Kaisa Hammarlund must have enjoyed performing the work of Jeanine Tesori because she stars in Violet, having only recently appeared in the American composer’s Fun Home at the Young Vic. The award-winning musical, with book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, opens at the Charing Cross Theatre on 14 January 2019. Will you be joining Violet on her journey?
Kaisa Hammarlund will play the title role in Violet which receives its UK premiere at London’s Charing Cross Theatre for a 12-week season from 14 January to 6 April 2019 (press night is 21 January) in an international co-production that will see it transfer to Tokyo.
The actress has just played Alison Bechdel in the acclaimed UK premiere of Fun Home (Tesori’s Tony Award-winning score written with Lisa Kron) at the Young Vic. Her other major roles include Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity, Royal Exchange Theatre; Petra in A Little Night Music, Menier Chocolate Factory & Garrick Theatre; and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Nöjesteatern, Malmö Sweden.
Jay Marsh (Miss Saigon, Sunny Afternoon, Christmas With The Rat Pack, Porgy & Bess) plays Flick and Matthew Harvey (Loserville) plays Monty. Also in the cast are Simbi Akande, Angelica Allen, Kenneth Avery-Clark, Keiron Crook, James Gant, Danny Michaels, Janet Mooney with Amy Mepham, Rebecca Nardin and Maddie Sellman as young Violet.
Violet, based on the short story The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts, premiered Off-Broadway and won the Drama Critics’ Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award as Best Musical, before transferring to Broadway where it was nominated for four Tony awards. The new production is helmed by Japanese director Shuntaro Fujita.
