Nicola Hughes leads Porgy and Bess cast at Regent’s Park

Nicola Hughes plays Bess in the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed lead casting for the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Rufus Bonds Jr and Nicola Hughes play the title roles with Phillip Boykin re-creating his Tony Award nominated performance as Crown, and Sharon D Clarke as Mariah.

Rufus Bonds Jr is an American actor who has appeared in The Color Purple (US national tour), Disney’s The Lion King (US national tour) and the original Broadway production of Parade for which he was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.

Nicola Hughes revisits the role of Bess following her Olivier Award-nominated performance in Trevor Nunn’s 2006 production at the Savoy Theatre. Her stage credits also include The Color Purple (Menier Chocolate Factory), Fosse (Prince of Wales Theatre/Olivier Award nomination), and Velma Kelly in Chicago (Adelphi Theatre).

Porgy and Bess will also star Phillip Boykin who will reprise the role of Crown, for which he received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for the 2012 Broadway production (Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical). Double Olivier Award nominee Sharon D Clarke, whose credits include We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Ghost (Piccadilly Theatre) and The Amen Corner (National Theatre), will play the role of Mariah.

Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre, the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess will run from 17 July–23 August, directed by Timothy Sheader, with a book adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and a musical score adapted by Diedre L Murray. The set and costume will be designed by Katrina Lindsay whose credits include Table and London Road (both National Theatre), Cabaret (West End and UK tour), and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Broadway) for which she won the 2008 Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award for Best Costume Design. Choreography will be by Liam Steel whose credits include the musical staging and choreography for the film of Les Misérables and at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

Further casting for the season will be announced shortly.