The new musical 42 Balloons, which will premiere in Manchester, England, this spring, has released the song "Lawn Chair Larry" alongside the complete cast and creative team.
Beginning performances at The Lowry, Salford April 18 ahead of a May 2 opening night, the musical will also release an EP of songs from the show March 8. The production is expected to run through May 19.
42 Balloons centers on a truck driver named Larry Walters, who uses a lawn chair and 42 helium-filled weather balloons to fly nearly 16,000 feet above Los Angeles. Set in 1982, the true story recounts how Larry and his partner Carol Van Deusen managed to convince their friends and family to help Larry achieve his dream.
Joining the previously announced Charlie McCullagh (Bonnie & Clyde, Dr. Zhivago) as Larry and Evelyn Hoskins (Waitress, Gypsy) as Carol will be Gillian Hardie (Kinky Boots, Blood Brothers) as Carol’s Mom, and Lejaun Sheppard (The Book of Mormon, Tina) as Ron with Simon Anthony (Guys & Dolls, White Christmas), Jordan Broatch (You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown), Maddison Bulleyment (SIX), Athena Collins (SIX), Morgan Gregory (Elf), Matt Jones (Pretty Woman), Luke Latchman (Sunset Boulevard), Rebekah Lowings (My Fair Lady), Jamie Pritchard (Les Misérables), Laura Dawn Pyatt (SIX), Tinovimbanashe Sibanda (Guys & Dolls), and Natasha Wilde.
42 Balloons features a book, music, and lyrics by Jack Godfrey. Said Godfrey upon announcing the world premiere, “I am so excited for the full production of 42 Balloons coming to the Lowry in April. It's been about six years since I started writing the show after discovering the incredible story of Larry's flight during a late night online deep dive, and it's extremely cool and slightly surreal to see it being realized as a full production for the first time. I'm extremely grateful for the amazing cast and creative team bringing the show to life, and I can't wait to share 42 Balloons with everyone.”
Ellie Coote (This is a Love Story) is the director and dramaturg, with orchestrations, arrangements, and musical supervision by Joe Beighton (SIX), choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento (How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying), scenic design by Milla Clarke (Mates in Chelsea), costume design by Natalie Pryce (VANYA), video design by Olivier and Tony winner Andrzej Goulding (Life of Pi), lighting design by Tony and Olivier nominee Bruno Poet (Tina – The Tina Turner Musical), sound design by Grammy and Tony nominee Paul Gatehouse (SIX), casting by Pearson Casting (SIX), and music direction by Flynn Sturgeon (Roles We’ll Never Play).
42 Balloons is produced by Andy Barnes and Wendy Barnes for Global Musicals, and Kevin McCollum in association with The Lowry, Debbie Hicks, Sam Levy, S&Co and Kenny Wax.
Visit 42Balloons.com.
