Susan Boyle & Elaine C Smith
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Susan Boyle Joins Cast of New Musical I Dreamed a Dream

As previously tipped by Whatsonstage.com, Susan Boyle will join the cast of I Dreamed a Dream, the new musical based on her life story, which tours the UK and Ireland from March 2012.

But Boyle, who rose to fame as a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent, will not be playing herself – that role has instead gone to Scottish actress Elaine C Smith, who recently appeared in Calendar Girls in the West End.

Susan Boyle said: “I am thrilled to be a part of the musical about my life story and very much looking forward to stepping on stage and performing with the cast. It is an honest portrayal of my life and has been a cathartic process to be involved in.” 

Producer Michael Harrison told Whatsonstage.com: "It's very exciting to have an international star such as Susan appearing in the musical we have been developing about her own story.  Susan continues to surprise everyone and I hope the musical will do the same. This is a strictly limited 11-week tour of the UK before the show moves onto an international platform."

I Dreamed a Dream, which takes its title from the Les Miserables standard that shot Boyle to fame on the 2009 UK television competition, receives its world premiere next spring at the Theatre Royal Newcastle, where it runs from 23 to 31 March 2012.

Following Newcastle, I Dreamed a Dream will embark on a 22-week UK tour – including Aberdeen and Inverness in Boyle’s native Scotland, as well as Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Dublin. Simultaneous productions will then launch extensive tours in the US and Australia, where Boyle has attracted widespread followings, in spring 2013. 

Famous moment

Speaking to Whatsonstage.com in June, producer Michael Harrison revealed that the show would probably feature a "cameo appearance" by Boyle but that it wouldn't include a recreation of her breakthrough moment. He explained: “We all know what happened on Britain’s Got Talent. The musical will probe more into Susan’s early life and some of what’s happened to her since she found fame. There’s no need to replicate that famous moment we’ve all seen on YouTube.”

“I Dreamed a Dream” will, however, be included in the show, as well as other numbers from Boyle’s albums and songs that have influenced her life. Harrison told Whatsonstage.com: “This isn’t a spoof - it’s a proper book musical. And Susan couldn’t be more involved.”

I Dreamed a Dream came about following an interview in which Boyle said, if there was a film of her life, she’d like Elaine C Smith to play her. After reading the interview, Harrison, who has worked closely with Smith on various stage productions including The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, approached the actress and Boyle with the idea for the musical, which Harrison says "has all the qualities of a fairytale, but with the added bonus of being absolutely true."

- by Theo Bosanquet

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	Susan Boyle's Life Becomes 2012 Dream Musical - 17th Jun 2011 News
	Susan Boyle's Les Mis Dream Comes True at O2??? - 7th May 2010 Gossip
	I Dreamed a Dream (tour - Southend, Cliffs Pavilion) - 11th May 2012 reviews
	Year of the Producer: Michael Harrison's Eureka moment for Susan Boyle musical I Dreamed a Dream - 3rd May 2012 interviews
	I Dreamed a Dream - The Susan Boyle Musical (Bristol) - 1st May 2012 reviews
	Show Pics: Elaine C Smith Dreams as Susan Boyle in Newcastle - 28th Mar 2012 photos
	Review Round-up: SuBo is celebrated in bio-musical - 28th Mar 2012 roundup
	I Dreamed a Dream (Newcastle) - 27th Mar 2012 reviews
	Sneak peak at I Dreamed A Dream - 21st Mar 2012 news
	Susan Boyle to Make Guest Appearance in I Dreamed A Dream - 11th Oct 2011 news
	Susan Boyle's Life Becomes 2012 Dream Musical - 17th Jun 2011 news

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