American Molly Marie Walsh is to play the title role of Millie Dillmount alongside Russell Grant as the mysterious and sinister Mrs Meers in the Off West End premiere of the six-time Tony Award-winning tap dancing musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Thoroughly Modern Millie, with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan, based on the 1967 film of the same name, starring Julie Andrews, will play at Theatro Technis, 26 Crowndale Road, London NW1 from 1 - 25 October.
Press night is Tuesday October 7 at 7.30pm
Molly Marie Walsh played The Witch in Into the Woods and appeared in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels andForbidden Broadway in the US. In London she recently played Mrs. Crachit in Alan Menken’s A Christmas Carol at the Tabard and Katisha in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado at Battersea Barge.
The rest of the cast are: Poppy Teirney as Muzzy Van Hossmere (Svetlana, Chess, No 1 UK tour; Alexandra,The Witches of Eastwick, The Watermill); Graham Macduff as Trevor Graydon (Sir Lancelot, Spamalot, Playhouse Theatre; Jigger, Carousel, Savoy; Grand Hotel, Donmar Warehouse); Scott Royal as Jimmy Smoth (Annie, New Zealand tour); Katriona Perrett as Miss Dorothy; Carlos Mapano as Bun Foo; Prem Raias Ching Ho. Ensemble: Daisy Boyles Jordan Cunningham, Colin Kiyani, Sam Lathwood, Sophie Le Brun, Katie Monks, Ellie Self, Mark Williamson.
Thoroughly Modern Millie, set in the Roaring twenties flapper era, tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love – a thoroughly modern aim in 1922, when women were just entering the workforce. Millie soon begins to take delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by Mrs Meers, the leader of a white slavery ring in China. On its Broadway premiere in 202, it won six Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical at both award ceremonies.
Russell Grant says: “Once in a while a role comes along that you have secretly coveted. I started performing in theatre around 50 years ago and this is one of those roles - Mrs Meers! Amongst other recent offers on both stage and screen it was this role I had to get my hands on. Beatrice Lillie made the role so fabulous in the film and from the moment I saw her it was on my wish list of roles I always wanted to perform but was never likely to be offered - until now!”
Director Drew Baker, Costume Designer Andrew Cox, Musical Director Matt Ramplin, Set Designer Ben M Rogers, Choreographers Matt Wesley and Tom Gribby Executive Producer CJ de Mooi, Producer Shinead Byrne.
Entourage Productions was founded in 2014 by CJ de Mooi and Drew Baker to bring exciting and engaging theatre to stages in London and beyond. Their most recent production was the acclaimed musical Zanna Don’t! at the Landor Theatre. Entourage Productions is proud to present the UK fringe premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
