Wednesday, February 18: 5.07pm
ANYTHING GOESThey're looking for Edinburgh's stars of future down at the Playhouse right now.
Following their Stage Experience productions of Oliver!, High School Musical and Annie, the Edinburg
h Playhouse will once again open its doors to budding young actors this summer.
The Stage Experience is a two-week theatrical workshop for young people aged 10 to 21 years, which this year will culminate in three performances of the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes.
If you fancy your chances as an actor, even if you have no previous experience, this could be your big break.
Auditions for 10-14 year olds will be held on Saturday, February 28, from 10am, while 15-21 year olds can audition the following day, Sunday, March 1, from 10am.
Those interested should report to the front doors of the Playhouse, wearing comfortable clothes suitable for dancing and be prepared to stay all day.
The Stage Experience 2009 summer school will run from July 18-August 1 and costs £210 per person (some assisted places will be available).
Go to www.playhousestagex.co.uk for full details.Wednesday, February 18: 4.53pm
MURDER MOST HORRIDEdinburgh's murderous and bloody past has been well documented in the past, but perhaps never as fully as in the book, A Grim Almanac of Edinburgh and the Lothians.
"Murder, dark deeds and macabre events from the darker side of Edinburgh's past", teases the press release for this latest publication from The History Press.
It continues, "Seldom in history has there been a city with a more sordid reputation than Edinburgh. Beneath the surface respectability of the jewel in the Scottish crown lies a warren of filth-ridden alleys and stairs where thieves, murderers and ghouls of every description planned and carried out their foul deeds.
"In this book we meet them all. Major Weir, the devil-worshipping black magician and his wicked sister Grizel; Captain Porteous, the corrupt official who inspired the population to mob justice; Jessie King, the notorious Stockbridge baby farmer; wife poisoner Eugene Chantrelle; Deacon Brodie, the inspiration behind Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; and of course, worst of all, Mr Burke and Mr Hare, who plied their swift trade in corpses for the dissection table of Dr Knox."
If you want to know more about Edinburgh's historic underbelly, Alan Sharp's paperback, out now, will cost you £14.99
Wednesday, February 18: 4.37pm
OCSEdinburgh fans of Ocean Colour Scene have a chance of catching up with Steve Cradock and Simon Fowler on March 5, when they appear at the Hard Rock Cafe on George Street, as part of Hard Rock International's March on Stage, the fifth annual global live music series featuring "high-calibre iconic and emerging artists".
In keeping with its 'Love All, Serve All' creed, Hard Rock will donate proceeds from the gig to Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, the UK's leading independent provider of music therapy services.
On the night, Cradock will also perform tracks from his debut solo album The Kundalini Target.
Tickets priced £20 are available in advance from www.ticketweb.co.uk.Monday, February 16: 4.35pm
CLICK, CLICK, CLICKSwithering whether or not to buy tickets for the new production of West Side Story which tours to the Festival Theatre this May?
Then this news just in might help make up your mind.
Half a century after West Side Story premiered in the UK, the fiftieth anniversary production was awarded Best Musical Revival at yesterday's Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards at the Prince of Wales Theatre, in London, beating off competition from Piaf, They're Playing Our Song and Candide amongst others.
Actress Sofia Escobar was also awarded Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Maria.
Directed and choreographed by Joey McKneely, the UK Tour began in September 2008, following a six week run at London's Sadler's Wells and triumphant sell out seasons in Paris, Tokyo and Beijing.
Set on Manhattan's Upper West Side, West Side Story explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs; one white the other Puerto Rican. When Tony falls in love with Maria, the sister of the rival gang's leader, the feud takes on a new dimension, and as their love blossoms so begins a fatal journey overshadowed by violence and hatred.
Based on Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story boasts the unforgettable songs, including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty.
But then you knew that, didn't you?
West Side Story opens for a two week run at the Festival Theatre on May 5.
