There will be a wealth of musical theatre at the Palace and Opera House in Manchester this autumn.
Michael Ball will return to Manchester in the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Mack and Mabel, based on the story of silent movie producer Mack Sennett and his star Mabel Normand with a score by Jerry Herman.
Popular musical Annie will star Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood running the orphanage as Miss Hannigan, and Tommy Steele will star in The Glenn Miller Story with a 16-piece orchestra. Classic Broadway musical Guys and Dolls by Frank Loesser will star Sophie Thompson as Miss Adelaide, visiting Manchester prior to a London season.
Returning to Manchester are Jersey Boys and Hairspray, the latter starring Tony Maudsley, Brenda Edwards, Claire Sweeney and Peter Duncan.
Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace will visit the Opera House on their last ever tour with the Last Tango. Also in dance, Northern Ballet will bring to the Palace The Elves and the Shoemaker for children aged three and over as well as a brand new ballet based on George Orwell's 1984.
English National Ballet will bring its new ballet Lest We Forget, reflecting on World War I, and Romeo and Juliet.
Agatha Christie Theatre Company, celebrating its tenth anniversary, will perform And Then There Were None starring Colin Buchanan, Deborah Grant, Marry Curry, Ben Nealon and Eric Carte.
The main Christmas productions this year are The Bodyguard starring Alexandra Burke at the Palace and the pantomime Cinderella starring Torvill and Dean at the Opera House.
Already announced for 2016 are The Rocky Horror Show, Mary Poppins, Cat, Chicago and Mamma Mia!.