Hannah Waddingham,Adrian Hansel and Jamie Ward among West End cast reading of But I’m A Cheerleader: The Musical led by Jerry Mitchell

But I'm a Cheerleader: The Musical, with book and lyrics by Bill Augustin and music by Andrew Abrams, based on the 1999 Lionsgate cult motion picture, will receive its first London presentation in the form of an exploratory reading on Friday 6 December 2013 directed by Jerry Mitchell. 

But I’m A Cheerleader: The Musical is the story of Megan, an all-American high school cheerleader who seems to have it all; she’s popular, pretty, intelligent, has a football player boyfriend and lives the perfect high school life. But that’s all about to change! Her friends and family suspect Megan is a lesbian, and after staging an intervention, send her packing to the ‘True Directions’ rehabilitation camp to put her on the straight and narrow. Here, under the strict tutelage of headmistress Mary Brown, Megan meets Graham, a sexy tomboy who shows her exactly what her ‘true direction’ is. Hilarious, cheeky and one of a kind, But I’m A Cheerleader: The Musical is a quirky coming-of-age comedy about sexual awakening and staying true to who you are.

The London reading will be led by Tony Award® Nominated Director and Winning Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, whose recent work includes the Broadway productions of Kinky Boots (Tony Award Winner for Best Choreography), La Cage aux Folles (Tony Award Winner for Best Choreography), Legally Blonde and Hairspray. Jerry will also direct and choreograph the forthcoming West End production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. He said today: "But I’m a Cheerleader is an important, fun and infectious new musical about being who you are and never being afraid of that truth. I can’t wait to tell this story."  The London reading will feature musical direction by Richard John.

The London reading cast features 3-time Olivier Award-nominee Hannah Waddingham (A Little Night Music, The Wizard of Oz and Spamalot), Bronté Barbé (Hairspray, Kuala Lumpur), Maria Coyne (The Rocky Horror Show), Andy Conaghan (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Emma Bateman (Legally Blonde), Adrian Hansel (Hairspray), Shaun Rennie (Cats), Philip Labey (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe), Carly Mercedes Dyer (Rock of Ages, Dirty Dancing,  Chicago), Ian Knauer (Mamma Mia!), Nicolas Colicos (The Bodyguard,Sister Act), Michael O’Connor (Once), Helen Walsh (Candide, The Sound of Music), Jamie Ward (Les Misérables), Gary Wood (A Chorus Line and Wicked), Ricky Schroeder (Naked Boys Singing), Belinda Wollaston (Jekyll and Hyde,  Dr Zhivago), Charlotte Harwood (Loserville, Legally Blonde, Flashdance), Michelle Francis (Wicked, Shrek), Jamie Muscato (The Light Princess, Rock of Ages) and Caroline Rodgers (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee).