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. Read more
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.
42nd Street Synopsis
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...