Full casting announced for The End of Longing starring Matthew Perry

Full casting has been announced for The End of Longing which is written by and stars Friends legend Matthew Perry.

Completing the company are Christina Cole (The Magistrate/The Lightening Play), Jennifer Mudge (Into The Woods/Dutchman) and Lloyd Owen (Good People/The Bodyguard).

Lindsay Posner directs with lighting by Lucy Carter and composition and sound by Isobel Waller-Bridge. 

Marking Perry's playwriting debut, The End of Longing opens at the West End's Playhouse Theatre on 11th February (previews from 2nd February) and runs until 14th May 2016. 

Hampstead's Good People confirms West End transfer starring Imelda Staunton & Lloyd Owen

It has been confirmed that Good People will transfer from the Hampstead Theatre to the Noel Coward Theatre. The production opens on Tuesday 15th April 2014 (previews from 10th April).

Good People will run in the West End for ten weeks, filling the gap between The Full Monty (which is closing early on Saturday 29th March) and Shakespeare in Love which premieres in July.

Jonathan Kent's production, about whether you can ever truly leave the place where you were born, made its UK premiere at Hampstead Theatre on 5th March starring Imelda Staunton and Lloyd Owen. The show originally premiered on Broadway, winning the New York Drama Desk Critic’s Circle Award for Best Play. 

Review: The Bodyguard at the Adelphi Theatre

The Bodyguard

Adelphi Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 4th December 2012 (Press Performance)

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Warner Bros film, this brand new musical of The Bodyguard, with book by Alex Dinelaris is unmissable. 

“Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a multitude of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits.” 

The show starts with a bang – literally. A loud gunshot caused immediate silence in the audience. The Bodyguard is an exciting show, with a storyline which is more gritty than your stereotypical, cheesy musical.

Sneak Peek at... The Bodyguard!

Exciting production images for the world premier of new musical The Bodyguard, which opens Wednesday 5th December 2012 at the Adelphi Theatre, have been released!

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Warner Bros. film, this brand new musical of The Bodyguard, with book by Alex Dinelaris opens at the Adelphi Theatre in December 2012. 

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a multitude of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, I’m Your Baby Tonight, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and one of the greatest hit songs of all time - I Will Always Love You.

The Bodyguard, A New Musical - what we know so far

So as most Theatre fans will know, a new musical is set to open at the Adelphi Theatre later this year... The Bodyguard. After much speculation about who would be playing the lead role of Rachel Marron (Alexandra Burke was rumored for a while) it was recently announced that American singer and actress Heather Headley who has won both Tony and Grammy Awards would be taking on the part. It was also announced that Lloyd Owen will be playing Frank. Heather Headley has made it clear that she isn't trying to just copy Whitney Houston. In a recent interview with the BBC she said:

“I didn’t want it before and especially not now after her passing. I want people to come in and say this is Heather’s version – this is Heather playing Rachel Marron and singing Whitney songs. I am always trying to find a way to make them my own but still acknowledge and keep the integrity of her music.”

All the songs from the original film will be in the musical. These include

• I Will Always Love You
• I Have Nothing
• I'm Every Woman
• Run To You
• Jesus Loved Me
• Queen Of The Night
• Saving All My Love

Some of Whitney's other hits will be included in the musical. These include

• So Emotional
• One Moment In Time
• I'm Your Baby Tonight
• How Will I Know
• I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Watch this video to hear a preview of Heather Headley singing 'So Emotional'.

Previews of the musical start at the Adelphi Theatre from the 6th November 2012. The show is currently booking until 27th April 2013. I'm looking forward to seeing how the film is adapted for the stage. People often moan about films being turned into musicals however I do not see the problem - what is the difference between turning a book into a musical and turning a film into a musical? Ghost, Legally Blonde and Billy Elliot are all examples that a story can be tweaked to fit the stage better and can give the audience a completely different experience from watching the film.

To find out more about The Bodyguard visit:

•  http://www.thebodyguardmusical.com/
• https://twitter.com/#!/TheBodyguardUK
• http://www.facebook.com/thebodyguardmusical