BLOOD BROTHERS SYNOPSIS & BACKGROUND
Autographed BB Promo Photo of David & Shaun.
BLOOD BROTHERS, with book, music and lyris by Willy Russell (author or Shirley Valentine and Educating Rita) is the story of the Johnstone twins, separated at birth when their mother is forced by economic necessity to give one of them away, but whose lives become interwined. The two eventually meet and, unasware that they are brothers, become best friends ("blood brothers"), fall in love with the same girl and, inevitably, clash.
Willy Russell once again brilliantly shows how "class" (being born rich or poor) makes a profound difference in our lives and within our society.
Promotional Photos of David as "Mickey" and Shaun as "Eddie" in BLOOD BROTHERS
BLOOD BROTHERS prmiered on London's West End in January 1983. Its origianl West End success was limited, but it went on "posthumously" to win every theatre prize awarded for Best Musical.
In 1988, producer-director Bill Kenwright opened a new West End production of BLOOD BROTHERS which instantly received three more Olivier Award nominations, and the production went on to be a huge box office and critical success.
After a seven week sold-out pre-Broadway engagement at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, BLOOD BROTHERS opened Sunday, April 25, 1993 at Broadway's Music Box Theatre, where it was nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Musical.
David and Petula Clark in BLOOD BROTHERS
The Broadway production had a standing ovation every night of its run. However, it was not selling out until David Cassidy was brought in as the lead. David also brought his Shaun Cassidy, his real life step-brother to co-star as his on-stage brother. Petula Clark also co-starred at their mother. The play was then sold out for over a year.
BLOOD BROTHERS then toured the USA. Shaun decided not to do the tour, being a successful writer and producer for television as he had several projects he was working on. However, David and Petula joined the tour which was so successful, it went on to Toronto and the UK.
BLOOD BROTHERS was a not only a huge success due to David but in turn, it was also a major "break-through" in David's career. David was finally able to show off his dramatic acting skills and recieved not only commercial success but he was praised by the critics as well.
Although David Cassidy is no longer in BLOOD BROTHERS, the play continues to tour many cities and some fans of play even have a web site at http://groups.msn.com/bloodbrothersonline/