Ben Freeman to play 'The Fonz' in 2014 UK Premiere and Tour of HAPPY DAYS - A NEW MUSICAL
FULL CAST ANNOUNCED
FOR THE UK PREMIERE AND NATIONAL TOUR OF
HAPPY DAYS – A NEW MUSICAL
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BEN FREEMAN TO STAR AS ‘THE FONZ’
CHERYL BAKER AS ‘MRS CUNNINGHAM’
ALONGSIDE THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED HEIDI RANGE AS ‘PINKY TUSCADERO’
BOOK BY GARRY MARSHALL MUSIC & LYRICS BY PAUL WILLIAMS
Based on the Paramount Pictures television series “Happy Days” created by Garry Marshall
CREATIVE CONSULTANT - HENRY WINKLER
OPENING AT THE CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY ON TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2014
Amy Anzel for Sunday Monday Ltd in association with Todd Ruppert of RTR International, is delighted to announce that West End leading man and “Emmerdale” star, Ben Freeman, will take on the iconic role of ‘The Fonz’ in the UK Premiere and national tour of HAPPY DAYS – A New Musical, alongside Cheryl Baker as ‘Mrs Cunningham’ and the previously announced Heidi Range as ‘Pinky Tuscadero’.
Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award nominee Andrew Wright, HAPPY DAYS – A New Musical will open at the Churchill Theatre Bromley on Tuesday 14 January 2014 (previews from Saturday 11 January), before embarking on a national tour. The full tour schedule can be found at www.happydaysthemusical.co.uk
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BEN FREEMAN can currently be seen as ‘Fiyero’ in “Wicked” at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre. His other West End credits include ‘Warner’ in “Legally Blonde”, and ‘Norman’ in “Dreamboats and Petticoats”. Ben is probably best known to tv audiences as ‘Scott Windsor’ in “Emmerdale”.
As a member of the pop group Bucks Fizz, CHERYL BAKER won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, and has subsequently had more than 20 hit records including three number ones. She made her theatrical debut in the musical "Footloose", starring in both the inaugural tour and in the West End. Her other musicals include ‘Mrs Potts’ in “Beauty and the Beast” and “Menopause The Musical”. A television regular, last year Cheryl took part in “Celebrity Masterchef” and she came in as first runner-up on “Pop Star To Opera Star” in 2011.
HEIDI RANGE is best known for being the longest serving current member of the multiplatinum selling British girl group, the Sugababes. Last year, Heidi took part in the ITV series, Dancing on Ice, and subsequently in the Dancing on Ice live UK tour. Heidi was one of this year’s “Celebrity Masterchef” contestants.
The rest of the cast includes: Lucy-Jane Adcock, Charlie Allen, Henry Davis, Ray Gardner, Emma Harrold, Grace Holdstock, Katie Monks, Eddie Myles, James Paterson, Edwin Ray, Sam Robinson, Andrew Waldron, Scott Waugh and Jason Winter.
HAPPY DAYS – A New Musical is written by Garry Marshall, the legendary creator of the popular television series. Garry is also the director of many world-wide hit films including “Pretty Woman”, “Beaches” and “The Princess Diaries 1&2”. It includes 21 original songs by Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe award-winning Hall of Fame Songwriter, Paul Williams (“Bugsy Malone”, “Evergreen”, “Rainy Days and Mondays”). The show also includes the much-loved Happy Days theme tune from the TV show.
HENRY WINKLER, the original Fonz from the television series, will serve as Creative Consultant, working alongside the director in creating the ‘Happy Days’ world of 1959 America and guiding the cast in creating their ever so familiar characters, especially that of ‘The Fonz’.
HAPPY DAYS – A New Musical is a hilarious feel-good musical that is guaranteed to have you rockin’ and rollin’ all week long! This brand new UK Tour based on the hit TV series features the unforgettable ‘King of Cool’ Arthur ‘The Fonz’ Fonzarelli. Join your favourite ‘50’s family, the Cunninghams and the rest of the gang – Potsie, Ralph Malph, Joanie and Chachi as they battle to save their beloved diner Arnold’s from demolition. In a race against time, can everyone's favourite hero 'The Fonz' save the day?
ANDREW WRIGHT is a director and choreographer whose most recent work includes Chichester Festival Theatre’s and Cameron Mackintosh’s “Barnum” (Theatre in the Park), and “Singin’ in the Rain” (Palace Theatre, National Tour and Chichester Festival Theatre) for which he won Best Choreographer at the What’s On Stage Awards 2013 and was nominated for Best Choreographer at the Olivier Awards 2012 and Broadway World Awards 2011, as well as the recent national tour of “Wonderful Town”.
HAPPY DAYS – A New Musical has arrangements and orchestrations by John McDaniel, with Production Design by Tom Rogers, Lighting Design by Philip Gladwell and Sound Design by Ben Harrison.
HAPPY DAYS – A New Musical is presented in partnership with Ed’s Easy Diner, the much loved chain of retro-American diners that successfully captures the spirit of the classic US original, which is an iconic symbol of an unforgettable period in American history. It was a quarter of a century ago that Ed’s Easy Diner opened its doors in London’s Soho, growing since to more than twenty diners nationwide.
2014 NATIONAL TOUR
SATURDAY 11 – SATURDAY 18 JANUARY (OPENING NIGHT, TUESDAY 14 JANUARY)
BROMLEY, CHURCHILL THEATRE
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 20 – SATURDAY 25 JANUARY
BRIGHTON, THEATRE ROYAL
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 28 JANUARY – SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY
HULL, NEW THEATRE
ON SALE NOW
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 4 – SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY
DUBLIN, GRAND CANAL
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 11 – SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY
SOUTHAMPTON, MAYFLOWER
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 17 – SAT 22 FEBRUARY
SHEFFIELD, LYCEUM
ON SALE SOON
MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 1 MARCH
GLASGOW, KING’S
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 3 – SATURDAY 8 MARCH
BRISTOL, HIPPODROME
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 10 – SATURDAY 15 MARCH
NORWICH, THEATRE ROYAL
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 17 – SATURDAY 22 MARCH
SOUTHEND, CLIFFS PAVILION
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 31 MARCH – SATURDAY 5 APRIL
WOKING, NEW VICTORIA THEATRE
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 7 – SATURDAY 12 APRIL
CAMBRIDGE, CORN EXCHANGE
ON SALE SOON
MONDAY 14 – SATURDAY 19 APRIL
SUNDERLAND, EMPIRE
ON SALE SOON
TUESDAY 29 APRIL – SATURDAY 3 MAY
CARDIFF, NEW THEATRE
ON SALE SOON
MONDAY 5 – SATURDAY 10 MAY
ABERDEEN, HIS MAJESTY’S
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 12 – SATURDAY 17 MAY
EDINBURGH, KING’S
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 19 – SATURDAY 24 MAY
DARTFORD, ORCHARD
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 27 – SATURDAY 31 MAY
CANTERBURY, MARLOWE
ON SALE SOON
MONDAY 2 - SATURDAY 7 JUNE
PLYMOUTH, THEATRE ROYAL
ON SALE SOON
MONDAY 9 – SATURDAY 14 JUNE
WOLVERHAMPTON, GRAND
ON SALE NOW
MONDAY 16 – SATURDAY 21 JUNE
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
ON SALE SOON
MONDAY 23 – SATURDAY 28 JUNE
SALFORD, THE LOWRY
ON SALE SOON
MONDAY 30 JUNE – SATURDAY 5 JULY
NOTTINGHAM, THEATRE ROYAL
ON SALE SOON
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