By Paul Couch
The Theatre Royal Bath has announced today [11 March 2016] the tour and casting of Richard Harris’ Stepping Out, which is to be directed by Maria Friedman.
The production opens at the Theatre Royal Bath on 12 October, followed by Richmond Theatre and Cambridge Arts Theatre, with additional dates to be announced.
Amanda Holden will star, alongside Angela Griffin (Coronation Street,One Man, Two Guvnors) and Nicola Stephenson (Homefront, Emmerdale, War Horse).
Holden, regularly seen these days as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent,took the title role in 2003 in the stage version of Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award and, in 2011, she played the role of Princess Fiona in the original West End production of Shrek the Musical.
A four-time Olivier Award-winning star of the musical stage, Friedman made her directorial debut with her highly acclaimed production of Merrily We Roll Along, which opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory and subsequently transferred to the West End, winning Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards 2013, the Oliver Awards 2014, and the Critics’ Circle Award 2013. She went on to direct High Society at the Old Vic in 2015.