Russell Grant will return to the West End next year to once again share the stage with his Strictly Come Dancing partner Flavia Cacace in the return of Midnight Tango at the Phoenix theatre.
Playing for a strictly – no pun intended – limited season from 30 January to 2 March, the producers of the Olivier Award-nominated show are celebrating the former astrologer and The Wizard Of Oz star’s role in the show by moving the press night to 5 February, the actor’s birthday.
Producer and former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips said she was: “delighted that Russell Grant will be performing and dancing in Midnight Tango with Vincent and Flavia.” Adding that in her role as a choreographer their paths have crossed before, explaining: “Russell’s partnership with Flavia is well known, but I too have had a dance partnership with Russell, which began with his appearance in the title role of The Wizard Of Oz at the London Palladium, followed by playing Teen Angel in the current national tour of Grease, and I’m delighted we now have a third partnership.”
Speaking to Official London Theatre at last year’s Olivier Awards nominations event, Grant, who was at the time starring in the Best Musical Revival Award nominated show The Wizard Of Oz, described Midnight Tango as “a wonderful show,” and attributed his West End success to the Strictly stars, saying: “I love them. I wouldn’t be starring in The Wizard Of Oz if it wasn’t for Flavia, she got me going on Strictly Come Dancing and now I’m in the West End and I’m delighted.”
Cacace’s influence on the actor’s career will now continue as the pair reunite in the dance show with Grant set to take on the role of bar owner Carlos, whose downtown Buenos Aires-establishment becomes the setting for the explosive and intoxicating story. Choreographed by the show’s stars Cacace and fellow Strictly star Vincent Simone, Midnight Tango brings to life all the drama, sensuality and elegance of the tango, with the stars joined on stage by some of the finest tango dancers in the world and top tango band Tango Siempre.