MARILYN AND ELLA To Play The Apollo, Opens November 15

In 1955 at the very height of her fame, Marilyn Monroe quit Hollywood for New York in search of something more real. During this time she immersed herself in the underground jazz bars of New York and for the very first time got to hear Ella Fitzgerald perform live.

Marilyn was blown away and promptly called the owner of her favourite LA club Mocambo and told him that she would sit in the front row of his club every night for a week if he lifted the colour ban and allowed Ella to sing in his nightclub. He agreed, the ban was lifted, and the rest is history. Ella was later quoted as saying, "I owe Marilyn a debt."

Marilyn & Ella explores how Ella Fitzgerald, one of the greatest music artists of the 20th Century came to worship Marilyn Monroe, the most beautiful woman in the world, not for her external looks but for the individual inside that few in the wider world ever caught a glimpse of.

Interspersed with numerous hit songs from the era, including I Got Rhythm, My Funny Valentine, Every Time We Say Goodbye, Mack the Knife and Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend, Marilyn & Ella is a true story brought vividly to life, featuring two of the most iconic females that ever lived.

Marilyn Monroe will be played by Suzie Kennedy who has been performing all over the world as the definitive portrayal of Marilyn Monroe. She has appeared in films, music videos, documentaries and TV commercials as Marilyn and has recently starred in a major Italian film, lo e Marilyn, about her heroine.

The actor playing the part of Ella Fitzgerald has yet to be announced.

Bonnie Greer is a playwright, author and critic. She has been a regular contributor to Newsnight Review and Question Time. Her latest novel Entropy was published in March 2009.

The play will be directed by Colin McFarlane. As an actor Colin has appeared in numerous theatre, TV and film roles including Commissioner Loeb in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. He is also a prolific voice over artist and is currently the voice of ITV's new Saturday night entertainment show, The Cube.Apollo Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue
London
W1D 7ES

Dates: Sundays 15, 22 & 29 November 2009
Performances: Sun 15 Nov - 19.30
Sun 22 & 29 Nov - 15.30 & 19.30

Tickets: £35.00, £30.00, £25.00, £20.00, £15.00
Premium Seats: £50.00
Box Office: 0844 412 4658 (24 hrs)
www.marilynandella.com