Jess Folley, George Maguire, Billie-Kay, Jess Qualter, More Cast in World Premiere of Burlesque Musical | Playbill

International News Jess Folley, George Maguire, Billie-Kay, Jess Qualter, More Cast in World Premiere of Burlesque Musical

Christina Aguilera will executive produce the musical based on her 2010 film with direction and choreography by Nick Winston.

Jess Folley, George Maguire, Billie-Kay, and Jess Qualter

Jess Folley—of The Voice and The X Factor: The Band fame—will play Ali Rose in Burlesque the Musical, the previously announced stage adaptation of Steven Antin’s film of the same name. Christina Aguilera, who is executive producing the new musical, played that role in the 2010 motion picture.

Folley said in a statement, “A year ago, I was lucky enough to have the chance to compose a song for the show and fortunately for me, Steven loved it! We had a couple of calls to get to know each other, and the next thing I know he had asked me to play Ali in the workshops and then the show itself. Since then, I’ve written a number of other songs, become part of the creative team and have totally fallen in love with this project. I’m beyond excited to be in the Burlesque family and can’t wait to open as Ali Rose in Manchester in June.”

As previously reported, the new musical will make its world premiere this summer at the Manchester Opera House, running June 13-29. Those performances have already sold out, and the production recently announced the musical will make its Scottish premiere at the Glasgow Theatre Royal September 11-28. Following Glasgow, the musical will return to the Manchester Opera House October 3-November 2 prior to a West End transfer with details to be announced. Tickets for the Glasgow run and the return Manchester engagement will go on sale January 26.

Directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, the newly announced cast will also feature Olivier winner George Maguire as Vince, Billie-Kay as Sophia, B Terry as Georgie, social media sensation Jess Qualter as Daphne, Yasmin Harrison as Brenda/Dance Captain, Lily Wang as Fifi, Hollie-Ann Lowe as Summer, and Alessia McDermott in the ensemble.

Burlesque the Musical has songs by Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Todrick Hall, and Folley. Antin penned the book with additional material by Kate Wetherhead.

The new musical follows Ali, who heads to the bright lights of New York in search of her long-lost mother and finds herself drawn into an underground world where the beat of the music and the heat of the dance moves will change her life forever.

Aguilera said in an earlier statement, "Burlesque was my first feature film—and creating the role of Ali along with co-writing the music was a part of my career that I will always cherish. I am so happy to be reunited with Steven, this time behind-the-scenes as an executive producer and contributing songwriter for our new stage version. Recreating Burlesque as a live theatre experience is something I always hoped would happen, and here we are!”

The production will also have set design by Soutra Gilmour, costume design by Ryan Dawson Laight, musical arrangements and orchestrations by Tom Curran, musical supervision by Phil Bateman, lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound design by Ben Harrison, casting by Harry Blumenau and associate casting by Sarah-Jane Price, hair and wig design by Carole Hancock, makeup design by Guy Common, musical direction by Chris Poon, associate choreography by creative co-producer Robin Antin, assistant direction and choreography by Ryan-Lee Seager, associate choreography by Libby Watts, costume supervision by Laura Rushton, assistant choreography by Tommy Franzen, dramaturgy by Sarah Day, orchestra fixing by David Gallagher, and production management by Lloyd Thomas.

Academy Award winner Cher co-starred in the Burlesque film, which followed Ali (Aguilera), who escaped hardship in a small town to follow her dreams to L.A. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, she lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club's proprietor and headliner. Ali then becomes a star performer at the club.

The soundtrack included "Something's Got a Hold on Me," "Welcome to Burlesque," "Tough Lover," "But I Am a Good Girl," "Guy What Takes His Time," "Express," "You Haven't Seen the Last Of Me," "Bound to You," "Show Me How You Burlesque," and "The Beautiful People."

Burlesque the Musical is produced by Adam Paulden and Jason Haigh-Ellery and Sue Gilad and Larry Rogowsky, Steven Antin, and Christina Aguilera.

The production is general managed by ADAMA Entertainment:

For ticket information visit BurlesquetheMusical.com.

 
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