Laura Pitt-Pulford and Haydn Oakley to Lead THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH Musical at Mercury

The Daily Mail writes that Laura Pitt-Pulford and Haydn Oakley will star in a stage musical adaptation of Basil Dearden's 1957 film THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH. Brian Capron, Liza Goddard and Sam O'Rourke are also in the cast.

The production is coming to the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, on September 25, followed by a UK tour through November 23, 2015.

Paul Alexander wrote the book, and the show features a score by Irving Berlin. Director Thom Southerland spent months nabbing the stage rights to Berlin's tunes, including "Blue Skies," "Let Yourself Go", "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "Always".

The film follows a newly married couple who inherit an old movie theater nicknamed "The Flea Pit," which is threatened out of existence by a big chain. Alexander told the Mail that he and Southerland are expanding the story for the musical.

Pitt-Pulford just appeared in FOLLIES IN CONCERT in London and will soon be seen in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS at Regent's Park. She has recently graced the stage in THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the Leicester Curve, THE LIGHT PRINCESS at the National, MARRY ME A LITTLE at St. James Studio, and THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER at Jermyn Street.

Oakley has starred in the West End in WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, THE BOOK OF MORMON, WICKED and WE WILL ROCK YOU, as well as the UK tour of BETTY BLUE EYES and more.

Pictured: (top) Laura Pitt Pulford in MACK AND MABEL at Southwark Playhouse in 2012. Photo by Annabel Vere. (right) Haydn Oakley on the BOOK OF MORMON red carpet. Photo by Dan Wooller/Rex Images.