UK Tour Dates Announced For Dusty Springfield Musical DUSTY!

DUSTY, the landmark new musical based on the authorised biography of Dusty Springfield, will have its world premiere at Theatre Royal Bath in June 2018 before dates at The Lyceum in Sheffield, Newcastle Theatre Royal, and The Lowry in Salford.

With a fiercely funny and emotionally charged script from BAFTA and Olivier nominated writer Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Coronation Street), DUSTY will be directed by Olivier Award-winner Maria Friedman (Merrily We Roll Along, Stepping Out) and star Katherine Kingsley (Piaf, Singin' in the Rain) in what promises to be a career-defining performance celebrating the music of a lifetime. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Featuring many of Dusty Springfield's blazingly soulful pop hits, including I Only Want to Be with You, Son of a Preacher Man and You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, DUSTY celebrates the extraordinary and vivacious woman whose timeless voice immortalised her as "one of Britain's most successful female singers" (The Telegraph).

Dusty Originates from the notes and memoirs of the late singer's close friend and manager Vicki Wickham, as well as conversations with her lifelong personal assistant Pat Rhodes, and friend and record company executive Tris Penna.

London born Dusty Springfield's career started in the late 1950's. She soon became known across the world for her soulful voice and iconic look with hits spanning four decades. Her 1969 masterpiece ''Dusty In Memphis' is considered one of the greatest albums of all time and Dusty has been inducted into both the US Rock and Roll and UK Music Halls of Fame.

Jonathan Harvey wrote his first play in 1987, and has since written over 15 more, including Babies, Boom Bang-A-Bang and Beautiful Thing, which was later made into an acclaimed film. He has been the recipient of the Evening Standard, George Devine and John Whiting Awards, and his work has been both Bafta- and Olivier-nominated. Jonathan's extensive television writing includes Coronation Street, on which he has worked since 2004, Beautiful People and Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. He has also written for shows as diverse as Rev, Shameless, At Home With The Braithwaites, The Catherine Tate Show and Tracey Ullman's Show. He has also published five novels and been hailed as 'the new theatrical voice of his generation'.

Best known as a three-time Olivier Award winning star of the musical stage, director Maria Friedman made an astonishing directorial debut in 2012 with a hugely acclaimed production of Merrily We Roll Along which won Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards 2013, the Olivier Awards 2014 (for which Maria was also nominated for Best Director of a Musical), and the Critic's Circle Award 2013. She went on to direct High Society at The Old Vic in 2015 and recently Stepping Out at the Vaudeville Theatre.

Katherine Kingsley has received widespread critical acclaim and multiple Olivier and WhatsOnStage award nominations. Theatre credits include playing Marlene Dietrich in Piaf (Donmar), Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre London, Manchester Opera House and Aylesbury Waterside Theatre), Helena in Michael Grandage Company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (Noël Coward Theatre), Lina Lamont in Singin' In The Rain (Palace Theatre London and Chichester Festival Theatre) and The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre). On screen credits include the film Genius as well as appearances on The Bill, Casualty and Bad Education.

DUSTY is produced by Eleanor Lloyd Productions in association with Tris Penna and Vicki Wickham. Eleanor Lloyd Productions is currently presenting Witness for the Prosecution at London County Hall. Recent projects include Nell Gwynn with Gemma Arterton, Olivier Award for Best Comedy (Apollo), Fantastic Mr Fox Winner Best Presentation of Touring Theatre - UK Theatre Awards (NST Theatres & Tour), 1984 (Playhouse, 2014, 2015 & 2016, Hudson Broadway), My Night with Reg, Olivier Nomination for Best Revival (Apollo) and Handbagged, Olivier Nomination for Best Comedy (Vaudeville and UK tour).

DUSTY
THE NEW DUSTY SPRINGFIELD MUSICAL
Book by Jonathan Harvey
Directed by Maria Friedman
Designer Tom Pye

Choreographer Tim Jackson

TOUR SCHEDULE

Saturday 23 June - Saturday 7 July 2018
Theatre Royal Bath
*Online booking from 2 November 2017*
www.theatreroyal.org.uk | 01225 448844
Tickets from £23.00
Evenings performances at 7.30pm
Matinee performances on Saturday 30th June, Thursday 5th July and Saturday 7th July at 2.30pm.(no performance Monday 25th June).

Wednesday10 July - Saturday 14 July 2018

SHEFFIELD LYCEUM THEATRE
*On Sale from early 2018*
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk | 0114 249 6000
Tickets from £18.00
Evening performances at 7.45pm
Matinee performances on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm

Tuesday 17 July - Saturday 21 July 2018
Newcastle Theatre ROYAL
* General on sale from 10 November 2017*
www.theatreroyal.co.uk | 08448 112 121
Tickets from £19.50
Evening performances at 7.30pm
Matinee performances on Wednesday and Thursday at 2pm and Saturday at 2.30pm

Tuesday 24 July - Saturday 28 July 2018
THE LOWRY, SALFORD
* General on sale from 20 October 2017*
www.thelowry.com | 0843 208 6000
Tickets from £14.50
Evening performances at 7.30pm
Matinee performances on Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm