'MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE' Will Play Leicester Square Theatre October 20 - November 18 Following A UK Tour

Marilyn: Forever Blonde, The Marilyn Monroe Story in Her Own Words and Music, the acclaimed, award-winning one woman play featuring 17 songs comprising the life of Marilyn Monroe, is to get its West End premiere at Leicester Square Theatre from Tuesday October 20 to Wednesday November 18. An official opening is set for Thursday October 22 at 7.30pm.

Marilyn: Forever Blonde, The Marilyn Monroe Story in Her Own Words and Music, starring award-winning actress and singer Sunny Thompson as Marilyn, will also tour the UK to Brighton (25 - 27 September), Manchester (1- 2 October), Glasgow (8 - 10 October) and Whitley Bay (12 - 15 October). It will have its European premiere September 8 - 12 in Berlin.

Since its American premiere in 2007, Marilyn: Forever Blonde, The Marilyn Monroe Story in Her Own Words and Music has won 12 major awards, including the Lee Hartgrave Award for Best Actress in a Play, the Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Road Show 2008-2009, along with others for Best Costumes, Best Set, Best Lighting, and including "Best Theatrical Event of the Season" in Dayton, Ohio.

Marilyn: Forever Blonde, The Marilyn Monroe Story in Her Own Words and Music takes place at a photo shoot just prior to Marilyn's untimely death. She is 36 years old and while she still is beautiful, she has lost some of the little girl charm that made her Hollywood's biggest star in the 20th Century Fox prime of her early twenties. Divorced for the third time and now living alone, frustrated by Hollywood and tired of the label ‘sex symbol', Marilyn longs to be respected for her talent and loved for who she really is rather than the character she has created for the silver screen. She wonders what it would be like to do it all over again...

In her portrayal of the legendary blonde, Sunny Thompson convincingly recreates the voice, singing style, bodily movement, and, most effectively, the vulnerability of Marilyn. Marilyn: Forever Blonde, The Marilyn Monroe Story in Her Own Words and Music features 17 songs, such as "Diamond's Are a Girl's Best Friend" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy", written by some of the greatest songwriters in the business, including Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer.

Sunny Thompson (Marilyn) travelled the world performing in musical revues and in Off Broadway productions before settling in Spain, where she became a music video star. She has recorded eight albums, had her single "Te Necesito" go gold, headlined "Showgirls" at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, starred in her own shows for Harrah's at the famed Sammy's Showroom in Reno and the celebrated Southshore Room, Lake Tahoe.

Greg Thompson (Writer & Producer) has been one of the world's top producers of musical revues for more than 35 years. He has produced more than 500 productions for both the stage and TV and won numerous awards.

Stephanie Shine (Director) is Artistic Director of Seattle Shakespeare Company, the premier classical theatre in Washington State. She has produced 30 main house productions and 17 late night cabarets there. Her recent directorial credits include an all-male "Taming of the Shrew", "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "The Comedy of Errrors".

'Marilyn: Forever Blonde' will play at the Leicester Square Theatre (6 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7BX) from Tuesday October 20 to Wednesday November 18. The show will play Tuesdays - Saturdays at 7.30pm, Saturday matinees at 2.30pm (except 24 October) and Sundays at 5.00pm.

Tickets are priced at £15.00 - £35.00, and may be purchased by calling the box office at 0844 847 24 75 or visiting www.leicestersquaretheatre.com.

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