It took weeks of open auditions at venues up and down the country, but the producers of Cilla the Musical found their star.
Kara Lily Hayworth fought off thousands of hopefuls to be named as the girl stepping into the legend’s coveted shoes in the first ever musical about the star’s life.
Cilla - The Musical, is a spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series based on the early life of Cilla Black.
The new musical - which opened in Cilla’s hometown at the Liverpool Empire earlier this month, comes to Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday (September 26-30).
Kara queued for four hours at London’s Dominion Theatre to have her chance to audition in the first rounds.
She made it through to the final 30 before being chosen to do her final audition at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
Robert Willis said: ‘We wanted somebody who wasn’t going to impersonate my mum but someone who could capture her spirit.
"Kara came in with her huge personality and amazing voice – when I saw the response of the audience at the Cavern, I knew we’d found her!”
Originally from Watford, Kara trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She recently performed in Secret Cinema’s Moulin Rouge and this is her first leading role in a big new musical…and her first time on tour!
“When I was 11 I was shopping out with my mum and bumped into Cilla and asked her for an autograph. I told her I wanted to be an actress – she laughed and said ‘It’s a tough industry, but if you really work hard and go for it, you’ll be just fine." Kara recalled.
"She was a huge inspiration to me as a child; I grew up watching her on Blind Date every Saturday night with my Nan.
"To be chosen to play her is such an honour and I’m so excited to take on the role.”
The story follows the extraordinary life of the ordinary teenage girl from Liverpool, Priscilla White, and her rocky, yet incredible, rise to fame. By the age of just 25 she was recognized as international singing star Cilla Black.
By 30 she had become Britain’s favourite television entertainer headlining series’ of Blind Date, Surprise Surprise and many more.
The musical score will be the ultimate soundtrack to the 60’s including Cilla’s greatest hits Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, alongside a backdrop of the legendary “Liverpool Sound” including the Beatles’ Twist and Shout, and American influences like California Dreamin by The Mamas and The Papas and many more.
To book tickets click here
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