New tour of the Bodyguard Musical

Producers Michael Harrison and David Ian have just announced a new UK and Ireland tour of The Bodyguard musical  opening at Glasgow King’s Theatre on Saturday 28 January 2023 with casting to be announced soon.
 
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features  classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.
 

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD, directed by Thea Sharrock with book by Oscar winning Alex Dinelaris, had its world premiere at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End and was nominated for four Olivier Awards. A sell out 18 month UK and Ireland tour followed, before the show returned to the West End at the Dominion Theatre ahead of a second sell out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2018/19.  To date, THE BODYGUARD has played to over 3.6 million people in 15 countries and 45 US cities. Countries include the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Canada, Italy, Australia, Spain, France, the US, Austria and Japan.

 

Ben Richards to play title role in The Bodyguard opposite Beverley Knight in London

Ben Richards, will play Frank Farmer in The Bodyguard when the musical, based on the 1992 movie starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston,  returns to the Dominion Theatre in July.

The show, directed by Thea Sharrock and starring Beverley Knight  will have a six-month run  from July 15th.

Beverley Knight also starred in the production when it was at the Adelphi and  has been recording a new album and goes on  a short concert tour in May and June.

Ben Richards plays Sergeant Ben Bradley on Hollyoaks, with musical theatre credits including Grease, Guys And Dolls and Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert and the tour of the  Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5

The Bodyguard Tour to Launch at Southampton Mayflower February 2015

The Bodyguard Musical at the Adelphi Theatre is due to close on 30th August with Made in Dagenham starring  Gemma Arterton due to start previews there on October 9th.

Beverley Knight is currently playing Rachel Marron with Alexandra Burke due to take over the role on 2nd June. Miss Knight is then playing the lead in Memphis the Musical which starts previews in October at the Shaftesbury.

The musical is due to go on tour next year opening at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton on  February 12th and running until the 28th.The only other date I have so far is Newcastle Theatre Royal from April 1st to 18th.

Tickets for The Bodyguard Tour at Southampton go on sale  on Tuesday May 6th.

Alexandra Burke new Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard

The fabulous Miss Beverley Knight makes her last appearance as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard  at the Adelphi Theatre on 31st May to take over the lead in the musical Memphis which starts previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 3rd October.

Her role will be taken over on 2nd June by Alexandra Burke who won The X Factor in 2008 and sang Whitney Houston’s Saving All My Love For You at her audition.  It is her musical theatre debut apart from taking part in a special show of Les Miserables as part of Children in Need in 2012. Burke will stay with The Bodyguard till the end of its run on August 30th when it leaves the Adelphi to make way for Made in Dagenham the Musical which starts previews on 9th October starring Gemma Arterton.

She has been taking acting lessons and expressed an interest in doing more than just singing and was approached by producers David Ian and Michael Harrison when Knight said she was leaving. We saw her, and our creative team met her, and she was fabulous and knocked the songs out of the park Ian said.

A tour of The Bodyguard is due to begin in Manchester in August 2015.

Beverley Knight & Tristan Gemmill New Leads in The Bodyguard

The fabulous soul diva Beverley Knight is set to make her West End debut in The Bodyguard  musical at the Adelphi Theatre when she takes over the role of Rachel Marron that Whitney Houston made famous on 9th September.

The amazing Heather Headley leaves the show on 10th August and Gloria Onitiri will play the role from 12th August-7th September inclusive. She is returning to the States and will star in the Broadway production that is expected to open late next year or early 2015.

Tristan Gemmill is taking over the role of The Bodyguard Frank Farmer from Lloyd Owen who leaves the show on 7th September.  Gemmill is best known for his television roles including Dr Adam Trueman in Casualty, Family Affairs, Where the Heart Is ,Grass, Kay Mellor's drama series Strictly Confidential,  DC Mitch Cowen in EastEnders and The Bill.

Last year he filmed the fantasy adventure movie Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box playing the role of Isambard Black which is  scheduled for release this year.

Debbie Kurup continues in the role of Nicki Marron. 

Other new cast members includes Richard Lloyd King (Bill Devaney), Stephen Marcus (Tony), Dominic Taylor (Sy Spector), Michael Rouse (Stalker) and Stuart Reid (Ray Court).

Ensemble members are Gareth Andrews, Kimball Armes, Christopher Birch, Hannah Fairclough, Robert Gill, Nicky Griff iths, Ben Harrold, Jamie Hughes-Ward, Alex Jackson, Genesis Lynea, Fergal McGoff, Sara Morley, Joelle Moses, David O’Mahoney, Stuart Rogers, Kyle Seeley, Danielle Steers, Katy Stredder, Christopher Terry.

Denny de Vito Entertains The Bodyguard Audience

There were some technical problems during The Bodyguard musical last night at the Adelphi which caused an unscheduled 35 minute stop.

But the audience were not bored as Danny de Vito and Richard Griffiths were in the audience (they appeared together in the Sunshine Boys earlier this year) and deVito went on stage to keep them entertained.

First day of Rehearsals for The Bodyguard

Rehearsals started today for the new musical The Bodyguard which is due to start previews at the Adelphi Theatre on 6th November.

The photo was taken by Heather Headley who has flown in from the States to make her home in the UK while she plays Rachel Marron.

You can see hear the incredible Miss Headley singing the classic  I Will Always Love You by clicking on the link.

Casting for Bodyguard the Musical

Rehearsals start next month for the new musical The Bodyguard starring Heather Headley in the Whitney Houston (Rachel Marron) role and Lloyd Owen playing the part Kevin Costner covered in the film.

Other cast members include Debbie Kurup/Nicki Marron (Velma Kelly in Chicago, Tonight's The Night, Rent), Mark Letheren/The Stalker (All My Sons, Cloud Nine and the RSC's A Midsummer Night's Dream), Ray Shell/Bill Devaney (Miss Saigon, Gone With The Wind,Five Guys Named Moe, The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Starlight Express), Nicolas Colicos/Tony (Mamma Mia, The Producers) and Mark McKerracher as Herb Farmer (Les Miserables).

With Houston being a difficult act to follow Headley is fabulous and can really put the numbers across with the much anticipated performances starting on November 6th at the Adelphi Theatre with the opening night on 5th December.

More Casting for The Bodyguard Musical

According to Baz Bamigboye in today’s Mail British Actor Lloyd Owen is about to sign up to play the title role in the new Whitney Houston musical The Bodyguard.

This is the role Kevin Costner played in the film and as previously announced Owen will be playing opposite the divine Heather Headley as Rachel Marron at the Adelphi with previews starting on 6th November and an opening night of 5th December.

He is probably best known for his film roles portraying of Indiana Jones's father in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles between 1992 and 1993 and for playing Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC Scotland television series Monarch of the Glen from 2002 to 2005. He also played the role of solicitor William Heelis in the film Miss Potter.

His first love is theatre with his first break as Nick in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1996. Other highlights of his stage career include playing Dan in Closer, George in The York Realist and Peter in Paul. I cannot find any musical theatre credits, but apparently he is an accomplished baritone and can dance.

The show will be directed by Thea Sharrock and begin rehearsals in September.   The show follows the film but there are some differences in the book with more of Houston’s songs added.

Book tickets for The Bodyguard

Whitney Houston Bodyguard Musical to preview at Adelphi on 6th November

Since my last blog things seem to have moved on with the Whitney Houston Bodyguard Musical.

Producers Michael Harrison and David Ian have now set up an official website for the production. UPDATE 29th MARCH: It has just been announced that the show will start previews at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End from 6th November with an early December press night.

Thea Sharrock will direct Heather Headley (who has a truly amazing voice) in the role of rock star Rachel Marron (the part played by Whitney). The musical will feature Whitney Houston classics hits including: Queen of the Night,So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, I'm Your Baby Tonight,Run to You, I Have Nothing,How Will I Know, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and I Will Always Love You.

Whitney Houston Bodyguard Musical

With the tragic demise of Whitney Houston over the weekend renewed interest is being sparked in The Bodyguard Musical which the producers are still advertising as opening in London’s West End in Autumn 2012.

Houston starred in 1992 film The Bodyguard opposite Kevin Costner who played former Secret Service Agent turned bodyguard who is hired to protect the music star Houston from a stalker.

There were a couple of reports last year about who was to take the lead.  Firstly in October R&B star Heather Headley announced on her Facebook page that she was to play the lead saying: "So, let's talk about London... Yes! I've been offered the role of Rachel in the musical version The Bodyguard. Very Honored! The script has been rewritten a bit and it's very interesting. Needless to say, the music is great (they're using many of the songs of Whitney's catalogue) - very challenging, but great. We'll start on the West End in London and then we'll move to Broadway."

Headley has been attached to the production since she took part in a workshop for the musical last summer.
The Grammy Award winner starred as Nala in Broadway's original The Lion King and then landed the title role in Aida winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Then last November it was reported by the British Press that X Factor Misha B who was voted off during the semi-finals had been asked to star in The Bodyguard Musical.

Digital Spy reported: "Lots of people have been considered from Alexandra Burke to Leona Lewis, but Misha is top of the list. Her not making The X Factor final was a blessing in disguise for those involved with the show."

With all the publicity surrounding Whitney Houston (for such sad reasons) at the moment I am sure news will be forthcoming and will post it here as soon as I can.

Latest on The Bodyguard musical

For the stage version The Bodyguard Alex Dinelarius has written a new book that isn’t a word-for-word copy of the film which starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Also new numbers including I Wanna Dance With Somebody will be used in the show.

Thea Sharrock is directing The Bodyguard and Heather Headley (pictured) is playing the lead.  She is a Broadway actress with an amazing voice who was cast as Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King and was so impressive that Disney asked her to play the Nubian princess in the Elton John/Tim Rice musical Aida. It earned her a Tony Award in 1998. She will have to belt our more than 10 numbers in the Bodyguard.

Ms Sharrock staged a reading a few weeks ago in New York and a further workshop will be held in London in late January with the plan for The Bodyguard to open in London next autumn with the Adelphi Theatre currently the likely venue.