To Wong Foo - Hope Mill

[WireHangers]

Just announced a 9 week run in Manchester! Directed by Douglas Carter Beane who wrote the movie.


www.whatsonstage.com/manchester-theatre/news/hope-mill-theatre-premiere-to-wong-foo-musical_58977.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=19may2023&fbclid=IwAR3CTygslG1su9j9U-zrt0p_x1fUbD44zc4NQgRg-omqjAaHbsPQmw5rZ6M

[BurlyBeaR]

Hope Mill Theatre have announced the world premiere of To Wong Foo the Musical, playing at the Manchester venue from 21 October for a limited 9-week run.

Based on the 1995 ground-breaking film To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, featuring an all-star cast including Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo, Stockard Channing, Robin Williams and Ru Paul, the new musical has a book and direction by original film screenplay writer Douglas Carter Beane, with music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn and casting by Sarah Leung CDG.

Casting and full creative team is to be announced.

Set in 90s New York, To Wong Foo the Musical tells the story of three Drag Queens, Vida, Noxeema and Chichi, who embark on a trip across America to attend the Drag Queen of the Year Finals in Hollywood. When their car breaks down in Middle America, their lives, as well as those in the town, are turned upside down, in this joyous, heartfelt and high camp musical extravaganza! Three drags have come to save America, one show tune at a time!

Douglas Carter Beane said: “I am so thrilled to bring the World Premiere of To Wong Foo the Musical, not only to the UK, but to the wonderful Hope Mill Theatre and Manchester. When I wrote this story back in the 90’s, it was always a theatre show in my mind, and fortunately for me, Steven Spielberg and Beeban Kidron thought it would make a great movie. But, for me it was always the ambition to bring it to the stage and I’m so happy its finally happening. Although the musical continues to be an homage to Drag, 90s New York and the amazing individuals who made it such a vibrant place to be, it is even more politically relevant today than ever before as censorship and condemnation of drag is unfortunately on the rise in the United States. I hope this show connects with new audiences as it did way back then…come along for the ride!”

Artistic Director of Hope Mill Theatre, Joseph Houston said: “We are honoured to be producing the musical world premiere of this fabulously camp movie. To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, really brought drag to a mainstream audience in a massive way and as a queer piece of movie history, was truly ground-breaking. To be working so closely with Doug and having him direct is also a huge honour. To Wong Foo as a piece of work has always been destined to be told on stage and as a musical. Those that know and love the film can expect all of those brilliant one liners, supported by a score that is a little bit club, a little bit country, a little bit musical theatre, but a whole lot of attitude. And for those experiencing the show for the first time, welcome to the drag-fantasy-musical-extravaganza, that is To Wong Foo!”

[anthony40]

I was about to start a thread on this, so thank you WireHangers.

Chances are that I won't see this unless it transfers.

I've only seen parts of the film, many years ago.

What I'm hoping is that this is both fabulous and sensational.

Although personally not a fan of drag- don't hate on me- but show me something that hasn't already been done in either Kinky Boots or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

[benny20]

Never heard of the film but sounds like Priscilla.....is it???

[Someone in a tree]

May 19, 2023 11:27:02 GMT benny20 said:

Never heard of the film but sounds like Priscilla.....is it???

I remember when it was released critics accused Hollywood of cashing in on the success of Priscilla

[anthony40]

(If I'm correct- and going from memory) because of the unprecedented and unexpected hit that Priscilla was, Hollywood felt like this one had slipped through their fingers and this was the result.

Just like Priscilla, you have three straight actors playing drag queens who go on a journey, finding themselves out of their depth in terms of their surroundings who ultimately, learn a lot about themselves and each other.

[Deleted]

I have booked and cannot wait. TWF will always be compared to Priscilla, interestingly enough though, they were both in production at the exact same time, it is just that Priscilla got the release out sooner. But TWF has just as much heart, if not perhaps even a bit more, than Priscilla. When I saw this rumored recently I was expecting them to be going with a big showstopper musical, so surprised that this is premiering at Hope Mill, but I am very much looking forward to it!

[Deleted]

May 19, 2023 12:16:14 GMT @reeceyroo said:

I have booked and cannot wait. TWF will always be compared to Priscilla, interestingly enough though, they were both in production at the exact same time, it is just that Priscilla got the release out sooner. But TWF has just as much heart, if not perhaps even a bit more, than Priscilla. When I saw this rumored recently I was expecting them to be going with a big showstopper musical, so surprised that this is premiering at Hope Mill, but I am very much looking forward to it!

Priscilla was produced first.  Priscilla was released in May 1994, TWF didn't start filming until the 2nd half of 1994

[intoanewlife]

Priscilla was pitched to most of the major financiers in Cannes years before (1991) it was finally financed in 1993.

So the idea and script were out there to be pilfered from and bastardized long before it came to fruition.

Too Wong Foo can not even be compared to it on any level, they are 2 completely different beasts.

Though I think TWF would be a little easier to swallow on stage than it was on film which was terrible.

'To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, really brought drag to a mainstream audience in a massive way and as a queer piece of movie history, was truly ground-breaking.'

Who is this person even kidding LOLOLOL

[kyvai]

Oh I love To Wong Foo!!! It’s a comfort film for me. I rented it on VHS from Blockbuster for a sleepover when I was about 15 and never returned the video :-)

I’m not sure how comfortably all of it sits with how attitudes around gender have shifted over the last 30 years, I wonder how they will update things….this is a memorable quote

“When a straight man puts on a dress and gets his sexual kicks, he is a transvestite. When a man is a woman trapped in a man's body and has a little operation, he is a Transsexual. When a gay man has WAY too much fashion sense for one gender he is a drag queen. And when a tired little Latin boy puts on a dress, he is simply a boy in a dress!“

[mrbarnaby]

I love that film, but I don’t hold out much hope for this as the theatre don’t have any money to stage it properly. Or the right space. Apart from that it’s all ideal!

[richey]

Hope Mill were in the Manchester Pride Parade today. They handed out leaflets which included a 25% discount for this and Lizzie if booked by end of August. Will share the code if allowed?

[BurlyBeaR]

Aug 26, 2023 17:32:28 GMT richey said:

Hope Mill were in the Manchester Pride Parade today. They handed out leaflets which included a 25% discount for this and Lizzie if booked by end of August. Will share the code if allowed?

Sure, go ahead. 

Did you get wet? 

[richey]

Aug 26, 2023 17:54:55 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Aug 26, 2023 17:32:28 GMT richey said:

Hope Mill were in the Manchester Pride Parade today. They handed out leaflets which included a 25% discount for this and Lizzie if booked by end of August. Will share the code if allowed?

Sure, go ahead. 

Did you get wet? 

Only slightly moist...
The code is MCRPRIDE (lot of thought went into that! Lol) for bookings before 31st August

[showtoones]

I know this is a small theatre but will they be able to do the show justice? And is this being looked at as pre-West End/ Will this be a West End caliber cast?

Considering going by train to Manchester for the day but thats about 2.5 hours each way so want to see if it is worth it?

[david]

Sept 1, 2023 20:00:55 GMT showtoones said:

I know this is a small theatre but will they be able to do the show justice? And is this being looked at as pre-West End/ Will this be a West End caliber cast?

Considering going by train to Manchester for the day but thats about 2.5 hours each way so want to see if it is worth it?

I’m there for the 1st preview. I’ll post my thoughts on it. 

[theatremiss]

Any casting rumours yet?

[showtoones]

I vote for Matt Henry as Noxema Jackson

[gmoneyoutlaw]

Sept 2, 2023 20:45:11 GMT showtoones said:

I vote for Matt Henry as Noxema Jackson

He’d be great and boost potential for a West End transfer.

[FrontroverPaul]

I've visited Hope Mill travelling from Kent to Manchester by National Express. Can do it as a midweek (very long day) return with my Senior Coachcard for £15 or weekend for £28.

The front row of the stalls for To Wong Foo... is being sold as VIP seats with a cocktail and programme for over £50. That wasn't the case on my previous visits and it isn't for the current Lizzie musical.

Will leave it for now and hope this follows Lizzie and has a run at Southwark Playhouse if not the West End

[stokerob]

Have to say, have played the US cast album several times now and I am really enjoying it so looking forward to the UK premiere at Hope Mill. Only watched the movie for the first time last week, thought it dragged (see what I did there) for the first half but then found its feet. Priscilla did the fish out of water story in a classier way I feel, but Wong Foo is not an awful movie by any means.

[westendfan1]

Cast announcement for this tomorrow

[hulmeman]

Peter Caulfield (Tammy Faye) will play Vida Boheme, with Gregory Haney (TINA – The Tina Turner Musical) as Noxeema Jackson and Pablo Gómez Jones (In Dreams) as Chichi Rodríguez.

[hulmeman]

Sept 5, 2023 11:23:09 GMT hulmeman said:

Peter Caulfield (Tammy Faye) will play Vida Boheme, with Gregory Haney (TINA – The Tina Turner Musical) as Noxeema Jackson and Pablo Gómez Jones (In Dreams) as Chichi Rodríguez.

Joining them are Carolyn Maitland (Next To Normal) as Carol Ann, Duncan Burt (Friendsical) as Sheriff Dollard, Alexander Kranz (professional debut) as Bobby Ray , Arthur Boan (Oklahoma!) as Tommy Paul, Ayesha Maynard (Hairspray) as Beulah June, Emily Ooi (Miss Saigon) as Bobby Lee, Jermaine Woods (Sister Act) as Willie Joe/John Jacob, Lee Harris (Les Misérables) as Ed Earl/Crazy Elijah, Natalie Day (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as Mary Lou, Scott Hunter (The Play That Goes Wrong) as Billy Budd, Susie Fenwick (Beautifu) as Clara Pearl, Samantha Bingley (Beauty and the Beast) as Rose of Sharon and Theo Maddix (Cabaret) as Rachel Tensions/Jimmy Jack. Also in the cast are Jamil Abbasi (The Great British Bake-Off Musical) and Megan Davies-Truin (Jerry Springer the Opera)

[david]

I’m here tonight for the first preview.