R egent’s Park Open Air Theatre have today confirmed their 2022 summer season, the venue’s 90th anniversary. The musical Legally Blonde (13 May – 2 July) is directed by Lucy Moss, co-writer and co-director of Six. Lucy became the youngest woman ever to direct a musical on Broadway when Six opened last month. Previously postponed due to the pandemic, the new musical 101 Dalmatians (12 July – 28 August), directed by Timothy Sheader, will premiere at the outdoor venue in July. Based on the story by Dodie Smith set in Regent’s Park, the musical is written by Douglas Hodge (music and lyrics) andJohnny McKnight (book), from a stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris. In a second commission from the theatre in 2022, Antigone (3 – 24 September) is written by Barber Shop Chronicles writer Inua Ellams, and directed by Max Webster.
Artistic Director Timothy Sheader said:
“Anniversaries often feel overrated but after the last two years it feels properly joyous to be announcing the 90th season of theatre in Regent’s Park. We’d like to take this moment to thank all our partners, funders, theatre makers and audiences for their continued support and commitment to making this wonderful human experience possible. It’s no small thing. We hope you will find something to delight or provoke you in this programme of work – centred on living writers and including two premieres of new commissions – and that you will join us in the park next summer to celebrate theatre; alive and kicking.”
Legally Blonde has music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, book by Heather Hach, and is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture. The creative team includes Pippa Ailion CDG and Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion Casting (casting directors), Cat Beveridge (musical supervisor), Tony Gayle (sound designer), Ellen Kane (choreographer), and Lucy Moss (director).
101 Dalmatians has music and lyrics by Douglas Hodge, a book by Johnny McKnight from a stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris, and is based on the story by Dodie Smith. The creative team includes Jill Green CDG (casting director), Tash Holway (assistant choreographer), Howard Hudson (lighting designer), Nick Lidster for Autograph (sound designer), Katrina Lindsay (costume designer), Tarek Merchant (musical director), Verity Naughton CDG and Nick Hockaday for Verity Naughton Casting (children’s casting directors), Toby Olié (puppetry designer and director), Colin Richmond (set designer), Timothy Sheader (director), Liam Steel (choreographer), and Sarah Travis (musical supervisor and orchestrator).
Also confirmed across the 2022 season are Shanaé Chisholm (Casting Assistant), Barbara Houseman (Season Associate: Voice & Text Director), and Ingrid Mackinnon (Season Associate: Intimacy Support).
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Memberships are now on sale, and Members’ priority booking for the 2022 season opens at 11am, Tuesday 16 November 2021.
Visit www.openairtheatre.com/
Public booking opens at 11am, Tuesday 7 December 2021.