"Jerry Springer the Opera" transfers to Cambridge Theatre 14 Oct 03

"Jerry Springer the Opera" transfers to Cambridge Theatre 14 Oct 03

It has been announced that Jerry Springer the Opera is to transfer to the Cambridge Theatre on 14 Oct 2003, after its run at the Lyttelton NT, ends on 30 Sep 03. It will become the first ever original musical to transfer from the National Theatre in its 41 years since founding.

Tickets go on sale Sunday 6 July 03

Jerry Springer - The Opera started life and was developed by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas through a series of public workshops at Battersea Arts Centre in 2001, then went on to be performed as a concert version at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2002 before the World Premiere at the National Theatre in 2003. The show will now become a £3million commercial production with the largest cast ever seen at The Cambridge Theatre. The producers are also discounting 35,000 top price tickets to people aged under 25.

The show opened at the National to good notices from the popular press in April this year: NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "It's vulgar, salacious but such a pleasure." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "But the supreme merit of Lee's Lyttelton production is that it is superbly sung." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, " If ever a show seems destined for cult status, this is it."

The cast at the National includes Michael Brandon (Jerry), Andrew Bevis (Tremont ), Alison Jiear (Shawntell), Sally Bourne (Andrea ), Benjamin Lake (Dwight), Lore Lixenberg (Peaches), Wills Morgan (Montel) and Valda Aviks (Zandra).

It is not known at this time if the same cast will transfer with the show!

The show has music & book & lyrics by Richard Thomas , book & Lyrics also by Stewart Lee. It is directed by Stewart Lee, designed by Julian Crouch, lighting by Rick Fisher, choreography by Jenny Arnold and costumes by Leah Archer. It is produced by Avalon Promotions Ltd & Allan McKeown Production in association with the National Theatre & BAC.

Triumph, tragedy and trailer trash as high culture meets low culture. Jerry Springer the Opera, is a new opera based on America's most lurid talk show and the US host who brought worldwide television audiences programmes entitled 'Pregnant by a Transsexual', 'Here Come the Hookers'and 'I Refuse to Wear Clothes.'

NOTE: The show is not suitable for children!!