Noel Sullivan will star alongside recent graduate Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos in the premiere of new feel-good musical The Rhythmics at the Southwark Playhouse this Christmas.
The former pop star turned musical theatre favourite will play single dad Grey with Dos Santos making her professional debut as his supportive teenage daughter Silva in the production which will run from 2 December 2021 until 8 January 2022.
Presented by leading independent theatre production companies Metta Theatre and Aria Entertainment, The Rhythmics features a book and lyrics by Metta’s artistic director P Burton-Morgan and music and lyrics by Stiles and Drewe prize-winner Ben Glasstone (Reanimator).
Announcing the first piece of casting news for the production, Burton-Morgan said: “I’m thrilled to collaborate with the gorgeous talent that is Noel Sullivan and delighted to be giving Zweyla her professional debut – she’s a star in the making. It feels crazier than ever right now to be premiering a completely original new British musical – but with the astonishing responses to The Rhythmics cast album and now this stellar cast joining our brilliant creative team I know the show is in safe hands!”
Commenting on his involvement in the show Sullivan, whose West End credits include School of Rock and We Will Rock You, said: “I’m thrilled to be leading the cast of The Rhythmics this coming Christmas, at the Southwark playhouse. It’s so exciting to be part of such an ambitious, brand new, British musical theatre project and after the year we’ve just had, this show will be the perfect, uplifting, tonic.”
A new music video featuring Sullivan and his stage daughter performing ‘Daddy You’re My Hero’ from the show is now available.
The Rhythmics is directed by Burton-Morgan with BSL integrated choreography by Deaf Man Dancing’s Mark Smith. Musical supervision is by Ellie Verkerk, with musical direction by Erika Gundesen, sound design by James Nicholson, costume design by Francine Huin-Wah and set and lighting design by Will Reynolds. The casting director for the production is Jane Deitch.
Full casting will be announced at a later date.
A cast album for the show was created last year during lockdown, with tracks recorded following social distancing guidelines in studios in London, Brighton and Glasgow. Released in July 2020 on digital platforms including Spotify and iTunes, artists involved include Neil McDermott (EastEnders, Pretty Woman) and Olivier Award nominee Kelly Price (A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park With George).
Angela Thomas
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