The Bodyguard - Adelphi Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
THIS AUTUMN, a stage adaptation of the 1992 film, The Bodyguard, will receive its world premiere at the Adelphi Theatre, where it opens on December 5, 2012 (previews from November 6).
Directed by Thea Sharrock, it will star Heather Headley as Rachel Marron and Lloyd Owen as Frank Farmer in the roles made famous on film by the late Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.
In this romantic thriller, former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don’t expect is to fall in love.
The score features many of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, I’m Your Baby Tonight, Run to You, I Have Nothing, How Will I Know, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and one of the greatest hit songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.
Tony and Grammy award-winning Heather Headley, who will be making her West End stage debut in The Bodyguard, originated the role of Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King. She then went on to play the title role in Aida for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Her debut solo album, This is Who I Am, was nominated for two Grammy Awards and her third studio album, Audience of One, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. In recent years, she has worked extensively with Andrea Bocelli on his American and international tours and sung at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Lloyd Owen was last seen on the London stage playing leading roles in Sarah Helm’s Loyalty (Hampstead Theatre) and J T Rogers’ Blood and Gifts (National Theatre). Previously, his theatre credits include The York Realist (Royal Court), Julius Caesar (Young Vic), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Almeida Theatre) and The Way of the World (Royal Exchange Theatre).
On television, Owen is best known for playing Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC’s long running drama Monarch of the Glen and Indiana Jones’ father Professor Henry Jones, Sr, in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. However, his other television credits include Ghost Squad, The Vice, Coupling, Wire in the Blood and Dead Gorgeous.
His film credits include Apollo 18, Miss Potter, The Republic of Love and Between Dreams as well as the forthcoming Free Ride with Anna Paquin and Drea de Matteo.
Thea Sharrock’s credits include 13, After The Dance for which she won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Revival, Happy Now? and The Emperor Jones (National Theatre); Cause Célèbre (Old Vic); and The Misanthrope (Comedy Theatre).
Later this month, her production of Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys with Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths opens at the Savoy Theatre, reuniting her with Griffiths whom she directed in Equus both in the West End and on Broadway and in Heroes at the Wyndham’s Theatre.
Produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian, The Bodyguard has a book by Alex Dinelaris, designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Richard Brooker, choreography by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan and musical supervision by Mike Dixon.
Tickets for the show’s initial booking period (until April 27, 2013) are available from today (May 1, 2012).
Sweeney Todd is currently booking at the Adelphi Theatre until September 22, 2012.