Amanda Abbington and Danny Mac Confirmed For The UK Premiere Of New Musical A LITTLE PRINCESS

Sherlock star Amanda Abbington and Sunset Boulevard leading man Danny Mac are the first stars to be announced for the UK premiere of the musical A Little Princess by Tony-nominated composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (Big Fish,The Addams Family, The Wild Party).

Amanda Abbington, best known for playing Mary Morstan, the wife of John Watson, in the BBC's global hit Sherlock (for which she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award, for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries) and series regular Miss Mardle in Mr Selfridge, will play Miss Minchin in her musical theatre debut.

Danny Mac, currently starring in his award-winning leading man role as Joe Gillis on the no.1 UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, acclaimed for his starring role in On The Town at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and a much-loved finalist on last year's Strictly Come Dancing (critics and bookies favourite, he broke Strictly records with his perfect Samba), will play Captain Crewe.

Multi Olivier Award-winner and Tony Award nominee Arlene Phillips CBE is directing the one-off semi-staged concert performance, which also features the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Thousands of youngsters have been auditioned for 10 child star roles.

A Little Princess will receive its UK premiere at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall on Bank Holiday, Monday 28 May at 7.30pm.

A Little Princess, with book and lyrics by by Brian Crawley (Violet), is based upon Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic childhood novel. It tells the story of Sara Crewe, as she is sent from her home in Africa to boarding school in London and separated from her father. As young Sara's world is turned upside down, she must rely on her friends and imaginative powers to overcome her strict headmistress Miss Minchin and prove that every little girl deserves to be a princess.

Further casting and full creative team to be announced.

Casting by Keston & Keston. General management by ebp.

Tickets now on sale at:
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/128779-little-princess-2018

AMANDA ABBINGTON (Miss Minchin): British actress Amanda Abbington is best known for her performances both in the theatre and on screen. This May, Amanda is due to star in the global, original Netflix thriller Safe. The eight-part drama has been written by BAFTA winning screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst and will see Amanda star alongside Michael C Hall. Last year saw Amanda reprised her role in BBC One's BAFTA and Emmy-winning Sherlock, as Mary Morstan, for which she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award, for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries. Amanda starred alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Toby Jones. Season 4 of Sherlock won two awards at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards. Last year also saw Amanda go on to star in Julian Fellowes' Crooked House, alongside Christina Hendricks, Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close and Max Irons. Amanda starred as series regular Miss Mardle in ITV's popular drama Mr Selfridge from 2013 to 2016 and received much acclaim in both the UK and USA. In 2015, she starred in the eight-part BBC police drama Cuffs, in which she played DS Jo Moffat. The series received rave reviews across the board. Amanda's theatre credits include The Royal Court Theatre's 2014 production God Bless The Child, and the 40th anniversary production of Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party at the Theatre Royal Bath. Amanda's further film credits include the thriller We The Kings opposite Timothy West and Another Mother's Son, co-starring Jenny Seagrove and John Hannah. The plot focused on Louisa Gould who, during the Second World War, hides an escaped Russian prisoner of war on the Nazi-occupied island of Jersey.

Danny Mac (Captain Crewe): Danny Mac captured the nation's hearts and received overwhelming support during his incredible time on BBC1's flagship entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing in 2016. The critics and bookies favourite, Danny broke Strictly records with his perfect Samba and made it all the way to the finish line with fellow contestants Ore Oduba and Louise Redknapp. Born in London, Danny moved to the South coast and became involved in theatre at an early age, having played the role of Gavroche in Cameron Mackintosh's tour of Les Miserables in a ten week run in Southampton and reprising the role a year later in the West End. He went on to study acting at Chichester College before winning a place at the prestigious Arts Educational. Known for training some of the country's leading actors and West End stars, Danny left in 2009 with a BA Hons degree in Performing Arts. Danny went on to appear in many other theatre productions, including the Olivier and Tony award-winning West End musical Wicked, Legally Blonde based on the cult movie and the summer received brilliant reviews as the lead role of Gabey in the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production of the classic musical On The Town, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie "Mac is terrific as the wide-eyed, wholesome Gabey" - The Daily Telegraph. Danny's television work has clocked him up an impressive number of awards and nominations including Best Newcomer at the highly regarded National Television Awards, which is voted for by the British public. Danny recently made a special appearance in the Sky One hit sitcom Trollied, alongside Jason Watkins. Danny can currently be seen portraying the lead male role of Joe Gillis in the UK and Ireland tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical Sunset Boulevard, alongside Ria Jones and directed by Nikolai Foster. Danny has won a Manchester Theatre Award for his role and was nominated for a WhatsOnStage award.

Andrew Lippa wrote the music and lyrics for Big Fish, book by John August, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, which played the Neil Simon Theater on Broadway and had its UK premiere at The Other Palace. His oratorio, I Am Harvey Milk (words and music), was premiered by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and the recording, released in October, 2013, reached number 2 on the iTunes Classical Chart. He wrote he Tony-nominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical The Addams Family, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), which opened in April 2010 and starred Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. Mr. Lippa wrote the music for the Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin's (The Social Network, A Few Good Men) The Addams Family new play The Farnsworth Invention directed by Des McAnuff. Asphalt Beach (music and lyrics) was premiered at Northwestern University by the American Music Theatre Project in October, 2006. The Wild Party (book/music/lyrics) was given its world premiere in 2000 at the Manhattan Theater Club in New York City. The Wild Party won the Outer Critics Circle Award for best Off-Broadway musical of the season and Mr. Lippa won the 2000 Drama Desk Award for best music. 2004 saw the premiere of A Little Princess (book and lyrics by Brian Crawley) at Theatreworks in Palo Alto, CA. In 1999 he contributed three new songs to the Broadway version of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (including My New Philosophy for Tony-Award Winner Kristin Chenoweth) and created all new arrangements. He wrote the music and co-wrote the book (with Tom Greenwald) for john & jen, which premiered in New York City in 1995 at The Lamb's Theater. Mr. Lippa is proud to have been music director for Kristin Chenoweth since 1999 for many of her concerts. He conducted/played her sold-out shows at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC in 2007, at Carnegie Hall in 2004, and at The Donmar Warehouse in London in 2002. He was born in Leeds, England but grew up in suburban Detroit.

Arlene Phillips is a showbiz legend honoured as a CBE for her services to dance; she has worked with stars from film and TV, to theatre and arenas, as well as becoming one of Britain's favourite television judges. Her credits as director: Saturday Night Fever, international productions of Starlight Express, Lord of the Dance, The Songbook of Judy Garland, Brazouka, Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Manchester XVII Commonwealth Games. As choreographer: Jackie The Musical, Starlight Express, Wizard of Oz, Flashdance, The Sound of Music, Grease, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, EFX at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, Joseph and Jesus Christ Superstar US tours.

Southbank Centre is the UK's largest arts centre, occupying a 17­ acre site that sits in the midst of London's most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. The site has an extraordinary creative and architectural history stretching back to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Southbank Centre is home to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery as well as The National Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection. For further information please visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk.