Frances Ruffelle is to star as jazz-age flapper Queenie in a London revival of Michael John LaChiusa's jazz age musical drama, THE WILD PARTY. She is perhaps best known for originating the role of Eponine in Les Misérables in the West End and on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for her performance. Her many other stage roles include Dinah in the original company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express (West End), Roxie Hart in Chicago (West End), Frastrada in Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory) and the title role in Piaf (Leicester Curve). Frances has recorded four solo albums and performed her solo shows at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the Garrick Theatre, the Crazy Coqs and New York’s 54 Below.
John Owen-Jones Jis best known for his performance as Jean Valjean in Les Misérabes, playing the role to acclaim in the West End, on Broadway and in the 25th Anniversary Production. He has also played the title role in The Phantom of the Opera in the West End many times.
Simon Thomas has played Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Warner in Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre) and Rapunzel’s Prince in Into The Woods (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Television credits include Drifters (Channel 4), Jonathan Creek (BBC) and Doctor Who (BBC).
Donna McKechnie is best known for creating the role of Cassie in the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line, receiving a Tony Award for her performance. Her many other Broadway credits include Promises, Promises, in which she danced the iconic ‘Turkey Lurkey Time’, On The Town, Company and State Fair. The Wild Party will mark Donna’s return to the London stage for the first time in 20 years after appearing in Follies at Drury Lane.
Dex Lee is currently playing Danny in Grease at Curve Theatre, Leicester, with other recent credits including In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre), Hairspray (UK Tour) and The Scottsboro Boys (Garrick Theatre).
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt recently appeared in Murder Ballad (Arts Theatre), with other credits including In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre), A Chorus Line (London Palladium) and Gypsy (Curve Theatre, Leicester).
Ako Mitchell has been starring in Ragtime at Charing Cross Theatre with other credits including Grey Gardens (Southwark Playhouse), Little Shop of Horrors (Royal Exchange, Manchester) and Sister Act (London Palladium).
Gloria Obianyo’s recent credits include The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Genesis Lynea’s recent credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Bend It Like Beckham (Phoenix Theatre) and The Bodyguard (Adelphi Theatre). Melanie Bright has recently appeared in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre), Tommy (English Theatre Frankfurt) and We Will Rock You (UK Tour). Lizzy Connolly is currently starring alongside Harry Enfield in Once in a Lifetime at the Young Vic. Other recent credits include Vanities The Musical (Trafalgar Studios) and Xanadu (Southwark Playhouse). Steven Serlin is currently playing Jerry in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) with other recent credits including The Infidel (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and I Can’t Sing (London Palladium). Sebastian Torkia is currently appearing in Peter and the Starcatcher (Northampton Royal & Derngate) with other credits including Travels with my Aunt (Chichester Festival Theatre), Top Hat (UK Tour) and Sweeney Todd (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Bronté Barbé’s credits include Princess Fiona in Shrek (UK Tour), Jest End (Waterloo East) and Cool Rider (Lyric Theatre). Tiffany Graves’ many theatre credits include Kiss Me Kate (Opera North), The Producers (UK Tour), Piaf (Curve Theatre, Leicester), Wonderful Town (UK Tour) and Sweet Charity (Menier Chocolate Factory).
The musical features music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa and a book co-written by George C. Wolfe.The revival will open at The Other Palace (St James' Theatre renamed by Andrew Lloyd Webber) for a limited run from February 11th-April 1st 2017 (press night Monday 20th February). Drew McOnie is to direct and choreograph. Hi impressive list of credits include (In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre) the European Premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom at West Yorkshire Playhouse Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith), The Lorax (The Old Vic) and Hairspray (UK Tour). Drew is also the Artistic Director of The McOnie Company for which he recently created a new dance-thriller version of Jekyll and Hyde at The Old Vic.
The Wild Party Tony-nominated musical is based on Joseph Moncure's scandalous 1928 poem of the same name by about showgirls, party people and mobsters who get boozed and drugged up. Following the musical story of a reckless relationship between a Vaudeville clown and a chorus girl that spirals into the depths of despair as the night unfolds.
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