Angela Thomas rounds up some of the latest musical theatre tour news, from 101 Dalmatians to Only Fools and Horses, via & Juliet and Burlesque.
101 Dalmatians
The full cast has been unveiled for the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of the new musical version of Dodie Smith’s much-loved 101 Dalmatians. As previously announced Kym Marsh (Greatest Days, UK and Ireland tour, Coronation Street) and Steps star Faye Tozer (Singin’ in the Rain, UK tour, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End) will share the role of the diabolical Cruella de Vil, with Marsh stepping out for the launch dates in Wimbledon and Birmingham before Tozer takes over in Norwich, Canterbury and Leicester. Marsh will return when the tour visits Manchester, and Belfast, with Tozer returning for the Wolverhampton dates.
Marsh will also play Cruella in Newcastle, Southend, Dublin, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Woking, Cardiff, Southampton, Aberdeen and York.
The Cruellas will appear alongside Charles Brunton as Casper, Victoria Compson-Bradford as Swing, Ross Dorrington as Ensemble, Benjamin Durham as Ensemble, Jessie Elland (Emmerdale, professional musical theatre debut) as Danielle, Benedict Hastings as Ensemble, Danny Hendrix as Jasper, Linford Johnson as Pongo, Lottie Johnson as Ensemble, Rachel Lea-Gray as Ensemble, Tom Norman as Ensemble, Hugo Rolland as Ensemble, Lindo Shinda as Ensemble, Eugene Shire as Swing, Samuel Thomas as Tom, Emma Thornett as Perdi and Jasmine Triadi as Ensemble.
Presented by Runaway Entertainment, the new production is a re-imagined version of the acclaimed Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production which premiered at the London venue in 2022.
Featuring music and lyrics by Douglas Hodge, and a book by Johnny McKnight from a stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris, the new version of the musical which mixes puppetry with live actors, will launch at the New Wimbledon Theatre from 22-29 June. The tour will then visit Birmingham, Norwich, Canterbury, Leicester, Manchester, Belfast, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Southend, Dublin, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Woking, Cardiff, Southampton, Aberdeen, York, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford and Brighton. The production is directed by Bill Buckhurst.
& Juliet
TV medic and former Strictly contestant Dr Ranj Singh will make his musical theatre debut in this summer’s UK touring production of the award-winning musical & Juliet. Singh will take on the role of Lance alongside the previously announced Matt Cardle as Shakespeare, Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet, Sandra Marvin as Angélique, Lara Denning as Anne, Jack Danson as Romeo, Kyle Cox as Francois and Jordan Broatch as May.
The cast also includes Michael Nelson as Henry, Liam Morris as Richard, Jade Johnson as Nell/Lady C, Rosie Singha as Judith, Nia Stephen as Imogen, Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid as Lucy/Alternate Juliet, Andilé Mabhena as Augustine/Dance Team, Harriet Caplan-Dean as Eleanor, Alexander Kranz as Lennox Aaron Shales as Gregory/Dance Team, Toni Paise as Violet and Samuel Wilson-Freema as Fletcher/resident director and dance captain.
& Juliet will take to the road across the UK from 8 July, opening at the place where the musical made its debut in October 2019 – the Manchester Opera House.
Following the Manchester run which will end on 20 July, the 2024/2025 tour will visit Blackpool, Norwich, Glasgow, Oxford, Sunderland, Hull, Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Canterbury, Liverpool, Southampton, Edinburgh, Leeds, Bristol, Wimbledon, Aberdeen, Leicester, Dublin, Woking, Bradford, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Birmingham, Southend, Stoke, Sheffield, Newcastle, Truro and Cardiff.
Directed by Luke Sheppard, & Juliet uses the most iconic pop songs written by prolific pop hit writer Max Martin over the last three decades along with the new song ‘One More Try’. Boasting a story by David West Read, & Juliet features arrangements of Martin’s chart-topping songs by Grammy Award-winning orchestrator Bill Sherman.
Burlesque The Musical
Broadway star Jackie Burns will complete the cast of the first stage adaptation of the 2010 movie musical Burlesque. Burns, Broadway’s longest-running Elphaba in Wicked, and a star of the Tony Award-winning 2009 revival of Hair, will step into the role of Tess, the nightclub owner played by Cher in the film.
She will join the previously announced Jess Folley as Ali Rose, Todrick Hall as Sean, George Maguire as Vince, Michael Mather as Jackson and Nina Ann Nelson as Nikki and the alternate Ali Rose.
The cast also includes Joe Atkinson as off stage wing/assistant dance captain, Jade Albertsen as ensemble, Callum Aylott as onstage swing, Evonnee Bentley-Holder as ensemble, Lucy Campbell (on stage swing), Lewis Easter (ensemble), Yasmin Harrison (Brenda/ensemble/dance captain/2nd Georgie), Elly Jay (offstage swing/first cover Tess/first cover Georgie), Billie-Kay (Sophia/ensemble), Stefan Lagoulis (ensemble/second cover Jackson and Sean), Hollie-Ann Lowe (summer/ensemble/second cover Nikki), Callum MacDonald (ensemble/first cover Vince), Alessia McDermott (Sally/ensemble/first cover Nikki), Tom Mussell (ensemble/first cover Jackson), Ian Oswald (ensemble/first cover Sean), Amber Pierson (off stage swing), Jess Qualter (Daphne/ensemble), Tom Scanlon (ensemble), Ope Sowande (Trey/ensemble), B Terry (Georgie/ensemble) and Lily Wang (Fifi/ensemble).
Burlesque The Musical features a book by the backstage movie’s director and original writer Antin with additional material by Kate Wetherhead. The musical also features music and lyrics by pop superstars Aguilera and Sia, multi award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, and Jess Folley.
After playing its sold-out season in Manchester Opera House from 13-29 June, the musical will play Glasgow Theatre Royal from 11-28 September before playing an encore season in Manchester from 3 October until 2 November ahead of a West End transfer. The production is directed and choreographed by Nick Winston.
Chicago
The 2024/2025 UK tour of multi-award-winning musical Chicago will launch at Milton Keynes Theatre on 12 October. Produced by David Ian for Crossroads Live in association with the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler, the production will play Milton Keynes Theatre until 19 October.
Initial confirmed dates for 2024 also include Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre (21-26 October), Newcastle Theatre Royal (28 October-2 November), the Palace Theatre in Manchester (4-9 November), Dartford’s Orchard Theatre (11-16 November), the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton (19-23 November) and Stoke Regent Theatre (25-30 November).
Further venues and casting will be announced soon.
Inspired by the 1926 play of the same name by crime reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, Chicago boasts a book by Fred Ebb and Fosse, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Charlie Brooks plays the role of The Childcatcher in the new UK touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Elaine C Smith will play the role of The Childcatcher in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness.
Brooks will join Adam Garcia as Caractacus Potts, Liam Fox as Grandpa Potts, Ellie Nunn as Truly Scrumptious, Martin Callaghan as Baron, Jenny Gayner as Baroness, Adam Stafford as Boris, Michael Joseph as Goran and John Macaulay as The Toymaker. The cast also includes Charlie Bishop, Ruaraidh Blackwood, Hadrian Delacey, Belle Kizzy Green, Tia Gyngell, Kirsty Ingram, Bibi Jay, Isabella Mason, Joe Press, Theo UK Rose, Molly Rees Howe, Callum Train and Luke Woollaston.
The roles of Jeremy and Jemima Potts will be shared by Gracie Cochrane, Ayrton English, Isla Ithier, Isabella Manning, Charlie McGuire, Jasmine Nyenya, Roshan Thomson and Louis Wilkins.
Based on Ian Fleming’s timeless story for children and later made into the famous 1968 film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang features the unforgettable songs by the Sherman Brothers. This production is directed by Thom Southerland and choreographed by Karen Bruce.
A Chorus Line
The full cast has been confirmed for the upcoming tour of Leicester Curve’s acclaimed production of classic Broadway musical A Chorus Line. Presented by Curve, Sadler’s Wells and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions, the hit production which was first seen in Leicester at Christmas 2021 is due to play an encore season at Curve from 20 June to 13 July. The tour will then visit The Lowry in Salford from 23-27 July before playing a London season at Sadler’s Wells from 31 July until 25 August.
As previously announced award-winning dancer and choreographer Adam Cooper (Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes, Swan Lake, and Cinderella, Singin’ in the Rain, Chichester Festival Theatre) will reprise his performance as mercurial director and choreographer Zach with Curve favourite Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anything Goes, The Barbican, The Color Purple, Curve at Home) also returning to play auditionee and Zach’s ex-lover Cassie.
They will be joined by Jocasta Almgill as Diana Morales, Lydia Bannister as Bebe Benzenheimer, Bradley Delarosbel as Gregory Gardner, Archie Durrant as Mark Anthony, Joshua Lay as Al Deluca, Katie Lee as Kristine Urich, Mireia Mambo as Richie Walters, Kanako Nakano as Judy Turner (and cover Connie Wong), Manuel Pacific as Paul San Marco, Ashley-Jordon Packer as Larry (and cover Paul San Marco), Kate Parr as Maggie Winslow, Rachel Jayne Picar as Connie Wong, Redmand Rance as Mike Costa, Chloe Saunders as Val Clarke, Toby Seddon as Bobby Mills, Amy Thornton as Shelia Bryant and Louie Wood as Don Kerr.
The cast is completed by ensemble members: Yuki Abe (cover Kristine Urich and Judy Turner), Fin Adams (cover Mark Anthony and Mike Costa), Katrina Dix (cover Sheila Bryant and Bebe Benzenheimer), Imogen Rose Hart (cover Diana Morales, Maggie Winslow and Richie Walters), Laura Hills (cover Cassie and Val Clarke), Josh Kiernan (cover Bobby Mills and Gregory Gardner) and Joshua Steel (cover Don Kerr and Al Deluca).
Following the Sadler’s Wells season the tour will resume at Norwich Theatre Royal (27-31 August), before heading for The Marlowe in Canterbury (2-7 September), Birmingham Hippodrome (10-14 September), New Theatre, Cardiff (16-21 September), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (24-28 September) and Wycombe Swan (30 September-5 October).
The production is directed by Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Ellen Kane. With a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, A Chorus Line opened on Broadway in 1975 with a production directed by Michael Bennett who also choreographed the production with Bob Avian.
Ghost The Musical
Bill Kenwright Ltd’s critically acclaimed production of the hit Ghost The Musical will embark on a major UK tour this summer.
Featuring a book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin based on his original film screenplay with music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, the production which is directed by Bob Tomson will open at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury from 22-24 August.
Choreographed by Alistair David, the production will follow its launch run in Aylesbury by visiting Sunderland, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Darlington, Cheltenham, Leicester, Torquay, Coventry, Bradford, Aberdeen, Stoke, Bath and Blackpool. The cast and further dates through to 2025 are to be announced.
Grease
Full casting and extra performances have been announced for the UK and Ireland tour of the hit West End production of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s Grease.
Marley Fenton stars as Danny opposite Hope Dawe as Sandy, with Rebecca Stenhouse as Rizzo, George Michaelides as Kenickie, Kieran Lynch as Doody, Lewis Day as Roger, Sario Solomon as Sonny, Alicia Belgarde as Frenchy, Emerald B as Jan, India Chadwic as Marty, Jayd’n Tyrone as Eugene, Phoebe Roberts as Patty Simcox, Dominique Planter as Miss Lynch, Joe Gash as Vince Fontaine/Teen Angel, Deena Kapadia as Cha Cha and Adam Davidson as Johnny Casino.
They are joined by Zera Aitken, Dylan Gordon-Jones, Sergi Ibanez, Thomas Inge, Lauren Hampton, Imogen Malone, Ben Middleton and Carly Miles.
Directed by Leicester Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, the 2024 UK and Ireland tour will run through to 16 November with its final dates due to be played at Sheffield Lyceum.
Heathers The Musical
The doors of Westerberg High will reopen this summer when the record-breaking and crowd-pleasing show Heathers The Musical embarks on a new UK tour. Following a West End run at @sohoplace from 22 May to 6 July 2024, Westerberg’s finest will enrol at venues across the UK from July.
Presented by Bill Kenwright Ltd and Paul Taylor-Mills, the touring production of the fan-favourite black comedy rock musical will open at the Theatre Royal, Windsor from 24-27 July. The tour will then visit Bath, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Newcastle, Milton Keynes, Chester, Sheffield, Stockton and Torquay.
The 2024 class of Westerberg includes 13 cast members with Jenna Innes returning as Veronica Sawyer, having wowed audiences up and down the country last year when she first took on the role. She will be joined by Keelan McAuley taking on the mysterious, Jason “J.D” Dean.
Starring as the titular ‘Heathers’ are Esme Bowdler as the formidable Heather Chandler, Sedona Sky as Heather Duke and Daisy Twells as Heather McNamara.
The 2024 register is completed by Amy Miles as Martha Dunnstock, Lucy Sinclair as Ms Fleming/Veronica’s Mom, Iván Fernández González as Kurt Kelly, Jason Battersby as Ram Sweeney, Alexander Service as Kurt’s Dad/Big-Bud/Principal, Conor McFarlane as Ram’s Dad/Veronica’s Dad/Coach, Ben Fenwick as Beleaguered Geek, Madeleine Hargrave as Midwestern Surfer Punk, Eliza Bowden as New Wave Party Girl, May Tether as Drama Club Drama Queen, Jasmine Cole as Young Republicanette, Kelly Sweeney as Stoner Chick, Lewis Asquith as Hipster Dork and Bradly Doko as Preppy Stud.
A re-working of the cult classic 1980s film Heathers which starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers The Musical features music, lyrics and book by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. The production is directed by the show’s original Off-Broadway director Andy Fickman, with choreography by Gary Lloyd.
I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical
Composer Alexander S Bermange’s award-winning I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical will follow last year’s London season at Wilton’s Music Hall and Edinburgh Festival Fringe run by embarking on its first UK and Ireland tour this summer.
Presented by James Seabright, the tour will open at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre from 2-6 July before returning to London to play the King’s Head Theatre (9-20 July), and heading for The Everyman in Cork (25-27 July).
Directed and choreographed by Matthew Parker, the production will also return to Edinburgh to play the Gilded Balloon Museum from 1-25 August, before visiting the Corn Exchange in Newbury (29 August), the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton (30 August) and the Theatre Royal in Winchester.
Judy & Liza
Judy & Liza, the musical which charts the relationship between Liza Minnelli and her iconic mother Judy Garland, will embark on a new tour later this month. Written by and starring Emma Dears (Les Misérables, UK tour & West End, Miss Saigon, West End) as Liza Minnelli opposite stage and screen actress Helen Sheals (Judy!, Arts Theatre, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Hull Truck and UK tour), the tour will open at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre from 28 May until 2 June. It will also visit venues in Abergavenny, Cardiff, Runcorn, Middlesborough, Alnwick, Chequer Mead, Shrewsbury, New Brighton and Leeds. Francis Goodhand is the musical director.
Only Fools and Horses The Musical
Comedy king Paul Whitehouse will reprise his performance as Grandad in the eagerly awaited UK and Ireland tour of the hit West End show Only Fools and Horses The Musical later this year. As previously announced the Trotter family will hit the road from September, following a record-breaking four year run and over 1,000 performances and at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Based on John Sullivan’s iconic and record-breaking television show, and featuring cherished material from the TV series the musical has a script and original score written by John Sullivan’s son, Jim and comedian Whitehouse. Featuring musical contributions from Chas ‘n’ Dave, the feel-good, family-friendly production which is directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, premiered in the West End in February 2019.
Ranger will also direct the touring production which will launch in Bromley at the Churchill Theatre from 23-28 September and will travel to over 30 towns and cities up and down the UK, before playing its final dates at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin from 30 June to 5 July 2025.
Sister Act
Former Coronation Street favourite Wendi Peters has followed in the footsteps of current Corrie regular Sue Cleaver by stepping into the role of Mother Superior in the UK and Ireland touring production of Sister Act The Musical.
Peters will join current stars Landi Oshinowo as Deloris Van Cartier, Alfie Parker as Eddie Souther, Ian Gareth-Jones as Curtis Jackson and Eloise Runnette in her professional debut as Sister Mary Robert.
The company also includes Isabel Canning, Julie Stark, Phillip Arran, Kate Powell ,Elliot Gooch, Michalis Antoniou, Callum Martin, Esme Laudat ,Amber Kennedy, Harvey Ebbage, Joseph Connor, Ceris Hine ,Sheri Lineham, Corrine Priest and Samuel John-Humphreys.
Produced by Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act is directed by Bill Buckhurst with choreography by Alistair David.
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
The producers of the hit West End production of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical have confirmed the show’s first UK and Ireland tour will open at Curve, Leicester on 22 March 2025.
Following the Leicester Curve run which ends on 22 March 2025, the tour will visit Sunderland Empire, Bristol Hippodrome, Grand Opera House Belfast, Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin, Birmingham Hippodrome, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Theatre Royal Nottingham, Empire Theatre Liverpool, Cliffs Pavilion Southend, Sheffield Lyceum, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury, Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre, Palace Theatre Manchester, Theatre Royal Norwich, Milton Keynes Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff, Theatre Royal Newcastle and Leeds Grand Theatre.
Now the longest running show to play London’s Aldwych Theatre, the West End production is currently booking up to 31 May 2025. Written by award-winning writer Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, the critic and crowd-pleasing show is directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony van Last.
John Barrowman
Stage and screen star John Barrowman will return to UK theatres this autumn with his new solo show Laid Bare. Launching at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon on 11 October, the 17-date tour will visit 16 venues across the UK during October and November, ending with the Tyne Theatre and Opera House in Newcastle.
Laid Bare will feature a mixture of anecdotes, memories and music with Barrowman performing some of his favourite songs from his latest album Centre Stage, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Barrowman describes his latest album as ‘my journey through my career in musical theatre’.
Angela Thomas
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