CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR ERICH SEGAL´S LOVE STORY
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London Theatre Direct
The Chichester Festival Theatre production of Love Story will transfer to the West End previewing at the Duchess Theatre from 27 November. The West End cast includes Emma Williams as Jenny, Michael Xavier as Oliver Barratt IV and Peter Polycarpou who plays Jenny’s father, Phil, all of whom reprise their roles at the Duchess Theatre.
They are joined by Richard Cordery, Gary Milner, Paul Kemble and ensemble members Lillie Flynn, Christopher Killick, Jamie Muscato and Rebecca Trehearn.
This new musical version of Love Story, inspired by Erich Segal’s novel, is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with music by Howard Goodall, book by Stephen Clark and lyrics by Stephen Clark and Howard Goodall.
Erich Segal’s best-selling novel, Love Story, became one of the most romantic films of all time, has sold over 21 million copies world-wide and has been published in 33 languages.
Olivier award nominated Emma Williams, made her West End debut as Truly Scrumptious in the original cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, when she co-starred with Love Story Producer Michael Ball. Subsequently she has been seen on stage in Desperately Seeking Susan at the Novello Theatre in which she played the title role, Zorro at the Garrick Theatre and A Model Girl for Greenwich Theatre.
Michael Xavier was last seen as Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince in Into The Woods at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre earlier this year. Previously his many musical theatre credits include Curly in Oklahoma for Chichester Festival Theatre, Sir Galahad in Spamalot at the Palace Theatre, Raoul in Phantom of the Opera, Freddy in My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Sky in Mamma Mia on tour nationally.
Peter Polycarpou’s extensive theatre credits include Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol for Birmingham Rep, Cheche in Anna in the Tropics and Comical Ali/God/Osama Bin Laden in Follow My Leader for Hampstead Theatre and Oscar Maddison in The Odd Couple and Roy Cohn in Angels in America both for Manchester Library Theatre. He also played the title role in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, The Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, Thenardier in Les Miserables for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Ali Hakim in Oklahoma for the National Theatre.
Love Story is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre where her many credits include Hapgood, Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure and Uncle Vanya.