In the week that 42nd Street celebrates the 500th performance of its run, the producers have announced that Steph Parry is to now take the iconic role of Dorothy Brock in the show at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The actress shot to fame last week when she stepped up from understudy in one show to suddenly play the starring role in another musical playing down the road.
Steph’s casting in the star role is a rare case of life imitating art – 42nd Street tells the story of a young actress being given her shot at stardom after the leading lady is injured, and charts the understudy’s rise from showgirl to star.
Last week Steph was preparing for her understudy role in 42nd Street when she was called by the company manager of Mamma Mia, after the leading lady was forced off stage with an injury. Rather than see the audience sent home, Steph stepped into the shoes of the injured actress to ensure that the show did indeed go on.
Following this, Steph has now been awarded the starring role of Dorothy Brock, following in the footsteps of Lulu who has been playing the legendary diva in the five-star production. The role has also previously been taken by Sheena Easton. Steph’s first performance will be Monday 9th July.
42nd Street is playing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The production is directed by the show’s co-author Mark Bramble (whose other hit shows include Barnum, Treasure Island, The Three Musketeers The Grand Tour) and director of many award-winning previous productions of 42nd Street on Broadway and around the world.
