Andrew Lancel will return to the role of legendary music manager Brian Epstein in Cilla the Musical when it launches its world premiere tour in Liverpool next week.
The former Coronation Street and The Bill star, who previously won rave reviews for his performance in the show Epstein – The Man Who Made The Beatles, joins the previously announced Kara Lily Hayworth who was chosen from thousands of would-be Cillas who flocked to open auditions at venues across the country earlier this year.
Presented by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield with Cilla’s son Robert Willis serving as executive producer, the extraordinary story of Liverpool teenager Priscilla White’s journey to stardom is due to receive its premiere in the star’s hometown at the Liverpool Empire from 7-16 September.
The cast for the eagerly-anticipated musical adaptation of the critically-acclaimed ITV series by BAFTA award winner Jeff Pope will include Tom Dunlea (Hutch), Michael Hawkins (John Lennon) and Gemma Broderick-Bower (Pauline) who all appeared in the original mini-series.
Under the direction of Kenwright and Bob Tomson, the production will feature Lancel and Hayworth alongside Carl Au (Jersey Boys, High School Musical) who will play Cilla’s beloved Bobby. The cast also includes Amy Bridges (Rose Willis), Paul Broughton (John White), Bill Caple (Ringo Starr), Tom Christian (Kenny Willis), Pauline Fleming (Big Cilla) and Billy Hardy (Pat).
This year the tour will visit Edinburgh, Milton Keynes, Southampton, Birmingham, Blackpool, Cardiff, Wimbledon, Stoke, Manchester and Bradford.
The 2018 leg of the tour will begin in January in Dartford, followed by York, Glasgow, Dublin, Oxford, Northampton, Newcastle, Chester, Bristol, and Woking. Further dates are to be confirmed.
Angela Thomas
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