42nd Street, the hit West End show which ran at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, is now headed for the big screen. It has been revealed that the recent West End revival of the musical will be screened in cinemas later this year, in more than 550 across the UK and Ireland from 10 November.
The production stars Emmerdale’s Tom Lister (Julian Marsh), Philip Bertioli (Billy Lawlor), Clare Halse (Peggy Sawyer), and Bonnie Langford (Dorothy Brock). The 60-strong cast also features Jasna Ivir (Maggie Jones), Christopher Howell (Bert Barry), Matthew Goodgame (Pat Denning), Graeme Henderson (Andy Lee), Bruce Montague (Abner Dillon), Mark McKerracher (Mac/ Doc / Thug), Emma Caffrey (Annie), Ella Martine (Lorraine), Clare Rickard (Phyllis) and Paul Knight (Oscar).
42nd Street follows the lives of performers as they struggle to make their names on Broadway. The show, which has a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music from Harry Warren and lyrics from Al Dubin, is an adaptation of the 1932 novel and the 1933 film. Its songs include “We’re In The Money”, “Lullaby of Broadway” and “Shuffle Off To Buffalo”, and many more classic hits which audiences know and love. In 1981, the original Broadway production won the Tony Award for Best Musical.
Previews of the revival at Drury Lane began on 20 March 2017, and the production was directed by Bramble, who previously directed Barnum, Treasure Island and The Three Musketeers. The show followed the announcement that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would come to the end of its run at Drury Lane, before heading out on a UK tour and Broadway run following its success in the capital.
The original production of 42nd Street was similar in look to a Warner Brothers black and white film. This time the team is focused on creating an MGM Technicolor version of the musical with the additional songs and dances.