Today (29 August 2014), the producers of Once announce that Jill Winternitz will be continuing in the role of Girl opposite the previously announced Ronan Keating as Guy. Keating will be joining the Olivier award-winning musical on 17 November 2014, with press night on Tuesday 25 November 2014. Once is currently booking at the Phoenix Theatre to 4 July 2015.
Based on the much-loved Oscar-winning film, Once bursts onto the stage with a musical celebration of love, friendship and Irish music performed by cast of actor/musicians. A chance encounter between a girl and guy from different worlds but with a shared love of music and songwriting sparks a deep connection and a tender, unexpected romance.
Jill Winternitz studied at UCLA and the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia before training in the UK at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She made her West End debut starring as Baby inDirty Dancing at the Piccadilly Theatre and then on tour around the UK. Her other theatre credits include A Handful of Soil at the Drayton Theatre, The Seagull at the Moscow Art Theatre Schooland Sunday in the Park with George at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Her film credits includeThe Sorrows and The Replacement Child.
Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter and musician Ronan Keating launched his career as a member of Boyzone in 1993 and has subsequently enjoyed a hugely successful career as a solo recording artist. With Boyzone Keating has sold over 25 million records worldwide and as a solo artist 20 million. Before joining the cast of Once, Keating has returned to Australia for a fourth year as a judge on The X-Factor.
The West End production of Once opened in April 2013 went on to win the 2014 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music. In addition, Zrinka Cvitesic won the Best Actress in a Musical Olivier for her performance as Girl. Once offers audiences a unique opportunity by serving theatregoers Irish drinks from the on-stage bar both before the performance and during the interval. The Broadway production continues at the Bernard B Jacob’s Theatre. Later this year an Australian production will open at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne while the US tour continues. The original cast recording of Once is available via Masterworks Broadway, a label of Sony Masterworks - www.MasterworksBroadway.com
From the 17 November 2014 the Once London cast comprises Ronan Keating (Guy) and Jill Winternitz (Girl) together with Fiona Bruce (Baruška), Jamie Cameron (Emcee) Mark Carlisle (Da), Matthew Ganley (Švec), Mathew Hamper (Andrej), Daniel Healy (Eamon),Loren O’Dair (Reza), Miria Parvin (Ex-Girlfriend), Tim Prottey-Jones (Billy), and Jez Unwin(Bank Manager). Alternating the role of Girl’s young daughter Ivanka will be Pacha Busby,Rebecca Connolly, Tigan Hawes and Audrey Newman. David Hunter continues in the role of Guy until 15 November 2014.
Once has book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh. Based on the 2007 motion picture written and directed by John Carney, music and lyrics are by Academy Award® winning Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who, for Falling Slowly, won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Directed for the stage by John Tiffany, Once has scenic and costume designs by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Clive Goodwin, musical supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe and movement by Steven Hoggett. Once won the 2013 Grammy award for Best Musical Theatre album. The Martin Guitar Company is the proud sponsor ofOnce.
The Producers of the West End production are Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf and Michael Rose in association with New York Theatre Workshop.
