42nd Street, the ultimate Broadway musical, runs in London on the West End’s biggest stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Based on the 1932 novel by Bradford Ropes (which was subsequently adapted for the silver screen the following year), 42nd Street tells of the great director Julian Marsh and his upcoming production of the musical Pretty Lady. But when the show’s star is forced to drop out of the production, Marsh calls on unknown chorus girl Peggy Sawyer, who takes to the stage a “youngster” and comes back a “star”. With a classic score of musical theatre standards including "We're in the Money", "Lullaby of Broadway", "42nd Street" and "About a Quarter to Nine", this heart-warming musical provides exceptional tap routines and classic comedy.
Before tapping its way into the West End in March 2017, the musical first took Broadway by storm in 1980 where it won the Tony Award for Best Musical and ran for almost 3,500 performances. The musical first ran in the West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1984, and won the Olivier for Best Musical.
42nd Street currently features British acting star Bonnie Langford in the role of Dorothy Brock. When 42nd Street made its return to the West End in 2017, Scottish pop singer Sheena Easton starred in the role of Brock before Scottish pop singer In Lulu took on the part in March 2018.
The cast of 42nd Street also includes Clare Halse as Peggy Sawyer, Tom Lister as Julian Marsh and Ashley Day as Billy Lawlor.
This new production is directed by Mark Bramble, choreographed by Randy Skinner and will feature scenic design by Douglas W Schmidt and costume design by Roger Kirk.
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30 images As the curtain opens on America in 1932 at the heart of the Great Depression, chorines and gypsies get wind that acclaimed Broadway producer Julian Marsh is casting his new musical show. As an extensive tap audition begins, we're introduced to fresh-off-the-bus Peggy Sawyer, a talented and enthusiastic young star who manages to pass her audition and join the company.
Dorothy Brock, an over the hill star is set to be the leading lady in 'Pretty Lady', and her beau Abner Dillon has $100,000 to invest in the production, despite the fact that the Dorothy has fallen in love with one of her old stage partners Pat Denning. As the group head to Philadelphia for their out of town try-out, Dorothy breaks off her relationship with Dillon in a move that threatens the entire production. On opening night Peggy bumps into Dorothy during a routine, sending the star to the floor with a broken ankle forcing the curtain to come down. The question now is, who will take over the role and be the new star, as the show must go on...
There’s a moment of indescribable exhilaration at the very start of this careful yet constantly surprising revival of 42nd Street which begins, as every production of the musical does, with the curtain rising a mere two foot to display the tapping feet of a stunning 40-strong ensemble.
An eight-year-old Bonnie Langford made her West End debut in a stage musical version of Gone with the Wind at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. That was some 46 years ago; and now she's come full circle, back to this very same stage, to take over as Dorothy Brock in the current hit revival of 42nd Street.
New casting has been announced for the West End production of 42nd Street, and it includes Lulu taking over from Sheena Easton in the role of Dorothy Brock. Easton made her West End debut in 42nd Street when it opened in April last year. Scottish pop singer Lulu will now take over the role of Brock, a Broadway actress who is injured in the build-up of a major new musical.
42nd Street took the West End by storm when it moved into the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with a flurry of four and five-star reviews. Much of the praise was for Clare Halse, who plays Peggy Sawyer, a dance virtuoso waiting to be discovered,is forced to step in and save Julian Marsh’s Broadway show Pretty Lady. We chatted to Halse about her previous experiences as an understudy opposite Imelda Staunton, how she is helping to inspire a generation of young dancers, and performing for Royalty on the show’s opening night. How much of 42nd Street did you know before you auditioned for the part?
The hit London revival of 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane has extended its booking period to 10 February 2018. The production began previews in London on Monday, 20 March, 2017 and opened to excellent reviews on Tuesday 4 April 2017, where it was described as "infectious musical theatre joy of the highest calibre" by London Theatre. It was previously booking to 14 October 2017.
Tickets are now on sale for the brand new production of 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Production images have been released of the West End revival of 42nd Street which is currently in previews at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane ahead of an official opening on 4 April 2017. Featuring music by Harry Warren and Al Dubin and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble it is directed by Mark Bramble with choreography by Randy Skinner, scenic design by Douglas W Schmidt and costumes by Roger Kirk. Cast of 42nd Street (Photo: Brinkhoff & Moegenburg) Cast of 42nd Street (Photo: Brinkhoff & Moegenburg) Cast of 42nd Street (Photo: Brinkhoff & Moegenburg) Cast of 42nd Street
