Full Casting Announced for LIFT at Soho Theatre, January 30

Theatre Bench in association with Soho Theatre and Ros Povey are delighted to announce full casting for the World Premiere of new musical LIFT, which will run in the Main House at Soho Theatre from Wednesday 30 January – Sunday 24 February 2013. The show will star Julie Atherton as 'French Teacher', Nikki Davis-Jones as 'Secretary', Cynthia Erivo as 'Lap Dancer', Jonny Fines as 'Ballet Dancer', Luke Kempner as 'Bright Young Thing', Ellie Kirk as 'Athletic and Wearing a Thong', George Maguire as 'Busker' and Robbie Towns as 'Tall, Dark and Handsome'.

Julie Atherton has just finished touring the UK as 'Sister Mary Robert' in "Sister Act", and will be playing the title role in "Cinderella" at the Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas. West End theatre credits include 'Kate Monster' in the original London cast of "Avenue Q", 'Serena Katz' in "Fame" and 'Sophie' in "Mamma Mia!". Julie has also released two studio albums, "A Girl of Few Words" and "No Space for Air". Nikki Davis-Jones recently covered and performed the role of 'Elphaba' in "Wicked". Other West End credits include 'Bubbles' in "Never Forget", 'Lisa' in "Mamma Mia!" and 'Linda' in "Blood Brothers". Cynthia Erivo is best known for playing 'Deloris Van Cartier' in the recent UK Tour of "Sister Act". Other recent credits include 'Madeleine' in "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" at the Gielgud Theatre. Jonny Fines has appeared in the UK Tours of "Avenue Q" and "The Sound of Music". Luke Kempner has recently appeared as 'The Professor' in the UK Tour of "South Pacific" and this Christmas will be appearing as Prince Dylan in "Sleeping Beauty" at Salisbury Playhouse. Other recent credits include the UK tours of "Avenue Q" and "Les Misérables". Ellie Kirk has recently played 'Dame Pliant' in "The Alchemist" for Headlong Theatre and 'Margot' in "Legally Blonde" at the Savoy Theatre. Other credits include "La Boheme" at Soho Theatre and "Much Ado About Nothing" at Bury St Edmunds. George Maguire recently played 'Mark Bolan' in the T-Rex musical "20^th Century Boy" at the Belgrade Theatre. Other credits include 'Joe Vegas' in "Fame" at the Shaftesbury Theatre and 'Angel' in the European Tour of "Rent". Robbie Towns recently appeared in "The Tempest" at Theatre Royal Bath and is now reprising his role as 'Tom Jenkins' in Scrooge at the London Palladium after playing the role on tour. Other credits include 'AaRon Schultz' in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre and cover 'Che' in the UK Tour of "Evita". 

LIFT has music and lyrics by Craig Adams and a book by Ian Watson. It will be directed by Steven Paling with assistant direction by Tom Jackson Greaves. Costume and Set Design is by Georgia Lowe, with Lighting Design by Andy Voller and Sound Design by Henri Latham-Koenig. Casting is by James Orange. It is produced by Theatre Bench in association with Soho Theatre and Ros Povey and has been developed and licensed by Perfect Pitch. 

Craig Adams is currently composer in residence at Finborough Theatre. He recently composed the music for the five-star hit "Hindle Wakes" and created original arrangements for "Kerry Ellis - Live at the Hippodrome". Ian Watson has written several screenplays and his novel, "Out of Favour" he adapted for ITV. He has written for stage and radio and is a regular contributor to Huffington Post and Frost Magazine. Steven Paling is currently Associate Director of "Batman Live" and recently directed 'Kerry Ellis, LIVE at the Hippodrome'. Other recent work includes Resident Director on "Mamma Mia!" in the West End and Assistant Director on the UK Tour of "Chicago". Tom Jackson Greaves recently choreographed 'Vanity Fowl', which premiered at Sadler's Wells as part of the inaugural New Adventures Choreographer Award Showcase. He is also currently creating the roles of 'Carabosse' and 'Caradoc' in the World Premiere of "Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty".

LIFT has been developed by the Perfect Pitch network since 2008, when it was performed as part of the Perfect Pitch 2008 showcase at Trafalgar Studios. Earlier this year, a recording of LIFT also marked the first album of a new musical to be released on the Perfect Pitch label, and is now available to buy via CD and Download from liftmusical.com, Amazon, CD Baby and iTunes.

Founded in 2006, Perfect Pitch supports and develops new and emerging British writers of original musicals in collaboration with a network of partners across the UK. Perfect Pitch is a not-for-profit development network, and is partially funded as part of the Arts Council England's National Portfolio Funding.

Established by Jim Zalles, Theatre Bench is a new Production Company with a strategic emphasis on the development of new works in musical theatre and dance. Jim Zalles said today: 'I was introduced to Perfect Pitch at their Great British Musicals gala event in 2011, a night that quite fundamentally changed my life. I've spent more nights in the theatre in the past 18 months than in the previous 49 years of my life. I decided that I had to do whatever I could to help get more of this vibrant art form to the stage. Lift is the ideal vehicle to start this journey - a new British musical with a British cast and creative team set in the heart of London'. 

www.liftmusical.com

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