Cake – a new musical that brings together theatre, concerts and dance into one show, has announced casting ahead of its UK tour.
The show will feature West End star Zizi Strallen (Mary Poppins) as Marie Antoinette, Renée Lamb (Six) as Jeanne, B Terry as Nicole, and Travis Ross as Cardinal, plus Ope Sowande and Megan Bryony Gibbs in the ensemble, and Lukas Hunt and Amie Hibbert as swings.
Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie (In the Heights; Jesus Chris Superstar) and written by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (Emilia), the show will tour the UK from 18 March 2023, starting at the MAST Mayflower Studios in Southampton, and visiting Salford, Plymouth, Leicester and Norwich.
Zizi Strallen comes to the show directly from her acclaimed starring role in Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre, which closed last month.
Cake combines music with 18th century France to retell a story that sparked a revolution. When Marie Antoinette married King Louis, her reputation was already tarnished by gossip. But when she is implicated in a crime to defraud the crown jewellers of a diamond necklace, it is not just her reputation at stake, but the monarchy and France itself.
The show was originally commissioned by Turbine Theatre and The Other Palace artistic director Paul Taylor-Mills (Heathers The Musical), who said: “We are delighted to be partnering with 5 of the leading regional theatres to present a development production of this brilliant new show. I first commissioned this at The Other Palace five years ago and am delighted to be working with some of the best theatre makers in Drew McOnie, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, Tasha Taylor Johnson and Jack McManus. The show started life at our first MTFestUK and it’s great to see it come to production.”
Cake features songs by Tasha Taylor Johnson and Jack McManus, casting by Will Burton CDG and is based on an idea by Paul Taylor-Mills.
Cake – UK Tour dates
MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton
18 – 25 March 2023
The Lowry, Salford
28 March – 01 April 2023
The Drum, Plymouth
04 – 08 April 2023
Curve Theatre, Leicester
18 – 22 April 2023
Theatre Royal, Norwich
25 – 29 April 2023
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