Lloyd Owen will play Frank Farmer opposite the previously reported Heather Headley as Rachel Marron in the stage musical adaptation of The Bodyguard, which will begin previews at the Adelphi Theatre on November 6, with an opening on December 5. Thea Sharrock will direct.
Based on the Warner Bros. film of the same name with screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, the story involves former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love.
The production will feature a multitude of hits by the late Whitney Houston, who starred in the film. Songs include “Queen of the Night,” “So Emotional,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” “Run to You,” “I Have Nothing,” “How Will I Know,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and “I Will Always Love You.”
The musical has a book by Alex Dinelaris, with designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Richard Brooker. Choreography is by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan and musical supervision by Mike Dixon.
Headley won a Tony Award for her performance in Disney’s Aida and won a Grammy Award for her album Audience of One. In addition, she received Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for This Is Who I Am. Among her recent credits are touring with Andrea Bocelli.
Owen was last on stage in London playing leading roles in Sarah Helm’s Loyalty at Hampstead Theatre and J T Rogers Blood and Gifts at the National Theatre. On television, he is best known for playing Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC’s long running drama Monarch of the Glen and Indiana Jones’ father Professor Henry Jones, Sr, in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
