David Bedella [pictured], Natasha J Barnes and Tiffany Graves will take to the stage in London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s presentation of Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel at the Hackney Empire on 23 September.
Following on from the LMTO’s sell-out return to Cadogan Hall in July with Leonard Bernstein and Hugh Wheeler’s Candide, the orchestra will make its East London debut with a concert version of Herman’s tale of silent film legend Mack Sennett and his turbulent love affair with tragic Hollywood actress Mabel Normand.
Bedella (Jerry Springer – The Musical, In The Heights) will play Mack alongside Funny Girl’s Barnes as Mabel and Graves (Chicago, Sweet Charity) as silent movie actress Lottie Ames. The cast will be directed by Shaun Kerrison and choreographed by Anthony Whiteman,
Commenting on the choice of the Broadway classic, LMTO’s founder Freddie Tapner said: “I love Mack and Mabel because it’s one of those shows where you think you don’t know it, but you know every song in it. ‘I Won’t Send Roses’, ‘Time Heals Everything’ and ‘Tap Your Troubles Away’ have all invaded the public consciousness for very good reason – they are timeless classics. I am so excited to have this dream trio lead our cast – David, Natasha and Tiffany bring their sensational voices but also that touch of whimsy which this genre of musical so cries out for. I can’t wait for the 23rd!”
Currently celebrating its second successful year, the 32-piece orchestra conducted by founder and musical director Tapner will close its successful 2017 season with a repise presentation of its 2016 festive hit production of Alan Menken’s musical A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theatre on 11 and 18 December.
Previous LMTO successes include concert versions of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s State Fair, and the concert staging of Honeymoon in Vegas with the show’s composer Jason Robert Brown as guest conductor.
Angela Thomas
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