A major new production of classic Broadway musical Mack & Mabel comes to Wales Millennium Centre next week (1-6 December) starring double Olivier award-winning Michael Ball as Mack Sennett.
Based on the real-life romance between Hollywood legends Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand, Mack and Mabel tells the story of a group of pioneering filmmakers who changed the world surrounded by the great fun of the silent screen: heroes in capes, girls tied to the tracks, glamorous Bathing Beauties and the chaos of the Keystone Kops.
Mack & Mabel features an outstanding score by Jerry Herman and is widely admired for its classic Broadway hits including I Won’t Send Roses and Time Heals Everything.
In a production by a multi-award winning team, with direction by Jonathan Church and choreography by Stephen Mear, this dazzling musical comedy is both a poignant love story and a riveting tribute to the grit and glamour of the era of silent movies. The show received eight Tony Award nominations when it opened on Broadway in 1974.
Having performed numerous times at Wales Millennium Centre, including in 2010 as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, Michael Ball returns in the role of Mack Sennett, the great comedy director of the silent screen. Michael’s recent credits include the BBC television drama That Day We Sang, which reunited him with Sweeney Todd co-star Imelda Staunton. Theatre credits include the title role in Sweeney Todd (Chichester Festival 2011 and West End), Hairspray, Les Misérables, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Passion, Aspects of Love, The Woman in White and The Phantom of the Opera. Ball co-produced Chichester Festival 2010’s West End transfer of Love Story. He also has a successful recording and broadcasting career.
The production is directed by Jonathan Church, Chichester’s Artistic Director. Credits include Singin’ in the Rain (West End and tour), Taken at Midnight (West End) and Amadeus, The Last Confession (Toronto, Los Angeles and Australia tour), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (West End) and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (West End). Other credits include Of Mice and Men (West End and tour) and The Witches (West End and tour).
Design is by Robert Jones whose credits include Taken At Midnight (West End), Kiss Me, Kate (Old Vic) and Calendar Girls (UK tour, Australia and Canada). Other credits include West End productions of A Chorus of Disapproval and Much Ado About Nothing.
Choreography is by Stephen Mear, Chichester’s Associate Choreographer. Credits include Gypsy (which transfers to the West End in March 2015), and Amadeus, as well as The Pajama Game (also West End) and Kiss Me, Kate (also The Old Vic). Other credits include West End productions of Shoes, Mary Poppins, Hello, Dolly!, Crazy for You and Anything Goes (National Theatre and West End).
The UK & Ireland Tour of Mack & Mabel is co-produced with Playful Productions.
Mack and Mabel is at Wales Millennium Centre 1 – 6 December 2015. Tickets: £20.50 – £54.50. Age Guidance 8+ (no under 2s). For more information or to book tickets visit: www.wmc.org.uk or call 02920 636464.
