A new production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the family-friendly musical based on the Ian Fleming novel and the 1968 film of the same name about a magical flying car, will launch a tour of the U.K. next year.
Directed by Thom Southerland (Titanic, Parade) with choreography by Karen Bruce (Strictly Come Dancing, The Bodyguard), performances will begin April 30, 2024, at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre, where it will continue through May 12. The tour is currently scheduled to play its final stop November 26-December 1, 2024, at the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth. For the current itinerary, visit ChittyonTour.com.
Casting will be announced at a later date.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang originated in the West End in 2002. Billed as a "fantasmagorical stage musical," Broadway previews began March 27, 2005, and officially opened April 28. The production played 34 previews and 285 regular performances before closing December 31, 2005. The original Broadway company featured Raúl Esparza as Caractacus Potts, Erin Dilly as Truly Scrumptious, Philip Bosco as Grandpa Potts, Marc Kudisch as Baron Bomburst, Jan Maxwell as Baroness Bomburst, Chip Zien as Goran, Robert Sella as Boris, Kevin Cahoon as the Childcatcher, and Frank Raiter as the Toymaker.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang features music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Song titles include "Truly Scrumptious," "Toot Sweets," "Hushabye Mountain," and the Oscar-nominated title song "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." The film was adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams and has music by special arrangement with Sony/ATV Publishing.
The licensed script is adapted by Ray Roderick and was originally produced by Eon Productions, Dana Broccoli, Frederick Zollo, Nicholas Paleologos, Jeffrey Sine, Miriam Productions, and Michael Rose at The London Palladium.
The upcoming tour will also have set and costume design by Morgan Large (Newsies, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat), orchestrations and musical supervision by George Dyer (The Wizard of Oz, Annie), and casting by Debbie O’Brien.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, produced by David Ian for Crossroads Live, is presented by permission of Music Theatre International.
Look back at the U.S. national tour below:
