Rufus Hound joins Katherine Kingsley in Dusty the Musical as more cast announced

On Dusty Springfield's birthday (she was born on this day in 1939) more casting has been announced for the tour of the new musical Dusty, which will have its world premiere at Theatre Royal Bath in June before moving on to The Lyceum in Sheffield, Newcastle Theatre Royal, and The Lowry in Salford.

Joining the previously announced lead Katherine Kingsley (Singin' in the Rain) will be Rufus Hound (The Wind in the Willows) as Dusty's manager Billings and Roberta Taylor (EastEnders) as Dusty's mother Kay.

The full cast will include Ishmail Aaron, Jenny Bolt, Alex Bowen, Esther Coles, Joelle Dyson, Joanna Francis, Paul Grunert, Ella Kenion, Adam Lyons, Lisa Mathieson, Katharine Pearson, Micha Richardson, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Hampus Lee Strand and Chad Wilder, with further casting still to be announced.

Written by Olivier-nominated writer Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing), the show has direction by Maria Friedman (Stepping Out) with design by Tom Pye and choreography by Tim Jackson.

Details of open casting call for new UK tour of Dusty

The new UK tour of DUSTY is to hold an open casting call for male and female dance ensemble members. Dusty the Musical is written by Jonathan Harvey, directed by Maria Friedman, designed by Tom Pye, and choreographed by Tim Jackson.

The call will be on  Friday 19th January at Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Street, E1 6AB. Registration: 1:00am - 1:00pm (STRICT) Auditions: 10.30am - 6:00 pm.

You should be  prepared to hang around, perhaps until 6:00 pm. Recalls will be during week commencing 22nd January so please ensure your availability.

You must be available from 21st May until 28th July 2018 and  be eligible to work in the UK. The show will rehearse in London, open in Bath and tour to Sheffield, Newcastle and Manchester. Commercial UK Theatre/Equity contract.

The creative team is specifically looking for outstanding dancer-singers who excel in commercial dance. Boys must be 5'10" or taller, and girls must be 5'8" or taller.

Please bring:
1) A current CV and headshot
2) Suitable dance clothing - avoid disguising body shape.
3) Women please bring heels
4) A pop song to show off your voice (does not need to be 60/70s) *not all auditionees will get to sing.
5) Water

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.