High Society

Opened 24 July 2003, closed 13 September 2003 at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park in London
Returned 10 October 2005, closed 21 January 2006 at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London

Cole Porter's classic musical High Society on UK tour starring Waynes Sleep. Wealthy, elegant and priggish, Tracy Lord is about to embark on her second marriage to a successful but stuffy businessman. Her first husband, notorious socialite Dexter Haven, reappears attempting to win back his wife. Meanwhile, little-known tabloid reporter Mike Konner, also falls for Tracy while covering her nuptials for his magazine. Tracy must choose between the three men.

"Cole Porter's all time best" The Daily Express

Familiar to most from the classic 1950's film starring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, this classic musical features such memorable Cole Porter tunes 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire', 'True Love', 'I Love Paris', 'You're Sensational' and 'Swell Party'. High Society the musical is based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Phillip Barry.

This touring production of High Society stars Wayne Sleep, fresh from his spell as a judge on on BBC1's Strictly Dance Fever.

Ian Talbot's production of Cole Porter's High Society is again touring the UK during 2007 - this follows a sell-out summer season at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre in London in 2004 during which demand for tickets ran so high that the season was extended by two weeks for the first time in the theatre's 71 year history, Ian Talbot's production of High Society was nominated for two Laurence Olivier Awards and then toured the UK to phenomenal success the following year and a London West End season at The Shaftesbury Theatre which starred Jerry Hall.

High Society is written by Cole Porter and Arthur Kopit and is based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry.

High Society UK Tour 2007:

Manchester - Palace Theatre - 1 to 10 February 2007
Bristol - Hippodrome Theatre - 12 to 17 February 2007
Glasgow - King's Theatre - 19 to 24 February 2007
Southampton - Mayflower Theatre - 26 February to 3 March 2007
Leeds - Grand Theatre - 5 to 10 March 2007
Birmingham - Hippodrome Theatre - 12 to 17 March 2007
Newcastle - Theatre Royal - 19 to 24 March 2007
Break Week - 26 to 31 March 2007
Edinburgh - Playhouse Theatre - 2 to 7 April 2007
Break Week - 9 to 14 April 2007
Woking - New Victoria Theatre - 16 to 21 April 2007
Northampton - Derngate Theatre - 23 to 28 April 2007
Cardiff - Wales Millenium Centre - 30 April to 5 May 2007
Sheffield - Lyceum Theatre - 7 to 12 May 2007
London - Richmond Theatre - 14 to 19 May 2007
Wolverhampton - Grand Theatre - 21 to 26 May 2007
Bromley - Churchill Theatre - 28 May to 2 June 2007
Break Week - 4 to 9 June 2007
Ipswich - Regent Theatre - 11 to 15 June 2007
Brighton - Theatre Royal - 18 to 23 June 2007
High Wycombe - Wycombe Swan - 25 to 30 June 2007
Tunbridge Wells - Assembly Hall Theatre - 2 to 7 July 2007
Cheltenham - Everyman Theatre - 9 to 14 July 2007
Sunderland - Empire Theatre - 16 to 21 July 2007
Plymouth - Theatre Royal - 23 to 28 July 2007
Perth - Concert Hall - 30 July to 4 August 2007
End of tour

Wayne Sleep recently endured a spell in the jungle in ITV's I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here! and this year he was a much-loved judge on BBC1's prime-time weekly show Strictly Dance Fever. He has appeared in appeared over 50 major roles for the Royal Ballet, some created for him by Sir Frederick Ashton, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Dame Ninette de Valois, Rudolph Nureyev and his own choreographic works includes David and Goliath for London Contemporary Dance and San Francisco Ballet, Savoy Suite for English National Ballet and the Hot Shoe Show for television and stage.

As an actor, Wayne has appeared as 'Ariel' in The Tempest, 'Truffaldino' in The Servant of Two Masters, the title role of 'Pinocchio' and 'Puck' in A Midsummer Night's Dream for the Open Air Shakespeare Company and starred in the original productions of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hits Cats and Song and Dance. He has also recently played the 'Child Catcher' in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium and played the 'Emcee' in Gillian Lynn's production of Cabaret in the West End. He has topped the bill in 16 pantomimes and devised and directed many productions and charity galas. Wayne has been the subject of This is Your Life and of Meivyn Bragg's The South Bank Show and was appointed an OBE in 1998.

Ian Talbot's production of Cole Porter's High Society was seen at London's Shaftesbury Theatre from 10 October 2005 to 21 January 2006 when the cast featured Graham Bickley, Katherine Kingsley, Ria Jones and Paul Robinson. Jerry Hall, who was starring in this production, had to withdraw due to illness. In a statement she said: "It is with great sadness that I have to leave the cast of High Society as I am suffering from Epstein Bar Virus (glandular fever) which I first fell ill with last year. My doctor has said that I must have a period of complete rest."

"This swellegant elegant party" The Independent

When Ian Talbot's production of Cole Porter's High Society was seen at The Shaftesbury Theatre The Sunday Times said "This enchanting show takes the stage with all Porter's wit and charm and sophistication. Ian Talbot's masterful production is agile, swaggering and superbly funny, with a nice ironic edge... One of the best musical revivals I've seen in years and years." The Independent on Sunday said: "What a difference a night makes. Ian Talbot's production of Cole Porter's musical romcom was, reportedly, stiff and low on fizz at its official press performance this week yet, when I caught it on a Friday evening, the cast were having a ball and the feel-good factor was infectious. This show has very happily transferred from the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park. Its topiary garden set looks pretty under bright lights, with the Lord family's mansion glimpsed in the distance."