Andy Karl in Groundhog Day at The Old Vic, London. Pictures: Manuel Harlan
Here is a first look at the world premiere of the highly anticipated stage musical Groundhog Day which has its press night on Tuesday 16 August at The Old Vic.
Written by Matilda the Musical’s Tim Minchin and directed by Matilda and Ghost director Matthew Warchus, Groundhog Day the Musical will feature a book by Danny Rubin, based on his original screenplay co-written by the late Harold Ramis, the film’s director.
Two other members of the creative team behind the smash hit Matilda, choreographer Peter Darling and designer Rob Howell, have also joined Warchus and Minchin to help transform the film into a stage musical.
Based on the 1983 hit movie in which Bill Murray played a cynical TV weatherman who learns the true meaning of life and love while stuck in the recurring ‘day from hell’, Groundhog Day the Musical forms part of Warchus’ inaugural season as the Old Vic’s new artistic director. The show is expected to follow its London run with a Broadway transfer early next year.
Andy Karl and Carlyss Peer in Groundhog Day
American actor Andy Karl plays weatherman Phil Connors. Karl, who made his Broadway debut in 2000 in Saturday Night Fever, has been enjoying small screen success after joining the cast of the multi award-winning and long-running US crime series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
A Tony Award nominee for both his performance in the title role in Rocky the Musical and in last year’s Broadway revival of On the Twentieth Century, Karl’s other Broadway credits include Jersey Boys, Wicked, Legally Blonde and The Wedding Singer.
Former Holby City star Carlyss Peer will join Karl in the role of Rita Hanson, played by Andie MacDowell in the original 1980s film. Since graduating from RADA, Peer’s theatre credits have included Ophelia in Hamlet and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe), Jefferson’s Garden (Watford Palace), But I Made You a Mix Tape (Etcetera Theatre), The Rivals (Theatre Royal Bath and Theatre Royal Haymarket) and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Salisbury Playhouse).
On television, Peer played Bonnie Wallis in Holby City and has also appeared in Doctors, The Secret Agent, Silent Witness, Peter Pan and Eternal Law. She has recently completed filming for the new ITV drama Brief Encounters which will air later in 2016.
Karl and Peer will be joined by an ensemble that includes: Leo Andrew, David Birch, Ste Clough, Roger Dipper, Georgina Hagen, Kieran Jae, Julie Jupp, Andrew Langtree, Vicki Lee Taylor, Emma Lindars, Antonio Magro, Carolyn Maitland, Kirsty Malpass, Lisa Mathieson, Eugene McCoy, Jenny O’Leary, Leanne Pinder, Mark Pollard, Damien Poole, Jack Shalloo, Andrew Spillett and Spencer Stafford.
Warchus is a director of theatre, opera and film who has directed award-winning productions for many of the major British theatre companies. He was an associate director at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and was an artistic associate at The Old Vic before being appointed in 2014 to succeed Kevin Spacey as artistic director of the theatre.
Actor, comedian and writer Minchin first shot to fame as a solo stage performer and actor, before turning his attention to writing for musical theatre as composer/lyricist of Matilda the Musical.
The show’s writer Rubin is an award-winning screenwriter and lecturer whose film credits include the thriller Hear No Evil. Turning his biggest hit, Groundhog Day, into a musical will mark his first stage venture.
Orchestration and additional music is by Christopher Nightingale, lighting design is by Hugh Vanstone, sound designer is Simon Baker, illusions are by Paul Kieve and additional movement is by Finn Caldwell.
Angela Thomas
Tickets for Groundhog Dog are available HERE.
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