![A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/MyBritish1.jpg "A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse")
I was 16 when I walked into the Bag O’Nails in London for the first time and John Lennon bought me a drink. That day was the beginning of a story that was at the center of a musical revolution…
~ Peter Noone, Herman’s Hermits ~
Starting on January 31, 2019 and running through March 3, 2019, the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ — recipient of a Regional Theatre Tony Award — presents the world premiere of an exciting new musical: My Very Own British Invasion!
Based on the experiences of Herman’s Hermits’ lead singer, Peter Noone — a teenager willing to sacrifice international stardom for the sake of the girl he loves — the show features more than two dozen chart-topping hits from the best British artists of the 1960s. Musical numbers do not only include such iconic ’60s smashes as The Beatles’ “She Loves You,” The Rolling Stones’ “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” and The Zombies’ “Time of the Season,” but such beloved Herman’s Hermits’ classics as “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am,” “I’m Into Something Good,” and “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.”
With a book by Tony award winner, Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Cher Show) and direction/choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots, On Your Feet!), this musical tells a fable of young love, set against the backdrop of the exploding 1960’s music scene known as the British Invasion.
On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, Spotlight Central met the cast and creative team of My Very Own British Invasion following a rehearsal at the group’s midtown Manhattan rehearsal space.
Upon entering a large hall with a white baffled ceiling where a skeleton set has been constructed, on the left, we see what looks to be a pub complete with taps, and on the right, a bandstand with a piano and, just below it, a set of drums. In the center of the stage area, there’s a raised platform with an interior set carved out below filled with red couches and instrument stands holding multiple acoustic guitars.
A buzz of creative energy fills the room as actors mill about getting ready to present scenes for the press.
Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director of the Paper Mill Playhouse, greets today’s guests.
![A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/MyBritish2.jpg "A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse")
He also welcomes ’60s musical icon, Peter Noone, who waves from his seat in the second row of the audience.
Hoebee introduces the audience to the show’s three main characters — our hero, Peter, played by Jonny Amies; the bad boy rocker, Trip, portrayed by Conor Ryan; and the pair’s mutual love interest, Pamela, played by Erica Olsen.
He also introduces the show’s writer, Rick Elice, who provides the audience with a snapshot of the plot, describing it as a “musical fable based loosely on the experiences of Peter Noone.” According the Elice, the central conflict of the show involves a love triangle featuring two forces — Peter and Trip — pulling against a center force — Pamela.
Elice explains that the setting for the musical is a Soho club called the Bag O’Nails — a spot where, in the 1960s, “all the up-and-coming bright young things hang out.” We learn that the club is owned by an American, Geno Washington, and that real-life patrons at any given time might include such future luminaries as Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, or Paul McCartney.
Elice explains that, this afternoon, we’ll be treated to three scenes from My Very Own British Invasion.
The first scene takes place at the Bag O’Nails and has Jonny Amies as Peter introducing characters including his manager, Fallon, along with up-and-coming stars like John Lennon, who has just recently appeared with his band, The Beatles, on the American TV program, The Ed Sullivan Show. At this point, the talented ensemble joins Peter for a high-flying production number of The Yardbirds’ “For Your Love.” The vibe and excitement of the cast is infectious as the young actors fill the stage with singing, dancing, and lots of acoustic guitar playing!
![A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/MyBritish3.jpg "A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse")
The second scene is from Act II, and takes place on a ship returning to London from America. Here, Peter and Pamela sit on the floor talking about their future when Peter picks up his guitar and tenderly sings “There’s A Kind Of Hush” to her. Pamela joins Peter in the song — at times, the pair singing face-to-face — as the cast gently vocalizes in the background. The connection between all of the actors is so natural and organic that the ensemble seems to melt right into the scenery. The song concludes with Peter and Pamela playing Peter’s guitar together, Peter strumming the strings while Pamela fingers the chords in a tender finale.
The third scene comes from Act I, and actually precedes the scene just presented. Here, Peter discusses Pamela’s situation with his mother, who advises him to go to the United States to find Pamela and bring her home. Peter is upset, however, because his manager, Fallon, says he is not ready for America. Peter responds by performing a high-intensity rendition of Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild,” accompanied with the entire ensemble singing, dancing, and playing with incredible passion and soul!
Following avid applause, we’re offered an opportunity to chat with several of the cast and creative team members responsible for the development of My Very Own British Invasion.
First, we’re delighted to be able to chat with the man whose idea was the inspiration for this show — Peter Noone.
Noone was born in Manchester, England, where he studied voice and acting. As a child, he appeared on television in the long-running British soap, Coronation Street. While still a teen, he achieved international fame as the lead singer of the legendary ’60s pop band, Herman’s Hermits, a group which went on to sell over 60 million recordings!
Throughout the ’70s, Noone composed, performed, and produced recordings with artists including David Bowie, and the ’80s found him starring on Broadway in The Pirates of Penzance. His television career flourished, too, with roles on such American TV shows as Married with Children, Too Close for Comfort, and Laverne and Shirley.
For several years, Noone served as the host of VH1’s My Generation, and he also hosted the PBS special, The British Invasion Returns. More recently, he’s appeared on American television in the CBS daytime drama, As the World Turns.
These days, Noone continues to play to sold-out venues around the world with his band, Herman’s Hermits. Wherever he goes, he’s accompanied by his legion of fans, “The Noonatics,” whose hundreds of members flock to his shows to enjoy his consummate live performances where he entertains his audiences with his impressive voice, songs, and comedic talents.
When asked about the inspiration for My Very Own British Invasion, Noone reveals, “I had an idea. When I walked into the Bag O’Nails in London at the age of 16 and they wouldn’t let me in, but I got in — and John Lennon got me a drink, and Twiggy was there, and The Stones’ Brian Jones, and others were there — I thought it would be great if we could do a musical with songs which developed from this experience. So that’s how it all started.”
Cautioning, “It’s not exactly my life story — my life was a bit different,” Noone relates, “It’s a fable — a way of putting all those songs together,” citing writer Rick Elice as “the only one who could do it,” because “he did it with Jersey Boys, where he connected all those Frankie Valli songs together with a story you can believe.”
When asked about his thoughts watching today’s rehearsal of British Invasion, Noone discloses, “I wasn’t sure the cast should see me when I watched it, because, as an audience member, I needed to believe it. You understand? I didn’t want them to know that the man who’s in it was in the room, so I hid in the second row,” before conceding, “and I think that was better, because I had to believe it myself.”
Next, we chat with Jonny Amies, who portrays Peter in the show. Amies — an actor/musician from London who recently landed his first television role in the 2019 Netflix series, Sex Education — makes his professional theatrical debut in My Very Own British Invasion.
When asked about debuting in the Garden State, Amies exclaims, “I’m thrilled to be in New Jersey! Are you kidding me? It’s like a dream come true. I never thought for a wild second I’d be in America for my theater debut. And to come over to the Paper Mill — after all the awards it’s won, and all the shows it’s set up to go on to achieve such incredible things — is a huge pleasure!”
With regards to how he relates to the classic ’60s songs he and the rest of the youthful cast bring to life every performance, Amies relates, “Even though I’m younger and I missed the ’60s, I was brought up on this kind of music — my parents played it. The first CD I can remember listening to was one of Elvis Presley where, as a little seven-year-old boy, I’d spike up my black hair and try to be like him. And another was a compilation disc of ’60s hits and Beatles’ stuff. So, for me, that was kind of my bread and butter for what I understood was music and, for that, I’m very thankful — particularly these days!”
According to Amies, just listening to classic tunes as a boy wasn’t his only connection to the soundtrack of the 1960s. Recalling, “For about three summers in a row, me and two of my friends from school packed a little van and set sail for France with all of our instruments,” Amies acknowledges, “From there, we bussed around Europe playing pubs and clubs — and we played ’60s stuff.”
Commenting on the classic ‘60s score of My Very Own British Invasion, Amies contends, “It’s remarkable — the calibre of songs we have in this show is just ridiculous,” before concluding, “And as if I wasn’t lucky enough to be coming to America to do this, working with this cast and creative team has been just amazing. They are the best — they’ve made me feel at home. And the talent we have is so exciting, and the book, and the music which drives it — we can’t wait to get started and show people what it’s all about!”
![A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/MyBritish4.jpg "A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse")
We also get an opportunity to chat with two additional members of the My Very Own British Invasion creative team — Paper Mill Playhouse’s Producing Artistic Director, Mark S. Hoebee, and the show’s Musical Director, Lon Hoyt.
Hoebee details how the show made it’s way to Millburn, NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse when he recalls, “I had a relationship with director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell and producer Hal Luftig, and they invited me to a workshop rehearsal of the show. Before that rehearsal was over, I said, ‘Are you looking for a regional theater to partner with, and could it be Paper Mill?’ — and here we are today.”
“I knew then it was going to be a special project — the song list is amazing,” explains Hoebee, “but when you realize that it’s a fairy tale of sorts that’s based on the life of Herman’s Hermits’ Peter Noone, it’s even that much more amazing! This music has become a part of the fabric of all of our lives — you can’t help but listen and tap your feet — and, in some cases in the show, the audience is even encouraged to sing along.”
Continuing, “It’s presented by an amazing cast of actor/musicians, and the way they approach the music is special,” Hoebee points out, “They’re young — they weren’t even born when this music was first played on the radio — but when they perform it, the fact that the music still sounds so exciting is a testament to all of the original artists who, when they were teenagers hanging out together at the Bag O’Nails, were all just trying to get their music heard.”
Musical Director Lon Hoyt concurs adding, “We’re trying to make the songs feel like they were just written yesterday. There will be four musicians on stage — playing keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums — but the rest of the cast will play guitars and various instruments.” Acknowledging, “When they told me I was going to have a four-piece band, I said, ‘Great! It’s gonna be like the British Invasion meets Once — where’s there’s a mandolin, a glockenspiel, percussion instruments, and lots and lots of guitars,” Hoyt additionally exclaims, “I’m really excited about this!”
A fan of ’60s music himself, Hoyt recalls, “I can remember watching The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show on TV when I was four or five years old, and I can remember thinking, ‘Why are all of these girls crying? Why are they bursting into tears? What is it about these guys?’ And then when I got older, I thought, ‘Oh, OK —I still don’t get the crying, but I do get the music.’”
Adding, “If you ever watch Frank Sinatra clips, you’ll notice the girls were pretty much doing the same thing in the ’40s,” Hoyt contends, “but it’s not the same today.” Disclosing, “We had to tell our cast that, in 1965, you wouldn’t be high-fiving your friend when experiencing this music — you’d be quivering, instead,” Hoyt concludes by acknowledging, “And that’s a very interesting thing to have to teach!”
Lastly, we chat with writer Rick Elice, who describes his vision for My Very Own British Invasion.
![A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/MyBritish5.jpg "A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse")
“This show is so interesting, because in it, the actors don’t only play their own instruments, but they move their own props and stuff around — so the performers with the smallest parts and the performers with the biggest parts are all mucking in together; it’s like the communal nature of the theater, where everybody does everything. And I like that — I like where everybody is equal — that’s how I was raised in the theater. And I think the actors respond to this, and I think the audience does, too. When they see everybody is doing everything right in front of you, the audience says, ‘Oh, I see! They’re actually making this for us as we’re watching it.’ And that’s exciting!”
When asked how much of the My Very Own British Invasion story is based on real-life experience, Elice replies, “You’ll have to decide for yourself how much of it is real.” Reminding us that, “It is, of course, based on a real story,” Elice adds, “but I was encouraged by Peter to take license with it so that we could make it a story that would be compelling now. It’s not meant to be a documentary, and it’s not meant to be about the entirety of the British Invasion — let’s face it, that’s a great big thing; too much for two hours of stage entertainment — so I wanted to iris in and iris in again on a single moment. So this story is about a moment — or what we like to call, ‘One person’s British Invasion’ — a moment featuring this one kid, who at this particular point in history, traveled to America.”
In referring to choosing the music for British Invasion, Elice exclaims, “I was like a kid in a candy store — there was nothing I couldn’t do! I just had to find songs with the lyrics I needed to keep pushing the story forward, so I was really able to concoct the best score I could think of. And it was a perfectly fun assignment — listening to iTunes to the best landscape of music and, at the same time, reliving my distant youth, as a lot of the songs were ones I originally bought as a kid collecting 45s.”
When asked how long it took for him to create the book for My Very Own British Invasion, Elice discloses, “This show didn’t take a very long time to write at all, but it’s taken a long time to get to where we are today — and that’s because life intrudes.” Recalling, “I started working on this in January of 2015 and it was over a two-month period that I wrote it. Then, in early March of 2015, we did a reading where Peter attended with his guitarist. All the actors showed up and they all were reading their parts, but whenever we’d get to a song, Peter would sing it — and that was an amazing experience, having one of the iconic figures of the 1960s singing all these great songs just for us! But we continued to move forward from there, and altogether, by the time the show opens on Jan. 31, we’ll be looking at a total of four years work.”
Responding to how he feels about having the show’s world premiere in the Garden State, Elice remarks, “I was born in New York, and I always had a New York attitude about New Jersey. Then, one day, I found myself sitting in a restaurant with Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio, along with my friend, Marshall Brickman. And Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio said, “You know, you guys should write a musical about us.” And so, since Jersey Boys, I’ve really changed my mind about Jersey — now it’s my very favorite state!”
“That’s why I’m so happy to be opening at the Paper Mill Playhouse,” continues Elice. “I’ve been going there myself for a million years — since I was able to take the train by myself — but I’ve never had a show there, so I’m super excited! The Paper Mill is such a great theater with such a great vibe and such a great history — whenever I’m there, I think of all the shows they’ve presented and all the artists who have performed there, and I find it all very moving,” before concluding, “I just love what I do, and the main reason I love it is getting to be a part of that very continuum. So I’m really looking forward to the premiere of My Very Own British Invasion at the Paper Mill Nwhere our entire cast and creative team can share with the world what this story is all about!”
![A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/MyBritish6.jpg "A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Peter Noone's "My Very Own British Invasion" Coming to Paper Mill Playhouse")
My Very Own British Invasion runs from January 31 to March 3, 2019 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. The first performance is Thurs. Jan. 31 at 7:30 pm, with other first-week performances scheduled for Fri. Feb. 1 at 8pm, Sat. Feb. 2 at 8pm, and Sun. Feb. 3 at 1:30 pm. Additional showtimes take place between Feb. 6 and Mar. 3 with Wed. performances at 7:30 pm; Thurs. performances at 1:30pm and 7:30pm; Fri. performances at 8pm; Sat. performances at 1:30pm and 8pm; and Sun. performances at 1:30pm and 7pm. Special activities include “Conversation Club” on select Thursdays at 6:30pm, a “Director’s Viewpoint” on Feb. 6 at 6:30pm, and a “Q&A with the Cast” on Mar. 2 following the matinee. For info and tickets please call 973–376–4343 or go to papermill.org.
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