Swapping football boots for tap shoes in Crooners show
Former Manchester City, Wrexham and Northern Ireland midfielder Jim Whitley has exchanged his football boots for tap shoes as he prepares for a brand new comedy musical show set to hit Sunderland Empire for one night only, on Thursday August 2.
Crooners is a brand new comedy musical that puts a quintessential British twist to a genre symbolised by the crooner, with a show full of satirical energy, hilarious one liners, laugh out loud silliness and superb musical numbers.
When injury cut short Jim’s football career he jumped on the chance to get back to his love for music and rekindle his previous experience as a singer.
His love for swing music, The Rat Pack and the Great American Song Book soon saw Jim become one of the UK’s most in demand crooners on the theatre circuit, and he jumped at the opportunity to play homage to his heroes Sammy Davis Jr, Matt Monro and Bobby Darin.
Jim said: “This is music from a time where men had style and charisma and could sing, dance, and joke like the best of them. What a time for music.”
Crooner includes more than 20 classic crooner songs such as Mr Bojangles, LOVE, Mac The Knife and Beyond The Sea, and it features one of the best modern big bands in the UK, The Mini Big Band.
Jim’s footballing feet have fared him well in his transition from football to the- atre and he puts them to good practice in an extended Fred Astaire inspired tap dance routine.
Jim admitted: “I’ve always admired flair and showmanship of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, so I bought some tap shoes! Now, it’s the highlight of my night.”
Tickets for Crooners are available from the Box Office on High Street West, via the ticket centre 0844 871 3022 or www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland
We’ve teamed up with Sunderland Empire to offer readers a 2-4-1 offer on tickets to Crooners. Simply use the code CROONERS241 when booking.
T&C’s: Selected bands only and tickets must be purchased in pairs. A £1.90 per ticket booking fee, plus a one-off £3.65 transaction fee applies to bookings made online or via telephone. Subject to availably. Not valid on tickets already purchased or in conjunction with any other offer.