If you’re looking for a timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale that combines breath-taking tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, classic romance and delightful comedy to dazzling effect you need look no further than the spectacular 42nd STREET.
Fresh off the bus from small-town America, young and beautiful Peggy Sawyer arrives in New York City dreaming of her name in lights.
She quickly catches the eye of a big-time director and lands a spot in the chorus line of Broadway’s newest show…and when the leading lady gets injured, Peggy gets her shot at stardom.
The iconic song-and-dance spectacular features a hit parade of toe-tapping songs, including the title number, “We’re In The Money”, “Lullaby of Broadway”, “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” and “I Only Have Eyes For You”.
42nd Street is a larger-than-life, massively entertaining celebration of musicals and the irrepressible spirit of Broadway that’s guaranteed to lift anyone’s spirits. After a successful run in London the show is heading out on the road, getting to the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff in tonight and all week. And if ever a show is made for the Donald Gordon stage, then 42nd Street is it.
The tour cast features most of the stars who played in the London production, and we have some fantastic names heading our way.
LES DENNIS will be playing the role of Bert Barry. Les is best-known for presenting Family Fortunes and has starred in multiple TV shows including Death In Paradise, Coronation Street, Holby City and Hotel Babylon. His theatre credits are equally impressive, as they include Only Fools & Horses The Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket), HMS Pinafore (ENO), Hairspray (Coliseum), The Addams Family (Music and Lyrics), Spamalot (ATG), South Pacific (Birmingham Symphony), and Chicago (Adelphi).
I actually saw Les in the Coliseum production of Hairspray with Michael Ball and he was terrific on stage.
Now, Les has just been announced as the latest recruit to the next season of BBC Strictly.
Talking about 42nd Street, Les told us….
“I’m thrilled to be playing Bert Barry and really excited to be opening this brand-new production of 42nd Street. Jonathan Church our director is really digging into the characters and where they’ve been. We’re giving a new look to this production.”
The role of Maggie Jones will be played by FAYE TOZER who we all know and love as a member of the BRIT Award-winning pop band Steps and her theatre credits include Singin’ In The Rain (Sadler’s Wells, UK Tour & Canada), Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre), In The Spotlight (Tour), Over The Rainbow (Tour), Me And My Girl (Tour), Love Shack (Tour), Saucy Jack And The Space Vixens (The Leicester Square Theatre) and Tell Me On A Sunday (Tour).
SAMANTHA WOMACK will be playing the role of Dorothy Brock. Samantha, well-known for playing Ronni Mitchell in Eastenders, has also starred as Tanya in three seasons of Mount Pleasant, Ruth in Babes In The Wood and Mandy in Game On. Samantha’s theatre credits include The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (Gillian Lynne, West End) Girl On The Train (West End and UK Tour), The Addams Family (UK Tour), Hope (Royal Court Liverpool), the Lincoln Center’s production of the classic musical South Pacific in the lead role of Nellie Forbush at the Barbican & UK Tour, and Michael Grandage’s West End production of Guys And Dolls alongside Patrick Swayze (Piccadilly Theatre).
If we’re not mistaken, Les and Samantha both played the WMC in the touring production of The Addams Family, so they are no strangers to the stage.
They will be joined by MICHAEL PRAED whose TV credits include playing Frank Clayton in Emmerdale, as well as starring in The Bill, Casualty, Dynasty and Doctors. Michael’s theatre credits include playing George in War of the Worlds (Dominion Theatre), Dexter Haven in High Society (UK Tour), Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (UK Tour), F Scott Fitzgerald in Beautiful and Damned (Lyric Theatre), Tony in Copacabana (UK Tour), Billy Bigelow in Carousel (Dublin Theatre), and D’artagnan in The Three Musketeers (Broadway Theatre, NY).
NICOLE-LILY BAISDEN will be playing Peggy Sawyer (previous credits include Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon (West End / UK & International Tour), Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes (Barbican Theatre & UK Tour).
Nicole-Lily said….
“The choreography by Bill Deamer is incredible. It’s going to be breathtaking. I think everyone’s going to leave smiling!”
The part of Billy Lawlor will be played by SAM LIPS – who you may well have seen in Singin’ In The Rain (Don Lockwood; UK Tour; Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto), Strictly Ballroom (Scott Hastings; West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds; Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto).
The additional cast includes Erica-Jayne Alden, George Beet, Charlie Bishop, Kevin Brewis, Olly Christopher, Briana Craig, Jordan Crouch, Rhianna Dorris, Ashleigh Graham, Alyn Hawke, Aimee Hodnett, Connor Hughes, Deja Linton, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Greta McKinnon, Ben Middleton, Benjamin Mundy, Anthony Ofoegbu and Jessica Wright.
The show has music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. Original direction and dances were by Gower Champion. The show was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick.
42ND STREET gets to the Wales Millennium Centre from tonight, Monday 14th through to Saturday 19th August. Tickets start at £18 for this all singing and dancing delight. For more details just TAP HERE (see what we did there).
