Barry’s music and passion are always in fashion

As part of its 10-date UK tour, Barry Manilow’s hit musical Copacabana comes to the Grand Theatre in Blackpool from Monday to Saturday.

The musical’s return casts Jon Lee from S Club 7 as Tony Starr and Richard Grieve as Sam Silver and also introduces Jennifer Harding as the iconic Lola.

The musical, written by Manilow himself and his long-time collaborators Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, is packed with songs, costumes and choreography, re-imagining the original stage version, which was first performed in the US in 1991, and has never before been seen this side of the Atlantic.

Featuring Manilow hits Dancin’ Fool, Who Needs to Dream, Welcome to Havana and, of course, the Grammy Award-winning Copacabana, this production has captivated audiences around the world with the tale of romance and stardom.

Lola Lamarr, a wannabe star with a number of failed auditions under her belt, strides into the Copacabana nightclub, where she meets Tony Starr, a bartender with dreams of his own.

Smitten by the beauty and fiery spirit of the talented performer, Tony arranges an audition with the club proprietor, Sam Silver, launching Lola on the path to stardom as a Copa Girl. Captivated by Lola, adorned in a revealing Carmen Miranda-style costume, the song’s famous villain Rico pursues Lola, whisking her away and holding her captive at the Tropicana club in Havana. Will Rico ever let Lola out of his sight? Will Tony risk his life to rescue the girl of his dreams?

Box Office: 01253 74 33 39 or www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

David Upton