Faye Brookes to take over from Maisie Smith in tour of Strictly Ballroom

New lead casting has been announced for the tour of  Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom

Taking over from previous star Maisie Smith and joining Kevin Clifton in the show from 27th March   will be Dancing on Ice finalist and Coronation Street star Faye Brookes.

Brookes who has previously appeared in Chicago and Legally Blonde said today: "I'm thrilled to be joining the tour of Strictly Ballroom and can't wait to work with Craig Revel Horwood, Kevin Clifton and the hugely talented cast. I'm so excited to be playing the role of Fran and making it my own. Bring it on!"

Smith is set to perform until 25 March, playing her final performance in Southend. Brookes will then appear in Bradford, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Bournemouth, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Derry, Dublin, Glasgow, Aylesbury, Nottingham, Salford, Leeds and Bristol.

 

Full cast announced for tour of Strictly Ballroom

Full  casting has been revealed to join Maisie Smith (Eastenders, making her musical theatre debut) and Kevin Clifton (Sricly Come Dancing, Rock of Ages, Singin' in the Rain) in the UK tour of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom The Musical.

They will be joined by Nikki Belsher/Shirley Hastings, Mark Sangster/Doug Hastings, Gary Davis/Barry Fife, Quinn Patrick/Les Kendall, Oliver Brooks/JJ Silvers, Jose Agudo/Rico, Karen Mann/Abuela, Maddy Ambus/Liz, Benjamin Harrold/Ken, Jessica Vaux/Charm, Danielle Cato/Tina Sparkle, Kieran Cooper/Wayne, Agnes Pure/Vanessa, Adam Davidson/Nathan and Poppy Blackledge/ Pam, alongside ensemble members Liv Alexander, Edwin Ray, Stuart Rouse and Hollie Jane Stephens and on stage swings Michelle Buckley and Stylianos Thomadakis.The musical is directed by dancer, choreographer, theatre director and TV Judge, Craig Revel Horwood.

Maisie Smith joins Kevin Clifton in tour of Strictly Ballroom

Strictly Come Dancing finalist and  former EastEnder, Maisie Smith, will make her musical theatre debut later this year, as she co-stars in the 2022/23 UK tour of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom  in the lead female role of Fran, alongside the previously announced , Kevin Clifton, her former Strictly dance partner who she waltzed her way to victory with in the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Children In Need Special.


Maisie first wowed Strictly fans with her dancing in 2019 in the Children In Need TV special with Kevin Clifton. After winning the hearts of the public, the following year she danced her way into the BBC One Strictly Come Dancing final.  Earlier this year, Maisie joined the cast of the Strictly Live Arena Tour. She will now add another jewel to her Strictly crown, as she makes the move into musical theatre in Strictly Ballroom The Musical.

Maisie Smith said: “Dancing in Strictly has been a huge part of my life, and been so much fun. I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to continue that journey in Strictly Ballroom The Musical. Not only do I get to make my musical theatre debut with my former partner in crime, Kevin Clifton, but I get to work with Craig Revel Horwood and Jason Gilkison again too - I can't wait."

Kevin Clifton said: “I’m beyond excited to be performing with Maisie again – she’s amazing! And I’ll finally be fulfilling my lifelong ambition to play Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom The Musical.  When I was 10 years old I first watched the movie that would become my favourite film of all time. This is my dream role. I can’t wait to don the golden jacket and waltz all over the UK with Maisie in what’s set to be an incredible show!”

Craig Revel Horwood said: "I’m delighted that the super talented Maisie Smith is joining Kevin Clifton on the Strictly Ballroom UK tour. I can’t wait to see them dance together again. Expect some sexy moves, sizzling costumes and a simply sensational evening! I know that they’ll both be FAB-U-LOUS!"

 
 

Kevin Clifton to star in new tour of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom

Former Strictly Come Dancing champion Kevin Clifton is to star in Baz Luhrmann’s new tour of  Strictly Ballroom The Musical which kicks off at Nottingham in September,  playing the lead role of Scott Hastings.

After seven years on Strictly Come Dancing, last week Kevin announced his departure from the show.  Kevin joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, performing in the final five times and was crowned Strictly Champion in 2018.  He’s a world-class professional dancer, former Youth World Number One and four-time British Latin Champion and has won international open titles all over the world.

He made  his West End musical theatre debut in 2010 in Dirty Dancing, and has recently starred in The Wedding Singer as Robbie Hart (Wembley Troubadour Park Theatre) as well as starring in the West End production of Rock of Ages as Stacie Jaxx. 

Kevin Clifton said: “I’m beyond excited to be finally fulfilling a lifelong ambition to play Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom The Musical.  When I was 10 years old I first watched the movie that would become my favourite film of all time. This is my dream role.  Plus I get to work with Craig Revel Horwood again!  I really can’t wait to don the golden jacket and waltz all over the UK from September this year in what’s set to be an incredible show!”

The musical is directed by Craig Revel Horwood and is based on the award-winning  film phenomenon, ‘Strictly Ballroom’. 
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More casting announced for Drew McOnie's Strictly Ballroom

Further casting has been announced for Baz Luhrmann's classic Strictly Ballroom:   Anna Francolini and Gerard Horan will join the previously announced Jonny Labey, Zizi Strallen and Will Young as Shirley Hastings and  Barry Fife.

Francolini's credits include wonder.land at the National Theatre, That Day We Sang at the Royal Exchange and Peter Pan at the National Theatre. Horan was recently seen at the Royal Court in The Ferryman and other credits include The Vote (Donmar) and The Christmas Truce for the RSC.

Drew McOnie directs and choreographs this production which opened in the UK at West Yorkshire Playhouse in December 2016 and  runs at the Piccadilly Theatre from 24 April, with previews from 29 March.

West End opening of Strictly Ballroom delayed

The opening of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom - The Musical will be delayed by two weeks with the first preview will now taking place on Thursday 28th March, with opening night of Thursday 24th April.

The musical, directed by Drew McOnie, is now due to open  at the Piccadilly after the current production of Annie starring Meera Syal ends on 18th February.

In a statement, the show's producers said: In order to allow for unforeseen schedule conflict, the first performance of Strictly Ballroom - The Musical will now take place on Thursday 28 March, with opening night on Thursday 24 April. Ticket holders will be contacted in due course by their point of purchase in order to reschedule dates.

Jonny Labey, Zizi Strallen and Will Young cast in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom

Baz Bamigboye has just revealed  initial casting  for the  West End production of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom which will directed by Drew McOnie and open at London's Piccadilly Theatre on 11th April with previews starting on 16th March. Jonny Labey and Zizi Strallen will lead the cast while Will Young (who is currently appearing as the Emcee in the tour of Cabaret)  takes on the specially created role of a band leader.

The company  will also include  Michelle Bishop (Thoroughly Modern Milly, Sunset Boulevard) as Pam Short, Ivan De Freitas (Jesus Christ Superstar, Aladdin) as Merv, Gabriela Garcia (In The Heights, Ghost) as Vanessa Cronin, Charlotte Gooch (Top Hat, Dirty Dancing) as Tina Sparkle, Richard Grieve (Neighbours, Emmerdale and Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Les Kendall, Liam Marcellino (Cabaret, Miss Saigon) as Wayne Burns, Stephen Matthews (The Lion King, The Producers) as Doug Hastings, Fernando Mira (ENO, Victorian State Opera) as Rico, Eve Polycarpou (Villa Thalia, In The Heights) as Abuela, Lauren Stroud (Top Hat, Hairspray) as Liz Holt & Gary Watson (Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, A Chorus Line, Jersey Boys) as Ken Railings with Chris Bennett, Chrissy Brooke, Hannah Fairclough, Selina Hamilton, Christopher D Hunt, Luke Jackson, Justin-Lee Jones, Robin Kent, Jacob Maynard, Leanne Pinder, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda & Dale White

Jonny Labey played Paul Coker in EastEnders and won ITV’s Dance, Dance, Dance in 2017. Labey's credits include shows including In the Heights and White Christmas.  He will play Scott Hastings, a young man who longs to invent new dance steps when he enters the fictional Pan-Pacific dance competition.

Zizi Strallen's  theatre credits include the titular role in the UK tour of Mary Poppins, Merrily We Roll Along, Carmen most recently sheappeared in Follies at the National. She plays Fran, a shy cleaner who has moves of her own, but is too scared to use them  until Scott shows her how to shake it up.

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Strictly Ballroom to open in London next Spring

Following a successful run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse  last year. Baz Luhrmann’s (Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby) musical Strictly Ballroom is to open at the London's Piccadilly Theatre on 11th April with previews starting on 16th  March.

It is due to follow Annie the Musical which is booking until 18th February 2018 and  stars Miranda Hart as Miss Hannigan until 17th September: (Craig Revel Horwood  from September 18th until November 20th).

 

Based on Luhrmann’s 1992 film, it is based on a short play he wrote while he was a student at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney in the ‘80s. After an expanded version of the play was a success at Sydney's Wharf Theatre, Luhrmann was approached to turn it into a film. The writer agreed, on the condition he could direct the movie, and it was Luhrmann’s first film. It went on to be one of the highest grossing Australian films of all time.The  musical premiered in the UK at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2016/17, and is directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie (Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre; The Lorax, Old Vic).

Strictly Ballroom tells the story of Scott, a competitive ballroom dancer in '80s Australia who makes up his own moves and finds himself aggravating ballroom-purists. He follows his heart to, not only find his true calling in dance, but also find his true love featuring hit songs from the film "Love Is in the Air" by John Paul Young, "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" by Doris Day, and a version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time".

McOnie, who runs his own dance company, choreographed London's IN THE HEIGHTS and the UK tour of OKLAHOMA! Othre  recent credits include  CHICAGO (Curve, Leicester), WEST SIDE STORY (NYMT), BRITISH STYLE (Collaboration with Matthew Bourne for the BBC, Buckingham Palace), JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (UK Tour) and 13 (Apollo Theatre, London). He is currently workshopping a new musical adaptation of King Kong on Broadway.

Casting for the London production is yet to be announced, but in Leeds it starred Gemma Sutton, Sam Lips, Tamsin Carroll and Stephen Matthews.

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Full Casting for Drew McOnie's production of Strictly Ballroom

Casting news for Drew McOnie's production of Strictly Ballroom includes Gemma Sutton (currently starring in The Go-Between) and American Sam Lips (currently Pippin in US tour) who will lead the cast as Fran and Scott.

The production will also star Tamsin Carroll as Shirley, Stephen Matthews as Doug, Julius D’Silva as Barry, Richard Grieve as Les, Eve Polycarpou as Abuela, Charlotte Gooch as Tina, Lauren Stroud as Liz, Jade Albertsen as Vanessa, Liam Marcellino as Wayne, Gary Watson as Ken, Michelle Bishop as Pam, Richard Dempsey as JJ / Merv and Zak Nemorin as Terry / Clarry.

The cast is completed by Courtney-Mae Briggs, Javier Cid, Selina Hamilton, Luke Jackson, Rebecca Lisewiki, Lindsay McAllister, Freya Rowley, Javier Santo, Alexzandra Sarmiento and Dale White.

Terry Johnson has joined the creative team to adapt the original book of  Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin's musical version of Strictly Ballroom which will open at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds on 6th December 2016 (previews from 30th November) and run until 21st January 2017.

McOnie, who has just choreographed the highly acclaimed  Jesus Christ Superstar in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre , said Strictly Ballroom will feature the Viennese waltz, the foxtrot, a broad spectrum of Latin American dancing (including flamenco and rumba), plus a new vocabulary of dance that he will create for the show, which takes place within an amateur dance competition in Sydney.

The company will study the choreography at dance workshops before the official rehearsals start on October 10th .



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Baz Lurhmann's Strictly Ballroom heading to UK

Baz Lurhmann's STRICTLY BALLROOM is finally heading to the UK with choreographer Drew McOnie directing  the stage musical at West Yorkshire Playhouse in a co-production with Global Creatures,  from Wednesday 30thNovember 2016, playing through until Saturday 21st January 2017 (Press Night: Tuesday 6th  December at 7.30pm). The production is based on the original Australian musical created by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. Terry Johnson joins the creative team to adapt the original book. Casting  begins next week.

Luhrmann told the Mail: The child's been born!But if we were to wait for the parents to be available to bring it up, it would have moved on, gone to college and retired!  On hiring McOnie he said : There's something about his energy that reminds me of when you're at an early place in your career and you've got that killer enthusiasm.

After originating onstage in 1984 in Sydney, hitting the big screen in 1992 and revived in Sydney   a couple years ago, STRICTLY BALLROOM is getting a new life and a "fresh perspective" in the UK while Luhrmann is busy working on THE GET DOWN for Netflix.

McOnie, who runs his own dance company, choreographed London's IN THE HEIGHTS and the UK tour of OKLAHOMA! Othre  recent credits include  CHICAGO (Curve, Leicester), WEST SIDE STORY (NYMT), BRITISH STYLE (Collaboration with Matthew Bourne for the BBC, Buckingham Palace), JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (UK Tour) and 13 (Apollo Theatre, London).

Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom to open in Sydney

As previously blogged, Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann has agreed to turn his film Strictly Ballroom into a stage show. Luhrmann is spending four weeks in Sydney at the end of this year working with Global Creatures productions which has already invested millions in the project including acquiring the theatrical rights. He will be holding a workshop and looking at the show's structure, score and choreography with them.

He has just announced that Sydney has beaten London and New York to host the world premiere of the stage musical which will open at the Lyric Theatre from September 2013.

Strictly Ballroom was Luhrmann’s first film and a great hit at 1992 Cannes Film Festival. He wants to direct the production and turn it into something that will “redefine musical theatre”. "Of all my shows, Strictly Ballroom is the most personal," he said.

Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom heading for the stage?

I love the over the top theatricality approach that Baz Luhrmann has to his musical productions, so was delighted to read this morning that he has told the Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye that he has agreed to turn his film Strictly Ballroom into a stage show.

The title Strictly Ballroom has been credited with setting off the television dance show craze which has caused the resurrection of Bruce Forsyth's career.

Apparently Luhrmann is spending four weeks in Sydney from late November up until till Christmas working with Global Creatures productions which has already invested millions in the project including acquiring the theatrical rights. He will be holding a workshop and looking at the show's structure, score and choreography with them.

Global Creatures is the largest animatronic design company in the world and as Luhrmann is saying the show will take some time to get ready and needs a production company who are willing to be patient and spend a lot of money on it. Sounds like another Moulin Rouge!

Strictly Ballroom was Luhrmann’s first film and a great hit at 1992 Cannes Film Festival. Lurhmann wants to direct the production and turn it into something that will “redefine musical theatre” – whatever that means. He said “I don't want to make a show for luvvies! It’s going to be a live stage musical for everyone.”

The timescale is very vague at the moment but with Luhrmann’s current film commitments we must be talking two or three years away