Ria Jones—the understudy who stepped in for Glenn Close at short notice during last year's summer run of Sunset Boulevard at the London Coliseum for four performances—is to get a full run in the role. She will lead the company for a new production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton collaboration, premiering at Curve in Leicester beginning performances September 16 prior to an official opening September 28 of a run through September 30, to be followed by a national tour.
Curve artistic director Nikolai Foster will direct the tour, which is being produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian. In a press statement, Harrison and Ian have commented, “We are absolutely thrilled to be presenting this incredible show with Curve. Andrew Lloyd Webber's fabulous score and Don Black and Christopher Hampton's wonderful book and lyrics make this one of the all-time great musicals.”
Ria Jones, who has recently completed a run as Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, originally sang the role of Norma Desmond in the very first presentation of Sunset Boulevard at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s private Sydmonton Festival.
Curve have also announced that their Christmas musical will be a revival of Leslie Bricusse’s family show Scrooge, beginning performances November 18, prior to an official opening November 23, for a run through January 7, 2018.
Foster, who will again direct, has commented in a joint statement with the theatre’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford, “We are proud to present these two magnificent British musicals during 2017, cementing Curve's reputation as one of the UK’s leading producers of musical theatre. Sunset Boulevard is undoubtedly one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s finest scores and it will be the first time we have produced his work here at Curve. Strong female characters defined last year’s season and we are proud the astonishing Ria Jones will lead the Sunset company, continuing this tradition. Dickens’ astonishing hymn to humanity and the transformative power of charity over capitalism seems more relevant than ever and we are honored Leslie Bricusse has trusted us with his musical adaptation of this timeless story. As always, we are indebted to the Arts Council and Leicester City Council, but also to our co-producers, Michael Harrison and David Ian. Theatre must continue to evolve and find innovative ways to make the sums add up and we are honored to work with such an accomplished range of theatres and co-producing partners across this year.”
To book tickets, which go on general sale January 23, contact the box office on 0116 242 3595 or visit curveonline.co.uk
