U.K. Premiere of Becoming Nancy Musical Opens October 15

The U.K. premiere of the new musical Becoming Nancy, directed and choreographed by Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, officially opens October 15 following previews that began October 2.

The coming-of-age musical, which made its world premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in 2019, plays the Birmingham Rep through November 2.

The company is led by Joseph Peacock (The Last Ship) as David Starr, Joseph Vella (Fame) as Maxie Boswell, Paige Peddie (Book of Mormon) as Frances Bailey, Olivier winner Rebecca Trehearn (Cinderella) as Kath Starr, Genevieve Nicole (Dr. Seuss The Grinch Musical Live) as Aunt Val, Mathew Craig (Crazy for You) as Eddie Starr, Olivier winner Stephen Ashfield (The Book of Mormon) as Hamish McClarnon, Daisy Greenwood (Made in Degenham concert) as Abigail Henson, Layla Armstrong-Hughes as Marcia Tubbert, Isaac Elder as Squirrel, Tom Andrew Hargreaves as Bus Conductor/Mr. Boswell, Sebastian Harwood as Jason Lancaster, Lucas Impey as Dennis Gordon, Dominique McIntyre as Chrissie Starr, Richard Meek as Bob Lord, and Rachel Rawlinson as Muriel/Mrs. Boswell.

Ensemble members include Shannon Bourne, Joseph Craig, Cameron Gabriel, Ollie Hart-Bradford, Peter Lavery, Zara McLellan, and Harry Warburton with swings Elliot Copeland, Jessica Daugirda, and Jordan Isaac.

The production also previously released a six-track EP of songs from the score.

Based on the novel by Terry Ronald, Becoming Nancy has a book by Elliot Davis, music by George Stiles, and lyrics by Anthony Drewe with additional music and lyrics by Ronald, Davis, and Stiles. (Stiles and Drew’s production of Honk! won the Olivier Award for Best Musical in 2000.)

Becoming Nancy is set in 1979, and David Starr is unquestionably one of the smartest, most talented high school students in East Dulwich, and to his great surprise, he’s just been given the female lead in the school play. The unconventional casting sends shock waves to everyone around him.

The new musical also has co-set design by David Rockwell and TJ Greenway, costume design by Jean Chan, lighting design by Philip Rosenberg, sound design by Tony Gayle, video design by Dick Straker, hair and makeup design by Susanna Peretz, musical supervision and arrangements by Steve Anderson, and casting by Jill Green with casting associates Tom Shiels and Olivia Laydon.

Director Mitchell, who first came across the novel in 2013 at Heathrow Airport, said in an earlier statement, "Becoming Nancy is about finding love. Love of self, love of others, and love of what matters most in life. As soon as I saw The Rep and visited Birmingham, I knew that it was the right place to open the show. It’s been a privilege to turn Terry’s beautiful story into a musical, and we are all looking forward to working on the show and sharing this beautiful musical with Birmingham and the rest of Great Britain and the world."

Birmingham Rep Artistic Director Sean Foley added, "I’m thrilled to be able to announce Becoming Nancy, and to be welcoming the extraordinary Jerry Mitchell and his world-class creative team to The Rep. When I first saw and heard this touching, funny and relevant show at workshop stage, I knew we had to help make it happen and produce it. Stiles and Drewe, with Elliot Davis, and original writer Terry Ronald, have created as exciting, frequently hilarious, and heart-tugging show about first love and being yourself as you can ever hope to see. I’m sure that Birmingham itself is about to fall in love with this brilliant new musical."

Director-choreographer Mitchell received Tony Awards for Best Choreography for Kinky Boots and La Cage aux Folles. He was also Tony-nominated for Best Choreography for The Full Monty, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Legally Blonde and for Best Direction of a Musical for Kinky Boots. He was also named the 2023 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award in recognition of his dedication and contributions to Broadway Cares and for more than three decades of volunteer service through the arts.

Mitchell is also helming The Devil Wears Prada, which opens in the West End later this month.

Visit Birmingham-Rep.co.uk.