LtoR Paul Jacob French & Max Bowden in Midnight Cowboy. Photo by Darren Bell
Bryony Lavery's captivating new adaptation of the classic tale, featuring a soundtrack by three-time Ivor Novello Award-winning composer Francis "Eg" White, will premiere in London this April for a limited run.
The cast has been announced for Midnight Cowboy - A New Musical.
Best known for playing Ben Mitchell in Eastenders and recently performing on the UK tour of Birdsong, Max Bowden will lead the production as Rico 'Ratso' Rizzo alongside Paul Jacob French (Grease) as Joe Buck and Tori Allen-Martin (I Wish You Well) as Cass.
They’ll be joined by Elena Breschi (Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World) as Delores, Joanne Henry (Bridgerton) as Grandma Sally, Nick Len (Wicked) as Swing, Hollie-Ann Lowe (Burlesque The Musical) as Swing, Dean Makowski-Clayton (Little Fiend) as Student, Christian Maynard (Miss Saigon) as Tombaby, Phoebe Roberts (Grease) as Chalkline Annie, Tim Rogers (An Officer and a Gentleman) as Woodsy Niles, Rohan Tickell (Rock of Ages) as Mr O’Daniel, and Matthew White (The Mousetrap) as Towny.
Midnight Cowboy — A New Musical is based on James Leo Herlihy's novel, which inspired the beloved, triple Academy Award-winning 1969 film. The story follows Joe Buck, a young man eager to escape his dead-end past. Seeking wealth and glory in the big city, he meets Rico 'Ratso' Rizzo, a street-savvy but equally lost soul. Together, they form an unlikely bond, navigating the harsh realities of New York City while searching for hope, belonging, and redemption.
This world premiere will have direction and choreography by Nick Winston with musical arrangements, orchestrations and musical supervision by Charlie Ingles, set and lighting design by Andrew Exeter, costume design by Sophia Pardon, sound design by Yvonne Gilbert, creative development by Nick Winston, production management by James Anderton, musical direction by Ellie Verkerk, associate direction and choreography by Libby Watts, associate set and costume design by Natalia Alvarez, props supervision by Katie Balmforth, costume supervision by Josh Bamling, intimacy direction by Lucy Fennell, dialect coaching by Mary Howland, casting by Sarah-Jane Price, company stage management by Peter Barnett, deputy stage management by Samantha Kerrison, lighting programming by Ryan Dunnett, assistant stage management by Antonia Howlett, technical assistant stage management by Callum Wallace, the technical swing is Izzy Moore, the head of lighting/technical swing is Harrison Smith, head of wardrobe is Gemma McErlane and the wardrobe assistant Emily Souch.
Midnight Cowboy - A New Musical will play at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 4 April - 17 May 2025.
