'Over The Rainbow' Semi-Finalist Fearon To Star In SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE Revival

Steph Fearon, who reached the semi-finals of the BBC1's ‘Over The Rainbow', is to star in the first major production of the musical ‘Smokey Joe's Cafe' since its West?End run at the?Prince of Wales in 1996.

A musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, ‘Smokey Joe's?Cafe' will open at the Landor?Theatre, Clapham, on Tuesday 13th July and run for a five-week season until Sunday 22nd August.

Press night is Tuesday 20 July at 7.30pm

‘Smokey Joe's?Cafe' features 39 of the greatest songs ever recorded, including ‘On Broadway', ‘Jalhouse Rock', ‘Stand?By Me' and ‘i'm a Woman'. Leiber and Stoller, as much as anyone, virtually invented rock 'n' roll and now their songs provide the basis for an electrifying entertainment that illuminates a golden age of American culture. In an idealized 1950's setting.

The cast also includes Marc Akinfolarin, Miguel Angel, Edward Baruwa, Simon Hardwick, Ngo Ngofa, Philippa Stefani,

Steph Fearon recently reached the semi finals wowing audiences every Saturday night on BBC 1's ‘Over The Rainbow', competing for the West End role of Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of ‘The Wizard Of Oz'. Her professional credits include: ‘The Little Shop of Horrors' (National tour) ‘Whistle Down the Wind' (Aldwych), ‘The Wind in the Willows' (Open Air Theatre), "As If' (C4) and My Parents are Aliens (ITV).

MykAl Rand (Director/Choreographer) has just returned from working on a very successful tour in New Zealand of ‘Starlight Express' as Associate Director, Associate Choreographer and playing the role of Electra. This is familiar territory for Mykal having performed in ‘Starlight Express' in London, Germany, Japan and on a UK tour, where he was also Resident Director. Parts played include Rusty, Poppa & Electra. Mykal has also been involved with the musical ‘Rent' since it arrived in the UK understudying & playing the role of Tom Collins on numerous occasions in the originAl West End production at the Shaftesbury Theatre. He also played Tom Collins at the Olympia Theatre Dublin, the UK Tour, and at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, which he also choreographed.

Thomas Hopkins (Producer) produced ‘Make Me A Song' at The New Players Theatre London; ‘Mathilde' a new musical directed by Simon Callow performed in concert at the Edinburgh festival and in a staged reading at The Vaudeville Theatre, and the critically acclaimed production of ‘Kurt & Sid' at The Trafalgar Studios starring British film star Danny Dyer (nominated WhatsOnStage award for Best Off West-End Production 2009). Thomas is producing a new musical, ‘Empire', by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull, directed by two time Tony award nominee Joey McKneely, scheduled to open in the West End in 2010. He is Executive Producer of the Landor Theatre,and most recently produced the 10th aniversary production of ‘Vincent River', starring Nicola Duffett and Elliott Jordan.

Following a major re-fit in 1998 The Landor Theatre, under Artistic Direction of Robert McWhir, has earned a solid reputation for its productions of both classic and new musical theatre, with productions of Sondheim's ‘Do I Hear A Waltz' and ‘Follies' winning universal acclaim from the National and International press as well as ‘City of Angels'. More recently, ‘I Love You Because' went on to win the Whatsonstage Award for best Off-West End Production.

For more information, visit www.landortheatre.co.uk.

Photo Credit: James Davies