The final years in the life of Marilyn Monroe provide the inspiration for a new musical from the writers of the critically acclaimed Angela’s Ashes – The Musical.
With music and lyrics by Adam Howell and a book by Paul Hurt, Blonde will be rehearsed and filmed at the Duchess Theatre in the East Midlands this month and will then be streamed on-demand via DerbyLIVE from 1-16 May 2021.
Co-produced by the Kristian Thomas Company and Tom Hopcroft who also directs, the production will feature a cast made up of locally based professional actors. Musical direction will be by Tom Bond with staging and choreography from Kristian Cunningham.
Verity Power (Lady Parts, Channel 4) will play Marilyn Monroe with Anna Bond playing Norma-Jeane (The Creation of Frankenstein, Guildhall Theatre, Derby), Natalia Brown (Motown UK tour) as Pat Newcombe/Hedda Hoppa, Finlay Paul (The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, West End) as Georgie Gifford, Charlie Ellerton (The Pirate Queen, London Coliseum) as Joe DiMaggio/Arthur Miller, Tom Hopcroft (The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, West End and UK tour) as Jimmy Dougherty, Louise Grantham (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Garden Theatre) as Paula Strasberg/Momma, and Maison Kelley (Brass, The Union Theatre) as Daryl Zanuck/Laurence Olivier. Chloe Hopcroft, Jinny Gould, Becky Wrench, Samuel Holden, Tom Samuels and Chelsea Hawkins will make up the ensemble.
Howell and Hurt’s latest work focuses on the last nine years of the screen icon’s life as seen through the eyes (and lens) of a young photographer.
Angela Thomas
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