This new production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical will play at the Southwark Playhouse from the 1st April until the 7th May.
Final casting has been announced for the new London production of Arthur Laurents’ and Stephen Sondheim’s 1964 musical Anyone Can Whistle – playing at the Southwark Playhouse from April.
Joining the previously announced Alex Young (Amalia Balash in ‘She Loves Me’ at Sheffield Crucible and Young Sally in ‘Follies’ at the National Theatre) as the rich and greedy
Mayoress Cora Hoover Hooper will be Chrystine Symone as Nurse Fay Apple and Jordan Broatch as J Bowden Hapgood. They will be joined by Danny Lane as Comptroller Schub,
Samuel Clifford as Treasurer Cooley, Renan Teodoro as Chief of Police Magrueder, Nathan Taylor as Dr Detmold, Kathryn Akin as Mrs Schroeder, Marisha Morgan (She/Her) as Baby Joan
Teddy Hinde as John, Hana Ichijo as June,Shane Convery as George and Jensen Tudtud as Martin.
Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents’ 1964 musical is a political satire about conformity and the ostracisation of those considered ‘other’ in society. Set in a fictional town where the government controls everything, even the miracles, this fast paced and off-the-wall musical is as hilarious as it is subversive.
Talking about the background to the musical, Director for this production Matthew Rankcom said: “‘Anyone Can Whistle’ opened in the same season as Jerry Herman’s ‘Hello, Dolly!’, a more traditional Broadway musical with its high kicking chorus line and uplifting songs. It couldn’t have been more different and closed after just 12 previews and 9 performances! Arthur Laurents had wanted Barbra Streisand for the central role of Fay, but Sondheim was doubtful; while they dithered she was offered and grabbed the star-making lead in ‘Funny Girl’ (she would go on to record a couple of the ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ songs on her next album) and it instead marked the stage musical debut of Angela Lansbury, who would become a close friend and frequent collaborator of Sondheim. ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ may have been an early flop for Sondheim but, in looking at it for a contemporary audience, it feels current and daring in its treatment of gender norms and political corruption. There’s a reason this story has endured, and by embracing the joy and diversity of this incredible cast, I think audiences will be surprised at how much this show speaks to our 21st century society.”
The creative team behind this revival of the musical includes: Musical Director Natalie Pound, Choreographer Lisa Stevens, Orchestrations by Charlie Ingles, Original Orchestrations by Don Walker,
Set and Costume Designer Cory Shipp, Lighting Designer Alex Musgrave, Assistant Director Alex Conder. The show is produced by The Grey Area and Liam McIntosh Entertainment.
To book tickets for Anyone Can Whistle visit: https://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/the-large/anyone-can-whistle/