Leicester's Curve theatre has rescheduled two concerts and announced more cast members for those shows in its new season of 'socially distanced' performances.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard in concert will open later than originally planned and will run from Friday 18 December until Saturday 9 January.
Joining the previously announced Ria Jones as Norma Desmond and Danny Mac as Joe Gillis will be a host of actors from Curve's 2017 touring production. Molly Lynch will reprise her role as Betty Schaefer, Adam Pearce returns as Max Von Mayerling, as do Dougie Carter as Artie Green and Carl Sanderson as Cecil B DeMille.
The Sunset Boulevard company will also include Benjamin Chambers, Owen Chaponda, Joanna Goodwin, Kristoffer Hellström, James Meunier, Gemma Naylor, Joanna O'Hare, Jessica Paul, Sam Peggs and Barney Wilkinson.
A 16-piece orchestra will bring the musical's score to life with musical supervision by Stephen Brooker. Set designer Colin Richmond, video designer Douglas O'Connell and choreographer Lee Proud will also rejoin the production team.
The Color Purple in concert has been rescheduled to run from Monday 1 until Saturday 13 March 2021.
Led by the previously announced T'Shan Williams as Celie, original company members of Curve's 2019 production including K M Drew Boateng, Owen Chaponda, Perola Congo, Danielle Kassarate, Anelisa Lamola, Karen Mavundukure, Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, Landi Oshinowo, Simon Anthony Rhoden and Jo Servi will also return. Due to other commitments, Danielle Fiamanya is unable to join the rescheduled performances as Nettie.
Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple will be directed by Tinuke Craig, with a six-piece orchestra led by musical director Alex Parker. The team will be joined by set designer Alex Lowde and choreographer Mark Smith.
Both Sunset Boulevard and The Color Purple will be lit by Curve associate Ben Cracknell, with sound design by Tom Marshall.
Leicester actor Hareet Deol will reprise his role as Suf Khan in Dougal Irvine's drama Memoirs of an Asian Football Casual, based on the life of reformed Leicester football hooligan Riaz Khan who will also rejoin the cast. Dates remain unchanged, with the play running from Monday 25 January until Saturday 6 February.
All three productions will be fully costumed and performed in-the-round in the theatre's transformed, 533-seat, 'socially distanced' auditorium. Sunset Boulevard and The Color Purple will make use of a triple revolve donated by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.