Betty Buckley stars in Herman’s Dear World at Charing Cross
Jerry Herman musical Dear World will receive its British premiere at the Charing Cross Theatre next year starring Betty Buckley, in a rare London stage appearance, and Paul Nicholas.
Dear World premiered on Broadway in 1969 starring Angela Lansbury, who went on to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of the’ Countess Aurelia’, opposite Milo O’Shea as the ‘Sewerman’.
Based on Jean Giraudoux’s play The Madwoman of Chaillot, it centres around the Countess, living in the basement of a Parisian bistrot in 1945, driven mad by a lost lover and bemoaning her past. When oil is discovered under the streets of the city, she and her motley crew of acquaintances must band together to stop rapacious businessmen from destroying her home, and indeed all of Paris.
Tony Award-winner Betty Buckley is an established Broadway star whose many credits include Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, Catherine in the Bob Fosse’s Pippin (both on Broadway), and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (West End). She has also featured in films including Carrie, recorded 15 solo albums and gives concerts and solo appearances throughout the year.
Paul Nicholas has also starred in Cats, while his numerous other musical theatre credits include Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and Grease. He recently directed a musical version of A Tale of Two Cities at the Charing Cross.
Jerry Herman is the multi award-winning composer and lyricist of the classic Broadway musicals Hello, Dolly!, Mame, La Cage Aux Folles and Mack & Mabel and many more, and in 2009 received the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre.
Dear World designed by Matt Kinley, with costumes by Tony Award-winner Ann Hould-Ward and lighting by Olivier Award-winner Mike Robertson. The high-powered creative team is completed by Tony Award-winning orchestrator Sarah Travis and musical director Ian Townsend.
