Full casting for the UK tour of the acclaimed production of Funny Girl has been confirmed.
Opening at the Manchester Palace Theatre on the 18th February, it has been confirmed that Natasha J Barnes (Fanny Brice) and Darius Campbell (Nick Arnstein) will lead the cast when the production visits Stoke, Woking, Aberdeen, Canterbury, Glasgow, Nottingham, Norwich, Llandudno Wolverhampton and Plymouth.
Meanwhile, Sheridan Smith will also reprise her role as Fanny Brice with Chris Peluso as Nick Arnstein, who will perform with Smith in Manchester, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Southampton, Bradford, Southend, Cardiff and Dublin.
The cast is also set to include Nigel Barber (Florenz Ziegfeld), Zoë Ann Bown (Mrs. Meeker), Martin Callaghan (Mr. Keeney), Jennifer Harding (Emma), Rachel Izen (Mrs Brice), Joshua Lay (Eddie) and Myra Sands (Mrs. Strakosh); with Rhianne Alleyne, Kit Benjamin, Lloyd Davies, Flora Dawson, Joseph Dockree, Abigayle Honeywill, Brontë Lavine, David Mcintosh, Peter Nash, Gillian Parkhouse, Tom Partridge, Nova Skipp, Alexandra Waite-Roberts, Sam Wingfield and Alexandra Wright.
Funny Girl is directed by Michael Mayer and choreographed by Lynne Page. The creative team also includes set designs by Michael Pavelka and costume designs by Matthew Wright.
The musical features music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill with a book by Isobel Lennart from an original story by Miss Lennart.
The role of Fanny Brice brought global fame to Barbra Streisand 50 years ago, whose renditions of songs such as ‘People’ and ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ have become iconic in musical theatre history.
Natasha J Barnes is currently starring as Cinderella at the Palladium. As well as being understudy of Fanny Brice when Funny Girl in the West End, her other theatre credits include American Idiot (Arts Theatre), The Boy Who Fell Into a Book (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Chess (Union Theatre), Snow White (Old Vic Theatre and tour), Come Dancing, I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Lend Me a Tenor (Gielgud Theatre) and Spring Awakening (Lyric Hammersmith and Novello Theatre).
Meanwhile, Darius Campbell returns to play Nick Arnstein. His theatre work includes in the West End, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Gone with the Wind, and From Here to Eternity; Carmen (Europe and 02) and The History of the Big Bands (tour).
Funny Girl plays at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking from the 24th April until the 29th April. To book tickets visit ATG Tickets.