COUGAR THE MUSICAL to Make U.K. Premiere at Belgrade Theatre

Protect your children, there's Cougars in Coventry this May as the Belgrade Theatre present the U.K premiere of Cougar The Musical.

On the prowl from Sat 16 May - Sat 6 June in B2, Cougar - The Musical is a hilarious, raunchy and insightful new musical about three women of a certain age saying yes to life and learning that true happiness lies within.

Soulful, sassy, poignant and provocative - expect to be taken on a heart-warming and uproarious journey through their adventures, disappointments and ultimately, inspiring transformations.

"Funny, raucous and romantic ... women are likely to fall under its life-affirming spell." New York I

Cougar The Musical is written by American playwright, lyricist and composer Donna Moore, who first pounced on the idea for the show at a party. Cougar The Musical makes its UK premiere at the Belgrade Theatre following smash hit success at the St Luke's Theatre New York where it ran for over two years off-Broadway.

The show is being directed by Belgrade Creative Associate Patricia Benecke, who was last seen at the Belgrade in 2012 directing Ingmar Bergman's critically-acclaimed production of Nora, adapted from Ibsen's A Doll's House.

Donna Moore said: ''When I first heard the term "Cougar', I was doing stand-up comedy and writing 'The UnBalancing Act", a show about my divorce - and I thought, "How come we have to place a derogatory name on an older woman? I wanted to write a play that humanized the cougar which showed that women come in all shapes and sizes and that each woman is special no matter what. My thesis statement is that a woman who dates a younger man should be called a woman!'

'My mission with this play is to inspire and encourage women (and men) to say yes to life and understand that the key to self-empowerment comes from within. If nothing else, I want men and women who come to see this show to leave with their spirits uplifted, a song in their heart and perhaps, a racy story to share with their friends'.

Featuring a multi-talented cast of three fabulous females and one very brave man, this riotous new musical will see West End star Dawn Hope, take up the role of high-flying academic Clarity following her appearance as Rosa Parks in the highly-acclaimed Young Vic production of Kander and Ebb's The Scottsboro Boys (Best New Musical 2014 - Evening Standard Awards). Other theatre credits include Porgy and Bess (Savoy Theatre/National Tour), Lady Day (Emerson's Bar & Grill), Piaf (Piccadilly Theatre/National Tour) and Chicago (The Cambridge Theatre/Sheffield Crucible).

She will be joined on stage by international film, stage and television star Suanne Braun, best known for her roles in the long-running series Just Shoot Me (NBC), FX The Series (Fox) and the hit sci-fi series Stargate SG-1 (MGM) in which Suanne starred as the goddess Hathor. Theatre credits include Mamma Mia and Onassis in the West End, the Birmingham REP/UK touring production of Kander and Ebb's Cabaret and The House of Bernada Alba (Riverside Studios).

Completing the trio is Pippa Winslow in the role of recently divorced mother and wife Lilly. Pippa's extensive theatre credits include Other Desert Cities (Old Vic), Strangers On A Train (Gielgud Theatre, London), The Phantom Of The Opera, Madame Butterfly and Opal (US National Tour) and Hairspray (Gordon Craig & Bronowski Productions, Macau). Television credits include Locked Up Abroad (National Geographic), Apocalypse Slough (Sky1) and The Guiding Light for CBS.

They will be joined on stage by Barnaby Hughes as Buck whose previous credits include Luther for BBC Television, Miliband of Brothers for Channel 4 and Legally Blonde for Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

Featuring a fabulously feisty score guaranteed to leave audiences wanting more, Cougar The Musical comes complete with a high-energy soundtrack of hit songs including Shiny and New, Julio, On The Prowl, I'm My Own Queen and the empowering all-female anthem Say Yes.

Cougar The Musical is designed by Juliet Shillingford with Video and LX Design by Arnim Friess. Additional Music and Lyrics are by Mark Barkan, John Baxidine, Arnie Gross, Meryl Leppard & Seth Lefferts. The show features choreography by Racky Plews. The Musical Director is Neil McDonald.

Tickets for Cougar The Musical are available now from the box office on 024 7655 3055 or via www.belgrade.co.uk where cheaper tickets are available. Tickets are priced from £9 - £21.25 (with concessions available).

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