It's déjà vu all over again. Groundhog Day is heading back to the Old Vic Theatre after making its world premiere at the London venue in 2016. The encore run will begin May 20, 2023, with opening night set for June 8. The 12-week limited engagement will continue through August 12.
Appropriately, much will be the same for this stage return; Old Vic Artistic Director Matthew Warchus is back at the helm and has brought with him his original star, Andy Karl, who won an Olivier Award and earned a Tony nomination for his performance in the world premiere and Broadway bows of the musical.
Not returning for the revival, however, is choreographer Peter Darling. The encore London run will be choreographed by Lizzi Gee, who previously provided steps for Warchus' A Christmas Carol in London and on Broadway.
The musical follows TV weatherman Phil Connors as he's stuck in small-town America reliving the same day over and over again. As he gets to know associate TV producer Rita Hanson for the first time repeatedly, he realizes it’s an opportunity for second, third, and fourth chances.
With a score by Tim Minchin (Matilda) and a book by the film's original co-screenwriter Danny Rubin, the musical was well received both in London and New York. The world premiere took Oliviers for Best New Musical and Best Leading Actor (for Karl), and the Broadway transfer saw seven Tony nominations including Best Musical. Despite positive reviews, the show played a fairly brief 176-performance run on the Main Stem, but has nevertheless remained a cult favorite. A national tour that was to follow the Broadway run, however, never materialized; the upcoming London run will be the first time the original production has been seen since the 2017 Broadway closing.
Back on the creative team from the 2016 world premiere are music supervisor and orchestrator Christopher Nightingale, music director Alan Berry, scenic and costume designer Rob Howell, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, sound designer Simon Baker, illusion designer Paul Kieve, and video designer Andrzej Goulding with additional movement by Finn Caldwell. Casting is by Will Burton for GBC, with voice by Charlie Hughes D'Aeth and dialect by Penny Dyer.
For a full schedule and tickets, visit OldVicTheatre.com.
