Ryan Molloy and Cassie Compton (pictured below) join the cast of new musical 27
Ryan Molloy, Cassie Compton, Greg Oliver and Jack Donnelly are to star in the world premiere of the new British rock musical 27.
Directed by world renowned director/choreographer Arlene Phillips, 27 is a modern fable, a dark interpretation of one of humanity’s oldest stories. It has music, book and lyrics and is co-directed by Sam Cassidy.
27 will run from Thursday 8 September to Saturday 22 October in a six-week season at London’s 170-seat Cockpit Theatre. Press night is Monday 12 September.
Ryan Molloy holds the record as the longest-running star of a West End musical for playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys for six years. He also played the role on Broadway. He was Horace in the musical Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be at Theatre Royal Stratford East, played Tremont ‘Chick With a Dick’ in Jerry Springer the Opera, Steve Strange in Taboo, Judas in Godspell and Ozzie in On the Town (at the ENO).
Cassie Compton was Jean in the world premiere of American Psycho at the Almeida, Nessarose in Wicked and Elizabeth in Dirty Dancing, both in the West End.
Greg Oliver played Moritz in the musical Spring Awakening, Wolf in After the Turn and Kyle in the world premiere of The Prodigals.
Jack Donnelly is best known for starring as Jason in Atlantis on BBC1. He was also in Misfits and two series of Threesome. On stage he was in Accomplice at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Other cast members include: Lucy Martin (Jersey Boys, West End); Ryan Gibb (The Committments, West End; Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour); Jodie Jacobs (Rock of Ages, West End; Oliver!, Grange Park Opera); Maisie Bawden (The Sound of Music Live, ITV1; The Tempest, Shakespeare’s Globe); Eloise Davies (Bad Girls the Musical, Union); Collette Guitart, Emily Kenwright, Sophie Ayers (We Will Rock You and Loserville, West End); Anthony Selwyn (Hairspray, UK tour); Jason Kajdi and Kristian Cunningham.
Hendrix, Joplin, Cobain, Morrison and Winehouse: all music legends whose lives were tragically cut short at 27. Orpheus
is a would-be rock star turned icon whose experiences of fame and notoriety lead him on a journey of unstoppable self- destruction. Another name for the list. At the tender age of 27. Another star, extinguished…
Arlene Phillips said: “I love working on projects that shout out ‘we are different’. Working on the fringe of the arts which I have been doing more of in these last couple of years I find really exciting. 27 has a powerful and emotional message that evokes so many memories of not just Amy Winehouse but so many others who began with a prodigious talent that eventually destroys them.
“It is a musical that could connect to so many people of different ages. The musical appeals to me because it was written by a young writer, Sam Cassidy, who has the power in his music to take the audience from one moment of joy to instant tears of sorrow. Casting this show wasn’t easy because we need true actors who are able to get into the depth of the roles, and like Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sam writes music that is only possible for a few to sing, and of course, I want them to dance!”
Arlene Phillips is a showbiz legend honoured as a CBE for her services to dance; she has worked with stars from film and TV, to theatre and arenas, as well as becoming one of Britain’s favourite television judges. Her credits as director: Saturday Night Fever, international productions of Starlight Express, US tours of Joseph and Jesus Christ Superstar, Lord of the Dance, The Songbook of Judy Garland, Brazouka, Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Manchester XVII Commonwealth Games. As choreographer: Jackie the Musical, Starlight Express, The Wizard of Oz, Flashdance, The Sound of Music, Grease, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, Joseph, Jesus Christ Superstar and EFX at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
As an actor, Sam Cassidy appeared in musicals including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Rocky Horror Show. He is currently starring as Prince Theo alongside Billy Zane in the major new ABC TV series, Guilt. Although 27 is Cassidy’s first musical as a writer, he has been writing music and assisting his mother Chrissy Wickham, now a choreographer, but an original member of Hot Gossip and the original Ashley in the musical Starlight Express, on various projects since he was 16. While attending Mountview Academy’s Musical Theatre course, he was also writing music as a singer songwriter.
Also in the creative team are: sound designers Harry Barker and Michael Benjamin, musical supervisor Jimi Maddison, musical director Matt Nalton, associate director Victoria Gimby. lighting and set designer Nick Eve, costume designer Lucy Alexander, and choreographers Ryan Lee Seager and Lucy Martin.
27 is produced by Adam Pritchard, Sam Cassidy and Nick Eve on behalf of 27 Musical London Limited.
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