We Will Rock You (musical)

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We Will Rock You
Music	Queen
Lyrics	Queen and Ben Elton
Book	Ben Elton
Productions	2002 West End Las Vegas Melbourne Tokyo Moscow Spain 2004 Australia tour Madrid South Africa Germany 2006 Argentina 2006 Bolivia 2006 Chile 2006 Portugal 2006 Zurich tour 2007 Toronto

This article is about the musical. For the song and record, see We Will Rock You.

We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by English comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor.

Contents 1 Summary: London Version 2 Venues 3 Songs 3.1 Act One 3.2 Act Two 4 London Cast Members 4.1 Original London Cast 4.2 November 2002 London Cast 4.3 April 2003 London Cast 4.4 November 2003 London Cast 4.5 April 2004 London Cast 4.6 April 2005 London Cast 4.7 August 2005 London Cast 4.7.1 Main 4.7.2 Other 4.7.3 Ensemble 4.7.4 Swings 4.8 February 2006 London Cast 4.8.1 Main 4.8.2 Other 4.8.3 Ensemble 4.8.4 Swings 4.9 See also 4.10 Trivia 5 External links

[edit] Summary: London Version

(Note that in different productions of We Will Rock You the story and songs are changed slightly to better reach the target audiences.)

The story is set in the unspecified, vaguely Orwellian future. Earth's name has been changed to Planet Mall. As the name would suggest, mainstream commercial conformity reigns. Everywhere on the planet, people watch the same movies, listen to computer-generated music, wear the same clothes and hold the same thoughts and opinions. Musical instruments and composers are forbidden, and rock music is all but unknown. Representative government has been eliminated. All are controlled by the Worldwide mega-corporation Globalsoft, which is headed by the "Killer Queen" and the commander of her secret police, the evil Khashoggi. Those who dare to stand against Globalsoft's enforced conformity are kidnapped and "brain stormed" into submission.

However, a small group of "Bohemians" struggles to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion, and (most of all) live music. As with the classic quest stories that it spoofs, the musical includes both a Messiah figure, the social outcast Galileo Figaro, and a MacGuffin that will restore freedom, the lost guitar of Queen guitarist, Brian May.

Together with his love interest, another dissident whom Galileo calls Scaramouche, Galileo joins with the Bohemians to find the guitar, and overthrow Globalsoft. However, when the Bohemians are captured and brain stormed, Galileo and Scaramouche are forced to flee for their lives.

Eventually they meet Pop, an older, hippie-esque Bohemian who yearns for the "old days" when people were free and Rock & Roll was king...or Queen as the case may be. Again fulfilling the classic role of "Guide" for the two, Pop shows them a fragment of the Queen video (which ends after the opening lyrics), "Bohemian Rhapsody," further inspiring them. Impressed by the “heavenly music,” Galileo and Scaramouche eventually decide to search for the guitar at Wembley Stadium, the location of two legendary concerts by Queen. Though the Stadium is a ruin, they find the guitar hidden in a wall. With guitar in hand, and Pop serving as "roadie" for the two saviors, they perform a rousing rendition of the title song, "We Will Rock You," and conclude with a marvelous arrangement of "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Played for laughs, there is very little real story to We Will Rock You. While the musical is a spoof of the classic quest tale with some moments of clever dialogue, it exists predominately as a framework allowing a vocally talented cast to perform covers of Queen's greatest hits. Songs included in the production may vary from theatre to theatre, but generally include favorites such as "Another One Bites the Dust," "Hammer to Fall," "A Kind of Magic," and more.

Some pundits have noted a striking similarity between the show's plot and that of 2112, the classic concept album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1976. It also suggests Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage", and to a lesser extent, Styx's "Kilroy was here" and Queensryche's "Operation: Mindcrime."

[edit] Venues

We Will Rock You opened in 2002 at the Dominion Theatre in London, England. The first North American venue was the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show has had successful runs in Australia, Tokyo, Moscow and Las Vegas, Nevada, but these productions have since closed. As of 2006 it is still playing in Great Britain, Spain, South Africa Germany and Japan

The original London production was scheduled to close on Saturday 7th October 2006 at the Dominion Theatre. Due to public demand, however, the show has now been extended indefinitely as it enters its fifth year.

In 2006 the show is scheduled to open in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Portugal with a German language touring production opening in Zürich.

In March 2007 the musical will open in Toronto at the Canon Theatre, replacing Wicked, which is making its return engagement in Toronto through late December. Brian May confirmed that it will be an all new Canadian version of the musical. Open calls for singers and dancers will be held throughout November in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Original cast recording albums have been released for the London, Madrid, and German productions.

A North American tour and a UK nationwide tour are currently in the pipeline.

The musical will make it's Chicago premiere at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in April 2007.

[edit] Songs

[edit] Act One

1. "Innuendo" (Instrumental, with original recorded vocals by Freddie Mercury and backing vocals by cast)
2. "Radio Ga Ga" (The Ga Ga Kids)
3. "I Want To Break Free" (Galileo)
4. "I Want To Break Free" (Scaramouche)
5. "Somebody to Love" (Scaramouche)
6. "Killer Queen" (The Killer Queen)
7. "Play The Game" (The Killer Queen)
8. "Death On Two Legs" (Instrumental)
9. "Under Pressure" (Galileo & Scaramouche)
10. "A Kind Of Magic" (The Killer Queen & Khashoggi)
11. "I Want It All" (Britney & Meat)
12. "Headlong" (Galileo, Scaramouche, Britney & Meat)
13. "No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young)" (Meat)
14. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Galileo, Scaramouche, Britney & Meat)
15. "Ogre Battle" (Instrumental)

[edit] Act Two

1. "One Vision" (The Ga Ga Kids)
2. "Who Wants To Live Forever" (Galileo & Scaramouche)
3. "Flash" (The Ga Ga Cops & Captive Bohemians)
4. "Seven Seas of Rhye" (Khashoggi)
5. "Fat Bottomed Girls" (The Killer Queen & Yuppies)
6. "Don't Stop Me Now" (The Killer Queen)
7. "Another One Bites The Dust" (The Killer Queen)
8. "Hammer to Fall" (Galileo & Scaramouche)
9. "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" (Pop)
10. "We Are The Champions" (The Bohemians)
11. "Bicycle Race" (The Bohemians)
12. "Headlong" (Galileo, Scaramouche & Pop)
13. "We Will Rock You" (Galileo)
14. "We Are The Champions" (Galileo)
15. "We Will Rock You" (Fast) (Mostly Instrumental, vocals by All)
16. "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Galileo, Scaramouche, Khashoggi & The Killer Queen)

[edit] London Cast Members

[edit] Original London Cast

• Galileo - Tony Vincent
• Scaramouche - Hannah Jane Fox
• Killer Queen - Sharon D. Clarke
• Khashoggi - Alexander Hanson
• Britney - Nigel Clauzel
• Meat - Kerry Ellis
• Pop - Nigel Planer

[edit] November 2002 London Cast

Changes:

• Khashoggi - Clive Carter

[edit] April 2003 London Cast

• Galileo - Tony Vincent
• Scaramouche - Hannah Jane Fox
• Pop - Nigel Planer
• Khashoggi - Clive Carter
• Killer Queen - Sharon D. Clarke
• Britney - Nigel Clauzel
• Meat - Kerry Ellis

Ensemble: Mig Ayesa (understudy Galileo and Pop), Luke Baxter (Big Macca, understudy Khashoggi and Pop), Stuart Dawes, Clare Foster (understudy Meat), Jye Frasca (Cliff Richard), understudy Big Macca), Elaine Gee, Dalh Haynes, Chris Holland (understudy Big Macca and Britney), Nic Ineeson, Cameron Jack (understudy Khashoggi and Britney), Jodie Jacobs (understudy Scaramouche), Alex Jessop (understudy Galileo), Peter Johansson, Jenna Lee-James (understudy Scaramouche and Meat), Rory Locke, Gemma Maclean (understudy Meat), Adam Murray, Mazz Murray (teacher and understudy Killer Queen) Jai Ramage, Tamara Wall, Emma Woods

Swings: Giorgia Barberi (also dance captain), Bekki Carpenter, Nikki Dyer, Alex Forster, Matthew Hudson, Mark Marson, Sarah O'Gleby

[edit] November 2003 London Cast

Changes:

• Galileo - Mig Ayesa
• Ensemble/understudy Pop - Haydn Oakley
• Ensemble - Barnaby Thompson

[edit] April 2004 London Cast

Changes:

• Killer Queen - Mazz Murray
• Meat - Jenna Lee-James
• Pop - Mark Ardan

[edit] April 2005 London Cast

Changes:

• Britney - Colin Charles
• Khashoggi - Alex Bourne
• Pop - Jeff Shankley

[edit] August 2005 London Cast

[edit] Main

• Galileo - Peter Johansson
  • Understudies: Peter Eldridge, Simon Bailey
• Scaramouche - Hannah Jane Fox
  • Understudies: Jenna Lee-James, Gemma O'Duffy, Tamara Wall
• Killer Queen - Mazz Murray
  • Understudies: Paula Clarke, Julie Stark
• Khashoggi - Alex Bourne
  • Understudies: Alex McNamara, Craig Ryder
• Britney - Colin Charles
  • Understudies: Simon Bailey, Peter Eldridge, Wyn Moss
• Meat - Jenna Lee-James
  • Understudies: Abbie Osmon, Julie Stark
• Pop - Jeff Shankley
  • Understudies: Wyn Moss, Craig Ryder

[edit] Other

• Teacher - Paula Clarke
• Paul McCartney/Big Macca/Rebel Leader - Craig Ryder
  • Understudies: Wyn Moss, Alex Forster
• Dance Captain - Giorgia Barberi

[edit] Ensemble

• Fabian Aloise
• Gemma Andrews
• Simon Bailey
• Matthew Clark
• Paula Clarke
• Lisa Joanne Cook
• Michael De Ritchie
• Peter Eldridge
• Tim Hodges
• Melissa Keyes
• Alex McNamara
• Wyn Moss
• Gary Murphy
• Gemma O'Duffy
• Abbie Osmon
• Alicia Peacock
• Richard Peakman
• Craig Ryder
• Julie Stark
• Tamara Wall
• Adellé Young

[edit] Swings

• Giorgia Barberi
• Sally Chadwick
• Alison Dormer
• Nikki Dyer
• Alex Forster
• Oliver Roll
• Paul Shipp

[edit] February 2006 London Cast

[edit] Main

• Galileo - Peter Johansson
  • Understudies: Peter Eldridge, Simon Bailey
• Scaramouche - Jenna Lee-James
  • Understudies: Gemma O'Duffy, Tamara Wall
• Killer Queen - Mazz Murray
  • Understudies: Paula Clarke, Julie Stark
• Khashoggi - Alex Bourne
  • Understudies: Alex McNamara, Craig Ryder
• Britney - Colin Charles
  • Understudies: Simon Bailey, Peter Eldridge, Wyn Moss
• Meat - Rachael Wooding
  • Understudies: Abbie Osmon, Julie Stark
• Pop - Jeff Shankley
  • Understudies: Wyn Moss, Craig Ryder
  • Simon Hales

[edit] Other

• Teacher - Paula Clarke
• Paul McCartney/Big Macca/Rebel Leader - Craig Ryder
  • Understudies: Wyn Moss, Alex Forster
• Dance Captain - Giorgia Barberi

[edit] Ensemble

• Fabian Aloise
• Gemma Andrews
• Simon Bailey
• Matthew Clark
• Paula Clarke
• Lisa Joanne Cook
• Richard Jones
• Michael De Ritchie
• Peter Eldridge
• Tim Hodges
• Melissa Keyes
• Alex McNamara
• Wyn Moss
• Gary Murphy
• Gemma O'Duffy
• Abbie Osmon
• Alicia Peacock
• Richard Peakman
• Craig Ryder
• Julie Stark
• Tamara Wall
• Adellé Young

[edit] Swings

• Giorgia Barberi
• Sally Chadwick
• Alison Dormer
• Nikki Dyer
• Alex Forster
• Oliver Roll
• Paul Shipp
• Alan Burkitt

[edit] See also

Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen

[edit] Trivia

• Dialogue about 'dicovored guitar from rock' borrowed from Jim Steinman's monologue "Love and Death and An American Guitar" from album "Bad for Good" (1981).
• At the start of 'No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)', the final name listed is Freddie.

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Official website of the Toronto (Canada) We Will Rock You-Musical
• Official website of the Cologne (Germany) We Will Rock You-Musical
• Official website of the Cologne (Germany) We Will Rock You-Band wwryband.de
• Un-Official Website (fan-site) of the London (United Kingdom) We Will Rock You-Musical

Queen
John Deacon | Brian May | Freddie Mercury | Roger Taylor History | Live performances | Songs
Discography
Studio albums: Queen | Queen II | Sheer Heart Attack | A Night at the Opera | A Day at the Races | News of the World | Jazz | The Game | Flash Gordon | Hot Space | The Works | A Kind of Magic | The Miracle | Innuendo | Made in Heaven
Live albums: Live Killers | Live Magic | Live at Wembley '86 | Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl | Return of the Champions
Compilation albums: Greatest Hits | At the Beeb | Greatest Hits II | Classic Queen | Queen Rocks | Greatest Hits III | Stone Cold Classics
DVDs: We Will Rock You | The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert | Greatest Video Hits 1 | Live at Wembley Stadium | Greatest Video Hits 2 | We Are the Champions: Final Live in Japan | Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl | Return of the Champions | Super Live in Japan
Related Articles
Ibex | Larry Lurex | Smile | The Cross | Queen + Paul Rodgers
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