Broadway song and dance musical 42nd Street is to receive a West End revival at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
The classic backstage musical comedy receives its first major West End revival since the highly successful 1984 production which launched the career of Catherine Zeta Jones.
The Olivier and Tony Award winning song and dance extravaganza features spectacular tap numbers and classic songs such as “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo,” “Dames,” “I Only Have Eyes For You” and of course “42nd Street.”
Based on a novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie, 42nd Street tells the story of a starry-eyed young dancer who leaves her small-town American home for the bright lights of Broadway. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, she takes over and becomes a star.
42nd Street has a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, choreography by Randy Skinner and will be directed by co-author Mark Bramble.
Mark Bramble said, “The original production had the look of a Warner Brothers black and white film. This time we’re doing an MGM Technicolor version of 42nd Street with additional songs and dances. The theme of the show speaks louder today than ever before: follow your bliss and with talent and hard work dreams can come true. I’m delighted that Linnit/Grade are bringing our song and dance extravaganza to the magnificent Theatre Royal Drury Lane.”
The show is produced by Michael Grade and Michael Linnit, the team behind the recent productions of Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close and Sweeney Todd with Emma Thompson at the London Coliseum.
42nd Street begins preview on 20 March 2017 with a gala performance on 4 April 2016 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
