It visits SW19 as part of a national tour
Calamity Jane is embarking on a national UK stopping off at New Wimbledon Theatre from March 17 for one week only.
Hedda Beeby, Artistic and Executive Director of the Watermill Newbury, where the show sold out over last summer, said: "It has been such an amazing Summer here at the Watermill and to have this wonderful new production of the musical Calamity Jane completely sell out has been fantastic, we could have let it play until Christmas!
"All of us here wish the cast, crew and creative team the most wonderful tour of the UK and Ireland and hope the audiences at every venue take the show to their hearts, just like the audiences here have".
Calamity Jane stars Jodie Prenger in the title role of ‘Calamity Jane’, Tom Lister as ‘Wild Bill Hickok, Alex Hammond as ‘Danny’ and Phoebe Street as Katie Brown.
Jodie Prenger is probably best known for winning the role of ‘Nancy’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of Oliver! through the BBC television series I’d Do Anything. During her run in the show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane she received both critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the role. Since then she has starred in the National Theatre’s hit production of One Man, Two Guvnors both in the West End and on tour and as ‘Lady of the Lake’ in Spamalot. Jodie is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2.
Tom Lister most recently played Grimes and Eel in the world premiere of Water Babies at Leicester Curve. He is probably best known to TV audiences for his role as ‘Carl King’ in ITV’s Emmerdale, a part he played for nine years. His theatre credits also include ‘Pan’ in Loves Mistress at the Globe Theatre and ‘Ralph’ in Accrington Pals at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Alex Hammond made his professional debut in the hugely successful “Taboo” at the Brixton Academy. He most recently played the role of ‘Adam Pontipee’ in the national tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. His other theatre credits include Save The Last Dance For Me.
Phoebe Street most recently appeared in The Light Princess at the National Theatre. Her other credits include Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre where she made her West End debut.
The rest of the company includes Anthony Dunn as ‘Henry Miller’, Sioned Saunders as ‘Susan’, Rob Delaney as ‘Francis Fryer’, Christina Tedders as ‘Adelaide Adams’, Paul Kissaun as ‘Rattlesnake’, Jon Bonner as ‘Doc’, Martin McCarthy as ‘Joe’, Matthew James Hinchliffe as ‘Buck’, Jamie Noar as ‘Hank’, Giovanna Ryan as ‘Flo’ and Justin Wilman as ‘Charlie’.
Calamity Jane can outrun and outshoot any man in Deadwood. Hard, boastful and desperate to impress, she travels to Chicago to recruit a star, Adelaide Adams, for the Deadwood Stage. But things don’t go too smoothly for Calamity, as everyone in town favours the new girl and she struggles to keep her jealousy and pride in check. It takes her long-standing enemy Wild Bill Hickok to make her see sense, and realise her Secret Love…
Calamity Jane has an Oscar nominated score that includes The Black Hills of Dakota, The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), Just Blew in from the Windy City and the award-winning song Secret Love. The production is directed by Nikolai Foster, with Orchestrations and Musical Supervision by Catherine Jayes, Choreography by Nick Winston, Set and Costume design by Matthew Wright, Lighting Design by Richard G Jones and Sound Design by Sebastian Frost.
Nikolai Foster was recently named as the new artistic director at Curve in Leicester. His most recent theatre credits include The Witches of Eastwick, Annie and the 20th Anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing in the West End.
Catherine Jayes was most recently musical director for the award-winning production of Merrily We Roll Along at both the Menier Chocolate Factory and Harold Pinter theatre in the West End. Her other credits at the Chocolate Factory include The Color Purple and Road Show. She has composed the music for The Duchess of Malfi, Othello, The Changeling, Cymbeline and Troilus and Cressida, all for Cheek By Jowl where she is also an associate director. Her other musical director credits include Guys and Dolls and Sweet Charity for Sheffield Crucible and Gypsy, Fiddler on the Roof and High Society for the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Nick Winston’s theatre credits as choreographer include Loserville in the West End, Annie and Sweeney Todd at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and most recently the World Premiere of Water Babies at Leicester Curve.
Following numerous highly acclaimed productions that include Sweeney Todd and Sunset Boulevard, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury presents a new production of the classic musical Calamity Jane. Featuring a cast of multi-talented actor/musicians to create an unforgettable experience, this brand new production gets to the heart and soul of the musical.
Calamity Jane is adapted for the stage by Charles K. Freeman and has music by Sammy Fain with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster.
February 10, 2015