First Performance of Flashdance the Musical in the West End Canceled

By Mark Shenton
24 Sep 2010

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt
Photo by Catherine Ashmore

Due to technical issues, the first preview of Flashdance The Musical, which had been scheduled for Sept. 24 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, has been canceled.

Performances will now commence Sept. 25 at 7:30 PM. Victoria Hamilton-Barritt and Matt Willis lead the cast of Flashdance The Musical, which will officially open Oct. 14.

Also in the cast are Sarah Ingram (Hannah), Charlotte Harwood (Gloria), Hannah Levane (Keisha) and Twinnie-Lee Moore (Jazmin), with Brendan Cull, Russell Dixon, Sam Mackay, Ricky Rojas, Andrew Spillett and Robbie White, as well as Ivan Blackstock, Tyman Boatwright, Myles Brown, Joseph Conner, Natalie Edmunds, Nicholas Gilligan, Zoe Green, James Hall, Ben Harrold, Emily Hawgood, Kirby Huges, Sia Kiwa, Lindsay Shaw, Maria Swainson, Amy Thornton and Daniel Uppal.

The show, based on the 1983 Paramount Pictures film (screenplay by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhas, story by Tom Hedley), is written by Tom Hedley and Robert Cary. It features such songs as "Maniac," "Manhunt," "Gloria," "I Love Rock and Roll" and the Academy Award-winning title song from the film, "Flashdance – What a Feeling," as well as 14 new songs written specially for the musical by Robbie Roth (music) and Robert Cary and Roth (lyrics). It is directed by Nikolai Foster, with choreography by Arlene Phillips and orchestrations and musical supervision by Phil Edwards. The show is produced in the West End by Christopher Malcolm, David Ian, The Baruch-Viertel-Routh-Frankel Group and Transamerica.

Hamilton-Barritt, who created the role of Alex for the UK tour of the show, returns to play the 19-year-old welder by day and "flashdancer" by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy. Hamilton-Barritt was recently seen as Rizzo in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre; other West End credits include Mamma Mia!, Fame and Desperately Seeking Susan, as well as tours of Saturday Night Fever and West Side Story.

Willis, who joins her as Nick, was a founding member of the British pop rock band Busted, after which he embarked on a solo career, releasing the singles "Up All Night," "Hey Kid" and "Don't Let It Go to Waste" as well as a cover version of The Primitives' song "Crash" for the feature film "Mr. Bean's Holiday." He went on to win the 2006 ITV series of "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" and was seen as co-host of a subsequent series. He has also been a presenter of ITV2's coverage of the BRIT Awards. During his stage school training with Sylvia Young, he appeared on television in "The Bill," "Casualty" and "EastEnders."

To book tickets for the show, which is booking initially through Feb. 26, 2011, contact the box office on 020 7379 5399, or visit www.flashdancethemusical.com for more details.