The butcher of Bar Lane meets the belles of Broadway next week on the stage of the Grand Theatre, in Leeds.

Riddlesden man Ian Hewitt will be among the cast of the spectacular dance musical 42nd Street.

Leeds Amateur Operatic Society (LAOS) is presenting the stage version of the classic 1933 movie musical.

Ian, who runs a butcher's shop in Riddlesden, has been a LAOS member since appearing in Pirates of Penzance in 1987.

He takes the principal role of Abner Dillon when the £80,000 production of 42nd Street is performed from Tuesday to Saturday.

Ian often plays character parts with LAOS and has also performed with Keighley Amateurs and Bingley Amateurs.

His favourite role was as the Governor in the world premiere of the musical Jeanne d'Arc.

Ian's latest character is involved in rehearsals for a big new musical due to open on Broadway.

Starry-eyed young actress Peggy Sawyer wants to audition but dares not even walk through the door.

She catches the famous director on his way out and is offered a place when a chorus member fails to turn up.

Peggy falls out with the show's leading lady, but despite being fired gets the chance to be the star of the show.

Songs such as We're in the Money, Lullaby of Broadway and I Only Have Eyes for You feature in 42nd Street.

The show is performed nightly at 7.15pm and on Saturday also at 2.15pm. Book at Keighley Information Centre or phone 0113 222-6222.

n Keighley Vocal Union is making a French connection for concerts in Skipton and Colne this month.

The award-winning mixed choir will present the same evening of French music in both towns.

Centrepiece of the performances will be Faure's Requiem and Charpentier's Te Deum, while small groups of the singers will perform other pieces.

Hear the choir at St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Skipton, on March 16 and Colne Parish Church, on March 23.

Buy tickets for both 7.30pm concerts from choir members or phone 01274 561579.

n Set designers and stage crew are as much the stars of the show as actors in the latest Keighley Playhouse production.

The backstage team has to create a ranch house, sheriff's office and barn on the same stage next week.

The play is The Rainmaker, a poignant comedy set during a drought in the American Midwest during the 1930s.

One family, desperate to marry-off their only daughter, is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of a charismatic outsider.

The title role is played by David Poole, returning to the Keighley theatre following last summer's comedy Shut Your Eyes and Think of England.

Wendy Todd takes her first leading part following supporting roles in previous Playhouse productions.

Playhouse regulars Colin Dobson, Stephen Clark, Dale Chadwick and Leigh Bowman play the father, feuding brothers and the local sheriff respectively.

Completing the cast is Anthony Calvert, a Bingley Little Theatre regular, as the sheriff's deputy.

The Rainmaker runs from Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm. Book at Keighley Information Centre in the town hall or phone 08451 267859.

n Riddlesden teenager Sophie Bennett has to hide from a wicked Queen in the forest this month.

She plays one of the title roles in Bingley Amateurs' pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The family show is staged at Bingley Arts Centre from March 20-22 (7.15pm) and March 22/23 (2.15pm).

Also in the panto are regularly-seen local performers Gilly Rogers, as the Queen, and Laura Judge, as the Prince.

Bingley Amateurs this week presented £2,000 -- part of the proceeds of previous shows -- to the Macmillan cancer charity.

Book tickets for Snow White by phoning 01274 567983 any weekday from 2-4pm.

n Dexterity, illusion and classical magic are up the sleeves of performers in this year's Hey Presto! magic show.

The annual presentation by members of Bradford Magic Circle will be at Bingley Arts Centre on March 15.

Topping the bill is Safire, who is said to take the world of magical illusion into a different dimension.

Also performing are award-winners Yin and Yang, children's musician Steve Dore, junior Joe Baxter, Tony Parx and Stuart Brown.

Tickets cost £6 adults, £5 concessions, from Keighley Information Centre or by phoning 01274 432000.

n Jake and Elwood are on stage once more in the tribute show Blues Brothers Rhythm and Blues Revue.

The pair perform songs from the famous film at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax, on March 14.

Songs include Midnight Hour, Soulman, Everybody Needs Somebody and Gimme Some Loving.

Book at Keighley Information Centre or phone 01422 351158.

n Coming up at Pennington's nightclub in Bradford: Magic ELO and Beach Boy tributes (tonight); Robbie Williams tribute Angels (March 21); Wet Wet Wet tribute Splash (22); Blondie tribute (28). Phone 01274 224488 for tickets.

n The Bag of Quips comedy club returns to the Alhambra Studio, Bradford, tonight, at 9pm, admission £7. Phoenix Nights co-writer and star Dave Spikey performs on March 21.