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Earl Carpenter Joins Cast in UK Sunset Tour

Earl Carpenter, who replaced Ian McShane in The Witches of Eastwick, will play Joe Gillis in the forthcoming Sunset Boulevard UK tour. The production opens at Plymouth Theatre Royal on 10 August 2001 starring Faith Brown as Norma Desmond, with Michael Bauer now confirmed as Max von Myerling and Ceri Ann Gregory as Betty Schaefer.

The tour represents the first outing beyond the West End for Andrew Lloyd Webber's production, which opened at the Adlephi Theatre in London on 12 July 1993. It was subsequently attended by over two million people, before breaking advance ticket sale records on Broadway. Based on Billy Wilder's Oscar-winning 1950 film, the story concerns a former Hollywood actress living in isolation, who sees a struggling screenwriter as a path back to glory.

In the West End, Earl Carpenter has appeared in Les Miserables (Palace Theatre) and Beauty and the Beast (Dominion). Among his other theatre credits are Robin, Prince of Sherwood (national tour) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Bournemouth). He has also been involved in producing and directing, whilst co-founding a production company called Wing and a Prayer. He joined The Witches of Eastwick cast as Ed Parsley, but later took the lead role of Darryl Van Horne when Ian McShane fell ill. Clarke Peters then assumed the part from 1 July 2001.

Musicals performer Michael Bauer has performed on numerous cast recordings, including Kiss Me, Kate, On the Town and Martin Guerre. He recently appeared in the West End's Phantom of the Opera. Ceri Ann Gregory trained at the Royal Academy of Music. Her musical theatre appearances include Carmen (New Victoria Theatre), Into the Woods (Donmar Warehouse) and Sweeney Todd (Theatr Clwyd). She has also performed in opera and recorded with such rock bands as Living Room and Little Misstreated.

Impressionist and singer Faith Brown was the first major name to be confirmed for the venture, which is directed by Robert Carsen. Following the Plymouth opening, Sunset Boulevard calls at Newcastle, Hull, Southampton, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Belfast and Birmingham.

- by Gareth Thompson

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