FIRST LOOK AT
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
The FATS WALLER Musical
Now playing at Mercury Theatre Colchester until Saturday 30 March
Prior to London run at Southwark Playhouse
From Friday 19 April to Saturday 1 June 2019
First production images are released today of Ain’t Misbehavin’ – now playing at Mercury TheatreColchester until Saturday 30 March. The production then transfers to Southwark Playhouse from Friday 19 April to Saturday 1 June, as the first London revival in almost 25 years.
The cast features Adrian Hansel, Renée Lamb, Carly Mercedes-Dyer, Landi Oshinowo andWayne Robinson.
Adrian Hansel originated the role of Seaweed in the West End production of Hairspray, with other credits including Five Guys Named Moe at Marble Arch Theatre. Renée Lamb played Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Catherine of Aragon in the original London cast of Six at the Arts Theatre. Carly Mercedes-Dyer was recently seen in Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre, with other credits including The Lorax at The Old Vic and Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Landi Oshinowo recently appeared in Big Fish at The Other Palace, with West End credits including Shrek the Musical and Sister Act. Wayne Robinson returns to Southwark Playhouse having played Benny in In The Heights. He was most recently seen as Jagwire in Bat Out of Hell.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ is directed by Tyrone Huntley, making his directorial debut. Tyroneis best known for his acclaimed performance as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, for which he won the Evening Standard Theatre Award and received an Olivier Award nomination. He recently appeared in Leave to Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith with other performing crediting including Angry (Southwark Playhouse) and Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre).
Ain’t Misbehavin’ is choreographed by Oti Mabuse, making her debut as a theatre choreographer. Best known as a professional dancer on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing since 2015, Otiis also an 8-time South African Latin American Champion and one of the most successful South African dancers in the world. Oti was most recently a Dance Captain and Mentor on BBC One’s new Saturday night dance and entertainment show The Greatest Dancer.
Completing the creative team are designer takis, lighting designer James Whiteside, sound designerDan Samson and associate choreographer James Bennett. There will be new orchestrations byMark Dickman, and casting is by Will Burton CDG.
Celebrating the legendary jazz musician Fats Waller and his energetic, exuberant and effervescent music, Ain’t Misbehavin’ steps back into the 1920’s and the raunchy nightclubs of Manhattan.Join an extraordinary group of performers on a journey through a defining period of American musical history, the Harlem Renaissance – where musicians were free to experiment with new styles, and joints were jumpin’ with talented dancers, singers and instrumentalists jamming to a new beat known as swing.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ first premiered at Manhattan Theatre Club in 1978 and transferred to Broadway the same year, where it won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The original West End production opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1979, and was followed by a revival at the Tricycle Theatre and Lyric Theatre in 1995. This new production will mark the first London revival in almost 25 years.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ is basedon an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr, with orchestrations and arrangements by Luther Henderson, vocal and musical concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon and vocal arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon and William Elliott.
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