Casting has been revealed for the first major new UK production of White Christmas, produced by West Yorkshire Playhouse and directed by Nikolai Foster. Taking centrestage in the Quarry Theatre from 24 November 2014 to 17 January 2015, this original staging of Irving Berlin’s iconic musical brings together an ensemble of 17 led by Darren Day and Oliver Tompsett as entertainers Bob Wallace and Phil Davis. Helen Anker and Holly Dale Spencer play the sparky Haynes sisters alongside a supporting cast of 13 performers.
Recently appointed as incoming artistic director of Curve Theatre, director Nikolai Foster returns to the Playhouse following the success of Annie which he innovatively re-approached in 2011. He returns with choreographer Nick Winston to stage a new version of the Broadway classic, featuring a freshly orchestrated score by Tony Award-nominated composer Jason Carr which will be performed by a live seven-piece onstage band.
Since making his first starring appearance in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Darren Day has performed in musicals internationally and in the West End. His extensive credits include lead roles in Grease, Copacabana and Summer Holiday and touring shows Alfie, Carousel, Great Expectations and We Will Rock You.
Oliver Tompsett is one of the original London cast of Wicked, performing as Fiyero until 2010. Tompsett’s West End credits include Tim Firth’s Madness musical Our House, Mamma Mia!, originating the role of Drew in Rock of Ages and performing as Galileo in We Will Rock You.
Currently living and working in the US, Helen Anker will be returning to the UK to take the role of Betty Haynes. Anker has just finished playing Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at the Guthrie Theatre Minneapolis; other credits include Promises Promises on Broadway, Oklahoma!, Fame and Cats in the West End. This production reunites Anker with Foster for the first time since she performed in his debut production as a director, A Chorus Line.
Holly Dale Spencer has performed internationally in musicals including Kiss Me Kate, Crazy For You, Betty Blue Eyes, Oliver!, Mary Poppins and the film adaptation of Les Misérables. She recently performed in Headlong’s American Psycho for the Almeida.
They’re joined by an ensemble of 13 accomplished musical performers: Melanie La Barrie, Andrew Jarvis, James Darch, Kirby Hughes, Lucy Williamson, Michelle White, Moyo Akande, Robbie Boyle, Samuel Holmes, Sion Tudor Owen, Frankie Jenna, Simon Anthony and Matthew Hawksley.
Foster directs this first major new UK production of the Broadway musical. White Christmas follows the successes of his bold new approach to Annie and A Christmas Carol (Birmingham Rep/West Yorkshire Playhouse). Foster’s numerous acclaimed theatre productions include Calamity Jane starring Jodie Prenger (Watermill Theatre) and the 20th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing (national tour).
White Christmas brings together a celebrated creative team including choreographer Nick Winston (Annie), Jason Carr (A Christmas Carol) and designer Matthew Wright.
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