1912 New York and ballroom dancing halls are filled with the syncopated beats of ragtime music. Meatpacker Henry is seeking a new dance partner and when seamstress Anna responds to his advertisement, life takes an unexpected turn. Allan Knee’s award winning two-person drama is a fascinating blend of theatre, music and dance.
This premiere production features West End and Broadway performers Devon-Elise Johnson (Half a Sixpence, Mamma Mia, Titanic), and Jye Frasca (Wicked, Jersey Boys, Mary Poppins).
Choreography by Strictly Come Dancing’s Jenny Thomas and a live band under the musical direction of Fiz Shapur. Directed by Karen Jemison.
Lighting Designer Joseph Thomas, Sound Designer Beth Duke and Set Designer Mayou Trikerioti.
Allan Knee has written for the stage and film. He is the author of the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan, which was the source for the film Finding Neverland, wrote the book for the Broadway musical Little Women. and his play Syncopation won an American Theatre Critics Best New Play award.
Devon-Elise’s journey into theatre began with her training at the London School of Musical Theatre.
Her theatre credits include: Millie in The Invisible Man (Devonshire Park theatre) Kate Murphy in Titanic the Musical (European/ China Tour), Molly in The Dreamers Musical (Abbey Road Studios) Kate Murphy in Titanic the musical (UK/Ireland Tour), Ann Pornick in Half A Sixpence (West End & Chichester Festival Theatre), Ensemble/first cover Sophie in Mamma Mia! (international tour), Annette in Saturday Night Fever and Wendla Bergman in Spring Awakening (English Theatre Frankfurt), Kim in Taboo (Brixton Club House), Emma Brooks in Stand Up (Floral Pavilion, Brighton) and Susan Parkes in Billy Elliot(Victoria Palace).
Her workshops include: Kate in Another Girl the musical (Stiff and Kitsch), Maid/Witch in Lady M (Toy Soldiers productions), Grace in The Confession Room (St James Studio), Lily in The House of Mirrors and Hearts (Perfect Pitch), Woman of Light (Charing Cross Theatre), Ariadne in The Water Babies(Tristan Baker Productions) and Young Bridget in Bridget Jones the Musical (Working Title)
Devon was nominated in 2017 for “Best Actress in a musical” at the WOS awards London for ‘Half a Sixpence’ the musical.
Jye is thrilled to be back on the London stage having most recently filmed on Leverage: Redemption for Amazon and completing a successful run on Broadway in Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre.
His West End credits include the original London cast of Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre as well as joining the Las Vegas company, the original cast of Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises at the Trafalgar Studios, original London cast of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Lobe Story at the Tristan Bates and Charing Cross Theatre for which he received a Best Actor nomination (Offies), the original London cast of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria, the original cast of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre, We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, Anything Goes at the National Theatre, Love’s Labour’s Lost at the National Theatre, Cats at the New London Theatre, Mamma Mia at the Prince Edward Theatre, West Side Story at the Prince Edward Theatre.
On screen, Jye has also appeared in Galavant for ABC, Schizo Samurai Shitzu for BBC Comedy, and the British feature films Kaufman’s Game, and Reality Mine.
Socials: @JYEFRASCA
As a former competitive ballroom dancer, Karen is thrilled to bring Syncopation to the UK. Originally from Australia, Karen studied all forms of dance and established Manilla Street Productions in 2010 devising, producing and directing numerous theatre and film productions. Theatre producing credits include ‘Bad Blood Blues’ (4 Green Room
As a former competitive ballroom dancer, Karen is thrilled to bring Syncopation to the UK. Originally from Australia, Karen studied all forms of dance and established Manilla Street Productions in 2010 devising, producing and directing numerous theatre and film productions. Theatre producing credits include ‘Bad Blood Blues’ (4 Green Room Award Nominations), ‘Blood Brothers’ (2 Green Room Award nominations) and ‘Pacific Overtures’ (8 Green Room Award Nominations), Producer/Director of the Australian premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Beautiful Game’ (2 Green Room Award Nominations) and artistic creator and director of Amazing Grace & Amazing Grace New York New York, the first theatrical show featuring calisthenics. Karen created, directed and choreographed the children’s pop group, Girl Pop. Short film credits include the infamous ‘The Bassoonist’, ‘Girl Pop’ (Little Big Shots’ Film Festival) and ‘Grassroots’ (SWIFF). Karen was a Laurence Olivier Award Panel judge for Musicals in the UK and has an MBA, MA in Creative Producing and MFA in Directing Film and Television.
Jenny trained at The Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts and went on to win the US Open American Swing Dance & UK Open Lindy Hop Championships. Starting her West End Debut in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance with Wayne Sleep she continued to partner Wayne for the next 5 years in various shows, royal galas and guest appearances.
Jenn
Jenny trained at The Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts and went on to win the US Open American Swing Dance & UK Open Lindy Hop Championships. Starting her West End Debut in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance with Wayne Sleep she continued to partner Wayne for the next 5 years in various shows, royal galas and guest appearances.
Jenny was introduced to Authentic Jazz Dances such as The Charleston, Blues & Lindy Hop back in 1992 for Anthony Van Laast’s European tour ‘Souls in Motion’ during which she was invited to join ‘Zoots and Spangles’ Authentic Jazz Dance Company. Specialising in these niche dance forms has seen Jenny choreograph and perform all over the world including as Assistant Choreographer for the Original cast of The Broadway Musical SWING.
Since 2006 she has coached, choreographed and performed on many of the top Prime Time TV shows of today such as Strictly Come Dancing, Strictly Christmas Special, The Peoples Strictly for Comic Relief, Strictly Dance Fever, So You Think You Can Dance, USA’s Dancing With The Stars, Jazz/Tap coach on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Keeping in the Strictly family, she has also guest choreographed for ‘The Ballroom Boys’ for Ian Waite & Vincent Simone (2019 & 2020), ‘The Joe & Dianne Show’ 2020, AJ Pritchard’s UK Tour, ‘Get On The Floor’ 2019 and ‘Dance To The Music’ Tour for Kristina Rianoff & Robin Windsor 2018.
After pursuing classical training Fiz has worked in many different fields of the music and theatre industry as a Musical Director in London for over twenty years, both in theatre, television, and on the stage.His theatre experience covers a wide range of musicals that include Working, 110 in The Shade, Company, Sweet Charity, Love Sic, an
After pursuing classical training Fiz has worked in many different fields of the music and theatre industry as a Musical Director in London for over twenty years, both in theatre, television, and on the stage.His theatre experience covers a wide range of musicals that include Working, 110 in The Shade, Company, Sweet Charity, Love Sic, and the London Premieres of Steven Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, and Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop Of Horrors. He spent three years conducting Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre with a brief excursion to the Donmar Warehouse for the Kander and Ebb celebration How Lucky Can You Get, followed by the ill - fated King at the Piccadilly Theatre. After the UK tour of the National Theatre production of Guys and Dolls he spent a happy year conducting the Zurich production of Cats before returning for the acclaimed new production of Andrew LLoyd Webber's Aspects Of Love that returned to the Prince of Wales theatre. He then went on to be Musical Director for Five Guys Named Moe. As a Musical Supervisor for The Really Useful Group, Fiz is involved in the setting up of CATS around the world, from productions in Europe to South Africa, and most recently, Lebanon and Malaysia.
Joseph has designed shows throughout the UK, in London and Asia. Highlights include…
ONCE (Shanghai Culture Square, Beijing Opera House, Shenzen Bay Opera), The Trials (Marlowe Theatre), ONCE (Tokyu Theatre Orb, Tokyo), Carrie Hope Fletcher, An Open Book (Palladium and UK TOUR), Dr, Zhivago, Annie Get Your Gun, ONCE (London Palladium), Co
Joseph has designed shows throughout the UK, in London and Asia. Highlights include…
ONCE (Shanghai Culture Square, Beijing Opera House, Shenzen Bay Opera), The Trials (Marlowe Theatre), ONCE (Tokyu Theatre Orb, Tokyo), Carrie Hope Fletcher, An Open Book (Palladium and UK TOUR), Dr, Zhivago, Annie Get Your Gun, ONCE (London Palladium), Collabro, Farewell Tour (Adelphi Theatre and UK TOUR), The Secret Garden, CAMELOT (London Palladium), John Owen Jones - Music of the Night Tour, Lucie Jones at Christmas (Her Majesty's Theatre, St Davids Hall Cardiff), Collabro, Greatest Hits Tour (UK Tour), Under the Black Rock (Arcola Theatre), Tango After Dark (Co-design with Charlie Morgan Jones, Peacock Theatre, Sadler's Wells), Little Voice (UK Tour) as Associate Lighting Designer for Nic Farman, John Owen Jones Celebrating his 50th Birthday - Live at Cadogan Hall, Lucie Jones and David Hunter LIVE! (Cadogan Hall), Collabro, Christmas is Here (Cadogan Hall). Amongst others…
***Offie Nominated Best Lighting Design 2023
**Offie Nominated Best Lighting Design 2021
*Offie Nominated Best Lighting Design 2019
@JosephEdThomas
www.josephedthomas.co.uk
Beth is a sound designer and composer based in London. She studied Theatre Sound at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Beth's experience covers a wide range of theatre, plays, musicals, and events. She was a resident Designer at the Almeida Theatre.
West end credits include: Death Drop: Back in the Habit (Garrick Theatre, UK To
Beth is a sound designer and composer based in London. She studied Theatre Sound at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Beth's experience covers a wide range of theatre, plays, musicals, and events. She was a resident Designer at the Almeida Theatre.
West end credits include: Death Drop: Back in the Habit (Garrick Theatre, UK Tour); Mad House (Ambassador's Theatre); J'Ouvert (Harold Pinter Theatre); Death Drop (Garrick Theatre & Criterion Theatre); Tuckshop West End (Garrick Theatre); One Jewish Boy (Trafalgar Studios); Unbelievable (As associate, Criterion Theatre). For London's National Theatre: The Manor (as associate, Lyttelton Theatre); New Views (Dorfman Theatre).
Mayou is an award-winning designer and dramaturg. With professional credits well into the hundreds, she has designed for a whole range of theatre shows (from West End to fringe, community projects to site specific and tours for venues like the Harold Pinter, The Rose, the Young Vic, Sadlers Wells and the Greek National Theatre. Her film w
Mayou is an award-winning designer and dramaturg. With professional credits well into the hundreds, she has designed for a whole range of theatre shows (from West End to fringe, community projects to site specific and tours for venues like the Harold Pinter, The Rose, the Young Vic, Sadlers Wells and the Greek National Theatre. Her film work includes, amongst others, costume designs for David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future (for which she was nominated for the Canadian Screen Awards) and Anthony Chen’s Drift. For more information please visit www.mayoutrikerioti.com
Established in 1891 with a clear social and cultural purpose, St Bride Foundation is one of London’s hidden gems.Housed in a beautiful Grade II listed Victorian building, St Bride Foundation was originally set up to serve the burgeoning print and publishing trade of nearby Fleet Street.
Manilla Street Productions was originally established in Melbourne, Australia and has devised and produced numerous theatre productions receiving audience and critical acclaim. These include the Australian premiere of Bad Blood Blues (4 Green Room Award Nominations including Best Independent Play), Blood Brothers (2 Green Room Award nominations), Pacific Overtures (8 Green Room Award Nominations including Best Musical), Victorian premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim (Recital Centre), NINE in Concert (Recital Centre) which raised money for ThinkPink and the Australian premiere of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s ‘The Beautiful Game’ (2 Green Room Award Nominations). In 2019, Manilla Street Productions Junior was launched to work with young performers with the premiere of Annie Jr.
Manilla Street Productions is now also based in London, UK.
Image: Nancye Hayes and Anton Berezin, Sondheim on Sondheim
Bridewell Theatre, Bride Lane, London, England EC4V 6AB, United Kingdom
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