Exclusive: Casting announced for In the Heights

Sam Mackay will lead the cast for the transfer of the WhatsOnStage Award-nominated In the Heights, returning to the role of Usnavi opposite Sugababes star Jade Ewen as Vanessa.

Reprising their roles following the sell-out run at the Southwark Playhouse last year are David Bedella (Kevin), Josie Benson (Camila), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Daniela), Sarah Naudi (Carla) and Eve Polycarpou (Abuela).

They are joined by Lily Frazer (Nina), Antoine Murray-Straughan (Graffiti Pete), Joe Aaron Reid (Benny) and Cleve September (Sonny). The cast also includes Jocasta Almgill, Courtney-Mae Briggs, Michael Cortez, Gabriela Garcia, Reiss Hinds, Alexandra Sarmiento and Spin.

Featuring music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda – whose new show Hamilton is currently taking Broadway by storm – and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, In the Heights is billed as "an exhilarating journey into Washington Heights, one of Manhattan's most vibrant communities".

The production is directed by Luke Sheppard with choreography by Drew McOnie, musical supervision by Tom Deering, set design by takis and casting by Will Burton. It is produced in London by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment Ltd and Paul Taylor Mills Ltd.

In the Heights opens at the King’s Cross Theatre on 3 October and runs for a limited four week period until 1st November 2015. Tickets start at £19.50, with a selection of best seats available for Under 25s at a special rate of £15 at every performance. Click here for more information and to book.

David Bedella will reprise his performance as Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show when it returns to the West End in September. David is also known for his Olivier Award winning performance as Satan in Jerry Springer the Opera (National Theatre), with other credits including Sweeney Todd (Twickenham Theatre), Putting It Together (St James Theatre), Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Chicago (Cambridge Theatre).

Josie Benson‘s theatre credits include Sweeney Todd (Chichester Festival Theatre and Adelphi Theatre), The Cradle Will Rock (Arcola Theatre), Porgy and Bess (Savoy Theatre) and The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre).

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt previously starred as Diana in the revival Broadway production of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium, with other credits including Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy (Leicester Curve), Alex in Flashdance (Shaftesbury Theatre) and Rizzo in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre).

Sam Mackay‘s recent stage credits include Wonder.Land (Manchester International Festival), 5,6,7,8 (Royal Court), Flashdance (Shaftesbury Theatre) and Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales Theatre). Television credits include Game of Thrones for HBO.

Sarah Naudi has film credits including By The Sea directed by Angelina Jolie, which is due for release later this year. Television credits include Casanova for Amazon Studios.

Eve Polycarpou‘s theatre credits include Mother Courage and Her Children (Manchester Library Theatre Company), The Bacchae and Palace of the End (Manchester Royal Exchange), and Threepenny Opera (National Theatre).

Jade Ewen is widely recognised as one third of the multi-million selling pop group Sugababes. Since joining the band in 2009, Jade has toured extensively around the world and had numerous international and UK hits. Jade originally came to prominence in 2009, representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s song "It’s My Time". More recently, Jade has been seen on stage as Clara in Porgy and Bess at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, and Dee Dee in the 2014 UK Tour of Tonight’s The Night.

Lily Frazer‘s recent theatre credits include Demeter in the UK Tour of Cats, the Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour and Les Misérables in the West End. Television includes Suzy in E4 series Drifters.

Antoine Murray-Straughan played Rum Tum Tugger in the recent West End revival of Cats at the London Palladium. Other credits include the Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour and Britain’s Got Talent.

Joe Aaron Reid‘s many Broadway credits include If/Then, Ghost, Catch Me if You Can and Chicago, with regional US credits including On The Town (5th Avenue Theater), Ragtime (Paper Mill Playhouse) and Finian’s Rainbow (City Center Encores). Television credits include NBC’s Smash.

Cleve September recently graduated from Mountview Academy where credits include Curtains, Parade and Fiddler on the Roof. Other work includes Elaine Paige’s 50th Anniversary Tour at the Royal Albert Hall and The Last Days of Troy at the Globe Theatre.