The European premiere of Little Miss Sunshine at Arcola Theatre will star Olivier nominee Laura Pitt-Pulford as Sheryl, the matriarch of the eccentric Hoover family, Olivier award winner Gary Wilmot as Grandpa (the role that won Alan Arkin an Academy award), Gabriel Vick as Sheryl’s husband Richard, two-time Olivier nominee Paul Keating as Sheryl’s brother Frank and Sev Keoshgerian as Sheryl’s son Dwayne. The off-Broadway hit musical opens at the Arcola Theatre, London on 21 March 2019 running for a seven-week season before embarking on a UK tour. Further casting for the tour to be announced shortly.
The role of Olive will be shared by Sophie Hartley Booth, Evie Gibson and Lily Mae Denman.
Ian Carlyle is Larry/Buddy, Imelda Warren-Green is Linda/Miss California and Matthew McDonald is Joshua Rose/Kirby.
Completing the cast are the ‘Mean Girls’ who will be performed by Chloe Raphael, Ava Hurley, Ellicia Simondwood, Elodie Salmon, Summer Pelley, Ava Masters, Josselyn Ospina Escobar, Saffia Richards and Yvie Bent.
Based on the Academy Award-winning film by Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine is the off-beat musical comedy created by the Tony Award-winning team of James Lapine (who collaborated with Stephen Sondheim on Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George) and William Finn (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Falsettos). This new production is directed by Arcola’s Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen with design by David Woodhead, musical direction by Arlene McNaught, lighting design by Richard Williamson, sound design by Olly Steel, and choreography by Anthony Whiteman.
The Hoover family has more than a few troubles, but young Olive has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest. When an invitation to compete comes out of the blue, the Hoovers must pile into their rickety, yellow VW camper van. Can it survive the 800-mile trip from New Mexico to California – and more importantly, can they? This inventive and uplifting musical celebrates the quirks of every family, the potholes in every road, and the power of overcoming our differences.
The show runs from 21 March – Saturday 11 May 2019 at the Arcola Theatre, London then touring.
