Once’s current Girl, Jill Winternitz will star alongside Ronan Keating when the pop star joins the cast of the hit West End musical in November.
Winternitz, who took over from Olivier Award winner Zrinka Cvitešić in May, will continue in the role of a young Czech mother who meets an Irish busker (Keating) in the tale of love friendship and music.
One fifth of hit pop band Boyzone, Keating joins Once from 17 November, replacing the musical’s current Guy, David Hunter. He joins a cast that also includes Fiona Bruce, Jamie Cameron, Mark Carlisle, Matthew Ganley, Mathew Hamper, Daniel Healy, Loren O’Dair, Miria Parvin, Tim Prottey-Jones and Jez Unwin.
Based on the Oscar-winning film of the same name and featuring a book by Irish playwright Enda Walsh, the production is renowned for its unique sound with a score including Leave, Gold, When You’re Mind’s Made Up and Falling Slowly.
The musical, which picked up two Olivier Awards at this year’s ceremony, is currently booking at the Phoenix Theatre until 4 July 2015.