Dreamboats and Petticoats is a 2009 jukebox musical, using popular music of the rock ‘n’ roll era, set to a book by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. The musical tells the story of a group of teenagers who enter a song-writing competition and encounter heartbreak, companionship and love along the way. 

Dreamboats and Petticoats was initially a series of compilation CDs featuring rock’n’ roll hits that garnered unexpected success in the UK charts for multiple weeks. Brian Berg, who was the Managing Director of Universal Music TV and Director of Universal Music UK, saw a potential in a stage show and thought there was a gap in the market to create a musical for the older generation to remind them of the days of their youth. Berg got into contact with producers Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, director Bob Tomson, choreographer Carole Todd, musical director Keith Strachan and writers Marks and Gran to start the process of creating the musical. 

The production opened on 22 July 2009 at The Churchill Theatre Bromley. The show was an immediate hit with audiences and following a short UK tour, transferred to the West End opening at The Savoy Theatre on 22 July 2009. The original cast included Daisy Wood-Davis as Laura, Scott Bruton as Bobby, Ben Freeman as Norman, Jennifer Biddle as Sue, and David Cardy as Older Bobby/Phil. The production closed on 31 October 2009 before taking a three-month hiatus and relocation to the Playhouse Theatre, opening on 6 January 2010. For the relocation, the cast consisted of Megan Jones as Laura, Alexis Gerred as Bobby, Bradley Clarkson as Norman, Emma Stephens as Sue and Jimmy Johnston as Older Bobby/Phil.

Dreamboats and Petticoats was nominated for the 2010 Olivier for Best New Musical but failed to win. The production enjoyed a run of over two years at The Playhouse before closing on 22 August 2012 and transferring to the Wyndham’s Theatre. The production began its run on 16 October 2012 and closed on 19 January 2013. The production ran a second and third UK tour concurrently with its West End production during 2010 and 2011 and enjoyed its fourth UK tour in 2017. 

Due to the success of Dreamboats and Petticoats, producer Bill Kenwright produced a spin-off musical entitled Save the Last Dance for Me and also a sequel musical Dreamboats and Miniskirts. The sequel continued the story of Bobby and Laura and focuses on the ‘British Invasion’ in 60s America. 

Besties, if you haven’t listened to this flurry of nostalgia, change that right now. 

Cast recording available on streaming services. 

FACTS:

Music: Various Artists
Lyrics: Various Artists
Book:  Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran

Theatre: The Savoy Theatre, The Playhouse Theatre, The Wyndham’s Theatre
Run: 22 July 2009 – 19 January 2013 

OLIVIERS:

(NOMINATED) Best New Musical