New show Bronco Billy The Musical is set to play the Charing Cross Theatre this January.
The show will star Emily Benjamin in the lead role of Antoinette. Benjamin has most recently played alternate Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, with other credits including Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical, Zog:Live!, and The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe.
Bronco Billy has a book by Dennis Hackin, who also wrote the screenplay of the hit Clint Eastwood movie that the show is based on, along with music and lyrics by Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres, and additional lyrics by Michele Brourman.
The show had its world premiere at the Skylight Theatre Company in LA in 2019, and won the Ovation Award for Best Book/Original Musical and Best Lyrics and Musical/Original Musical.
Billed as a thrillingly upbeat musical about love, reinvention, family and living your dream, the show is set in 1979 and centred on a travelling troupe of romantic, fast-drawing, trick-riding, disco-dancing Wild West roustabouts led by Bronco Billy, who meets on-the-run Manhattan heiress Antoinette Lilly.
Actor Emily Benjamin said in a press statement: “I’m so excited to explore this wild world of Bronco Billy – The Musical – a show that says you can be whatever you want to be if that’s a powerful woman, a disco dancer, a poet, a performer, a cowboy – there’s somewhere out there that you can be your true self, no matter what other people tell you.”
Gary Grossman, Artistic Director of Skylight Theatre Company, said: “Five-years ago Dennis Hackin, Chip Rosenbloom, and John Torres approached me about teaming up, to help develop a fresh approach to the 1980’s film. The result is a wonderful, madcap, crazy, love story with a whole lot of heart!”
Director Hunter Bird said: “Bronco Billy – The Musical is so much about identity. Rather than accepting the roles we’re given, we always have the ability to create our own realities, our own families, and our own identities.”
Dennis Hackin writer adds; “We’ve been on a real ride with Bronco Billy and can’t wait to continue our Journey in the UK”.
The musical is produced by Gary Grossman with Hartshorn – Hook Productions, who produced Amelie the Musical and The Immersive Great Gatsby in the West End, and current show The Choir of Man at the Arts Theatre.
Bronco Billy will play the Charing Cross Theatre from 23 January to 7 April 2024.
Book tickets to Bronco Billy at Charing Cross Theatre in London
