In the brand new production of THE CHER SHOW we not only get 35 incredible songs, from one of our most iconic and everlasting stars, but there are three Cher’s on stage taking us through her incredible, and sometimes turbulent life story.
If anyone is the Queen of reinvention it has to be Cher herself.
Featuring songs from her 50 year plus career, The Cher Show takes us on a musical journey from her early life as the daughter of a truck driver, her marriage to Sonny Bono, and spectacular rise to fame in the 1970s and 80s as a singer and actress.
It’s easy to say that Cher has always been in our lives in some way or another, but in fact she has. Whether we’ve enjoyed her songs, watched her movies, or indeed the TV shows which were such a huge hit with her then husband Sonny.
We all have our favourites of course, I can’t decide if it’s Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, or the dance floor favourite Believe, which even now is guaranteed to get you up on your feet. As for her movies, Cher is the real deal having starred in classics, including Mask, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again and Moonstruck.
If you mention awards, Cher has more than a few cabinets filled with those, including an Emmy, a Grammy and an Academy Award. She has also broken records, including hitting over 100 million record sales. Cher is the only artist in the history of music to top the Billboard charts for six decades in a row.
The Cher Show takes us on a 2 hour journey through the people who were most influential in Cher’s life, from her mother, her theatrical costumier Bob Mackie to her singer-actor partner, Sonny Bono.
And it is the stage Sonny Bono we caught up with recently at the end of a production in Milton Keynes.
LUCAS RUSH was pretty much destined to be an actor. He stepped onstage at The Hackney Empire at the age of 7, getting his very first acting lessons from Brian Blessed.
He was introduced to Shakespeare at the age of 9 and by the time he was 13 was playing Robin in The RSC’s production of “The Merry Wives of Windsor” alongside Leslie Phillips. His West End debut soon followed, as he performed as “Gavroche” in Les Miserables at The Palace Theatre.
By the the age of 14, he landed the role of Rowan Neville in ITV Drama Walking On The Moon.
Since those early days Lucas has enjoyed a hugely successful career, spending a lot of his professional life on stage, in fact there’s a fair chance you’ll have seen him here in South Wales. He’s appeared in shows such as American Idiot, alongside Newton Faulkner, Cabaret, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and fan favourite Rock Of Ages.
As Sonny Bono he gets to sing some of those early songs we all know and love, including I Got You Babe. We spoke to Lucas about the role, Cher’s life and his love for the New Theatre in Cardiff, where the production plays later this month.
So, get ready to TURN BACK TIME on some great pop songs. You’d better BELIEVE you’re going to be in for a great night, how can you not with 35 smash hits and the life story of one pop goddess.
As we said, three Chers is better than one! And we get three West End stars playing Cher at different stages of her life. MILLIE O’CONNELL (SIX, RENT) is BABE, DANIELLE STEERS (Bat Out of Hell, SIX) is LADY and the Olivier Award-nominated DEBBIE KURUP (Prince of Egypt, The Bodyguard) as the ultimate diva, STAR.
This huge new production features a fresh take on her show-stopping costumes which earned her the title of “the ruler of outré reinvention” (VOGUE).
In a dazzling glitter fest sparkling with Cher’s signature wit and style, you’ll be dancing and singing the night away to the sounds of her biggest hits, including If I Could Turn Back Time, Strong Enough, Gypsies Tramps and Thieves, The Shoop Shoop Song, I Got You Babe, and of course Believe.
As Lucas told us, the show is written by Tony award-winning Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), this brand-new UK production is directed by Arlene Phillips (Grease, Starlight Express), choreographed by Oti Mabuse (double Strictly Come Dancing winner), with costumes by Gabriella Slade (Spice World Tour, SIX).
Arlene Phillips said of directing The Cher Show……..
“I have been a fan of Cher since I first heard I Got You Babe in the mid-sixties and cannot wait to direct her musical. I love stories about strong inspirational legends like Cher and I am proud to be joined in the creative team by two women who have already made a huge impact in their careers: Oti Mabuse as choreographer of the many different genres in the show and Gabriella Slade for the iconic costume designs.
This exciting show will be a non-stop journey of Cher’s rollercoaster life, bringing to the audience Cher’s iconic songs, glorious dance numbers, unique costumes and her epic drama. All they need to do is come along and Believe.”
Oti, who was in Cardiff recently with her own show added…….
“I cannot WAIT for audiences to see what we’re doing with The Cher Show. Cher’s music covers so many styles, genres and rhythms, which makes it so exciting to choreograph. Every song in the show is a hit and we are going full out with exciting routines and movement. It’s going to be a party! Cher has been such an inspiration to so many people and this musical is going to be a celebration of everything people love about her.”
THE CHER SHOW gets to the New Theatre in Cardiff fromTuesday 23rd through to Saturday 27th August. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening, on Saturday it starts at 8pm. There’s also a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday and Thursday with a 4pm show on Saturday. All the details, and tickets are available HERE.
Incidentally, the show gets to Venue Cymru in Llandudno next year from the 28th February to Saturday 4th March. Details of that are HERE.
