Casting announced for Curve and Sadler's Wells 42nd Street

David Ian for Crossroads Live and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions are pleased to announce that Olivier Award-winning actress Ruthie Henshall will star as Dorothy Brock, alongside Olivier-nominee Adam Garcia as Julian Marsh, stage and TV personality Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street at Curve, Leicester and Sadler’s Wells.

They will be joined by Sam Lips as Billy Lawlor, with Erica-Jayne Alden, George Beet, Charlie Bishop, Briana Craig, Ashleigh Graham, Alyn Hawke, Aimee Hodnett, Connor Hughes, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Ben Middleton, Benjamin Mundy, Anthony Ofoegbu and Jessica Wright. 

The production opens at Curve on Wednesday 17 May 2023, followed by a season at Sadler’s Wells, London from Wednesday 7 June 2023 before embarking on a UK tour. Further casting for the tour will be announced in due course. 42ndstreettour.com 

Ruthie Henshall recently appeared as Tosca in a reimagining of Sondheim’s Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre. Her extensive theatrical credits include Grizabella in Cats, Fantine in Les Miserables, Nancy in Oliver!, Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly and Mama Morton in Chicago, Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot and Amalia Balash in She Loves Me, for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Throughout her career she has also appeared in the original London productions of Miss Saigon, Children of Eden, Crazy for You, The Woman in White, Peggy Sue Got Married and Marguerite. Henshall also tours across the UK, USA and Australia as a concert performer, and previously appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! In 2020.

Adam Garcia’s theatre credits include The Artilleryman in The War of the Worlds, Damien Karras in The Exorcist, Fiyero in Wicked, and Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me, Kate and Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, both of which received Olivier Award nominations for his roles. His film credits include Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Coyote Ugly and Riding in Cars with Boys. Adam recently appeared as a finalist in the UK series of The Masked Dancer, finishing in second place.

Les Dennis most recently starred as Grandad Trotter in Only Fools and Horses The Musical. His other West End credits include Wilbur in Hairspray opposite Michael Ball at the London Coliseum, Amos Hart in Chicago and Bill in Me and My Girl. His touring theatre credits include Art, Legally Blonde, High School Musical 2 and Uncle Fester in the musical comedy The Addams Family. His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street and a fictional version of himself in Extras.

Nicole-Lily Baisden’s theatre credits include the role of Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, both in the West End and on tour, and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre and on tour.

Sam Lips’ theatre credits include the role of Don Lockwood in Singin’ In The Rain and Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom, both in the UK and Canada. His Broadway credits Cats, Chicago, Pippin, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Cher Show. 

This new production will be directed by Jonathan Church (Singin’ in the Rain, The Drifters Girl) with choreography and design by Olivier Award winners Bill Deamer and Rob Jones, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Ian Dickinson and Gareth Tucker, video design by Jon Driscoll, musical supervision by Jennifer Whyte and orchestrations by Larry Blank. 

This iconic song-and-dance spectacular features a hit parade of toe-tapping songs, including the title number, “We’re In The Money”, “Lullaby of Broadway”, “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” and “I Only Have Eyes For You”. 42nd Street is a timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale that combines breath-taking tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, classic romance and delightful comedy to dazzling effect. 

Fresh off the bus from small-town America, young and beautiful Peggy Sawyer arrives in New York City dreaming of her name in lights. She quickly catches the eye of a big-time director and lands a spot in the chorus line of Broadway’s newest show…and when the leading lady gets injured, Peggy gets her shot at stardom.

42nd Street is a larger-than-life, massively entertaining celebration of musicals and the irrepressible spirit of Broadway that’s guaranteed to lift anyone’s spirits. 

42nd Street has music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. Original direction and dances were by Gower Champion. The show was originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick.

The use of all songs is by arrangement with Warner Bros. and EMI Publishing Ltd.

Tickets for 42nd Street at Curve are on sale now. To find out more and book, visit www.curveonline.co.uk, call 0116 242 3595 or visit Curve’s Box Office in-person.