New hit British musical SUNNY AFTERNOON today announced new members of the cast to start from April 6 2015. Originating cast members will be joined by Jason Baughan in the role of Eddie Kassner and Jo Servi as Gregory Piven.
Nominated for five Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, SUNNY AFTERNOON is currently booking until 24 October 2015, at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London.
Olivier-nominated John Dagliesh and George Maguire will continue to play Ray Davies and Dave Davies respectively alongside Ned Derrington as Pete Quaife and Adam Sopp as Mick Avory, who complete the band.
Full cast (from 6 April 2015): Carly Anderson, Jason Baughan, Philip Bird, John Dagleish, Ned Derrington, Lillie Flynn, Emily Goodenough, Elizabeth Hill, Vince Leigh, George Maguire, Amy Ross, Jo Servi, Adam Sopp, Dominic Tighe and Tam Williams.
Also joining the company, as understudies, will be Lia Given, Lloyd Gorman, Vicki Manser, Kay Milbourne, Ryan O’Donnell, Robbie White and Silas Wyatt-Barke
Fifty years ago, The Kinks were sitting at Number One in the UK charts with their fifth single ‘Tired of Waiting For You’. The band’s popularity has not faded since the 1960s, with crowds of all ages filling the Harold Pinter Theatre night after night.
Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola, Sunny Afternoon marks the 50th anniversary of the band’s rise to fame.
Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, new book by Joe Penhall, original story by Ray Davies, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether and choreography by Adam Cooper, opened at the Harold Pinter theatre on 28 October 2014. Lighting is by Rick Fisher, sound by Matt McKenzie and the Musical Supervisor and Musical Director is Elliott Ware.
The official cast recording album, produced by Ray Davies at his Konk studios, is released on BMG Chrysalis and is available to buy at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunny-Afternoon-The-Kinks/dp/B00NH8O7LU.
Sonia Friedman Productions commissioned Joe Penhall in 2011 to write the book based on Ray Davies’s original story. The company developed the production over the next four years, assembling the creative team and cast that presented Sunny Afternoon last year at Hampstead Theatre under the direction of Edward Hall, and now at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
Ray Davies is an influential and prolific rock musician and was co-founder and lead singer and songwriter for rock band The Kinks, and later a solo artist. He has an outstanding catalogue of hits from the earliest 1960s to the present day with estimated record sales in excess of 50 million. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television.
Photo: Kevin Cummins