I am going to see this panto next month!! poor northampton gets the *best* people in their pantos!!
Poor Brian Fortuna...
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Panto attracts many big celebs these days ... as has been said, the money they are on is a good little earner for a few weeks work.
Read an article about him recently and apparently he wants to get into musical theatre, but it hasn't been as straightforward as he thought it would be.
Strictly puts these pro dancers in the public eye, however they get paid far less than the celebs. The pros get something like £35k, some of the celebs get double that or sometimes more. So the pro dancers earn more in a run in panto than they do working for four months on Strictly.
Why does everybody sneer, and think just because they are not on tv their work means nothing and they are not working?
Have to agree about Bobby Davro, wouldn't go to see him but would go to the panto to see how Brian does ...... if I lived anywhere near there that is!!
Read an article about him recently and apparently he wants to get into musical theatre, but it hasn't been as straightforward as he thought it would be.
Strictly puts these pro dancers in the public eye, however they get paid far less than the celebs. The pros get something like £35k, some of the celebs get double that or sometimes more. So the pro dancers earn more in a run in panto than they do working for four months on Strictly.
Why does everybody sneer, and think just because they are not on tv their work means nothing and they are not working?
Have to agree about Bobby Davro, wouldn't go to see him but would go to the panto to see how Brian does ...... if I lived anywhere near there that is!!
Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley:
“Tommy Steele is in pantomime at the little "off Broadway" Lowry Theatre, in Manchester.
It comes to them all, some more quickly than others.”
“Tommy Steele is in pantomime at the little "off Broadway" Lowry Theatre, in Manchester.
It comes to them all, some more quickly than others.”
He's in Scrooge which is a touring musical production, not a pantomime.
Anyone have any juicy gossip about why he left SCD? He was a popular dancer on the show. Did he want too much money? Did he say something negative about the show? Anyone have any ideas why he left.
Originally Posted by Stunty:
“Panto attracts many big celebs these days ... as has been said, the money they are on is a good little earner for a few weeks work.
Read an article about him recently and apparently he wants to get into musical theatre, but it hasn't been as straightforward as he thought it would be.
Strictly puts these pro dancers in the public eye, however they get paid far less than the celebs. The pros get something like £35k, some of the celebs get double that or sometimes more. So the pro dancers earn more in a run in panto than they do working for four months on Strictly.
Why does everybody sneer, and think just because they are not on tv their work means nothing and they are not working?
Have to agree about Bobby Davro, wouldn't go to see him but would go to the panto to see how Brian does ...... if I lived anywhere near there that is!!”
“Panto attracts many big celebs these days ... as has been said, the money they are on is a good little earner for a few weeks work.
Read an article about him recently and apparently he wants to get into musical theatre, but it hasn't been as straightforward as he thought it would be.
Strictly puts these pro dancers in the public eye, however they get paid far less than the celebs. The pros get something like £35k, some of the celebs get double that or sometimes more. So the pro dancers earn more in a run in panto than they do working for four months on Strictly.
Why does everybody sneer, and think just because they are not on tv their work means nothing and they are not working?
Have to agree about Bobby Davro, wouldn't go to see him but would go to the panto to see how Brian does ...... if I lived anywhere near there that is!!”
Great post! I agree with everything that you said. I wish I lived a little closer...I would love to go and see him perform.
Article in the Daily Fail yesterday. Interesting read and it seems Mr Fortuna has been taking singing and acting lessons as he wants to be seen as an all-rounder. Good luck to him.
I liked Brian. It IS weird that he didnt return to America, where he'd have more opportunities as a dancer surely??
Loving what Brian is doing. Honestly he was brilliant in OTR, totally the right thing for him to do. He is not afraid of hard work and is proving that by studying and being open to new opportunities. GO BRIAN x
Originally Posted by AmSalt12:
“The Fortuna Fantastics have not deserted Brian, at all,.. They are going to see him in Panto. They have been to see him several times in Over the Rainbow. So have not deserted him!!!!!!”
“The Fortuna Fantastics have not deserted Brian, at all,.. They are going to see him in Panto. They have been to see him several times in Over the Rainbow. So have not deserted him!!!!!!”
Sarah was being sarcastic Amy!!!
Originally Posted by AmSalt12:
“The Fortuna Fantastics have not deserted Brian, at all,.. They are going to see him in Panto. They have been to see him several times in Over the Rainbow. So have not deserted him!!!!!!”
“The Fortuna Fantastics have not deserted Brian, at all,.. They are going to see him in Panto. They have been to see him several times in Over the Rainbow. So have not deserted him!!!!!!”
Amy, I was being sarcastic as a response to the original post.
Originally Posted by btvs:
“Sarah was being sarcastic Amy!!!”
“Sarah was being sarcastic Amy!!!”
Thanks Em - only just seen your post. Glad some one understood my comment, although I thought it was pretty clear, myself
I Have also seen Brian in OTR & he was brilliant in it, Brian is open & is not a snob about what he is doing. He is not afraid of hard work to further his career,& i admire him for that. Have to agree GO BRIAN xx
Saw Brian in OTR he was amazing and got tickets to travel to Northampton to see him in Panto,He was born to perform
No one should ever be in any doubt about support for Brian Fortuna .His support is rock solid .SCD lost an amazing dancer when Brian left ,but he picked himself up dusted himself down and started all over again. He is multi talented hard working humble and approacable .His supporters will travel the length and breadth of the country to support him much to his surprise. But he is always appreciative and spends time with them. Would love to see him in the West End again.
The shelf life of a dancer is a short one, and without strictly there were very few opportunites left to him. Unless you have your own dance school to fall back on or a professional partner to tour the country with then whats left to do ???. Attending the odd event giving exhibition dances will not pay the bills, He wants to stay in the entertainment field and has realised he needs to add strings to his bow to be a more versatile product. He is new to the acting world and will need all the practice and experience he can get. Pantomime mat be seen by some as the bottom of the pit but to someone starting out its a learning curve.
Originally Posted by boddism:
“I liked Brian. It IS weird that he didnt return to America, where he'd have more opportunities as a dancer surely??”
“I liked Brian. It IS weird that he didnt return to America, where he'd have more opportunities as a dancer surely??
”
He did one season as a full-fledged pro on Dancing With the Stars - U.S., and he was lukewarmly received at best. He has a much bigger following in the U.K. than the U.S. Makes sense to stay where his fans are.
Originally Posted by pennybel:
“No one should ever be in any doubt about support for Brian Fortuna .His support is rock solid .SCD lost an amazing dancer when Brian left ,but he picked himself up dusted himself down and started all over again. He is multi talented hard working humble and approacable .His supporters will travel the length and breadth of the country to support him much to his surprise. But he is always appreciative and spends time with them. Would love to see him in the West End again.”
“No one should ever be in any doubt about support for Brian Fortuna .His support is rock solid .SCD lost an amazing dancer when Brian left ,but he picked himself up dusted himself down and started all over again. He is multi talented hard working humble and approacable .His supporters will travel the length and breadth of the country to support him much to his surprise. But he is always appreciative and spends time with them. Would love to see him in the West End again.”
Here, here! I could not agree with you more.
Brian Fortuna is a truly amazing and talented dancer and the fact that he is no longer on our TV screens entertaining his loyal and adoring fans is nothing short of a travesty.
Fortunately, common-sense is prevailing and his talent, charisma, professionalism and versatility is now being appreciated by those in the world of theatre where, unlike TV, skill and ability are still key attributes.
I don’t see how performing in pantomime, a fine British institution, with handsome rewards, is in any way worse than appearing with some of the horrendous and cringe-worthy props, tacky costumes and dumbed-down routines that, regrettably, have become the SCD norm!
Went to see Brian four times in Over the Rainbow and will be in Northampton on Dec 10th with the others and also January 8th for closing night of panto. Travelled up to see him switch the lights on yesterday in Northampton, he will be a fantastic Aladdin of that I have no doubt and he's more than capable of standing his ground with Basil Brush - insults were flying yesterday afternoon.
Poor?
As I understand it Pantos are bloody good earners and many stars use them to fund their retirement, holidays or extensions
As I understand it Pantos are bloody good earners and many stars use them to fund their retirement, holidays or extensions
I've never understood why people think panto is a step down either. It's very hard to do, apparently, facing all those children every night! (yeah okay its not like going down the mines). And good training for stage too. Also as previously said good training for dancers. It's a bit like when Simon Cowell gets all sniffy about musical theatre when really some of the best singers and dancers can be found there. Dont mention Simon Bowman tirelessly working for years, then in Les Mis then along comes Alfie Bowe and he's suddenly the star.
Originally Posted by Stunty:
“Panto attracts many big celebs these days ... as has been said, the money they are on is a good little earner for a few weeks work.
Read an article about him recently and apparently he wants to get into musical theatre, but it hasn't been as straightforward as he thought it would be.
Strictly puts these pro dancers in the public eye, however they get paid far less than the celebs. The pros get something like £35k, some of the celebs get double that or sometimes more. So the pro dancers earn more in a run in panto than they do working for four months on Strictly.
Why does everybody sneer, and think just because they are not on tv their work means nothing and they are not working?
Have to agree about Bobby Davro, wouldn't go to see him but would go to the panto to see how Brian does ...... if I lived anywhere near there that is!!”
“Panto attracts many big celebs these days ... as has been said, the money they are on is a good little earner for a few weeks work.
Read an article about him recently and apparently he wants to get into musical theatre, but it hasn't been as straightforward as he thought it would be.
Strictly puts these pro dancers in the public eye, however they get paid far less than the celebs. The pros get something like £35k, some of the celebs get double that or sometimes more. So the pro dancers earn more in a run in panto than they do working for four months on Strictly.
Why does everybody sneer, and think just because they are not on tv their work means nothing and they are not working?
Have to agree about Bobby Davro, wouldn't go to see him but would go to the panto to see how Brian does ...... if I lived anywhere near there that is!!”
Have to agree with you. Brian wants to do musical theatre and panto is a great money earner. He's been in a touring production of Over the Rainbow and seems to be working which is the main thing. Unlike Anton and Erin and Vincent and Flavia, he hasn't had a regular dance partner to go to hotels or shows and make money while Strictly isn't on.
Bobby Davro, not a fan but I would go see Brian. . .
Originally Posted by cj1234:
“I've never understood why people think panto is a step down either. It's very hard to do, apparently, facing all those children every night! (yeah okay its not like going down the mines). And good training for stage too. Also as previously said good training for dancers. It's a bit like when Simon Cowell gets all sniffy about musical theatre when really some of the best singers and dancers can be found there. Dont mention Simon Bowman tirelessly working for years, then in Les Mis then along comes Alfie Bowe and he's suddenly the star.”
“I've never understood why people think panto is a step down either. It's very hard to do, apparently, facing all those children every night! (yeah okay its not like going down the mines). And good training for stage too. Also as previously said good training for dancers. It's a bit like when Simon Cowell gets all sniffy about musical theatre when really some of the best singers and dancers can be found there. Dont mention Simon Bowman tirelessly working for years, then in Les Mis then along comes Alfie Bowe and he's suddenly the star.”
Nor do I Craig Revell Horwood & Ann Widecombe are doing Panto in Dartford this year, as it starts before SCD ends don't quite know how that will work but the interaction and add libbing with the audience will be a real learning curve for Brian and I am sure he will handle it magnificently.
Originally Posted by StigOfTheKrump:
“I was driving along today and I saw a billboard with someone who looked like Brian Fortuna on it. I took a second glance and I realised it was a billboard for him in panto with Bobby Davro and Basil Brush
”
“I was driving along today and I saw a billboard with someone who looked like Brian Fortuna on it. I took a second glance and I realised it was a billboard for him in panto with Bobby Davro and Basil Brush
”
oh dear, but I am assuming it was his choice to say yes!!
Originally Posted by Ignazio:
“There's a lot of money to be earned in panto!”
“There's a lot of money to be earned in panto!”
Originally Posted by jennewrobo:
“Loving what Brian is doing. Honestly he was brilliant in OTR, totally the right thing for him to do. He is not afraid of hard work and is proving that by studying and being open to new opportunities. GO BRIAN x”
“Loving what Brian is doing. Honestly he was brilliant in OTR, totally the right thing for him to do. He is not afraid of hard work and is proving that by studying and being open to new opportunities. GO BRIAN x”
Originally Posted by jenda57:
“Brian in Burn the Floor and Over the Rainbow was amazing, earn a few bob in panto well why not
”
“Brian in Burn the Floor and Over the Rainbow was amazing, earn a few bob in panto well why not
”
Originally Posted by Blue Robot:
“Having ~ahem~ seen the the paperwork for certain celebs, I can tell you that panto pays as much as 10k a week. It's a marvellous earner for a few weeks over Christmas.
Brian's going to be getting a good few thousand for a couple of weeks of fun (if intense) work.
No need to pity any celeb in a panto!”
“Having ~ahem~ seen the the paperwork for certain celebs, I can tell you that panto pays as much as 10k a week. It's a marvellous earner for a few weeks over Christmas.
Brian's going to be getting a good few thousand for a couple of weeks of fun (if intense) work.
No need to pity any celeb in a panto!
”
Originally Posted by Glistener:
“I know! It's awful for poor Brian. It's been so hard for him working on shows like Burn the Floor and Over The Rainbow show that had excellent reviews.
And of course the Fortuna's Fantastics have totally deserted him, never attending a show, shaking a banner or posting on his thread on here!
Poor, poor Brian indeed”
“I know! It's awful for poor Brian. It's been so hard for him working on shows like Burn the Floor and Over The Rainbow show that had excellent reviews.
And of course the Fortuna's Fantastics have totally deserted him, never attending a show, shaking a banner or posting on his thread on here!
Poor, poor Brian indeed”
Originally Posted by Stunty:
“Panto attracts many big celebs these days ... as has been said, the money they are on is a good little earner for a few weeks work.
Read an article about him recently and apparently he wants to get into musical theatre, but it hasn't been as straightforward as he thought it would be.
Strictly puts these pro dancers in the public eye, however they get paid far less than the celebs. The pros get something like £35k, some of the celebs get double that or sometimes more. So the pro dancers earn more in a run in panto than they do working for four months on Strictly.
Why does everybody sneer, and think just because they are not on tv their work means nothing and they are not working?
Have to agree about Bobby Davro, wouldn't go to see him but would go to the panto to see how Brian does ...... if I lived anywhere near there that is!!”
“Panto attracts many big celebs these days ... as has been said, the money they are on is a good little earner for a few weeks work.
Read an article about him recently and apparently he wants to get into musical theatre, but it hasn't been as straightforward as he thought it would be.
Strictly puts these pro dancers in the public eye, however they get paid far less than the celebs. The pros get something like £35k, some of the celebs get double that or sometimes more. So the pro dancers earn more in a run in panto than they do working for four months on Strictly.
Why does everybody sneer, and think just because they are not on tv their work means nothing and they are not working?
Have to agree about Bobby Davro, wouldn't go to see him but would go to the panto to see how Brian does ...... if I lived anywhere near there that is!!”
Sorry guys, I didn't mean to cause offence, I just didn't expect Brian to be in a panto. Sorry
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