Theatre News

Ghost Confirms West End Piccadilly Run, 22 Jun

As previously tipped, the new musical version of Ghost will be the next resident of the Piccadilly Theatre following the closure of Grease on 30 April 2011. The screen-to-stage adaptation will have a gala West End opening on 19 July 2011, following previews from 22 June and a seven-week, world-premiere run at Manchester Opera House from 28 March to 14 May 2011.

Ghost marks the musical writing debut for the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, who is penning music and lyrics with Grammy Award winner Glen Ballard (whose credits include Alanis Morrissette’s album Jagged Little Pill). Screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin has adapted his original screenplay.

The premiere production is directed by Matthew Warchus and designed by his frequent collaborator Rob Howell (amongst many other projects, the pair’s last musical together was The Lord of the Rings). Choreography is by Ashley Wallen, musical supervision and arrangements by Christopher Nightingale, illusions by Paul Kieve, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and sound by Simon Baker.

The original film of Ghost, a hit in 1990, starred Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore as Sam and Molly, a couple who are mugged walking home one night. Murdered in the attack, Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next, and unwilling to leave Molly who remains in danger. With the help of a phoney psychic Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg on screen), Sam attempts to communicate with and save Molly.

Though no casting has yet been officially announced, today’s Daily Mail, reports that Whatsonstage.com Award winner (for We Will Rock You) and former Olivier nominee Sharon D Clarke will play Oda Mae Brown, the role which won an Oscar for Whoopi Goldberg (who recently made her London stage debut in Sister Act). Other names that have been linked with the project include Laura Michelle Kelly, who played Molly in two earlier workshops.