Well-Strung to Make European Debut, Directed by Donna Drake, at Leicester Square Theatre, Sept 19-21

One Direction step aside, there's a new kind of boy band on the circuit. All-male string quartet Well-Strung are classical musicians who also sing, putting their own spin on the music of Mozart, Vivaldi, Rihanna, Adele Lady Gaga, and many more.

Well-Strung will make their European debut in a show directed and co-written by Donna Drake, at Leicester Square Theatre from Thursday 19 September - Saturday 21 September. Press night is Thursday 19 September at 7.00pm

Well-Strung's debut show sold-out in New York at Joe's Pub and they have had two acclaimed Off-Broadway runs in the past year as well as a debut recording contract on Twist Records.

The group stars first violinist Edmund Bagnell, second violinist Christopher Marchant, cellist Daniel Shevlin and violist Trevor Wadleigh. Edmund Bagnell (first violinist) played Tobias in the first US national tour of Sweeney Todd directed by John Doyle. Chris Marchant (second violinist) grew up singing and playing violin, but was not involved in theatre until he graduated Malone University in Canton, Ohio. Since then, he has been involved in a number of productions using his talents as a vocalist, actor, and musician, including Tobias in a national tour of Sweeney Todd and Provincetown's Naked Boys Singing. Daniel Shevlin (cellist) appeared off-Broadway in The Sandbox written and directed by Edward Albee, and has toured the US and Asia in productions of Rent and Cabaret (Studio 54 version. Trevor Wadleigh (violist) is a member of The String Collective of New York and has performed at Carnegie Hall.

Donna Drake, (director & co-writer) was in the original Broadway casts of A Chorus Line, Sophisticated Ladies, Woman of the Year, The Wind in the Willows, 5678-Dance, It's so nice to be Civilized and the original production of The 1940's Radio Hour. She has received an Emmy nomination for Dear Alex and Annie, four Drama Desk nominations, a Mac Award nomination and a Theatre World Award. She choreographed Catherine Zeta Jones for the American Film Institute Awards.

David Levinson (arranger) collaborated with Stacey Weingarten and Donna Drake on Les Enfants de Paris.

Mark Cortale (co-writer & producer) is also producing Patti LuPone and Seth Rudetsky at Leicester Square Theatre in June. In addition to Well-Strung, Mark manages and produces Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman, Seth Rudetsky and Colleen Ballinger aka Miranda Sings. This past February Mark produced An Evening with Megan Mullally at the Sydney Theatre as part of the Mardi Gras festival and also at The Forum in Melbourne.

Presented in association with Martin Witts for London International Arts Theatres Limited.

Well-Strung comes to the Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, LONDON WC2H 7BX, presented by Mark Cortale, conceived by Christopher Marchant & Mark Cortale and directed by Donna Drake, Thursday September 19 at 7.00pm, Friday September 20 at 7.00pm, and Saturday September 21 at 7.00pm. Press night is set for Thursday September 19 at 7.00pm. Tickets: £17.50 - £19.50. Box office: 08448 733433. For more information, visit www.leicestersquaretheatre.com.

More Articles by This Author...