VARIOUS: TENOR RUSSELL WATSON IS SET TO TAKE THE LEAD ROLE IN MUSICAL ABOUT MATT BUSBY AND MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

Record ID: 390996

  • Title: VARIOUS: TENOR RUSSELL WATSON IS SET TO TAKE THE LEAD ROLE IN MUSICAL ABOUT MATT BUSBY AND MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
  • Date: 2nd February 2001
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, UK (FEBRUARY 2, 2001) (REUTERS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSELL WATSON SAYING " I basically think they can expect some fantastic music and a bloody good show." SIR ALEX FERGUSON SAYING, "It's history too, it's a romantic history of a great period, from 1958, the Munich disaster, how Matt built a great team in '58 then it was destroyed, and rebuilt again to 1
  • Embargoed: 17th February 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANCHESTER, UK AND VARIOUS
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Arts,General,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA44K2S1RX0CKA04FWB9825V4XR
  • Story Text: Not content with dominating the football pitches, Manchester United are now making a bid to take over the world's stages. The club's latest project is a musical telling the legendary story of Sir Matt Busby - and the up-and coming young tenor from Salford, Russell Watson is set to play the lead role.
    Manchester United's rollercoaster ride to glory under charismatic manager Sir Matt Busby is to be made into a musical. It will cost $3 million to stage and will tour internationally.
    The first perfomance will be a charity event in Manchester on April 9 - life long United Fan, Russell Watson was delighted to be offered the role.
    "I feel incredible, especially when I found out that it was a special request from the Busby family that they wanted me particularly to play the part, obviously that's incredible, and having been a Manchester United fan since I could talk, I think me first words were United, everyone was going "Mama" and I went "United".
    Legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who along with the Busby family has been closely consulted over the storyline, is to play himself in the premiere performance of the musical. A slice of its royalties are to go to cancer research.
    A star-studded list of past captains have been invited for opening night - along with superstars of today like David Beckham and his "Spice Girl" wife Victoria.
    The lyrics for the show have been written by award-winning American dramatist David Bell who hopes to have instant singalong hits for the terraces with "Up from the Ashes" and "Keep The Flags Flying Red."
    Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton are currently enjoying success in London's West End theatreland with "The Beautiful Game" about young players battling sectarianism in Northern Ireland's darkest days of conflict.
    But soccer can never guarantee a full house.
    In 1998 "Elton John's Glasses", a comedy about the Watford club owned by the pop star, lasted just one month on stage.
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