Double Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (La Cage Aux Folles, Kinky Boots) will direct and choreograph the UK premiere of the new musical Becoming Nancy at the Birmingham Rep this autumn.
Based on the coming-of-age novel by Terry Ronald, the musical features a book by Elliot Davis and music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe with additional music and lyrics by Ronald, Davis and Stiles.
Commenting on story which first captured his imagination on a plane journey from the UK back home to New York in 2013, Mitchell, the director and choreographer of three Olivier Award-winning musicals, said: “Becoming Nancy is about finding love. Love of self, love of others and love of what matters most in life. As soon as I saw The Rep and visited Birmingham, I knew that it was the right place to open the show. It’s been a privilege to turn Terry’s beautiful story into a musical, and we are all looking forward to working on the show and sharing this beautiful musical with Birmingham and the rest of Great Britain and the world.”
The Birmingham Rep’s artistic director Sean Foley added: “I’m thrilled to be able to announce Becoming Nancy, and to be welcoming the extraordinary Jerry Mitchell and his world class creative team to The Rep. When I first saw and heard this touching, funny and relevant show at workshop stage, I knew we had to help make it happen and produce it.
“Stiles and Drewe, with Elliot Davis, and original writer Terry Ronald, have created as exciting, frequently hilarious, and heart-tugging show about first love and being yourself as you can ever hope to see. I’m sure that Birmingham itself is about to fall in love with this brilliant new musical.”
Running from 2 October to 2 November with a press night on 15 October, the 1979-set musical tells the story of pop music-loving sixth former David Starr whose casting as the female lead in the school’s production of Oliver! sends shockwaves through the school and beyond.
Angela Thomas
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