MUSIC legend Tommy Steele will take to Mayflower Theatre’s stage in September in a spectacular new imagining of the extraordinary tale of the world’s most famous big band leader – in The Glenn Miller Story.

Accompanied by a live 16-piece authentic Glenn Miller orchestra, as well as full supporting company of singers, dancers and actors, the story of one of the most iconic musical figures of the 20th century will be told as never before.

For the past 15 or so years Bill Kenwright and his idol Tommy Steele have had supper two or three times every year to talk about the past (mainly Tommy’s past, as Bill can never have enough of Tommy’s stories about rock ’n’ roll’s golden era) the present (Scrooge or Doctor Dolittle) and the future (“We’ve got to find a show Tommy which I can produce for more than ten weeks in the year like Scrooge!”).

The “let’s find another show” conversations have been long and varied. And have possibly included adaptations of every screen musical ever written.

It was when discussing a particular favourite of theirs – the James Stewart box office smash The Glenn Miller Story – that Bill discovered that his all-encompassing love for Elvis was equal only to Tommy’s adoration for Glenn Miller and his Orchestra.

Bill learned that Tommy is a true devotee; travelling all over the world to hear what remains of the original Orchestral Sounds, and is steeped in the knowledge and the glory of what Glenn Miller did for popular music.

Tommy enthused that Glenn changed the face of it from 1939-1943, when he was the most popular recording artist in the world. Some might say similar to what Elvis did from the mid-50s when he too was the most popular recording artist in the world.

The thought of Tommy Steele and The Glenn Miller Story was a wonderful opportunity to create something special in the mind of a producer like Bill. However, as Tommy told him, there was an obvious problem.

Although he’s still one of this country’s greatest “eight shows a week” song and dance men, Tommy was too old to play Glenn. It was three years later that they came up with what they believed to be the answer! What was it?

Come and see for yourself when The Glenn Miller Story visits The Mayflower (But here’s a clue – Tommy Steele will not be the narrator.)

Tommy Steele was Britain’s first rock ’n’ roll star. Dubbed the UK’s answer to Elvis Presley, he landed his first UK No 1 with Singing the Blues in January 1957, reaching the top spot before Elvis, who didn’t land his until June that year.

His legendary career includes more than 20 hit singles, 12 hit movies and countless award-winning stage musicals such as Half a Sixpence, Hans Andersen and Singin’ in the Rain.