Twelfth Night-inspired musical Play On! will bring its UK tour to an end at the Lyric Hammersmith later this month.
From Black theatre company Talawa, the show is described as a joyous, musical retelling of Shakespeare’s beloved play brings to life the 1940s New York jazz scene, set to a timeless, toe-tapping Duke Ellington score.
In the Cotton Club, New York City, a young songwriter arrives ready to make her name – but disguising herself as a man will give her a better shot in a male-dominated music world. As she meets club impresario The Duke and sensational singer Lady Liv, Vy is swept up in a syncopated symphony of melodies, mistaken identities and romance.
Tsemaye Bob-Egbe (SIX The Musical) heads the cast as Viola, who sets forth to make a name for herself in the New York jazz scene, while Kori Hedgemon (Lovin’ Vegas) is Lady Liv, the star singer at The Cotton Club. The club’s world famous song writer The Duke is played by Earl Gregory (TINA: The Tina Turner Musical).
The cast also includes Llewellyn Jamal (TINA: The Tina Turner Musical) as Jester; Cameron Bernard Jones (Ain’t Too Proud) as Rev; Lifford Shillingford (Britain’s Got Talent) as Sweets; Tanya Edwards (Sister Act The Musical) as Miss Mary; and Gleanne Purcell-Brown (Living) as Ceecee.
The ensemble comprises Natalia Brown (Sister Act The Musical); Freya Karlettis (Sleeping Beauty); Amber Cayasso (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe); Jarnéia Richard-Noel (SIX The Musical); Andre Coulson (Five Guys Named Moe); Alex Okoampa (TINA: The Tina Turner Musical); Tanaka Bingwa (Free Your Mind); and Dylan Blake-Colbet in his stage debut.
The exciting jazz musical is conceived by Sheldon Epps, with a book by Cheryl L West. It is directed by Talawa’s artistic director Michael Buffong (A Kind of People); Kenrick Sandy is the choreographer; and Liam Godwin is the musical supervisor.
Play On! has toured Belgrade Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Bristol Old Vic, Liverpool Playhouse and Salisbury Playhouse since September last year, and now comes to the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from January 28–February 22. For tickets, lyric.co.uk/shows/play-on/.
Play On! is produced by Talawa Theatre Company and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, in partnership with J Clare Productions and Chuchu Nwagu Productions, with coproducers Birmingham Hippodrome; Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres; Lyric Hammersmith Theatre; and Wiltshire Creative, Salisbury.