This new show from Shaun McKenna (Lord Of The Rings – A Musical Tale, Heidi Trilogy, The Forsyte Saga) and Guy Kitchenn (Give a Girl A Break, the Jack Cole Project, The Challenge, That Sinking Feeling) brings together gems from three decades of musical theatre collaboration.
They are songs about love, secrets, affairs, new beginnings and self-discovery – all the peaks and troughs of modern life. The witty, thought-provoking lyrics blend perfectly with the soaring, thrilling melodies.
McKenna and Kitchenn started writing together in the ‘90s following the extraordinary collaborative Mercury Theatre Workshop musical The Challenge. This show gathers their material into a brand-new format.
Some songs are from full-scale musicals, some are stand-alone or revue songs. The score offers a musical theatre sound crossing multiple genres.
The show is perfect for anyone who loves character driven musical theatre -whether they seek a hidden gem or the next big thing
Starring:
Colin Burnicle: The Book of Mormon (West End) , Tammy Faye (Almeida), The Play That Goes Wrong (West End and tour), Sleepless the Musical (Troubador Theatre Wembley) Big the Musical (Theatre Royal Plymouth, Bord Gais Dublin and West End) Elf the Musical (Theatre Royal Plymouth, The Lowry), Midnight (Union Theatre) and various pantomimes at York Theatre Royal, Colchester Mercury and Buxton Opera House.
Grace Galloway: Grace is an actor from Liverpool and is currently starring as Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone (London). She is also a Vocal and Performance Coach to professionals and aspiring performers at Mountview & Italia Conti
Jodie Jacobs: Hello Dolly(London Palladium), Into the Woods(Bridge Theatre) and Rock of Ages(Shaftesbury Theatre), for which she won a Broadway World Award for Best Supporting Actress. Most recently, she played the iconic role of ‘Golde’ in the multi award winning Regents Park Open Air Theatre version of Fiddler on the Roof and is about to head to Toronto to star in a brand new musical version of Karate Kid.
Stephen Lewis-Johnston: Back To The Future(Adelphi Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar(UK Tour), Yeast Nation(Southwark Playhouse)
with Guest Stars:
Kim Criswell: Kim is an American musical theatre performer whose long and varied career has taken her all over the world. After earning a BFA from Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, she began her career in New York on various Broadway stages, along with tours, regional, and Los Angeles productions. In 1992, she relocated to London, and has spent the ensuing years appearing not only in the West End, but in classical venues all across Europe and the rest of the world, starring in not only full productions but also concert versions of classic musicals and Broadway songbook concerts, all focusing on the musicals from the golden age of American musical theatre. Her notable shows include Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Wonderful Town, Candide, Cats, Kismet, The Sound of Music, and many others. Kim has also recorded more than 40 albums, mostly musical theatre themed, including 4 solo albums.
Michael Praed: Michael is a veteran performer with multiple starring roles in theatre on Tour, the West End and Broadway. He has starred in TV series, mini-series, and movies. He is delighted to make his debut here at the Crazy Coqs!
Musical Director & Pianist
Livi Van Warmelo
Double Bass
Eleanor Grant
Director
Sam Lupton
Sam Lupton is originally from Durham and trained at the Manchester School of Theatre.
Theatre credits as an actor include: ‘Colin/Lawrence’ in Grayson The Musical (Soho Theatre Walthamstow), ‘Dave Fishwick’ in Bank Of Dave The Musical (Curve and Lowry), ‘Del Boy’ in Only Fools and Horses (UK Tour), ‘Herbert Pocket’ in Great Expectations (Mercury Theatre Colchester), ‘Boq’ in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre, West End), ‘Seymour’ in Little Shop of Horrors (UK Tour, 2016), ‘Jamie’ in The Last Five Years (Bolton Albert Halls), ‘Princeton’ and ‘Rod’ in Avenue Q (UK Tour, 2012),
Television includes: ‘Robert Jenrick’ in This England (Sky Atlantic), as well as appearances on The Late Late Show (RTÉ) and Ireland: AM(TV3).
As a director: ‘How to Curse’ at London’s Etcetera Theatre, ‘Cards On The Table’ at Pleasance Edinburgh. He has also written and performed two one-man shows, Seance: Live and How to Be Dumped: A Sort of Magic Show, at venues in London and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
A member of The Magic Circle, Sam has recently designed illusions for Uncanny: I Know What I Saw (UK Tour, 2023–2024), Jack and the Beanstalk (Theatre Royal Stratford East, Christmas 2023), and Village Idiot (Theatre Royal Stratford East, 2023).
Instagram: @thesamlupton
Website: www.samlupton.com
