Kerry Ellis to star in UK tour of The Importance of Being Earnest

Kerry Ellis has been cast in a new production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, which embarks on a UK tour in January.

Wicked star Ellis will play Gwendolen in her first non-singing role alongside the previously announced Gwen Taylor as Lady Bracknell and Susan Penhaligon as Miss Prism.

Directed by Alastair Whatley, with design by Gabriella Slade, the company also features Hannah Louise Howell (alternate Gwendolen), Geoff Aymer (Chasuble), Louise Coulthard (Cecily), Thomas Howes (Algernon), Peter Sandys-Clarke (Jack) and Simon Shackleton (Lane/Merriman).

Ellis is best known for playing Elphaba in the West End and Broadway productions of Wicked. Her other theatre credits include originating the role of Meat in Queen's We Will Rock You, Murder Ballad, Oliver!, My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables and Cats.

The Importance of Being Earnest opens at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford on 24 January and tours to Hereford, Plymouth, Belfast, Bath, Winchester, Manchester, Salisbury, Lichfield, Bromley, Cambridge, York and Eastbourne.

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