Miranda Wilford, Ashley Emerson and More Join Penny Rock Theatre's WHEN MIDNIGHT STRIKES; Cast Announced!

Penny Rock Theatre Productions Ltd and Aria Entertainment present an Inner Circle Production of WHEN MIDNIGHT STRIKES by Kevin Hammonds and Charles Miller, UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE, Highgate Village, London, N6 4BD. Previews: 11th & 12th September. Press Night 13th September, run until 29th September.

We are delighted to reveal the cast for the critically acclaimed production of WHEN MIDNIGHT STRIKES:

Jennifer West:
Miranda Wilford (Backbeat, Thriller Live!, Hair, Joseph)

Christopher West:
Ashley Emerson (X-Factor's Princes & Rogues, 12 Tenors)

JOSEPHINA:
Jessica Anne Ball (The Most Wonderful Time Of Year)

ZOE:
Victoria Croft (Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens)

GREG WEST:
Tom Millen (Salad Days, Buddy Holly Story)

NICOLE:
Stephanie Parker (Footloose, Curtains)

EDWARD:
Newley Aucutt (Priscilla Queen Of The Desert)

RACHEL:
Tash Holway (I Love You Because)

BRADLEY:
John Hicks (Wicked)

TWYLA:
Sarah Harlington (Sister Act, Hair)

ALEX:
Samuel Parker (Passport to Pimlico, Avenue Q)

MURIAL:
Lucyelle Cliffe (Hot Mikado, The Sound Of Music)

The critically acclaimed When Midnight Strikes finally returns to London after its sell-out run at The Finborough Theatre in 2007. When Midnight Strikes has been produced all around the world including New York, Norway and Australia and it continues to lead the way in new musical theatre.

The musical theatre industry is frequently criticised for producing revivals and film based jukebox musicals, so it's refreshing that a new piece of musical theatre can have the impact that When Midnight Strikes is having.

The synopsis: New York, New Year's Eve 1999 - the dawn of a new millennium - and Jennifer West's intimate dinner party for close friends and family begins to fall apart upon the discovery that her husband has been having an affair. To make matters worse, she realises that the unknown mistress is one of eleven party guests. As the hosts confront their unraveling marriage, new resolutions, past mistakes, and an uncertain future merge into an explosive and life-altering evening.

Kevin Hammonds' book is in turn hilarious and moving, the plot keeping the audience on tenter- hooks until the finale. With a score by Charles Miller packed with original show-stopping songs, When Midnight Strikes gives a remarkably accurate sense of the brittle gaiety of a New Year party, with all the tensions so often seething beneath the surface.

About the Writers: Charles Miller (Music) and Kevin Hammonds (Book and Lyrics) were first brought together in 1998 to collaborate on a new musical based on the Vincent Price cult classic Theatre of Blood. The production was due to be "previewed" at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth before transferring to the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End. Unfortunately, a last-minute hitch with the rights resulted in the whole project being shelved. But fortunately, Charles and Kevin developed a great friendship and, undaunted by this set back, immediately started working on When Midnight Strikes. A few years later, Charles and Kevin wrote Brenda Bly: Teen Detective which had its world premiere at the Cochrane Theatre in London, soon followed by it's professional premiere at The Bridewell Theatre, London. After it's rave reviews and sold out performances, Brenda Bly: Teen Detective was published and is currently playing worldwide from London, Pennsylvania, Dublin, Malta and Texas to name a few.

Their Christmas musical Mr. Christmas won "Best Musical" at the NEPTA Awards, followed by a production in London. Other shows include No One In The World (London and New York), Build Me A Bridge (London and New York), R.S.V.P.A.S.A.P (London's Cochrane Theatre), Big Top (Bridewell Theatre), Lost In New York, A Balsamo Family Christmas, (CBDT, Pennsylvania). Recordings include Avenue Q star Julie Atherton's A Girl Of Few Words, Marc Joseph's Clear Blue Sky, the original cast recording of When Midnight Strikes, and Just The Beginning: The Songs of Miller and Hammondsfeaturing a host of West End and Broadway stars.

Directors: Grant Murphy and Damian Sandys
Musical Director: Matthew Ramplin
Musical Supervisor: Christopher Peake
Associate Director/Choreographer: Ellie Rutherford
Designer: Kemey Lafond
Lighting Designer: Tom Boucher
Sound Designer: Sepehr Malek
Stage Manager: Jen Rowley
Company Manager/Resident Director: Nick Morrell

Produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Guy James for Penny Rock Productions
Associate Producer: Jason Haigh-Ellery
Associate Producer: Steve Boden for Imagine Theatre Ltd.
Associate Producer: Jim Zalles

WHEN MIDNIGHT STRIKES will run UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE, Highgate Village, London, N6 4BD, Wednesday 11th to Sunday 29th September. Performance Schedule: 7.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and 4.00pm on Sundays. Press performance: Friday 13th December 2013 at 7.30pm. Booking Office: 020 8340 3488. Online Bookings: www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com.

Ticket Prices:

- All Seats £10 Previews: Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th September*
- Saturday 14th and Sun 15th September - £16 (£14 concessions)*
- Tuesday 17th to Thursday 19th September - £14 (£12 concessions)*
- Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd - £16 (£14 concessions)*
- Tuesday 24th to Sunday 29th - £18 (£16 concessions)*
- *Credit cards incur .50p charge per ticket.

Travel:

BY TUBE #1: HIGHGATE STATION
(Northern Line - High Barnet Branch - plus 10 minute walk - Zone 3).
Exit 3. Cross Archway Road then walk up and to the end of Southwood Lane. Look to the right and you will see
The Gatehouse Pub, a large mock-Tudor building on a roundabout. Entrance to the theatre is through the pub.
[NB: Exit 3 is temporarily closed until mid October 2013 as part of refurbishment works at the station. Please take Exit 1 via the steps to the car park and up the slope. Cross Archway Road and then walk up Jackson's Lane, at the end of the road turn left onto Southwood Lane.]

BY TUBE #2: ARCHWAY STATION
(Northern Line - High Barnet branch - plus a steep hill walk for 20 minutes OR a 5 minute bus ride - Zone 2&3).
Turn left out of the main exit and left into Highgate Hill.
Take either 143, 210, or 271 up the hill to Highgate Village from Bus stop E.

BY BUS:
143 (Archway - East Finchley - Brent Cross)
210 (Finsbury Park - Golders Green - Brent Cross)
214 (Highgate - Kentish Town - Camden - Angel - Old Street - Liverpool Street)
271 (Highgate - Highbury & Islington - Old Street - Liverpool Street)

BY CAR: Free parking after Noon in residents parking bays and pay and display bays. Parking permitted on single yellow lines after 6.30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.

Pictured: Samuel Parker, Sarah Harlington, Tom Millen, Newly Aucutt, Tash Holway (centre front), Jessica Anne Ball, Stephanie Parker (back), Ashley Emerson, John Hicks, Miranda Wilford, and Victoria Croft.

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