The producers of the forthcoming West End production have confirmed that the show is "on track to open in 2013. All members of the original Broadway cast (Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen, and Larry Pressgrove), together with the director and choreographer who helmed the show’s 2008 Broadway run (Michael Berresse), have "confirmed their intention to reprise their roles for the London run subject to final scheduling."
In a statement Tony-nominated book writer (and co-star) Hunter Bell said, "If the stars align and schedules work out, we have our fingers crossed for the original Broadway company to take the West End by storm."
Producer Oliver Southgate added, "Everybody is working excruciatingly hard, with patience and faith that this is a thing that can and will happen, and it’s now paying off. Whilst our persistence to use this cast and director has made it difficult to open as soon as we might have liked, it’s that integrity that means we now have the thrilling opportunity to reunite these incredible creative minds, and ensure that [title of show] in London is the most authentic, resonant, and high-quality production it can be. West End audiences will certainly be rewarded for their patience."
An announcement of dates and ticket information for [title of show] in the West End is expected shortly.
The musical that, according to a fan-favorite song in the show, would rather be nine people's favorite thing than 100 people's ninth favorite thing, played its final performance at the Lyceum Theatre Oct. 12, 2008. Following runs at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2004 and the Vineyard Theatre in 2006, the entire original cast — including co-creators Jeff Bowen (score) and Hunter Bell (book) as well as co-stars Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff — made the leap to the Broadway stage. A Chorus Line's Michael Berresse, who helmed the acclaimed Off-Broadway run, also directed the Broadway version, which featured musical director-arranger Larry Pressgrove onstage playing the electric keyboard. The musical was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (Bell).
