Ian McIntosh will join Katie Brayben, Alan Morrissey, Lorna Want, Glynis Barber and Gary Trainor in the cast of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical when the show receives its UK premiere at the Aldwych Theatre next February.
The Commitments star, whose other West End credits include Rock Of Ages, will play songwriter Barry Mann in the production, which plays from 10 February (press night 24 February).
McIntosh is joined in the musical, which charts King’s journey from schoolgirl to superstar, by a host of newly announced cast members including Vivien Carter, Joanna Woodward and Dylan Turner.
Carter, whose recent stage credits include Medea and The Light Princess at the National Theatre, is well-acquainted with her two co-stars having appeared with Woodward in Fings Aint Wot They Used T’Be at the Theatre Royal Stratford East and Turner in The Tailor Made Man at the Arts Theatre.
They are joined by The Lion King’s Tanya Nicole-Edwards and Oliver Lidert, Ed Currie (A Chorus Line, London Palladium), Terel Nugent (The Wizard Of Oz, London Palladium), Fela Lufadeju (Dessa Rose, Trafalgar Studios) and Danielle Steers (The Bodyguard, Adelphi Theatre).
Also announced today are cast members Jay Perry, Tanisha Spring, Lucy St Louis, Andy Coxon, Jason Denton, Michael Anthony Duke, Joel Harper-Jackson, Rosie Heath, Aisha Jawando, Hannah Jay-Allan and Leigh Lothian.
Featuring some of King’s most popular hits including You’ve Got A Friend, Take Good Care Of My Baby and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, the production encompasses everything from the singer’s relationship with Gerry Goffin to her rise to stardom.
Beautiful – The Carole King Musical is directed by Marc Bruni, who made his Broadway directing debut with the New York production that continues to run at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre following its premiere in January.
The show will open at the Aldwych Theatre following Dance ‘Til Dawn, a new dance show from former Strictly Come Dancing duo Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, which plays from 23 October to 3 January.