20 Mar NEWS: Casting Announced for McQueen at the St James Theatre
It was today announced that Stephen Wight and Dianna Agron are to star in the world premiere of McQueen at the St James Theatre from Tuesday 12th May 2015.
With Wight taking on the title role of Lee McQueen, and Agron will play Dahlia in the play directed by John Caird. The play will also star Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella, and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock, along with Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank and Carrie Willis.
Stephen Wight was named Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards for his performances in Michael Grandage’s production of Don Juan in Soho and Samuel West’s production of Dealer’s Choice. His other theatre credits include Nicholas Hytner’s production of The Habit of Art at the National and Sean Foley’s production of The Ladykillers in the West End.
Opposite him will be critically acclaimed actress Dianna Agron, whose breakthrough role was playing Quinn Fabray on the hit series Glee. More recently, Agron was seen opposite Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer in the film The Family, directed by Luc Besson. This year, she will appear in several films, including the romantic comedy Tumbledown, Bare directed by Mark Polish, Zipper opposite Patrick Wilson, and the independent ensemble Conspiracy on Jekyll Island. McQueen will mark Agron’s British stage debut.
“I’ve got a 600-year-old elm tree in my garden. I made up a story: a girl lives in it and comes out of the darkness to meet a prince and becomes a queen.”
Alexander McQueen, 2008.
McQueen is a journey into the visionary imagination and dark dream world of Alexander McQueen, fashion’s greatest contemporary artist. Set on a single London night, it is more than a bio-play. It is stepping into the fairy story landscape of McQueen’s mind, the landscape seen in his immortal shows, where with a dress an urchin can become an Amazon, where beauty might just help us survive the night. A girl has watched McQueen’s Mayfair house for eleven consecutive days. Tonight she climbs down from her watching tree and breaks into his house, to steal a dress, to become someone special. He catches her, but, instead of calling the police, they embark together on a journey through London and into his heart.
Lee Alexander McQueen died on 11 February 2010 aged 40. Born in Lewisham and raised in Stratford, East London, at 16 he served an apprenticeship with Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard. Later, he studied at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design and his graduation collection was bought in its entirety by influential fashion stylist Isabella Blow. He was appointed head designer at Givenchy in 1996, where he remained until 2001. He founded his own Alexander McQueen label, and the Gucci Group acquired 51% of his company in 2000, with McQueen serving as Creative Director. McQueen achieved the title British Designer of the Year four times between 1996 and 2003, and was also awarded the CBE and named International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers in 2003.
McQueen will have production design by David Farley, choreography by Christopher Marney, lighting by David Howe, sound by John Leonard, video and projection design by Tim Bird, and casting by Jayne Collins CDG & Kate Plantin CDG.
Venue: St James Theatre
Dates: 12 May – 6 June 2015
For tickets and information: mcqueentheplay.com