Frances Mayli McCann
Dean John-Wilson
Joaquin Pedro Valdes
will star in the European premiere
of the multi award-winning manga stage musical
Death Note the Musical
Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie in ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ in the West End), Dean John-Wilson (Lun-Tha in ‘The King & I’ in the West End) and Joaquin Pedro Valdes (Ram Sweeney in ‘Heathers’ at The Other Palace) will star in Death Note: The Musical.
Following acclaimed productions in Japan and Korea Death Note: The Musical will get its English language premiere with two star-studded concerts at the London Palladium on 21 & 22 August.
Tickets go onsale at 10am 2 June.
Based on the best-selling Japanese manga series of the same name by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, this ground breaking musical (Winner Best Musical, Korea Musical Awards) has a score by Frank Wildhorn (‘Jekyll & Hyde’, 4 years on Broadway, ‘Dracula’, ‘Bonnie & Clyde’) with lyrics by Jack Murphy and book by Ivan Menchell.
It will be directed by Nick Winston and is produced by Carter Dixon McGill Production (‘Chess in Concert’, ‘Kinky Boots in Concert’, ‘Treason the Musical in Concert’) and Indie Theatrical.
Light Yagami, a bright but dissatisfied high school student in Tokyo comes across a discarded notebook owned by Ryuk, a mythological god of death. Discovering he can kill anyone by just writing their names in the supernatural notebook, Light takes justice into his own hands by filling the notebook with names of the nation’s most wanted criminals. But a detective only known as ‘L’ is soon tracking him down…
Frances Mayli McCann will play famous model Misa.
Scottish-Chinese born Frances starred as Bonnie in ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ in the West End, following its sell out concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, opposite Jeremy Jordan. Olivier nominated for her portrayal of Kayla in ‘Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour’, Frances’ extensive stage credits include Svetlana in ‘Chess’ (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Heather McNamara in ‘Heathers: The Musical’ (Theatre Royal, Haymarket), The Mistress in ‘Evita’ (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Eponine in ‘Les Misearables’.
Dean John-Wilson will play enigmatic, mysterious, international consulting detective known only as ‘L’.
Dean’s West End roles include the title role in the original cast of Disney’s ‘Aladdin’, Lun Tha in ‘The King and I’ and the premiere of ‘From Here To Eternity’. At the National Theatre he was Aquino in ‘Here Lies Love’.
Joaquin Pedro Valdes will play brilliant but bored genius Light.
Born in Makati, Philippines, Joaquin covered and played Simba on the recent UK tour of ‘The Lion King’ and was Ram Sweeney in ‘Heathers’ at The Other Palace. His other musicals include the UK and international tours of ‘The King and I’ and ‘Miss Saigon’.
More cast to be announced.
Creative team:
Director and Choreographer Nick Winston
Associate Director and Choreographer Alex Sarmiento,
Costume Designer Kimie Nakano
Musical Supervisor Katy Richardson
Musical Director Chris Ma
Orchestrator Jason Howland
Designer Justin Williams
Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell
Sound Designer Ben Harrison
Casting Harry Blumenau
Artwork by Rebecca Pitt Creative
Producers Carter Dixon McGill Productions and Indie Theatrical
Death Note: The Musical premiered in 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. A 2022 Korean production won four awards at the Korea Musical Awards after being nominated in 10 categories (“Death Note offers a glimpse at the future of musicals”, The Korea Herald). In 2017, Netflix released a TV adaptation of ‘Death Note’ starring Willem Defoe.
Frank Wildhorn said: “Death Note: The Musical has been the most unique, strange, edgy, and wonderful musical journey for me. It’s been a dream of mine to bring this show from Asia to the West End of London, and here we are!”
The producers said: “We are beyond excited to be presenting the first English language production of Death Note: The Musical for two nights only this summer! Fans and those we look forward to welcoming into the world of Death Note are in for a musical treat.”
Frank Wildhorn
In 1999, Frank became the first American composer in 22 years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway with Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Civil War. Also for Broadway: Bonnie & Clyde, Dracula, Victor/Victoria, Wonderland, and the revival of Jekyll & Hyde. West End: Bonnie & Clyde. International: Carmen, Camille Claudel, Casanova, Cyrano, Death Note, Fist of the North Star, Mata Hari, Mitsuko, Never Say Goodbye, No Longer Human, Rudolf, Tears of Heaven, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Man Who Laughs, Your Lie in April and Xcalibur. Upcoming: Song of Bernadette and Reunion. He Produced Harlem Song at the famed Apollo Theatre. The Korea Times recently proclaimed Wildhorn as “Korea’s most popular musical composer”.
Theatre); ‘Treason the Musical in Concert’ (Drury Lane Theatre). Previous productions include: ‘Wonderville: Magic & Illusion’ (Palace Theatre, London); ‘Death Drop’ (Criterion Theatre, Garrick Theatre & UK Tour).
Indie Theatrical
Indie Theatrical was established in 2014 by Broadway veteran, Louis Hobson, and theatrical producer, Jake Groshong. In addition to serving as Frank Wildhorn’s US producer, Indie has created global partnerships and established collaborations with industry leaders, top regional theatres, festivals, film and theatre producers, both domestically & internationally, to produce a wide variety of programming. Credits include ‘Grey House’ on Broadway, executive producer of the 2023 Grammy nominated album, ‘Some Lovers’, by Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater; Shaun Cassidy’s ‘Magic of the Midnight Sky’; and Frank Wildhorn’s, ‘The Song of Bernadette’, which will premiere in 2024 by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical. Indie is also currently developing Frank Wildhorn’s new musicals ‘Reunion’, and ‘Your Lie In April’, which will both premiere in 2024.
LISTINGS INFO
Carter Dixon McGill Productions
and Indie Theatrical present
Death Note The Musical
in Concert
Music by Frank Wildhorn,
Lyrics by Jack Murphy, book by Ivan Menchell
©️Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/SHUEISHA, HoriPro
London Palladium
8 Argyll Street,
London W1F 7TF
Monday 21 & Tuesday 22 August
at 7.30pm
running time:tbc
age recommendation: tbc
Tickets from £25
Tickets go onsale at 10am
2 June, 2023
Booking link:
www.lwtheatres.co.uk
Website
www.deathnotethemucial.co.uk
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter
@DeathnoteLDN
@ CDMProds
@frankwildhorn
Facebook
@frankwildhorn
Instagram
@DeathnoteLDN
@frank.wildhorn
TikTok
@DeathnoteLDN