The Old Vic has announced the full cast and creative team for the eagerly anticipated encore season of the smash hit stage musical version of Groundhog Day.
As previously announced US actor Andy Karl will reprise his Olivier Award-winning performance as cynical weatherman Phil Connors in the production which will begin performances in London on 20 May.
He will be joined by Jasmin Colangelo as swing/puppetry captain, Kelly Ewins-Prouse as swing/dance captain, Kamilla Fernandes as ensemble (Debbie), Aimée Fisher as ensemble (Joelle), Zack Guest as swing, Nick Hayes as ensemble (Ralph), Jacqueline Hughes as ensemble (Piano Teacher), Ashlee Irish as ensemble (Larry), Chris Jenkins as ensemble (Gus), Andrew Langtree as ensemble (Ned Ryerson), Billy Nevers as ensemble (Fred), Eve Norris as ensemble (Nancy), Mark Pearce as ensemble (Sheriff), Ben Redfern as ensemble (Buster), Tanisha Spring as Rita Hanson, Durone Stokes as ensemble (Deputy), Alex Stoll as ensemble (Billy), Jez Unwin as ensemble (Jenson), Annie Wensak as ensemble (Mrs Lancaster) and Matthew Whennell-Clark as swing/assistant dance captain.
Written by Matilda the Musical’s Tim Minchin and directed by Matilda and Ghost director Matthew Warchus, Groundhog Day the Musical features a book by Danny Rubin based on his original screenplay co-written with the late Harold Ramis, the film’s director.
Based on the 1983 hit movie in which charismatic Bill Murray played the big city weatherman who learns the true meaning of life and love while stuck in a small town in the recurring ‘day from hell’, Groundhog Day the Musical will play its 12-week encore season at The Old Vic from 20 May to 12 August 2023.
Unveiling the new cast for the show which took its first bow at The Old Vic in 2016, the artistic director of The Old Vic Warchus, said: “Ahead of rehearsals starting next week, I’m very happy to share the wonderful array of talent joining me to present Groundhog Day this summer. This is a show that means an enormous amount to me, and I am hugely excited to be bringing it back in this new incarnation.”
Composer and lyricist Minchin added: “I am hugely proud of our Groundhog Day. It has everything I want in a musical: it’s funny, heart-warming, multi-layered and theatrically intricate, tackling big ideas whilst still being wildly entertaining. It makes audiences laugh and cry and walk out wanting to buy another ticket. It is thematically, musically and intellectually quite grown-up, but also has an enema pun.
“This show and my other collaboration with Matthew Warchus – Matilda The Musical – are kinda two sides of a philosophical coin: Matilda teaches us that we mustn’t be afraid to change your story, whereas Groundhog Day tells us we need to find our happiness in the here and now.”
The creative team for the production includes choreographer Lizzie Gee and set and costume designer Rob Howell who previously worked with Warchus and Minchin on the smash hit Matilda. Orchestration, additional music and musical supervision is by Christopher Nightingale, with lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Simon Baker, illusions by Paul Kieve and additional movement by Finn Caldwell. Video and animation is by Andrzej Goulding, with casting by Will Burton for GBC, musical direction by Alan Berry, voice by Charlie Hughes-D’Aeth and dialect by Penny Dyer.
The associate directors are Paul Warwick Griffin and Nik Ashton and the assistant director is Natalie Gilhome, with associate choreography by Helen Siveter, associate set by Bec Chippendale and Megan Rouse, costume supervision by Zoë Thomas-Webb, hair, wigs and make-up by Campbell Young associates and prop supervision by Marcus Hall Props. The assistant musical supervisor is Jack Hopkins, with associate lighting by Chris Hirst and associate sound by Jay Jones.
Angela Thomas
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