Make Me A Song - The Music of William Finn

THE MUSIC OF
WILLIAM FINN

Conceived by
Rob Ruggiero
Directed by
Andrew MacBean

With
Louise Dearman
Frances Ruffelle
Gareth Snook
Simon Thomas
Sally Ann Triplett
Ian H Watkins

Musical Director
Matthew Brind
Production Designer
Ben M Rogers
Costume Designer
Claire Bilyard
Sound Designer
Gareth Owen for Orbital Sound

Frances Ruffelle and Ian H Watkins

Cast

Frances Ruffelle

Frances Ruffelle created the role of Eponine in Les Misérables for the Royal Shakespeare Company, which transferred to London’s West End. She then recreated the role on Broadway for which she won the coveted Tony Award, the Helen Hayes Award, Theatreworld Award and the Outer Circle Critics’ Award for Best Actress.

Frances’ professional career started at the age of sixteen, when she played the Narrator in Bill Kenwright’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on a National Tour. She then auditioned for the original workshop of Starlight Express and told Andrew Lloyd Webber that she could tap dance on roller skates – she promptly got the job, (she then had to learn to roller skate!).Next came the role of Louisa in Terence Rattigan’s play The Sleeping Prince with Omar Sharif at the Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End. When the Apollo Victoria became available, Frances was signed up by Trevor Nunn to play the original Dinah in Starlight Express. She also created the roles of Yonah in Children of Eden at the Prince Edward Theatre, directed by John Caird and then went on to star with Ian Dury as Delilah in Apples, directed by Simon Curtis for The Royal Court Theatre. Her more recent credits include Annabelle in Lucky Stiff at the Bridewell directed by Steven Dexter, The Wife in Schwartz Stories at the Kings Head and for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sydmonton Festival she played Betty Shaefer in Sunset Boulevard and Candy in Whistle Down the Wind. Frances has performed concerts with the award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown and has played sell-out gigs at London’s Ronnie Scotts with her Big Band.

Singing and song writing has formed an integral part of Frances’ career. Frances has recorded three solo albums, ‘Fragile’ on Virgin Records, ‘Frances Ruffelle’ on The Dress Circle Label, ‘Showgirl’ through the Lovechild Music label. Frances Ruffelle live at Ronnie. Along with one of her collaborators, Sam Bonner, she has formed PaTala and they have released their debut album ‘Purify’, which combines ambient music and original melodies with ancient Sanskrit words. Frances recorded a duet with Christopher Cross, ‘I Will’ which is featured on Cross’ album, ‘Back of My Mind’ and his greatest hits album. Frances also represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, with her hit song ‘Lonely Symphony’ and is the featured artist on a new dance mix of this song just released. Frances is on the original cast albums of Les Misérables (West End and Broadway), Starlight Express, Children of Eden, and Apples.

On screen, Frances spent a year playing the role of Dawn Daniel-Spears in Dream Team on Sky One. She also played the lead role of Kitty in the cult TV series Headless written and directed by Tony McHale and she co-wrote the soundtrack for the series. Other TV and film credits include Eunice in P’Tang Yang Kipperbang (Enigma Films), Zeze in The Invitation, (Cork Films), Eleni in Road to Itthaca (Underground Films), Angela in Secrets and Lies (Handmade Films), Olivia in The Further Adventures of Robin Hood (Warner Bros), Sylvie in The Equalizer (CBS/Universal), and Frances also sang a duet with Ricky Martin for LWT’s An Audience With Ricky Martin which won the New York Variety TV award. Frances has recorded her fourth solo album entitled Frances Ruffelle Live at Ronnie Scotts due out very soon. www.francesruffelle.com

Frances was delighted to be return to Chicago for its 10th Anniversary run, having played Roxie Hart in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

For more information on Frances please visit www.colekitchenn.com