Michelle Visage is set to make her West End bow in the new musical "Sea Witch," a reimagining of one of the sea's most feared villains, at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The show, inspired by "The Little Mermaid," follows Evie, a witch surviving in a world where magic is outlawed.
Visage will play the role of Tante Hansa, while Jay McGuiness, winner of "Strictly Come Dancing" and former member of The Wanted, joins the cast as Iker. Other notable names in the all-star lineup include Natalie Paris, Olivier Award nominee and original "Six" cast member, as Evie; Mazz Murray, "Mamma Mia!" alum, as Queen Charlotte; Amy Di Bartolomeo, Olivier Award and WhatsOnStage Award nominee, as Annemette; and Natalie Kassanga, leading lady of "Moulin Rouge!", as Malvina.
The show's creative team is equally impressive, with choreographer Dean Lee, who has worked with Janet Jackson, at the helm. Director Kristopher Russell, book writer Michael David Glover, and music and lyrics by Segun Fawole are all part of the production. The musical features a blend of cinematic pop, dark soul, and musical-theatre songwriting.
According to director Russell, "Sea Witch" aims to push the genre forward with every visual, beat, and emotional moment crafted to create a new blueprint for musical theater. Glover added that the show challenges everything we thought we knew about heroes, villains, and storytelling, aiming to carve out a new path for modern musicals.
Choreographer Dean Lee emphasized his goal of creating movement that doesn't simply decorate the story but is an integral part of it. The production is based on Sarah Henning's novel "Sea Witch" and will receive its world premiere on March 1 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Visage will play the role of Tante Hansa, while Jay McGuiness, winner of "Strictly Come Dancing" and former member of The Wanted, joins the cast as Iker. Other notable names in the all-star lineup include Natalie Paris, Olivier Award nominee and original "Six" cast member, as Evie; Mazz Murray, "Mamma Mia!" alum, as Queen Charlotte; Amy Di Bartolomeo, Olivier Award and WhatsOnStage Award nominee, as Annemette; and Natalie Kassanga, leading lady of "Moulin Rouge!", as Malvina.
The show's creative team is equally impressive, with choreographer Dean Lee, who has worked with Janet Jackson, at the helm. Director Kristopher Russell, book writer Michael David Glover, and music and lyrics by Segun Fawole are all part of the production. The musical features a blend of cinematic pop, dark soul, and musical-theatre songwriting.
According to director Russell, "Sea Witch" aims to push the genre forward with every visual, beat, and emotional moment crafted to create a new blueprint for musical theater. Glover added that the show challenges everything we thought we knew about heroes, villains, and storytelling, aiming to carve out a new path for modern musicals.
Choreographer Dean Lee emphasized his goal of creating movement that doesn't simply decorate the story but is an integral part of it. The production is based on Sarah Henning's novel "Sea Witch" and will receive its world premiere on March 1 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
michelle visage as tante hansa is gonna be EVERYTHING 
i've always loved her sass and energy, can't wait to see what she brings to the role 
jay mcguiness joining the cast is also super exciting, he's so talented! 
the music and choreography sound amazing too, can't wait to see it all come together 
this production is gonna be a game-changer for musical theater, just from what we've read so far 
let's get ready to be spellbound!!! 
I'm beyond excited for Michelle Visage to make her West End debut in "Sea Witch"!! 
I've heard she's going to bring so much sass and magic to the role of Tante Hansa, it's going to be EVERYTHING! 
Can't wait to see how the whole production comes together, it sounds like they're really pushing the boundaries of musical theater. 
Who else is with me? 
also, is it weird that they're trying to make the sea witch thing darker and more edgy now? didn't the little mermaid already do that whole "villain" vibe 
just saw this news about michelle visage joining the cast of sea witch... not sure if i'm hyped or worried... the show's trying to push the genre forward, which is cool i guess, but what if it's too much for audiences? will they be able to handle all that emotional intensity? and what's up with the casting choices anyway... jay mcguiness as icer? 
The all-star cast is giving me life! 
And with Segun Fawole's music and lyrics, it's gonna be a wild ride! 
It's like a magical potion 
. Can't wait to see this show on March 1 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane 
And did you know that musical theater has seen a 25% increase in attendance since 2020? 
I'm intrigued by the blend of cinematic pop & dark soul in the musical, hope it's not too cheesy 
The lineup looks pretty amazing too - Jay McGuiness is going to bring a lot of energy to the show, and Natalie Paris is always amazing. 
The fact that they're pushing the boundaries of storytelling and music is really exciting, can't wait to hear more about it!