Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced plans for their upcoming 2020 season.

Headlining the season, Open Air Theatre’s Artistic Director Timothy Sheader reunites with JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR choreographer Drew McOnie to present a new revival of Rogers and Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL. Running from 31st July to 19th September, the legendary musical follows carousel barker Billy Bigelow and his tragic romance with millworker Julie Jordan.

The Open Air Theatre production will mark the fourth large-scale revival of the piece in London, following productions at the National Theatre in 1992, at the West End’s Savoy Theatre in 2008, and a semi-staged revival at the ENO is 2017 starring Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins. A recent revival of CAROUSEL, starring Jessie Mueller and Joshua Henry, ran on Broadway in 2018.

CAROUSEL features classic Rogers and Hammerstein numbers such as ‘If I Loved You’, ‘June Is Bustin’ Out All Over’ and the iconic ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Casting and further creative team for the musical are still to be announced.

Opening the season, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre presents the premiere of a new musical adaptation of 101 DALMATIANS, featuring a book by Zinnie Harris, and music and lyrics by Olivier Award-winning actor Douglas Hodge. Based on the novel by Dodie Smith and set in Regent’s Park itself, the newly commissioned musical features direction by Timothy Sheader, and puppetry design and direction by Toby Olié, who returns to the theatre following his work on RUNNING WILD in 2016.

101 DALMATIANS features set and costume design by Katrina Lindsay, choreography by Liam Steel, lighting design by Howard Hudson, musical supervision and orchestrations by Sarah Travis and musical direction by Tarek Merchant. Casting is by Jill Green, with children’s casting by Verity Naughton.

101 DALMATIANS runs at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 16th May to 21st June.

From 27th June to 25th July, Open Air Theatre continues its Shakespeare tradition for a third straight year with a new revival of ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by UK Theatre Awards nominee Kimberley Sykes. Sykes’ recent directing work includes BERYL at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre, AS YOU LIKE IT at the RSC and on tour, and DIDO QUEEN OF CARTHAGE at the RSC. Casting and further creative team for the production are still to be announced.

Also playing during the Summer, Nicoll Entertainment presents DRAGONS AND MYTHICAL BEASTS, a new 50-minute daytime show for children aged 3 and over. The production is written and directed by Derek Bond (SWEET CHARITY and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the Royal Exchange) and co-directed by Laura Cubitt. Billed as a ‘fantastical interactive show for all the family’, DRAGONS AND MYTHICAL BEASTS runs at Regent’s Park from 11th August to 6th September.

The Open Air Theatre’s acclaimed revival of EVITA is currently playing its final weeks at Regent’s Park, whilst the theatre’s Olivier Award-winning production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, recently seen at the Barbican, prepares to embark on a North American tour in October.

Tickets for the 2020 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre go on general sale from 11th October 2019.