Legendary entertainer will appear in the show at Hull New Theatre
Les Dennis as Joe in musical comedy Waitress, coming to Hull(Image: Matt Crockett)
Star of stage and screen Les Dennis has been announced as a cast member in the touring production of Waitress. The musical comedy will arrive in Hull for a run in September.
The latest principal cast announcement was made by the show’s producers Barry and Fran Weissler, together with David Ian for Crossroads Live. Legendary comic Les will play Joe alongside West End star Evelyn Hoskins as Dawn, when Waitress serves up a treat of a show at Hull New Theatre, from September 1 to 5.
Les is one of the UK’s best-known entertainers with a career in showbusiness spanning more than 50 years. His West End credits include Inside Number 9: Stage Fright at the Wyndham’s Theatre; Grandad Trotter in Only Fools and Horses The Musical at the Theatre Royal Haymarket; Wilbur in Hairspray opposite Michael Ball at the London Coliseum; King Arthur in Spamalot; Amos Hart in Chicago and Bill in Me and My Girl.
His touring theatre credits include 42nd Street, Art, Legally Blonde, High School Musical 2 and Uncle Fester in the musical comedy The Addams Family. His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street and a fictional version of himself in Extras.
The 72-year-old started out doing stand-up comedy at working men’s clubs and went on to win the ITV talent show New Faces. In the 1980s he became one of the team regulars on Russ Abbot’s Madhouse and The Russ Abbot Show, before forming a comedy partnership with great friend and fellow impressionist the late Dustin Gee, which in turn led to a series of their own, The Laughter Show.
Les will be well-known to many as the host of TV quiz show Family Fortunes, a role he took for 15 years. He appeared in the second series of the UK Celebrity Big Brother, finishing runner-up to Mark Owen.
Evelyn Hoskins returns to the role of Dawn, having previously starred in Waitress both in the West End and on tour, and has many stage credits to her name. She most recently reprised her role of Carol Van Deusen in 42 Balloons at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.
Waitress is based on the 2007 movie written by Adrienne Shelly and has garnered multiple awards and nominations in both America and the UK. Marking ten years of production, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage.
A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life.
Publicists said: “This beautiful musical celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.” Tickets for Waitress at Hull New Theatre are on sale now via the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit hulltheatres.co.uk