A brand new musical produced by an award-winning director and choreographer is to receive its UK premiere on Westside this autumn.
Becoming Nancy, which is being performed at The Rep theatre between Wednesday 2 October and Saturday 2 November, is a coming-of-age story about first love, friendship and finding your voice, based on the novel by Terry Ronald.
It is directed and choreographed by the Tony award-winning Jerry Mitchell, who is also the director of The Devil Wears Prada, which opens in the West End in October this year.
Jerry, who came across the novel at Heathrow Airport while returning to New York in 2013, said: “Becoming Nancy requires a lot of young fresh talent, and I’m so excited to introduce these incredible young performers to British audiences alongside some spectacular West End stars.
“This beautiful story about finding your true self and the spotlight each of us deserves is going to be a joy to share with audiences of all ages.”
Becoming Nancy is set in 1979 and revolves around David Starr, one of the smartest, most talented sixth formers in East Dulwich, with a vocal range to die for and a bedroom plastered with posters of pop idols Blondie, Sting, and Kate Bush, who has just been given the lead role of Nancy in the school play, Oliver!
The unconventional casting sends shockwaves to everyone around him – including his parents, his aunt, and his classmates.
The book is by Elliot Davis, with music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, plus additional music and lyrics by Terry Ronald.
Stiles and Drewe’s other multi award-winning scores include the Cameron Mackintosh/Disney award-winning productions of Mary Poppins, Honk!, Half a Sixpence and The Wind in the Willows.
The role of David Starr will be played by Joseph Peacock, whose credits include the US tour of Bat Out of Hell.
Although not fully completed, the cast also includes Joseph Vella as Maxie Boswell, Paige Peddie as Frances Bailey, Olivier award-winning Rebecca Trehearn as Kath Starr, Genevieve Nicole as Aunt Val, Mathew Craig as Eddie Starr, Olivier award-winning Stephen Ashfield as Hamish McClarnon, and Daisy Greenwood as Abigail Henson.
To watch a preview video of Becoming Nancy, click here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSlSZckTCVc
For more information, visit https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/becoming-nancy/
Cast photo by Alexis Chabala
ENDS
