In March 2024, Crazy for You will be coming to Hull New Theatre, performed by Hessle Theatre Company.  The musical show has a number of Old Hymerian Connections, with Sarah Lucy Penny, OH 2002-12 as the Musical Director (MD) and Elinor Kirby, OH 2005-15 as Polly, the lead actress.

Chris Corbett, OH 2001-11 and Richard Skelton, OH 1973-82 are in the male ensemble as cowboys, along with Mark Gillyon-Powell, OH 1980-88, who as well as being a cowboy, is also helping with costumes on the side!

Sarah Lucy's parents are also involved in the show as Orchestra members in the 'pit' (front of the stage where the orchestra plays), with many alumni remembering Music teacher, Andrew Penny, OH Staff 1977-2022, and his wife Helga from their time at the Hymers College.

Sarah Lucy told us about her role in the musical show:

I'm returning as Musical Director, for what I believe is my sixth production as MD for Hessle Theatre.  But it's the first where both Mum AND Dad will be playing for me in the pit!

We're presenting George Gershwin's 'Crazy For You' at Hull New Theatre in March 2024, from the 19th to the 23rd.  A truly incredible show (think 'Calamity Jane' meets '42nd Street'!), and chaotically superb - there are Cowboys, Follies girls, a whole load of tap-dancing and it is stuffed from beginning to end with the most wonderful tunes (some of which are played on shovels, saws and water cans!!).

There are some true classic melodies in this rich, lush score, including there's 'Someone to watch over me', 'Slap that Bass', 'Embraceable You'... and of course, the huge Act 1 closer, 'I got rhythm'!  Every number is a hit, whether it's to tug on your heart-strings or to get your feet tapping along.

We have an orchestra of 16 players for this show, the largest that HTC has used in several years.  With a score this complex, we need the orchestral numbers to do it justice.  It's going to be an extra special treat for me in particular; not only am I able to invite my Mum to play for me again, who has played for HTC shows for years, but also, I will be conducting my Dad for the first time!  I am only slightly daunted by the fact, but I'm sure he'll be behaving himself.  We're all looking forward to it immensely.

In the lead female role as Polly, Elinor talks about this being her “dream role”.  She has followed Hessle Theatre Company since being a teenager and joined the company in 2019.

Having seen the show in the West End, I couldn’t believe how much I wanted this part.  The role of Polly is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  She is the best of both worlds, warm and open-hearted, whilst also feisty and strong.  It’s everything I love about musical theatre in one role.

I never thought I’d get the opportunity to do so much dancing and tap, whilst also singing these beautiful songs. It’s the type of role I fell in love with in the golden-age musicals I always used to watch on television as a child.

If you don't know the story of Crazy For You, the show opens in 1930s Broadway.  Theatre-mad Bobby is a wannabe dancer but is stuck in his mother’s boring banking business.  He is sent to the Wild West to foreclose on an abandoned theatre in Nevada where he falls instantly in love with no-nonsense Polly and her father’s theatre.  So, he hatches a plan to win her heart by ‘putting on a show’ and saving the theatre – disguised as a famous Broadway producer.  What can possibly go wrong?!

To find out more about the performance, please visit Hessle Theatre's Production of Crazy For You, and to book tickets, please visit Hull New Theatre: Crazy For You.

Thank you to Hessle Theatre Company for their contribution and photos to this article.

Updated March 2024:

The weekend before the show started, Hessle Theatre Company used Hymers College to carry out their final dress rehearsal:

Related Articles:

• Alumni Performing in Our House at Hull New Theatre
• Sarah Lucy's Life in Theatre
• Returning to Hymers Sarah Lucy Penny
• Feast of Song 2022
• Elinor is Guest Vocalist with East Riding Concert Orchestra
• Teacher Feature: Andrew Penny 1977-2022
• Happy Retirement Mr Penny
• Hymers Recital Club November 2022
• Mr Penny's History of the Hall