James Collins News

A specially staged production of the National Theatre's award-winning play, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME will be seen by eight secondary schools in Wolverhampton in partnership with Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

The Solera Quartet, embarking on its fourth season, has already accumulated a remarkable and unique list of accolades, garnered for their fiery musical expression, poetic sensibility, entrepreneurial acumen, and exceptional dedication to outreach initiatives.

Desperate Measures is a hilarious new musical that tells the tale of Johnny Blood, a handsome young man whose life is in danger over a saloon brawl. Set in the early 1890's, Johnny must put his fate into the hands of a colorful cast of characters including a wily sheriff, an eccentric priest, a authoritarian governor, a saloon girl gone good, and a nun out of the habit- as they all struggle to decide Johnny's fate. Laws are broken and hearts are won as they try to find justice in a world that often doesn't seem just. Sound familiar?

Following on from last year's Standing Tall project surrounding Jack And The Beanstalk, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre announce an exciting new educational project for this year's pantomime Sleeping Beauty - DREAM BIG. The project is in partnership with Promise Dreams.

Today, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre revealed a towering new resident for the festive season in the shape of a 15ft Giant, made by over 20 individual groups from the local community.

NINE, the Tony Award-winning musical, is next on the Wagner College Theatre Mainstage with performances November 16-19 and November 30-December 3 in the Main Hall Auditorium.

On last night's LATE LATE SHOW, after going through some fashion history and sense with Lily Collins and Anthony Mackie, James asked Lily if he and Mackie can see why the internet is wild about Lily's eyebrows.

South Staffs Operatic Company will return to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this autumn with Monty Python's hit musical SPAMALOT from Tue 10 - Sat 14 October 2017. Monty Python's SPAMALOT, lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, is a kind-of new musical with a book by Eric Idle and an entirely new score for the new production, (well, almost) created by Eric Idle and John Du Prez.

Students at Bristnall Hall Academy are celebrating their new partnership with Wolverhampton Grand Theatre thanks to funding from the Big Lottery. To launch the partnership, students were treated to a visit from the touring cast of the Grand Theatre's pantomime workshop - a Theatre In Education project. 

New show on sale at bergenPAC: James Van Praagh - Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 at 3 p.m.; Stephen Stills & Judy Collins - Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, 8 p.m.; Wizards of Winter with Original Members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, 8 p.m.; Patti LuPone: Don't Monkey with Broadway - Saturday, April 14, 2018, 8 p.m.

???????In September 2016, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and the Arena Theatre combined creative forces to launch a Youth Theatre, which rehearses weekly in the Arena's main auditorium.

Wagner College Theatre Stage One kicks off the 2016-17 Season with the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-Winning play, Proof by David Auburn, with performances October 4 through 9.   Proof is a remarkable and engaging play about fathers and daughters, genius and insanity, legacy and truth. Everyone has parents and everyone aspires to be like them in some way. But what happens when there's a distinct possibility that we may inherit their talent...and their madness. Auburn's play is at turns a comedy, a mystery, a family drama and a romance, and audiences have cheered the production around the world for its craft and intelligence.

On September 13th, NewSeason Books will release Hidden in Plain Sight, a work of fiction by Sharon D. Moore. Set in both Philadelphia, PA and Raleigh, NC, the novel is the first for Moore. This dynamic story about the long-term impact of past mistakes and the lengths a person will go to for both revenge and redemption, is reminiscent of the OWN Network's popular television drama, GreenLeaf. When Philly-born playboy, Jason White, discovers a devastating family secret about the identity of his biological father, he launches an angry quest to find and confront the man. A lengthy investigation into his father, a prominent pastor of a large church in North Carolina, spurs a quick, covert, out-of-town visit to the pastor's church on Easter Sunday. Will Jason follow through on his desire to destroy the man he believes left him alone and in poverty? In Raleigh, North Carolina, the greedy and lecherous Bishop Quincy Stewart's less than discreet history of deceit and all around messiness is threatened with exposure when he loses control over his manufactured persona. A chance encounter and life-changing lunch unlocks the chains holding Stewart's wife, Lucy, hostage and sets the stage for a much needed shift in her life. In a desperate act to break his wife's spirit and force her into compliance, Bishop Stewart does the unthinkable. Will he go down for his horrific actions? Will Lucy ever be set free from the pain he has caused her? The Camelot-like existence of popular and honorable Bishop James Collins becomes shrouded in an indefinable dark cloud when his wife, Victoria, invites an unstable element into their lives. Will Bishop Collins overcome being blindsided by the ugly truths he's forced to face or will his life and ministry be forever changed? Hidden in Plain Sight (978-0-692-76868-6) will be released on September 13 but is available for pre-sale now at Amazon.com. For media kit, review copies, and interviews please contact NewSeason Books at 215-301-3202 or via email at newseasonbooks@gmail.com.

Judy Collins, Ginger Stickel and James Mapes headline this week's (Friday, May 13) State of the ARTS which airs LIVEevery Friday from 12noon to 1pm on WPKN-FM (89.5) in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Co-hosts of the weekly arts & entertainment program are Richard Pheneger and Peggy Nelson.

James Corden, currently starring in Disney's INTO THE WOODS, and soon to take over the reins of CBS's LATE LATE SHOW, was among those recognized by the British government in its New Year Honors list.

South Staffs Musical Theatre Company (SSMTC), one of the Midlands best loved amateur companies return home to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre with their latest production, OLIVER! - the Lionel Bart musical based on the novel by Charles Dickens.

Aladdin, with the help of the Genie, tries to earn the love of a beautiful princess. In the heart of an enchanted city, a commoner named Aladdin and his mischievous monkey, Abu, battle to save the free-spirited Princess Jasmine. Aladdin's whole life changes with one rub of a magic lamp as a fun-loving, shape-shifting Genie appears and grants him three wishes, setting him on an incredible journey of discovery. Through his adventures, Aladdin proves that he is a prince where it truly matters most -- on the inside!

Global chart-topping star Jason Derulo will perform his hit single 'The Other Side' on NBC's 'America's Got Talent' results show, Wednesday, August 7 (9-10 pm ET).