The full cast and creative team has been announced for the premiere production of new musical 42 Balloons, which plays at The Lowry, Salford from 18 April – 19 May.

2nd of July 1982.

Using a lawn chair and approximately 42 helium-filled weather balloons, truck driver Larry Walters defied all the odds (and FAA airspace regulations!) to make his lifelong dream a reality and fly sixteen thousand feet above Los Angeles.

No, seriously. In a chair.

42 Balloons is an uplifting musical inspired by the highly improbable true story of how Larry, and his partner Carol Van Deusen, convinced their friends and family to help Larry achieve his dream of flying.

Featuring an irresistible, 80s pop-inspired score, 42 Balloons questions how far you would go to make your dreams come true. Is the sky actually the limit, and what happens if it doesn’t all go to plan?

Joining the previously announced Charlie McCullagh and Evelyn Hoskins reprising their roles as Larry and Carol from the 2022 staged concert performances in the West End will be Gillian Hardie (Kinky Boots) as Carol’s Mom, and Lejaun Sheppard (The Book of Mormon) as Ron.

Completing the cast are Simon Anthony (Guys & Dolls), Jordan Broatch (You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown), Maddison Bulleyment (SIX), Athena Collins (SIX), Morgan Gregory (Elf the Musical), Matt Jones (Pretty Woman the Musical), Luke Latchman (Sunset Boulevard), Rebekah Lowings (My Fair Lady), Jamie Pritchard (Les Misérables), Laura Dawn Pyatt (SIX), Tinovimbanashe Sibanda (Guys & Dolls) and Natasha Wilde (2023 graduate).

42 Balloons has a book, music and lyrics by Jack Godfrey, with direction by Ellie Coote, orchestrations, arrangements and musical supervision by Joe Beighton, choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, set design by Milla Clarke, costumes by Natalie Pryce, video design by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Andrzej Goulding, lighting by Tony and Olivier Award-nominee Bruno Poet, sound by Grammy and Tony Award-nominee Paul Gatehouse, casting by Pearson Casting CDG, and music direction by Flynn Sturgeon.

Jack Godfrey said: “I am so excited for the full production of 42 Balloons coming to the Lowry in April. It's been about six years since I started writing the show after discovering the incredible story of Larry's flight during a late night online deep dive, and it's extremely cool and slightly surreal to see it being realised as a full production for the first time. I'm extremely grateful for the amazing cast and creative team bringing the show to life and I can't wait to share 42 Balloons with everyone.”

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