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So Solid Star Leads Cool Boney M Musical, 16 May

As previously tipped (See The Goss, 1 Nov 2005), a new musical based on the hits of Seventies disco group Boney M will premiere this spring at the West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre. Former So Solid Crew member Harvey (pictured) will star in Daddy Cool, which opens on 16 May 2006 (previews from 26 April).

The musical will be directed by Andy Goldberg (Bomb-itty of Errors) with creative associate Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham on screen). Boney M’s hits, which will feature in the show, include “Rivers of Babylon”, “Brown Girl in the Ring”, “Ma Baker”, “Girl You Know It’s True”, “Where Do You Go”, “One Way Ticket”, “Mary’s Boychild” and the group’s first hit, “Daddy Cool”. Many of the songs, originally written in the 1970s and 80s, have been re-interpreted with contemporary musical influences.

Set in multicultural London to the music of Boney M (and other Frank Farian artists including Milli Vanilli and No Mercy), Daddy Cool tells the story of Sunny, a young man who lives for his music. Caught up in local rivalry between east and west London crews, Sunny meets and falls in love with Rose, daughter of the East End’s notorious club owner Ma Baker. The lovers’ relationship fuels the hostility between the two gangs.

Michael Junior Harvey was born in 1979 and raised in Battersea, south London. Growing up, his main priority was football but he broke his ankle at the age of 19, having already played for Chelsea, Barnet and Aldershot FC. Going back to music, he became a member of the award-winning So Solid Crew. He has presented for on T4 and participated in Channel 4's The Games and Sky One's The Match. In 2003, Harvey made his movie debut in Out for a Kill.

Daddy Cool has a book by Amani Naphtali and choreography by Sean Cheesman. Set and costume design is by Jon Morrell, with lighting by David Hersey and sound by Nick Lister for Autograph. Musical supervision is by Mike Dixon with orchestrations by Steve Sidwell. The musical is produced by Robert Mackintosh and Frank Farian.

- by Caroline Ansdell

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