Olivier Award Winning Actress Leanne Jones To Work With Young Dubai Talent In Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s Production Of Hairspray

Olivier award winning actress LEANNE JONES has joined Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s forthcoming production of Hairspray and will reprise her critically acclaimed role of Tracy Turnblad in the Tony and Olivier Award winning show.

Leanne, who won the prestigious Olivier Award in 2008 for Best Actress in a Musical for Hairspray, also received the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Newcomer and Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical as a member of the show’s Original London Cast at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End.

As part of the Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC team, she will work each day to help local Dubai students learn, prepare, rehearse and perform in Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s first production.

She is joined by fellow Hairspray Original London Cast member TEREL NUGENT who will reprise his role of Seaweed J Stubbs, STEPHEN McGLYNN (Burt in Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!) who will play Wilbur Turnblad and ANTONY STUART-HICKS (Wizard of Oz) who will play Edna Turnblad.

Hairspray is the first production from SPOTLIGHT ACADEMY @ DUCTAC, which gives the very best local talent the chance to work, rehearse and perform alongside some of the UK’s leading theatrical stars. Auditions took place in May with the successful performers taking part in two weeks of intensive theatre workshops and rehearsals with some of the UK’s top creative talent, culminating in SEVEN performances of Hairspray in DUCTAC’s magnificent Centrepoint Theatre.

The show is produced on behalf of DUCTAC by JC Theatre Productions and The Shakespeare 4 Kidz Theatre Company. Producer and Director Julian Chenery, who has brought his acclaimed Shakespeare 4 Kidz shows to Dubai for the past 4 years, is delighted that Leanne has found time to squeeze the Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC into her busy schedule.

“Leanne was a sensation when she burst onto the West End stage as Tracy Turnblad. She is one of the most talented musical theatre stars in the world and tremendous fun. I know that everyone who is lucky enough to be part of this exciting production will love her and learn so much from working with her.”

Leanne arrives in Dubai directly from the London production of Jonathan Larsson’s Tick, Tick, Boom! and prior to a UK tour of Dave Simpson’s play The Naked Truth.

Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and bags of humour, Hairspray is a fun, feel good night out for all the family. So don’t miss your chance to see Leanne performing live on stage in Dubai alongside the stars of the future – book your tickets now at the DUCTAC box office (04 341 4777) or through www.timeouttickets.com or www.boxofficeme.com

Performances run from Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 July at the Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates.

See www.hairspraydubai.com or www.ductac.org for further details