DIRECT FROM LONDON’S WEST END THE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF THE ACCLAIMED NEW REVIVAL 42ND STREET
For Immediate Release
Contact: John Karastamatis, Sue Toth, Erin Nantais – Mirvish Productions
DEC 9, 2023 TO JAN 21, 2024 AT THE PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE
“UTTERLY FABULOUS… A TRIUMPH! CLASSIC TUNES SEND THE SOUL SOARING. If you want to feel the beat of the dancing feet, this really is the only show in town.” – The Telegraph
David Mirvish proudly presents the North American premiere of the big, bright, brand-spanking new production of “the original showbiz musical,” 42nd Street – direct from its recent smash run at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London.
42nd Street will play from December 9, 2023 to January 21, 2024 at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.
Tickets will go on sale Monday, July 24 at mirvish.com and through 1.800.416.3333.
42nd Street is a larger-than-life, massively entertaining celebration of musicals and the irrepressible spirit of Broadway, and a timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale combining tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, romance, and comedy.
The show is set in New York in 1932 where entertainment is an escape from the depths of the Great Depression but producing a Broadway show, never easy at the best of times, is riskier than ever. The stakes are high, but everyone wants to be in show business. 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 big-time director Julian Marsh and lands a spot in the chorus of Broadway’s newest show…and when the leading lady is injured, Peggy gets her shot at stardom.
Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent legendary 1933 film – which launched choreographer and filmmaker Busby Berkley’s groundbreaking style and established the backstage musical genre – 42nd Street was adapted into a stage musical in 1980, originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick with original direction and dances by Gower Champion.
With a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble and featuring a hit parade of classic toe-tapping songs – lyrics by Al Dubin and John Mercer, music by Harry Warren – including “We’re in the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and “I Only Have Eyes for You,” 42nd Street won the Tony Award for Best Musical and has become one of the most beloved musicals of all time.
This new revival of 42nd Street received rave reviews:
“A PERFECT PRODUCTION! It’s (forty) second to none.” – Daily Mail
“THIS MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!” – Arts Desk
“IRRESISTIBLY JOYOUS PRODUCTION! A sequin-studded riot.” – Time Out
“THIS DEPRESSION-ERA GEM IS PURE FEEL-GOOD ESCAPISM” – London Theatre
The Cast
The show arrives in Toronto with its acclaimed West End cast, which includes some of the UK’s biggest musical theatre names.
Ruthie Henshall stars as Broadway prima donna Dorothy Brock. In the last three decades Ruthie’s multi-award-winning career has seen her star in many of the most popular musicals, including Cats, Miss Saigon, Crazy For You, She Loves Me (Oliver Award Best Actress), Marguerite, Oliver!, A Chorus Line, Les Misérables, Billy Elliot and Chicago. Ruthie has also had tremendous success on Broadway. Previously in Toronto, she starred as Polly in the Canadian production of Crazy for You at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
Adam Garcia stars as demanding Broadway director Julian Marsh. Originally from Australia, Adam originated the role of Tony Manero in the world premiere stage musical adaptation of Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium in 1998, for which he was nominated for a Best Actor Olivier Award. His recording of “Night Fever” from that show reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart. He starred as Fiyero in the West End premiere production of Wicked, alongside Idina Menzel. For his role in the Chichester Festival production of Kiss Me, Kate, directed by Trevor Nunn, he was nominated for another Olivier Award. Other stage work includes Singin’ in the Rain and the stage adaptation of The Exorcist.
Josefina Gabrielle stars as playwright and producer Maggie Jones. A former ballet dancer, her musical theatre credits include Trevor Nunn’s celebrated revival of Oklahoma!, opposite Hugh Jackman, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination, both at the National Theatre and on Broadway; Nicholas Hytner’s acclaimed revival of Carousel, also at the National Theatre and in London’s West End; Fame, A Chorus Line, The Goodbye Girl, Sunday in the Park with George, Chicago, The Witches of Eastwick, Sweet Charity, The King and I, Merrily We Roll Along, Les Misérables and many other musicals and plays.
Nicole-Lily Baisden stars as naive ingenue Peggy Sawyer. This young actress has received critical and popular acclaim for starring as Nabalungi in the UK production of The Book of Mormon and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes at the Barbican in London and on tour throughout the UK.
Additional casting will be announced soon.
The Creative Team
Heading this new revival is director Jonathan Church, former artistic director of the Chichester Festival and one of the UK’s most renowned theatre makers and producers who most recently brought his international smash-hit production of Singin’ in the Rain to the Princess of Wales Theatre, where it enjoyed a sold-out run in September and October 2022.
The production is choreographed and designed by Olivier Award-winners Bill Deamer and Rob Jones, respectively. Lighting design is by Ben Cracknell and projection design by Jon Driscoll. Sound design by Ian Dickinson and Gareth Tucker. The musical supervisor and musical director is Jennifer Whyte and the orchestrations are by Larry Blank.