CRAZY celebrations were had by Blackburn Musical Theatre Company at the North West amateur theatre world’s ‘Oscars’.

The NODA North West Awards took place on Sunday night at the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester – with BMTC’s Nicholas Gunn being named best leading actor in a musical, for his portrayal of Bill Snibson in Me And My Girl last May.

The win comes as BMTC complete rehearsals for Crazy For You at Thwaites Empire Theatre, from Monday to Saturday, May 12 to 17, 7.30pm. Tickets cost from £11, on 01254 685500.

BMTC chairman Gary Worthy said: “We’ve been ‘crazy’ busy since January rehearsing the show-stopping and toe-tapping routines, set to the fantastic Gershwin score of Crazy For You.

“For Nick to win this award just before the show is the icing on the cake of all these months’ hard work and the whole company is so very proud of his achievement.”

Crazy For You is the story of banking heir Bobby Child, played by Nicholas Gunn, who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a theatre, owned by the only woman in the town Polly Baker (Stephanie Dawson).

In true musical society, they sing, dance and fall in love – until Polly discovers he’s come to take the bank.

With some theatrical trickery, Bobby pretends to be Broadway impresario Bela Zangler (Kris Wlodarczyk) and calls on his friends the Follies to put on a show to save the theatre.

Also in the cast are Nicky Dickenson as Tess, Anna Cryer as Irene, Kathleen Watkins as Lottie Child, David Lloyd as Everett, Jeremy Scholey as Lank Hawkins and Brenda Murray and Richard Hubbard as Patricia and Eugene Fodor.

Songs include I Got Rhythm and Embraceable You.

n Other awards at the NODA weekend included Todmorden Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society winning best drama for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolfe and best youth production musical director for Helen Clarkson and Les Miserables.