Groove down the street

The Rotorua Musical Theatre has announced its line-up of shows for the next year - following on from its recent sell-out season of Chicago.

Tickets go on sale on July 1 at Ticketmaster for the group's next production - Dancin' in the Street - which will run from August 16 to 31.

Directed and choreographed by Robert Young, with vocal direction by Tia Tuuta, it features the music of Motown, including The Temptations, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

The end-of-year production is Downtown! The Mod Musical, which will hit the stage from November 29 to December 14.

To be directed by first-timer Shona Patrick, the show takes viewers back to the music, fashion and freedom of the 1960s in England.

It tracks five groovy gals as they come of age during those liberating days, featuring pop anthems and ballads which made household names of stars like Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and Lulu.

The first production for 2014 will be Nunsense, to be directed by Robert Young.

Featuring star turns, tap and ballet dancing, an audience quiz, and comic surprises, this show has become an international phenomenon and will reach the Rotorua stage in April. With more than 5000 productions worldwide, it has been translated into 21 languages.

In August 2014, the theatre will take on Hair. Richard Marshall will direct, with musical direction by Sherlie Dingwall.

Hair tells the story of the "tribe", a group of politically active, long-haired hippies of the Age of Aquarius living a bohemian life in New York City and fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War.