Sensational new show

Featuring a spectacular 16 piece orchestra plus sensational performers and dazzling choreography, the story of one of the most iconic musical figures of the 20th century will be told as never before, coming to the King’s Theatre Glasgow from Tuesday 15 until Saturday 19 September.

For the past 15 or so years Bill Kenwright and his idol Tommy Steele have had supper two or three times every year to talk about the past (mainly Tommy’s past, as Bill can never have enough of Tommy’s stories about rock ‘n roll’s golden era) the present (Scrooge or Doctor Dolittle) and the future (“we’ve got to find a show Tommy which I can produce for more than 10 weeks in the year like Scrooge”).

The “let’s find another show” conversations have been long and varied. And have possibly included adaptations of every screen musical ever written.

It was when discussing a particular favourite of theirs, the James Stewart box office smash The Glenn Miller Story, that Bill discovered that his all-encompassing love for Elvis was equal only to Tommy’s adoration for Glenn Miller and his orchestra.

Bill learned that Tommy is a true devotee; travelling all over the world to hear what remains of the original Orchestral Sounds, and is steeped in the knowledge and the glory of what Glenn Miller did for popular music.

Tommy enthused that Glenn changed the face of it from 1939 – 1943 when he was the most popular recording artist in the world. Some might say similar to what Elvis did from the mid 50s when he too was the most popular recording artist in the world.

The thought of Tommy Steele and The Glenn Miller Story was a wonderful opportunity to create something special in the mind of a producer like Bill.

However, as Tommy told him, there was an obvious problem. Although he’s still one of this country’s greatest “eight shows a week” song and dance men, Tommy was too old to play Glenn.

It was three years later – at a dinner party celebrating Tommy’s award as the Most Popular Entertainer of All Time at the London Palladium – that they came up with what they believed to be the answer.

What was it? Come and see for yourself when The Glenn Miller Story is at a theatre near you. But here’s a clue – Tommy Steele will not be the narrator.

Tommy Steele was Britain’s first rock ‘n’ roll star. Dubbed the UK’s answer to Elvis Presley, he landed his first UK number one with Singing the Blues in January 1957, reaching the top spot before Elvis, who didn’t land his until the June that year.

The big screen soon beckoned for Tommy, and that same year he filmed The Tommy Steele Story, one of Britain’s great rock ‘n’ roll movies.

A soundtrack was released to coincide with the film’s opening and became the first album to reach number one.

His legendary career includes over 20 hit singles, 12 hit movies and countless award winning stage musicals such as Half a Sixpence, Hans Andersen and Singin’ in the Rain.

In recent years, Steele has starred as Christmas miser Scrooge in Bill Kenwright’s spectacular production of the festive musical, which enjoyed two successful runs at the world-famous London Palladium.

It was a role that also made Steele the theatre’s all-time record breaking performer, having headlined more performances than any other star in the history of the Palladium.

Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright team up again to direct the show, having been at the helm of several award-winning musicals including Blood Brothers, Evita, and this year’s new production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Choreography is by Olivier Award winner Bill Deamer (Top Hat, Evita, Save The Last Dance For Me).

The Glenn Miller Story promises to transport audiences young and old back to the days of the big band, and have them up on their feet jiving.

His music defined an era; his disappearance stunned the world.

It’s been 70 years since Glenn Miller vanished over the English Channel as he flew to Paris to entertain the troops during the Second World War.

Did he crash? Was he shot down? Will the mystery ever be solved?