Produced by John Stalker for Music & Lyrics Ltd, a new partnership of touring theatres that was launched with The King and I that originated at Leicester's Curve Theatre, High Society will travel to Dublin, Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Canterbury, Newcastle, Bradford, Northampton, Cheltehham, Southampton, Birmingham, Southend, Belfast, Nottingham, Sheffield, High Wycombe and Guildford, where the tour will conclude July 13.
High Society has music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Arthur Kopit and additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead. The musical is based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry and also based on the Turner Entertainment Co. motion picture "High Society," originally released in 1956.
In the show, wealthy socialite Tracy Lord is in the midst of planning a lavish summer wedding when her ex-husband Dexter Haven turns up to disrupt the proceedings in an attempt to win her back. A further twist arrives in the form of the charming reporter Mike Connor who falls instantly for Tracy, and she for him. As the day of the wedding draws closer, the bride has to decide which groom to choose.
The production stars Michael Praed as Dexter Haven, and the cast also includes Sophie Bould as Tracy Lord, Daniel Boys as Mike Connor, Keiron Crook as George Kittredge, Carolyn Pickles as Margaret Lord and Alex Young as Liz Imbrie. Further casting is to be announced.
The director is Anna Linstrum, set and costume designer is Francis O’ Connor, lighting designer is Chris Davey, sound designer is Ben Harrison and musical director is Michael Haslam. Producer John Stalker commented in a press statement, "The King and I was a tremendous success for Music & Lyrics and High Society is an excellent title for our second production. It is a beautiful musical that is remembered fondly from the 1956 film and from previous touring and West End productions. We are excited to have been invited to create this major revival and I know that Anna Linstrum and our exquisite creative team will give us a production destined to be extremely popular with audiences the length and breadth of the country."
Stalker further revealed that their next project will be a new production of Fiddler on the Roof, to be directed by Craig Revel Horwood with musical direction by Sarah Travis. A nationwide tour of the U.K. and Ireland launches in September 2013.
For further details including tour dates and to book tickets, visit www.highsocietymusical.com.
