Composer-lyricist Gary Barlow (Finding Neverland) and writer Tim Firth (Kinky Boots film) are preparing their new musical, The Girls, for its London bow at the Phoenix Theatre beginning January 28.
Based on Firth’s 2003 movie The Calendar Girls, the musical is the true story of the Yorkshire Calendar Girls who, in a fundraising effort for the local hospital, plan to pose nude for a calendar and become a media sensation. The movie was previously adapted into a play in 2008, where Barlow and Firth saw it and Barlow says he “could hear the music straight away.”
The productions features Debbie Chazen as Ruth, Sophie-Louse Dann as Celia, Michele Dotrice as Jessie, Claire Machin as Cora, Claire Moore as Chris and Joanna Riding as Annie. Also in the cast will be Joe Caffrey as Rod, Jeremy Clyde as Denis, John Davitt as Doctor, Soo Drouet as Brenda, James Gaddas as John, Jenny Gayner as Miss Wilson (coffee), Steve Giles as Lawrence, Maxwell Hutcheon as Colin, Shirley Jameson as Miss Wilson (tea), Marian McLoughlin as Marie, Judith Street as Lady Cravenshire and Jane Lambert, Rebecca Lewis, Victoria Blackburn and Frazer Hadfield, and introducing Josh Benson as Tommo, Ben Hunter as Danny and Chloe May Jackson as Jenny.
Hear the full song “Sunflower” in the video above, including glimpses of Firth, Barlow, and the company in the recording studio.
For tickets and information, visit TheGirlsMusical.com.
