The Man

Glenn Miller escorts his mother, left, and wife, Helen

Alton Glenn Miller hated the name his parents, Louis and Mattie Lou Miller, gave him at birth on March 1, 1904 in Clarinda, Iowa. He preferred to be called “Glenn” and by the time he disappeared in 1944 his name was synonymous with big band music.

Miller’s work ethic and high musical standards fashioned him into this country’s most popular band leader. His compatriots were other struggling musicians whose names would become the foundation stones of “the big band era.” Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Artie Shaw were friends and colleagues.

Mystery Latest

Glenn Miller

‘‘Whatever happened to Glenn Miller?’’ remains as much a mystery today as when the iconic American band-leader went missing in mysterious circumstances at the end of World War 2. It ranks alongside other unsolved mysteries; like ‘‘who really was William Shakespeare?  Or ‘‘what really happened to Lord Lucan?’’

Now a new play. Yes! a new play and not just another orchestra on stage playing his tunes; is set to tour the UK from March 2012. Not to be missed and guaranteed to get you In the Mood.

Playwright

Den Stevenson

 

Sixty years after Glenn Miller’s plane went down under mysterious circumstances his melodies lived again in the first musical ever to be staged in the United States. “Bugle Boy,” based on the life and music of the 1940s-era iconic showman bandleader, which put its audiences “in the mood” for a night of nostalgic melodies and memories.

Bringing ” Bugle Boy” to an American stage had been the dream of its creator, British playwright Den Stevenson.

Reviews & Comments

Bugle Boy

Written By: Lynda Moncaster

There is great news for all the masses of Glenn Miller fans. Den Stevenson, writer of Bugle Boy, has agreed a second tour of his musical for 2012. I caught up with Den to ask what we can expect for this new tour.

Bugle Boy traces the life of Glenn Miller from leaving college to play in various bands, including his own, as he searches tirelessly for over twenty years, with the constant support and love of his wife Helen, for a unique band sound. When he eventually succeeds in his quest, he and his family only enjoy the fruits of fame for three short years. When America joins the Second World War, after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, he joins the Army, forms the subsequently famed A.E.F Band and flies to Europe to play to the Armed Forces; then goes missing in mysterious circumstances.

"Our assessor thought it was a tight, beautifully conceived and put together show which moves forward at a tremendous pace. She saw it as a commercial property; a show which could pack out large touring houses. The sort of London venue where it might work, she suggested, would be the Palladium for a limited run, or the Royal Albert Hall, and the RFH for one or two nights only."

Stephanie Creed, Nimax Theatres Limited