Pure Imagination – The Songs of Leslie Bricusse, which will have its world première at London's St James Theatre in a month has been cast.
Christopher Renshaw will direct a cast made up of Dave Willetts, Siobhan McCarthy, Niall Sheehy, Julie Atherton and Giles Terera in a show that celebrates the film and musical theatre song writing of Leslie Bricusse.
The credits of award winning Dave Willetts include the lead roles in Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Sunday in the Park with George.
Siobhan McCarthy's West End credits include Mrs Lovett in Harrington’s Pie Shop Sweeney Todd:The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray, Mrs Johnston in Blood Brothers and Fantine in Les Misérables.
Julie Atherton has starred in, amongst others, Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q and Shock Treatment; she has toured extensively including in Fame, Stiles and Drewe's Just So and Sister Act the Musical.
Niall Sheehy has covered several principal roles in the West End including in Miss Saigon, Les Misérables and Wicked. His work in Dublin includes Assassins and West Side Story.
Giles Terera has played in Book of Mormon, Avenue Q, The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas, Jailhouse Rock and Rent.
London-born Novello, Oscar and Grammy Award-winning book writer, composer and lyricist Leslie Bricusse has a significant canon of work.
Alone or in collaboration with such as Anthony Newley, Henry Mancini, John Williams and John Barry, Bricusse has composed more than 1,000 songs and written the book, music and/or lyrics for more than 40 films and plays.
Amongst these are the songs "What Kind of Fool Am I", "If I Ruled The World", "Talk To The Animals" and "Goldfinger" and the shows Stop the World - I Want to Get Off, The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd, Victor/Victoria and It’s a Dog’s Life!.
The musical director of Pure Imagination will be Michael England, who also provides the orchestrations, and the musical staging will be by Matthew Cole.
The show will have a four-week run from 24 September.