Final casting has been announced for the world premiere semi-staged concert of Jo – The Little Women Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 25 January 2026.
West End and Broadway star Kerry Ellis will play Marmee. Kerry is widely recognised as one of musical theatre’s leading ladies, having originated the role of Meat in We Will Rock You and made history as the first British Elphaba in Wicked. She won the 2008 Whatsonstage Award for Best Takeover in a Role and the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favourite Female Breakthrough Performance.
Her other West End credits include Grizabella in Cats, Nancy in Oliver!, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Misérables, Sara in Murder Ballad and Alice in Wonderland. In 2022, Kerry played Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Barbican to huge acclaim.
She joins the previously announced Christine Allado (Hamilton) as Jo March, Tracie Bennett (End of the Rainbow) as Aunt March, Eleanor Grant (Avatar LIVE) as Beth March, Chris Mann (The Phantom of the Opera) as Professor Bhaer, Kelly Mathieson (The Phantom of the Opera) as Meg March, Miyuki Miyagi (Beau the Musical) as Sallie Gardiner, Julian Ovenden (Bridgerton, The Crown) as Father, Sophie Pollono (I Love That For You) as Amy March, Yazdan Qafouri (The Kite Runner) as Fred Vaughn, Tobias Turley (Mamma Mia!) as Laurie, Liam Tamne (Prince of Egypt) as John Brooke, and Barry James (She Loves Me, Sweeney Todd) as Grandfather/Mr. Laurence.
The concert will feature a 27-piece orchestra and follows the release of a studio album recorded at Abbey Road Studios, produced by five-time GRAMMY nominee Nigel Wright and Dan Redfeld. The album is available on all major platforms.
Directed and choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter, Jo – The Little Women Musical has music by Dan Redfeld and book and lyrics by Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej. This bold new adaptation brings Louisa May Alcott’s classic story to life with a sweeping, timeless score.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
