Willemijn Verkaik joins the cast of new musical comedy Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, previewing at the Playhouse Theatre from 16 December
New musical comedy Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown will boast an international cast with Ricardo Afonso, Haydn Oakley and Willemijn Verkaik joining the previously announced Tamsin Greig, Haydn Gwynne, Jérôme Pradon and Anna Skellern. Additional cast members include Marianne Benedict, Holly James, Michael Matus, Rebecca McKinnis, Sarah Moyle, Alastair Natkiel, Nuno Queimado and Dale Rapley.
In addition, the song ‘Madrid’, the opening number from David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane’s score for the new stage adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar’s Oscar-nominated film, has been released. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown opens at the Playhouse Theatre on 12 January 2015, with previews from 16 December 2014 and is directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher.
Originally based by Almodóvar on Jean Cocteau’s The Human Voice, Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was his first international hit (listen below). It captured a liberated Spain, placing women at the centre of their own experience. Pepa (Tamsin Greig), Candela (Anna Skellern) and Lucia (Haydn Gwynne) became iconic, showing women struggling for power over their own lives, and with enormous humour and style. It also marked the breakout of one of our most important and unique international film directors.
Willemijn Verkaik from the Netherlands plays Paulina. She is best known for her role as Elphaba in the musical Wicked, which she has performed in London, Broadway, Germany and Holland. In addition, she has played Scaramouche and Killer Queen in We Will Rock You, Amneris in Aida (Da Capo Award for ‘Best Musical Performer’) and the title role in Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay’s musical Elisabeth. She has made numerous concert and television appearances across Europe and can be heard on two Scott Alan albums, Live and What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up. Most recently, Verkaik can be heard as the voice of Queen Elsa in the German and Dutch versions of Disney’s Frozen.
Portuguese actor Ricardo Afonso plays the Taxi Driver. Afonso’s previous theatre credits include Thriller Live (the Lyric Theatre), From Hackney to Hollywood: The Don Black Songbook UK Tour, Irving Berlin: From Rags to Ritzes (the Royal Festival Hall) and the lead vocalist on the Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals tour. Afonso also fronted the cast of We Will Rock You in the opening of the handover ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games. Voiceover credits include Shrek (DreamWorks), Beauty and the Beast (Disney) and 102 Dalmatians (Disney). Afonso also appeared on The Voice UK (BBC) as part of Team Danny.
Rebecca McKinnis plays Christina. McKinnis’ theatre credits include A Small Family Business (National Theatre Olivier), Viva Forever (Piccadilly Theatre), Les Miserables (25th Anniversary Tour), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Fat Pig (Trafalgar Studios), Susannah Townley in Three Hours After Marriage (Union Theatre), Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales) and The Taming of the Shrew (Changeling Theatre Company).
Sarah Moyle plays Pepa’s Concierge. She is probably best known for the roles Valeria Pitman in Doctors and Kimberley in Extras. Moyle’s numerous stage credits include She Stoops to Conquer (National), Jerusalem (Royal Court and Apollo Theatre), An Inspector Calls (Aldwych) and Lust (Haymarket). Film credits include The Baseline and The Gunman alongside Sean Penn and Javier Bardem which will be released in 2015.
Haydn Oakley plays Carlos. Oakley most recently played Gilbert Chilvers in the UK tour of Betty Blue Eyes. His extensive theatre credits include The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales), Wonderful Town (2012 UK tour), Lend Me a Tenor (Gielgud Theare), Passion (Donmar Warehouse), Spamalot (Palace Theatre), Wicked (Apollo Theatre) and We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre). Oakley’s film credits include A Family Affair and Knock Knock.
Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is produced in the West End by Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group.
* Listen below to the song ‘Madrid’, the opening number from David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane’s score for the new stage adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar’s Oscar-nominated film Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
www.WomenOnTheVergeMusical.com
Readers may also interested in:
Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown – first glimpse of Tamsin Greig – News
Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown – more casting announced – News
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