REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCES
FULL CAST FOR RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S
DREAM BALLETS: A TRIPLE BILL
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre today announce the full cast of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill with award-winning musical theatre choreographers Julia Cheng, Shelley Maxwell and Kate Prince re-imagining the dream ballets from Allegro, Oklahoma! and Carousel. The production runs from 19 – 22 June 2025.
For Allegro, choreographed by Julia Cheng, the dancers are Asmara Cammock, Jonadette Carpio, Paris Crossley, Jevan Howard-Jones, Hannah Joseph and Stuart Thomas.
For Oklahoma!, choreographed by Shelley Maxwell, the dancers are Tanisha Addicott, Chris Akrill, José Alves Tania Dimbelo, Nahum McLean and Vanessa Vince-Pang.
For Carousel, choreographed by Kate Prince, the dancers are Deavion Brown, Tommy Franzen, Nethra Menon, Hannah Sandilands, Elijah Smith and Malachi Welch.
Creatives include Simon Hale (Orchestration & Arrangements); Joshie Harriette (Lighting Designer); Nick Lidster (Sound Designer); Alex Parker (Musical Supervisor & Conductor); Yann Seabra (Costume Designer) and Sinfonia Smith Square (Orchestra).
Drew McOnie, Artistic Director, said: “I am thrilled to be welcoming three outstanding groups of dancers to Regent’s Park for what will be a unique celebration of dance and music. I can’t wait to see how they and Shelley Maxwell, Julia Cheng and Kate Prince reimagine these timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Dream Ballets for audiences at the Open Air Theatre.”
A Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
DREAM BALLETS: A TRIPLE BILL
Choreography by Julia Cheng (Allegro), Shelley Maxwell (Oklahoma!) & Kate Prince (Carousel)
Thursday 19 June – Sunday 22 June 2025
‘Then out of my dreams I’ll go into a dream with you.’
A timeless celebration of dance and music from three of the UK’s leading musical theatre choreographers, accompanied live on stage by the 26-piece orchestra of the Sinfonia Smith Square, and set to the magical scores of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s dream ballets.
In this enchanting triple bill, the dream ballets are re-imagined for the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre stage by award-winning musical theatre dance makers Julia Cheng (Fiddler on the Roof) who choreographs the rarely performed Allegro, Shelley Maxwell (Get Up Stand Up!) who choreographs Oklahoma!’s dream ballet and Kate Prince (Message in a Bottle, Zoo Nation) who choreographs the dream ballet from Carousel, all with extended new musical arrangements by Tony Award winner Simon Hale (Girl from the North Country).
A unique opportunity to experience Rodgers & Hammerstein’s music brought to life through dance like never before.
Supported by The Thistle Trust and Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donar Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust.
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
Julia Cheng | Choreographer | Allegro
Training: Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies (University of Surrey), Dance & Drama (Université Lumière Lyon 2, France).
For Regent’s Park: Fiddler on the Roof.
Theatre/opera/dance work includes: The Legend of 1900 (Shanghai Grand Theatre, China); Cabaret (The Kit Kat Club, West End and Broadway); Macbeth (RSC); Untold (Theater Rotterdam, Belgium and Holland); Warrior Queens (House of Absolute, Sadler’s Wells); The Seven Deadly Sins/Mahagonny Songspiel (Royal Opera House); The Importance of Music to Girls (Kings Place).
Shelley Maxwell | Choreographer | Oklahoma!
As Choreographer: Starter for Ten (Bristol Old Vic); The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical (Apollo Theatre); The Secret Life of Bees (Almeida); The Ballet Boyz “England on Fire” (Sadler’s Wells); Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical (Lyric Theatre); Equus (Stratford East/Trafalgar Studios); ‘Master Harold’ …and the boys (National Theatre); Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith).
As Movement Director: After Life, Hansard, Antony & Cleopatra, Twelfth Night (National Theatre); Nine Night (National Theatre/Trafalgar Studios); Love’s Labour’s Lost and Tartuffe (RSC); Macbeth (Donmar Warehouse/Harold Pinter); Barcelona (Duke of York Theatre); Mlima’s Tale (Kiln); Beneatha’s Place, Untitled F*ck m*ss S**gon Play (Royal Exchange Manchester & Young Vic ); Winter, Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere and Cuttin’ It (Young Vic); Best of Enemies (Young Vic/Noel Coward Theatre); Shifters (Bush/Duke of York Theatre); Alma Mater (Almeida); August in England (Bush); J’Ouvert (Harold Pinter); Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe); King Hedley II (Stratford East); Cougar and Dealing with Clair (Orange Tree); Faustus (Headlong at Lyric & Birmingham Repertory Theatre); A Streetcar Named Desire (Nuffield, Southampton); Apologia (English Theatre Frankfurt); Grey (Oval House); Rules for Living (Royal & Derngate/ The Rose, Kingston).
TV & Film includes: Anansi Boys (Amazon); Joan (ITV); The Marvels (Disney); Romeo and Juliet (Sky Arts/PBS/National Theatre); ear for eye (BBC/Fruit Tree Media).
Shelley Maxwell won the award for Best Choreographer at the inaugural Black British Theatre Awards in 2019 for her work on Equus.
Kate Prince | Choreographer | Carousel
Theatre includes (with ZooNation): Sylvia (Old Vic); Into the Hoods (Novello, West End); Some Like it Hip Hop (Sadler’s Wells Peacock & UK tour); Message in a Bottle (Sadler’s Wells & Universal Music, World Tour); The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (Royal Opera House Linbury Studio & The Roundhouse); Groove on Down the Road (SouthBank Centre).
TV includes: Imagine: Kate Prince – Every Move She Makes (BBC); Strictly Come Dancing; So You Think You Can Dance; The Royal Variety Show; Top of the Pops; CD:UK.
Film includes: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Warp, Film 4, New Regency & Amazon); Message in a Bottle (PBS America); StreetDance 3D (BBC Films & Vertigo); The Holloway Laundrette (writer & co-directed, BAFTA/Channel 4).
Other theatre includes: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Sheffield Crucible & West End); Ballyturk (National Theatre); Shoes (Sadler’s Wells); I Can’t Sing: the X-Factor Musical (Palladium); A Mad World My Masters (RSC).
Events include: Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations; Beijing Olympic & Paralympic Handover Ceremonies (ZooNation).
Kate is a writer, director and choreographer and the Artistic Director of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company which she founded in 2002. She is an Associate Artist at both The Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells, where ZooNation is also a Resident Company.
Kate’s work has been nominated for five Olivier Awards, a South Bank Sky Arts Award, a WhatsOnStage Award and three Critic’s Circle National Dance Awards – winning the latter in 2024 for Best Mid Scale Dance Company. She has an MA from the University of Edinburgh, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Winchester and an MBE for services to dance.
Asmara Cammock | Allegro
Training: The Brit School for Performing Arts and Technology, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Runway House.
Theatre and dance include: Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre); Cabaret (The Kit Kat Club); Lion King (UK & Ireland Tour); ACE Dance And Music (Phoenix Dance Theatre); WizKid live concert (The O2).
Commercials include: The BBC; Hyundai; Tampax; Starbucks; Google; JD Sports.
Other credits include: London Fashion Week; It’s not loving if it’s not with you (The 1975 music video); Love I’m Given (Ellie Goulding music video).
Jonadette Carpio | AllegroCrews include: Buckness Personified, Fiya House.
Theatre and dance includes: Seven Deadly Sins (Royal Opera House); East Wall (Hofesh Shechter, Tower of London); Ma Vie (Northern Ballet, Royal Opera House/Leeds Playhouse Theatre); Veljo Tormis – Curse Upon Iron (BBC Choir).
Film includes: Syllabub in Cats.
Jonadette is a strong female dance-artist specialising in the styles of Krump, Popping and Hip-Hop. She was a finalist on BBC Young Dancer.
Paris Crossley | AllegroCompanies and choreographers worked with include: Russell Maliphant, Boy Blue, House of Absolute, Just Us, Cirque Bijou, Kadir ’Amigo’ Memis.
Competitions include: Break Ya Neck – Popping x HipHop (Winner); Get Ready For The Next Battle 2024 – All Styles (Winner); Bside Festival 2024 – 4 VS 4 All Styles (Winner); JOAT 2024 – Popping (Semi-Finalist); Random Circles 2023 – Popping (Winner); Ladies of Hip Hop 2023 – Popping (Winner); Summer Dance Forever – Popping (x3 judges rounds/Best Six); Challenge South Concept 2021 – Popping (Winner).
Artists worked with include: Rita Ora; Dua Lipa; Benjamin Clementine; Ed Sheeran.
Commercials include: Nike; Puma; Sweaty Betty.
Paris has been an associate artist with Dance East since 2022.
Jevan Howard-Jones | AllegroTraining: London Contemporary Dance School, The Brit School.
Film includes: Wicked.
As Choreographer: Cable Street (Southwark Playhouse Borough & Elephant); Peter Pan (Hall for Cornwall)
As Associate and Assistant Choreographer: Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe (Gillian Lynne West End/UK Tour).
As Movement Director: Insurrection (Royal Opera House); Buckets (The Courtyard Theatre).
Hannah Joseph | Allegro
Training: Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.
Companies include: Company Wayne McGregor.
Choreographers worked with include: Botis Seva, Russell Maliphant, Alesandra Seutin, Alexander Whitley and Matthew Bourne.
Performances includes: UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey, AutoBiography, Deepstaria (Company Wayne McGregor); Matthew Bourne’s Romeo+Juliet (New Adventures, Sadler’s Wells); Moschino SS24 Milan Fashion Week; London Fashion Week 2024; Hermès Brides de Gala.
As Choreographer and Performer: BBC Young Dancer 2022 (The Roundhouse); AX2 for Legacy (Royal Ballet, Linbury Theatre).
As Choreographer: SUN (Nowness); Ax.One for Festival of New Choreography (Royal Ballet)
Hannah was a finalist on BBC Young Dancer 2022.
Stuart Thomas | Allegro
Training: London Studio Centre (Full Scholarship Award).
Companies include: Union Dance Company; William Chase On Company, New York; Jiving Lindy Hoppers; William Louthers Dance and Theatre Co-operation; Jerusalem Dance Theatre; Souls in Motion.
Theatre includes: King – The story of Martin Luther King Jr.; Josephine (The Fortune Theatre); Harvest Moon Ball (Southbank).
Film includes: Voyager; Signals (Film on 4); The Technics; Rage & Desire (Film on 4).
Other credits include: Red Shoes (Kate Bush music video).
Tanisha Addicott | Oklahoma!Training: Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.
Theatre and dance include: Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliet (New Adventures, UK & International Tour); Shoot the Cameraman (As We Are, India Tour); Eshu at the Crossroads (Theatre Rites & Miguel Altunaga, UK Tour – Original cast); The Little Match Girl (Ballo Arthur Pita, UK Tour); My Glimmer Boo / Toasted (Blue Makwana for Sadler’s Wells Young Associates, Sadler’s Wells Theatre); The Sisters of Elva Hill / Tales of Jenny Greenteeth (Ballet Folk, UK Tour).
Chris Akrill | Oklahoma!Training: Northern Ballet Theatre.
For Regent’s Park: To Kill a Mockingbird
Theatre and dance includes: Osipova/Linbury (Royal Ballet, Linbury Theatre); Little Shop Of Horrors (Crucible Theatre Sheffield); Hex (National Theatre); White Hare, The Most Incredible Thing (Sadler’s Wells); To Kill a Mockingbird (The Barbican); Cabaret (Lyric Theatre); Dr Dee (English National Opera); Waiting for Godot (BeMe Theatre Munich); The Hairy Ape (The Old Vic); The Expected, The Odyssey (Wilton’s Music Hall); The White Bike (The Space); Stepmother/Stepfather, While You Are Here (The Place); The Wind in the Willows (Duchess Theatre); Pinocchio, Ghosts, Captain Alving, Three and Four Quarters, If Play is Play, The Canticles (The Royal Opera House, Linbury Theatre); Swan Lake, A Study of Entertainment (Cullberg Ballet, Stockholm); Carmen (International Tour, Cullberg Ballet); Romeo and Juliet, A Christmas Carol (UK Tour, Northern Ballet); Sleeping Beauty (Hannover Ballet).
TV includes: Stan Lee’s Lucky Man (Sky One); Little Grey Fergie, House of the Dragon (HBO); Taboo (FX).
Film includes: Romeo and Juliet (National Theatre); Muppets Most Wanted (Walt Disney Pictures); The Corridor (Black Dog Films, RSA Films); London Road (Cuba Pictures).
As Choreographer and Movement Director: Mametz (National Theatre Wales); Imogen (Shakespeare’s Globe).
As Assistant Choreographer: Home I’m Darling (National Theatre).
Chris is the co-creator and co-director of the award-winning company HeadSpaceDance, which was awarded the Best Independent Company at the Critic’s Circle National Dance Award in 2017. He was nominated for Outstanding Male Performance (Modern) by the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award, the Christer Holgersons award from the Carina Ari Memorial Foundation, and the Riksteatern Award for Artistic Contributions & Excellence In Dance.
José Alves | Oklahoma!
Training: Adalgisa Rolim Ballet School, Bolshoi Theatre School (Brazil).
Companies include: Ballet Company of the Young (Palace of Arts), Teatr Muzyczny w Łódz, Ballet Black, Polski Teatr Tańca, New English Ballet Theatre.
Choreographers worked with include: Javier de Frutos, Will Tuckett, Ludovic Ondiviela, Arthur Pita, Mark Bruce, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Cathy Marston, Sophie Laplane, Mthuthuzeli November, Peter Leung, Martin Lawrance, Gregory Maqoma, Cassa Pancho.
Theatre and dance include: A Dream Within a Midsummer Night’s Dream (Arthur Pita); Second Coming (Mark Bruce); Captured (Martin Lawrence); Red Riding Hood (Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa); Dopamine (you make my levels go silly) (Ludovic Ondiviela, BBC); The Suit (Cathy Marston); Say It Loud (Cassa Pancho and Company); EIGHTFOLD: Love, Le Train Bleu (for Men in Motion Gala, London Coliseum); Melissa Hamilton’s Grand Ballet Gala (Grand Opera House Belfast).
Other credits include: Samba (Ricky Martin Music Video).
Joséwon the 2018 Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Classical Dancer for his role in The Suit. He is the subject of a biography, A História De Um Bailarino Incomum (2021) by Taís Fernanda Reis.
Tania Dimbelo | Oklahoma!Training: Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.
Theatre and dance includes: Good Toes Naughty Toes (Thick & Tight, Royal Opera House); England on Fire (BalletBoyz, Sadler’s Wells); Silent Lines (Russell Maliphant); Congregation (Botis Seva); Animalis (Dane Hurst, Dulwich Picture Gallery); BEAUTIFUL (Sweetshop Revolution).
Film includes: Wicked; BlackBirdRedRose (short film by Mark Bruce)
Other credits include: Nike (Cyber Week Campaign); EE (Full Works Plan Advertisement); Playscape (FKA Twigs music video); SS22 London Fashion Week.
As Assistant Movement Director: SS25 Paris Fashion Week.
Nahum McLean | Oklahoma!Training: The Hammond School (UK), Prodanza Ballet Academy (Cuba), The Ailey School (New York).
Theatre and dance include: Richard Alston Dance Company (Sadler’s Wells); West Side Story (International Tour); Inala – A Zulu Ballet (Peacock Theatre & International Tour); The Wiz 40th Anniversary Concert (SummerStage NYC); Find Your Eyes (Factory International); House of Flamenca (Peacock Theatre);Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Park Avenue Armory);Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater(Lincoln Center); Camille A. Brown and Dancers (New York City Center); New York Dance Lab (Guggenheim).
Film includes: Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (Warner Bros); Barbie (Warner Bros); Knuckles (Paramount).
Vanessa Vince-Pang | Oklahoma!Training: Rambert School Of Ballet & Contemporary Dance.
Performances include: Salt Of The Earth (Venice Biennale); Human Rights 75 Concert (United Nations International Broadcast); VOGUE World (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Jungle Book Reimagined (Akram Khan, International Tour); Tour De France (Leeds Arena); Laurence Olivier Awards (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Phoenix Dance Theatre(International Tour).
As Assistant Choreographer: Jesus Christ Superstar (Watermill Theatre).
TV & Film includes: Wicked, The Marvels (Feature films) Wednesday, Sandman, Too Much, Enola Holmes 2 (Netflix); Dope Girls, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (BBC); Everything But The Girl: Run A Red Light.
Commercials include: Magic FM, Legoland, Swarovski x Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa x O2, Sky Arts, Tern Bicycles.
Vanessa was nominated for a National Dance Award and Dancer Of The Month in the Dancing Times. She was an external examiner and mentor for the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and currently a mentor at the London Contemporary Dance School’s MA Programme. She is also a former trustee of the National Youth Ballet and ThickSkin Theatre.
Deavion Brown | Carousel
Training: TDM Stage School, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
Theatre and dance include: Thriller Live; Message in a Bottle (ZooNation, International Tour).
Film includes: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Tommy Franzen | CarouselTraining: Urdang Academy.
Theatre and dance include: Message in a Bottle, Some Like It Hip Hop (ZooNation).
Film includes: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire;Mamma Mia!; Mamma Mia 2 – Here We Go Again; Aladdin; Cats; Tomorrow Morning; Snow White; Everybody Is Talking About Jamie.
As Choreographer: Strictly Come Dancing.
As Associate Director & Choreographer: Your Lie In April (Europe Premiere).
As Assistant Choreographer: Burlesque The Musical (World Premiere).
Tommy won Outstanding Male Performance at the National Dance Awards and was nominated for the Breakthrough Award at The Times Southbank Sky Arts Awards and Outstanding Achievement in Dance at the Olivier Awards. Tommy was awarded second place in BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance in 2010.
Nethra Menon | CarouselTraining: The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Theatre and dance include: Cabaret (Kit Kat Club); The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (ZooNation, Royal Opera House); Message In A Bottle (ZooNation, North American Tour); Saudi Games Opening Ceremony (King Fahd Stadium); Boomtown Festival Opening Ceremony (Winchester); Eurovision Song Contest Opening Ceremony (St. George’s Hall); Filmfare Awards(Jio Garden, Mumbai).
Film includes: Jagga Jasoos, Hrudyantar.
Hannah Sandilands | CarouselTheatre and dance includes:Message in a Bottle (ZooNation, Original Cast/World Tour).
Film & TV includes: Message in a Bottle: The Movie; BBC The Greatest Dancer; Better Man; The Voice UK Finals; Apartment 7A.
As Assistant Choreographer: Strictly Come Dancing.
Elijah Smith | CarouselCompanies include: ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, Flawless, Boy Blue.
Theatre and dance include: The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (ZooNation, Royal Opera House); A Night with Boy Blue (Boy Blue, Barbican); The Flawless 20th Anniversary Show (Flawless, Peacock Theatre).
As choreographer: ZooNation Youth Company (Royal Opera House); D’Eli Collective (Move It); The Movement Factory (Nike Town).
Malachi Welch | Carousel
Training: The BRIT school, London Contemporary Dance School.
Companies include: Boy Blue Entertainment, ZooNation: A Kate Prince Company.
Theatre and dance include: Disney’s The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Lord of the Flies (New Adventures, Sadler’s Wells); Traplord (@180 Studios); Message in a Bottle (ZooNation, International Tour); The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (ZooNation, Royal Opera House); Our Mighty Groove (Sadler’s Wells East).
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