Drew McOnie to direct Frances Ruffelle in The Wild Party
Michael John LaChiusa's 2000 musical, The Wild Party will be the first production in the soon to be rebranded St James Theatre – which will become The Other Palace.
Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie will direct and choreograph Frances Ruffelle as Queenie, with further casting to be announced.
McOnie's recent credits include Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Open Air Theatre and In the Heights at the King's Cross Theatre, for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Choreographer.
Ruffelle is best know for originating the role of Eponine in the West End and Broadway productions of Les Miserables. Other stage credits include Pippin at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and Chicago in the West End.
Based on Joseph Moncure March's 1928 poem of the same name, The Wild Party tells the story of one wild evening in the Manhattan apartment shared by Queenie and Burrs, a vaudeville dancer and a vaudeville clown.
Andrew Lloyd Webber recently purchased the theatre with the aim of it becoming the home of new musical theatre. The Wild Party will be Paul Taylor-Mills' (Carrie, In the Heights) first show as the venue's new artistic director.
The Wild Party runs at The Other Palace from 11 February to 1 April.
