Kander and Ebb’s musical STEEL PIER to get European professional premiere at the Union Theatre

STEEL PIER

Fifteen years after its Broadway debut - when it was nominated for 11 Tony Awards - Steel Pier, a musical by Cabaret and Chicago composers John Kander and Fred Ebb, will gets its European professional premiere at the Union Theatre from Wednesday 31 October.

Press night is Tuesday 6 November at 7.30pm

A high-energy, dance-heavy musical set in early 1930's Atlantic City, Steel Pier tells the story of a dancer, Rita Racine, and her quest to finally leave the dance marathon circuit of which she has been trapped for so long. It has a story based loosely on the film They Shoot Horses Don't They? Steel Pier is a tale of love and romance with a touch of bribery and deceit thrown in for good measure.

Director Paul Taylor-Mills and Choreographer Richard Jones collaborate again following their recent critically acclaimed, sold-out revival of Rent at the Greenwich Theatre. And they return to the Union Theatre where they were both nominated for Best Direction and Best Choreography in the OffWestEnd awards respectively for their revival of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Steel Pier is their third time working together.

Heading the cast as Rita Racine is American Sarah Galbraith, who starred as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas and also appeared in the show on Broadway. Her other roles including starring as Ariel in The Little Mermaid on the US national tour, and Johanna in Sweeney Todd.

The rest of the cast are: Jay Rincon, Aimie Atkinson, Ian Knauer, Ian Kirton, Samuel Parker, Clare Louise Connolly, Brett Shiels, Amy Anzel, Rob Lines, Lisa-Anne Wood, Ben Beard, Louise Roberts, Natalie Douglas, Eithne Bryan, Connor Macnamara, Sheila Grant, Simon Mayhew, Rebecca Orwell.

John Kander and Fred Ebb started composing and writing music in the early 1960’s. With over 20 musicals in their repertoire, their most successful works – Cabaret and Chicago – are still being staged around the world today. Steel Pier opened on Broadway under the direction of Scott Ellis in April 1997. It has never been staged professionally in Europe.

Commenting on the production, Paul Taylor-Mills said: “I'm stunned that Steel Pier is practically unknown in the UK. I also love the challenge this presents. From a performer's perspective it’s about the whole package. You have to be strong at all three disciplines – dancing, singing and acting – and it can be truly exhausting. As a director, especially at the Union Theatre where the audience and performers are so intimate, it’s a challenge to ensure the story is told effectively amongst the heavy dance numbers. It’s a great show and I'm very excited to be the first to bring it to the stage in Europe.”

Paul Taylor-Mills presents

Steel Pier

Music and Lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb

from the original book by David Thompson

Conceived by Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman and David Thompson

Director Paul Taylor-Mills

Choreographer Richard Jones

Musical Director Angharad Sanders

Producer Kylie Vilcins

LISTINGS INFO

Steel Pier

Union Theatre