Musical Icons Marilyn & Ella to Take the Stage in London

Marilyn & Ella, a new musical play by Bonnie Greer about icons Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald, will play a limited engagement at London's Apollo Theatre. Directed by Colin McFarlane, the production will take the stage on three Sunday nights, November 15, 22 and 29.

Monroe will be played by Suzie Kennedy, known as one of the world's foremost Marilyn Monroe tribute artists. Most recently, she played Monroe in the Italian romantic comedy Io E Marilyn (Marilyn and me). Additional screen credits include Who Killed Marilyn Monroe?, Back to Life, Death by Excess and The Secret Map of Hollywood. The part of Ella Fitzgerald has yet to be announced.

Marilyn & Ella explores how Ella Fitzgerald, one of the most legendary voices of the 20th century, came to worship Marilyn Monroe, the most beautiful woman in the world, not for her external looks but for the individual inside that few ever caught a glimpse of. In 1955, at the very height of her fame, Monroe quit Hollywood for New York in search of something more real. During this time she immersed herself in the underground jazz bars of New York and for the very first time got to hear Fitzgerald perform live. Marilyn was blown away and promptly called the owner of her favourite LA club Mocambo and told him that she would sit in the front row of his club every night for a week if he lifted the color ban and allowed Ella to sing. The rest is history.

Featuring numerous hit songs from the era, including "I Got Rhythm," "My Funny Valentine," "Every Time We Say Goodbye," "Mack the Knife" and "Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend," Marilyn & Ella is the pair's true story brought to musical life on stage.