Clare Burt to join Kelsey Grammer in new Big Fish Musical

Clare Burt has just been announced to star as ‘Sandra Bloom’ alongside the previously announced Kelsey Grammer as ‘Edward Bloom’ in a new production of John August and Andrew Lippa’s BIG FISH THE MUSICAL which is directed by Nigel Harman, and will play at The Other Palace from Wednesday 1 November 2017 – Sunday 31 December 2017, with a Press Night on Tuesday 7 November and a Gala Night on Wednesday 8 November.
 

Clare Burt was the winner of the UK Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Musical for her portrayal of ‘Mrs Harris’ in “Flowers for Mrs Harris” at the Sheffield Crucible.  She created the role of ‘Jan’ in the original production of the award-winning musical “London Road” at the National Theatre. Her other National Theatre credits include “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Coram Boy”. Clare’s Donmar Warehouse credits include the musicals “Into the Woods”, “Company” and “Nine”. She also appeared as ‘Eunice’ in the Young Vic’s acclaimed production of “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

Tickets for Big Fish the Musical

Kelsey Grammer, Jamie Muscato & Matt Seadon-Young to star in UK premiere of Big Fish

Tony Award-nominated actor Kelsey Grammer is making his West End debut in the London Premiere of the American musical BIG FISH which is  set to begin performances at The Other Palace on November 1st  through to December 31st, 2017. The staging will be  'intimate and humble' and  feature a revised book and score from John August and Andrew Lippa.

Grammer will play the tall-tale weaving Edward Bloom with Matthew Seadon-Young  portraying his son Will and Jamie Muscato (Lazarus, Bend it Like Beckham) playing Young Edward. Laura Baldwin (Shrek, Alice in Wonderland) joins the cast as Young Sandra with Frances McNamee (Little Shop of Horrors) as ‘Josephine Bloom’, Forbes Masson (Travesties, Dr.Faustus) as ‘Amos/Don’, Landi Oshinowo (Shrek, Sister Act) as ‘Witch/Jenny Hill’, Dean Nolan (Fiddler on the Roof) as ‘Karl’, and George Ure (Sweeney Todd, Wicked) as ‘Zaki’. They are joined by Sophie Linder-Lee (The Rocky Horror Show, Wicked), Gemma McMeel (Titanic and Candide) and Jonathan Stewart (Guys and Dolls).

Nigel Harman will direct the musical by Andrew Lippa and John August .

Based on the  novel by Daniel Wallace and the  Tim Burton film, Big Fish centres on Edward Bloom, a travelling salesman who lives life to its fullest, telling  incredible, larger-than-life stories which thrill everyone around him - most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. Bloom’s son, Will, further embellishes his father’s exploits, having him grapple with a catfish as big as a man, extricate a child from the jaws of a monster dog and cut giants down to size. But essentially, the story is about a father and son who don’t get to know each other until the former is on his deathbed in hospital. Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales

Grammer who is best known as Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC sitcoms “Cheers” and “Frasier” for which he has won five Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe awards. has appeared in the musicals La Cage Aux Folles and Finding Neverland in New York.

Tickets for Big Fish the Musical 

Dexter star Michael C Hall to star in new Big Fish Musical?

Dexter star Michael C Hall is in the running to play the lead in a Broadway adaptation of the Tim Burton movie Big Fish.

Hugh Jackman was the original choice but his filming commitments (including Les Miserables) prevented a deal being struck.

In 1999 director Sam Mendes cast Hall as the flamboyant Emcee in the revival of Cabaret which was his first Broadway role. In 2003 he toured as Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago and in 2005 played off Broadway in the premiere of Noah Haidle's Mr Marmalade (an emotionally disturbed little girl's imaginary friend.)

If a deal can be reached Hall will play Edward Bloom, the man who filled his son's head with so many unbelievable adventures that occurred during the course of his life. In the movie Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney played the role.

John August wrote the film's screenplay based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and has also written a book for the musical. Andrew Lippa wrote the music, Susan Stroman will direct and Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks are producing.