London stage favourite Malcolm Sinclair will lead the London transfer of Sheffield Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Show Boat, joining original cast members including Wicked star Gina Beck.
Sinclair, who makes a welcome return to musical theatre following 2002’s My Fair Lady, will steer Daniel Evans’ production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s classic as Captain Andy Hawks when the show drops its anchor at the New London Theatre from 9 April.
Featuring a timeless score of songs including Ol’ Man River, Make Believe and Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man, Show Boat spans 40 years of American history to tell a powerful story of freedom, loyalty and love as it follows three generations aboard the Cotton Blossom show boat as it plies the Mississippi River.
As President of the actors’ union Equity, Sinclair is fittingly rarely off the London stage. Most recently seen in The Meeting at Hampstead Theatre, his extensive credits include Temple, Ivanov and Privates On Parade at the Donmar Warehouse, and National Theatre appearances in productions including The History Boys and The Power Of Yes.
He’ll be joined in the leading cast by fellow newcomer to the company, Broadway star Chris Peluso, who returns to the West End stage following his triumphant starring role in Miss Saigon.
The pair will join a number of actors reprising their roles in the epic Deep South-set musical following its Sheffield run last year, including West End regular Beck (The Phantom Of The Opera, Les Misérables), Sinclair’s former Ivanov co-star Lucy Briers, We Will Rock You’s Rebecca Trehearn, The Scottsboro Boys’ Emmanuel Kojo, Sandra Marvin (City Of Angels, Donmar Warehouse), Alex Young (I Can’t Sing!) and Danny Collins, whose numerous credits with the Matthew Bourne Company include The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands and Sleeping Beauty.
Show Boat is currently booking to 7 January and will follow the National Theatre’s hugely successful War Horse into the venue following its closure after eight years playing in London earlier this week.