ROBERT Readman, best known for his work with York Stage Musicals, has picked up two high-octane hit musicals for his new company, Pick Me Up Theatre.

The prolific Ryedale director, producer and designer has secured 13 The Musical for a run from April 16 to 19 and the British amateur premiere of Ghost The Musical for August 8 to 16, both at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York.

Jason Robert Brown, Dan Elish and Robert Horn’s rock musical 13 follows the life of Evan Goldman, a slightly confused pre-teen, whose world is turned upside down when his parents divorce.

Suddenly he is forced to move from the busy New York to “the lamest place in the world,” Appleton Indiana, a small town in the middle of nowhere.

Evan has one mission: to persuade all the cool kids in school to come to his Bar Mitzvah, the “Jewish superbowl”. Soon he finds himself caught between quarterback and geek squad.

York actor Jack Armstrong plays Evan in the wake of his Christmas role as the Artful Dodger in Sheffield Crucible’s sell-out production of Oliver!

The cast also features York regulars Kiera Leaper as Patrice; Ned Tomlinson as Archie; newcomer Tom O’Brien as quarterback Brett; Sophie Cox as Lucy and Ebony Hiley as Kendra.

Further roles go to Sophie Walmsley, Natalia Leaper, Adam Odell, Billy Ibbotson, James Harrison, Kieran Robson, Rhys Evans and Katy Metheringham, from Harrogate, who is juggling her diary between rehearsals for 13 and her lead role as Annie in Robert Readman’s production of Annie!. Readman’s show for York Stage Musicals will run at the Grand Opera House, York, from May 20 to 24.

Daniel McGuinness follows up his appearances in YSM’s Grease, Pick Me Up Theatre’s Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure and YSM’s The Phantom Of The Opera by making his directorial debut. Choreographer Jed Berry and musical director Barbara Chan return to Pick Me Up duty, Readman produces the show and newcomer Nadia Douglass joins the choreography team.

Ghost The Musical features music and lyrics by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard and book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin and is built around the 1990 movie that starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.

After West End, Broadway and worldwide tours, Ghost The Musical will play York in its first British amateur production with its story of love and loss as lovers Sam and Molly are torn apart by a fatal attack.

Caught between this world and the next, Sam acquires the assistance of medium Oda Mae Brown in a desperate mission to warn Molly she is in danger.

“The musical version is powered by an electric rock and pop score, with memorable moments from the hit movie, such as the iconic pottery scene, and re-invented special effects,” says Robert.

Auditions for Ghost The Musical will be held on April 9 and anyone interested is asked to contact Pick Me Up by emailing pickmeuptheatre@gmail.com or visiting pickmeuptheatre.com

“We’re looking for diverse, vibrant cast members, talented in all disciplines of musical theatre to build our cast for this brilliant show,” says Readman.

He will be co-directing the premiere with Leeds teenage actress Robyn Grant, who has made her mark in NUEMusic Theatre, Pick Me Up, York Stage Musicals and Grand Opera House Stage Experience shows in York. She will return from her BA in Acting and Contemporary Theatre at East 15 Acting School to work on the summer show.

Tom Marlow, musical director for YSM’s Phantom last month, will hold the same post for Ghost while Jed Berry will be the choreographer again, as he weighs up which drama school to attend after being offered a place at Italia Conti, Arden School of Acting and the Urdang Academy.

Tickets for 13 The Musical’s 7.30pm evening shows and 2.30pm Saturday matinee next month are available at pickmeuptheatre.com and yorktheatreroyal.co.uk and on 01904 623568. Tickets for Ghost The Musical’s 7.30pm shows and two Saturday matinees at 2.30pm in August are on sale only at pickmeuptheatre.com