Calendar Girls The Musical (previously titled The Girls) is a musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, based on the 2003 film Calendar Girls, which is in turn based on a true story, and the original 2008 play adaptation by Firth.
Synopsis Annie's husband John dies from leukaemia at an early age. Her close friend, Chris, wants to purchase a comfortable sofa for the visitors' lounge in the hospital where John was treated. She hits upon the idea of printing a calendar featuring some of the members of the Knapely branch of the Women's Institute, discreetly posing nude while engaged in traditional WI activities, such as baking and knitting, in order to raise funds. Her proposal is initially met with great scepticism, but she eventually convinces ten women to participate in the project with her. They enlist one of the hospital workers, an amateur photographer named Lawrence, to help them with the calendar. Background The musical is based on the 2003 film Calendar Girls. The film itself was produced on a budget of $10 million, earning over $96 million in global box office receipts. A stage play adaptation was launched in 2008 at the Chichester Festival Theatre, before embarking on a national tour and transferring to the West End's Noël Coward Theatre in 2009.
Production history World premiere: Leeds and Salford (2015–2016) The musical originally made its world premiere under its original title The Girls at the Grand Theatre, Leeds running from 14 November to 12 December 2015, followed by a transfer to The Lowry, Salford from 13 to 30 January 2016. The production was directed by Roger Haines and Tim Firth.
West End (2017) Following the Leeds and Salford tryouts, the production transferred to London's West End at the Phoenix Theatre, with an official opening night on 21 February 2017, with previews from 28 January 2017. The production was directed by Tim Firth, with sets and costume design by Rob Jones, lighting by Tim Lutkin, musical staging by Lizzi Gee, comedy staging by Jos Houben, sound design by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster for Autograph Design, assistant direction by Jack Ryder and James Robert Moore and projection design by Alex Uragllo,"Creative Team" thegirlsmusical.com The production closed on 15 July 2017.
UK and Ireland tours
Original UK and Ireland tour (2018-19) In 2017 it was announced that the musical would embark a UK tour under a new title; Calendar Girls The Musical."Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's 'Calendar Girls the Musical' " Leeds Grand Theatre, retrieved 14 October 2017 The tour opened on 16 August 2018 with a return visit to the Grand Theatre, Leeds and toured for 15 months until 23 November 2019, ending at the Chichester Festival Theatre (the originating theatre of the original play adaptation).
UK tour (2023-24) A new production, with revised score and book and produced by Bill Kenwright, is to begin a UK tour at the Theatre Royal, Windsor in August 2023. The cast includes Tayna Franks, Maureen Nolan, Lyn Paul, Amy Robbins, Paula Tappenden, Marti Webb and Honeysuckle Weeks.
Musical numbers
Act 1 "Yorkshire" "Mrs Conventional" "Scarborough" "Who Wants a Silent Night?" "Very, Slightly, Almost" "Spring Fete' "The Flowers of Yorkshire" "Time Passing" "Sunflower"
Act 2 "Dare" "Protect Me Less" "Girls (Reprise)" "So I've had a Little Work Done" "What Age Expects" "Killimanjaro" "Crazy Paving" "Dare (Reprise)" "My Russian Friend and I" "For One Night Only" "Sunflower of Yorkshire"
The London Cast Recording was released on 9 March 2018.
Cast and characters CharacterLeeds and SalfordWest EndUK tourUK tour2015201720182023AnnieJoanna RidingAnna-Jane CaseySarah Jane BuckleyTanya FranksLaurie BrettChrisClaire MooreRebecca StormAmy RobbinsSamantha SeagerCoraClaire MachinKaren DunbarLorraine BruceSue DevaneyHoneysuckle WeeksCeliaVivien ParrySophie-Louise DannDenise WelchLisa MaxwellMarti WebbHelen PearsonJessieSarah KestelmanMichele DotriceRuth MadocLesley JosephLyn PaulRuthDebbie ChazenSara CroweJulia HillsMaureen NolanMarieHarriet ThorpeMarian McLoughlinFern BrittonJudy HoltPaula TappendenLiz CarneyJohnJames GaddasPhil CorbittColin R CampbellRodJoe CaffreyIan MercerDennisJeremy ClydeAlan StocksDoctorJohn DavittBrendaSusan FaySoo DrouetMiss Wilson (coffee)Karen WestJenny GaynerEllie LeahMiss Wilson (tea)Shirley JamesonCatherine DiggesLawrenceSteve GilesColinStephen BoswellMaxwell HutcheonSebastian AberneriLady CravenshireJudith StreetPauline DanielsTommoJosh BensonTyler DobbsDannyBen HunterDanny HowkerJennyChloe May JacksonIsabel CaswellEnsembleDavid BreedsSarah DayFrazer HadfieldJane LambertRebecca LouisJames Leeman Michelle Whitney Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result2017WhatsOnStage AwardsBest Regional Production Laurence Olivier AwardBest New Musical Best Actress in a Musical "The Girls" - Debbie Chazen, Sophie-Louise Dann, Michele Dotrice, Claire Machin, Claire Moore and Joanna Riding Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Ben Hunter
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