Regent's Park Open Air Theatre announce On The Town for 2017 season

On The Town leads the 2017 summer season.

The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre have announced details of their 2017 summer season which marks Timothy Sheader's 10th season as Artistic Director.

The season will open on 19 May 2017 with a revival of the hit musical On The Town, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie. With music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green the show includes the hit songs "New York, New York", "I Can Cook Too", "Carried Away" and "Lonely Town". The production will run to 1 July 2017, with an official opening on 25 May 2017.

Originally a hit on Broadway, On The Town is based on Jerome Robbins' idea for his 1944 ballet Fancy Free. It follows three American sailors on a 24-hour shore leave in New York City during wartime 1944 who each meet and connect with three very different women. The musical had its London premiere in 1963 at the Prince of Wales Theatre where it ran for 63 performances. A revival was mounted by the ENO at the London Coliseum in 2007.

Drew McOnie is currently directing and choreographing the UK premiere of Strictly Ballroom at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, and will next year direct and choreograph LaChiusa's The Wild Party at The Other Palace in Victoria.

The Open Air season continues with two of Charles Dickens's most popular stories as Dickens Uncovered celebrates the greatest storyteller of London life.

Timothy Sheader will direct a new production of A Tale of Two Cities which runs from 7 July to 8 August 2017, adapted from the original novel by Matthew Dunster, with an official opening on 13 July 2017.

Caroline Byrne will direct a new production of Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over adapted by Anya Reiss which runs from 17 July to 5 August. Recommended for ages six and over, this will play daytime performances alongside A Tale of Two Cities.

As previously announced the 2016 production of Jesus Christ Superstar will return to the venue for just 41 performances from 11 August to 16 September 2017. With direction by Timothy Sheader, design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Drew McOnie, musical supervision by Tom Deering, lighting design by Lee Curran and sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, the production won the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical in the Evening Standard Awards. Full casting is yet to be announced.

Public booking for the new season will open at 11am on 15 December 2016.