Cast and opening night confirmed for DUSTY, a new British musical about the rise to fame of 60s superstar Dusty Springfield.

The world premiere of DUSTY, a new British musical about the rise to fame of 60s superstar Dusty Springfield, is previewing in the West End at Charing Cross Theatre.

DUSTY puts Dusty herself and her amazing voice in the heart of the action. It tells the incredible story of how Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien became Dusty Springfield, one of the biggest selling female artists and an icon of the 60s, as seen through the eyes of Nancy Jones, one of her childhood friends.

Throughout her career, Dusty, a musical perfectionist, chases her own unique sound. She turns music studios upside down, records in toilets and corridors to get just the sound she wants – and produces some of the most unforgettable songs ever. At the same time she embraces the outsider in society, breaks rules, introduces England to Tamla Motown, ‘The Sound Of Black America’, beats a path to America as part of the British Invasion and gets deported from South Africa for allowing blacks to attend her whites only concerts in the Apartheid era.

Dusty’s solo career began in 1963 with the upbeat pop hit, “I Only Want to Be with You”, and was followed by many hit songs including “Wishin’ and Hopin’”, “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself”, “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” and “Son of a Preacher Man”.

With her distinctive, sensual sound Dusty becomes the best-selling female singer in the world with six top 20 singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 16 on the UK Singles Chart from 1963 to 1989.

Today, Dusty Springfield continues to be an inspiration for many female artists and she is often the benchmark by which they are judged. Her popularity still endures by the regularity with which her music continues to be heard on radio, television and in movies.

DUSTY the musical is a celebration of a peerless career and a tribute to the finest blue-eyed soul singer Britain has ever seen.

Cast: Alison Arnopp (Dusty/Mary O’Brien), Francesca Jackson (Nancy Jones), Graham Kent (Gerrard ‘OB’ O’Brien), Leo Elso (Dion O’Brien/Tom Springfield), Sienna Sebek (Norma), Harvey Robinson (Dave Dean), Witney White (Martha Reeves), Luke Thornton (Douggie Reece), Matt Blaker (Johnny Franz), Oliver Lynes (Vic Billing), Ellen Verenieks (Kay O’Brien), and ensemble members Jemma Geanaus (Maddie), Nikkola Burnhope, Amanda Digón Mata, Megan Makin, Jonathan de Mallet Morgan.

Written by Chris Cowey, Madpan Entertainments Ltd and Kim Weild with dramaturg Jack Bradley. Director Chris Cowey. Co-Director and Choreographer Joey McKneely. Additional Direction by Christian Durham. Set Designs Phil Lindley, Lighting Design Richard Williamson. Sound by Paul Gavin and James Nicholson. Musical Supervisor Dean Austin. Orchestrations and additional arrangements Noam Galperin. Casting Debbie O’Brien.Costume Design Jason Kealer. Wig Design Darren Evans.

DUSTY is produced in the West End by Freddie Madden, Duncan Sibbald and Patrice Wilson for Five Foot 2 Blonde Ltd and Darren P. DeVerna. Andrew Green and Ben White are Executive Producers. Paul Howes is Associate Producer.

Charing Cross Theatre
The Arches
Villiers Street
London WC2N 6NL
www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
Box office: 08444 930 650

Performances:
Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday at 2.30pm
Saturday at 3.00pm
Press Night: Monday 7 September, 2015 at 7.00pm