YANK!, the widely acclaimed musical production which recently received its UK première at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, is to transfer to London this summer. The moving, war-time gay love story will run at Charing Cross Theatre from Monday 3 July – Saturday 19 August 2017 (Press Night: Monday 10 July at 7.30pm).
Based on the true, hidden history of gay soldiers during World War, YANK! focuses on the life of Stu, a scared Midwestern youngster who is called up to serve in the forces in 1943 and becomes a reporter for Yank Magazine, the journal ‘for and by the servicemen’. Telling the stories of the men in Charlie Company, the musical explores what it means to be a man, and what it is to fall in love and struggle to survive in a time and place where the odds are stacked against you.
YANK! is based on the Off-Broadway hit production from 2010, with book and lyrics by American writer David Zellnik, with his brother Joseph Zellnik’s musical score paying homage to the timeless music of the 1940s. The musical is directed by James Baker, and is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre, Ben Millerman with Jim Kierstead and Guy James.
Completing the creative team are James Cleeve as musical director; choreographer Chris Cuming; designer Victoria Hinton; lighting designer Aaron J. Dootson; sound designer Chris Bogg; and casting director Benjamin Newsome.
YANK! is the latest collaboration between leading London-based theatre production company Aria Entertainment and one of Manchester’s newest and leading arts venues, the award-winning Hope Mill Theatre. They first joined forces in January 2016 to spearhead the arts venue as a platform to showcase, revive and bring new musical theatre to the north of England. The transfer to Charing Cross Theatre is helmed by the three producers of the original production at Hope Mill, who are now joined by Jim Kierstead and Guy James.
Capturing the imagination of audiences, the creative collaboration between Aria and Hope Mill has previously garnered rave reviews for productions of the Tony Award-winning Parade and the cult classic Hair, which transfers to The Vaults this autumn for the 50th anniversary production.
Full casting for YANK! is to be announced.
YANK!
CHARING CROSS THEATRE
The Arches
Villiers Street
London
WC2N 6NL
Dates
Monday 3 July – Saturday 19 August
Press Night: Monday 10 July at 7.30pm
Performances
Mon – Sat 7.30pm, matinées – Wed 2.30pm and Sat 3.00pm
Tickets
£39.50 Premiums, £32.50 Stalls, £22.50 Balcony, £17.50 Slips, Previews £25
Box Office
020 7930 5868
www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
Facebook: @YankMusical
Twitter: @YankMusical
About Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment – Producer
Aria Entertainment was founded in 2012 by Katy Lipson. Katy has just been awarded Best Producer by the Off West End Awards, and is a recipient of the Stage One Bursary and Start Up Award. Katy is currently lead producer on the No 1 UK tour of The Addams Family and the 50th anniversary production of Hair at the London Vaults, which she originally co-produced with Hope Mill Theatre in 2016, where she is also Resident Producer.
Most notable credits include: the West End revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Arts Theatre); the West End Charity Gala performance of Children Of Eden (Prince of Wales Theatre); Forever Plaid, Jerry’s Girls, Miss-Leading Ladies and Marry Me A Little (St. James Studio); The Return Of The Soldier (Jermyn Street Theatre); Parade (Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester) and The Secret Garden (UK Tour).
Recent productions include: Promises, Promises (Southwark Playhouse); Vanities - The Musical (Trafalgar Studios); See What I Wanna See (Jermyn Street Theatre); Bar Mitzvah Boy (The Gatehouse); The Adventures of Pinocchio and The Who’s Tommy (Greenwich Theatre; and The House of Mirrors & Hearts, Supported By Grant For The Arts (Arcola Theatre).
Katy is proud to have launched the From Page To Stage season of new musicals which was supported by a Grant for the Arts in 2014-2016. She has produced three seasons, which showcased over eight new musicals in each. The 2017 festival will move to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s recently acquired theatre The Other Palace and will be sponsored by The Really Useful Group, TRW and Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Current projects include: tick...tick...BOOM! (Park Theatre), and Pippin and Little Women (Hope Mill Theatre).
www.aria-entertainment.com | @AriaEnts
About Ben Millerman for Mr Millerman Presents – Producer
Mr Millerman Presents Ltd is a theatrical production company based in the North of England led by producer Ben Millerman. The company was founded by Ben after completing his training in Musical Theatre at Manchester’s Arden School of Theatre. Ben is no stranger to the stage having worked for many years as an actor and stage manager. Ben has recently performed in Pantomime at the Bolton Macron Stadium. Other performing credits include: Cinderella (Rotherham Theatres); Darkest Hour (Working Title Films); Cast Member at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disney Fantasy.
Current projects include: NOISE (Birmingham Old Rep) and Forever Changes (GMFringe Festival & Edinburgh Fringe Festival).
About Joseph Houston and William Whelton for Hope Mill Theatre - Producer
Hope Mill Theatre was the dream of couple Joseph Houston and William Whelton who after a career in Musical Theatre and living in London, became inspired by the highly regarded Off West End theatres and the high-quality work they were creating. With the growing theatre industry blossoming in Manchester and no medium sized venues, they set up and established the independent venue, Hope Mill Theatre in November 2015.
The venue has firmly placed itself on the northern map for its ambitious in-house musical productions. In October 2016 Joseph and William were awarded the Hospital Club Award for contribution to Theatre and Performance. They recently won a Special Achievement Award at the Manchester Theatre Awards and the venue was nominated for Fringe Theatre of the Year 2016.
Joseph and William joined forces with Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment to collaborate on a season of musicals, including Parade, HAIR, and the UK and European Premiere of YANK! all receiving critical acclaim.
William Whelton is a recent recipient of the Stage One Young Producers Bursary for emerging producers.
Hope Mill Theatre hosts many emerging Manchester theatre companies, touring productions and offers a varied programme for its audiences.
