TO WONG FOO musical to premiere in the UK?

Do we know how reliable this rumo(u)r is? I'd sure like it to be true.

This man's blog post seems to be made up entirely of rumored UK musical revivals...

Well, this adaptation of Wong Foo does exist. It's been worked on for quite a while and had a 2018 workshop with Santino Fontana, Daniel Breaker, and Robin de Jesus. I don't think a production in the near future is totally unlikely.

Theatre Fan3 said: "Owen22 said: "This man's blog post seems to be made up entirely of rumored UK musical revivals..."

I'd like to think I have a decent track record by now lol

It is indeed happening later this year, with a Broadway choreographer also attached ?"

https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/The-World-Premiere-Of-TO-WONG-FOO-The-Musical-Will-Open-At-Hope-Mill-Theatre-in-October-20230519

It doesn’t say who is choreographing, but it looks like the original poster was correct in saying a full production was coming. I just wish it wasn’t happening across the pond, so that I could go and see it.

https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/to-wong-foo-the-musical-first-listen-of-feel-the-light_1514572/

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Full-Cast-and-Creative-Team-Set-For-TO-WONG-FOO-THE-MUSICAL-at-Hope-Mill-Theatre-20230905

TO Wong Foo THE MUSICAL will star Peter Caulfield (Tammy Faye, Almeida Theatre; Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Vida Boheme, Gregory Haney (TINA – The Tina TurnerMusical, West End; Hamilton, Original Broadway Production) as Noxeema Jackson and Pablo Gómez Jones (In Dreams, Leeds Playhouse; Les Misérables, Mexico City) as Chichi Rodríguez.

Joining them are Carolyn Maitland (Next To Normal, Donmar Warehouse; Jersey Boys, West End) as Carol Ann, Duncan Burt (FRIENDSICAL, UK Tour) as Sheriff Dollard, Alexander Kranz as Bobby Ray (professional debut), Arthur Boan (OKLAHOMA!, West End) as Tommy Paul, Ayesha Maynard (Hairspray, Kilworth House Theatre) as Beulah June, Emily Ooi (Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible Theatre) as Bobby Lee, Jermaine Woods (Sister Act, Eventim Apollo) as Willie Joe/John Jacob, Lee Harris (Les Misérables, West End) as Ed Earl/Crazy Elijah, Natalie Day (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Arts Theatre) as Mary Lou, Scott Hunter (The Play That Goes Wrong, West End) as Billy Budd, Susie Fenwick (Beautiful, UK Tour) as Clara Pearl, SAMANTHA BINGLEY (Beauty and the Beast, London Palladium) as Rose of Sharon Theo Maddix (Cabaret, The KitKat Club) as Rachel Tensions/Jimmy Jack. Also in the cast are Jamil Abbasi (Great British Bake-Off Musical, Noel Coward Theatre) and Megan Davies-Truin (Jerry Springer the Opera, Hope Mill Theatre).

Reviews are out:

[The film’s] attitude and range is sadly not matched by lyricist Lewis Flinn’s score, played by a band of three, which often keeps this journey in the middle of the road

https://www.theguardian.com...

It's a fun and idealistic show with a thin, predictable plot that may remind some of elements of Priscilla Queen of The Desert and Kinky Boots but without the depth of either of those shows. There is a fair amount of wit in the script, largely delivered by the excellent Haney as Noxeema, and an ending that probably deserves the overused word "feel-good". The songs vary in style from disco to 1940s female close-harmony (sung by the tyres on the car) to country to modern pop musical.

Theatre review: To Wong Foo: the Musical at Hope Mill Theatre (britishtheatreguide.info)