13 Going On 30 musical’s world premiere in rehearsals – first look photos

Take a peek inside the rehearsal room for the musical version of much-loved film 13 Going On 30. 

Premiering this autumn in Manchester, the piece is based on the 2004 film by Revolution Studios. It follows Jenna Rink, a 13-year-old who wishes to escape high school difficulties and finds herself transformed overnight into a 30-year-old magazine editor with an unexpected perspective on life. The musical is written by Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa (who wrote the screenplay), with songs by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner.

Lucie Jones, David Hunter and Grace Mouat, alongside Caleb Roberts as Richard, Andrew Berlin as Kyle Grandy, Dominic Andersen as Alex, Ross Dawes as Wayne, Suzie McAdam as Bev, Iván Fernández González as Darius Mark, Rose Galbraith as Paige and Jenna Innes as Wendy. 

The company is completed by Tia Antoine-Charles, George Bray, Elliot David Parkes, Sarah Drake, Henry Lawes, Rachel Moran, Amy Parker, Jack Rowell, Rebecca-Daisy Wellington and Kevin Yates.

Children’s casting includes Max Bispham, Cyrus Campbell, Melody Caruana, Keira Chansa, Emmeline D’arcy-Walsh, Anna De Oliveira, Jersey Blu Georgia, George Hamblin, Azaelea Zona Harris, Hughie Higginson, Bella Hockaday, Fearne Lily King I’anson, Amelia Minto, Florence Moluluo, Nyomi Okoro, Marlis Robson, Star Lily Shentall-Lee, Joel Tennant, Maddison Thew, Florrie May Wilkinson, Clark Young, and Hanya Zhang.

Andy Fickman (Heathers) directs, while Jennifer Weber (& Juliet) choreographs. They’re joined by set designer Colin Richmond, musical supervisor Alan Williams (also responsible for dance, vocal and incidental music arrangements), WhatsOnStage Award-winning lighting designer Howard Hudson, sound designer Adam Fisher, and video designer George Reeve. Orchestrations are by Williams, Weiner and Zachary. Costume design is by Gabriela Tylesova, illusion design by Paul Kieve and wigs, hair and make-up design by Sam Cox.

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Casting is handled by Will Burton, while children’s casting and children’s general management are by Keston and Keston. Production management comes from Simon Gooding and Matt Jones for Gooding Jones Production Management. The producers for the show include ROYO, Revolution Studios, Wendy Federman, and Phil Kenny.

The musical will play at Manchester Opera House, opening on 21 September 2025 for a limited season to 12 October.