''Disco Inferno'' is a 1970s

jukebox musical A jukebox musical is a stage musical or musical film in which a majority of the songs are well-known popular music songs, rather than original music. Some jukebox musicals use a wide variety of songs, while others confine themselves to songs perfo ...

written by Jai Sepple. Set in the East End of London in 1976, the show features songs from the era and is loosely based on the story of ''

Faust Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads ...

''.

Original productions

The musical debuted at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch in 1999 with revised revivals at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon in 2004 the Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford in 2006.

Character list

The characters in ''Disco Inferno'' were named after well-known characters from songs of the era, such as "

Jumpin' Jack Flash "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released as a non-album single in 1968. Called "supernatural Delta blues by way of Swinging London" by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, the song was perceived by some as ...

", "

Wuthering Heights ''Wuthering Heights'' is an 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, initially published under her pen name Ellis Bell. It concerns two families of the landed gentry living on the West Yorkshire moorland, moors, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their tur ...

" and "

Lady Marmalade "Lady Marmalade" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, originally for Nolan's disco group. The song is famous for the repeated refrain of " ''Voulez-vous coucher avec moi''?" in French as part of the chorus, a sexually suggestive line ...

". * Jack - a young and impressionable wannabe 'superstar' * Jane - Jack's devoted girlfriend / fiancée * Tom - Jack's lifelong and slightly nerdish best friend * Maggie - Tom's girlfriend and female equivalent * Heathcliffe - an egotistical, malevolent singer in the 'Disco Inferno' * Kathy - Heathcliffe's long-suffering girlfriend * Terry - Smooth talking DJ and friend to Jack and Tom * Duke - an aging rocker and owner of the nightclub * Lady Marmalade - the

femme fatale A ''femme fatale'' ( or ; ), sometimes called a maneater or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype of ...

* Nick Diablo - eccentric English fashion guru * Lily - a flamboyant barman The character of Nick Diablo was omitted from both the 2006 and 2012 productions and Lily were omitted from the 2012 UK tour. Some of the characters names' were changed in the 2012 UK tour: Lady Marmalade was renamed Lucretia MacEvil, Kathy was renamed Roxanne and Terry was renamed Billy.

Original casts

Plot synopsis

The show is set in London in 1976; the hottest summer on record. ''Disco Inferno'' tells the story of an ambitious and talented hopeful, Jack, and his "burning" desire to make it in the music industry. Working late in a London nightclub, Jack meets Lucretia McEvil – a

and incarnation of the Devil. Dreaming of becoming successful, he makes a Faustian pact with her, trading his soul to fulfill his wildest fantasies. Jack soon becomes an international success, making appearances on radio and television shows, but success proves hollow. He has the fame and fortune he's always dreamed of but is losing something far more important – his devoted girlfriend, Jane. One disaster quickly follows another. If only he could turn back time... If only he could make one more deal, trading all he now has for something far more important... the love of his life.

Performances

''Disco Inferno'' has been performed around the world since it initial debut, countries have included the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Jamaica, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and Norway.

Music

Generally due to copyright restrictions in different countries songs have varied from production to production. The 2012 UK Tour version of the script was considerably revised.

2004 London premiere

Act One

* Overture (Instrumental) * Celebration / Night To Remember (Jack & Company) *

If You Leave Me Now "If You Leave Me Now" is a song by the American rock group Chicago, from their album '' Chicago X''. It was written and sung by bass player Peter Cetera and released as a single on July 30, 1976. It is also the title of a Chicago compilation a ...

(Heathcliffe, Kathy, Jane & Jack) *

You Got What It Takes "You Got What It Takes" is a 1959 single by Marv Johnson. In the US it reached number 2 on the Black Singles chart, and number 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 early in 1960. In the UK Singles Chart it reached a high of number 5. The original re ...

(Heathcliffe) *

Space Oddity "Space Oddity" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was first released on 11 July 1969 by Philips Records as a 7-inch single, then as the opening track of his second studio album ''David Bowie''. After the commercial f ...

/ I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper (Terry & Company) *

Crocodile Rock "Crocodile Rock" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in summer 1972 at the Château d'Hérouville studio in France (it was listed as "Strawberry Studios" in the album's credits), where John and his team had previou ...

(Duke, Jack, Tom & Terry) * Kissing in the Back Row (Tom & Company) * Hot Stuff (Lady Marmalade & Acolytes) *

Some Girls ''Some Girls'' is the 14th UK and 16th US album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 9 June 1978 by Rolling Stones Records. It was recorded in sessions held between October 1977 and February 1978 at Pathé Marconi Studios in ...

(Tom & Guys) *

You to Me Are Everything In Modern English, ''you'' is the second-person pronoun. It is grammatically plural, and was historically used only for the dative case, but in most modern dialects is used for all cases and numbers. History ''You'' comes from the Proto- ...

(Jack, Jane & Company) * Streetlife (Kathy) * Village People Medley (Terry, Tom, Jack & Company) *

Brown Eyed Girl "Brown Eyed Girl" is a song by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison. Written by Morrison and recorded in March 1967 for Bang Records owner and producer Bert Berns, it was released as a single in June of the same year on the Bang la ...

(Jack & Company) * Leader of the Gang (Heathcliffe) *

Pop Muzik "Pop Muzik" is a 1979 song by M, a project by English musician Robin Scott, from the debut album ''New York • London • Paris • Munich''. The single, first released in the UK in early 1979, was bolstered by a music video (directed by Br ...

(Nick Diablo & Company) * Money Money Money (Jane, Kathy & Girls) *

Don't Stop Me Now "Don't Stop Me Now" is a song by the British rock band Queen featured on their 1978 album ''Jazz'' that was released as a single in 1979. Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, it was recorded in August 1978 at Super Bear Studios in Berre-les ...

(Jack & Company)

Act Two

* Whole Lotta Lovin' (Instrumental) * Waterloo (Abba) *

Do Ya Think I'm Sexy "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", also written "Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy", is a song by British singer Rod Stewart from his ninth studio album, ''Blondes Have More Fun'' (1978). It was written by Stewart, Carmine Appice and Duane Hitchings, though it inco ...

(Jack & Company) * Angel Eyes (Jane & Company) * Staying Alive Medley (Jack & Company) * This Is It (Maggie & Company) *

(Jack & Company) *

I Will Survive "I Will Survive" is a song by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978 as the second single from her sixth album, '' Love Tracks'' (1978). It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. A top-selling song, it is a popular di ...

(Jane) *

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was recorded by Elton John and released in 1976, both as a single and as part of the '' Blue Moves'' album. It was John's sec ...

(Jack) * Enough Is Enough (Kathy & Jane) * Don't Give Up on Us Baby (Jack & Jane) * Tragedy (Jack, Lady Marmalade & Company) * Fire (Duke & Company) *

Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (sometimes written "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)") is a song originally recorded by English musician Elton John. John composed it with his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. It was ...

(Heathcliffe & Lady Marmalade) *

Disco Inferno "Disco Inferno" is a song by American disco band the Trammps from their 1976 fourth studio album of the same name. With two other cuts by the group, it reached No. 1 on the US '' Billboard'' Dance Club Songs chart in early 1977, but had li ...

(Jack, Jane & Company)

2006 London revival

Act One

* Overture (Instrumental) * Celebration (Jack & Company) *

(Heathcliffe, Kathy, Jane & Jack) *

(Heathcliffe) *

(Duke, Jack, Tom & Terry) * Kissing in the Back Row (Tom & Company) * Hot Stuff (Lady Marmalade & Acolytes) *

(Jack, Jane & Company) * Streetlife (Kathy) * Boogie Medley (Terry, Tom, Jack & Company) *

Could It Be Magic "Could It Be Magic" is a song with lyrics by Adrienne Anderson and music by Barry Manilow, inspired by Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C minor, Opus 28, Number 20. The song was initially released in 1971 by Featherbed (a group of session musi ...

(Jack & Company) *

Ballroom Blitz "The Ballroom Blitz" (often called "Ballroom Blitz") is a song by British glam rock band The Sweet, written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The song reached number one in Canada, number two in the UK Singles Chart and the Australian Chart, and ...

(Heathcliffe) * Money Money Money (Jane, Kathy & Girls) *

(Jack & Company)

Act Two

Killer Queen "Killer Queen" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by lead singer Freddie Mercury and recorded for their third album ''Sheer Heart Attack'' in 1974. It reached number two in the UK Singles Chart and became their first US ...

(Lady Marmalade & Acolytes) * Waterloo (Abba) * I Was Made for Dancing (Jack & Company) *

The Winner Takes It All "The Winner Takes It All" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. Released as the first single from the group's seventh studio album, '' Super Trouper'' (1980), it is a ballad in the key of G-flat major, reflecting on the end of a relatio ...

(Jane) * Staying Alive Medley (Jack & Company) * This Is It (Maggie & Company) *

(Jack & Company) *

(Jane) *

Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was recorded by Elton John and released in 1976, both as a single and as part of the '' Blue Moves'' album. It was John's sec ...

(Jack) * Enough Is Enough (Kathy & Jane) * Don't Give Up on Us Baby (Jack & Jane) *

Tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...

Bohemian Rhapsody "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released as the lead single from their fourth album, '' A Night at the Opera'' (1975). Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, the song is a six-minute suite, notable for its lack ...

(Jack, Lady Marmalade & Company) * Devil Woman (Jack & Company) * Still I'm Sad (Maggie & Company) *

(Heathcliffe & Lady Marmalade) *

Play That Funky Music "Play That Funky Music" is a song written by Rob Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The single was the first released by the Cleveland-based Sweet City record label in April 1976 and distributed by Epic Records. The performers on th ...

(Jack & Company) *

(Jack, Jane & Company)

2012 UK Tour

Act One

* Overture (Instrumental) *

The Best Disco in Town "The Best Disco in Town" is a 1976 crossover disco single by Philadelphia-based group, The Ritchie Family. In the United States, the single was a top 20 hit on both the soul and pop charts. "The Best Disco in Town" went to number one for one week ...

(Heathcliffe & Company) *

Hold Me Close "Hold Me Close" is a pop song written and performed by English singer and actor David Essex. The song was released in October 1975, and reached the number one position on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for three weeks. Song profile "Ho ...

(Jack & Jane) *

(Heathcliffe) * Old Time Rock n Roll (Duke) * Hot Stuff (Lucretia & Acolytes) *

Let's Make a Deal ''Let's Make a Deal'' (also known as ''LMAD'') is an American television musical comedy variety-game show that originated in the United States in 1963 and has since been produced in many countries throughout the world. The program was created an ...

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" is a soul song, by American musician Stevie Wonder, released in June 1970 as a single on Motown's Tamla label. It spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S ...

(Lucretia & Acolytes) *

Boogie Shoes "Boogie Shoes" is a funk/disco song by KC and the Sunshine Band, which first appeared on their 1975 self-titled album. The song became a hit after it appeared on the ''Saturday Night Fever'' soundtrack in 1977. It was subsequently released as ...

(Tom, Jack, Billy & Male Company) *

(Jack, Jane & Company) * Call Me (Roxanne) *

Relight My Fire "Relight My Fire" is a popular disco song written and released by American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer Dan Hartman as the title track from his 1979 album of the same name. It was also performed by Costa Anadiotis' band Caf ...

(Jack & Company) * Hell Raiser (Heathcliffe) *

I've Got the Music in Me "I've Got the Music in Me" is a pop song by The Kiki Dee Band, released in 1974. It was written in 1973 by Bias Boshell, Kiki Dee Band's keyboardist. It is also the title of a Kiki Dee Band album released in 1974 and re-mastered and re-issued wit ...

(Jack & Company)

Act Two

* Entr'Acte / Radio Montage (Instrumental) * Lucretia MacEvil (Lucretia & Acolytes) * Whole Lotta Lovin' (Instrumental) *

Y.M.C.A. YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...

(Village People) *

Shake Your Groove Thing "Shake Your Groove Thing" is a song by disco duo Peaches & Herb. The single reached No. 5 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 4 on the ''Billboard'' R&B Chart. It also reached No. 2 for four weeks on the '' Billboard'' Disco chart in 1 ...

(Jack & Company) * If I Can't Have You (Jane) * I'm in the Mood for Dancing (Maggie, Tom & Company) * Boogie Medley (Jack & Company) *

(Jane) * Baby Come Back (Jack & Company) *

/ Night on Disco Mountain (Instrumental) * Don't Give Up on Us Baby / It's Too Late (Jack & Jane) * Devil Woman (Jack, Lucretia & Acolytes) *

Highway to Hell ''Highway to Hell'' is the sixth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 27 July 1979. It was the last album featuring lead singer Bon Scott, who would die early the following year on 19 February 1980. Background By 1978 ...

(Jack) * Still I'm Sad (Maggie & Company) *

Spirit in the Sky "Spirit in the Sky" is a song by American singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum, originally written and recorded by Greenbaum and released in late 1969 from the album of the same name. The single became a gold record, selling two million copies f ...

(Jack, Tom & Company) *

(Heathcliffe & Lucretia) *

Devil's Gun "Devil's Gun" is a 1977 song by C. J. & Company from the album of the same name. "Devil's Gun" was written by Barry Green (also known as Barry Blue), Ron Roker, and Gerry Shury and produced by Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey. Along with the trac ...

(Heathcliffe, Lucretia & Acolytes) *

(Jack, Jane & Company) *

Megamix A megamix is a remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. It often features various artists. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. It is ...

(Company)

Publishing and representation

''Disco Inferno'' is published by various Musical Theatre publishers worldwide. * UK - Musical Theatre International, MTI Europe * US - Musical Theatre International, MTI * Europe - Gallissas Verlag * Australia / New Zealand - David Spicer Productions

Cancelled UK tour

A new version of ''Disco Inferno'' began a tour of the UK in the autumn of 2012. The cast included

Sam Attwater Samuel Attwater (born 10 April 1986) is an English actor and singer who played Leon Small in the British soap opera ''EastEnders'' and its online spin-off '' EastEnders: E20''. He won the sixth series of '' Dancing on Ice'' in March 2011 and p ...

as 'Jack',

Dani Harmer Danielle Jane Harmer (born 8 February 1989) is an English actress, television personality, and former singer. She is best known for her lead role as Tracy Beaker in the CBBC series ''The Story of Tracy Beaker'' (2002–2006), ''Tracy Beaker R ...

as 'Jane' and

Javine Hylton Javine Dionne Hylton (born 27 December 1981), often known simply as Javine, is an English singer and songwriter. She represented the UK at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv with "Touch My Fire". Hylton has also had a string of singles in ...

as 'Lucretia MacEvil'. The tour closed after the first week, with the producer citing 'financial problems'.

External links

The Official Disco Inferno Website

Jai Sepple - Author's official homepage

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Disco Inferno (Musical) 2012 musicals 2006 musicals 2004 musicals Jukebox musicals British musicals