“It’s been a wonderfully exciting journey to get to this point, and we couldn’t have wished for a better cast and technical team. We’ve had amazing support and encouragement from the likes of Sir Tim Rice and, as he delicately points out, what we now need is a producer. If you see Sir Cameron, do let him know…”
Lyricist Michael Davies
Writing a Musical is a gargantuan task. You need a strong plotline wrapped up in music and lyrics that stay in your head long after you leave the theatre.
Yesterday I was presented with a musical theatre lover’s dream scenario … to be allowed access to the concept album of a new British musical that everybody will soon be talking about … Tess.
Based on the Thomas Hardy classic Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Tess The Musical was written by composer Michael Blore together with lyrics by the award-winning playwright Michael Davies.
The characters are bought to life in the concept album by Siobhan Dillon as Tess. We all got to know and love Siobhan during the British talent show-themed television series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Together with Tam Mutu (City of Angels, Les Miserables) as Alex d’Urberville and Simon Bailey (Jersey Boys, I Can’t Sing) as Angel Clare.
I was very taken with Jacqueline Tate as Tess’s mother Joan Durbeyfield, currently playing Mme Thenardier in Les Mis at the Queens Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, who duets with Tess towards the end of the first half.
Have I whetted your appetite yet? But you don’t need to take my word for it as from Sunday 5th November 2017, you will have the opportunity to hear for yourself and join #TeamTess.
The musical adaptation is going live on the show’s website www.tessthemusical.com as part of a drive to get the musical fully staged and you will be given free access to listen to the whole show. An opportunity not to be missed for all lovers of musical theatre.
It has been an honour to have been one of the first to listen to the concept album of Tess The Musical and I cannot wait to see it performed on stage. It’s all there … the heartache, the pain and the humour of Michael Davies’s lyrics wrapped up in the music of Michael Blore. All they need now is the producer … so come on Sir Cameron, the two Michael’s await your call.
For further information, images and interviews, contact Michael Blore on 07850 416309 or Michael Davies on 07977 939799, or email [email protected]
www.tessthemusical.com
@MusicalTess
Filed under: Entertainment, Musicals Tagged: #MusicalTess, #TeamTess, Michael Blore, Michael Davies, Simon Bailey, Siobhan Dillan, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Tam Mutu, Tess Concept Album, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Tess the Musical, Thomas Hardy
