Ex Pupil Success
 

 

Former Priory pupil

Dean Chisnall

 

             

 

Updated 20th June 2007

Principal casting has been announced for the Take That musical, Never Forget,. The band members will be played by: Dean Chisnall as Ash (The Woman in White, Evita); Stephane Anelli (Jose) who starred as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever.  Belgian Tim Driesen as Adrian (Bat Boy, Mamma Mia! and Starlight Express); Craige Els as Jake (Mamma Mia! and currently Spamalot); and Eaton James as Harry (currently Les Miserables).

Never Forget is a new musical comedy written around the songs of boy band Take That. The show will play Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Stoke and Edinburgh before heading for London's Theatreland. The tour begins in Cardiff on 20 July. Although venue and dates have yet to be confirmed the show is expected to open in the West End this coming autumn.

The musical, which has an original book by Danny Brocklehurst, has been described as a “feel-good comedy about love, friendship, ambition and betrayal” and tells the fictional story of a Take That tribute band. Brocklehurst’s credits include Shameless, Clocking Off, Sorted and Linda Green (TV); and My Eight Times Table, Nobody and Loaded (stage).

 

Take That and Party as Dean earns role

This article is reproduced with the kind permission of the Ormskirk Advertiser 

A WEST Lancashire actor is starring in 'Take That: The Musical'.

Dean Chisnall, 24, who grew up in New Acres, Newburgh, will play Ash Sherwood, a Gary Barlow-wannabe who forms a Take That tribute band. The cast list was kept secret until last week when producers announced Dean was the lead character of the musical called Never Forget.

After touring the country for photo shoots and press conferences, the opening night curtain will rise on Dean in Cardiff on Friday; July 20. He will then step onto the stage in Glasgow, Stoke, Edinburgh and Manchester where the show is set.

The ex-Burscough Priory High School pupil said: "When I was told I had the part it was amazing! "To get the lead at my age and to be playing a musical genius like Gary Barlow is great."

Although Dean now lives in Barnes, South London, he visits homes as often as possible. He said: "I love living the dream in London but I miss the fresh air and countryside of Newburgh as well as my friends and family up there."

Dean's dad, who is a Merseyside special needs headteacher, his mum, who is a Skelmersdale property conveyancer and his brother still live in Newburgh.

Before he got this prestigious part, the ex-Newburgh School and Winstanley College pupil starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman In White and Evita.

Dean had seven gruelling auditions before he got the part and he won the panel over by singing Barry . Manilow's Mandy and Take That's A Million Love Songs. The top secret script was produced by Shameless and Clocking Off writer Danny Brocklehurst and even the stars of the musical did not know what the story would be.

 

By Joanne Kelly, Ormskirk Advertiser.

Published 14th June 2007

 

Update 6th October 2006

Dean graduated from Arts Educational School of Musical Theatre and immediately joined the cast of The Woman in White at the Palace Theatre where he understudied and played the leading role of Walter Hartwright. He has recently performed his first professional concert at St Saviour’s Church in Knightsbridge.

Dean is currently appearing in Evita at the Adelphi Theatre London. The following photographs were taken backstage after a recent performance.

Click on the photograph to view a larger image

     
Further details of Evita can be found here
     
     
Further details of The Woman in White can be found here