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Comrade Rockstar - A musical inspired by the life of Dean Reed

Music by Richard John
Book and lyrics by Julian Woolford

November 2007: Musical in London

A musical based on the life and death of Dean Reed is in development in the UK with the title "Comrade Rockstar". The book and lyrics are by Julian Woolford and the music by Richard John. It is not directly based on any single source. One song from this musical, "Smallville Colorado" was sung by Carl Au when he won the Sondheim Student Singer of the Year at the Venue in London's Leicester Square. One hours material from the show was presented in workshop by students from London's Arts Educational School in November 2007.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

For comments or additional information, please, use the Dean Reed forum.

website of Julian Woolford and Richard John

2010

(4 April 2010) Ross Hunter, the alternate Galileo in the West End production of We Will Rock You recently sang SMALLVILLE COLORADO at London's Canal Cafe Theatre in a cabaret showcase. You can catch Ross' performance on YouTube

2012 - 'COMRADE ROCKSTAR' READING

Richard and Julian unveiled 'Comrade Rockstar' at a private reading in February 2012 held at Arts Ed and featuring Ben Goddard in the lead role of Dean Reed with West End stars Rosie Ashe (the original Carlotta in 'Phantom of the Opera'), Katy Secombe (Madame Thenadier in 'Les Miserables'), Gemma Sutton (alternate Elle in 'Legally Blonde'), Kaisa Hummerlund, Issy Van Randwyck, Sean Mulligan, Norma Atallah, Joanna Forrest, Marine McMenemy, Jennifer Kidd, Orla Gormley, Benjamin Brook and students from Arts Ed in the cast.

Source: www.woolfordandjohn.com

University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
Music Theatre | Performance

Comrade Rockstar

Fri 2 October 2015
19:00pm
Ivy Arts Centre

Book and lyrics by Julian Woolford
Music by Richard John
Based on a true story

1986 East Berlin. Dean Reed is one of the biggest selling record artists behind the Iron Curtain while no-one in his Colorado hometown knows his name. The darling of Eastern Europe at the height of the Cold War is desperate to become famous in the USA. Tonight he has to give the performance of his life.

This new rock musical is performed in concert by West End stars, GSA alumni and GSA Students

www.surrey.ac.uk/content/comrade-rockstar

Comrade Rockstar Studio Cast CD

Release Date 15th May 2017

Format: CD
Artist: Tim Howar, Kim Ismay, Caroline Sheen, Andy Conaghan, Lucy Schaufer, Yvette Robinson, OrlaGormley&Katy Secombe
Composer: Richard John
Lyricist: Julian Woolford
Number of Discs: 1
Year of Recording: 2015
Cat Number: SimGR-CD033
Barcode: 5065001707322

COMRADE ROCKSTAR is a new rock musical based on the life of Dean Reed, the Soviet Elvis, with book & lyrics by Julian Woolford and music by Richard John. Reed was an American who defected to the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War to become the biggest star behind the Iron Curtain, only to see his life and dreams collapse as Perestroika crumbled the Eastern Bloc.

A glorious collection of West End vocalists were assembled to record 'Songs From COMRADE ROCKSTAR'; starring Tim Howar (Rock Of Ages) as Dean Read, with Kim Ismay (Mamma Mia), Caroline Sheen (Les Mis, Mary Poppins), Andy Conaghan (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Lucy Schaufer, Yvette Robinson, Orla Gormley and Katy Secombe.

A concert was presented in 2015, and was met with great response;
"Comrade Rockstar represents an excellent contribution to new musical theatre"
Musical Theatre Review

Tracklist

1. Driving Ambition - Tim Howar
2. Smallville Colorado - Tim Howar
3. Gonna Be - Tim Howar & Andy Conaghan
4. My First Love - Tim Howar
5. While You Can - Kim Ismay
6. Before Goodbye - Kim Ismay
7. Minnesota - Andy Conaghan & Tim Howar
8. Don't Go - Lucy Schaufer
9. As An American - Tim Howar & Company
10. Wonderful Girls - Tim Howar & Company
11. Sing Together - Tim Howar & Company
12. Happy Ever After - Caroline Sheen
13. Comrade Rockstar - Tim Howar, Yvette Robinson, Orla Gormley & Company
14. Famous In The USA - Andy Conaghan
15. Watching You Walk Away - Orla Gormley
16. Pravda - Katy Secombe
17. Famous In The USA (Reprise) - Tim Howar
18. Bonus Track: The Mermaid Song - Caroline Sheen

www.dresscircle.com

Songs From COMRADE ROCKSTAR

LISTEN NOW... to a selection of tracks from the album

www.simgproductions.com/Records/Comrade_Rockstar.html

Press review/Pressespiegel

• Sardines Review 04.10.2015: Comrade Rockstar
• Surrey Advertiser 09.10.2015: Strong performance in musical based on life of Dean Reed
• Musical Theatre Review 09.10.2015: Comrade Rockstar – Ivy Arts Centre, Guildford
• The Guildford Dragon 25.10.2015: Review: Comrade Rockstar – The Ivy Arts Centre
• Broadwayworld.com, 23.04.2017: SimG Records to Release Songs From COMRADE ROCKSTAR
• LondonTheatre1.com, 23.04.2017: Songs from Comrade Rockstar – based on the life of Dean Reed – Review
• Reviewgraveyard, 15.05.2017: Songs from Comrade Rockstar. A Musical Inspired by the Life of Dean Reed
• Jonathan Baz Reviews, 16.05.2017: Comrade Rockstar - CD Review
• There Ought To Be Clowns, 28.08.2017: Album Review: Comrade Rockstar (2017 Studio Cast Recording)

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