Preview: Legally Blonde The Musical at Sunderland Empire

Casting Announcement For Legally Blonde

Legally Blonde The Musical

Sunderland Empire

Monday 16^th – Saturday 21^st April 2018

Rita Simons (Eastenders’), Lucie Jones (representing UK in Eurovision Song Contest 2017) and Bill Ward(Coronation Street, Emmerdale) to star in a major new UK tour of the smash-hit Broadway and West End musicalbased on the hit Hollywood movie

EastEnders’ Rita Simons, Lucie Jones, who is representing the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Never Give Up On You’ on Saturday 13 May, and Bill Ward, star of Coronation Street and Emmerdale are to star in a major new UK tour of the smash-hit Broadway and West End musical Legally Blonde The Musical, with a date at Sunderland Empire from Monday 16 – Saturday 21 April 2018.

Legally Blonde The Musical is an all singing, all dancing romantic comedy, a fun-filled, feel-good pink fest. College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods, doesn’t take no for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and heads for Harvard Law School. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

Based on the Reese Witherspoon film, Legally Blonde The Musical earned seven Tony nominations and 10 Drama Desk Award nominations during its Broadway run. In the UK it was nominated for 5 Laurence Olivier Awards winning 3 including Best New Musical, and was nominated for 8 Whatsonstage Awards winning 4 including Best Musical.

Legally Blonde The Musical, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach, based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the MGMmotiion picture, will open at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley (18 - 23 Sept) then tour the UK and Ireland until June 2018.

Rita Simons

Rita Simons (Paulette Bonafonte) is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in BBC’s EastEnders for which she has won numerous awards and is one of Britain’s best loved actresses. She won Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards and other awards and nominations include Best Newcomer at the Digital Spy Soap Awards, Best Onscreen Partnership for her character partnership with Ronnie Mitchell played by Samantha Womack, Best Newcomer at the TV Now Awards, a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2008 British Soap Awards and Best Newcomer at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards. Rita has also appeared on TV in Mile High as Hannah, Dream Team as Julie and London’s Burning. In Spring 2012, Rita was the subject of a major documentary film Rita Simons: My Daughter, Deafness and Me made by Leopard Films for BBC1. Rita actively supports the charity RNID.

Lucie Jones

Lucie Jones (Elle Woods) is currently playing Maureen in the 20th anniversary UK tour of Rent and is set to take centre stage to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.   Her previous theatre credits include: Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve); Molly in Ghost (Asian Tour); Victoria in American Psycho (The Almeida); Meatloaf in We Will Rock You (International Tour); Kelly Byrne in The Prodigals (Edinburgh Festival); Cosette in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre, West End and O2 Arena). Her TV acting credits includes: Melody Carver in Midsomer Murders (ITV); Louise in The Sarah Jane Adventures (BBC). Lucie was a finalist in the 2009 series of The X Factor.

Bill Ward

Bill Ward (Professor Callahan) is best known for his work on two of the country’s leading soaps. He has just finished 3 years in Emmerdale, playing farmer James Barton (Ross, Pete and Finn’s Dad) for over 300 episodes, who met a gruesome, death at the hands of his emotionally volatile partner, Emma, in one of the biggest storylines of the year. Previously, he played the builder Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street, also for 300 episodes, who was murdered by his emotionally volatile partner, Tracy Barlow, in one of the soap’s biggest storylines of the year. In addition to his many and varied TV and film credits Bill is no stranger to the stage and has worked on everything from Sophocles to The Spice Girls at Bristol Old Vic, Manchester Royal Exchange, Northern Stage, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, and The National Theatre Studio amongst others. He’s played Prospero in The Tempest in Guildford, Lancelot in Spamalot in the West End, and Kevin the Gnome in a muddy field in Glastonbury.

Legally Blonde the Musical is produced by Martin Dodd for UK Productions by arrangement with

Music Theatre International (Europe) Ltd. UK Productions Ltd have been producing musicals, plays and pantomimes for over 22 years nationally, internationally and in the West End.

In addition to Legally Blonde the Musical Martin Dodd is currently producing The Kite Runner in the West End and on tour, and for children national tours of CBBC’s Dick & Dom Live! and CBeebies Chris & Pui. Martin is also responsible for 11 pantomimes nationwide every Christmas season, including the high-flying pantomimes at Sunderland Empire.

Legally Blonde The Musical also has two dogs in the cast, a Chihuahua called Bruiser and another called Rufus, a big, brutish, dog that only its mother could love! Bruiser is already cast and will be on the road but producers have decided to hold auditions for ‘Rufus’ in every town and city on the tour - more details to follow.

This fun-filled, feel-good pink fest will be the most fashionable ticket in town so bend and snap up your tickets today!

Creative Team:

Directed and Choreographed by Anthony Williams,

Co-Choreographer Dean Street

Musical Supervisor James McCullagh

Tickets:

Tickets available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your plus your phone company's access charge. Booking and transaction fees may apply.

Group Bookings: 0330 1027531

Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your phone company's access charge.