LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE Comes to The Marlowe

The off-beat comedy is from Tony Award-winners James Lapine (Into The Woods, Sunday In The Park With George) and William Finn (Falsettos, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and stars Lucy O'Byrne as Sheryl, matriarch of the eccentric Hoover family. Mark Moraghan plays Grandpa, the role that won Alan Arkin an Academy award (Best Supporting Actor, 2007).

Irish actress and singer Lucy shot to fame on The Voice (BBC) in 2015 and was the runner-up that year. Her theatre credits include Eva Peron in Evita (UK, Ireland and Germany tour), Fantine in Les Misérables (West End), Maria in The Sound Of Music (UK and Ireland tour), River Woman in Therese Raquin (Park Theatre) and Tzeitel in Fiddler On The Roof (Gaiety Theatre, Dublin). She has appeared on Friday Night is Music Night - Live from the London Palladium (BBC Radio 2), BBC Proms In The Park (BBC) and as Sam and Jessica in Ballybraddan (RTÉ/Monster Animation). Lucy appears on The Sound of Music (EP), NOW That's What I Call Classical, and Therese Raquin (original cast recording) Her album Debut is available now.

Mark recently appeared as Tim Richards in Emmerdale and is perhaps best known for his roles as Adrian Mortimer in Coronation Street, Owen Davis in Holby City, Ray Wyatt in Dream Team, Greg Shadwick in Brookside and Eddie Quinn in London's Burning. He has many theatre credits to his name (ranging from Priscilla Queen Of The Desert to Macbeth) and is the narrator of the popular children's TV show Thomas The Tank Engine.

The rest of the Hoover family include Gabriel Vick as Sheryl's husband Richard, two-time Olivier nominee Paul Keating as Sheryl's brother Frank and Sev Keoshgerian as Sheryl's son Dwayne. The role of Olive will be shared by Evie Gibson, Sophie Hartley Booth and Lily Mae Denman.

Little Miss Sunshine is an inventive and uplifting musical celebrating the quirks of every family, the potholes in every road, and the power of overcoming differences. The Hoover family has more than a few troubles, but young Olive has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest. When an invitation to compete comes out of the blue, the Hoovers must pile into their rickety, yellow VW camper van. Can it survive the 800-mile trip from New Mexico to California - and more importantly, can they?

Little Miss Sunshine is at The Marlowe from Wednesday 31 July to Saturday 3 August. Tickets are from marlowetheatre.com or by calling the Box Office on 01227 787787.

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