The world premiere of the stage musical adaptation of Lara Williamson’s best-selling novel The Boy Who Sailed The Ocean In An Armchair is one of three major musical productions to feature in the National Youth Music Theatre’s (NYMT) summer season.
Marking award-winning Jordan Li-Smith’s debut as a writer and composer, the musical which has been in development since 2020, will premiere at Leicester Curve Studio from 16-19 August.
Commenting on the project which has been developed with the support of the NYMT, Williamson said: “As a huge fan of musical theatre, it is a dream come true to see my novel adapted for the stage by Jordan Li-Smith. Jordan has not only delivered the humour, heartbreak and hope in abundance but he has brought the characters to life in the most exciting, thought-provoking and creative way.
“It really is a privilege to be part of something so special and I cannot wait for audiences to climb aboard the armchair and experience this moving musical journey.”
Director Hannah Chissick heads a creative team that includes choreographer Steve Kirkham, musical director Lewis Bell, musical supervisor and orchestrator Ben Ferguson, set and costume designer Richard Cooper and sound designer Andy Johnson.
The season will also include Stephen Sondheim’s semi-autobiographical musical Merrily We Roll Along. Due to play London’s Southwark Playhouse from 24 to 28 August, the production which is supported by The Stephen Sondheim Society will be directed by Katherine Hare.
Based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart, the backstage musical comedy premiered on Broadway in 1981 with a cast of largely teenagers and young adults. Featuring music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by George Furth, the musical has been extensively rewritten over the years.
The creative team for the NYMT production also includes musical director Leigh Thompson, choreographer Julia Cave, set and costume designer Libby Todd, lighting designer Aaron Dootson and sound designer Tom Marshall.
Alex Sutton will direct the third musical production of the season, Cole Porter’s Golden Age classic Kiss Me, Kate.
The new production of the musical inspired by Shakespeare’s The Taming of The Shrew will play the Leicester Curve Studio from 9-12 August.
Sutton heads a creative team that also includes choreographer Adam Haigh, musical director Charlotte Corderoy with additional arrangements by John Cottell, set and costume design by Richard Cooper, lighting design by Jamie Platt and sound design by Andy Johnson.
First staged on Broadway in 1948, the multi-award-winning musical features music and lyrics by Porter and a book by Bella and Samuel Spewack. The show features a number of the composer’s best loved songs including ‘Too Darn Hot’, ‘Another Op’nin’ Another Show’, ‘Always True to You in My Fashion’ and ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’.
The season will also include two performances of When I Grow Up, A NYMT In Concert Showcase, featuring a large cast and orchestra of young people performing semi-staged musical theatre extracts with the theme of growing up.
Directed by James Robert Moore, the new showcase concert will play the Rose Theatre in Kingston Upon Thames as part of FUSE Festival on 8 July and the Southwark Playhouse on 27 August. The creative team will also include musical director Matt Herbert, choreographer Stacey McCarthy, lighting designer Luke Marino and sound designer Nick Hall.
National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) offers exceptional opportunities in pre-professional, musical theatre training for talented young people of all backgrounds aged 10 to 23 years through skills workshops, masterclasses and residential courses led by industry professionals, through commissioning and presentation of exciting new work and in collaboration with some of the UK’s leading creative minds. Opportunities exist for stage performers, musicians, technicians and stage crew and, though the Creative Team Mentorship programme, for aspiring directors, musical directors, choreographers and designers.
Angela Thomas
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