West End actress Natalie Kassanga will complete the cast for the European premiere of The Jonathan Larson Project in London this summer.
Kassanga (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Dear Evan Hansen) will join the previously announced Max Harwood (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie film), Marcus Collins (original West End cast of Kinky Boots), Michael Mather (currently playing Fiyero in the international tour of Wicked), Grace Mouat (West End premiere of Mean Girls and original West End cast of SIX) and Imelda Warren-Green (Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder!, West End).
The actors will be joined by Guildford School of Acting student Georgie Butler and Laine Theatre Arts student Edward Flynn Haddon who will make their professional debuts as the covers for the production. The pair secured their roles after impressing a talent search team headed by Emmy-nominated casting director Rob Kelly during in-person auditions.
Thirty years after the death of the creator of multi-award-winning RENT – one day before RENT’s first performance in New York – the acclaimed Off-Broadway tribute show will play Southwark Playhouse Borough from 9 July to 22 August.
Conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, the show which features previously unheard songs from Larson has been reimagined for the London stage by original director John Simpkins.
Commenting on the show’s UK debut, Jonathan Larson’s sister, Julie said: “It means so much to us to bring this show to a UK audience and to continue honouring Jonathan’s extraordinary work and legacy. This new celebration of my brother’s previously unheard music offers an intimate portrait of an artist who was truly ahead of his time, and we are deeply honoured to share it with you.”
Director Simpkins added: “Jonathan Larson changed the face of musical theatre. It is an enormous honour to be entrusted with directing this new production in the UK following our success Off-Broadway.”
The producers Thomas Hopkins and SAMS Entertainment commented: “It is an honour to be entrusted with Jonathan’s legacy by Julie and the Larson family as we bring this refreshed production to London. This show allows lovers of Jonathan’s work from around the world to come together in one space and celebrate his life with music that was lost until John Simpkins and Jennifer Ashley Tepper uncovered hours of cassette tapes of undiscovered songs, piles of never-produced scripts, and many personal letters, photos, journals, and more. Their discoveries have been endlessly inspiring in creating this worldwide event in the 30th year of the passing of one of the world’s most beloved musical theatre composers.”
The creative team also includes musical director Livi Van Warmelo, set and costume designer Justin Williams and lighting designer Samuel Biondolillo, with general management by Thomas Hopkins Productions. The co-producer is Cason Cane and the executive producer is Julie Larson.
Angela Thomas
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