Roger Bart (Doc Brown), Christopher Lloyd and Olly Dobson (Marty) at the Manchester launch for Back to the Future The Musical. Picture: Phil Treagus
Hollywood favourite Christopher Lloyd has handed the keys to the time-travelling DeLorean to Tony Award-winner Roger Bart who will take over the role of Dr Emmett Brown when the musical version of Back To The Future premieres early next year.
The big screen’s original Doc Brown flew to Manchester to meet his stage successor alongside the new Marty McFly, Olly Dobson (Bat Out of Hell, Matilda) as final casting details were revealed for the eagerly anticipated Back To The Future The Musical which will debut in the city before transferring to London’s West End.
The brainchild of producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) and the creators of the much-loved time-travelling film series, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the production will speed into the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 for a strictly limited 12-week season ending on 17 May 2020.
Stage and screen star Bart, a Tony and Drama Desk Award-winner for his performance as Snoopy in the 1999 Broadway revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, will make his British stage debut in the production.
Commenting on his casting in the show, Bart said: “I am thrilled to be here in the great city of Manchester, England to introduce to the world this extraordinary incarnation of this hilarious and heart-warming story. Playing the role of Doc Brown, made iconic on film by the brilliant Christopher Lloyd, is going to be the adventure of a lifetime. After all, at this stage of my life, who doesn’t want to go back in time?”
Bart will join the previously announced Dobson as Marty, Hugh Coles (The Festival, Doc Martin) as George, Rosanna Hyland (School of Rock, Gillian Lynne Theatre, Shrek The Musical, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane) as Lorraine and Cedric Neal (Motown The Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre, Chess, London Coliseum) as Goldie.
Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment film, the new musical will boast a book by Gale and new music and lyrics by the film’s Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer Alan Silvestri and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard along with songs from the film including ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’.
Tony Award-winning director John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town) will head a creative team that includes the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning design team of Tim Hatley (set and costume design), Hugh Vansone (lighting), Gareth Owen (sound) and Finn Ross (video). Choreography will be by Chris Bailey, with illusions by Paul Kieve, musical supervision and vocal arrangements by Nick Finlow, orchestrations by Ethan Popp and dance arrangements by David Chase.
Confirming plans for the production earlier this year, Gale said: “Bob Zemeckis and I have been trying to get this project off the ground for years, but good things take time and finally, the time is right. Our cast is outstanding, the songs are fantastic, and director John Rando is doing an amazing job ensuring the show truly captures the magic of the movie.
“We’re thrilled that we can retell our story on stage in a brand new way, and we’re certain that Back to the Future fans all over the world will share our enthusiasm. In the words of Marty McFly, ‘your kids are gonna love it’ – and so will you and your parents. There’s truly no better way to celebrate the movie’s 35th anniversary, and we’re happy to say ‘The Future’ is coming back!”
Ingram added: “This show has been six years in the making and we are delighted to be showing it to the people of Manchester first before the rest of the world gets to see it. As I did with Ghost – The Musical, Manchester gets it first, so synchronise your watches because, when this musical hits 88 mph, you’re going to see some serious…entertainment!”
Angela Thomas
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