Katherine Kingsley to star in New Dusty Springfield Musical directed by Maria Friedman

Updated 17th February: News has just broken that Katherine Kingsley will portray the acclaimed singer. Kingsley stressed that her portrayal will not be an impersonation saying : ‘My mum loved her, so from a very young age I heard Dusty’s songs, Harvey’s script is really raw and really authentic. It’s a play with songs, rather than a jukebox musical, and starts in the Sixties, after Springfield had gone solo.

It follows her to America, where she recorded Dusty In Memphis: an album she often derided but which has since been hailed as one of the seminal records of the era. I hope to capture an essence of who Dusty was. There will be a few iconic Dusty moments.
 

Harvey’s text and Maria Friedman’s direction will show the singer’s flaws. She did go to a dark place. But it’s not all doom and gloom — she had some laughs, too. Dusty paved the way for people like Amy Winehouse and Adele. She was legendary. It’s a no‑brainer for me to do it.The show’s song list is still being decided, but it’s likely to include  around a dozen numbers, including You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me and Son Of A Preacher Man.

‘You can’t have them all Kingsley commented,  otherwise it will sound like a catalogue show .Friedman and producer Eleanor Lloyd will do a workshop of Dusty in April, with the plan for the show to open in the West End in 2018

Kingsley is currently appearing in She Loves Me the Menier Chocolate Factory.
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The musical about the late, great Dusty Springfield is back on the cards again. Sandi Toksvig had been hired by producer David Ian to write the book, but both are no longer involved.

New producer Eleanor Lloyd has now commissioned Jonathan Harvey to write Dusty, based on interviews with the star’s friend and manager Vicki Wickham, and her friends Tris Penna and Pat Rhodes.

Director Maria Friedman will hold a workshop in April, with the show due to open some time in 2018.