funk
03-05-2007 , 20:09
Could it be magic for Take That hopefuls?
By Natalie Paris and agencies
Last Updated: 3:36pm BST 03/05/2007
Young performers flocked to the West End today, hoping to be in with a chance of helping recreate one of the most successful boy bands of the nineties.
Auditions for Never Forget, a musical based on the songs of pop group Take That, saw dozens of hopefuls trying out for starring roles.
The band, which featured singer Robbie Williams in its original line-up, enjoyed a huge comeback following a series of concerts last year.
Fans hoping the show will reveal secrets behind the band's 1995 split will be disappointed however, as the musical tells a fictional story about a Take That tribute band.
Band members, including Gary Barlow and Mark Owen, have refused to endorse the show, although hit songs such as Relight My Fire and Back For Good will feature.
Craig Edgley, 17, was head of the queue of auditionees having set out from his home in Grantham, Lincs, at 6am in order to perform.
"This is my first ever audition so I am a little bit nervous," he said.
"I've come down with my mum, she is a massive Take That fan.
"I heard about the auditions when I went to a convention and met Toyah Wilcox and she said 'you should go for this musical, you remind me of Robbie'."
His mum Jackie said: "I am very proud of him. He's always loved performing, ever since he was a little boy.
"He's only 17 so he doesn't really remember the old Take That songs but he knows the new ones."
Craig sang Moon Dance for the judges, who praised his "energy, enthusiasm and spirit." He will find out later today if he will be called back.
Other hopefuls included Jay McManus, 23, who prefers rock to pop but was hoping to be cast as the Howard Donald or Jason Orange characters.
"Gary Barlow is a bit too heavy for me and Mark Owen is a bit too short, so maybe I could be Howard or Jason," he said.
Producer Tristan Baker said: ""We need five guys who can sing, act and dance. They won't be playing the actual members of Take That, so we're not casting a lookalike band."
The real band are said to be furious about the project and have declared: "This production is absolutely and 100% nothing to do with Take That."
Never Forget opens at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on July 20 and will play Glasgow, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and Edinburgh prior to its West End launch.
fuente the telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/03/ntake103.xml
By Natalie Paris and agencies
Last Updated: 3:36pm BST 03/05/2007
Young performers flocked to the West End today, hoping to be in with a chance of helping recreate one of the most successful boy bands of the nineties.
Auditions for Never Forget, a musical based on the songs of pop group Take That, saw dozens of hopefuls trying out for starring roles.
The band, which featured singer Robbie Williams in its original line-up, enjoyed a huge comeback following a series of concerts last year.
Fans hoping the show will reveal secrets behind the band's 1995 split will be disappointed however, as the musical tells a fictional story about a Take That tribute band.
Band members, including Gary Barlow and Mark Owen, have refused to endorse the show, although hit songs such as Relight My Fire and Back For Good will feature.
Craig Edgley, 17, was head of the queue of auditionees having set out from his home in Grantham, Lincs, at 6am in order to perform.
"This is my first ever audition so I am a little bit nervous," he said.
"I've come down with my mum, she is a massive Take That fan.
"I heard about the auditions when I went to a convention and met Toyah Wilcox and she said 'you should go for this musical, you remind me of Robbie'."
His mum Jackie said: "I am very proud of him. He's always loved performing, ever since he was a little boy.
"He's only 17 so he doesn't really remember the old Take That songs but he knows the new ones."
Craig sang Moon Dance for the judges, who praised his "energy, enthusiasm and spirit." He will find out later today if he will be called back.
Other hopefuls included Jay McManus, 23, who prefers rock to pop but was hoping to be cast as the Howard Donald or Jason Orange characters.
"Gary Barlow is a bit too heavy for me and Mark Owen is a bit too short, so maybe I could be Howard or Jason," he said.
Producer Tristan Baker said: ""We need five guys who can sing, act and dance. They won't be playing the actual members of Take That, so we're not casting a lookalike band."
The real band are said to be furious about the project and have declared: "This production is absolutely and 100% nothing to do with Take That."
Never Forget opens at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on July 20 and will play Glasgow, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and Edinburgh prior to its West End launch.
fuente the telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/03/ntake103.xml