Full casting is announced today for Footloose: The Musical, which returns next month following a smash-hit 2016 tour. Opening at New Wimbledon Theatre on Friday 21 April, the tour will include a strictly limited West End season at The Peacock, playing for three weeks from Tuesday 12 September 2017. Full tour schedule attached.
Joshua Dowen will play Ren McCormack, the role immortalised on screen by Kevin Bacon. Joshua’s stage credits include Dogfight at Southwark Playhouse, Cool Rider at the Duchess Theatre and All or Nothing at the Vaults Festival.
The cast also features Hannah Price (reprising her performance from the 2016 tour) as Ariel Moore, Reuven Gershon (Let It Be, West End and Broadway) as Reverend Shaw, Lindsay Goodhand (Crazy For You, Watermill Theatre) as Ethel McCormack, Laura Sillett (Grease, International Tour) as Rusty, Connor Going (The Pirates of Penzance, Sh*tfaced Shakesepare) as Chuck, Emma Fraser (The Vaudevillians, Les Enfants Terribles) as Wendy Jo, Gracie Lai (Avenue Q, UK Tour) as Urleen, Tomas Wolstenhome (Once, West End) as Bickle, Dominic Gee Burch as Jeter and Alex Marshall (Buddy, UK Tour) as Wes. The cast also includes Luke Dowling, Grace Lancaster, Laurence Libor, Jamie Ross and Lauren Storer.
They join the previously announced Gareth Gates as Willard and Maureen Nolan as Vi Moore.
Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. Featuring classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear it for the Boy and the unforgettable title track, Footloose: The Musical is set to take the world by storm once again, bursting with youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music.
When the film was released in 1984, it became the highest-grossing February release in US film history. The soundtrack album ended the year-long reign of Michael Jackson’s Thriller at number one and went on to top album charts all over the world, eventually selling in excess of 17 million copies. Footloose was nominated for a Golden Globe, and both the title song and Let’s Hear It for the Boy received Academy Award nominations. Footloose: The Musical first opened on Broadway in 1998 where it ran for 709 performances, with a London production following in 2006.
Gareth Gates rose to fame through the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, going on to sell over 5 million records worldwide and have hits across the globe. His version of Unchained Melody sold over a million copies in the UK and is the 3rd best-selling single of the Noughties. Gareth is also the youngest ever-male solo artist to debut at number 1. More recently Gareth has enjoyed a successful career on stage, with credits including Les Misérables, Legally Blonde and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. In 2014 Gareth appeared in the final series of Dancing on Ice, and joined boyband 5th Story as part of ITV’s second series of The Big Reunion, touring arenas with bands including Blue and Five.
Gareth will not appear in Wimbledon and Chester.
Maureen Nolan has been singing with her sisters since she was nine years old, when they became one of Europe’s first girl bands, The Nolans. Best known for their smash hit single I’m in the Mood for Dancing, The Nolans enjoyed phenomenal record sales worldwide, and worked with some of the world’s most respected artists including Frank Sinatra. On stage, Maureen has played Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers in the West End and on tour to critical acclaim. She was the fourth Nolan sister to play the role, earning them entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. Other credits include Sadie in Girl’s Behind, Jill in Mum’s the Word and Sarah in The Naked Truth.
Footloose: The Musical has music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and is adapted for the stage by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. It is based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford. It is directed by Racky Plews (American Idiot, West End) with choreography by Matthew Cole, design by Sara Perks and musical supervision by Mark Crossland. It is produced by David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree for Selladoor Productions, Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Stephen McGill Productions. It is presented by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe.
FINAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR LONG AWAITED REVIVAL OF HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING AT WILTON’S MUSIC HALL
With only one month to go before Broadway smash hit How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying arrives in London, the musical announces its fantastic full cast. Joining the already stellar line-up are Olivier-nominated Andrew C Wadsworth starring as big boss JB Biggley, Maisey Bawden as the uncompromising Miss Jones whilst Daniel Graham takes on the role of apathetic and arrogant Bud Frump. Richard Emerson will play the part of Mr Twimble and Matthew Whitby and Nuwan Hugh Perera are to star in multi-role parts. They will join already announced cast members Marc Pickering (Les Miserables, Calendar Girls, Sleepy Hollow), Hannah Grover, Lizzi Hills and Geri Allen.
The stunning Wilton’s Music Hall will provide the perfect backdrop for this rollicking romp of a musical, following the journey of J. Pierrepoint Finch in 1950s New York as he strives to reach the top and change the world. Armed with his copy of the book ‘How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying’, Finch joins the World Wide Wicket Company as a window cleaner, with his sights set on the dizzying heights of being Chairman of the Board. But nothing is ever easy, even when you know everything there is to know about the science of success…
Directed by Benji Sperring, the man behind recent London hits Toxic Avenger and Shock Treatment, and boasting an addictive score by Guys and Dolls composer Frank Loesser, this anarchic musical extravaganza brings together business and pleasure in the most uproarious of ways.
Holly Kendrick, Executive Director at Wilton’s says:
“I can’t wait to see such an iconic and loved Broadway show come to Wilton’s – this is the biggest London production since the show opened here in 1963 and we’re thrilled to be part of it. It’s wonderful to have such a talented cast of actors to bring it to life.”
