Arlene Phillips and Oti Mabuse are joining forces to help bring hit Broadway jukebox musical The Cher Show to the UK and Ireland next year with a major production launching at Leicester Curve.
The Strictly alumni will head the creative team with Phillips taking charge as director and Mabuse stepping up as choreographer of the touring production which will open in Leicester on 15 April 2022. The production’s all-important costumes will be designed by Six costume designer Gabriella Slade.
Commenting on her latest sequin-drenched project, veteran theatre director and choreographer Phillips said: “I have been a fan of Cher since I first heard ‘I Got You Babe’ in the mid-sixties and cannot wait to direct her musical. I love stories about strong inspirational legends like Cher and I am proud to be joined in the creative team by two women who have already made a huge impact in their careers:
“Oti Mabuse as choreographer of the many different genres in the show and Gabriella Slade for the iconic costume designs. This exciting show will be a non-stop journey of Cher’s rollercoaster life, bringing to the audience Cher’s iconic songs, glorious dance numbers, unique costumes and her epic drama. All they need to do is come along and Believe.”
Mabuse, who made her musical theatre choreographer debut in 2019 with a hit production of Ain’t Misbehavin’, added: “I cannot WAIT for audiences to see what we’re doing with The Cher Show. Cher’s music covers so many styles, genres and rhythms, which makes it so exciting to choreograph.
“Every song in the show is a hit and we are going full out with exciting routines and movement. It’s going to be a party! Cher has been such an inspiration to so many people and this musical is going to be a celebration of everything people love about her.”
Slade, whose credits also include Curtains and In The Heights, said: “Cher is quite literally a style icon. Her fashion moments pushed the boundaries of the time and continue to do so. I’m so excited to be taking huge influence and inspiration from these looks as I embark on creating the costume design for this new production of The Cher Show.”
The production which will also mark the musical’s European premiere will have lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Dan Samson with music production by Gary Hickeson.
Presented by Royo, the tour will follow its opening dates in Leicester by visiting Sunderland, Hull, Sheffield, Manchester, Belfast, Blackpool, Nottingham, Canterbury, Plymouth, Dublin, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Southend, Cardiff, Stoke, Woking, Dartford, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Wolverhampton, Bradford, Brighton, York, Ipswich, Southampton, Northampton, Liverpool, Bristol, Wimbledon, Darlington, Torquay, Oxford, Llandudno, Norwich and Carlisle. Further dates are to be announced.
Packed with 35 of the superstar artist’s greatest hits, The Cher Show features a book by Rick Elice, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning co-writer of Jersey Boys and The Addams Family (with Marshall Brickman).
The musical premiered in Chicago in July 2018 and made its debut on Broadway five months later. Featuring three actresses, each playing Cher at a different stage in her life, the original Broadway production won two Tony Awards – one for Stephanie J Block for her performance as Star and the other for the production’s costume designer, Cher’s long-time friend and collaborator, fashion designer Bob Mackie.
Angela Thomas
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