Manchester Opera House will host a week-long run of An Officer and a Gentleman the Musical as it goes on tour around the UK following a world premiere at Curve.

This brand-new musical is based on the 1982 Oscar-winning film starring Richard Gere which tells the story of Zack Mayo who is in training to become a US Navy Pilot. When Zack rolls into boot camp with a bit too much of a swagger, drill Sergeant Foley doesn’t make life easy for him. When he falls for local girl Paula Pokrifki and tragedy befalls his friend and fellow candidate, Zack realises the importance of love and friendship and finds the courage to be himself and win the heart of the woman he loves. It’s only then he can truly become both an Officer and a Gentleman.

The musical includes the hit song from the movie Up Where We Belong along, with 80’s classics such as Alone, Don’t Cry Out Loud, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Toy Soldiers and Material Girl and features one of the most iconic romantic scenes ever portrayed on screen.

An Officer and a Gentleman the movie went on to become a huge success, with a screenplay written by writer and director Douglas Day Stewart.  The play was based on his personal experience as a Naval Officer Candidate.

An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical has been three years in the making and producer Jamie Wilson is clearly delighted that it has now come to fruition.  “I am thrilled to be presenting An Officer and a Gentleman – The Musical and working once again with Chris Stafford, Nikolai Foster and the team at curve” he commented, “For the last three years we have been working on bringing this memorable and iconic story to the stage, and hope that this new adaptation becomes as loved as the film.”

Director Nikolai Foster added, “An Officer and a Gentleman delicately charts the lives of working class, military folk in America in the early 1980s; important lives, often pushed to the margins of society. We are proud to be working alongside the film’s creator Douglas Day Stewart, producer Jamie Wilson and an incredible creative team to present this beautiful and inspiring story. This brand-new adaptation includes iconic 80s songs which create an entertaining, uplifting and original piece of musical theatre, we are excited to share this world premiere with our audiences here in Leicester and across the U.K”.

When does An Officer and a Gentleman the Musical come to Manchester?

An Officer and a Gentleman the Musical comes to Manchester Opera House on Monday 13 August 2018. It runs until Saturday 18 August 2018.  Tickets go on sale on 6 September 2017.