BUDDY - the Buddy Holly Story A Bio-musical in 2 acts. Written by Alan Janes and Rob Bettinson. Victoria Palace, London - 12 October, 1989. (5000+ perfs). Transferred to Strand Theatre, London 1995 STORY: With the support of local radio DJ, Hipockets Duncan, Buddy and his two friends form a Country & Western band - Buddy Holly & the Crickets - and begin to carve out a career in music. After a difficult start at Decca in Nashville, they sign a contract with up and coming, innovative record producer Norman Petty. Within hours, Buddy Holly & the Crickets start to churn out hits from the recording studio built in Norman's backyard, among them "That'll Be The Day", which soon rockets up the charts and reaches number one within two weeks. Buddy Holly & the Crickets are suddenly the hottest act in the country and out on national tour. Whilst recording in New York, Buddy proposes to Maria Elena Santiago, the Puerto Rican receptionist of his record publisher after a courtship of all of five hours! Newly married and ambitious, he completely shifts focus to New York and a rift develops between him and The Crickets. After a declaration of home truths during a recording session, the band split and Buddy unexpectedly finds himself having to pursue a solo career. Buddy joins The Winter Dance Party, a bus tour through the Midwest quenching the teenage thirst for the new music called Rock 'n' Roll. The tour is hard work, the weather conditions appalling and the performers are alternating between sleeping in the luggage racks and dropping into hospital to be treated for frostbite. Our story ends on Feb 3rd 1959 after a rocking concert at the Surf Ballroom in Iowa. Buddy makes the fateful decision to break his promise to his pregnant wife not to fly, as he and the other two head-liners board a small plane and take off into the night destined for their next show. During a snowstorm, in the dead of night, the plane crashes - there were no survivors. The tragedy shocks the world, snatching the lives of three of the world's most dynamic musical talents: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. Buddy Holly's brief life is immortalised in this dynamic and heart-rending stage show. It's a celebration of the man, his music and life that catches that unique mixture of innocence, determination, humour and charm that was Buddy Holly."...and the rest is just Rock 'n' Roll..." ORIGINAL LONDON CAST - (in order of appearance) • D.J. C.R.W.P. - Ron Emslie • Jingle Singers - Carmen Gomez, Lorna Lee, Marlena Mackey • Joe Maudlin - David Howarth • Jerry Allison - David Bardsley • Hipockets Duncan - Vincent Marzello • The Hayrider Boys - Gareth Marks, Bo Light, Douglas Letand, Graham Brand • Buddy Holly - Paul Hipp • Radio Engineer - Enzo Souillino Jnr • Autograph Hunters - Claudia Morris, Laurence Bouvard • Jingle Singers K.D.A.V. - Megg Nicol, Laurence Bouvard • Decca Producer - Gareth Marks • Assistant Producers Decca - Bo Light, Adam Henderson
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