CILLA Arrives Next Week at The King's
By: Stephi Wild Jan. 24, 2018
The spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series based on the early life of Cilla Black, by BAFTA award winner, Jeff Pope (The Moorside, Philomena, From The Cradle To The Grave, Mrs Biggs) stars Andrew Lancel as Brian Epstein, Kara Lily Hayworth as Cilla and Carl Au as Bobby.
The story follows the extraordinary life of ordinary teenager Priscilla White, from Liverpool, and her rocky, yet incredible, rise to fame. By the age of just 25 she was recognised as international singing star Cilla Black. By the age of 30 she had become Britain's favorite television entertainer headlining Blind Date, Surprise Surprise and many more.
Andrew played Cilla's manager Brian Epstein in the critically acclaimed West End play, Epstein - The Man Who Made The Beatles. Andrew is best known to TV audiences as super-villain Frank Foster in Coronation Street and as DI Neil Manson in the long-running ITV television series The Bill.
Kara Lily Hayworth beat thousands of hopefuls in nationwide open auditions for the coveted role.
Kara queued for four hours at London's Dominion Theatre to have her chance to audition in the first rounds. She made it through to the final 30 before being chosen to do her final audition at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
Robert Willis said: "We wanted somebody who wasn't going to impersonate my mum but someone who could capture her spirit. Kara came in with her huge personality and amazing voice - when I saw the response of the audience at the Cavern, I knew we'd found her!"
The musical score will be the ultimate soundtrack to the '60s including Cilla's greatest hits Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, alongside a backdrop of the legendary "Liverpool Sound" including the Beatles' Twist and Shout, and American influences like California Dreamin by The Mamas and The Papas and many more.
The cast also features Amy Bridges (Rose Willis); Gemma Brodrick-Bower (Pauline); Paul Broughton (John White); Bill Caple (Ringo Starr); Tom Christian (Kenny Willis); Tom Dunlea (Hutch); Pauline Fleming (Big Cilla); Joshua Gannon (Paul McCartney); Billie Hardy (Pat); and Michael Hawkins (John Lennon).
Tom Dunlea, Michael Hawkins and Gemma Brodrick-Bower, also starred in Jeff Pope's original ITV mini-series Cilla.
The legendary Merseybeat sound is authentically performed live on stage by the cast who are completed by: Alan Howell; Jay Osbourne; Alex Harford; Will Kinnon; Jenny Murphy; Tom Sowinski; and Christopher Weeks.
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