Interview: Bill Deamer

Bill Deamer is one of UK theatre’s leading choreographers. 

Bill won both the Olivier and Broadway World Awards for Best Choreographer in 2013 for Top Hat, which also won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. His latest show Miss Atomic Bomb, which he co-directed and choreographed, is currently coming to the end of its run at the St James Theatre.

His current productions also include The Glenn Miller Story (UK tour) and The Sound of Music (UK tour) as well as Cats (Palladium/international tour) for which Bill created additional tap choreography. He recently choreographed the West End revival of Evita at the Dominion Theatre and directed and choreographed the 85th Anniversary Sondheim Concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. 

Bill’s screen credits include choreography for So You Think You Can Dance group and duet routines in the semi-final & final and Strictly Come Dancing specialist choreography; including Charleston routines, pro group routines, a guest star appearance from the Top Hat company & the Christmas special.

I recently spoke to Bill about the challenges of staging a new musical like Miss Atomic Bomb, why Top Hat was one of the highlights of his career and what he thinks is one of the greatest pieces of dance music ever written…

When did Miss Atomic Bomb first come onto your radar?

Well Top Hat was on its last tour and I went to the St James Theatre and said to my agent, “I love this space, I wouldn’t mind working here”. Then out of the blue this script for Miss Atomic Bomb arrived on my doorstep. I actually read it on the way to Tokyo to open Top Hat. My associate Kylie (Anne Cruikshanks) was in the seat next to me and asked “What do you keep laughing at?” I said, “This script is really funny – it’s really different!” I met the writers and they asked me to be co-director and choreographer and I agreed to do it as long as I could put my mark on it. It is a really good book with great music, but nobody had put it onstage before which is a challenge.

Review: Miss Atomic Bomb at the St James Theatre

Miss Atomic Bomb
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 14th March 2016
★★★★

Transporting us back to 1952 Las Vegas, Miss Atomic Bomb is a bold new musical with a satirical style not everybody is going to get. For the first ten minutes I sat in my seat wondering what on earth I was watching, but after the first few numbers I embraced the style and found myself laughing all evening.

Taking no prisoners, Adam Long, Gabriel Vick and Alex Jackson-Long's musical finds humour in the strangest of places. Miss Atomic Bomb sees the U.S. military testing its atomic bombs and taking control of the city. Despite an array of characters being faced with life-or-death situations, everyone is far more concerned about who will have their 'life changed' by being crowned the Miss Atomic Bomb beauty queen. It's bizarre, surprising fun.

The piece is still a little rough around the edges, but the supreme cast cover it up well. There are some stand out songs along the way; Dean John-Wilson and Simon Lipkin lead a showstopping tap number in the first half whilst Florence Andrews raises the roof in the second act with her solo number 'The Sun Went Down'. Lipkin is the driving force behind the piece - he can do no wrong. 

Production images released for Miss Atomic Bomb

Production images have been released for new musical comedy Miss Atomic Bomb starring Dean John-Wilson, Catherine Tate, Florence Andrews, Simon Lipkin and Daniel Boys. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Co-directed by Bill Deamer and Adam Long, the production officially opens at the St James Theatre tonight (14th March) and runs until 9th April 2016. Inspired by the bomb tests and beauty pageants of the era, Miss Atomic Bomb features original songs by Adam Long, Gabriel Vick and Alex Jackson-Long.

Interview: Simon Lipkin, starring in Miss Atomic Bomb

Simon Lipkin is currently originating the role of Lou Lubowitz in new musical Miss Atomic Bomb.

Adam Long, Gabriel Vick and Alex Jackson-Long’s show is in previews at the St James Theatre ahead of press night on 14th March 2016. 

Inspired by the bomb tests and beauty pageants of the era, the musical comedy is co-directed by Bill Deamer and Adam Long. The cast also includes Catherine Tate and Dean John-Wilson.

Simon’s West End credits include playing Barlow the Dog in I Can’t Sing (London Palladium), Lonny in Rock Of Ages (Shaftesbury/Garrick), Nicky and Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q (Noël Coward), A Christmas Carol (Arts) and Pharaoh in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (New London).

Having recently played the title role in The Lorax at the Old Vic, Simon’s extensive theatre credits also include: The Proprietor in Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory), Touchstone in As You Like It (Southwark Playhouse), I Love You You're Perfect Now Change (Above the Arts), Galahad in Spamalot (UK/International Tour), The Wedding Singer (UK tour), Willard in Footloose (UK Tour), Alice In Wonderland (Nuffield) and Austentatious (Landor).

On screen he has appeared in Doctor Who, The Bill, Casualty, Muppets Most Wanted, The Harry Hill Movie, That Puppet Game Show and Nativity 3. He also voices characters on the Cartoon Network show The Amazing World of Gumball.

I recently sat down with Simon during a break from rehearsals to discuss how he would describe Miss Atomic Bomb as a pizza, riding a magic carpet with London’s Aladdin, tap dancing and whether or not he would invite Jodie Jacobs to his stagey dinner party…

When did you first hear about Miss Atomic Bomb?

I’ve known about the show for a couple of years. I had actually been asked to do some of the workshops previously, but because of other things I was never able to do them. It feels like about time I got involved! I’ve known Adam Long, who has written it with Gabriel Vick and Alex Jackson-Long, for a while. Gabriel and I were actually in Avenue Q together originally. I’ve known Adam’s work with the Reduced Shakespeare Company, and then I’ve seen lots of Bill’s (Deamer, co-director/choreographer) work before. Now I am no dancer… and Bill has got me tap dancing [laughs]! It has been amazing to be on board.

Big Interview: Dean John-Wilson, starring in Miss Atomic Bomb & Disney’s Aladdin

Dean John-Wilson is currently rehearsing new musical Miss Atomic Bomb before starring in the West End transfer of Disney’s Aladdin. 

Dean is creating the role of Joey Lubowitz in Miss Atomic Bomb which is written by Adam Long, Gabriel Vick and Alex Jackson-Long. 

Inspired by the bomb tests and beauty pageants of the era, the musical comedy is co-directed by Bill Deamer and Adam Long. Catherine Tate and Simon Lipkin also star in the show which is set to begin performances at the St James Theatre on 7th March 2016.

In May, Dean will originate the title role in the London premiere of Disney’s musical Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre, starring opposite Jade Ewen as Jasmine and Trevor Dion Nicholas as Genie. Currently running on Broadway to tremendous acclaim, Aladdin is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.

Dean most recently starred as Man 1 in Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown at the St James Theatre and as Aquino in the UK premiere of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s musical Here Lies Love at the National Theatre.

His extensive theatre credits also include: understudy Prewitt and Maggio in From Here To Eternity (Shaftesbury), Zack in Bare (Union Theatre) and understudy Pablo and TJ in Sister Act The Musical (UK tour). Dean recently performed solo shows at the London Hippodrome (with Scott Alan) and Singers Lounge; he reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2008.

Yesterday I dropped into rehearsals for Miss Atomic Bomb. After watching a few numbers from the show, I caught up with Dean to discuss his first impressions of Miss Atomic Bomb, West End Frame making his dreams come true and why the last few months have been a whirlwind. Dean also revealed how he reacted when he found out he had been cast in Aladdin, his Broadway ambition and next dream show…

The last time we spoke you were in rehearsals for Songs for a New World – I can’t believe how much has happened since then! Have you had a chance to take it all in?

After doing Songs for a New World, getting calls about Aladdin and Miss Atomic Bomb was crazy – I don’t know whether there will ever be a point in my career again where I’ll be able to say I’ve got two posters on the tube for shows that I’m one of the leads in. I was in New York when the Aladdin news was announced and everybody was tweeting me and Facebooking me all the posters on the tube, but when I got off my flight back I jumped straight in a cab to rehearsals and didn’t see one! I don’t even know when this jet lag is going to kick in – I haven’t felt any yet. I just don’t think this will happen again – what more could you want?!