Hadley Fraser in the original Donmar Warehouse production of City of Angels. Picture: Johan Persson
American singer and actress Vanessa Williams will make her London theatre debut next year when the Donmar Warehouse’s Olivier Award-winning production of City of Angels makes its long-awaited West End transfer.
The Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-nominee who starred in hit TV series Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives, on the big screen in action films Eraser and Shaft, and on Broadway in The Trip to Bountiful and Hey, Look Me Over, will bring a touch of Hollywood glamour to the production which will begin previewing at the Garrick Theatre from 5 March 2020.
Williams will join the stars of director Josie Rourke’s critically-acclaimed 2014 production, Rosalie Craig (Company, Gielgud Theatre, The Threepenny Opera, National Theatre), Hadley Fraser (Les Misérables, Queen’s Theatre/Palace Theatre, Young Frankenstein, Garrick Theatre), and Rebecca Trehearn (Show Boat, Sheffield Crucible/New London Theatre, Dogfight, Southwark Playhouse), for the West End season which is due to run until 5 September.
The cast also includes returning cast members: Marc Elliott (Sweet Charity, Nottingham Playhouse); Nick Cavaliere (Aladdin, West End); Adam Fogarty (Bouncers, Hull Truck Theatre Company); and Mark Penfold (The Outside, The Coronet). Production newcomers will include: Rob Houchen (Eugenius! The Other Palace); Joshua St Clair (Kinky Boots, UK tour); Cindy Bellot (Waitress, Adelphi Theatre); Sadie-Jean Shirley (The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit, Hope Mill Theatre); Manuel Pacific (West Side Story, Royal Exchange Theatre) and Ryan Reid (Dreamgirls, Savoy Theatre). Further casting will be announced at a later date.
Commenting on the production, Rourke said: “City of Angels was a landmark experience for me at the Donmar. We all longed to hear Cy Coleman’s classic score, and see this incredible design on a bigger stage. Nica’s [producer Nica Burns] passion for the show has brought about this reunion, and I’m very grateful that through her championing, audiences will have the chance to see this classic production in the West End.
“In the five years since I directed the show, I’ve experienced making movies first-hand, and I will return to this Hollywood story with a little more insight! It is a joy to reunite with Rosalie, Hadley, and Rebecca (who made these characters their own), and to have the icon Vanessa Williams make her West End debut as femme fatale, Alaura, in the production.”
Producer Nica Burns added: “Only 17,500 people had the opportunity to see Josie Rourke’s outstandingly brilliant production of this terrific, multi-award-winning musical – the equivalent of only a month in a West End playhouse. It has taken five years to reunite the original creative team and finally give a wider audience the chance to see this sensationally sexy, musical masterpiece. A strictly limited season so don’t miss out a second time. Book your tickets now!”
The Garrick Theatre season will reunite the Donmar’s former artistic director Rourke with the original production’s entire creative team including choreographer Stephen Mear and designer Robert Jones.
With music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel and a book by Larry Gelbart, the musical love letter to old-time Hollywood glamour and film noir debuted on Broadway in 1989 and in the West End in 1993. The original Broadway production won six Tonys including Best Musical while the first West End run won the 1994 Olivier Award for Best Musical. The Donmar’s 2014 revival won two Olivier Awards including the award for best musical revival.
Angela Thomas
Tickets for City Of Angels are available HERE.
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