Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, directed by Sasha Regan, runs at London’s Union Theatre from 2 to 26 October 2019, with a press night on 8 October.
Based on Anita Loos’ best-selling 1925 novel of the same name, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is the delicious story of a platinum-crowned gold-digger from Little Rock, Arkansas and her escapades to find herself a rich man.
Lorelei Lee is a beautiful showgirl engaged to ‘sugar daddy’ Gus Esmond, much to the disapproval of Gus' rich father, who thinks Lorelei is just after his money. Lorelei and her best friend Dorothy Shaw embark for France on a cruise ship, aboard which the women attract many admirers. Who’ll end up with who?
The cast includes Abigayle Honeywill stars as Lorelei and Eleanor Lakin as Dorothy, with Freddie King, George Lennan and Aaron Bannister-Davies as would-be suitors as well as Maria Mosquera, Tom Murphy, Virge Gilchrist, Ashlee Young, Arran Bell, Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Florence Beaumont, Jasmine Davis, Jo Bird, Lewis Rimmer, Liam Dean, Patrick Cook and Stephen Loriot.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes has music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Leo Robin and a book by Joseph Fields and Anita Loos. Its songs include “It’s High Time”, “I’m Just a Little Girl from Little Rock”, “Sunshine”, “I’m A’Tingle, I’m A’Glow”, “You Say You Care”, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and the title number.
The new production is directed by Sasha Regan, with choreography by Zak Nemorin, musical direction by Henry Brennan, set design by Justin Williams and costumes by Penn O’Gara. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is produced by Sasha Regan for the Union, with associate producer Maison Kelley. Casting by Adam Braham.
The musical first opened on Broadway in 1949, making a star out of Carol Channing, and was famously made into the 1953 film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei Lee and Jane Russell as Dorothy Shaw.
