Faye Tozer, one fifth of Brit Award-winning pop group Steps, is to star in the world premiere of new musical The Tailor-Made Man next year.
The tuneful tale of MGM star William Haines and his stand against MGM film producer Louis B Mayer, which eventually got him fired, will play an eight-week season in the Arts theatre beginning on 13 February.
Haines’ silver screen career came to an end when he refused to marry a fellow silent movie star to cover up the fact that he was gay and living with former stand in Jimmy Shields. As one of the most idolised stars of his day, his sacking was a shock, but his defiance led to a second successful career as an interior designer to the stars.
Tozer, who plays actress Marion Davies in the musical that features music and lyrics by Showstopper co-creator Adam Meggido, has previously appeared in productions of Love Shack, Me And My Girl and Tell Me On A Sunday. She recently reformed with 90s popsters Steps, recording a new album, touring the UK and starring in a hit reality TV show.
She is joined in The Tailor-Made Man by Dylan Turner, who has appeared in West End productions of Chariots Of Fire, Rock Of Ages, Mamma Mia! and Grease.
The production will be directed by Claudio Macor, who originally wrote the piece as a play before creating the book for the musical version. It follows the theatre’s Christmas season, which pairs Simon Callow’s one-man performance of A Christmas Carol with a special young audiences version of wacky musical Seussical.