West End star Matthew Seadon-Young will take over as Bobby Strong, performing opposite BBC’s The Voice star Nathan Amzi who joins the cast as Officer Barrel.
It has also been confirmed that Simon Paisley Day – star of Musketeers, Doctor Who, Titanic, Sherlock, Spartacus and Being Human – will return to Urinetown as Caldwell B. Cladwell. New cast members include Alasdair Buchan (Swing), Christina Modestou (Swing), Kane Oliver Parry (Robbie The Stockfish) and Vicky Lee Taylor (Swing).
They join legendary West End and Broadway performer Jenna Russell (Penelope Pennywise), RSC actor Jonathan Slinger (Officer Lockstock) and former EastEnders cast member Marc Elliott (Mr. McQueen) as well as Rosanna Hyland (Hope Cladwell) and Karis Jack (Little Sally).
The cast is completed by Chris Bennett (Swing), Katie Bernstein (Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs. Millennium), Cory English (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry), Madeleine Harland (Soupy Sue), Julie Jupp (Old Woman/Josephine Strong), Aaron Lee Lambert (Billy Boy Bill), Mark Meadows (Senator Fipp), Joel Montague(Swing) and Jeff Nicholson (Tiny Tom/Dr. Billeaux).
Discussing the casting news, director Jamie Lloyd said, “I am really excited that we now have the full cast for our West End transfer of Urinetown. It is great that the brilliantly talented Simon Paisley Day is reprising the role of Caldwell B. Cladwell for our run at the Apollo Theatre. I am also thrilled that Matthew Seadon-Young will be getting the opportunity to play Bobby Strong. He is an extraordinary talent and very much a rising star to watch. I am looking forward to what he will bring to the role for our West End audiences.
“I saw Nathan Amzi’s fantastic performance in In The Heights, and obviously he is well known for his recent stint on the BBC’s hit show The Voice UK, and I know he will add another dimension to our multi-talented cast”.
The production is designed by Soutra Gilmour with choreography by Ann Yee, lighting design by Adam Silverman and sound design by Terry Jardine & Nick Lidster.
Urinetown is described as a “sharp-witted rampant riot of a show”. It tells the tale of a town fit to burst; spending a penny can prove problematic in a place where the privilege to pee has become a punishable offence. There is no such thing as rent free relief until our young hero, Bobby Strong, appears – with more than a good set of pipes – and starts a revolution! Sometimes all you need is a drop of a hope to change the world.
Urinetown enjoyed a successful Broadway run between 2001 and 2004. It was nominated for ten Tony Awards, winning Best Book, Best Score and Best Direction. In addition, it also won three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Obie Awards and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.