As first reported by Playbill On-Line, an American actor, Aaron Lazar, has snagged the central role of Gabey. Lazar will play the role filled by Gene Kelly in the film version, a sailor who spends his leave in New York City searching for "Miss Turnstiles," a girl he saw in a subway ad. He has taken parts in the Broadway productions of Oklahoma! and Phantom of the Opera, two shows which, ironically, began life in London.

Also previously announced were Saturday Night Fever's Adam Garcia, as green seaman Chip, and Chicago's Caroline O’Connor, as brazen cab driver Hildy.

They are joined by Willard W. White (Workman 1), Timothy Howar (Ozzie), Helen Anker (Ivy Smith), Lucy Schaufer (Claire de Loone), Sylvia Syms (Madame Maude P. Dilly) Janine Duvitski (Lucy Schmeeler), Philip Ball (Announcer/Master of Ceremonies), and Greg Winter (Rajah Bimmy). 

In the ensemble are Stuart Dawes, Tom Dwyer, Bob J Harms, Nick Holmes, Stori James, James O'Connell, Darragh O'Leary, Craig Scott, Nick Searle, Tristan Temple. Liam Mikhail Wrate, Lucy Anderson, EJ Boyle, Chloë Campbell, Julia Hinchcliffe, Rebecca Lee, Jane McMurtrie, Jo Morris, Alexis Owen-Hobbs, Amy Ellen Richardson, Lorraine Stewart and Danielle Young. 

Jude Kelly will direct, with choreography by Stephen Mear. The cast also includes Helen Anker (Contact and The Beautiful and the Damned), Philip Ball, Lucy Schaufer and Greg Winter. The show opens March 5, and runs until April 19. For more information, call (0)20 7632 8300.