Show Boat to open at the New London Theatre in April

Following its run at the Sheffield Crucible, it has been confirmed that Show Boat will transfer to the West End later this year.

The musical will open at the New London Theatre, following the closure of War Horse, on 25th April 2016 (previews from 9th April) for a run until 7th January 2017.

Directed by Daniel Evans, designs are by Lez Brotherston with choreography by Alistair David, musical supervision and direction by David White, lighting by David Hersey, sound by Paul Groothuis and video design by Tim Reid.

Last night the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reported that reprising their performances for the West End transfer will be Gina Beck (Wicked/Les Miserables) as Magnolia Hawks, Rebecca Trehearn (City Of Angels/Ghost) as Julie and Emmanuel Kojo (Scottsboro Boys) as Joe with further casting to be confirmed.

Show Boat has music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the novel Show Boat by Edna Ferber.

Evans said: “Show Boat is often thought to be the mother of all musicals. Hammerstein and Kern's score continues to blow audiences away, almost 90 years later. As well as being a riveting story, the piece’s themes of family and freedom still speak to us today in a profound way. I feel proud that the production we made in Sheffield will now get to travel further afield and be experienced by yet more audiences in the capital." 

Producer David Ian said: “I am absolutely thrilled, along with my co-producers Bob Bartner and Norman Tulchin, to be bringing Daniel’s ground breaking production of Show Boat to the West End. As soon as I saw the production in Sheffield there was no doubt in my mind that we absolutely had to bring Show Boat in to London, giving West End audiences the opportunity to see this brand new version of such an incredible musical.”