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‘Happy & thrilled’ at musical’s success 150 150 mhamer

‘Happy & thrilled’ at musical’s success

The opening night of the premiere of Jimmy Cricket’s new musical, Maloney’s Big Moment. The photo was taken backstage at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn and features Jimmy with the cast of the show, alongside the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackburn

Famous comedian Jimmy Cricket said he was “happy” and “thrilled” following the successful launch of his new musical.

Large audiences turned out to watch the two-night premiere of Maloney’s Big Moment at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn earlier this month.

Jimmy said: “For both performances, more than 80% of tickets were sold, which for an original piece of theatre is a tremendous return. I am just thrilled I was able to get this new musical off the ground.

“I must thank the talented cast who only assembled really at the last minute, the fine musicians who made up the band, and the theatre’s technical staff for all coming together and delivering two performances of the show without much rehearsal time.

“I am also really happy that so many friends, colleagues, supporters and interested spectators came to support the show in such huge numbers.”

Above: Jimmy is pictured with the cast of the show, alongside the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackburn, back stage at the theatre on the opening night of the musical.

Working with a theatre stalwart 150 150 mhamer

Working with a theatre stalwart

Jimmy Cricket is getting help from a theatre stalwart as preparations are stepped up for his new musical in the autumn.

Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn on Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 October.

Jimmy Cricket with Eric Nolan at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn

Jimmy Cricket with Eric Nolan at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn

And a vital member of Jimmy’s team is Eric Nolan who runs the Blackburn Drama Club and produces four plays a year at the theatre.

He also presents plays at the Library Theatre in Darwen and last year produced one on the Indian icon, Ghandi.

Well-known entertainer Jimmy said: “Eric is a great advocate for the Thwaites Empire Theatre and helps raise loads of funds to keep the theatre going.

“I am looking forward to working with Eric on my show.”

* The booking office is open from 10am-12.30pm, Monday to Saturday, on 01254 685500.

Meeting an old familiar friendly face 150 150 mhamer

Meeting an old familiar friendly face

Jimmy Cricket with the professional photographer Tim Badley

Jimmy Cricket with professional photographer Tim Bradley at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn

Jimmy Cricket came across a familiar figure at the launch of his new musical.

The Rochdale-based famous Irish entertainer was at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn where Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged on Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 October.

And he bumped into freelance photographer Tim Bradley, whom Jimmy has met many times previously.

He said: “Tim is such a warm and amiable guy, whom I first met when he worked as a photographer at the Rochdale Observer – my local paper.

“I get asked to appear at a lot of local events in Rochdale and this is when I used to bump into Tim.

“He has now gone freelance and does a lot of work for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, so when I recently launched my new musical show at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn, it was Tim who turned up on behalf of the paper to take some photographs.”

Tim took the photos which featured in the previous Cricket Times story about Maloney’s Big Moment.

Jimmy added: “I hope it won’t be too long before our paths collide again!”

What’s the story in Costa de Looney? 150 150 mhamer

What’s the story in Costa de Looney?

Have you got your tickets yet for Jimmy Cricket’s new musical later this year?

Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn on Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 October.

Jimmy Cricket's new musical is called Maloney's Big Moment

Jimmy’s new musical is called Maloney’s Big Moment

And tickets are on sale now after the show was officially launched on 1 July.

Famous entertainer Jimmy got the idea for the play after reading a newspaper story about a Spanish coastal town electing an English ex-pat as its mayor.

He thought it was a really fascinating scenario, especially as the elected candidate did not have a particular good grasp of Spanish!

This original piece of theatre was first written as a radio play and recorded for a Catholic radio station earlier this year.

And it got its first public showing in front of a live audience at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale in April.

Jimmy was keen to convert it into his favourite genre – musical theatre – so he has kept a lot of the dialogue and added to the piece a number of songs. It is based in the fictional town of Costa de Looney.

The proceeds from the musical will go towards the theatre’s roof appeal.

It is a cause near to Jimmy’s heart – he is a very vociferous supporter of live theatre and keeping theatres open.

* The booking office is open from 10am-12.30pm, Monday to Saturday, on 01254 685500.

Jimmy’s new musical… the big launch 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy’s new musical… the big launch

Jimmy Cricket's Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in BlackburnJimmy Cricket’s new musical takes place in October, with tickets on sale from tomorrow.

Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn on Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 October.

And Jimmy will be heading over to the theatre for the launch of ticket sales on the morning of Monday, July 1.

The popular entertainer will lending a hand at the theatre’s box office to field phone calls from anyone interested in booking a ticket for his show!

And the number to ring is 01254 685500.

Jimmy Cricket's Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn

Jimmy got the idea for the play after reading a newspaper story about a Spanish coastal town electing an English ex-pat as its mayor.

He thought it was a really fascinating scenario, especially as the elected candidate did not have a particular good grasp of Spanish!

This original piece of theatre was first written as a radio play and recorded for a Catholic radio station earlier this year.

And it got its first public showing in front of a live audience at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale in April.

Jimmy was keen to convert it into his favourite genre – musical theatre – so he has kept a lot of the dialogue and added to the piece a number of songs.

The proceeds from the musical will go towards the theatre’s roof appeal.

It is a cause near to Jimmy’s heart – he is a very vociferous supporter of live theatre and keeping theatres open.

Maloney’s Big Moment 150 150 mhamer

Maloney’s Big Moment

Cast in Maloney's Big Moment: Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner, Sarah Groarke-Booth and Jimmy CricketA newspaper story about a Spanish coastal town electing an English ex-pat as its mayor inspired top entertainer Jimmy Cricket to write a new radio play.

And Maloney’s Big Moment got its first public showing in front of a live audience at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale.

Famous comedian Jimmy wrote the play after seeing the article and thinking it was a really fascinating scenario, especially as the elected candidate did not have a particular good grasp of Spanish!Radio producer Roger Neale

Joining Jimmy for the recording in early April was a host of locally based actors and actresses.

These included Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner and Sarah Groarke-Booth (all the cast are in the photo above), alongside the production team of Gerry Coates and Roger Neale.

Roger Neale (right) came all the way from Mansfield to help out with the production of the play.

Gerry Coates, from the internet Catholic radio station called Heart Gives unto Heart, and Jimmy between them made the production happen.

Interestingly, the new radio station has been acquired by the national Catholic newspaper called The Universe and will now become a division under this paper’s banner.

It is hoped during the relaunch of the station that this radio play will feature prominently in the opening week’s schedule – watch out for further details on this website.

:: Thanks to John Kay for providing these two great photos from this event.