Freaky Friday, based on the novel and films of the same name, made its U.K. stage premiere beginning November 27 at HOME Manchester, and Playbill has an up-close-and-personal look at the production, both onstage and in rehearsals.
Directed by Andy Fickman (Heathers the Musical), performances are scheduled through December 31. Based on the 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and the film adaptations it inspired, Freaky Friday features a book by Bridget Carpenter and a score by Next to Normal's Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey.
The musical follows an overworked mother and her teenage daughter, who magically swap bodies and have just one day to put things right again. By spending a day in each other's shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another's struggles and learn self-acceptance.
Take a look at the production onstage in the gallery below
Katherine Pearson and company of Freaky Friday
Tori Scott in Freaky Friday
Company of Freaky Friday
Company of Freaky Friday
Samantha Ho, Jena Pandya, and Beth Savill in Freaky Friday
Rebecca Lock, Jena Panyda, and company of Freaky Friday
Rebecca Lock and Jena Panyda in Freaky Friday
Max Mirza and company of Freaky Friday
Max Mirza and company of Freaky Friday
Jackson Waites and Max Mirza in Freaky Friday
Jessica Butterworth in Freaky Friday
Jena Pandya and Rebecca Lock in Freaky Friday
Jena Pandya in Freaky Friday
Jena Pandya in Freaky Friday
Jena Pandya in Freaky Friday
Jena Panday and Jessica Butterworth in Freaky Friday
James Stirling and Catherin Millson in Freaky Friday
The Manchester production stars Rebecca Lock (Here and Now; Heathers the Musical) as Katherine, and Jena Pandya as Ellie (Come Fall In Love; Bhangra Nation). They are joined by Ian Virgo (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Mike, Samantha Ho (Cabaret) as Gretchen, Beth Savill (Hamlet) as Hannah, Jessica Butterworth as Savannah, Ellie Gilbert-Grey as Laurel, Max Mirza (Clueless the Musical) as Adam, Morgan Gregory (The Lightning Thief) as Parker, Dylan Gordon-Jones (Back to the Future) as Wells, Waylon Jacobs (Hamilton) as Dr Ehrin, Tori Scott (The Cher Show) as Torrey, Katharine Pearson (Heathers the Musical) as Danielle, James Stirling (The Three Musketeers) as Grampa Jo, and Catherine Millsom (Sister Act) as Grandma Helene. Ghaith Saleh and Jackson Waites share the role of Fletcher.
The musical was first developed through Disney Theatrical Productions and premiered at Virginia's Signature Theatre in 2016. A TV presentation of the musical adaptation followed in 2018.
Presented by Paul Taylor-Mills (The Lightning Thief; Heathers The Musical), this Manchester creative team includes music supervisor and arranger Will Parker (Undertale), musical director George Strickland (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), choreographer Alexzandra Sarmiento (42 Balloons) with associate choreographer Sam Wilson-Freeman (&Juliet), set and costume designer David Shields (Heathers the Musical), lighting designer Nick Richings (La Cage aux Folles), and sound designer Alistair Penman (Nerds). The associate director is Ben Johnson (Nerds The Musical), and associate costume designer is Rueben Speed (Halls The Musical).
For ticket information click here.
Take a look at the production in rehearsals in the gallery below
Catherine Millsom, James Stirling, and Waylon Jacobs
Max Mirza
Jenna Pandya and Jackson Waites
Company of Freaky Friday The Musical
Ghaith Saleh and Max Mirza
Sam Ho, Beth Savil, Jenna Pandya, and Jessica Butterworth
Company of Freaky Friday The Musical
Rebecca Lock and company of Freaky Friday The Musical
Sam Ho, Beth Savil, and Jena Pandya
Dylan Gordon Jones and Katherine Pearson
James Stirling and Catherine Millsom
Katherine Pearson, Rebecca Lock, Tori Scott, and Dylan Gordon Jones
Ellie Gilbert Gry, Jena Pandya, Sam Ho, and Morgan Gregory
Jena Pandya and Rebecca Lock
Ellie Gilbert, Grey Morgan Gregory, and Dylan Gordon Jones
