RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage will make her West End debut as Miss Hedge in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Beginning October 18, Visage steps into the role of the schoolteacher in the musical about a young drag queen who overcomes prejudice to step into the spotlight.
“I am beyond thrilled to be making my West End debut in Everybody's Talking About Jamie! The reason I chose this show in particular is because of the very important message it tells. It is a great show with great music and talent but more importantly it's about love, truth and the tenacity of the human spirit! Also there is a huge bonus: I get to live in London, one of my favourite cities in the world! I can't wait to help audiences to fall in love with the show the way I did when I saw Everybody’s Talking About Jamie for the first time and understand why everyone REALLY IS talking about Jamie!”
The musical features music by The Feeling lead singer and songwriter Dan Gillespie Sells, and a book and lyrics by Tom MacRae.
Everybody's Talking About Jamie had its world premiere at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in 2017, which led to a concept album featuring vocals by Sells, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Betty Boo, and the Sheffield production's stars John McCrea (as Jamie New) and Josie Walker (as his mother Margaret).
The production was broadcast live in U.K. movie theatres in July 2018, and there are plans to screen this capture internationally this fall. There have also been reports of a film adaptation in the works.
Visage joins a cast including John McCrea (Jamie), Rebecca McKinnis (Margaret), Shobna Gulati (Ray), Lucie Shorthouse (Pritti Pasha), Lee Ross (Hugo/Loco Chanel), Alex Anstey (Laika Virgin), Luke Baker (Dean Paxton), Luke Bayer,Courtney Bowman (Fatimah), Marvyn Charles, Ken Christiansen (Jamie’s Dad), Jordan Cunningham (Sayid), Daniel Davids (Levi), James Gillan (Tray Sophisticay), Ryan Hughes (Mickey), Daniel Jacob (Sandra Bollock), Cherelle Jay, Jordan Laviniere (Cy), Harriet Payne (Bex), Chloe Pole, Shiv Rabheru, Lauran Rae (Becca) and Kirstie Skivington (Vicki).
