We Will Rock You officially becomes longest running musical
This weekend Queen and Ben Elton''s musical, "WE WILL ROCK YOU" officially
becomes the longest running musical to play at London''s Dominion Theatre,
one of the West End''s biggest theatres.
"WE WILL ROCK YOU" displaces the previous record holder, Robert Stigwood''s
Grease, which ran at the Dominion for 3 years and 3 months. In setting a
new performance record at the theatre, "We Will Rock You" also outruns
other box office hits Beauty and the Beast, which played for 2 years 7
months, and Dave Clark''s Time, formerly the third longest-running show at 2
years.
WE WILL ROCK YOU''S 39-month run at the Dominion also puts it ahead of
the filmed version of The Sound of Music, which stayed on screen at the
Dominion for a little over 3 years.
The show''s achievement will be recognised with a special performance of the
show next Wednesday, August 17th, in the presence of show creators Brian
May, Roger Taylor and Ben Elton.
Since opening in London on 14 May 2002, following previews from 26 April
2002, the London production of "We Will Rock You" has sold over 2.1 million
tickets. The show has also opened in Spain, Australia, and Germany, as well
as in Vegas and Japan.
Globally, the show has now been seen by an audience of more than 4 million.
Next year sees productions open in South Africa, Switzerland and Italy.
London Dominion Theatre
Top 5 Longest Running Musicals
1. We Will Rock You
2. Grease - 3 years 3 months
3. Beauty and the Beast - 2 years 7 months
4. Time - 2 years
5. Notre Dame de Paris - 1 year 5 months
"WE WILL ROCK YOU" , which has songs by Queen and book by Ben Elton, is
directed by Christopher Renshaw, choreographed by Arlene Phillips, with
designs by Mark Fisher and Willie Williams.
The show does not chronicle the story of the band, Queen, rather it
incorporates the songs of the rock group in a similar way that Abba songs
are used in ''Mamma Mia!''. The time is the future. Globalisation is
complete. Everywhere, the kids watch the same movies wear the same fashions
and think the same thoughts. It''s a safe happy, Ga Gaworld. Unless your a
rebel. Unless you want rock. On Planet Mall all musical instruments are
banned. The company computers generate the tunes and everyone downloads
them. But resistance is growing. Legend persists that somewhere on Planet
Mall instruments still exist......
"WE WILL ROCK YOU" is currently taking bookings to 29 April 2006