Theatre News

Musicals Cast: Carter & North in Collins, More Eden

4 January 2012

Glenn Carter and Robyn North will star in a revival of Adam Guettel’s 1994 musical Floyd Collins at Southwark Playhouse next month.

The production, which runs from 28 February to 31 March 2012 (previews from 22 February), is directed by Derek Bond and will also feature Vlach Ashton, Kit Benjamin, Dayle Hodge and Donovan Preston.

Guettel and Tina Landau’s musical is set in 1925 Kentucky, where Floyd Collins, soon to be acclaimed as “the greatest caver ever known‟, dreams of finding fame and fortune underground. When a cave-in leaves him trapped 55 feet below the earth’s surface, the media circus above ground makes a very personal tragedy a national sensation.

Glenn Carter (Floyd Collins) was recently seen in the West End as Tommy DeVito in the multi award-winning Jersey Boys and as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway.

Robyn North (Nellie Collins), received a Whatsonstage.com Award nomination as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majestys Theatre), a role she played for three years. Other theatre credits include Sophie de Palma in Master Class (National Tour) and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (Cambridge Arts).

Floyd Collins was commissioned by the American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia, which
produced its world premiere in 1994 and first produced in New York by Playwrights Horizons in 1996. This production, which will be performed in Southwark Playhouse’s Vault space, marks its first London revival in over ten years.

In other musical casting news, astrologer and Strictly Come Dancing star Russell Grant is returning to the West End after an absence of 34 years to play the snake in Children of Eden, which is being revived for a charity gala performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Sunday 29 January.

Grant will join Gareth Gates, Kerry Ellis, Oliver Thornton and Brenda Edwards in the Biblical-inspired musical, by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz and John Caird.

Children of Eden is being staged to raise awareness of the chronic condition Crohn’s disease, with all proceeds being donated to Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Russell Grant said: “I am delighted to be returning to the West End after such a long time; and supporting such a great cause, especially as I have a close friend who has recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s. And I am really looking forward to working with Gareth (Gates) again having had such a wonderful time in panto in Milton Keynes over Christmas.”

For tickets call 0844 482 5116.