Yank to open in Manchester

WAR-TIME GAY LOVE STORY TO OPEN 2017 SEASON FOR THEATRICAL PARTNERSHIP

A moving gay love story set in World War Two is the latest collaboration between a leading London-based theatre production company and one of Manchester’s newest arts venues.

Yank! is a new musical which has been performed Off Broadway. Its UK premiere will be a four-week run from Thursday 9 March to Saturday 8 April at Hope Mill Theatre, in Ancoats – and the production will officially start the partnership’s 2017 musical season.

Set during the time of World War Two, the gay love story is told through a MGM-style musical. The focus is Stu, a scared Mid-Western young soldier in the US Army in 1943. He becomes a photographer for Yank Magazine, the journal ‘for and by the servicemen’. He finds himself in a world at war asking himself what it means to be a man. He also happens to fall in love, with Mitch, a fellow soldier. Two men fall in love. Simple, right? No. If only history was that simple.

At a time of prejudice, not every story had the equal right to be told. Yank! is a classic love story, told through modern eyes, but it’s a story that never made it into the history books – until now.

The message told through Yank! is about the universality of love and its cost in a time where the price was high. With well-constructed catchy songs, a hearty book and a spectacular example of old musicals meeting new musicals, there's something for everyone. Yank! is based on the original book and lyrics by David Zellnik, with music by his brother Joseph Zellnik. The score also pays homage to the timeless music of the 1940s.

Yank! will be directed by James Baker, and co-produced with Ben Millerman from Mr Millerman Presents. Completing the creative team for YANK! are James Cleeve as musical director; choreographer Chris Cuming; designer Victoria Hinton; lighting designer Aaron J. Dootson; sound designer Chris Bogg; and casting director Ben Newsome.

YANK! is the first in a hat-trick of productions for 2017 through a proven partnership between Aria Entertainment and the award-winning Hope Mill Theatre. They first joined forces in January 2016 to spearhead the arts venue as a platform to showcase, revive and bring new musical theatre to the North.

Tony award winning Parade was the first collaboration between Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre. The musical featured 15 actors and a nine-strong orchestra. It ran for four and a half weeks, which included an extra week due to public demand and following rave reviews.

Following the success of Parade, came the team’s critically acclaimed production of American tribal rock musical HAIR, which closed only in December.

Aria Entertainment is a theatrical production company headed up by Manchester-born Producer and Company Director Katy Lipson, who has a wealth of experience in producing new and established works in the West End, Off West End, Edinburgh Festival and UK tours. Each year, Aria Entertainment produces at least one musical revival; new British musical; new American musical; a play; new cabaret show; and a season of new musical theatre called From Page To Stage.

Hope Mill Theatre opened in December 2015 and is located in the Grade II Listed Hope Mill. The 120-seat theatre is the brainchild of Joseph Houston and William Whelton who, after a career in theatre and living in London, were inspired by the highly regarded Off-West End Theatres and wanted to replicate it by forming a creative hub in Manchester. The five-storey mill is also home to writers, artists and designers.

They are also currently running a CrowdFunderUK Campaign to gain even more support for the production. http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/yank-uk-premiere-of-the-american-musical

Website: www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk

Facebook: Hope Mill Theatre

Twitter: @hopemilltheatr1

  @YankMusical

YANK! 9 MARCH - 8 APRIL 2107

Published: 19-Jan-2017: (4079)