42nd Street is coming to the Theatre Royal Plymouth! Image: Johan Persson (provided by TRP).
42nd Street is coming to the Theatre Royal Plymouth! Image: Johan Persson (provided by TRP).

Hit Broadway musical coming to Plymouth

4 min


Top names star in 42nd Street

One of the world’s most iconic song-and-dance spectaculars is coming to Plymouth’s Theatre Royal this summer.  

42nd Street carries a real hit parade of toe-tapping songs, including the title number, ‘We’re In The Money’ to ‘Lullaby of Broadway,’ ‘Shuffle Off To Buffalo’ and ‘I Only Have Eyes For You.’

The musical is is a timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale. It combines breath-taking tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, classic romance and delightful comedy to dazzling effect.

The plot is enticing. Fresh off the bus from small-town America, young and beautiful Peggy Sawyer arrives in New York City dreaming of her name in lights.

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She quickly catches the eye of a big-time director and lands a spot in the chorus line of Broadway’s newest show. So, when the leading lady gets injured, Peggy gets her shot at stardom.

The musical is a larger-than-life, massively entertaining celebration of musicals and the irrepressible spirit of Broadway that’s guaranteed to lift anyone’s spirits. 

It has a star cast with Samantha Womack, Michael Praed, Faye Tozer, Les Dennis and Nicole-Lily Baisden. The Curve and Sadler’s Wells production opened at Curve, Leicester.

42nd Street: UK Tour reaches the Theatre Royal Plymouth in August

Samantha Womack stars as Dorothy Brock, alongside Michael Praed as Julian Marsh, Faye Tozer as Maggie Jones, Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer in this popular production.

Samantha Womack most recently starred as the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

Her other credits include the role of Rachel in The Girl on the Train both in the West End and on tour.

She also portrayed Morticia Addams in The Addams Family’s UK tour, Nellie Forbush in the Lincoln Center’s production of South Pacific at the Barbican (and on tour).

Samantha further played the role of Miss Adelaide in Michael Grandage’s  production of Guys and Dolls alongside Patrick Swayze.

Her screen credits include Ronni Mitchell in EastEnders, Mandy in Game On alongside the titular role in Imogen’s Face and The Kingsman franchise.

Michael Praed’s theatre credits include Tom Beauregard in Darker Shores at Theatre Royal Windsor (and on tour).

He undertook the role of George in War of the Worlds at the Dominion Theatre, Alex in Aspects of Love at the Prince of Wales Theatre and Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

He was Dexter Haven in High Society and Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music – all on UK tours.

His television credits include the role of Frank Clayton in Emmerdale, Prince Michael in Dynasty and the titular role in Robin of Sherwood.

Samantha Womack, Michael Praed, Faye Tozer, Les Dennis and Nicole-Lily Baisden

Faye Tozer is best known as a member of BRIT Award winning pop band Steps. Her theatrical credits include Singin’ In The Rain at Sadler’s Wells – both on tour in the UK and in Canada. She was also a runner-up in BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. 

Her credits include Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre along with touring productions of In The Spotlight, Over The Rainbow, Me And My Girl, Love Shack and Tell Me On A Sunday.

Les Dennis most recently starred as Grandad Trotter in Only Fools and Horses The Musical. His other West End credits include Wilbur in Hairspray, opposite Michael Ball,  at the London Coliseum, Amos Hart in Chicago and Bill in Me and My Girl.

His touring theatre credits include Art, Legally Blonde, High School Musical 2 and Uncle Fester in the musical comedy, The Addams Family. His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street and a fictional version of himself in Extras.

Nicole-Lily Baisden’s theatre credits include the role of Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, both in the West End and on tour, and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre and on tour.

Sam Lips’ theatre credits include the role of Don Lockwood in Singin’ In The Rain and Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom, both in the UK and Canada. His Broadway credits include Cats, Chicago, Pippin, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Cher Show.

This new production will be directed by Jonathan Church (Singin’ in the Rain, The Drifters Girl) with choreography and design by Olivier Award winners Bill Deamer and Rob Jones.

The lighting design is by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Ian Dickinson and Gareth Tucker. The video design is by Jon Driscoll with musical supervision by Jennifer Whyte and orchestrations by Larry Blank.

42nd Street has music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin with the book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble which is based on the novel by Bradford Ropes.

The original direction and dances were by Gower Champion. The show was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick. The use of all songs is by arrangement with Warner Bros. and EMI Publishing Ltd.

Briana Craig (42nd Street tour) will be playing Peppy Miller in the world premiere production of Michel Hazanavicius’ internationally acclaimed film, The Artist.

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