The Bodyguard (musical)

Background

The musical is based on the 1992 film The Bodyguard which starred and featured songs by Whitney Houston. The show was officially confirmed in February 2012 and following six years of development, producers confirmed the show would play London's Adelphi Theatre from November 2012. Costing around five million pounds to produce the show is written by Alexander Dinelaris, produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian directed by Thea Sharrock, set and costumes are designed by Tim Hatley, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Richard Brooker, video projection by Duncan McLean, choreography by Arthur Pita, musical arrangements, orchestrations and underscore by Chris Egan

The show's book by Alexander Dinelaris brings the story forward to present day and changes the focus of the story to bring the character of Rachel Marron to the forefront rather than the bodyguard. The script adapted from the original screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan also expands the role of Rachel Marron's sister Nicki. The stage musical like the original film features music by Whitney Houston which in addition to the original movie soundtrack adds the following additional Houston tracks So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love for You, I'm Your Baby Tonight, How Will I Know, Oh Yes, All the Man That I Need, All at Once and I Wanna Dance with Somebody.

Following Whitney Houston's death the show's star Heather Headley considered withdrawing from the role of Rachel Marron originated by Houston in the film. She later said "You don't want people to compare you to Whitney. I didn't want it before and especially not now after her passing. "I want people to come in and say this is Heather's version - this is Heather playing Rachel Marron and singing Whitney songs. "I am always trying to find a way to make them my own but still acknowledge and keep the integrity of her music."

West End (Winter 2012– Late Summer 2014)

The Bodyguard's premiere production opened in London's West End on 5 December 2012, following previews at the Adelphi Theatre from 6 November 2012. The production which initially was booking until April 2013, opening cast included Grammy and Tony Award winner Heather Headley as Rachel Marron, Lloyd Owen as Frank Farmer and Debbie Kurup as Nicki Marron. Ray Shell created the role of DEVANEY, Rachel Marron's manager. A month after opening with advance sales of more than four million pounds booking was extended until 28 September 2013. Headley departed the show at the start of August with her alternate Gloria Onitiri taking over the role short term until 7 September 2013. From 9 September the show's first major cast change took place with soul artist Beverley Knight taking over the role of Rachel Marron and Tristan Gemmill as Frank Farmer. The show initially extended to March after Knight took over but later extended booking to 30 August 2014. In March 2014, producers announced that The X Factor winner Alexandra Burke would take over from Knight on 2 June. A typical London performance runs two hours and 25 minutes, including one interval of 20 mins.

The show closed at the Adelphi Theatre on 29 August 2014, to make way for Made in Dagenham having come to the end of its contract with the theatre. Producers had explored the option of transferring to the nearby Aldwych Theatre, but as the venue had 350 less seats they decided against moving. Commenting on the closure, producer Michael Harrison said, “We always knew we would have to leave the Adelphi to make way for another show and we looked at length for an alternative theatre as the business has been phenomenal. The only other theatre we could have moved to, and we rang more numbers than you could imagine, had 300 less seats. It’s a big show, there are nearly 30 people in the company, a 10-piece orchestra, automation, more computers and technical staff than you can imagine, so it can’t just run cheap and cheerfully like certain other West End shows.”

UK and Ireland Tour (Early Spring 2015– Early Summer 2016)

A tour of the United Kingdom commenced at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton in February 2015. Producers created a new set for the touring production and added a new Whitney Houston song, Million Dollar Bill. The tour visited Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Bradford, Cardiff, Plymouth, Dublin, Bristol, Birmingham, Southend, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Sheffield, Oxford, Manchester, and Eastbourne. Alexandra Burke reprised her role as Rachel Marron from the West End production, with Pop Idol and Thriller – Live actress Zoe Birkett playing the role at matinee performances for the first half of the tour. Stuart Reid played Frank Farmer. After Zoe Birkett left the production, singer Carole Stennett played Rachel Marron at the matinee performances for the remainder of the tour. After its final performance in the United Kingdom, the tour was transferred to Monaco for a limited engagement from 23 to 26 June 2016 at the Grimaldi Forum.

Netherlands (Autumn 2015–)

The first non-English production had its first try-out on 12 September 2015, in the Netherlands. The show currently plays at the Utrecht Beatrix Theater and had its premiere on the 27 September. This production uses all-new costume, set, lighting and sound designs (sound design by Gareth Owen) and includes the new song that was also included in the UK and Ireland tour.

Singer Romy Monteiro, who competed in the 2014 season of The Voice of Holland, stars as Rachel Marron, with the role of Frank Farmer shared by Dutch actors Mark van Eeuwen and Dave Mantel. On 25 January 2016, producers announced actor Miro Kloosterman as the third performer to portray. From mid-February 2016 to January 2017, he shared the role with Van Eeuwen and Mantel.

Carolina Dijkuizen portrayed the role of Rachel's sister, Nicki Marron, until September 2016, after which singer Nurlaila Karim took over the role.

April Darby alternates the role of Rachel Marron with Monteiro, while understudies Samantha Klots and Tjindjara Metschendorp portray the role when both singers are unable to perform. In February 2017 Samantha Klots left the show and was replaced by Anne Apello.

The other main cast includes Nickelodeon presenter Patrick Martens and actor Ferry Doedens alternating the role of Sy Spector, Ruurt de Maesschalck and Mike Ho Sam Sooi alternating as Bill Devaney, model and actor Bram Blankestijn als The Stalker, Zjon Smaal as Tony Scibelli and Robbert van den Bergh as Ray Court (who, in this version, is slightly based on the character Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds). Roy Kullick assumed the role of Ray Court on 25 July 2016. Paul Donkers took over the role of Tony Scibelli at the end of September 2016.

Cologne (Late Autumn / Early Winter 2015–)

In November 2015 Bodyguard made its German debut in the Musical Dome in Cologne. The show is expected to run until 2017.

German singer and actress Patricia Meeden, who was a contestant of The Voice of Germany plays the role of Rachel Marron. Jürgen Fischer portrays Frank Farmer and South African actress Tertia Botha plays Nicky Marron. The other main cast includes American musical actor Dennis Kozeluh as Bill Devaney, Jadran Malkovich as Sy Spector, Tom Viehöfer als The Stalker, Christian Peter Hauser as Tony Scibelli and Michael Clauder as Ray Court.

West End Revival ( Mid Summer 2016– Early January 2017)

Following completion of the first UK tour, the production was scheduled to transfer to the West End's Dominion Theatre, from 15 July 2016, booking for a limited run until 7 January 2017. Beverley Knight will reprise her role as Rachel Marron and will be joined by Ben Richards as Frank Farmer.

US Tour (Winter 2016– Late Summer 2017 )

On 15 May 2015, producers announced that the show would make its North American Debut in the Fall of 2016 at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey for previews. The National Tour would launch from the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis and would star Grammy-nominated singer Deborah Cox as Rachel Marron, and Judson Mills as Frank Farmer.

Seoul (Winter 2016– Spring 2017)

In December 2016, Bodyguard made its Korean debut in LG Arts Center in Seoul and it is first production in Far East country. The show will run until 5 March 2017.

Korean actress Jung Sun Ah, Korean Singer Yangpa and Son Seung Yeon will play the role of Rachel Marron. Lee Jong Hyuk and Park Sung Woong portray Frank Farmer and Choi Hyun Sun plays Nicki Marron. The other main cast includes Han Dong Gyu as Bill Devaney, Lim Ki Hong as Sy Spector, Lee Yool The Stalker, Jeon Jae Hyeon as Tony Scibelli and Kim Dae Ryeong as Ray Court. Fletcher will be played by Yoon Felix, Moon Seo Yoon and Lee Tae Kyung.

Toronto ( Spring 2017)

Producers announced that Beverley Knight will play the role of Rachel in the Toronto production. Rachel John confirmed that the entire London Revival Cast will transfer with Beverley Knight. The production is scheduled to play a short limited engagement from 11 February 2017 through 9 April 2017 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre.

Australia (Mid Spring 2017–)

On 9 October 2016, producers confirmed that the Australian tour of the musical would begin in Sydney on 21 April 2017 at the Lyric Theatre before moving on to Brisbane in July and Melbourne in August. The lead role will be played by Paulini, while Kip Gamblin will portray Frank Farmer.

Orchestra

The musical uses a ten-member orchestra consisting of 3 keyboards, 2 guitars, bass guitar, drums, percussion, trumpet/flugel and woodwind (tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet & ewi).

Principal roles and cast members

Critical reception

The West End performance of The Bodyguard has received generally positive reviews from critics. Paul Coltas of Time Out opens his critique on a positive: “There is surely an excruciatingly tacky musical adaptation of the Whitney Houston-starring romantic thriller 'The Bodyguard' to be made. But this is not it.” Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph echoes Coltas’ initial reservations in the opening of his review but ultimately praises the director’s work (Thea Sharrock), saying “Her production, spectacularly and ingeniously designed by Tim Hatley, is far more enjoyable than the movie.”

Libby Purves of The Times described it as giving “throbbing new life to that thin story, half gig, half thriller.” Best of Theatre commented on the stage adaptation saying “There is no denying that these songs really are some of the most energetic and catchy pop songs ever written and they have been cleverly weaved into the narrative of the musical”, and London Theatre’s writer, Peter Brown praised the overall production despite the character and stories stating “I found Thea Sharrock's production incredibly slick in terms of the design and functionality, and the singing and songs are great. But overall, I felt a little disappointed with the lack of character and story detail.”

There were also some negative critics including Michael Billington from The Guardian, who said that the musical was "one more example of the necrophiliac musical morbidly attracted to a cinematic corpse".