Award-nominated Carly Mercedes Dyer will star in The Drifters Girl, which comes to Venue Cymru as part of a major UK & Ireland tour.
Nominated for Best New Musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards, this smash-hit show has audiences on their feet night after night.
Don't just take our word for it. The Daily Mail dubbed it a 'slick and snazzy production', the Evening Standard praised the 'note-perfect versions of wonderful songs', WhatsOnStage hailed it as an 'extraordinarily enjoyable night out', and Smooth Radio simply called it a 'sensational show'."
The production boasts a phenomenal soundtrack packed full of iconic Drifters hits, including Saturday Night At The Movies, Save The Last Dance For Me and Stand By Me.
Carly Mercedes Dyer, former star of Six the Musical and Olivier-nominated for Anything Goes, plays Faye Treadwell - the legendary manager of The Drifters who refused to give up on the group she loved.
Carly explained: "If there wasn't a Faye Treadwell there wouldn't be The Drifters. She kept them at the top of their game and fresh.
"The show is about this woman who took on an industry which didn't have women in managerial positions.
"As an African-American woman in the record business, she was groundbreaking. To persevere when people keep telling you 'no' and shutting down your ideas takes a lot of resilience.
"She was ahead of her time because she could have easily just given up and gone home."
Heart, commitment and resilience
Carly admitted she was not very familiar with The Drifters' story before watching the musical for the first time.
She said: "I just knew the songs and often I didn't realise it was The Drifters singing them.
"I saw the show in London because I knew most of the cast. It opened my eyes. I thought it was such a slick show. I knew the vocals would be amazing but they blew me away.
"I also thought that Faye Treadwell would be a great part to play because her story is so interesting.
"In our industry sometimes people go, 'Oh okay, that's what you do', and they want to keep you in a specific box. But I like to do things that scare me and push me out of my comfort zone.
"I hope audiences come away knowing more about who the backbone behind The Drifters was and how much tenacity went into keeping them going. Faye has such a great heart, such great commitment and resilience."
Amazing music
The Drifters Girl boasts an incredible soundtrack of some of the most famous songs in history.
These include Save The Last Dance For Me, Under The Boardwalk, Kissin' In The Back Row Of The Movies, Stand By Me, Come On Over To My Place, Saturday Night At The Movies and many more.
Carly said: "I enjoy performing Save the Last Dance For Me. You can tell the boys enjoy it when they're dancing. You can see that they're having a great time and you're thinking that you're in the club with them.
"My own solo numbers are a big challenge vocally, but I especially enjoy performing Harlem Child because it is so emotive.
"The music in this show is amazing and it's all about nostalgia. When people come and see it they go, 'Oh my goodness, I remember hearing this'."
You're in for a great time
Needless to say, Carly is eagerly looking forward to impressing theatre fans in Llandudno this month.
She concluded: "I hope audiences come away knowing more about who the backbone behind The Drifters was and how much tenacity went into keeping them going. Faye has such a great heart, great commitment and resilience.
"I know they are going to be blown away by the magnitude of the talent of the company because our Drifters are something else.
"The cast is incredible and the buzz from the audience will be electric. They're in for a great time."
Book now
The Drifters Girl is at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, from January 23 to January 27. Ticket prices start at just £15. For further information and to book, call 01492 872000 or see the website.
