Drew Gasparini to give special performance and masterclass at Norwich Theatre this October

Musical theatre composer Drew Gasparini will appear at Norwich Theatre this October for a UK exclusive concert and masterclass.

For one night only on 22 October, in his only UK date, A Night with Drew Gasparini will be an intimate evening celebrating Drew’s music.

The songwriter/composer is set to open Karate Kid – The Musical (written with original screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen) on Broadway next year with his other work including songs for TV series SMASH, and for his autobiographical song cycle album We Aren’t Kids Anymore, currently being developed for the stage by Norwich Theatre with Chris Cuming, Director of Norwich Theatre’s Jack and The Beanstalk, and Richard Fitch, Associate Director of Back To The Future: The musical: THE MUSICAL.

A Night with Drew Gasparini will be an intimate evening celebrating Drew’s music, which includes Its Kind of a Funny Story for Universal, and The Whipping Boy (both with writing partner Alex Brightman); and his popular theatre concept album I Could Use a Drink which has led to sold out concerts all over the globe. He will also be joined by some of the workshop company of We Aren’t Kids Anymore, for his only UK performance this year.

Alongside the concert, Members of the Norfolk community will also have a rare opportunity to learn from Drew, Chris Cuming and Richard Fitch as they join Musical Director Jennifer Edmonds to host a rare and exclusive Masterclass on 16 October .

Sam Bain, Head of Programming and Producing at Norwich Theatre, said: “It is so exciting to be working with Chris and Richard to bring Drew Gasparini over to the UK and to Norwich. Not only to work on the development of a new musical but to share Drew’s music and his professional skills and knowledge with our community – it isn’t every day that a Broadway composer drops by! Norwich is in for a real treat.”

Talking about coming to Norwich Theatre, Drew Gasparini added: “I am so thrilled to do some developmental work on my newest theatre piece, ‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’, alongside Chris Cuming and the Norwich Theatre community.

“Theatre is in a wonderfully dynamic and evolutionary phase at the moment, and this workshop allows us all to be a part of that. Though this show is written from a mostly-autobiographical standpoint, I like to think the themes within are universal, and I can’t wait to see how this material translates across the pond. I’m thankful for this multi-continental collaboration and the opportunity to get in a room and continue creating with such special talent in the UK.”

For more information and tickets, visit norwichtheatre.org