and Siobhan Dillon are currently starring as Danny and Sandy.
Meanwhile Dreamboats and Petticoats has extended its run at the Playhouse Theatre by a further six months to 27 November 2010. Last year it was seen at the Savoy Theatre for a three month run before moving to the Playhouse starting 6 January 2010. There is also a touring version of the show going about the UK.
Dreamboats and Petticoats is based on the best-selling albums of the same name and tells the story of Norman and Bobby, a couple of talented musicians trying to get the attention of the lovely Sue bursting with tunes from the 50's and 60's such as “Runaround Sue,” “Great Pretender” and “To Know Him is to Love Him.”
Add to this formula the success of Jersey Boys and Hairspray, both set in decades gone by, and there is a trend. Is it a love of Americana? A desire to connect with a simpler time in the past? Or just that audiences can't get enough of a girl in a poodle skirt and a guy in a leather jacket? Whatever it is, it seems to be setting box offices alight.
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