Cilla The Musical is a jukebox musical written by Jeff Pope based on the early career and music of Cilla Black and Pope's 2014 ITV drama biopic of the same name.

Cilla
The Musical
Original UK tour poster
MusicVarious
LyricsVarious
BookJeff Pope
BasisThe life and music of
Cilla Black
and Cilla (2014 TV series)
by Jeff Pope
Premiere1 September 2017 (2017-09-01): Liverpool Empire Theatre
Productions2017 UK tour

Production

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Original UK tour (2017–18)

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Produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, the production opened at the Liverpool Empire Theatre from 7 September 2017 before touring the UK, starring Kara Lilly Hayworth as Cilla and Andrew Lancel as Brian Epstein.[1] The production was directed by Kenwright and Bob Tomson, choreographed by Carole Todd, set and costume designed by Gary McCann, lighting designed by Nick Richings, sound designed by Dan Samson, wigs designed by Richard Mawbey, with Scott Alder as musical director and Gary Hickeson as musical producer and orchestral arrangement.

The production was scheduled to begin another from September 2020 at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, starring Sheridan Smith reprising her role as Cilla from the TV series, however it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On 29 November 2020 at the Royal Variety Performance, Smith performed "Anyone Who Had A Heart" and "You're My World" from the musical, opposite Andrew Lancel who was due to reprise the role of Brian Epstein.

Musical numbers

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Cast and characters

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Character 2017 UK tour
Cilla Black Kara Lilly Hayworth
Bobby Alexander Patmore
Brian Epstein Andrew Lancel
Big Cilla Jayne Ashley
John White Neil MacDonald
Johnny Hutchinson Tom Dunlea
Pat Billie Hardy
Rose Willis Harriette Mullen
Pauline Gemma Brodrick-Bower
Ringo Starr Bill Caple
Paul McCartney / Denny Doherty Joe Etherington
Kenny Willis Timothy Lucas
John Lennon Michael Hawkins
Gerry Marsden Alan Howell
Adrian Barber / John Phillips Jay Osborne
George Harrison Alex Harford
Daniel Gary Mitchinson
Beryl / Swing Chloe Edwards-Wood
George Martin Tom Sowinski
John Gustafson Christopher Weeks

References

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  1. ^ "Cilla the Musical finds its leading lady | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Sheridan Smith to star in Bill Kenwright's Cilla The Musical". LondonTheatre1. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.