Kate Fleetwood will lead the cast of Maria Friedman’s production of High Society when the Cole Porter musical opens at the Old Vic in April.
The Olivier and Tony Award nominated actress will play Long Island socialite Tracy Lord alongside a cast including Barbara Flynn, Jamie Parker, Annabel Scholey and Rupert Young at the Waterloo venue from 30 April to 14 May.
Fleetwood is best known for her straight theatre roles, with recent credits including the Almeida Theatre’s production of Mr Burns and the National Theatre’s Simon Russell Beale-led King Lear. However, the actress has recently been proving her musical theatre prowess, notching up appearances in Tom Hooper’s blockbuster film Les Misérables and the National Theatre’s unconventional hit musical London Road – a film adaptation of which is soon to hit the big screen starring Fleetwood – for which she received an Olivier Award nomination in 2013.
The actress’ forthcoming co-stars – Barbara Flynn (Margaret Lord) and Jamie Parker (Mike Connor) – are also regular features on the National Theatre stage. Flynn, who was last seen in Versailles at the Donmar Warehouse, has acquired numerous credits at the South Bank venue, including 1998’s King Lear, which saw her play Goneril, the same role played by Fleetwood in the NT’s 2014 production.
Parker is best known for his role in the National Theatre’s smash-hit play The History Boys, which like London Road was later adapted for the screen. Parker’s musical theatre credits include Guys And Dolls at Chichester Festival Theatre, for which he won the 2014 UK Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Musical, and current Menier Chocolate Factory hit Assassins.
Scholey and Young will play Liz Imbrie and C K Dexter Haven respectively. Being Human star Scholey returns to the capital’s stage following her performances in Mr Burns and 2013’s Passion Play at the Duke of York’s Theatre. Young, who is well known for his television appearances in Merlin and The White Queen, has performed on stage in Afterlife and Never So Good at the National Theatre.
Based on the play The Philadelphia Story, High Society follows socialite Tracy. Busy planning her lavish summer wedding, her ex-husband Dexter turns up and disrupts proceedings by trying to win her back. But when tabloid reporter Mike Connor arrives to cover the nuptials, he too takes a shine to the future bride and Tracy must decide which of the three suitors she will choose.
Featuring a book by Arthur Kopit and music and lyrics by Porter, High Society marks multi Olivier Award-winning actress Friedman’s second foray into directing following her hugely successful revival of Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory and in the West End.
The production will open at the Old Vic following the forthcoming return of Clarence Darrow, which will see Kevin Spacey reprise his role as the pioneering lawyer from 3 March.