The 2017 cast of The Addams Family. Picture: Matt Martin
Angela Thomas catches up with the latest touring news…
THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Samantha Womack and Cameron Blakely will return as Morticia and Gomez when they take their creepy and kooky brood on the road again this summer in a new touring production of The Addams Family musical.
Presented by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Music & Lyrics Limited, the 2020 UK and Ireland tour will launch at the Newcastle Theatre Royal on 30 July.
Following on from the successful first UK and Ireland tour in 2017, director Matthew White (The Producers, Mr Stink UK tours) will once again direct the gothic musical comedy.
Featuring a book by the creators of the multi award-winning Jersey Boys, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa (Big Fish), the second tour follow its opening run in Newcastle by visiting Liverpool, Dublin, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Northampton, London, Bristol, Nottingham, Woking, Bromley, Salford, and Oxford. Further tour dates and full casting will be announced soon.
BLOOD BROTHERS
Bill Kenwright’s acclaimed production of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers will begin its 2020 spring tour at the Theatre Royal, Brighton from 4 February 2020.
Featuring former 1970s pop star Lyn Paul in her final appearances in her career-changing role of Mrs Johnstone, the cast also includes Alexander Patmore (Cilla The Musical UK tour) and Joel Benedict (Spamalot, UK tour) as Mickey and Eddie Johnstone.
The line-up also includes: Danielle Corlass (Grease, UK tour) as Linda; Paula Tappenden (Matilda, Bristol Hippodrome) as Mrs Lyons, Danny Taylor (The Tommy Cooper Show, UK tour) as Sammy and Robbie Scotcher (Footloose, UK tour) as the narrator. The cast is completed by Tim Churchill, Paul Westwood, Hannah Barr, Graeme Kinniburgh, Shaun McCourt and Grace Galloway.
After the show’s final Brighton performance on 8 February, the tour will head for Richmond, Dublin, Derry, Grimsby, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Woking and Lichfield. Mrs Johnstone will be played by Rebecca Storm in Dublin and Derry.
Picture: Hugo Glendinning
GREASE
Pop star and television personality Peter Andre will return to the role of Teen Angel when the newest production of the enduringly popular Grease hits the road again in May.
Andre, who will also play Vince Fontaine and the Sergeant will join the previously announced Dan Partridge (Cats international tour, Mamma Mia! Novello Theatre) who is returning to the role of Danny Zuko.
Currently scheduled to appear at selected performances in Northampton, Eastbourne, Liverpool, Nottingham, Manchester, Canterbury, Norwich, Blackpool, Dartford, Wolverhampton, Aylesbury, Ipswich and Stoke, Andre debuted as Teen Angel in June last year.
Directed by Leicester Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, the first new production of the much-loved musical in 25 years will follow its successful 2019 UK and Ireland tour with dates across the UK, beginning at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton from 22-30 May.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
A number of previous cast members will join the previously announced Peter Duncan when the touring production of the hit musical Million Dollar Quartet begins its latest UK and Ireland tour next month.
Robbie Durham (High Fidelity, Turbine Theatre) will once again play Johnny Cash, with Ross William Wild (Dreamboats and Miniskirts UK tour) returning as Elvis Presley, Matthew Wycliffe (The Commitments, Palace Theatre) as Carl Perkins and Katie Ray (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang UK tour) as Dyanne. The role of Jerry Lee Lewis, the fourth member of the title quartet, will be shared by Martin Kaye who previously played Lewis on tour in North America and the UK, the 2017 UK and Ireland tour’s Lewis Ashley Carruthers and Matthew Wycliffe.
Launching at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre on 10 March, the tour will visit Southend, Sunderland, Cambridge, Wimbledon, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Dublin, Nottingham, Aylesbury, Bromley, Plymouth, Cheltenham, Salisbury, Bradford and Wolverhampton.
Commenting on his return to the rock ‘n’ roll legend Sam Phillips, former Blue Peter presenter and Olivier Award nominee Duncan (Barnum, The Card) said: “I’m delighted to be playing the role of Sam Phillips in the greatest rock ‘n’ roll show ever and to be sharing the stage each night with four great performers as Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.”
MILKY PEAKS
Theatr Clwyd has announced casting for Seiriol Davies’ new musical comedy Milky Peaks which will receive its world premiere at the Emlyn Williams Theatre in March 2020 before playing dates across Wales.
Written and composed by Davies, the story of the battle for the soul of a small town in the heart of Snowdonia was devised by Davies, Matthew Blake and Dylan Townley.
Davies, Blake, and Townley will all take on acting roles in the production alongside Lisa Jên Brown, Kate Galston, Sophie Winter, and Isabel Adomakoh Young.
Directed by Alex Swift and presented by Theatr Clwyd, Áine Flanagan Productions and Seiriol Davies, the production will play Theatr Clywd from 20 March-11 April. The tour will then visit Theatr Brycheiniog Brecon (14-15 April); Taliesin Arts Centre Swansea (17-18 April); Pontio Bangor (21-22 April); Aberystwyth Arts Centre (24-25 April); Torch Theatre Milford Haven (28-29 April); Hafren Newtown (1-2 May) and Sherman Theatre Cardiff (6-9 May).
EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY FINE
The award-winning House of Blakewell will debut a new comedy musical about anxiety in London in April ahead of a short UK tour.
Written by Alice Keedwell with music and lyrics by Harry Blake, Everything is Absolutely Fine will play Camden People’s Theatre from 7-11 April before heading for Cast, Doncaster (14 April), the EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge (16 April) and Theatr Clwyd in Mold (17-18 April).
Commenting on the new show, creator and performer Keedwell said: “We want to explore everyday human struggles and how anxiety can affect every little thing in life. Also, the impact that trying to hide how you feel can have. We want to create a show that brings people together to share in our vulnerabilities, to continue talking openly about mental health issues and to remember the importance of small acts of kindness and how important they can be to someone.”
The production is directed by Valentina Ceschi, with choreography by Jennifer Fletcher.
Everything is Absolutely Fine is presented by House of Blakewell and Hannah Elsy Productions in association with The Cameron Grant Memorial Trust. The Trust was set up in the memory of Cameron Grant who took his own life in 2014.
Angela Thomas
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