Crazy for You, a “new” (as it was called when first staged on Broadway in 1992) romantic musical based largely on George and Ira Gershwin’s Girl Crazy (1930), is to tour the UK, opening at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on 17 August 2017 and coming to Sunderland Empire from 24 to 28 April 2018.
The show has music by George and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and a book by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenorand Moon over Buffalo), and it was co-conceived by Ludwig and Mike Ockrent who directed the 1992 Broadway production.
This production is from the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, Berkshire and is directed by its Artistic and Executive Director, Paul Hart, with musical arrangements by Catherine Jayes. It is choreographed by Nathan M Wright and is designed by Diego Pitarch. Lighting design is by Howard Hudson with sound design by Tom Marshall.
The production stars Tom Chambers as Bobby and Charlotte Wakefield as Poppy.
Chambers created the role of Jerry Travers in Top Hat in the West End, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His other stage credits include a recent UK tour of Private Lives and White Christmas in the West End. TV includes Holby City and Waterloo Road. He also won the sixth season of Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.
Charlotte Wakefield made her West End debut as Wendla in Spring Awakening, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award. She played Maria in The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre receiving nominations for Best Actress in a Musical at both the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards. Her other theatre credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia! in the West End, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Laurey in Oklahoma!, both on national tour.
As well as songs from Girl Crazy, the show uses others from A Damsel in Distress, Treasure Girl, Shall We Dance and others. Among them are “I Got Rhythm”, “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”, “Nice Work If You Can Get It” and “Embraceable You”.
Tickets are now on sale.