Show Boat to open at the New London Theatre

It has been confirmed that Daniel Evans' Sheffield Crucible production of Show Boat will transfer to the West End where it will begin performances at the New London Theatre on 9 April 2016 with an official opening on 25 April and is booking to 7 January 2017.

Featuring music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, the musical is based on the novel "Show Boat" by Edna Ferber. This new production opened at the Sheffield Crucible on 16 December 2015, where it ran to 23 January 2016.

This epic musical spans 40 pivotal years in American history and follows the lives and loves of three generations aboard the beloved 'Cotton Blossom' as she sails down the Mississippi River. One of the most famous musicals ever written, the score features classics such as "Bill", "Make Believe", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", and "Ol' Man River".

Confirmed casting for the London production includes Gina Beck, Rebecca Trehearn and Emmanuel Kojo all reprising their previous roles.

The original Broadway production opened in 1927, with the first West End production opening in 1928. The show has been revived numerous times, including a 1971 production at the Adelphi Theatre which ran for 909 performances. The show returned to London in a production at the London Palladium in 1990, followed by Hal Prince's landmark Broadway production that transferred to the Prince Edward Theatre for a limited run in 1998 where it was nominated for the Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production. It was last seen in London in 2006 directed by Francesca Zambello as a fully staged musical in the Royal Albert Hall.

The Sheffield Crucible production is directed by Daniel Evans, with choreography by Alistair David, lighting design by David Hersey, design by Lez Brotherson and sound by Paul Groothuis.

Tickets for Show Boat go on sale at 10am today.