Singin' in the Rain to Dance at the West End's Palace Theatre

The acclaimed Chichester Festival production of Singin' in the Rain is headed to London's Palace Theatre. The show will begin performances on February 4 and open on February 15, with an initial West End run through September 29, 2012, directed by Jonathan Church and choreographed by Andrew Wright. The Palace's current tenant, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, is set to close on December 31.

The West End cast will be led by Adam Cooper (Guys and Dolls, The Wizard of Oz) as Don Lockwood, Daniel Crossley (Anything Goes, Mary Poppins) as Cosmo Brown, Scarlett Strallen (Mary Poppins, Passion) as Kathy Seldon and Katherine Kingsley (Aspects of Love, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Lina Lamont, with Michael Brandon (Jerry Springer: The Opera) as RF Simpson and Sandra Dickinson (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Dora Bailey/Miss Dinsmore, all of whom will reprise their roles from the original Chichester production.

Based on the Oscar-winning 1952 movie musical of the same name, Singin' in the Rain follows silent film star Don Lockwood, whose career may be in trouble when talkies begin to takeover. Lockwood fears audiences will turn on his obnoxious leading lady Lina Lamont and seeks the help of talented newcomer Kathy Selden to dub her vocals.

Singin’ in the Rain features songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, including "Make 'em Laugh," "Good Morning," "Moses Supposes" and the title tune, with an original screenplay and adaptations by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. A version of the show directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp opened on Broadway on July 2, 1985, running for 367 performances.