Casting is now complete for the U.K. concert premiere of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's musical Little Dancer, set for July 27 at 7 PM BST at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Inspired by the real-life story behind Edgar Degas’ iconic sculpture Little Dancer, the musical is directed and choreographed by five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman (The Producers, Crazy for You). In development since 2014, Little Dancer was once titled Marie, Dancing Still; it has previously been developed at the Kennedy Center and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre.
As previously reported, Tiler Peck, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, will reprise her acclaimed role as Young Marie van Goethem. Olivier nominee Laura Pitt-Pulford will play Adult Marie, while Olivier nominee Julian Ovenden is cast as Edgar Degas.
Newly announced for the concert staging are David Albury (Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical) as Christian, Imogen Amos as Charlotte, Imogen Bailey (Shrek the Musical) as Antoinette, Josefina Gabrielle (The Baker’s Wife) as Martine, Debbie Kurup (The Devil Wear’s Prada) as Mary Cassatt, and Rohan Tickell (Les Misérables) as Corbeil with ensemble members Derek Aidoo, Adam Crossley, Sebastian Goffin, Josie Harbertson, Jacob Hughes, Britt Lenting, Nell Martin, Gabriela Rodriguez, Holly Saw, Lowri Shone, Jessica Templeton, Gabriella Tooma, and Jack Wilcox. Amy Ruggiero is the offstage Young Marie cover with Simi Jolaoso and Ying Ua Li as booth singers.
The show, which is "set in the harsh backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet," according to press notes, follows Marie as she "navigates poverty, ambition, and the challenges of being a young woman in a man’s world [and] becomes the heart of one of the most celebrated artworks in history."
The creative team also includes scenic designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer William Ivey Long, lighting designer Ken Billington, and sound designer Kai Harada.
Little Dancer is produced by Anita Waxman Productions, Tegan Summer Theatricals, Shea Theatricals, Patricia R. Klausner, and Sharon Carr. Casting is by Jill Green Casting. General management is by Anthology Theatre Productions.
Visit LittleDancer.co.uk.
