Brooke Bailey and Jonathan Blansfield to Lead THE BODYGUARD North American Tour
Brooke Bailey and Jonathan Blansfield will headline a new North American touring production of THE BODYGUARD, which is set to launch in October before visiting more than 50 cities during its first year.
The reimagined production will be directed by Samantha Saltzman, bringing the romantic thriller back to the stage with a new company and a score filled with songs made famous by Whitney Houston.
Bailey will star as international music sensation Rachel Marron, opposite Blansfield as former Secret Service agent Frank Farmer. Farmer is hired to protect Marron after she becomes the target of an unidentified stalker, but their professional relationship becomes increasingly complicated as the pair begin to fall in love.
The principal cast will also include Andrea Simpson as Nicki Marron, Keyshawn Brian Steele as Tony Scibelli, Anthony S. Goolsby as Bill Devaney, Ethan Hall as the Stalker, and Riki Stevens as Sy Spector.
Carmelo Kelly and Shiloh Prendergast will share the role of Fletcher, while Erica Burkett will serve as Bailey’s alternate in the role of Rachel.
Completing the touring company are Cedric Jamaal Greene, Cydney Heard, Tanner Jarrett Kirol, Joe Love, Lucy Mangion, Yurika Ono, Camal Pugh, Courtney Genoveva Saffold, Samantha Scott and Scott Willits.
Saltzman said the creative team intends to respect the musical’s established legacy while presenting its familiar story and songs through a fresh, emotionally grounded production. She described the combination of the romantic narrative and Houston’s music as central to the show’s enduring appeal.
The stage musical features a book by Alexander Dinelaris, with choreography by Jim Cooney. Darryl Archibaldprovides music supervision and additional orchestrations.
The wider creative team includes scenic designer Christine Peters, lighting designer Craig Stelzenmuller, sound designer Joshua D. Reid, costume designer Whitney Locher, and hair and wig designer Liz Printz.
Based on the hit 1992 film starring Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD combines suspense, romance and concert-style musical performances. The story follows Farmer as he is brought into Marron’s glamorous but increasingly dangerous world, with both characters initially determined to maintain control before their relationship takes an unexpected turn.
The production’s score includes some of Houston’s most recognisable recordings, including I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, So Emotional, Saving All My Love, Queen of the Night and One Moment in Time.
THE BODYGUARD was first produced in London’s West End, where it ran from 2012 until 2014. The musical made its North American premiere at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse on 25 November 2016.
Since its original London debut, the musical has been presented in multiple languages and territories around the world. The forthcoming tour will introduce a newly conceived version of the production to audiences across North America from October.
