Kara Will Play Cilla At New Wimbledon Theatre

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She takes up the role following open auditions

Following weeks of open auditions at venues up and down the country – the producers of Cilla the Musical have found their star.

Kara Lily Hayworth has fought off thousands of hopefuls to be named as the girl who will step into the Legend’s coveted shoes in the first ever musical about the star’s life, which will play at New Wimbledon Theatre in November.

Cilla - The Musical, is a musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series based on the early life of Cilla Black, by BAFTA award winner, Jeff Pope (The Moorside, Philomena, From The Cradle To The Grave, Mrs Biggs).

The new musical, opens in Cilla’s hometown at the Liverpool Empire in September before embarking on a nationwide tour, arriving in Wimbledon on November 7.

Kara queued for four hours at the Dominion Theatre in the West End to have her chance to audition in the first rounds. She made it through to the final 30 before being chosen to do her final audition at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Executive producer and Cilla's son, Robert Willis, said: "We wanted somebody who wasn’t going to impersonate my mum but someone who could capture her spirit. Kara came in with her huge personality and amazing voice – when I saw the response of the audience at the Cavern, I knew we’d found her!"

Originally from Watford, Kara trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She recently performed in Secret Cinema’s Moulin Rouge and this will be her first leading role in a big new musical…and her first time on tour!

She said: "When I was 11 I was shopping out with my mum and bumped into Cilla and asked her for an autograph. I told her I wanted to be an actress – she laughed and said: 'It’s a tough industry, but if you really work hard and go for it, you’ll be just fine.' She was a huge inspiration to me as a child; I grew up watching her on Blind Date every Saturday night with my Nan. To be chosen to play her is such an honor and I’m so excited to take on the role. To open in her hometown of Liverpool is so special and a real privilege."

The story follows the extraordinary life of the ordinary teenage girl from Liverpool, Priscilla White, and her rocky, yet incredible, rise to fame. By the age of just 25 she was recognized as international singing star Cilla Black. She later become a television entertainer headlining series’ of Blind Date, Surprise Surprise and many more.

The musical score will be the ultimate soundtrack to the 60’s including Cilla’s greatest hits

Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, alongside a backdrop of the legendary “Liverpool Sound” including the Beatles’ Twist and Shout, and American influences like California Dreamin by The Mamas and The Papas and many more.

• New Wimbledon Theatre Tuesday 7 – Saturday 11 November
  Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm
  Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees 2.30pm

http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/cilla-the-musical/new-wimbledon-theatre/.

July 12, 2017