London Transfer of YANK! Finds Full Company

Full casting is announced for Yank! which transfers to the Charing Cross Theatre in the summer for a seven week season from Monday 3 July - Saturday 19 August 2017. The UK spring première of the musical production at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester received extensive critical acclaim. The cast of the original production are joined by three new performers during the London run, with a Press Night on Monday 10 July.

A poignant love story based on the true, hidden history of gay soldiers during World War Two, Yank! focuses on the life of Stu, who is called up to serve in the forces in 1943 and becomes a reporter for Yank Magazine, the journal 'for and by the servicemen'. Telling the stories of the men in Charlie Company, the musical explores what it means to be a man, and what it is to fall in love and struggle to survive in a time and place where the odds are stacked against you.

Scott Hunter will reprise his role as Stu. Stage credits include Cinderella (Trinity Theatre), Grease (European tour) and Howard Goodall's The Kissing Dance. Joining the company as Mitch is Andy Coxon, whose credits include Beautiful - The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre), 20th Century Boy - The Marc Bolan Musical (UK tour), Les Misérables (Queen's Theatre) and European tours of The Rocky Horror Show and Evita. Sarge/Scarlet will be played by Waylon Jacobs, whose credits include Chicago, Memphis and We Will Rock You (West End) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Regent's Park). Bradley Judge will play Rotelli. His credits include Aladdin (The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn), Don't Run (Waterloo East Theatre) and Sister Act (Aberystwyth Arts Centre).

The rest of the company is completed by members of the original Manchester production: Benjamin Cupit who made his professional debut as Professor in the Hope Mill production; Lee Dillon-Stuart (Les Misérables at Queen's Theatre and Carousel for Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Tennessee; Chris Kiely (The Ladykillers and Pygmalion for Theatre Royal Windsor, Sunset Boulevard at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and a national tour of Chess) as Artie; Kris Marc-Joseph (Anno Domini at The Actors Church, Children of Eden and See Rock City and Other Destinations at Union Theatre) as Czechowski; Mark Paterson (tours of Horrible Histories and Peter Pan at Manchester Opera House/New Victoria Woking) as Lieutenant/NCO; Tom Pepper (The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Arts Theatre, and on television, Drifters, Grandpa in My Pocket and Red Dwarf) as Cohen/Speedy; and Sarah-Louise Young (a member of award-winning improvised musical The Showstoppers at Apollo Theatre and extensive cabaret credits including Fascinating Aida) as Louise.

YANK! is based on the Off-Broadway hit production from 2010, with book and lyrics by American writer David Zellnik, with his brother Joseph Zellnik's musical score paying homage to the timeless music of the 1940s. The musical is directed by James Baker, and is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre, Ben Millerman with Jim Kierstead and Guy James.

Completing the creative team are James Cleeve as musical director; choreographer Chris Cuming; designer Victoria Hinton; lighting designer Aaron J. Dootson; sound designer Chris Bogg; and casting director Benjamin Newsome.

YANK! is the latest collaboration between leading London-based theatre Production Company Aria Entertainment and one of Manchester's newest and leading arts venues, the award-winning Hope Mill Theatre. They first joined forces in January 2016 to spearhead the arts venue as a platform to showcase, revive and bring new musical theatre to the north of England. The transfer to Charing Cross Theatre is helmed by the three producers of the original production at Hope Mill, who are now joined by Jim Kierstead and Guy James.

IF YOU GO:

YANK!

CHARING CROSS THEATRE
The Arches, Villiers Street, London WC2N 6NL

Monday 3 July - Saturday 19 August
Press Night: Monday 10 July at 7.30pm
Performances: Mon - Sat 7.30pm, matinées - Wed 2.30pm and Sat 3.00pm

Tickets: £39.50 Premiums, £32.50 Stalls, £22.50 Balcony, £17.50 Slips, Previews £25
Box Office: 020 7930 5868 | www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk

About Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment - Producer

Aria Entertainment was founded in 2012 by Katy Lipson.

Katy has just been awarded the Best Producer award by the Off West End Awards and is a recipient of the Stage One Bursary and Start Up Award. Katy is currently lead producer on the UK Tour of The Addams Family and the 50th Anniversary production of HAIR at the London Vaults, which she originally co-produced with Hope Mill Theatre in 2016, where she is Resident Producer. She is also producing new musical The Toxic Avenger at The Arts Theatre, West End.

Recent productions include: tick, tick... BOOM! (Park Theatre); Yank! and Parade (Hope Mill Theatre); Promises, Promises (Southwark Playhouse); Vanities The Musical (Trafalgar Studios); See What I Wanna See (Jermyn Street Theatre); Bar Mitzvah Boy (The Gatehouse); The Adventures of Pinocchio and The Who's Tommy (Greenwich Theatre) and The House of Mirrors & Hearts, Supported By Grant For The Arts (Arcola Theatre).

Katy is proud to have launched the From Page To Stage season of new musicals. She has produced three seasons, which showcased over 8 new musicals in each. The project was supported by Grant For The Arts in 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons. The 2017 festival will move to Andrew Lloyd Webber's recently acquired theatre The Other Palace.

Other current projects include: the London transfer of Yank! (Charing Cross Theatre), Pippin and Little Women (Hope Mill Theatre).

www.aria-entertainment.com | @AriaEnts

About Ben Millerman for Mr Millerman Presents - Producer

Mr Millerman Presents Ltd is a theatrical Production Company based in the North of England led by producer Ben Millerman. The company was founded by Ben after completing his training in Musical Theatre at Manchester's Arden School of Theatre. Ben is no stranger to the stage having worked for many years as an actor and stage manager. Ben has recently performed in Pantomime at the Bolton Macron Stadium. Other performing credits include: Cinderella (Rotherham Theatres); Darkest Hour (Working Title Films); Cast Member at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disney Fantasy.

Other projects include: NOISE (Birmingham Old Rep) and Forever Changes (GMFringe Festival & Edinburgh Fringe Festival).

About Joseph Houston and William Whelton for Hope Mill Theatre - Producer

Hope Mill Theatre was the dream of couple Joseph Houston and William Whelton who after a career in Musical Theatre and living in London, became inspired by the highly regarded Off West End theatres and the high-quality work they were creating. With the growing theatre industry blossoming in Manchester and no medium sized venues, they set up and established the independent venue, Hope Mill Theatre in November 2015.

The venue has firmly placed itself on the northern map for its ambitious in-house musical productions. In October 2016 Joseph and William were awarded the Hospital Club Award for contribution to Theatre and Performance. They recently won a Special Achievement Award at the Manchester Theatre Awards and the venue was nominated for Fringe Theatre of the Year 2016.

Joseph and William joined forces with Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment to collaborate on a season of musicals, including Parade, HAIR, and the UK and European Premiere of Yank! all receiving critical acclaim.

William Whelton is a recent recipient of the Stage One Young Producers Bursary for emerging producers.

Hope Mill Theatre hosts many emerging Manchester theatre companies, touring productions and offers a varied programme for its audiences.