UNITED KINGDOM: NEIL TENNANT OF THE PET SHOP BOYS TALKS ABOUT MUSICAL "CLOSER TO HEAVEN" BASED ON THE BAND'S HITS

Record ID: 391296

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: NEIL TENNANT OF THE PET SHOP BOYS TALKS ABOUT MUSICAL "CLOSER TO HEAVEN" BASED ON THE BAND'S HITS
  • Date: 28th May 2001
  • Summary: (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) SCU SOUNDBITE (English) NEIL TENNANT, COMPOSER, SAYING : "There is a gay plot in this. But it's just part of the plot and I think it's a musical. It's not a gay musical. It's a musical." REPORTER (English) ASKING : "Who do you think it's going to appeal to ? Do you think the general family audience might be marginalised, as you say, by this ?" SOUNDB
  • Embargoed: 12th June 2001 13:00
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  • Location: LONDON, UK
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA654QJCU27WSY63UXGNJDZ671W
  • Story Text: The Pet Shop Boys, Britain's biggest selling domestic recording duo, have written their first musical - "Closer to Heaven", which is premiering in London. It tells the story of an Irish boy singer who finds sudden fame and then has his heart torn as he is forced to decide between a woman and a man. The Pet Shop Boys say they are proud of the project and have their fingers crossed for a big hit.
    The Pet Shop Boys, singer Neil Tennant and keyboards maestro Chris Lowe, say they're delighted by their first musical, "Closer to Heaven", which opens on May 31st in London, at the small "off Broadway" Arts Theatre.
    The musical - their first, although they both made one (largely unsuccessful) film "It Couldn't Happen Here") - tells the story of an Irish barman, Straight Dave (Paul Keating), who finds fame as a member of the latest boy band sensation.
    On his path to fame he encounters the sinister manager Billie Tricks (Frances Barber), who runs the nightclub he works in.
    He falls for her daughter, Shell (Roca). Then his heart is torn in his dramatic personal voyage of sexual discovery as he is forced to choose between her, and a boy, Mile End Lee (Tom Walker).
    However, Neil Tennant says that although there is a gay plot, "Closer to Heaven" is not a gay musical. He does not want it to be seen as such. "It's not a gay musical - it's a musical." He adds that it is not aimed at children, but adults, and he thinks a new young adult audience will be brought in to the theatre.
    The Pet Shop Boys met in 1981, and released their first single in 1984. Their albums include "Please", "Actually", "Introspective", "Behaviour", "Very", "Bilingual" and "Nightlife". Their first big hit was "West End Girls", and other major successes include "It's A Sin", "Being Boring", "Rent" and so on. Their back catalogue is being reissued on June 4th.
    "Closer to Heaven" features newcomer Stacey Roca and Paul Keating. Veteran actress Frances Barber plays Billie Tricks. She is, perhaps, best known for her role as Rosie in the hit movie "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid." The book of the musical was written by Jonathan Harvey, best known for his gay awakening movie, "Beautiful Thing."
    ENDS
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