After a successful tour of the United Kingdom, the popular story of following your dreams and your heart makes its way to London’s Shaftesbury Theatre. It is here that audiences will witness a spectacular display of songs and compelling story telling, whether they are a fan of the original movie, or if they simply want a great time at the theatre. With “Flashdance”, there is something for everyone.
The original movie hit the screens in 1983 and proved to be a huge success, with its song “Flashdance – What a Feeling” winning an Academy Award and its heart warming story going on to stand the test of time. So it was inevitable that it would make its way to the stage and the current production received its world premiere at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth back in July 2008, going on to appear on stages up and down the country before coming to a triumphant end in May 2009. But the show continues to be a popular draw and opens in the West End in September 2010.
Alongside “Flashdance – What a Feeling”, the stage musical features smile-inducing songs such as “Don’t Stop”, “Manhunt”, “Totally Different People”, “Maniac” and “Gloria”. It is the addition of these songs and more that guarantees an adoring crowd under the roof of the Shaftesbury Theatre, whilst also ensuring that the show will remain popular enough to stay in the capital for some time to come.
In “Flashdance”, we are introduced to the character of Alex Owens, who was famously played by Jennifer Beals in the 1983 original. She is a young woman who lives dual lives; one as a welder in a steel miller, where she is involved in a passionate affair with her boss Nick; the other as an exotic dancer, who performs the ‘flashdance’. Her second life as a dancer is something she is very passionate about and she hopes it will eventually earn her a place at a prestigious dance school, kicking off her career as a professional ballet dancer in no time at all. As a result, “Flashdance” tells us all to follow our dreams and our hearts, no matter what.
“Flashdance” appears at the Shaftesbury Theatre from Thursday 7th October 2010 (previews from Monday 27th September 2010) and its original booking period takes it to Saturday 26th February 2011.