COPACABANA, the show of the international hit song by Barry Manilow, hits the stage of Brynmawr Market Hall next week as the town's Amateur Operatic Society brings it to life.

After months of auditions and rehearsals, "Her name was Lola ..." the unforgettable opening lyric of Barry Manilow's Grammy Award winning hit song will be echoing around the Market Hall.

While creating the world's next big hit, Stephen, an aspiring songwriter, is carried back to and era when "music and passion were always the fashion" at the world famous Copacabana nightclub in New York City. In his dream, Lola Lamar, a hopeful showgirl, is launched on the path to stardom as a Copa Girl with the help of Tony Starr, a bartender with dreams of his own. Captivated by Lola's performance, the villainous Rico whisks her away to the Tropicana nightclub in Havana. From this exotic, distant new world, a tale of old-fashioned love, jealousy, and murder in the entangled lives of Lola, Tony and Rico unfolds amidst dazzling costumes, spectacular sets and sensational choreography.

The cast includes Tim Richards as Tony Forte, Lucy Phillips as Lola la Mar, Jill Allen as Gladys Murphy, Chris Richards as Sam Silver, Rhys Williams as Rico Castelli and Angela Casa as Conchita Alvarez.

Tickets for Cobacabana which commences on March 24 for five nights are available from the booking office at The Square Card Box on the Market Square or by ringing the hotline on 07914205723 or the ticket secretary on (01495) 310989 priced at £8, concessions available.