Photo Flash Exclusive: New Look at Michael Ball & Rebecca LaChance in Chichester's MACK & MABEL

Mack & Mabel, which will embark on a UK & Ireland Tour in Autumn 2015 following its premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre, stars double Oliver award-winning Michael Ball andRebecca LaChance. The production opens tonight, July 21, 2015.

Based on the real-life romance between Hollywood legendsMack Sennett and Mabel Normand, it tells the story of a group of pioneering filmmakers who changed the world surrounded by the great fun of the silent screen: heroes in capes, girls tied to the tracks, glamorous BathingBeauties and the chaos of the Keystone Kops.

Mack & Mabel features an outstanding score by Jerry Hermanand is widely admired for its classic Broadway hits including I Won't Send Roses, Tap Your Troubles Away and Time Heals Everything.

In a production by a multi-award winning team, with direction by Jonathan Church and choreography by Stephen Mear, this dazzling musical comedy is both a poignant love story and a riveting tribute to the grit and glamour of the era of silent movies. The show received eight Tony Award nominations when it opened on Broadway in 1974.

Michael Ball plays Mack Sennett, the great comedy director of the silent screen. Michael's recent credits include the BBC television drama That Day We Sang, which reunited him with Sweeney Todd co-star Imelda Staunton. Theatre credits include the title role in Sweeney Todd (Chichester Festival 2011 and West End), Hairspray, LES MISERABLES,Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Passion, Aspects of Love, The Woman in White and The Phantom of the Opera. Ball co-produced Chichester Festival 2010's West End transfer of Love Story. He also has a successful recording and broadcasting career, and completed a UK concert tour in Spring 2015.

Rebecca LaChance plays Mabel Normand. Her credits include her recent Broadway debut in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical as a featured ensemble member while understudying Jessie Mueller in the title role. Other credits include Johnny Baseball directed by Gordon Greenberg, the director of Chichester's acclaimed production of Guys and Dolls during Festival 2014, Central Avenue Breakdown and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

Other casting includes Anna-Jane Casey whose credits include The Comedy of Errors (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) and Sunday in the Park with George (Menier Chocolate Factory) as Lottie, Jack Edwards whose credits include West End productions of Betty Blue Eyes and Sweet Charity as Fatty, Alex Giannini whose credits includeOklahoma! at Chichester and Oh! What A Lovely War (Theatre Royal Stratford East and UK tour) as Mr Baumann,Gunnar Cauthery whose credits include The House of Special Purpose at Chichester and Little Shop of Horrors as Frank, Mark Inscoe whose credits include West End productions of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert andSunset Boulevard as William Desmond Taylor and Timothy Quinlan whose credits include US productions of Jersey Boysand The Full Monty as Mr Kessel.

Photos by Roy Tan

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