Jessica Martin leads European premiere of Broadway's Ballroom

19 Apr
2017
Posted in: Theatre News
Author: Angela Thomas
Source:
jessica-martin-leads-european-premiere-of-broadway-s-ballroom
Jessica Martin to star in Ballroom

Brilliant, versatile West End star and #StageFave Jessica Martin will take on the central role in the European premiere of Broadway musical BALLROOM at Waterloo East Theatre next month...

The actress, who has starred in major productions of musical theatre classics including ME AND MY GIRL, MAC & MABEL and SOUTH PACIFIC, will play the lonely widow at the heart of the show which arrives in the UK 38 years after it was last seen on the US stage.

Developed by the Tony Award-winning co-creator of A Chorus Line Michael Bennett who directed and choreographed the show’s only production in the late 1970s, Ballroom will play the South London venue from 12 May until 4 June with a press night on 15 May.

Based on the television movie The Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, the show has a book by Jerome Kass with music by Billy Goldenberg and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

Opening on Broadway in 1978, three years after A Chorus Line made its debut, Ballroom was nominated for nine Tony awards and seven Drama Desk awards, winning one of each for Bennett’s choreography. The production which starred Tony Award-winning actress Dorothy Loudon (Annie) and double Oscar nominee Vincent Gardenia (Moonstruck) played 116 performances and closed in March 1979.

Further cast and creatives for the Waterloo East production are to be announced at a later date.