Praed And Boys Star In HIGH SOCIETY UK Tour From Jan 24

The full cast is announced for the dazzling new UK & Ireland tour production of Cole Porter's High Society which starts on 24 January at Venue Cymru, Llandudno (press are invited from 29 January). In addition, Fascinating Aida founder member Marilyn Cutts replaces Carolyn Pickles, as previously announced, who has had to withdraw for personal reasons.

The production stars Michael Praed as Dexter Haven and the cast also includes Sophie Bould as Tracy Lord, Daniel Boys as Mike Connor, Keiron Crook as George Kittredge, Marilyn Cutts as Margaret Lord, Teddy Kempner as Uncle Willie, Katie Lee as Dinah Lord, Craig Pinder as Seth Lord and Alex Young as Liz Imbrie.

Other roles are played by Jill Armour, John Bowles, Steven Butler, Matt Corner, Zoe Doano, Carol Heffernan, Lucy James, Ashley Knight, Anthony McGill, Ben Redfern and Rachel Spurrell.

Wealthy socialite Tracy Lord is in the midst of planning a lavish summer wedding when her ex-husband Dexter Haven turns up to disrupt the proceedings in an attempt to win her back. A further twist arrives in the form of the charming reporter Mike Connor who falls instantly for Tracy, and she for him. As the day of the wedding draws closer, the audience is left guessing which groom the bride will choose.

The director is Anna Linstrum, set and costume designer is Francis O' Connor, lighting designer is Chris Davey, sound designer is Ben Harrison and musical director is Michael Haslam. Choreography is by Andrew Wright.

Adapted from the hit 1956 film, High Society fizzes with a host of beautiful Cole Porter ballads including 'True Love', 'You're Sensational' and the unforgettable 'Did You Evah!'. The original film starred Bing Crosby (Dexter Haven), Frank Sinatra (Mike Connor) and Grace Kelly (Tracy Lord), her last film role before she became Princess Grace of Monaco.

The tour is produced by Music & Lyrics, a consortium of the UK's largest independent No. 1 presenting venues that has been formed to stimulate and create new musical theatre productions. They won The Renee Stepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre for their inaugural production of The King and I (UK Theatre Awards 2012).

High Society is based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry and also based on the Turner Entertainment Co. motion picture High Society. The original Broadway production was produced by Lauren Mitchell and Robert Gailus Luftig and Richard Samson, Dodger Endemol Theatricals in association with Bill Haber. It was originally produced by American Consevatory Theater, San Francisco CA; Carey Perloff, Artistic Director and Heather Kitchen, Managing Director.