Jeff and Hunter, two self-confessed nobodies in New York, make a pact: they will write an original musical and submit it to the New York Musical Theatre Festival. The only catch? The deadline is in three weeks! They’re joined by their two actress friends, Susan and Heidi and their music director, Larry but they hit another roadblock… What should they write about? They decide it’s best to “write what you know,” and set off on a unique musical adventure: writing a musical about writing a musical. As the deadline looms, insecurities creep in and jealousies flare. Will the team succeed with their musical? Could it even win a Tony?!
Jamie Lambert and Eliza Jackson, CEO and Creative Director of Lambert Jackson Productions, today said: “We are so excited to bring this Tony Award-nominated show to the UK and stream it in partnership with the London Coliseum - what a phenomenal cast and creative team! We are determined to keep bringing theatre to audiences during this very scary and difficult time, and our streamed projects have had such a wonderful impact throughout 2020 that we want to carry on producing them for audiences across the world.”
Tickets for the streamed performances are available at https://londoncoliseum.org/whats-on/title-of-show/
Marc Elliott plays Jeff. His previous theatre credits include City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse, Garrick Theatre), The Girl on the Train (Duke of York’s Theatre), Macbeth (Sam Wanamker Playhouse), Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse), The Big I Am, Othello, Paint Your Wagon (Liverpool Everyman), Into the Woods (Manchester Royal Exchange), Urinetown (The Other Palace, Apollo Theatre), NT50 (National Theatre), Tape (Trafalgar Studios), The History Boys (National Theatre, Wyndham’s Theatre), and Lord of the Flies, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar (RSC). For television, his credits include Syed Masood in EastEnders, The Invisibles, M.I. High, Lewis, and Mile High.
Tyrone Huntley plays Hunter. His previous theatre credits include The View Upstairs (Soho Theatre), Leave to Remain (Lyric Hammersmith), 21 Chump Street (Courtyard Theatre), Homos, Or Everyone in America (Finborough Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Watermill Theatre – Ian Charleson Award nomination), Angry (Southwark Playhouse), Dreamgirls (Savoy Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, Evening Standard Theatre Award for Emerging Talent), Memphis (Shaftesbury Theatre), Porgy and Bess (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Hairspray (Leicester Curve), and The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre).
Lucie Jones plays Martha. Her previous theatre credits include Waitress (Adelphi Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Lyceum Theatre), Girlfriends (Bishopsgate Institute), Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer (UK tour), RENT The Musical (The Other Palace, UK tour), American Psycho (Almeida Theatre), We Will Rock You, Ghost: The Musical (international tour), The Prodigals (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), and Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre).
Jenna Russell plays Susan. Her previous theatre credits for the Menier Chocolate Factory include include Merrily We Roll Along (also Harold Pinter Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical) and Sunday in the Park With George (Wyndham’s Theatre – Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical; and Studio 54, Roundabout Theater Company – Drama League Award, and Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations for Leading Actress in a Musical) and The Bridges of Madison County. Other theatre work includes Fun Home (Young Vic), Doctor Faustus(Duke of York’s Theatre), Grey Gardens (Southwark Playhouse), Peter Pan the Musical (Royal Festival Hall), Songs for a New World (St James’ Theatre), Di and Viv and Rose (Vaudeville Theatre), Urinetown (St James’ Theatre and Apollo Theatre), Soho Cinders (Soho Theatre), That Day We Sang (MIF), Season’s Greetings (National Theatre),Amy’s View (Garrick Theatre), and Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical). For television, her work includes as series regular Michelle Fowler in EastEnders, Call the Midwife, The Ladies Paradise, Better Class of Person and Born and Bred; and for film, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, Mortdecai, Scared Hearts and The Fear.
Ben Ferguson plays Larry (The Musical Director). His recent Theatre credits include: Groundhog Day, Les Misérables (Wermland Opera), Adding Machine: A Musical (Finborough Theatre, OffWestEnd.com finalist for ‘Best Musical Direction’), Honeymoon In Vegas (London Palladium), A Night At The Oscars (Upstairs At The Gatehouse/Radlett Centre), Holy Crap! (King’s Head Theatre, also arrangements and orchestrations), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Wilton’s Music Hall), Heart of Winter (Tristan Bates Theatre), Strålande, Miss Foster! (Smålands Musik och Teater, Sweden), West Side Story, Ragtime, Bishopsgate Christmas Cracker (Bishopsgate Institute) Company (Royal Academy of Music), Urinetown (Mountview Academy) and The Pajama Game (Urdang Academy). For television, his work includes Friday Night Is Music Night - Christmas Special.
Josh Seymour directs. He was the Runner-Up for the RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award in 2018, and was Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar Warehouse from 2014-15. His previous directing credits for the stage include Musik (Assembly Rooms Edinburgh, Leicester Square Theatre), Adding Machine: A Musical (Finborough Theatre), Loserville (Stafford Gatehouse), and One Arm (Southwark Playhouse). As an Associate Director, his credits include A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic), Follies (National Theatre), Red (Wyndham’s Theatre), Beautiful – The Carol King Musical (Aldywch Theatre), and My Night with Reg (Apollo Theatre).
