It will then embark on a U.K tour, beginning performances at Plymouth's Theatre Royal Oct. 1, before visiting Manchester, Dublin, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Cardiff, ending Dec. 6.

The production will be directed by Chichester's artistic director Jonathan Church, with choreography by Stephen Mear and designs by Robert Jones. Church is currently represented in the West End by the transfer of his Chichester production of Taken at Midnight (also designed by Jones), and he previously directed the Chichester production of Singin' in the Rain, which transferred to the West End and subsequently toured. Mear choreographed Chichester's production of Gypsy that is transferring to the West End in March.

The musical is based on the true romance between Hollywood legends Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand. Ball, who plays Mack Sennett, was last seen at Chichester in the title role of Sweeney Todd that subsequently transferred to the West End. He was also a co-producer of the West End transfer of Love Story from Chichester's Minerva Theatre. Other West End credits include Hairspray (Olivier Award), Les Misérables (original Marius), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Passion, Aspects of Love, The Woman in White and The Phantom of the Opera. He also has a successful recording and broadcasting career, and will be embarking on a U.K. concert tour in spring 2015.

Further casting is still to be announced. Further information, including booking dates and ticket prices, will be announced at the end of February, when full details of Chichester's 2015 season will also be revealed.

Visit cft.org.uk or contact the box office on 01243 781312 for more details.