Casting has been announced for Violet the musical by Jeanine Tesori, and Brian Crawley which has its UK Premiere at Charing Cross Theatre in January 2019.
1964. Somewhere between North Carolina and Oklahoma, we find Violet, a young woman who was facially disfigured as a child. She hopes her life savings will bring her a miracle halfway across the country. Reflecting on her childhood, and shaped by the reactions of the people she encounters, Violet embarks on a life-changing personal journey.
Violet, based on the short story The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts, premiered Off-Broadway and won the Drama Critics’ Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award as Best Musical, before transferring to Broadway where it was nominated for four Tony awards.
Kaisa Hammarlund will play the title role of Violet. Kaisa has just played Alison Bechdel in the acclaimed UK premiere of Fun Home at the Young Vic. Her other major roles include Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity (Royal Exchange Theatre), Petra in A Little Night Music (Menier Chocolate Factory & Garrick Theatre), and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Nöjesteatern, Malmö Sweden).
Jay Marsh (Flick) was Schultz/1st cover John in Miss Saigon, Gregory Piven in Sunny Afternoon, Sammy Davis Jr in Christmas With The Rat Pack, 1st cover Porgy in Porgy & Bess (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Matthew Harvey will play Monty (Francis in Loserville, Union Theatre).
The cast also features Simbi Akande, Angelica Allen, Kenneth Avery-Clark, Keiron Crook, James Gant, Danny Michaels, Janet Mooney with Amy Mepham, Rebecca Nardin and Maddie Sellman as young Violet.
Violet is directed by Shuntaro Fujita, Choreography by Cressida Carré, Set Design by Morgan Large, Costumes by Jonathan Lipman, Lighting by Howard Hudson, Sound by Andrew Johnson, Musical Direction by Dan Jackson, Associate Music Director Chris Ma, Associate Director Abigail Pickard-Price and Production Supervisin by Thom Southerland.
Violet runs at Charing Cross Theatre from 14 January – 6 April 2019.
