Production photos are released today for the Tony Award-winning rock musical Passing Strange ahead of its European premiere at the Young Vic Theatre.
The hit Broadway show follows a young musician as he sets out on a musical odyssey, through 80s L.A, Amsterdam and Berlin. International film, TV and theatre director Liesl Tommy (Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, Tony nominated Eclipsed) directs this new production with book and lyrics by Stew, created in collaboration with and originally directed by Annie Dorsen, with music by Stew Stewart and Heidi Rodewald. The production is currently in previews with official opening night on Tuesday 21 May and it will run until Saturday 6 July.
You know, it’s weird when you wake up in the morning and realize that your entire adult life was based on a decision made by a teenager. A stoned teenager.
A young musician sets out on an electrifying musical odyssey to find himself and his place in the world, swapping his middle-class L.A. upbringing for punk rock and protest in 1980s Amsterdam and Berlin.
Olivier Award-winner Giles Terera (Hamilton, Othello, Blues for an Alabama Sky) plays Narrator; Keenan Munn-Francis (Black Dog, The Lion King, Thriller Live!) plays Youth; Rachel Adedeji (Dreaming Whilst Black, Hollyoaks, X-Factor) plays Mother; Renée Lamb (Six the Musical, Cake) plays Desi/Sherry/Renata; David Albury (Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Motown the Musical) plays Rev Jones/Terry/Christophe/Hugo; Caleb Roberts (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, I Think We Are Alone) plays Mr Franklin/Joop/Mr Venus; and Nadia Violet Johnson (School of Rock, The Outlaws) plays Edwina/Marianna/Sudabey.
The band is Ikechukwu Onwuagbu (Bass), JT Taylor (Drums) and Pete Billington (Keyboards/Guitar).
The creative team brings together Set and Costume Designer Ben Stones, Lighting Designer Richard Howell, Sound Designer Tom Gibbons, Video Designer Will Duke, Musical Supervisor and Additional Arrangements and Orchestrations Brandon Michael Nase, Choreographer Dickson Mbi, Wigs, Hair and Make Up Designer Suzanne Scotcher, Musical Director Jerome van den Berghe, Voice and Dialect Coach Hazel Holder, Casting Director Heather Basten CDG, Jerwood Assistant Director Tian Brown-Sampson, Jerwood Trainee Assistant Director Nathanael Campbell and Jerwood Assistant Choreographer Robia Brown.
This marks the European premiere of Passing Strange which took Broadway by storm in 2008, receiving seven Tony Award nominations, winning for Best Book of a Musical; seven Drama Desk Award nominations, winning for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music; and it was named winner of the Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.
