The Bodyguard Musical

WINNER - BEST NEW MUSICAL:
The winners are announced for the 2013 Whatsonstage.com Awards

The winners were revealed tonight (Sunday 17 February) of the annual Whatsonstage.com Awards, the only major prize-giving for theatre voted for purely by the ticket-buying public.

Over 60,000 people took part in the voting for the 2013 Awards, which recognised the stage achievements of some of the biggest names in the worlds of theatre, film and music.

One of 2013's most closely fought categories, Best New Musical, went to screen-to-stage blockbuster The Bodyguard. Heather Headley, who plays Rachel Marron, the role originated by Whitney Houston in the 1992 film, led the cast of The Bodyguard in the rousing Awards Concert finale performance of "I Will Always Love You"/"I Wanna Dance with Somebody".

The Awards were announced at a star-studded concert ceremony, hosted by actor-comedians Mel Giedroyc and Rufus Hound at the West End's historic Palace Theatre. This year's Awards were held in aid of the charity InterAct, which provides disabled and disadvantaged young people with real opportunities to develop valuable life skills through drama and music workshops.

250,000 NEW TICKETS NOW ON SALE

FOR NEW WEST END HIT THE BODYGUARD

Thea Sharrock’s hit production of The Bodyguard, which opened in December last year, today announces the release of over 250,000 tickets for sale, taking booking at the Adelphi Theatre to 28 September 2013. Starring Heather Headley (to 10 August 2013) as Rachel Marron and Lloyd Owen (to 7 September 2013) as Frank Farmer and based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film, Sharrock’s production of this new musical has book by Alex Dinelaris.

The current cast performing alongside Headley and Owen are Debbie Kurup (Nicki Marron), Mark Letheren (The Stalker), Ray Shell (Bill Devaney), Nicolas Colicos (Tony Scibelli), Mark McKerracher (Herb Farmer), Sean Chapman (Sy Spector), David Page (Rory Fryman) and Oliver Le Sueur (Ray Court). They are joined by Luis Buddy, Caius Duncombe, Jayden Fowora Knight, Kwame Kandekore, Taylor Lockhart and Malakai Paul who will share the role of Fletcher, Rachel Marron’s young son.  Ensemble members are Nigel Barber, Jordan Darrell, Yasmin Harrison, Shanay Holmes, Holly James, Robert Jezek, Melissa Keyes, Gil Kolirin, Janet Kumah, Nicholas Maude, Richard Murphy, Gloria Onitiri, Ashley J Packer, Dharmesh Patel, Lucinda Shaw, Paul Smethurst, Charlotte Watts and James Wooldridge.

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 whole host of irresistible classics 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.

With designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Richard Brooker and video designs by Duncan McLean. Choreography is by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan with musical supervision by Mike Dixon. The Bodyguard is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

Tony and Grammy award-winning Heather Headley makes her West End stage debut as Rachel Marron.  Having originated the role of Nala in The Lion King on Broadway, Headley went on to play the title role in Aida for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her debut solo album, This is Who I Am, was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Her third studio album, Audience of One, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. In recent years she has worked extensively with Andrea Bocelli on his American and international tours and sung at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Lloyd Owen was last on stage in London playing leading roles in Loyalty at Hampstead Theatre and Blood and Gifts at the National Theatre. Previously his theatre credits include The York Realist for the Royal Court, Julius Caesar for the Young Vic, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  for the Almeida Theatre and The Way of the World for the Royal Exchange Theatre. On television Owen is best known for playing Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC’s long running drama Monarch of the Glen and Indiana Jones’ father Professor Henry Jones, Sr, in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. His other television credits include Ghost Squad, The Vice, Coupling, Wire in the Blood and Dead Gorgeous. His film credits include Apollo 18, Miss Potter, The Republic of Love, Between Dreams and the forthcoming Free Ride with Anna Paquin and Drea de Matteo.

Swarovski is the jewellery and crystal partner for The Bodyguard. Nadja Swarovski said: “Swarovski is thrilled to be supporting the stage production of The Bodyguard. Tim Hatley has created show-stopping costumes for Heather Headley’s portrayal of superstar Rachel Marron, bringing a modern and innovative approach to the designs.”

Listings Information

Dates:
until 28 September 2013

Address:
Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London WC2

Performance Schedule:
to 27 April 2013
Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3pm
Heather Headley is not scheduled to appear at the 3pm performances.

From 29 April 2013 - 28 September 2013
Monday – Thursday at 7.30pm
Friday at 5pm and 8.30pm
Saturday at 3pm and 7.30pm
Heather Headley is not scheduled to appear at the 3pm & 5pm performances.

Box Office:
0844 579 0094 (no booking fee)
Tickets for the new booking period can be purchased from 21 January

Ticket Prices:
£20 - £67.50 including £1 theatre restoration levy
No booking fee for tickets purchased directly from the Adelphi Theatre

Day Seats:
A limited number of £25 day seats will go on sale from the Box Office at 10am on the day of the performance

Website:
thebodyguardmusical.com (no booking fee)

SIX NOMINATIONS FOR THE BODYGUARD

The 2013 Whatsonstage.com Awards

The nominations have been announced for the 2013 Whatsonstage.com Awards - the only major UK theatre prize to be decided purely by the ticket-buying public.The shortlists have been drawn up based on submitions made by theatregoers throughout November. Over 50,000 nominations where received this year, making a new milestone for the awards as they enter their 13th year.

The Bodyguard, based on the 1980s film starring the late Whitney Houston (who passed away in February), leaps off the starting block with a total of six nominations. Though only officially premiered this week at the West End’s Adelphi Theatre, theatregoers have been nominating it in droves during its month-long preview period to propel it into contention for prime categories, including Best New Musical and Best Actress and Best Actor in a Musical for stars Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen, who play the parts taken on screen by Houston and Kevin Costner respectively. It also earns nods for Best Director (Thea Sharrock), Best Set Designer (Tim Hatley) and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical (Debbie Kurup).

TO VOTE CLICK HERE

Voting opens today (Friday 7 December) at 2pm and closes at midnight on 31 January. Winners will be revealed at the Awards Ceremony and Concert, hosted by comedians Rufus Hound and Mel Giedroyc, at the West End’s Palace Theatre on Sunday 17 February.

Last year more than 70,000 theatregoers voted for their favorites. The 2013 Whatsonstage.com Awards are held in aid of this year’s adopted charity InterAct, which provides disabled and disadvantaged young people with real opportunities to develop valuable life skills through drama and music workshops.

FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF NEW MUSICAL

Opening Autumn 2012 at The Adelphi Theatre

Joining the previously announced Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen in the new musical THE BODYGUARD, to be directed by Thea Sharrock, will be Debbie Kurup, Mark Letheren, Ray Shell, Nicolas Colicos, Mark McKerracher, Sean Chapman, David Page and Oliver Le Sueur. They are joined by Luis Buddy, Caius Duncombe, Jaydon Fowora Knight, Kwame Kandekore, Taylor Lockhart and Malakai Paul who will share the role of Fletcher, Rachel Marron's young son. Ensemble members are Nigel Barber, Jordan Darrell, Yasmin Harrison, Shanay Holmes, Holly James, Robert Jezek, Melissa Keyes, Gil Kolirin, Janet Kumah, Nicholas Maude, Richard Murphy, Gloria Onitiri, Ashley-Jordon Packer, Dharmesh Patel, Lucinda Shaw, Paul Smethurst, Charlotte Watts and James Wooldridge.

Based on Lawrence Kasdan's 1992 Warner Bros. film, this brand new musical of THE BODYGUARD, with book by Alex Dinelaris will open at the Adelphi Theatre in Autumn 2012. Previews begin on 6 November 2012, twenty years after the release of the Oscar nominated film. Press performances are 1 December at 7.30pm, 4 December at 7.30pm as well as opening night on 5 December at 7pm with reviews under embargo until 6 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 whole host of irresitable classics 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.

With designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Richard Brooker and video designs by Duncan McLean. Choreography is by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan with musical supervision by Mike Dixon. The Bodyguard is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

Tony and Grammy award-winning Heather Headley will make her West End stage debut as Rachel Marron. Having originated the role of Nala in The Lion King on Broadway, Headley went on to play the title role in Aida for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her debut solo album, This is Who I Am, was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Her third studio album, Audience of One, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. In recent years she has worked extensively with Andrea Bocelli on his American and international tours and sung at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Lloyd Owen was last on stage in London playing leading roles in Loyalty at Hampstead Theatre and Blood and Gifts at the National Theatre. Previously his theatre credits include The York Realist for the Royal Court, Julius Caesar for the Young Vic, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for the Almeida Theatre and The Way of the World for the Royal Exchange Theatre. On television Owen is best known for playing Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC's long running drama Monarch of the Glen and Indiana Jones' father Professor Henry Jones, Sr, in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. His other television credits include Ghost Squad, The Vice, Coupling, Wire in the Blood and Dead Gorgeous. His film credits include Apollo 18, Miss Potter, The Republic of Love, Between Dreams and the forthcoming Free Ride with Anna Paquin and Drea de Matteo.

Alternating the role of Rachel Marron’s young son Fletcher will be Luis Buddy (aged 11 from Ealing, London), Caius Duncombe (aged 11 from Shepherd’s Bush, London), Jaydon Fowora Knight (aged 11 from Lambeth, London), Kwame Kandekore (aged 9 from Leicester), Taylor Lockhart (aged 10 from Lower Earley, near Reading) and Malaki Paul (aged 10 from Edmonton, London).

Thea Sharrock’s production of Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys with Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths opened at the Savoy Theatre earlier this year, reuniting her with Griffiths who she directed in Equus both in the West End and on Broadway and in Heroes at the Wyndham’s Theatre. Her production of 13 completed a run at the National Theatre last year where she previously directed After The Dance for which she won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Revival, Happy Now? andThe Emperor Jones. Her other theatre credits include Cause Célèbre for the Old Vic and The Misanthrope at the Comedy Theatre. Sharrock was previously Artistic Director at the Southwark Playhouse (2001-2003) and the Gate Theatre (2004-2006).

Christmas Performance Schedule

Monday 24 December 2012 – no performance
Tuesday 25 December 2012 – no performance
Wednesday 26 December 2012 – 7.30pm
Thursday 27 December 2012 – 3pm & 7.30pm
Friday 28 December 2012 – 3pm & 7.30pm
Saturday 29 December 2012 – 3pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 30 December 2012 – no performance
Monday 31 December 2012 – 7.30pm
Tuesday 1 January 2013 – 7.30pm
Wednesday 2 January 2013 – 3pm & 7.30pm
Thursday 3 January 2013 – 3pm & 7.30pm
Friday 4 January 2013 – 7.30pm
Saturday 5 January 2013 - 3pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 6 January 2013 – no performance

Listings Information

Dates:
6 November 2012 - 27 April 2013 (first booking period)

Address:
Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London WC2

Performance Schedule:
Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3pm

Box Office:
0844 579 0094 (no booking fee)

Ticket Prices:
in previews £20 - £57.50 including £1 theatre restoration levy
then £20 - £67-50 including £1 theatre restoration levy
No booking fee for tickets purchased directly from the Adelphi Theatre

Day Seats:
A limited number of £25 day seats will go on sale from the Box Office at 10am on the day of the performance

Website:
thebodyguardmusical.com (no booking fee)

Thea Sharrock to Direct Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen in World Premiere of New Musical THE BODYGUARD

Opening Autumn 2012 at The Adelphi Theatre

Thea Sharrock is to direct THE BODYGUARD, a new musical opening at the Adelphi Theatre in Autumn 2012 based on the Warner Bros. film of the same name with screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan. Starring Heather Headley as Rachel Marron and Lloyd Owen as Frank Farmer in the roles made famous on film by the late Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, tickets for THE BODYGUARD go on sale today (1 May 2012) taking bookings until 27 April 2013 for the production's first booking period. Previews begin on 6 November 2012, twenty years after the release of the Oscar nominated film.

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 whole host of irresistible classics 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, How Will I Know, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and one of the greatest hit songs of all time - I Will Always Love You.

Book is by Alex Dinelaris, with designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Richard Brooker. Choreography is by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan and musical supervision by Mike Dixon. THE BODYGUARD is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

Tony and Grammy award-winning Heather Headley will make her West End stage debut as Rachel Marron. Having originated the role of Nala in The Lion King on Broadway, Headley went on to play the title role in Aida for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her debut solo album, This is Who I Am, was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Her third studio album, Audience of One, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. In recent years she has worked extensively with Andrea Bocelli on his American and international tours and sung at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Lloyd Owen was last on stage in London playing leading roles in Sarah Helm's Loyalty at Hampstead Theatre and J T Rogers Blood and Gifts at the National Theatre. Previously his theatre credits include The York Realist for the Royal Court, Julius Caesar for the Young Vic, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  for the Almeida Theatre and The Way of the World for the Royal Exchange Theatre. On television Owen is best known for playing Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC's long running drama Monarch of the Glen and Indiana Jones' father Professor Henry Jones, Sr, in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. His other television credits include Ghost Squad, The Vice, Coupling, Wire in the Blood and Dead Gorgeous. His film credits include Apollo 18, Miss Potter, The Republic of Love and Between Dreams and the forthcoming Free Ride with Anna Paquin and Drea de Matteo.

Thea Sharrock's production of 13 completed a run at the National Theatre last year where she previously directed After The Dance for which she won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Revival, Happy Now? and The Emperor Jones. Later this month Thea Sharrock's production of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys with Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths opens at the Savoy Theatre, reuniting her with Griffiths who she directed in Equus both in the West End and on Broadway and in Heroes at the Wyndham's Theatre. Her other theatre credits include Cause Célèbre for the Old Vic and The Misanthrope at the Comedy Theatre. Sharrock was previously Artistic Director at the Southwark Playhouse (2001-2003) and the Gate Theatre (2004-2006).

As well as The Bodyguard, Oscar nominated, Golden Bear and New York Film Critics award winner Lawrence Kasdan has written or co-written the films Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He has directed eleven films including Body Heat, The Big Chill, The Accidental Tourist, Grand Canyon and Dreamcatcher. Kasdan's new film, Darling Companion, based on a script by Meg Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan, has recently been released by Sony Pictures Classics.

Alex Dinelaris' plays include Still Life, produced by Manhattan Class Company and Red Dog Howls, with the New York Theatre Workshop. Dinelaris was nominated for two Drama Desk awards for his additional work on the book and lyrics for the musical Zanna Don't. His other plays include Folding The Monster, The Chaos Theories, In This Our Time, Pathetique and Big Kids. Film director Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu will directed Dinelaris' latest work.

Award-winning designer Tim Hatley's many theatre credits in London and on Broadway include Betty Blue Eyes, Shrek the Musical, Private Lives, Spamalot, Suddenly Last Summer, The Crucible, Endgame, and Another Country. For the National Theatre his work includes Timon of Athens, Welcome to Thebes, Rafta Rafta, Present Laughter, Henry V, Humble Boy, The Talking Cure, Vincent in Brixton and Stanley and for the Royal Shakespeare Company Richard III, Goodnight Children and Talk of the City. On film his credits include Stage Beauty, Closer and Notes on a Scandal.

Michael Harrison has produced Aspects of Love starring David Essex which transferred to the Jo'burg Civic Theatre, Jolson & Co starring Allan Stewart, The Witches of Eastwick starring Marti Pellow and Chess directed by Craig Revel Horwood which played at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto and on tour in the UK. This year he produced I Dreamed a Dream. He is also Managing Director of Qdos Pantomimes Ltd.

David Ian has produced theatre shows all over the world. His credits include Grease, Saturday Night Fever, The King and I, West Side Story, Singin' in the Rain, Anything Goes, The Producers, Guys and Dolls, The Sound of Music, La Cage Aux Folles, Sweet Charity, Flashdance, Gypsy, The Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Chess, Rocky Horror Show, Cats, Chicago, Doctor Dolittle and Starlight Express.

Listings Information

Dates:
6 November 2012 - 27 April 2013 (first booking period)

Address:
Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London WC2

Performance Schedule:
Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3pm

Box Office:
0844579 0094 (no booking fee)

Ticket Prices:
in previews £20 - £57.50 including £1 theatre restoration levy
then £20 - £67-50 including £1 theatre restoration levy
No booking fee for tickets purchased directly from the Adelphi Theatre

Day Seats:
A limited number of £25 day seats will go on sale from the Box Office at 10am on the day of the performance

Website:
thebodyguardmusical.com (no booking fee)