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353:. Despite rarely ever visiting a theatre, impressed by the play, he became interested in amateur dramatics. He auditioned for the New Venture Players next production, and finally landed a role. After 10 years in South Wales, he returned to Birmingham to take up a managerial post. He then worked as a
396:. It was at this time, while Willetts was in his thirties, that he began his meteoric rise to the top, with the support of his wife. He decided to give up his management career and became an 'actor', while working part-time as a waiter and his wife as a childminder.
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Willetts has recorded several albums, mostly collections of songs from musicals. Including 'Once in a
Lifetime', released just before his 60th birthday. He has performed on albums alongside
365:.sheridan engineering But he also joined the Leamington and Warwick Operatic society to later star in “Music Man”. He then played 'Charlie Gordon' in amateur production of
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in the West End (2006). and the national tour in 2002. He then played the role of 'Emile de Becque' in a UK touring production of
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694:,) a former nursery nurse and teacher. They married in 1972. He has 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren. They live in
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379:. Peter McGarry, the theatre critic of the Coventry Evening Telegraph gave him a rave review of his performance.
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309:. He first went to Cottesbrooke Infants primary school and later to Sheldon Heath Comprehensive (now known as
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amongst others. Including appeared on 'Music And Songs From
Aspects of Love/Phantom of the Opera' in 2008.
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1006:"Actor, director and taxi driver Maurice Lane reminisces about the Chiswick of yesteryear"
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In 1990, he was given his first opportunity to originate a role when he appeared opposite
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827:"West End star Dave Willetts returns to 'home-from-home' Wales to star in 42nd Street"
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In 2023, Dave played the role of Sir George
Dillingham in a West End revival of
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In July 2011, he originated the role of
Professor Callahan in the UK tour of
606:
Laurence
Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical
314:
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Laurence
Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical
171:
1203:"Kerry Ellis to star in Wonderland alongside Wendi Peters and Dave Willetts"
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who cast him as "third flunky from the left" in another show by
Strouse,
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in London, and as Jean
Valjean in the 10th anniversary production of
382:
He then came to the attention of Bob Hamlyn, artistic director of the
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in the West End. He subsequently played the role of The
Phantom in
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617:. In October 2014, he appeared as Father God in 'Love Beyond' at
561:
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In 2007, Dave played the role of 'Julian Marsh' in a UK Tour of
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from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
769:"A profile - Dave Willetts: Birmingham's Star of the Musical"
334:
483:
Since then, Willetts has appeared in a concert version of
1069:"Willetts & Webb headline new UK tour of 42nd Street"
621:. Then in 2015, he appeared in 'Pure Imagination' at the
16:
This article is about the actor. For the politician, see
564:. He has played the starring role of 'Adam Pontipee' in
1229:"Don't be late for an important date at the Mayflower"
451:
for its
Broadway premiere Willetts succeeded him in
604:in September 2008, for which he was nominated for
544:In 2004, he appeared in the West End production of
216:singer and actor known for having leading roles in
480:, a musical for which she had composed the score.
262:. He also played leading roles in the UK tours of
463:, on the UK tour to critical acclaim, winning an
321:programme. After leaving school at 16, he joined
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554:. In December of the same year he appeared in
500:Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
226:His West End credits include leading roles in
1255:"Dave Willetts joins ASPECTS OF LOVE revival"
337:. He then moved to another Girlings plant in
1281:The Complete Book of 1990s Broadway Musicals
1177:"Mark Shenton's theatre picks: September 24"
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797:"20 Questions: Love Beyond's Dave Willetts"
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1136:olivierawards.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011
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1043:
958:"Dave Willetts talks about THE MAN INSIDE"
60:about living persons that is unsourced or
1050:Happy talk as actor finally gets the girl
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863:"Dave Willetts: Living the Musical Dream"
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131:Learn how and when to remove this message
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1093:Billington, Michael (15 December 2008).
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981:"Jay Bunyan: Interviewed December 2004"
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795:Goldstein, Nicole (22 September 2014).
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581:, which toured the UK until July 2008.
422:and within a year he was understudy to
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507:in the 20th anniversary production of
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493:Haymarket's acclaimed production of
311:King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy
22:
1314:English male musical theatre actors
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690:He has a wife Lyn (originally from
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1150:"Dave Willetts has Tea With Wilma"
625:in a musical based on the work by
441:departed the London production of
399:
345:, an amateur drama group based in
14:
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1029:"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"
890:"The Phantom of the Opera Review"
305:, in 1952 and then brought up in
1253:Cashell, Eleni (28 April 2023).
1227:Porter, Hilary (20 April 2017).
956:Hasted, Michael (6 March 2014).
771:. colonel-moseley.blogspot.co.uk
767:Solomon, Deryck (5 April 2012).
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408:put Willetts into the chorus of
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979:Revel, Paul (3 December 2004).
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567:Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
1008:. chiswickw4.com. 26 June 2006
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825:Owens, David (26 March 2013).
665:
629:. In 2017, he appeared as the
319:Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
1:
724:Jones, Alison (31 May 2013).
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292:
38:biography of a living person
7:
932:"Dave Willetts Discography"
888:Mack, Gary (24 July 2006).
533:in the studio recording of
375:, at the Priory Theatre in
65:must be removed immediately
10:
1340:
1031:. britishtheatreguide.info
212:(born 24 June 1952) is an
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1319:English male stage actors
910:The House That Dave Built
489:, taken the lead role in
285:, he was nominated for a
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726:"Willetts still on song"
623:St James Theatre, London
573:Rogers and Hammerstein's
550:as the Father alongside
448:The Phantom of the Opera
313:). His father worked at
264:The Phantom of the Opera
229:The Phantom of the Opera
201:The Phantom of the Opera
960:. stagetalkmagazine.com
281:For his performance in
1127:"Olivier Winners 2009"
529:. He took the role of
486:Jesus Christ Superstar
52:Please help by adding
457:Her Majesty's Theatre
317:. He has completed a
1324:English male singers
426:in the lead role of
372:Flowers for Algernon
58:Contentious material
637:, a new musical by
602:Craig Revel Horwood
537:musical version of
509:Andrew Lloyd Webber
443:Andrew Lloyd Webber
343:New Venture Players
1156:. westendwilma.com
1095:"Sunset Boulevard"
1058:, 8 September 2007
1027:Taggart, Bronagh.
915:Coventry Telegraph
869:. 20 February 2013
799:. whatsonstage.com
1259:London Box Office
1181:24 September 2015
1154:14 September 2014
985:harrowtimes.co.uk
867:Warwickshire Life
831:walesonline.co.uk
698:, near Coventry.
619:SSE Wembley Arena
539:Wuthering Heights
535:Bernard J. Taylor
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183:Singer and actor
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359:British Leyland
355:quality manager
349:. based at the
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614:Legally Blonde
598:Comedy Theatre
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519:Les Misérables
503:, appeared as
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437:In 1987, when
424:Colm Wilkinson
419:Les Misérables
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666:Discography
647:Kerry Ellis
587:42nd Street
406:Trevor Nunn
1298:Categories
1278:Dan Dietz
1233:Daily Echo
702:References
676:Clive Rowe
635:Wonderland
531:Heathcliff
461:Manchester
434:company.
377:Kenilworth
327:apprentice
303:Birmingham
293:Early life
161:1952-06-24
91:newspapers
1107:0261-3077
527:Australia
491:Leicester
404:Director
369:musical,
339:Pontypool
174:, England
43:citations
1238:24 March
1187:23 March
1160:25 March
1130:Archived
1035:25 March
1012:24 March
990:24 March
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696:Baginton
432:Broadway
414:West End
388:Coventry
363:Midlands
297:Born in
221:musicals
218:West End
69:libelous
658:at the
596:at the
562:Bromley
557:Aladdin
547:Ragtime
347:Newport
331:Cwmbran
241:Ragtime
214:English
105:scholar
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523:Sydney
410:London
325:as an
272:, and
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1264:2 May
1212:3 May
1112:3 May
1078:3 May
393:Annie
386:, in
335:Wales
329:, in
315:Rover
112:JSTOR
98:books
36:This
1266:2023
1240:2018
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1103:ISSN
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