Liverpool Empire's festive show will be White Christmas (December 6-31) with a newly-announced cast of Jay McGuiness as Bob Wallace, Lorna Luft as Martha Watson, Michael Starke as General Waverly, with Dan Burton, Jessica Daley and Monique Young returning in their roles as Phil Davis, Betty Haynes and Judy Haynes.
A romantic comedy for all ages, the show's Irving Berlin score contains the iconic White Christmas as well as Blue Skies, Sisters, I Love A Piano and Count Your Blessings.
Best known as a member of boy-band The Wanted, as well as winning BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, Jay McGuiness’s theatre credits include Big, The Musical and Rip It Up, both in the West End. He also starred as Sam in new musical Sleepless – A Musical Romance.
Hailing from theatrical royalty, Lorna Luft – daughter of Judy Garland and half-sister to Liza Minnelli – is a star of stage and screen. Her credits include playing Fran Kubelik in the original Broadway production of Promises, Promises and the original Off-Broadway production of Snoopy! She first played the role of Martha Watson in the US tour of White Christmas.
Michael Starke is best known for his role as Thomas "Sinbad" Sweeney in Brookside, which he played for 16 years, and he most recently appeared in the UK and Ireland tour of Waitress. Further theatre credits include Hairspray, Sister Act, and as narrator in The Rocky Horror Show.
Information and tickets here