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The War of the Worlds
07 Dec 10
Back by phenomenal demand, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds - Alive on Stage! is set to return to the Echo Arena on Tuesday 7 December.
Following the hugely successful and critically acclaimed sell-out UK arena tours in 2006, 2007 and 2009, singing and acting sensation Jason Donovan, Atomic Kitten’s Liz McClarnon, X-Factor’s Rhydian, Moody Blues’ JustinHayward, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s Chris Thompson and Ivor Novello award winning composer and producer of the show, Jeff Wayne will star in the highly anticipated new production which will be invading Liverpool this December.
Jeff Wayne will once again be conducting the 10-piece Black Smoke Band and 36-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings.
Jason Donovan said “As a big fan of Jeff Wayne I feel so proud to be part of The War of The Worlds. I grew up listening to this album so it’s very special to be performing one of the main roles. The Artilleryman is a really key character and it lets me explore both the actor and singer within me. Everything about this show is spectacular. I cannot believe I will really be performing live on the same stage as an eleven foot high hologram of Richard Burton, giant screens, a Martian Fighting Machine, a band, an orchestra and of course Jeff. What a show!”
Jeff comments: “I’m most excited about Jason and Liz joining our newest production of The War of The Worlds - Alive on Stage! Having worked with them both in my studio, developing their roles, I know they will bring their own individual magic to the character of The Artilleryman, and Beth, the wife of Parson Nathaniel.
And it is also very special for me and all TWOTW team to know that Justin Hayward will once again be returning as The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist. Justin is a remarkable artist who is amongst the few, from any genre of music, who have spanned such a long and successful career both as lead singer with the Moody Blues and as a solo artist.”
The 2010-11 production is shaping up to be the most innovative and exciting yet, with a range of new ingredients, including an ensemble of specialty performers who will add new dimension to the unfolding of HG Wells’ visionary story. Groundbreaking technology featured in the production includes:
• Live Performance by 46 musicians on stage and five guest artists
• 11-foot high 3D photo-real floating hologram of Richard Burton, In Sight and Sound, as George Herbert, The Journalist
• 3-tonne, 35-foot tall Martian Fighting Machine firing new and improved real flame Heat Rays at the audience & scanning them with its bug-like eyes. For the first time, a member of the cast will be incinerated on stage right in front of the audience's eyes!!
• 100-foot wide by 25 foot high screen projecting a cutting edge CGI-animated movie in sync with the show and its live performances
• Special Effects including two spectacular illusions never attempted in arenas – a levitation by the World of Illusion and a vanishing act by illusionists The Twins
• Pyrotechnics, leaf drops, and Flame Effects
• Mixed live in Surround Sound to heighten the audience’s interactive experience!
The album originally released in June 1978 features a ground-breaking blend of prog rock, electronic instrumentation and classical orchestration, as well as a spell-binding narration by Richard Burton and outstanding performances by some of the biggest artists of the 70s, including David Essex, Justin Hayward, Phil Lynott and Julie Covington.
The album has enjoyed huge success and critical acclaim across the globe with some 15 million records sold, spending over 330 weeks in the UK Album Chart (to date) plus achieving two International hit singles ‘The Eve of The War’ and ‘Forever Autumn’.
It has also won two prestigious UK Ivor Novello Awards, and the US Best Recording in Science Fiction and Fantasy - the judges having included Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Additionally, n 2007, Jeff won Classic Rock’s ‘Showman of The Year’ Award.
Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds has grown into a true classic, garnering new generations of devoted followers, whilst inspiring the faithful listeners from the past decades.
The War of The Worlds - Alive on Stage! 2010-2011 is a thrilling and entertaining multi-media extravaganza – one not to be missed!