More star cast members have been announced for Hope Mill Theatre's birthday concert version of Nine the Musical, joining the already-announced Broadway and West End's Ramin Karimloo.
Staged at Salford's Lowry (February 1-2), to mark the Manchester venue's ninth birthday, joining Karimloo will be West End leading ladies Ruthie Henshall (Chicago, Billy Elliot) and Zizi Strallen (Mary Poppins, Strictly Ballroom), Amber Davies (Pretty Woman, Back to the Future); Josefina Gabrielle (Les Miserables, Oklahoma!); Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (HEX, Cinderella); Melissa James (Moulin Rouge, Gypsy) and Danielle Steers (Just For One Day, Bat Out of Hell the Musical)
In the show, movie director Guido Contini is struggling to find meaning, purpose, and a script for his latest movie. With only a week before shooting begins, he searches for inspiration from his wife, his mistress, his muse and his mother...
Featuring songs, Be Italian, Unusual Way and Cinema Italiano, Nine has music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Arthur Kopit and will be co-directed by Hope Mill founders William Whelton and Joseph Houston. The show won the 1982 Tony award for best musical and best original score and was released as a film in 2009, with a cast including Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Fergie, Sophia Loren and Judi Dench.
Joseph Houston said: “The story of Nine relies on its strong female stories of perseverance, strength, heartbreak, loss and the many facets of love and we could not have dreamed of such an exceptional group of women to bring this story to life.
"Alongside the wonder that is Ramin Karimloo as Guido, I think this will be a very special concert - one not to be missed."
Nine follows Hope Mill’s concert version of Gypsy starring Jodie Prenger in February, which has just been nominated for a What’s On Stage Award for best concert.
More info and tickets here