Gareth Snook Joins Cast of CAFE SOCIETY SWING, Begin. 17 June at Leicester Square Theatre

Acclaimed actor Gareth Snook joins the cast of the new revised version of Cafe Society Swing that begins its first West End run on June 17th at the Leicester Square Theatre.

Snook, whose many theatre appearances include Andre in Phantom of the Opera, Alex in Aspects of Love, a principal role in the critically successful 'Make Me A Song' at the Charing Cross Theatre, and Bamatabois in the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables alongside TV credits that include Law and Order UK, The Bill, and Rory Bremner, plays three roles in Cafe Society Swing: an investigative journalist, a bartender, and idealist Barney Josephson, the real-life founder of Cafe Society and who worked for racial equality and progressive causes.

He also appeared in the film version of Les Miserables, directed by Tom Hooper.

Cafe Society Swing is a musical revue that tells the remarkable, true story of the pioneering New York nightclub opened by Barney Josephson in 1938 through to its demise in the anti-Communist hysteria of the late 1940s. Cafe Society became the first racially integrated club in New York City, probably the United States of America, calling itself 'The Wrong Place for the Right People'. It became the launching pad for some of the finest musical talent of the 20th century including Billie Holiday (who was given what became her signature tune there, Strange Fruit) Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and many others. Revitalized with a new cast that boasts the crème de la crème of the UK jazz scene, Cafe Society Swing takes the audience on a thrilling musical journey performing classic songs of the period. Stellar vocalists Vimala Rowe, Cherise Adams-Burnett and Ciyo Brown and the Cafe Society All Stars (which include, amongst others, Jason Yarde, Denys Baptiste, Shane Forbes and Winston Rollins) perform an irresistible soundtrack of music from many of the artists who performed there.

Cafe Society Swing returns to the Leicester Square Theatre for its first full West End run following two sold-out shows there last year, and 2012's residency at the Tricycle Theatre both of which earned rave reviews. Then, in another landmark event for the production, it heads off to New York City (the very home of the story) where it will run for three weeks in December at the 59E59 Theatre.

Café Society Swing is directed by Simon Green. Green has worked extensively as a director in the UK and New York, at theatres including Wyndhams, Cadogan Hall, Bristol Old Vic and Salisbury Playhouse. He is also an award winning actor, and has performed across the UK and abroad.

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