Performances will begin March 31 at the Jermyn Street Theatre prior to an official opening April 2, for a run to April 18 only.
Jet Set Go!, a new musical set amongst an airline cabin crew, premiered at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as part of the Musical Theatre @ George Square season.
Evans will play Richard, a straight-acting gay steward. He was last seen onstage as Troy Bolton in High School Musical – Live on Stage at Hammersmith Apollo, and previously understudied the role of Fiyero in the West End production of Wicked and was in the original cast of Monty Python's Spamalot.
Evans will be joined onstage by John McManus (tours of Doctor Dolittle and Cats) as Ryan, his camp colleague; Laura Scott (Desperately Seeking Susan, Mary Poppins) as Nicola, their Liverpudlian leader; Danielle Corlass as new recruit Mel; Emily Sidonie as Puerto Rican seductress Julia; and Amy Coombes (U.K. tour of 42nd Street) as her Welsh colleague, Hayley. Up on the flight deck, Philip Riley (La Cage aux Folles) plays Jim, the arrogant Captain, and Tim Driesen (Never Forget, Joseph, Mamma Mia!, Rocky Horror Show) plays Paul, his First Officer.
According to press materials, the show takes a "a tongue-in-cheek look at the lives of those working in the skies" with a host of characters "including the Puerto Rican stewardess (and seductress) Julia, who has a lover in every country, and the idealistic Ryan, who longingly dreams of his perfect guy." The show has book and lyrics by Jake Brunger, music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary, and is directed and choreographed by Luke Sheppard. It was developed in collaboration with Take Note Theatre, the show's producers who are bringing it to London in association with Jermyn Street Theatre.
Brunger is a member of the Royal Court Theatre Young Writer's Programme, where his tutor is Leo Butler. His plays include Sam's Game and Racing with Dogs and Knives (both showcased in the Momentum Festival), The Engagement (Carlton TV Workshop) and Meat Market (in a reading at Hampstead Theatre Start Night). He has also written for the Bristol 24 Hour Plays: Red Bull Sessions, in association with Old Vic New Voices. He has previously written lyrics for Exhibitionists at the Wickham Theatre in Bristol and is currently assistant director on the U.K. tour of Calendar Girls.
Cleary studied composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was awarded the Wax Chandler's Prize for Composition. Her song "Christmas Without You" was shortlisted for the inaugural Notes for the Stage competition. She has composed music for productions of The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Wickham Theatre) and The Darkling Plain (Edinburgh Festival). She is currently a final year music student at Bristol University.
Sheppard founded Take Note Theatre and directed both the original production of Jet Set Go! and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Edinburgh Festival in 2008. He is Development Co-ordinator for Perfect Pitch and worked on their recent annual showcase at the Trafalgar Studios. He was assistant director to Sir Jonathan Miller on Hamlet at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol, and his directing credits include The Wonderful World of Dissocia and A Girl in a Car With a Man, both at Wickham Theatre.
To book tickets contact the box office at 020 7287 2875 or visit www.jetsetgolondon.co.uk.
