Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre has announced casting for the UK première of American playwright Donna Moore’s Cougar the Musical.
The show ran for more than two years off Broadway and is a “raunchy, hilarious and insightful new musical about three women of a certain age saying yes to life and learning that true happiness lies within”.
Dawn Hope who plays high-flying academic Clarity appeared as The Lady in the Young Vic production of Kander and Ebb’s The Scottsboro Boys in 2013.
She was also Serena in George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre in 2006 and played Billie Holiday in Lanie Robertson’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill at the New Players Theatre in 2005.
Suanne Braun who plays Mary-Marie was the goddess Hathor in the TV sci-fi series Stargate SG-1. Her theatre credits include Mamma Mia and Onassis in the West End, the Birmingham REP touring production of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret and Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernada Alba at the Riverside Studios.
Pippa Winslow is recently divorced Lilly. Her extensive theatre credits include Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz at the Old Vic in 2014, Craig Warner’s adaptation based on the Patricia Highsmith novel of Strangers On A Train at London’s Gielgud Theatre, also in 2014, and The Phantom Of The Opera.
Donna Moore said, “when I first heard the term 'cougar' eight years ago, I was doing stand-up comedy and writing The UnBalancing Act, a show about my divorce—and I thought, how come we have to place a derogatory name on an older woman?
“I wanted to write a play that humanized the cougar which showed that women come in all shapes and sizes and that each woman is special no matter what. My thesis statement is that a woman who dates a younger man should be called—a woman.
“In this and all my work, my mission is to inspire and encourage women (and men) to say yes to life and understand that the key to self-empowerment comes from within. If nothing else, I want men and women who come to see this show to leave with their spirits uplifted, a song in their heart and perhaps a racy story or two to share with their friends.”
Belgrade creative associate Patricia Benecke directs. Design is by Juliet Shillingford, with video and lighting design by Arnim Friess. Additional music and lyrics are by Mark Barkan, John Baxidine, Arnie Gross, Meryl Leppard and Seth Lefferts. The show features choreography by Racky Plews. Musical director is Neil McDonald.
Cougar the Musical runs in the Belgrade’s B2 auditorium from Saturday 16 May until Saturday 6 June.