Apple Tree's Palmer Joins English National Opera's On the Town

By Andrew Gans
05 Mar 2007

Sean Palmer
Sean Palmer

Principal casting is now complete for the English National Opera's upcoming production of the classic Leonard Bernstein-Betty Comden-Adolph Green musical On the Town.

Sean Palmer, who can currently be seen on Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of The Apple Tree, will play Chip in the ENO production, which will begin its 20-performance run April 20 and continue through May 25. Other additions to the cast include Joshua Dallas and Ryan Molloy, who will portray, respectively, Gabey and Ozzie.

Directed by Jude Kelly with choreography by Stephen Mear, On the Town will also feature the previously announced Helen Anker (Ivy Smith), Rodney Clarke (Master of Ceremonies), Janine Duvitski (Lucy Schmeeler), Alison Jiear (Dolores Dolores), Caroline O'Connor (Hildy Esterhazy), Lucy Schaufer (Claire de Loone), Andrew Shore (Judge Pitkin) and June Whitfield (Madame Maude P. Dilly). (Graeme Danby will play the role of Judge Pitkin April 24 and May 17, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 25.)

The creative team also includes Simon Lee (conductor), Robert Jones (designs) and Mark Henderson (lighting design).

Sean Palmer has been seen on Broadway in The Apple Tree, Saturday Night Fever and Fosse; he also played Marcus in HBO's "Sex in the City." Joshua Dallas was seen at the Young Vic in The Enchanted Pig; his other stage credits include Once in a Lifetime, The Boyfriend and The Secret Garden. Ryan Molloy starred in the U.K. tour of Tonight's the Night and was seen in the West End in Jerry Springer The Opera and Taboo.

On the Town features music by Leonard Bernstein and a book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Based on an idea by Jerome Robbins, the musical love letter to Manhattan opened on Broadway at the Adelphi Theatre in December 1944. Directed by George Abbott with choreography by Robbins, the cast featured Sono Osato, Nancy Walker, Cris Alexander, John Battles, Robert Chisholm, Comden, Green, Ray Harrison and Susan Steell. The musical was revived on Broadway in 1971 and 1998. The 1949 film featured Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin, Vera-Ellen, Florence Bates, Alice Pearce and George Meader.

The English National Opera at the London Coliseum is located in London on St. Martin's Lane. For ticket information call 0870 145 0900 or visit www.eno.org.