Great Success in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre caused the transfer to the West End to the Novello Theatre. Originally produced on Broadway it played for 1,622 performances at the Shubert Theatre starring Harry Groener and Jodi Benson.

A classic musical that still inspires the entire spectrum of theatre goers whatever age they may be. (and who put a limit of "children 9 upwards" - it's great for ANY age)The traditional lightness of this great musical brings special joy.

Written by George and Ira Gershwin, we can again feel the magic which carries on through what seems ages and now is just a moment. Ken Ludwig adapted the original book with a real sense of showbiz.

This musical is filled with memorable Gershwin songs including I Can't Be Bothered Now, Bidin' My Time, I Got Rhythm, Naughty Baby, They Can't Take That Away from Me, But Not for Me, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Embraceable You, What Causes That and Someone to Watch Over Me. Every one a winner.

STORY

Set in the 30's A rich boy who is talented at tap dancing called Bobby Child has a desire to escape from a fiancée, so he auditions to a impressario Bela Zangler who dismisses him and his tap dancing out of hand when he trod on Zangler's foot in his dance. His mother sympathetically suggests that he goes on a business trip a long way from home to Deadrock, Nevada to conclude a 'property deal' which was to foreclose on a theatre.

When he arrives in Deadrock he goes to the saloon where Lank Hawkins the owner lets him know that the deal is for his run down theatre called the Gaity and who's daughter Polly is violently opposed to the rich bankers taking the town theatre. She captivates his heart not knowing he is the very same. Alas she is indifferent to him.

He decides to try and save the theatre for her without giving away his identity so he poses as the one and only Bela Zangler with some help from his friends in new York the Zangler Follies. With the arrival of Irene his fiancée, Zangler himself and Bobby's mother it looks like its heading for a sad fiasco yet the ending is a good one with a transformed city and happy couples all round.

The show celebrates almost all there is to be celebrated including good fun humour personified by Bobby and Bela's drunken duet 'What Causes That?' with superb dancing and singing and production. Who says real music that touches the heart isn't going to change the world?

CAST

• Sean Palmer - Bobby child
• Claire Foster - Polly Baker
• David Burt - Bela Zangler
• Kim Metcalf - Irene
• Michael McKell - Lank
• Harriet Thorpe - Lotte Child / Patricia Fodor
• Samuel Holmes - Perkins/Jimmy / Eugene Fodor
• Sidney Livingstone - Everett Baker
• Alexis Owen Hobbs - Patsy
• Rachel Stanley - Tess
• Lucy Anderson - Louise
• Michelle Andrews - Swing
• Jessica Buckley - Betsy
• Stuart Dawes - Swing
• Cara Elston - Mitzi
• Charlene Ford - Elaine
• Joanna Goodwin - Margie
• Amy Griffiths - Susie
• Joshua Lacey - Wyatt
• Joshua Lay - Swing
• Harry Morrison - Sam
• James Connell - Billy
• Carl Sanderson - Moose
• Phil Snowden - Pete
• Holly Dale Spencer - Swing
• Steve Whatson - Mingo
• Jo Morris - Vera / assistant / choreographer / Dance Captain / on stage swing
• Richard Jones - Junior assistant / Dance Captain / fight captain / Swing


• CREATIVE
• Music & Lyrics - George and Ira Gershwin
• Director - Timothy Sheader
• Choreographer - Stephen Mear
• Set and Costume Designer - Peter McKintosh
• Musical Director - Stephen Ridley
• Lighting designer - Tim Mitchell
• Musical Supervision, Dance Arrangements / Music Supervisor - Gareth Valentine
• Orchestrator - Chris Egan
• Sound designer - Mike Walker
• Producer - Lee Menzies / William Village /Adam Spiegel / Mark Goucher