Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and John Stalker Productions are delighted to announce the full cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy at the London Palladium on 12 & 13 February.
Joining the previously announced Michelle Visage as Morticia Addams, Ramin Karimloo as Gomez Addams and Lesley Joseph as Grandma in the THE ADDAMS FAMILY are Sam Buttery (Jesus Christ Superstar, Barbican/Regent’s Park Open Air) as Uncle Fester, Nicholas Mclean (Annie Get Your Gun, London Palladium) as Pugsley Addams, Dickon Gough (As You Like It, Soho Place) as Lurch, Sean Kingsley (Patriots, Noel Coward Theatre) as Mal, Ryan Kopel (Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park) as Lucas and Kara Lane (Rebecca, Charing Cross Theatre) as Alice. In the ensemble are Leeroy Boone (The Phantom of the Opera, His Majesty’s Theatre), Abigail Brodie (Wind in the Willows, West End & UK Tour), Gavin Eden (Hairspray, UK Tour), Chloe Gentles (Mamma Mia! UK & International Tour), Katie Hutton (Cats, Asia Tour), Matthew Ives (Back to the Future, Adelphi Theatre), Jessica Keable (42nd Street, Théatre du Châtelet & Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Castell Parker (Sister Act, Eventim Apollo & UK Tour) and introducing Chumisa Dornford-May (Aspects of Love, Lyric Theatre) as Wednesday Addams. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows; she’s fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family! Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. All the usual clan are present – Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley et al. THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A Musical Comedy live in concert will be directed by Matthew White, with choreography by Alistair David, production design by Diego Pitarch, musical supervision and orchestrations by Richard Beadle, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Richard Brooker and casting by Jane Deitch. Book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams. THE ADDAMS FAMILY is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and John Stalker Productions, with co-producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Guy James and is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.
Royal Court Theatre, London – until 10th February 2024
Reviewed by Celia Armand Smith
4****
Cowbois is a colourful, campy celebration of what it is to be yourself set in the traditionally (and hilariously) manly world of the wild west. Debuting last year at the RSC, Charlie Josephine’s latest play isn’t subtle, but it is fun. Taking place in a small town, all the men have gone missing while prospecting for gold, leaving the women (and the drunk sheriff) bored, sexually frustrated, and just about hanging on. Enter a handsome gun slinging outlaw by the name of Jack Cannon (Vinnie Heaven), who has every person in the town swooning. Soon enough, all the townsfolk start to discover life as their true selves and love blooms, with colour returning to the formerly repressed community. That is until the menfolk return. They are however quite swiftly forced to challenge their own heteronormative ideas and misogynistic ways in order to save the town from some pretty bad black clad folx that Cannon has allegedly wronged.
There is so much going for this production directed by Josephine and Sean Holmes. The design by Grace Smart is fantastic, and the movement and visual arrangement of the cast is one of the highlights. The performers travel across the stage with precision, creating tableaus that change and shift with a clever use of lighting and music from Simeon Miller and Jim Fortune. The play is punctuated by great singing from cast members accompanied by an old-timey band, ever present in the corner of the stage.
There are some particularly good comedic performances from Emma Pallant as the god fearing Sally Ann, Lucy McCormick as the increasingly outspoken and wild Jayne, and LJ Parkinson who clearly is no stranger to commanding a crowd. Paul Hunter, Lee Braithwaite, Bridgette Amofah, and Sophie Melville are all brilliant as well in this truly ensemble piece.
I am a big fan of Dolly Parton, Orville Peck, and all things camp and country, and so I had high expectations coming into this, and this colourful, queer joy filled romp with a big heart did not disappoint.
Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP) today announce the West End run of Oedipus, a new adaptation created by Robert Icke after Sophocles. Icke directs Mark Strong (OEDIPUS) and Lesley Manville (JOCASTA). The strictly limited run at Wyndham’s Theatre previews from Friday 4 October 2024.
Icke’s production was originally presented in Dutch at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Further casting and on-sale dates to be announced. Individuals can sign up for priority booking here: Oedipustheplay.com.
Sonia Friedman Productions present
Mark Strong and Lesley Manville in
OEDIPUS
Created by Robert Icke, after Sophocles
Directed by Robert Icke
Wyndham’s Theatre
Behind every great man is a great woman.
Election night. The polls predict a landslide victory. Everything is about to change.
Starring the internationally renowned, multi award-winning Mark Strong and Lesley Manville, Sophocles’ epic tragedy is transformed into an essential, explosive human thriller.
After his revelatory Oresteia, visionary director Robert Icke (1984, The Doctor) reimagines another Ancient Greek tragedy, bringing the secrets of the past bursting into the present.
Following hit runs at International Theatre Amsterdam and the Edinburgh Festival, Oedipus comes to comes to Wyndham’s Theatre for a strictly limited season from 4 October.
Mark Strong (OEDIPUS)
Multi-award-winning actor Mark Strong returns to the stage. He previously appeared in A View from the Bridge (Young Vic, West End and Broadway – Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play and Tony Award nomination); The Red Barn, Closer, Death of a Salesman, Murmuring Judges, Fuente Ovejuna, Napoli Milionaria, King Lear and Richard III (National Theatre); Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya (Donmar Warehouse – Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor); Speed the Plow (New Ambassadors Theatre); The Iceman Cometh (Almeida Theatre); The Thickness of Skin and The Treatment (Royal Court Theatre); Hess is Dead, The Plantagenets and The Man Who Came To Dinner (RSC).
His television credits include Temple (also series Executive Producer); Deep State; Low Winter Sun; The Long Firm (Broadcast Guild Award for Best Actor and BAFTA nomination); Prime Suspect; Fields of Gold; The Jury; Anna Karenina; Our Friends in the North and the forthcoming Dune: Prophecy (HBO Max).
An acclaimed film actor, he recently appeared in The Critic with Ian McKellen; Dead Shot with Felicity Jones; Nocebo with Eva Green; Murder Mystery 2 with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston (Netflix) and will next appear on screen in various projects including The End We Start From with Jodie Comer and Benedict Cumberbatch; Shadow Force opposite Omar Sy and Kerry Washington and Atlas opposite Jennifer Lopez.
His other film credits include Todd Field’s Tar with Cate Blanchett; Sam Mendes’ 1917; Miss Sloane with Jessica Chastain; Cruella alongside Emma Stone; The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley; The Kingsman films with Taron Egerton and Colin Firth; Before I Go To Sleep with Nicole Kidman;Thomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Gary Oldman; Peter Weir’s The Way Back; John Michael McDonagh’s The Guard; Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood with Russell Crowe; Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law; Martin Campbell’s Green Lantern; The Young Victoria opposite Emily Blunt; Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty; Danny Boyle’s Sunshine; Stephen Gaghan’s Syriana with George Clooney; Roman Polanski’s Oliver Twist and Thomas Vinterberg’s It’s All About Love.
Lesley Manville (JOCASTA)
Lesley’s notable television credits include Princess Margaret in award-winning drama, The Crown, for Netflix, BBC’s drama Sherwood (for which she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 2023 BAFTAs), which is returning for a second series. Mum (RTS Best Female Comedy Performance and two BAFTA nominations for Best Female Performance in a Comedy), Magpie Murders for BBC and PBS, similarly set to return for a second series titled Moonflower Murders. Lesley can currently be seen in Citadel for Prime Video alongside Richard Madden and Stanley Tucci. Upcoming roles include Alfonso Cuaron’s thriller series, Disclaimer. Lesley’s further TV credits include I Am Maria for BBC, River (BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress), Save Me Too, Talking Heads, World On Fire and Harlots.
Her roles in film include Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread (Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by An Actress in a Supporting Role, BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress, Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress), the titular role as Mrs Harris in Mrs Harris Goes To Paris for Focus Features (which earnt Lesley a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress) Let Him Go, Ordinary Love, Misbehaviour. In addition, Lesley is also known for her collaboration with Mike Leigh in projects such as, Another Year (NBR Best Actress Award, Critics’ Circle Best Actress Award and BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress), and All Or Nothing (Critics’ Circle Best Actress Award), Topsy-Turvy, High Hopes and Grown Ups, to name a few. Upcoming projects include Sam Taylor-Johnson’s upcoming Amy Winehouse biopic, Back To Black, Kasia Adamik’s upcoming Cold War feature, Winter Of The Crow, Cold Storage starring opposite Liam Neeson- a thriller about a spiralling virus and Luca Guadagnino’s feature film, Queer opposite Daniel Craig.
On stage, Lesley’s theatre credits include Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress), Ghosts (Olivier Award for Best Actress and Critics Circle Best Actress Award), Grief (Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress), Top Girls and The Visit. Further credits include Six Degrees Of Separation and All About My Mother at the Old Vic Theatre and Some Girls and The Cherry Orchard in the West End.
For her contributions to Drama and Charity, Lesley was honoured with a CBE in 2021.
Robert Icke is an award-winning writer and director, working in theatre and on screen.
His recent productions include Judas, Children of Nora, and Oedipus at International Theater Amsterdam, where until 2023 he was Ibsen Artist in Residence. His adaptation of Animal Farm played an extensive national tour in 2022 and is slated for a London transfer. His monologue condensation of Enemy of the People starred Ann Dowd at Park Avenue Armory and was one of the first new pieces of theatre to play in New York post the shutdown. He is directing Ian McKellen in Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre, 1 April – 22 June 2024, previewing in Wimbledon and Manchester from March.
In six years at the Almeida, five of his productions transferred to the West End, and four to New York. These included his adaptations of The Wild Duck, Mary Stuart (also West End and National tour), Uncle Vanya, Oresteia (also West End; Schauspiel Stuttgart; Park Avenue Armory), and 1984 (co-created with Duncan Macmillan, also Broadway; West End; national and international tours). As a director, his productions included Hamlet (also West End; Park Avenue Armory; and broadcast on BBC2); The Fever and Mr Burns. His final production at the Almeida was The Doctor, which played last summer at Park Avenue Armory, in the West End in 2022, and remains in repertoire at both the Burgtheater in Vienna and Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, as well as in numerous new productions across the globe.
His awards include two Evening Standard ‘Best Director’ Awards; the Critics’ Circle Award, the Kurt Hübner Award (for his debut production in Germany); and the Olivier Award for ‘Best Director’, of which he was the youngest ever winner. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge – until Saturday 20th January 2024
Reviewed by Steph Lott
4****
A Joyous Ode to Empowerment: 9 to 5 The Musical at the Cambridge Arts Theatre.
The Cambridge Operatic Society’s recent production of 9 to 5: The Musical, based on the book by Patricia Resnick, with songs and lyrics by Dolly Parton, is a delightful and empowering theatrical experience at the Cambridge Arts Theatre.
The audience are transported into the vibrant world of the late ’70s, a time when office dynamics were shifting, and women were beginning to demand their rightful place in the corporate landscape. The show cleverly balances humour, heart, and a powerful message of female empowerment, capturing the essence of the original 1980 film that inspired it.
One of the standout elements of the production was the stellar casting by the Cambridge Operatic Society. The three leading ladies, Violet (played by Emma Vieceli), Judy (played by Ellie Baldwin), and Doralee (played by Vikki Jones), delivered performances that were both hilarious and heart-warming. Their chemistry was palpable, creating a dynamic trio that effortlessly carried the show from start to finish.
It was interesting to witness the audience’s reaction to Rodger Lloyd’s portrayal of the dastardly Franklin, which was creepily superb with excellent comic timing. However, instead of applause, I almost felt he was going to get booed, such was the level of revulsion he stirred up!
The ensemble cast, composed of the talented members of the Cambridge Operatic Society, showcased impressive vocal prowess and energetic dance numbers that brought the infectious spirit of Dolly Parton’s music to life. The choreography, executed with precision and flair, added a visual feast to the already engaging narrative.
Dolly Parton’s music is, without a doubt, the soul of the production. The score, was flawlessly performed by the live orchestra, enhancing the overall theatrical experience. The titular song, “9 to 5,” had the audience tapping their feet and humming along, a testament to the timeless appeal of Parton’s compositions.
While 9 to 5 The Musical provides ample opportunities for laughter and entertainment, it doesn’t shy away from addressing serious issues such as workplace inequality and sexism. The script’s witty dialogue, coupled with the charismatic delivery of the cast, struck a perfect balance between humour and social commentary.
In conclusion, the Cambridge Operatic Society’s rendition of 9 to 5 The Musical at the Cambridge Arts Theatre was a resounding success. The stellar performances, vibrant production design, and the timeless appeal of Dolly Parton’s music combined to create a theatrical experience that was both uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable. The production not only pays homage to the source material but also adds a contemporary flair, making it a must-see for audiences of all ages. The audience gave the Cambridge Operatic Society a very warm welcome at Cambridge Arts and tonight’s performance had many members of the audience on their feet giving them a very well-deserved standing ovation.
3 Hearts Canvas and Patch of Blue in association with Southwark Playhouse and Verse Unbound today announce that Cassie and the Lights comes to Southwark Playhouse Borough this spring. Following critically acclaimed runs in New York and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this enchanting play created and directed by Alex Howarth features live music and is based on real-life events and interviews with children in care. Full casting is to be announced.
Cassie and the Lights opens at Southwark Playhouse Borough, in the Little Auditorium, on 5 April, with previews from 3 April and runs until 20 April 2024.
3 Hearts Canvas and Patch of Blue
in association with Southwark Playhouse and Verse Unbound present
CASSIE AND THE LIGHTS
BY ALEX HOWARTH
DIRECTED BY ALEX HOWARTH
Cast: tbc
Original Scenic Design: Alex Howarth; Set and Costume Design: Ruth Badila; Composers: Imogen Mason and Ellie Mason
3 – 20 April
Can kids be parents?
When Cassie’s mother disappears, the teenager wants to care for her sisters on her own. Is she the right person to be a parent now, or should she let foster parents adopt her sisters and create a new family?
Based on real-life events and interviews with children in care and featuring live music, this play celebrates the resilience of teenagers. Cassie and the Lights is a tender and playful examination of what makes a family and what holds it together.
Alex Howarth is a writer, director and designer. He was named one of ‘Ten Stage Sensations to Watch Out For in 2023’ by The Guardian. With a background of working in care, Alex is passionate about amplifying under-represented and northern voices. His play Cassie and the Lights is based on a true story and interviews with children in the care system. Nominated for the BBC Writer’s Room Popcorn Award and the SitUp Award for social change, it ran at 59E59 Theaters, Off Broadway New York in 2023. A former drama therapist for the charity Sense, he has worked extensively with disabled artists, and recently co-created one man show Strictly Lawrie with disabled artist Lawrie Morris. His play about a girl with autism, We Live By the Sea, received Critic’s Pick and Top Theatre of the Year in The New York Times, won the Best Theatre Award and the Critic’s Choice Award at Adelaide Festival, the Grahame F. Smith Peace Foundation Award for promoting human rights through theatre, and was nominated for a Fringe First and the Off West End Awards for Best Production and Best Ensemble. He was the assistant director on La Traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and regularly directs at drama schools including Italia Conti, Central School of Speech and Drama, Mountview Theatre School, and Chichester Conservatoire. He adapted and directed the world stage premiere of What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside the film’s writer and director, Oscar nominee Peter Hedges. He is the Artistic Director of multi-award winning Patch of Blue, who create original theatre pieces with live music for festivals and touring.
Ruth Badila is a set and costume designer. She has worked as an associate assistant designer at the Kiln Theatre, and recently completed a year’s residency as Assistant Designer at the National Theatre. Ruth is a previous recipient of the Linbury Prize 2021.
Imogen Mason and Ellie Mason are musicians, producers, and composers. They have worked extensively with Patch of Blue and have scored many plays for them including We Live By The Sea (59E59 Theaters, Arts Theatre West End, and tour), Back To Blackbrick (Arts Theatre West End and tour), and The Tortoise and the Hare (UK tour). Imogen and Ellie are two members of the band Voka Gentle.
Katy Galloway Productions today announces a limited run at the Garrick Theatre of one-woman show Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon with Charithra Chandran,the break-out star of the Netflix drama Bridgerton. Written by actor/director Rosie Day, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon received multiple 5-star reviews when she presented it at Southwark Playhouse in 2023.
With two performances on Sundays, the production will open on 17 March and will run for six weeks until 28 April 2024. Public booking opens tomorrow, 19 January – tickets are from £25.
Katy Galloway Productionspresents
INSTRUCTIONS FOR A TEENAGE ARMAGEDDON
Written by Rosie Day
Cast: Charithra Chandran
Director Georgie Staight; Set and Costume Designer Jasmine Swan; Lighting Designer Rory Beaton; Video Designer Dan Light; Associate Director Hanna Khogali
17 March – 28 April 2024
She was a 17 year-old girl, the only God she believed in was Taylor Swift.
After her sister’s untimely death by a Yorkshire Pudding, a funny teenage misfit begrudgingly joins a flailing scout group to help her navigate the kicks and punches of adolescence with varying degrees of success.
Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon is a rollercoaster ride through youth. Whether you are a young person, know a young person, or simply were a young person once – it’s time to rip up the rule book and reconnect with your younger self.
Charithra Chandran is an actor, producer and activist. Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon will be her West End stage debut. Charithra came to international prominence as Edwina Sharma in season 2 of Netflix’s Regency-era drama Bridgerton. Other television credits include Alex Rider, and she will next be seen in Alex Sanjiv Pillai’s romantic comedy How to Date Billy Walsh. Charithra is also a global ambassador for Room to Read, a charity committed to providing books and literacy and practical skills programmes to children across the world.
Rosie Day is a writer, author, film maker and actor. As a screenwriter, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon is currently in development for television. Her debut book of the same title was published by Hachette in 2021, and her non-fiction I think I Like Girls is to be published by Piatkus/Little Brown later this year. As a director, Rosie is currently directing feature film The Shallow End for Playhouse Studios and Simon Curtis, and is set to direct the feature adaptation of 152 Days by Giles Paley Phillips. As an actor, theatre credits include The Fellowship (Hampstead Theatre), The Girl Who Fell (Trafalgar Studios), Again (Trafalgar Studios), and Spur of the Moment (Royal Court). Television and film credits include Outlander, Living the Dream, Down a Dark Hall, All Roads Lead to Rome, and Good Omens.
Georgie Staight is a freelance theatre director and has worked on large scale productions in the West End and at venues across the UK. Georgie is an Associate Director at The Watermill and Theatre Directing Associate at Mountview. Previously, Georgie was joint Artistic Director of new writing company Flux Theatre for six years. Staight’s credits as Director include TheWizard of Oz, Camp Albion, and A Christmas Carol (Watermill Theatre), Instructions for A Teenage Armageddon, (Southwark Playhouse, nominated for four OffWestEnd Awards), Queen Mab (Iris Theatre, nominated for an OffCom Award), Eigengrau (Waterloo East Theatre), D-Day 75 (Watermill Theatre, 101 Outdoor Arts & Greenham Trust), CHUTNEY (Bunker Theatre, nominated for four Off-West End Awards), Into The Numbers (Finborough Theatre), Section 2 (Bunker Theatre), Dubailand (Finborough Theatre, nominated for an Off-West End award), Dreamless Sleep (Arts Theatre & Pint Sized Finalist at Bunker Theatre), and Flood (Tristan Bates Theatre). As Associate Director, credits includeOperation Mincemeat (Fortune Theatre, West End), Dawn French Is A Huge T**t (U.K. tour), Sweet Charity (Watermill Theatre), Our Town (Watermill Theatre), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Bernie Grant Arts Centre). Staight has led youth and outreach programmes at The Watermill, Chichester Festival Theatre and Newbury Corn Exchange, and worked as a guest director at drama schools including Mountview Theatre School, The Royal Academy of Music and the Oxford School of Drama.
THE LOWRY, SALFORD – UNTIL SATURDAY 20TH JANUARY 2024
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
4****
Calendar Girls is a touching tale that is inspired by true events and revolves around a close-knit group of ordinary women from a small Yorkshire Woman’s Institute. After the untimely loss of one of their husbands due to cancer, they are encouraged to undertake something remarkable and decide to create a nude calendar as a fundraising initiative for charity. The story highlights the personal challenges each of them faces and emphasises the immense support they provide for one another.
Calendar Girls the Musical is a production that stays true to the original storyline of the film (2003) and play (2009), but it adds a new dimension by incorporating music written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth. The songs are not the easiest to listen to or sing due to the use of cross-singing/talking and unconventional rhythms and melodies. Whether you enjoy these songs or not is a matter of personal taste. While they are quite different from the more background music in the film composed by Patrick Doyle, they add a quirky element that complements the show without taking away from its essence.
Witnessing the performance was a delightful experience, as I observed the audience members around me becoming captivated by the narrative and responding with both laughter and tears. The superb performances by the seven female leads showcased their exceptional character portrayals, and I relished the opportunity to form a connection with each individual character as the show progressed.
The theme of death evokes strong emotions, but this production cleverly weaves in humour and conveys an uplifting message. Before taking part in posing nude, the women must overcome personal challenges, inhibitions, doubts, and inner struggles. They courageously embrace their vulnerability, leading to triumphant moments. Every member of the cast radiates positive energy, sparking a ripple effect of positivity among the audience.
I particularly enjoyed Lyn Paul’s performance as Jessie, singing ‘What Age Expects’ and Maureen Nolan as Ruth singing ‘My Russian Friend And I’. This production is very relevant and can easily resonate with people facing similar situations.
This musical is simple good, honest humour. It captures the essence of friendship, community, and the strength of women. From beginning to end, it is both inspiring and beautiful.
WESSEX GROVE, GAVIN KALIN PRODUCTIONS AND PLAYFUL PRODUCTIONS
FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE NEW MUSICAL
OPENING NIGHT
BENJAMIN WALKER TO PLAY ‘MAURICE’,
REBECCA THORNHILL ‘KELLY’, CILLA SILVIA ‘CARLA’,
IAN McLARNON ‘LEO’ and JOS SLOVICK ‘GUS’
OPPOSITE THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
SHERIDAN SMITH AS ‘MYRTLE’
HADLEY FRASER AS ‘MANNY’, SHIRA HAAS AS ‘NANCY’,
NICOLA HUGHES AS ‘SARAH’, AMY LENNOX AS ‘DOROTHY’ AND JOHN MARQUEZ AS ‘DAVID’
BOOK BY IVO VAN HOVE
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
DIRECTED AND CONCEIVED BY IVO VAN HOVE
AT THE GIELGUD THEATRE IN LONDON’S WEST END
FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON FROM 6 MARCH TO 27 JULY 2024
Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Playful Productions are delighted to announce full casting for the World Premiere of John Cassavetes’ OPENING NIGHT, a new musical with book by Ivo van Hove and music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright.
Joining the previously announced Sheridan Smith as Myrtle, Hadley Fraser as Manny, Shira Haas as Nancy, Nicola Hughes as Sarah, Amy Lennox as Dorothy and John Marquez as David will be Benjamin Walker as Maurice, Rebecca Thornhill as Kelly, Cilla Silvia as Carla, Ian McLarnon as Leo and Jos Slovick as Gus. The cast is completed by Robert Finlayson, Daniel Forrester, Jennifer Hepburn, Issy Khogali and Chrissie Perkins.
Directed and conceived by Ivo van Hove, OPENING NIGHT will play a strictly limited season at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End from 6 March to 27 July 2024. OpeningNightMusical.com
On Broadway, Benjamin Walker has appeared in many productions, most notably as Patrick Bateman in the musical adaptation of American Psycho, Andrew Jackson in the musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Bertram Cates in Inherit the Wind, Le Chevalier D’Anceny in Les Liaison Dangereuses, Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Chris Keller in All My Sons, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.His film credits includes The Ice Road, Love Is Blind, Shimmer Lake, The Choice, In the Heart of the Sea, Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The War Boys, Flags of our Fathers, Unconscious, The Notorious Bettie Page. His TV includes: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Underground Railroad for Amazon, Jessica Jones for Netflix, Traitors for Channel 4 and 3 Ibs for CBS.
Rebecca Thornhill’s many West End credits include Mrs Wormwood in Matilda, Karen Holmes in From Here to Eternity, Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins, Roxie in Chicago, Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime, Vicky Nichols in The Full Monty, Sukie Rougemont in The Witches of Eastwick, Fantine in Les Miserables, Gertie Cummins in Oklahoma!, Julie in Show Boat, Babette in Beauty and the Beast, Demeter in Cats and Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award. Rebecca most recently starred as Rose in Gypsy at the Mill at Sonning for which she was nominated for a UK Theatre Award for Best Performance in a musical.
Cilla Silviatheatre credits include Pretty Woman The Musical at the Savoy Theatre in the West End and The Boy in The Dress for The Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company. In Stockholm, she has appeared in many productions including Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Park Theatre of Stockholm, The Last Five Years at Theatre Studio Leiderman, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd and Hair, all at Stockholm City Theatre.
Ian McLarnon’s many West End credits include Passion at the Queen’s theatre, Sunday in the Park with George at the Wyndham’s Theatre, Les Miserables at the Palace, Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse and Hand to God at the Vaudeville. At the National Theatre he has appeared in The Relapse, Luther, South Pacific and Follies. He has also appeared in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Troilus and Cressida and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, all at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Ian also supported Maria Friedman in her show Legacy at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Jos Slovick’s theatre credits include the UK tour of Beautiful, Emma Rice’s Brief Encounter in the West End, Fiddler on the Roof and Love Story at Chichester Festival Theatre, Bad Jews and Once, both in the West End, The Human Comedy at the Young Vic and Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and West End.
Sheridan Smith is an award-winning stage and screen actress, whose acclaimed West End credits include most recently playing the title role in Shirley Valentine at the Duke of York’s Theatre. Her performance as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre and as Doris in Flare Path at Theatre Royal Haymarket, both garnered her Olivier Awards, and the latter the Evening Standard Award as Best Actress. She received further Olivier nominations for her performance as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Duke of York’s Theatre, and Fanny Brice in Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre. Other notable performances include Hedda Gabler at The Old Vic, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Noël Coward Theatre, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium, and her stage debut as Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods at the Donmar Warehouse. Amongst her prolific screen roles, Sheridan was Emmy-nominated and won a BAFTA as Mrs Biggs, and further BAFTA-nominated for The C Word and her titular role in Cilla, for which she was also Emmy-nominated. Big screen credits include Dustin Hoffman’s Quartet and most recently The Railway Children Return. She has released two albums, titled Sheridan and A Northern Soul, resulting in two Classic BRIT Award nominations.
Hadley Fraser’s many West End credits include most recently The Lehman Trilogy at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, City of Angels at the Garrick and Donmar Theatres, Young Frankenstein, also at the Garrick Theatre and Javert in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre. Hadley starred at Raoul in the 25th Anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and Grantaire in the 25th Anniversary of Les Misérables at the O2. On Broadway he created the role of Tiernan in The Pirate Queen.
Shira Haas garnered international critical acclaim for her role in the Netflix series Unorthodox, for which she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series and was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, becoming the first Israeli to be nominated for an acting Primetime Emmy Award. Shira won the Tribeca Film Festival Award for Best International Actress for her performance in the film Asia. Additional credits include this year’s Netflix series Bodies, the international hit series Shtisel, and Niki Caro’s film The Zookeeper’s Wife. Shira will next star in Marvel’s fourth Captain America film, Captain America: New World Order. Opening Night will mark Shira’s West End debut.
Nicola Hughes is a double Olivier Award nominee for Best Actress in a Musical for her starring roles in Fosse at the Prince of Wales Theatre and Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre. Her other West End credits include Velma Kelly in Chicago and Lola in Damn Yankees, both at the Adelphi Theatre and The Acid Queen in the original London company of Tommy at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Other theatre credits include Simply Heavenly at the Young Vic and Trafalgar Studios, Allelujah! at The Bridge Theatre, Caroline or Change at Chichester Festival Theatre and Shug Avery in the original London company of The Color Purple at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Nicola most recently appeared at The Witch in Into the Woods at the Theatre Royal Bath, for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Performance at this year’s UK Theatre Awards.
Amy Lennox recently starred as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. She received an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her portrayal of Lauren in the West End production of Kinky Boots. Her other credits include Ellie in the London premiere of the David Bowie and Enda Walsh musical Lazarus. She was in the original West End cast of the musical Legally Blonde and created the role of Doralee in the original UK production of 9 to 5 The Musical.
John Marquez recently played Alfred Doolittle in Pygmalion at the Old Vic. He has also appeared at the Old Vic in The American Clock and Flea in her Ear. His many other theatre credits include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre, Privates on Parade at the Noël Coward Theatre, Ragtime at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The Taming of the Shrew for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Anniversary at the Garrick Theatre and The Emperor Jones, Market Boy and Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads, all at the National Theatre. John is best known to TV audiences as PC Joseph Penhale in the hit ITV series Doc Martin.
Based on John Cassavetes’ legendary film, OPENING NIGHT follows a theatre company’s preparations to stage a major new play on Broadway. But drama ignites behind the scenes when their leading lady is rocked by tragedy, and her personal turmoil forces everybody to deliver the performance of their lives.
OPENING NIGHT has a Book by Ivo van Hove with Music and Lyrics by Rufus Wainwright. It is Directed and conceived by Ivo van Hove, has Set, Lighting and Video Design by Jan Versweyveld, Costume Design by An D’Huys and Sound Design by Tom Gibbons and Alex Twiselton. Orchestrations are by Rufus Wainwright, with Musical Supervision and Musical Direction by Nigel Lilley. Movement and Choreography is by Polly Bennett, Casting by Julia Horan CDG and the Associate Director is Daniel Raggett.
Thursday 18 January, London – The critically acclaimed cast of the smash hit Donmar Warehouse production of the Broadway musical Next to Normal – which sold every seat at every performance across its season at Donmar Warehouse, where the production made its long-awaited UK Premiere – are to return as the show prepares to transfer to London’s West End.
Next To Normal – which has just been nominated for the most Whatsonstage Awards of any new musical this year – will begin performances at Wyndham’s Theatre on Tuesday 18 June 2024 for a strictly limited 14-week season.
The cast includes:
Caissie Levy, who played the original Elsa in Frozen on Broadway, and whose other leading roles include Caroline, Or Change and Leopoldstadt
Jamie Parker – Olivier Award-winner for his role as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London and on Broadway, and portrays Robin Janvrin in Season 6 of Netflix’s The Crown
Jack Wolfe, who was nominated in the Emerging Talent category at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for his role in Next To Normal at the Donmar Warehouse and star of Netflix series Shadow and Bone
Eleanor Worthington-Cox, whose credits include Jerusalem at Apollo Theatre, and the youngest winner of an Olivier Award for her lead role in Matilda The Musical
Trevor Dion Nicholas, whose West End credits include the Genie in Aladdin and George Washington in Hamilton
Jack Ofrecio, whose credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe
When the landmark musical debuted on Broadway in 2010, Ben Brantley of The New York Times called it “Brave and breathtaking. It is something much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical.” And Peter Marks of The Washington Post called it “a moving, blisteringly honest, and inordinately powerful new musical stocked with beautiful songs that get to the heart of the story – and simply get to the heart.” Next to Normal went on to win three Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, one of only 10 musicals in history to receive the prestigious honour.
Next To Normal is an intimate exploration of family and illness, loss and grief. At its heart is Diana Goodman, a suburban wife and mother living with bipolar disorder and haunted by her past. Donmar Artistic Director Michael Longhurst directs this powerful rock musical.
Caissie Levy plays Diana Goodman. Theatre includes: Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt (Broadway); Rose in Caroline, Or Change (Broadway, Grammy Nomination for her work on the cast album); Elsa in Frozen (Broadway, cast album); Fantine in Les Miserables (Broadway); Molly in Ghost (Broadway, West End, cast album); Sheila in Hair (Broadway, West End, cast album); Elphaba in Wicked (Los Angeles, Broadway); Penny in Hairspray (Broadway, 1st US National Tour); Maureen in Rent (US National Tour); The Bedwetter (Off Broadway); First Daughter’s Suite (Off Broadway, cast album) and Murder Ballad (Off Broadway). In concert:The Music of John Kander & Fred Ebb; The Songs of Kristen and Bobby Lopez (Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops); Sir Rod Stewart (Caesars Palace Las Vegas residency); Musical Gala Concert: 10th Anniversary (Tokyu Theatre Orb, Tokyo). Extensive solo touring throughout The United States, Canada, and the UK including Cadogan Hall (London); 54 Below (New York City); Joe’s Pub (New York City); Feinstein’s (Los Angeles); Feinstein’s at the Nikko (San Francisco) and more. Her debut solo album, With You, is available wherever you buy or stream your music. caissielevy.com
Jamie Parker plays Dan. His theatre credits include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Southwark Playhouse Elephant); The Doctor (Adelaide Festival); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Olivier Award winner for Best Actor and Tony Award nominee for Best Leading Actor in a Play (Palace Theatre/Lyric Theater, Broadway); Guys & Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre/Savoy Theatre); High Society (The Old Vic); Assassins; Proof (Menier Chocolate Factory); Candida (Theatre Royal Bath); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Leeds Playhouse); Henry V, Henry IV Parts I & II, A New World, As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe); Racing Demon (Sheffield Crucible); Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (Chichester Festival Theatre/Theatre Royal Haymarket); My Zinc Bed (Royal & Derngate, Northampton); Revenger’s Tragedy (National Theatre); The History Boys (National Theatre/Broadway); Singer (Tricycle Theatre); Between the Crosses (Jermyn Street Theatre); The Gondoliers (Chichester Festival Theatre); and After the Dance (Oxford Stage Company).Television includes: The Long Shadow, Masters of the Air, Becoming Elizabeth, Des, Treadstone, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel, Count Arthur Strong, Lawless, Parade’s End, Silk, The Hour, Burn Up, Horne and Corden, Imagine Van Gogh, Silent Witness, Maxwell, As If, Wire in the Blood and Foyle’s War. Films include: 1917, The Lady in the Van, Le Weekend, Valkyrie and The History Boys.
Jack Wolfe plays Gabe. His theatre credits include Peter in The Magician’s Elephant (RSC); The Snow Queen (Rose Theatre Kingston); The Musician (The Belfast Ensemble); Sweeney Todd (Lyric Theatre Belfast) and Pinocchio (National Theatre). Television includes: Shadow and Bone, Inside No.9 and The Witcher. Film includes: The Magic Flute produced by Roland Emmerich. Award nominations include: Evening Standard Theatre Award for Emerging Talent and WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical.
Eleanor Worthington-Cox plays Natalie. Her theatre credits include The Secret Life of Bees (Almeida); Jerusalem (Apollo Theatre);Tom Cat (Southwark Playhouse); Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith); To Kill a Mockingbird (Regents Park Open Air Theatre) and Matilda: The Musical – Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical (Cambridge Theatre). Television includes: Britannia, The Irregulars, The Enfield-Haunting, Cucumber and Hetty Feather. Film includes: Gwen, Action Point and Maleficent.
Trevor Dion Nicholas plays Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine. His theatre credits include George Washington in the West End production of Hamilton, Dr. Parker in Bat Boy: The Musical (London Palladium),Genie in Disney’s Aladdin – What’s On Stage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (West End & Broadway), Preacher in Bonnie & Clyde The Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Big River (US Tour), The Wiz, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Ragtime, The Little Mermaid, Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors. Trevor is the voice of the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Netflix animated film Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. Television credits include: Panelist/Judge on All Star Musicals (ITV), Gustav in The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti (Disney), Lester in Moley (Boomerang), The Show Must Go One (Sky Arts), Strictly Come Dancing (BBC), Christmas at the Snow Globe,The Americans, Sunday Night at the Palladium, Royal Variety Performance and Disney’s Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall (Emmy Award).
Jack Ofrecio plays Henry. His theatre credits include From Here to Eternity (Charing Cross Theatre), Boys Will Be Boys (Flawstate) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare’s Globe).
Next To Normal’s creative team is led by Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer Tom Kitt and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning writer Brian Yorkey.
Tom Kitt received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, two Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Orchestrations, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score for Next to Normal. He is also the composer of If/Then (Tony nomination), Almost Famous (Tony nomination), Flying Over Sunset (Tony nomination), High Fidelity (Broadway), Bring it On, The Musical (co-composer with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Broadway), Superhero (Second Stage), Disney’s Freaky Friday (Signature Theater D.C), Dave (Arena Stage) among others. As a music supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator, credits include SpongeBob Squarepants, The Musical (Tony nomination), Head Over Heels, Hell’s Kitchen, Jagged Little Pill; Grease Live!, Rise (NBC), American Idiot and the Pitch Perfect franchise.
Brian Yorkey received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as the 2009 Tony Award for Best Score for Next to Normal (Second Stage Theater/Broadway). He was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical for Next to Normal, and his work on the show earned him the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Score. He partnered again with the Next to Normal team on If/Then (Tony Award nominee for Best Score) starring Idina Menzel. He co-wrote the libretto for The Last Ship (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, with John Logan), with a score by Sting. His musical adaptation of Freaky Friday for Disney Theatricals enjoyed a national tour before being adapted into a Disney Channel Original Movie. Current theatrical projects in development include the original musical Jesus in My Bedroom, with composer Tim Symons. Additional theatre credits include Making Tracks, which has played off-Broadway and regionally, the musical adaptation of Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet, and the play, Book of Jobs with Alex Glover. Brian was the Executive Producer and Showrunner of 13 Reasons Why for Netflix, Paramount Television and Anonymous Content.
Michael Longhurst is the Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse. For the company, direction includes Next to Normal, Private Lives,The Band’s Visit (6 Olivier nominations),Force Majeure, Midnight Your Time (lockdown film), Teenage Dick, Europe, Belleville and the post-pandemic multicast revival of Nick Payne’s Constellations, which helped reopen the West End,broke box office records at the Vaudeville and won the 2022 Olivier Award for Best Revival. His production of Constellations previously ran on Broadway starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson (Samuel J Friedman Theater, for MTC), in the West End starring Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall (Duke of York’s, Evening Standard Award Best Play) originating at the Royal Court. His Chichester Festival Theatre production of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s Caroline, or Change transferred to Studio 54 for Roundabout Theater on Broadway, via Hampstead Theatre and the West End, with Sharon D Clarke reprising her Olivier Award-winning performance. The Broadway production received three Tony nominations including Best Musical Revival. Other theatre includes Amadeus featuring the Southbank Sinfonia (National Theatre/NTatHome), The Son (Kiln Theatre/Duke of York’s Theatre), Gloria (Hampstead Theatre), Bad Jews (Theatre Royal Haymarket/Theatre Royal Bath/UK tour & revival at the Arts), They Drink It In The Congo and Carmen Disruption (Almeida Theatre), ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore, The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare’s Globe), If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet (Off-Broadway for Roundabout), Linda, The Art of Dying, Remembrance Day (Royal Court Theatre), A Number (Nuffield Southampton Theatres/Young Vic), Cannibals (Royal Exchange Theatre), The History Boys (Sheffield Theatres), Dealer’s Choice (Royal & Derngate), The World of Extreme Happiness (NT Shed), Stovepipe (site-specific promenade with the National Theatre, HighTide and Bush Theatre), Midnight Your Time(HighTide), On The Beach (Bush Theatre), On The Record, Gaudeamus (Arcola Theatre), dirty butterfly (Young Vic – winner of the Jerwood Directors Award) and Guardians (Pleasance/Theatre503 – Fringe First Award).
The creative team is rounded out by Musical Supervisor Nigel Lilley; Designer Chloe Lamford; Movement, Choreography and Additional Direction Ann Yee; Lighting Designer Lee Curran; Sound Designer Tony Gayle; Video Designer Tal Rosner; Casting Director Anna Cooper CDG, Musical Director Nick Barstow and Production Manager Chris Hay.
Next To Normal is produced by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, and the Donmar Warehouse.
★★★★★
“Electrifying… beautiful… heartwrenching”
Sunday Express
“Kitt and Yorkey’s decision to write about mental health implicitly rebukes those who think musicals can’t be serious. Their approach is compassionate, thoughtful, but also witty”
Evening Standard
★★★★★
“It tears at the heart in a way few musicals manage.”
Attitude
★★★★★
“A heart-shatteringly extraordinary piece of theatre. It has no heroes or villains, just ordinary people trying to survive intense heartache and the alienation of mental illness.”
Broadway World
“Kitt and Yorkey’s musical combines a sensitive exploration of the issue with a wonderful score. Astonishing.”
Daily Telegraph
NEXT TO NORMAL | LISTINGS INFORMATION
Wyndham’s Theatre
Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H 0DA
Creative Team
Music Tom Kitt
Book and Lyrics Brian Yorkey
Director Michael Longhurst
Musical Supervisor Nigel Lilley
Designer Chloe Lamford
Movement, Choreography
and Additional Direction Ann Yee
Lighting Designer Lee Curran
Sound Designer Tony Gayle
Video Designer Tal Rosner
Casting Director Anna Cooper CDG
Musical Director Nick Barstow
Production Manager Chris Hay
Performances
Performances begin Tuesday 18 June 2024
Final performance: Saturday 21September 2024
Monday – Saturday performance at 7:30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees at 2:30pm
Captioned Performance: Saturday 7 September at 2:30pm
Audio Described Performance: Saturday 14 September at 2:30pm
I Should Be So Lucky is the musical featuring Stock Aitken Waterman songs. It tells the story about a couple and their love for each other. On their Wedding Day Ella is left jilted at the alter by her finance Nathan. Ella and her friends and family decide to go on the couple’s honeymoon to Paradise Love Island, Turkey. Meanwhile Nathan has a change of heart and together with his friend Ash go to Turkey for Nathan to try to win back Ella.
There are over 20 of the 80’s smash hit songs featured in this musical, all of which are flowed into from the dialogue. Many of the songs are cut short and mere snippets but still gave you the blast from the past. When the songs that were the fuller version were sang these were outstanding. The best vocal performance for me was from Kayla Carter who played Bonnie when she sang “You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You”, closely followed by Gary Davis (Big Mike) and Melissa Jacques (Shelley) when they did their duet.
Ella is played by Lucy-Mae Sumner whose dancing is amazing, she seems to glade effortlessly from move to move.
Nathan (Billy Roberts) and his best man Ash (Giovanni Spano) were a good duo combination.
The dancing by everyone in the night club scene was brilliant, you could easily imagine yourself years ago bopping out the moves.
The musical is full of laughter. Scott Paige playing Michael added much comedy to this hilarious musical which is full of 80’s cheese.
Ella’s grandma showcases that there is plenty of life left in the older generation and this is portrayed brilliantly by Jemma Churchill.
The scenery with the love heart shaped theme was simple but very effective, the hot air balloon basket and jet skis were a couple of my favourite props.
There were party poppers, streamers and beach balls all coming out to the audience giving it that extra bit of 80’s vibe.
The Pop Queen herself, Kylie, featured by video appearing on stage via a mirror.
When you left the theatre, you could feel and hear the buzz from everyone. Brilliant, funny and definitely one to go and watch.
