VILLAGE HALLS AROUND OXFORDSHIRE TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO MANHATTAN NIGHTCLUBS

29 February 2008

Artistic Director Brendan Murray , the man who has successfully taken Big Theatre to small spaces for the past four years, is now pushing his own motto to its full extent and bringing a taste of the Harlem Renaissance to the village halls of rural Oxfordshire.

Ain't Misbehavin' the Fats Waller Musical Show is a co-production with Pegasus Theatre where the show will open for five performances on 5 th March 2008 before embarking on a four week tour of Oxfordshire and a two week national tour, closing on April 12th .

Composed in 1978 by Thomas Wright ‘Fats' Waller and written by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, the piece serves as a tribute to the Black musicians of the 1920's and 1930's. The production comprises of not only five black singers but a live jazz trio who will tour with them around rural Oxfordshire bringing the intimate spaces of the village halls to life in a new and sensational way.

Directed by Brendan Murray and choreographed by Sue Colgrave, Ain't Misbehavin' is musically directed by concert pianist and composer Dominic Harlan. As well as composing for English Touring Opera and for Opera North, Harlan has worked with a number of singers and instrumentalists and given recitals all over the world. He has been a regular broadcaster for BBC Radio 3 and played piano pieces by Liszt and Ligeti on the soundtrack for the film, Eyes Wide Shut starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

To date the cast includes: Sharon Wattis from The Lion King ( West End ); Nigel Phillips of Miss Saigon ( West End ) and Simone Sauphanor who played Cindy-Lou in the award winning production of Carmen Jones at the Old Vic Theatre directed by Simon Callow.

Commenting on the production Brendan Murray said, “ Ain't Misbehavin' is an exciting departure for OTTC as we have never programmed a musical revue before. With our motto Big Theatre in small spaces there are no limits and it will be a night to remember as each venue is transformed into a Manhattan nightclub.”

The Press night for Ain't Misbehavin' will be on Wednesday 5 th March at Pegasus Theatre, Oxford at 7:30pm . To book a press night ticket or to arrange an interview with Brendan Murray or Dominic Harlan please contact Katie Read at Katie Read Public Relations 07837 485642 katie@katieread.co.uk

The show will run until 12 th April. For details about times and venues please contact Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company on 01865 249444 or through their website www.ottc.org.uk

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