By Amy Somensky
Sep 20, 2005, 3:34 GMT
After being postponed due to pressure from The Christian Voice, the group that led the protests against Jerry Springer The Opera after it was broadcast by the BBC, the tour of the musical is set to begin in January 2006. Originally almost one-third of the theatres who had agreed to run the show had changed their minds, apparently because they were worried about any Christian Voice led protests. The producer of Springer, John Thoday, told the Stage Newspaper then that the tour will now begin in January 2006 as long as more theatres don’t pull out. “We are absolutely determined to make it happen . . . and we thank the theatres that are being supportive. Jerry Springer has won more awards than any other new musical written by British writers. That small group of reactionary individuals cannot stop something being presented." Now twenty one theaters from around the UK have agreed to put on the show. Co-writer and director Stewart Lee said in a statement “Jerry Springer — The Opera was developed on public money in public spaces and belongs to the nation, whether the nation wants it or not. It would be nice if people outside the M25 could actually get to see it, despite people’s best efforts to prevent this.” Co writer and composer Richard Thomas said, “I am overjoyed the show is going on tour in spite of such extreme protests. I am also buying a flak jacket. And sticking close to shadows.” The tour is set to begin in Plymouth on January 23, 2006. Other stops include Birmingham, York, Leicester, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, Oxford, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Bristol, Bradford, Southend, Liverpool, Cardiff, Nottingham, Croydon and Brighton. Jerry Springer The Opera has come under scrutiny after the BBC aired the musical, causing thousands of complaints from viewers. BBC executives received death threats as well. Recently a cancer charity turned down money raised by the show after urgings from the Christian Voice. The Christian Voice has said before that they would call for a “prayer vigil” outside any theater which shows the musical. Is not yet known whether the musical will play Broadway. For Jerry Springer The Opera tickets visit our database here .
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