The UK premiere of Cougar the Musical will take place at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from Saturday 16 May to Saturday 6 June (press night is 19 May). The show has been described as ‘a hilarious, raunchy and insightful new musical about three women of a certain age saying yes to life and learning that true happiness lies within. Soulful, sassy, poignant and provocative – expect to be taken on a heart-warming and uproarious journey through their adventures, disappointments and ultimately, inspiring transformations.”
Cougar the Musical is written by American playwright, lyricist and composer Donna Moore, who first pounced on the idea for the show at a party. The piece plays at the Belgrade Theatre following success at the St Luke’s Theatre, New York, where it ran for more than two years Off-Broadway.
The show is being directed by Belgrade creative associate Patricia Benecke, who was last seen at the Belgrade in 2012 directing Ingmar Bergman’s critically-acclaimed production of Nora, adapted from Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.
Donna Moore said: ‘’When I first heard the term ‘Cougar’, I was doing stand-up comedy and writing The UnBalancing Act, a show about my divorce – and I thought, ‘How come we have to place a derogatory name on an older woman? I wanted to write a play that humanised the cougar which showed that women come in all shapes and sizes and that each woman is special no matter what. My thesis statement is that a woman who dates a younger man should be called a woman!
‘My mission with this play is to inspire and encourage women (and men) to say yes to life and understand that the key to self-empowerment comes from within. If nothing else, I want men and women who come to see this show to leave with their spirits uplifted, a song in their heart and perhaps, a racy story to share with their friends.”
Featuring a multi-talented cast of ‘three fabulous females and one very brave man’, this new musical will see West End performer Dawn Hope take up the role of high-flying academic Clarity, following her appearance as Rosa Parks in the highly-acclaimed Young Vic production of Kander and Ebb’s The Scottsboro Boys. Other theatre credits include Porgy and Bess (Savoy Theatre/National tour), Lady Day (Emerson’s Bar & Grill), Piaf (Picadilly Theatre/National tour) and Chicago (Cambridge Theatre/Sheffield Crucible).
She will be joined on stage by international film, stage and television actress Suanne Braun, best known for her roles in the long-running series Just Shoot Me (NBC), FX The Series (Fox) and the hit sci-fi series Stargate SG-1 (MGM) in which Braun starred as the goddess Hathor. Theatre credits include Mamma Mia! and Onassis in the West End, the Birmingham Rep/UK touring production of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret and The House of Bernada Alba (Riverside Studios).
Completing the trio is Pippa Winslow in the role of recently divorced mother and wife Lilly. Winslow’s extensive theatre credits include Other Desert Cities (Old Vic), Strangers On a Train (Gielgud Theatre, London), The Phantom of the Opera, Madame Butterfly and Opal (US national tour) and Hairspray (Gordon Craig & Bronowski Productions, Macau).
They will be joined on stage by Barnaby Hughes as Buck whose previous credits include Luther for BBC Television, Miliband of Brothers for Channel 4 and Legally Blonde for Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
Cougar the Musical comes complete with a high-energy soundtrack of songs including ‘Shiny and New’, ‘Julio’, ‘On the Prowl’, ‘I’m My Own Queen’ and the all-female anthem ‘Say’.
The production is designed by Juliet Shillingfordwith, video and LX Design by Arnim Friess, with additional music and lyrics by Mark Barkan, John Baxidine, Arnie Gross, Meryl Leppard and Seth Lefferts. The show features choreography by Racky Plews. The musical director is Neil McDonald.
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