The stage adaptation, based on the novel by James Leo Herlihy which inspired the beloved triple Academy Award-winning 1969 film, starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman will open for previews at the Southwark Playhouse in April.
Casting has now been unveiled for the upcoming world stage premiere of Midnight Cowboy which includes a book by Bryony Lavery (writer of the Tony-nominated play Frozen) and a soundtrack by three-time Ivor Novello Award-winning composer Francis “Eg” White.
Running at the Southwark Playhouse from the 4th April until the 17th May, the cast is set to include: EastEnders star Max Bowden as Rico ‘Ratzo’ Rizzo, WhatsOnStage Award nominee Paul Jacob French (Grease, An Officer and a Gentleman, UK & Ireland tour; Annie!, UK tour; The Wizard of Oz) as Joe Buck and Tori Allen-Martin (BBC’s Here We Go & London Kills, Channel 4’s Pure) as Cass.
They will be joined by Elena Breschi (Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, UK Tour & The Other Palace; Kindertransport, Nottingham Playhouse) as Delores, Joanne Henry (Bridgerton, Netflix; West Side Story, West End & UK tour) as Grandma Sally, Nick Len (Wicked UK Tour; West End, Chess, West End) as Swing, Hollie-Ann Lowe (Burlesque The Musical, Manchester Opera House; Dirty Dancing, West End) as Swing, Dean Makowski-Clayton (Little Fiend, Phoenix Arts Club; Marie Curie, Charing Cross Theatre) as Student, Christian Maynard (Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible; & Juliet, West End) as Tombaby, Phoebe Roberts (Grease, UK tour; Annie!, UK Tour) as Chalkline Annie, Tim Rogers (An Officer and a Gentleman, UK & Ireland tour; West Side Story, UK tour) as Woodsy Niles, Rohan Tickell (Rock of Ages, West End; Phantom Of The Opera, West End & Australia) as Mr O’Daniel, Matthew White (Doctor Who (BBC) and The Night Manager (BBC) as Towny.
Joe Buck is a young man desperate to escape his dead-end past. Leaving everything behind, to seek wealth and glory in the big city, he meets a man just as lost as he is – Rico ‘Ratso’ Rizzo. The pair join forces, prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams, even if it means surrendering a part of themselves. But New York ain’t no dream – it’s a jungle and survival requires sacrifice…
The production is directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, with musical arrangements, orchestrations and musical supervision by Charlie Ingles, set and lighting design by Andrew Exeter, costume design by Sophia Pardon and sound design by Yvonne Gilbert. Musical direction is by Ellie Verkerk, associate direction and choreography by Libby Watts, associate set design by Natalia Alvarez, props supervision by Katie Balmforth, costume supervision by Josh Bamling, intimacy direction by Lucy Fennell and dialect coaching by Mary Howland.
To book tickets visit: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/midnight-cowboy/