27/01/2012 - SHOWBIZWORKS PRODUCE COMEDY CARPET LIVE WEEKEND - Showbizworks appointed to create and produce weekend of comedy for Blackpool with headliners Barry and Stuart from The Magician's
 You'd be a fool to miss out on the laughs taking place in Blackpool this April as Marketing Blackpool has announced the launch of Comedy Carpet Live, a festival of shows created and produced by Showbizworks taking place over April Fool's weekend, 31st March and 1st April 2012. It is set to become an annual celebration the week before Easter, and is inspired by Blackpool's latest piece of public artwork, The Comedy Carpet on the Tower Festival Headland.
Natalie Wyatt, Managing Director of Marketing Blackpool said: "This event complements the success of the Comedy Carpet on the Tower Festival Headland and has been planned to help to kick start the season by bringing in visitors early for Easter. We intend to make this an annual event as Blackpool is steeped in comedy heritage making the town perfect for supporting new and established talent."
The live shows kick off on Saturday evening at 9.30pm, with the Merrie England Bar on North Pier hosting an adult comedy show starring Manchester based group Slaughterhouse Live. They already have a cult following on the comedy circuit and have had their own show on Granada, but incredibly, this will be their debut performance in Blackpool. Following sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, a critic from The List said: "This five-strong comedy cabaret pulsates with enough anarchic energy to power a small European principality."
On Sunday afternoon at North Pier Theatre, Comedy 4 Kids will provide something for children and families with an hour long show featuring CBBC and Royal Variety Show stars Big Howard and Little Howard; Show Me The Funny finalist Stuart Goldsmith; and Comedy 4 Kids star Tiernan Douieb, the latter of whom hopes to go on Dragon's Den to present his idea of putting zips on pitta breads!
The weekend culminates with the Comedy Carpet Live Gala Show at The Grand Theatre starring comedy illusionists Barry and Stuart from BBC television's prime time show The Magicians. Also on the bill will be musical comedy double act Frisky and Mannish (as heard on BBC Radio 1 and stars of their own sell out London Hammersmith Apollo and Edinburgh shows); ‘children's entertainer' Jeremy Lion (alter ego of Justin Edwards from Have I Got News For You and Mock The Week); comedy legend Bernie Clifton, who is featured on the promenade's Comedy Carpet; and Chris Ramsay, soon to be seen in his own BBC series, complete the line up. Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Jason Cook who has appeared on various TV comedy shows including Russell Howard's Good News.
Martin explained: "We wanted to create an event that could grow and evolve into something that would eventually drive significant business into the town by extending the start of the traditional season. Marketing Blackpool share that vision and Comedy Carpet Live will help to raise the profile of the new regenerated Blackpool and position the town as a platform for more contemporary artistes. We have tried to reflect this in the line-up of artistes with a nod to comedy legends. Many of the performers have not been seen in the town before and we are keen to break new ground with this event each year by placing Blackpool firmly back on the map for attracting the best comedy talent."
Tickets for the shows are available from 10am on Monday 30 January. For further information, or to book tickets, please click Visit Blackpoolor call 01253 478222
Slaughterhouse Live and Comedy for Kids take place on North Pier, Blackpool. For ticket information and bookings visit North Pier online or call 01253 623304, or go to visitblackpool.com/comedylive or telephone 01253 478222
Comedy Carpet Live Gala takes place at The Grand Theatre, Blackpool. For ticket information and bookings visit Grand box office or call 01253 743339
23/01/2012 - RUSSELL GRANT IS NEW WIZARD IN THE WEST END! - Russell Grant takes over from Michael Crawford as the new wizard in the West End production of The Wizard of Oz
Strictly Come Dancing star Russell Grant is to replace Michael Crawford in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End musical The Wizard of Oz. Already an accomplished actor, singer and dancer, Russell will play the part of the Wizard from 14 February for a 12-week run and will be choreographed by Arlene Phillips. Russell said that it is thanks to the great British public who supported him throughout Strictly Come Dancing that is now enabling him to return to his first love, musical theatre. Russell can be booked through Showbizworks for corporate events or for PA's with Vincent and Flavia. Click Russell Grant for more information
03/01/2012 - DANIEL WHISTON IN DANCING ON ICE NEW SERIES - Daniel Whiston, professional ice dancer and twice winner appears in the new series of Dancing on Ice
The new series of Dancing on Ice begins next Sunday on ITV at 6.30pm and professional ice dancer Daniel Whiston (solely represented by our sister company World Dance Managementwill be partnering actress Jennifer Ellison in the hope that he can achieve a hat trick of trophies having previously won the series with Gaynor Faye in 2006 and with Hayley Tamaddon in 2010. Daniel competed nationally and internationally and was a UK Gold Medallist and Welsh Champion by the time he turned professional at 19 years old. Following the end of the series, Daniel will also be touring with the show playing arenas around the country.
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James Devine
In less than a decade, James Devine (performer, choreographer, director) has emerged as a multi-talented leader in the percussive dance world.
Certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as "The Fastest Dancer in the World," Devine clocks in at an astounding 38 taps per second to create a whole new kind of theatrical experience in his award-winning production Tapeire - an electrifying 75-minute collection of raw, fresh and invigorating energy and talent.
A master Irish dancer and performer, it is Devine's unique style of "Celtic Tap", a fusion of Irish dance with Rhythm Tap that has earned him critical acclaim worldwide.
Possessing a fast and vigorous percussive dance style, his signature tap has been likened to "manic typewriters," "talking drums" and "tap tornado." Roslyn Sulcas, The New York Times critic has called him "a delight halfway between Fred Astaire elegance and Savion Glover hunkered-down brilliance.
He's appeared on major television shows worldwide including the Oscar ceremony of the 69th Annual Academy Awards, and his choreography has been featured on television and theatre stages the world over.
Irish-born Devine followed in his mother's footsteps when he had his first dance lesson at the tender age of eight. Having lost the power in her legs due to an illness, his mother (a former champion dancer) used her fingers to tap out the rhythms of a beat on the back of his hand. He repeated the patterns with his feet.
At the age of 14 he achieved the highest honor bestowed on an Irish dancer by winning "The Grand Slam" - World, American, British, and All-Ireland titles in the same year. He is the only Irish man ever to accomplish this feat.
In 1996 he was approached by Riverdance's Michael Flatley to star in his new international smash hit show, Lord of the Dance and performed in the global tour.
Whilst performing at Radio City Music Hall, Devine was already thinking of leaving "Lord of the Dance" when he caught Savion Glover and George C. Wolfe's landmark Bring in Da Noise Bring in Da Funk in 1997. Under its spell, Devine briefly signed up for rhythm tap lessons.
Between 1998 and 2000 he went to Australia to choreograph, direct and perform the lead role in the world tour of the hit dance show GaelForce. This was the first large-scale Irish dance show to have live tapping. As principal dancer with the company he was honoured to be the first male dancer outside opera and ballet to perform at the Opera Naradowa (Grand Theatre) in Warsaw in its 200-year history.
Between 2001 and 2005 many one-off projects followed including embarking on a North American Workshop Tour in 2001 and 2002 where he taught over 3,000 dance enthusisasts the art form of Irish Dance. In 2004 he performed on tour with Jose Feliciano, six-time Grammy Award winning Guitarist. In March 2005 he was invited as Special Guest Artist with "Ragus" International Irish Dance Show on their Eastern European Tour.
Later that year he began his career directional change by returning to New York City, immersing himself in tap dancing and in exploring the percussive side of Irish dance as it influenced and was influenced by other genres in tap.
In February 2006 James left New York City to begin work on a new solo project, TAPEIRE, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the summer of 2006 to critical acclaim. This multimedia work (dance, music, percussion, and archival film footage) saw Devine explore the vast historical spectrum of Irish dance presenting the dance as innovative expression not confined by the codified restrictions of ensemble line dancing in Irish shows.
After the success of Edinburgh Devine founded his own production entity "Devine Dance Company" and brought his TAPEIRE beat to North America with a three week sell-out Broadway residencey at the New Victory Theatre, a sell-out run at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, preceded by a four week Canadian tour. Tapeire was also invited to perform on the popular daytime television show Live with Regis and Kelly in NYC.
Other highlights in 2007 included being invited to the International New Year celebrations at the World Trade Center in Hong Kong, China, where he lead and taught tap dancing to more than 1,000 local and international dancers in an attempt at a 2,007-minute (33-hour) dance marathon.
2008 saw Devine devise a new production, CELTIC TAP, focusing his efforts on merging global music influences with his art. From Scottish, Irish & Cape Breton to jazz, rock, funk, country and classic hoofing, Devine marked his Boston Premiere at the ICA (Institute for Contemporary Arts) with four sell-out shows and critical acclaim from the media.
"The sheer rhythmic invention of Devine's industrious feet set him well above the fray, and that includes "Riverdance" phenom Michael Flatley, who he left in the dust long ago." Boston Globe
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