Award-winning theatre director Thom Southerland has been appointed Artistic Director of London’s Charing Cross Theatre.
Thom Southerland’s appoinment marks the start of an exciting, fabulous new chapter in the history of our theatre.
Southerland, a fast rising star director who has enjoyed great success with a string of striking Off West End revivals and premieres of major Broadway musicals, including the recent sold-out European premiere of Grey Gardens , will launch a season of musicals with the return of the multi award-winning Southwark Playhouse production of Titanic for a 10-week run from Saturday May 28.
Titanic was produced by Danielle Tarento at Southwark Playhouse. Tarento and Southerland will continue their successful long-time collaboration at Charing Cross Theatre, where she will co-produce the entire season with Steven M. Levy and Sean Sweeney.
Following Titanic (Saturday 28 May - Saturday 6 August) with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, the three other productions are:
Radio Times (Saturday 20 August - Saturday 1 October) music by Noel Gay and book by Abi Grant with additional material from Alex Armitage.
Ragtime (Saturday 8 October - Saturday 26 November) music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Terrence McNally.
Death Takes a Holiday (Saturday 3 December - Saturday 21 January, 2017) music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone and Thomas Meehan, the European premiere of the follow-up to Titanic by its Tony Award-winning composers.
Thom Southerland will direct all the shows apart from Radio TImes, which will be directed by Ben Woolf.
In a joint statement, Steven M. Levy and Sean Sweeney said: “Thom Southerland’s appoinment marks the start of an exciting, fabulous new chapter in the history of our theatre. As we turn into a full-time producing house we are thrilled to announce the appointment of Thom as Artistic Director and to welcome Danielle Tarento as our season co-producer.”
Thom Southerland, speaking from Japan, where he’s directing a new version of his London hit, Grand Hotel, said: “Having directed The Mikado at Charing Cross Theatre, I am thrilled to have been appointed Artistic Director. It’s doubly exciting to be able to premiere Titanic composer Maury Yeston’s Death Takes a Holiday to round off this first season.”
