Drew McOnie’s stage adaptation of Oscar winning movie The Artist has revealed casting.
The show will have a world premiere at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 11 to 25 May 2024, and there is much talk about West End and Broadway transfers.
The show will star Broadway’s Robbie Fairchild (An American in Paris), playing Silent Era matinee idol George Valentin, the role played by Jean Dujardin in the movie that won him a Best Actor Oscar award.
Fairchild is an acclaimed dancer and actor, who was a principal dancer at New York City Ballet and became a Broadway star in musicals such as An American in Paris, which also transferred to London.
The Artist will also feature West End star Gary Wilmot (Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz) as studio boss Al Zimmer, and Briana Craig (Singing In the Rain, 42nd Street) as Peppy Miller, the role performed by Bérénice Bejo in the movie. Further casting is to be announced.
Drew McOnie, Artistic Director of The McOnie Company, said: “It is such an honour to be collaborating with these exceptional artists on this brand new production. The commitment and talent that pours from them is palpable and I’m so excited for audiences to fall head over heels in love with each of them for their bravery, honesty and heart.”
Robbie Fairchild said: “There are few moments in the life of a performer when you are given the opportunity to play a character that you instantly feel so connected to… that in the process of diving into them, you begin to understand yourself and your own life experiences more. The Artist is one of those moments for me, and my gratitude is very, very abundant.”
Gary Wilmot said: “It’s a great privilege to be a part of The Artist next year, I loved the film when I saw it in the packed cinema, and now that Drew McOnie’s got his hands on it, it’s going to go stratospheric. Truly honoured to be in the company of such talented people – the audiences are going to get a first-class show!”
Briana Craig said: “Working with Drew, this creative team and these artists, is such an honour. I’ve never experienced anything so collaborative or such genius in one space. As a child, I dreamed of doing work as special as this and now it’s a reality I feel incredibly lucky. Every day in the room I’m amazed at how we’re using theatre as a medium to create this innovative piece of art. Expect the unexpected!”
This stage version of the 2011 movie by Michel Hazanavicius is set in 1920s Hollywood, at the time when silent movies found their voice with the advent of talking pictures. In the show, dance and music dominate the story, with no words spoken until the talkies arrive.
The Artist is co-written for the theatre by Drew McOnie and writer Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies the Bone), with McOnie directing and choreographing. Plus Girl From the North Country composer Simon Hale is writing the music.
The creative team for the show includes music by Simon Hale (Girl From the North Country, Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical), set and costumes by Christopher Oram (Frozen), lighting design by ZoeSpurr (Good), sound design by Simon Baker (Matilda the Musical), video design by Ash J Woodward (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), puppetry design by Maia Kirkman-Richards (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) and casting by Will Burton CDG. The associate director/choreographer is Ebony Molina and the musical director is Chris Poon.
The show is produced by Theatre Royal Plymouth, The McOnie Company, Playful Productions, Bill Damaschke, Stephen and Nancy Gabriel and Underbelly.
News about The Artist first landed in November 2022, with the details about Theatre Royal Plymouth coming out in May this year.
This news first appeared in Deadline.
Drew McOnie is a busy man at the moment, with other shows including Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist – which played a few dates at the Lyric Theatre in London this month and looks set for an exciting future ; and Nutcracker coming to the Southbank in London this Autumn 2023, with Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet score reimagined for an on stage jazz band by multi-award winning jazz artist Cassie Kinoshi. He is also the choreographer on Timothy Sheader’s hit revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, that is currently on a big UK and Ireland tour.
Also on a roll at the moment is the Theatre Royal Plymouth, who are hosting the world premiere of The Artist. It was announced earlier this month that the venue will host the UK premiere of The Devil Wears Prada, the big new musical by Elton John, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, which is then coming to the West End’s Dominion Theatre in October 2024.
More about tickets to The Artist
The Artist cast portraits
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