The singer will perform for a exclusively limited period of within the show’s run, with the production once again starring its original leads Dan Partridge and Olivia Moore. Directed by Nikolai Foster, this new take on one of the biggest classics in the musical theatre genre has already been seen by over 500 thousand people in the West End and is dedicated to the memory of Olivia Newton-John.
It seems Grease is the word. It was last summer and it will definitely be this next. After a most succesful run at one of London’s biggest musical theatre venues, the show will be heading back to its West End home by the beginning of June – this time featuring a new special appearance for a few weeks only. With its original leads also confirmed to take part in the show again (Dan Partridge as Danny, Olivia Moore as Sandy and Jocasta Almgill as Rizzo), producers have announced today that acclaimed soloist singer Louise Kednapp will step into the shoes (or wings) of the encouragingly destructive Beauty School Dropout’s guardian angel.
“As the biggest fan of Grease growing up I was thrilled to be asked to join the cast in the role of Teen Angel£, says Redknapp. “Traditionally seen as a male role, I’m excited to be given the opportunity to shake it up and play it from a new perspective under the direction of Nikolai Foster.” Rising to prominence through the band Eternal, Redknapp later embarked on a solo career in 1995, later working as a presenter for documentaries such as The Truth about Size Zero and Something For The Weekend in 2009 before joining the judging panel on the second series of BBC1’s So You Think You Can Dance. Making her stage debut in 2017, she starred as Sally Bowles in the National Tour of Cabaret before returning to music, with a sell-out live show. In January 2018, Louise signed a global publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music before making her 2019 West End debut as the lead role of Violet Newstead in Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 The Musical at The Savoy Theatre, later reprising the role for the touring version throughout 2021 and 2022.
Dedicated to the memory of Olivia Newton-John, this entirely new version is directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Dame Arlene Phillips, with the rest of its cast to be announced in due course. Seen by over 500,000 people in the West End, the production has become the Dominion Theatre’s most successful summer run since We Will Rock You. Featuring all of its iconic songs including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted To You and You’re The One That I Want, the show recently received 4 WhatsOnStage Award nominations for Best Musical Revival, Best Choreography for Arlene Phillips and Best Supporting Performer in a Musical for original cast members Jocasta Almgill and Paul French.
Grease will play 2 June – 28 October 2023, while Louise Redknapp will peform from 2 June until 29 July, excluding Mondays. Tickets are available on the following link.
First Night Magazine 