Thoroughly Modern Amanda for Autumn???

The transfer of hit Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie looks set for an autumn arrival (See The Goss, 27 Feb 2003). According to today's Daily Mail, the show will receive its West End premiere in October, most probably at the Shaftesbury Theatre where the Toyah Willcox-led touring production of Calamity Jane has just announced a conveniently limited season from 12 June to 20 September 2003 (See News, 3 Apr 2003). As for Millie, its title role in London is tipped for British screen actress Amanda Holden, best known for her TV roles in series such as Cutting It and Hearts and Bones and for cheating on her husband Les Dennis in a thoroughly modern tabloid fashion. Based on the 1967 film starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Channing, the nostalgic musical comedy is set in 1920s New York where recent arrival-from-Kansas Millie Dillmount is determined to bob her hair, dance to jazz, get a job and marry her boss - all in the modern fashion. In addition to period tunes and songs from the film, the musical features new numbers by Dick Scanlan (lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori (music), with a book by Scanlan and Richard Morris. Opened last March at Broadway's Marquis Theatre, where it continues to play, Thoroughly Modern Millie was the big winner at the 2002 Tony Awards, taking home six trophies including Best Musical.

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