MAUREEN NOLAN JOINS THE CAST OF
FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL
RETURNING IN A BRAND NEW PRODUCTION
TOURING THE UK FROM JANUARY 2016
Full casting is announced today for worldwide smash hit musical Footloose: The Musical, which will burst back onto the stage in 2016, touring the UK from January. Full tour schedule attached.
Joining the previously announced Gareth Gates as Willard will be Maureen Nolan as Vi Moore.
Maureen Nolan has been singing with her sisters since she was nine years old, when they became one of Europe’s first girl bands, The Nolans. Best known for their smash hit single I’m in the Mood for Dancing, The Nolans enjoyed phenomenal record sales worldwide, and worked with some of the world’s most respected artists including Frank Sinatra. On stage, Maureen has played Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers in the West End and on tour to critical acclaim. She was the fourth Nolan sister to play the role, earning them entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. Other credits include Sadie in Girl’s Behind, Jill in Mum’s the Word and Sarah in The Naked Truth.
Gareth Gates will play Willard from 29 January until 16 April, returning to the show from 20 June 2016. Gareth rose to fame through the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, going on to sell over 5 million records worldwide and have hits across the globe. His version of Unchained Melody sold over a million copies in the UK and is the 3rd best-selling single of the Noughties. Gareth is also the youngest ever-male solo artist to debut at number 1. More recently Gareth has enjoyed a successful career on stage, with credits including Les Misérables, Legally Blonde and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. In 2014 Gareth appeared in the final series ofDancing on Ice, and joined boyband 5th Story as part of ITV’s second series of The Big Reunion, touring arenas with bands including Blue and Five.
Luke Baker will play Ren McCormack, the role immortalised on screen by Kevin Bacon. Luke is about to finish playing Theo in Green Day’s American Idiot in the West End, with other West End credits including the Olivier Award-winning Sunny Afternoon, Beautiful Thing and I Can’t Sing.
The cast also features Hannah Price as Ariel Moore, Nigel Lister as Reverend Shaw Moore, Nicky Swift as Ethel McCormack, Joanna Sawyer as Rusty, Matthew Tomlinson as Chuck, Natasha Brown as Wendy-Jo,Miracle Chance as Urleen and Scott Haining as Bickie. The cast also includes Lauren Storer, Natalie Morton-Graham, Luke Thornton and Alex Marshall.
Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. Featuring classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear it for the Boy and the unforgettable title track, Footloose: The Musical is set to take the world by storm once again in this brand new production, bursting with youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music.
When the film was released in 1984, it became the highest-grossing February release in US film history. The soundtrack album ended the year-long reign of Michael Jackson’s Thriller at number one and went on to top album charts all over the world, eventually selling in excess of 17 million copies. Footloose was nominated for a Golden Globe, and both the title song and Let’s Hear It for the Boy received Academy Award nominations.Footloose: The Musical first opened on Broadway in 1998 where it ran for 709 performances, with a London production following in 2006, opening at the Novello Theatre following a UK Tour.
Footloose: The Musical has music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and is adapted for the stage by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. It is based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford. It is directed by Racky Plews (American Idiot, West End) with choreography by Matthew Cole, design by Sara Perks and musical supervision by Mark Crossland. It is produced by David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree for Sell A Door Theatre Company and Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment. It is presented by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe.
www.footloose-musical.com
@FootlooseTour
2016 UK TOUR
Friday 29 January – Saturday 6 February 2016
BRIDLINGTON Spa
Box Office www.thespabridlington.com | 01262 678258
Monday 8 – Saturday 13 February 2016
DARTFORD Orchard Theatre
Box Office www.orchardtheatre.co.uk | 01322 220000
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 February 2016
EDINBURGH Festival Theatre
Box Office www.edtheatres.com | 0131 529 6000
Monday 22 – Saturday 27 February 2016
LOWESTOFT Marina Theatre
Box Office www.marinatheatre.co.uk | 01502 533200
Monday 29 February – Saturday 5 March 2016
CARDIFF New Theatre
Box Office www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk | 029 2087 8889
Monday 14 – Saturday 19 March 2016
MANCHESTER Palace Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester | 0161 245 6600
Monday 21 – Saturday 26 March 2016
CARLISLE Sands Theatre
Box Office www.thesandscentre.co.uk | 01228 633766
Monday 28 March – Saturday 2 April 2016
PORTSMOUTH King’s Theatre
Box Office www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk | 023 9282 8282
Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 April 2016
BOURNEMOUTH Pavilion Theatre
Box Office www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk | 0844 576 3000
Tuesday 19- Saturday 23 April 2016
OXFORD New Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford | 0844 871 3020
Monday 25 – Saturday 30 April 2016
WESTON-SUPER-MARE Playhouse
Box Office www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/theplayhouse | 01934 645544
Monday 2 – Saturday 7 May 2016
WIMBLEDON New Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre | 020 8545 7900
Monday 9 – Saturday 14 May 2016
LIVERPOOL Empire
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire | 0151 702 7320
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 23 May 2016
WATFORD COLOSSEUM
Box Office www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk | 01923 571102
Tuesday 31 May – Saturday 4 June 2016
DERRY Millennium Forum
Box Office www.millenniumforum.co.uk | 028 7126 4455
Monday 6 – Saturday 11 June 2016
TORQUAY Princess Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/princess-theatre-torquay | 0844 871 3023
Monday 13 – Saturday 18 June 2016
GLASGOW King’s Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre | 0844 871 7648
Monday 20 – Saturday 25 June 2016
ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre
Box Office www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/his-majestys-theatre | 01224 641122
Monday 4 – Saturday 9 July 2016
BIRMINGHAM Alexandra Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham | 0844 871 3011
Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 July 2016
NEWCASTLE Opera House
Box Office www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk | 0191 243 1171
Monday 18 – Saturday 23 July 2016
WOKING New Victoria Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre | 0844 871 7645
Monday 25 – Saturday 30 July 2016
BRIGHTON Theatre Royal
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton | 0844 871 7627
Monday 1 August – Saturday 6 August 2016
BRISTOL Hippodrome
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome | 0844 871 3012