It has been announced that Russell Grant will star as Mrs Meers in the UK fringe premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
With music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan, Thoroughly Modern Millie is based on the 1967 film of the same name starring Julie Andrews.
The production will run at Theatro Technis between 1st and 29th October 2014.
Russell said: “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!”
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 the win for Best Musical at both award ceremonies.
Following a successful stint on Strictly Come Dancing, Russell was invited by Andrew Lloyd Webber to star as the title role in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. The show marked his return to the Palladium after 34 years when he performed there alongside Tommy Steele in Hans Andersen.
Russell's other West End credits include: Slogger Williams in Tom Brown’s Schooldays (Cambridge), the Snake in Children of Eden (Prince of Wales) and Carlos in Midnight Tango (Phoenix Theatre). He also starred as Teen Angel in the 20th Anniversary production of Grease in which he performed a unique Latin dance mega-mix choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
Further casting to be announced.
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