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Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway

Official opening night will be held on September 29 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

By: Sep. 11, 2024
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The Hills of California will begin previews on Broadway tonight, Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Meet the cast below!

Following their production of The Ferryman, Tony-winning Playwright Jez Butterworth and Oscar and Tony-winning Director Sam Mendes reunite for The Hills of California- coming to Broadway this fall. 

The cast will feature the play’s acclaimed leading London cast members on the Broadway stage – Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee Laura Donnelly as Joan/Veronica; Leanne Best as Gloria; Ophelia Lovibond as Ruby; Helena Wilson as Jill; Nancy Allsop as Young Gloria; Sophia Ally as Young Ruby; Lara McDonnell as Young Joan; and Nicola Turner as Young Jill.

In the sweltering heat of a 1970s summer, the Webb sisters return to their childhood home in Blackpool, an English seaside town, where their mother Veronica lies dying upstairs. Gloria and Ruby now have families of their own. Jill never left. And Joan? No one’s heard from her in twenty years… but Jill insists that their mother’s favorite won’t let them down this time.

The run-down Sea View Guest House is haunted by bittersweet memories of amusement park rides and overdue bills. Back in the 1950s, each night the four young sisters rehearse their singing act, managed by their fiercely loving single mom. But when a record producer offers a shot at fame and a chance to escape, it will cost them all dearly. 

Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageLaura Donnelly - Joan

Laura Donnelly is an Olivier Award-winning and Tony nominated actress who will reprise her leading role in The Hills of California written by Jez Butterworth and directed by Sam Mendes where she received a second nomination for Best Actress at the Olivier Awards this year. Other stage highlights include the Tony and Olivier Award-winning play The Ferryman written by Jez Butterworth and directed by Sam Mendes and The River on Broadway co-starring Hugh Jackman. Screen credits include HBO’s “The Nevers,” Starz’s “Outlander,” and Marvel’s “Werewolf By Night” alongside Gael Garcia Bernal.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageLeanne Best - Gloria

Select theatre credits: The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre, West End); Sweat (Donmar/Gielgud); The Human Voice (Gate Theatre); Educating Rita, The Hypochondriac, Fleet Street Nativity, The Way Home, Macbeth (Liverpool Everyman); The Matchbox (Liverpool Everyman/Tricycle Theatre); Damned by Despair (National Theatre); A Streetcar Named Desire, The May Queen, Our Country’s Good (Liverpool Playhouse). Select television credits: Insomnia, The Bay, G’Wed, Ted Lasso, A Town Called Malice, The Walk In, Compulsion, Close To Me, Harm, Young Wallander, Carnival Row, Tin Star, Cold Feet, Babs, Good Karma Hospital, Black Mirror, Home Fires, Lucan, Ripper Street. Select film credits: Raging Grace, Bolan’s Shoes, Black Dog, Harm, Little Joe, The Infiltrator, Native, Cotton Wool, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageOphelia Lovibond - Ruby

Theatre Includes: The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre); The Libertine (Haymarket); Nightfall (Bridge Theatre); The Effect (Sheffield Crucible); The Stepmother (Chichester Festival Theatre). Television Includes: “Hooten and the Lady,” “Trying,” “Mr. Sloane,” “Inside No. 9,” “FM,” “Minx,” “Partygate,” “This England,” “Trying,” “Roadkill,” “Feel Good,” “Elementary,” “W1A.” Film includes: Nowhere Boy, London Boulevard, A Single Shot, Here, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, Rocketman, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Man Up, Guardians of the Galaxy, Mr Popper’s Penguins, No Strings Attached.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  Image Helena Wilson - Jill

Theatre: The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre, West End); Linck and Mülhahn (Hampstead Theatre); Jack Absolute Flies Again (National Theatre); White Noise (Bridge Theatre); The Deep Blue Sea (Chichester Festival Theatre); Measure for Measure (Donmar Warehouse – Ian Charleson Award Commendation); The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Donmar). After graduating Oxford University in 2016, Helena played Bolette in Kwame Kwei-Armah’s production of Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea at the Donmar. That same year, she made her stage debut as Ophelia in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, directed by David Leveaux at the Old Vic.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageNancy Allsop - Young Gloria

Theatre includes: The Hills Of California (Harold Pinter Theatre, West End); The Fever Syndrome (Hampstead Theatre); God Bless the Child (Royal Court Theatre); Annie (Piccadilly Theatre, West End); The Sound of Music (International Tour); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Manchester Cathedral).Television includes “Young Wallander” (Netflix).


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageSophia Ally - Young Ruby

Training: The Brit School, Ariel Drama Academy, Redhurst School of Dance. Theatre: The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre; West End), Far Away (Donmar Warehouse), Matilda the Musical (RSC), The Ferryman (Royal Court Theatre & Gielgud Theatre; West End), Sunset at The Villa Thalia (National Theatre), Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs (Chequer Mead). Film: A Modest Defeat, The Current War, My Zoe, Be Good (Latitude Film Festival 2019 Gold Award - Lead Actor), Artefact, The Writing Box. TV: “The Marlow Murder Club,” “The Peripheral,” “The Salisbury Poisonings,” “Curfew.” Audio Book: Below (Audible).


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageLara McDonnell - Young Joan

Lara’s feature credits include the Academy Award-winning Belfast, written and directed by Kenneth Branagh for Focus Features/Universal; Artemis Fowl, also directed by Kenneth Branagh, for Disney; Greatest Days for Elysian Films; Visitation (Blinder Films); The Delinquent Season (Parallel Films) and Love, Rosie (Canyon Creek/Constantin Films). Television includes “The Last Bus” (Wildseed/Netflix), “The Holiday” (Chalkboard), “Ballistic” (Automatik Entertainment/New Regency) and “To Walk Invisible,” written and directed by Sally Wainwright for BBC. Stage work includes the title role in Matilda for the RSC/West End and The Hills of California in the West End.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageNicola Turner - Young Jill

Theatre includes: The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre; West End), Matilda (UK and Ireland Tour); Billy Elliott (UK and Ireland Tour/Germany), Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz (Neon Theatrical).


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageBryan Dick - Dennis/Jack Larkin

Theatre includes All of Us, The Alchemist, The Life of Galileo at The National Theatre and Hobson's Choice (West End). Film includes Master and Commander and The Numbers Station. Television includes “Shameless,” “Wolf Hall” and “A Thousand Blows.”


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageRichard Short - Bill/Mr. Halliwell

Richard Short touts an impressive career spanning film, television and theatre. Credits include starring alongside Denzel Washington in The Tragedy of Macbeth, nominated Best Lead Actor in “Mary Kills People” (TV) and originating the role of Richard Burton in Cleo. Currently Co-Writer/Producer of Two Of Us - A Play (UK).


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageDavid Wilson Barnes - Luther St. John

Broadway: The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Ink. Other theater: Sam Gold's Othello (NYTW), Becky Shaw (2nd Stage), The Big Meal (Playwrights Horizons) TV: the upcoming Apple+ “The Savant,” “George & Tammy,” “The Son.” Film: Miss Sloane (John Madden, dir), Bridge of Spies (Steven Spielberg, dir).


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageRichard Lumsden - Joe Fogg/Mr. Potts

Richard Lumsden is an actor, writer, musician and composer. Films include Sense and Sensibility, Darkest Hour, Downhill, Sightseers and Swede Caroline. Numerous TV roles and stage appearances at London’s Almeida, Kiln and Royal Court Theatres. He’s also written for TV, composed feature film scores and had a novel published by Headline


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageTa'Rea Campbell - Penny/Biddy

TA’REA CAMPBELL has been a professional performer for over 20 years and is thrilled to return to Broadway with this production. Recent:  Hamilton (Angelica), Sister Act (Deloris), Lion King (Nala), Aida (Aida alternate), OBC of The Book of Mormon, Leap of Faith and Little Shop. Proud member of the Grammy and Tony award-winning choir BIV.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageSawyer Barth - Performer

Sawyer Barth is an actor, director, writer and musician currently pursuing their BA in Theatre from Fordham College at Lincoln Center. This is Sawyer's Broadway debut. Past Credits: Film: And Then I Go (Flake), Super Dark Times (Charlie); TV: “The Kids Are Alright” (Frank).


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageEllyn Heald - Mrs. Smith

Broadway debut. Regional: Satellites (Premiere Stages); And Then There Were None (Florida Rep); An Inspector Calls (Florida Rep); Passing Strange (The Wilma). Training: MA in Classical Acting, LAMDA. Founder of @livingroomproductionsnyc, host of "Objects of New York" podcast for Radio Free Rhinecliff.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageCameron Scoggins - Dr. Rose

Cameron Scoggins is thrilled to be making his Broadway debut with this incredible production! Theatre: Hir, Pocatello, Lovers, The Big Meal. TV: “PValley,” “Nashville,” “Shades of Blue,” “The Deuce,” “Z,” “Chicago Med,” “Prodigal Son,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Good Wife.” With love and gratitude to his family and Sahar. 


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageMax Roll - Mr. Smith

Broadway: An Enemy of the People, Good Night, Oscar. Off-Broadway: Mrs. Warren’s Profession. Regional: The Importance of Being Earnest. Canada: 2 Pianos 4 Hands. UK: Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, The Great Gatsby. Endless gratitude to Henderson Hogan. Proud graduate of the Yale School of Drama. Peachu and Minchka, you are so loved.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageLiam Bixby - Tony

Liam Bixby graduated from The Lir Academy (BA) in 2021 and has since appeared on stage in Ireland at The Gate Theatre and The Abbey Theatre and has toured internationally with THISISPOPBABY. Screen credits include Wreck (BBC Three/Hulu) and Galaxy Dance (BBC Three/HaZimation).


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageErin Rose Doyle - Performer

Erin Rose Doyle is extremely excited and honored to be back on Broadway! Recent Credits: Parade (Broadway/NYCC, Mary Phagan). Love and gratitude to the creative team and Stewart Talent, as well as her close friends and family for their constant support.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageSadie Veach - Performer

Broadway debut! TV: “Harlan Coben’s Shelter” (Amazon); “Law and Order” (NBC, S22E18). My words here are the closest I’ll get to shouting from the rooftops, so from this page I shout: You matter! You matter! You matter! For Moses, Zachy, and Brick. 


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageLiz Pearce - Performer

Broadway/Off-Broadway: Billy Elliot (OBC), Kinky Boots, SUFFS, Sweeney Todd. Select Regional Theatre: Pacific Symphony, Goodspeed, Alliance, Cincinnati Playhouse, St Louis Rep, Denver Center, Alabama Shakespeare, Bay Street, Sacramento Music Circus, Pioneer. CCM BFA. For Aunty Shirley and my Mum.


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageJessica Baglow - Performer

Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Received an Ian Charleson award commendation for her leading role in Pericles, Shakespeare’s Globe. Film and Television includes The Railway Children Return (Studio Canal), “The Street,” “Gentleman Jack,” “Waterloo Road” (BBC).


Meet the Cast of THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway  ImageQ. Smith - Performer

Q. originated the role of Hannah and others in the Tony Award winning musical (for Best Director) Come From Away. She has toured with the North American Broadway show A Night With Janis Joplin, playing the roles of Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. Before Come From Away, Q. closed the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. She was the first African American to have a leading role in the history of Mary Poppins. Also on Broadway, Q. was in the 1st revival of Les Miserables and Off-Broadway she performed the role of Mabel Washington and recorded the soundtrack for Fame: On 42nd Street. Other noted credits include Abyssinia: A Gospel Celebration with Wynton Marsalis at the Lincoln Center, Showboat in concert at the renowned Carnegie Hall, guest soloist for Hillary Clinton’s Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center, and guest soloist Barack Obama’s inaugural ceremonies. She has shared the stage with Gladys Knight, Rita Coolidge, and Gary U.S. Bonds in Smokey Joe’s Café, as well as Ledesi and Loretta Devine, and has traveled the world with various productions including Central America, Germany, and the entire USA. One of her favorite places to perform is in Sonoma, California at the Transcendence Theatre Company (where she recorded the song Live). Not only is she an entertainer, but a passionate educator. She has been developing a curriculum entitled Rehabilitative and Restorative Art Conditioning which helps children with behavioral problems and learning disabilities retain their curriculum through the arts. Her goals are to build a performing arts school integrated with the juvenile system, open a bed and breakfast in Hawaii, travel the world, continue her concert work and voice-over career, and publish her book Queens of the Theatre.









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