Bodyguard - Gets Its Whitney And Kevin

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 11:46am

Thea Sharrock will direct The Bodyguard, a new musical based on the Lawrence Kasdan-scripted Warner Bros. film of the same name, which will open in the fall at London's Adelphi Theatre.


Previews will begin Nov. 6; opening is Dec. 5.

Tony winner Heather Headley will portray Rachel Marron, and Lloyd Owen will be Frank Farmer, the roles made famous on film by the late Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, respectively.

The new musical features a book by Alex Dinelaris, with designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Richard Brooker, choreography by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan and musical supervision by Mike Dixon.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 1:20pm

Also just found out that the role of Nikki Marron (Rachel's sister) will be played by the seriously amazing Debbie Kurup. That news has just made me VERY interested in this show!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 4:08pm

Do we know what Heather Hadley got her Tony award for?

Has anyone here seen her in anything?

And, has Lloyd Owen ever sung before? Or is his a non-singing role.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 4:18pm

I bet Debbie is cover for Heather too.

Thea Sharrock= slumming it (need a new house?)

[DeNada]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 4:39pm

Heather Headley won the Tony for Aida (and was the original Nala on Broadway). Vocal powerhouse with crazy Heather Small vowel sounds, basically - I have no idea if she can act or not.

Lloyd Owen was apparently in Viva Laughlin (terrible US "musical" TV series a few years ago) but otherwise has no MT credits on his agent's website. From the sounds of things, if all the music is Whitney tracks... I suspect he won't be doing any singing at all.

Thea Sharrock's hoping for international royalties, clearly!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 4:48pm

"I suspect he won't be doing any singing at all."

Hmmmmmm - I wonder if it's a non-acting role as well.

[MusicalBoy]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 6:11pm

^ Which coincidentally I usually call Kevin Costner roles...

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 7:58pm

lol i am the only person who loved Viva Laughlin for how camp and unhinged it was, shame it was axed after 2 episodes

[Jonwo]

Posted: 5/1/12 at 8:16pm

It'll be interesting how it does, I think it should do at least a year at the Adelphi, I'm not a fan of the film but I want to see Heather Headley so may book to see it.

[keithp]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 7:23am

Lloyd Owen. Not sure why the snarky comments about his acting. Have seen him in a couple of plays - one at the Donmar (Our Boys, I think) and also The York Realist and he was excellent in both.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 10:51am

would love to see Heather Headley too, she sounds amazing on the Aida cast recording, which as it happens, I listened to it on the way home yesterday night, suspect this announcement prompted me! Hope there is decent discounts in previews though, or this could be skipable at full price.

Would I be right in saying this is a jukebox musical of all Whitney Houston musicals?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 2:15pm

I saw Headley in Aida. She won a Tony for her belting. That's all I could figure. And even that wasn't so hot in the Dreamgirls concert. Ouch.