Characters: 5 male, 5 femaleScenery: Various simple setsEver wondered what else happened to Sleeping Beauty when she finally woke up in the 21st century? Alan Ayckbourn provides the answer with this alternative seasonal fare in the musical Awaking Beauty. The prince awakens Princess Aurora and the eager, happy young couple are about to embark on their first night of passionate love when ugly, unloved Carabosse, the wicked witch, butts in having taken a fancy to the prince. But which one will be the Awaking Beauty? Love, lust, triplets and the ultimate in makeovers are just some of the milestones our heroes and heroines must pass before they can all live happily ever after. The four major roles are for two men and two women with six narrators playing a variety of other characters as well as providing the vocal harmonies and an astonishing range of sound effects!"Imagine a fairytale world meeting a saucy seaside postcard and you have something of the flavor of Alan Ayckbourn's 72nd play." -Guardian."It had me appreciating some wry lyrics, chuckling at some mischievous moments, and humming Denis King's larky tunes." -The Times. "Age has not withered [Ayckbourn's] capacity to innovate here he brings a boldly experimental eye as well as a musical ear and an archly modern and adult sensibility to the evergreen tale of Sleeping Beauty ... spry, knowing lyrics with potent music by Denis King." -Daily Telegraph.

Awaking Beauty: A Musical

Literature & Fiction

King, Denis

Dramas & Plays

Samuel French Ltd.

MusicalCharacters: 1 male, 9 femaleA revised version of the hit musical Stepping Out, this good-natured comedy from Richard Harris chronicles several months in the life of a beginning dance class. Each of the eight students, who come from a variety of backgrounds, has his or her own reason for joining. For instance, Maxine, a confident, fast-talking saleswoman (and former Ovaltine dancer), is there on doctor's orders, while self-sacrificing Andy participates because it is the only thing she does for herself. Whatever the cause, they make a point of coming every week to chat, relax and, if they can manage to, learn a couple of dance steps. Led by Mavis, their eternally patient instructor, and accompanied by the acerbic pianist Mrs. Fraser, the students (who range from hopeless to competent) strive to master the basics of dance. But the steps and routines are just the background for the real focus of the play - the relationships and interactions of these ten very different people. By their final performance, not only have the class members developed some degree of skill, but they have also overcome the inhibitions, awkwardness and personality conflicts that have kept them out of sync.

One Night a Week

HARRIS, RICHARD

Stewart-David, Mary

Romance

Concord Theatricals

Key Changes is an extremely frank, personal account of the highs and lows of show business, from post-war Twice Nightly Variety to the present day. Denis King is a witty anecdotalist; the stories he tells are funny, poignant, and eye-opening. In the 1950s and early 1960s Denis was a member of Britain's first boy band, The King Brothers. Since then he has composed more than 200 TV themes, including ITV's award-winning The Adventures of Black Beauty, and has collaborated with numerous theatre legends to write more than 25 stage musicals - Privates On Parade among them. His career has encompassed every aspect of show business from singing and performing to producing and composing; he has experienced success alongside disaster and betrayal; and the artists with whom he has worked read like a Who's Who of British and American stage and screen. But Key Changes is not merely a potted history or a lengthy name-drop. It is actually an intimate portrait of the grind as well as the glamour in what most people outside the entertainment industry often assume is a charmed way to earn a living. “I’ve known Denis King for many years but in spite of that, I would strongly recommend this book.” - Barry Cryer “Denis King changed my life. I remember seeing The King Brothers on TV and I thought, ‘Yes! I could do that!’ but I was too tall. So I had the operation and the rest is history.” - Bill Oddie “His skills as racy raconteur and dry-as-a-bone humorist are as legendary as his tinkling fingers and classic compositions.” - Maureen Lipman “Standing On The Corner – yes, one of the great records of that year. Or that month, certainly. I remember The King Brothers as some of the liveliest, freshest, most exciting, oddly-attractive young men I’d ever seen on TV. I know Elvis borrowed a lot of tricks from The King Brothers.” - Michael Palin “Denis is a trusty friend, a favourite collaborator, a fine musician, and a true original. Though what exactly he was originally, I really couldn't say.” - Alan Ayckbourn

Key Changes: A Musical Memoir

Biographies & Memoirs

Arts & Literature

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Key Changes: A Musical Memoir: Revised and extended 2020 edition

Humor & Entertainment

eBook Versions

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