What's New Pussycat? (musical)

MusicVarious

LyricsVarious

BasisThe History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
by Henry Fielding

What's New Pussycat?
Original production poster
Music	Various
Lyrics	Various
Book	Joe DiPietro
Basis	The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding
Premiere	8 October 2021: Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Productions	2021 Birmingham

What's New Pussycat? is a jukebox musical with the songs of Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones and a book by Joe DiPietro. It is based on Henry Fielding's 1749 novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling with the setting updated to the 1960s London.

In July 2017, it was reported that the musical was in development with Scott Ellis as director with a reading of the musical taking place with Richard Fleeshman as Tom Jones with Hannah Waddingham, Haydn Gwynne, Jason Pennycooke and Amy Lennox in the cast. It was also revealed that Flody Suarez and Ambassador Theatre Group were producing and aiming for a try-out premiere in Wales, before opening in London's West End and eventually Broadway.^[1]^[2]^[3] The musical was eventually due to have its world premiere at the Leeds Playhouse in autumn 2020, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic the run in Leeds was cancelled.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Production history

Birmingham (2021)

The world premiere production began previews at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 8 October (with an official opening night on 19 October) running until 14 November 2021 and is directed by Luke Sheppard with choreography by Arlene Phillips and video design by Akhila Krishnan.^[7]^[8]

Full casting and creative team was announced on 6 August 2021.^[9] On 18 September 2021, members of the company performed songs from the musical at West End LIVE 2021 in Trafalgar Square, London.^[10]

Musical numbers

The musical features the songs of Sir Tom Jones, written by various songwriters.

Act I

"What's New Pussycat? (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – Mary Western, William Blifil, Lads and Ladies
"It's Not Unusual" (tease) (Les Reed, Gordon Mills) – Tom Jones
"Not Responsible" (Gordon Mills) – Tom Jones, Mary Western
"It's Not Unusual" (Les Reed, Gordon Mills) – Tom Jones, Mods of London
"Bama Lama Bama Loo" (Little Richard) -Mod Singer, Mods
"Without Love" (Danny Small) – Mary Western, Servant Girls
"You Can Leave Your Hat On" (Randy Newman) – Lady Bellaston, Shopgirls
"Land of a Thousand Dances" (Chris Kenner) – The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress, Mr. Partridge, Tom Jones
"Thunderball" (John Barry, Don Black) – Lady Bellaston
"This 'N That" (Gerry Dorsey) – Mr. Partridge, Lonely Blokes
"Sometimes We Cry" (Van Morrison) – Tom Jones, Mary Western, Mr. Partridge, Lady Bellaston, The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress
"Chills and Fever" (Billy Gray, Hank Thompson) – Tom, Mods, Mary Western
"I (Who Have Nothing)" (Carlo Donida, Mogol, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller) – Tom Jones

Act II

"Green, Green Grass of Home" (Curly Putman) – Tom Jones, Prisoners
"Delilah" (Les Reed, Barry Mason) – Big Mickey, Tom Jones, Prisoners
"Till" (Charles Danvers, Carl Sigman) – Tom Jones, Mods of London
"Till" (reprise) (Charles Danvers, Carl Sigman) – Lady Bellaston
"Whatcha' Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You" (Chuck Willis) – Mary Western, Models
"Mama Told Me Not To Come" (Randy Newman) – Mods of London
"Sometimes We Cry" (reprise) (Van Morrison) – Mary Western
"Help Yourself" (Carlo Donida, Jack Fishman) – The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress, Mr. Patridge
"What's New Pussycat?" (reprise) (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – Mod Choir
"Whatcha' Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You" (reprise) (Chuck Willis) – Lady Bellaston, William Blifil
"Give a Little Love" (Iyiola Babtunde Babalola, Kara DioGuardi, Tom Jones, Darren Emilio Lewis) – Mr Partridge, Lord Allworthy, Mrs. Western, The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress
"Without Love" (reprise) (Danny Small) / "It's Not Unusual" (reprise) (Les Reed, Gordon Mills) – Tom Jones, Mary Western
"She's a Lady" (Paul Anka) – Tom Jones
"Green, Green Grass of Home" (reprise) (Curly Putman) – Tom Jones, Company
"Sex Bomb" (Mousse T. Errol Rennalls) – Company

Cast and characters


Character	Birmingham
Character	2021
Tom Jones	Dominic Andersen
Mary Western	Bronté Barbé
Mr Partridge	Ashley Campbell
Lord Allworthy	Julius D'Silva
The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress	Rebekah Hinds
William Blifil	Harry Kershaw
Lady Bellaston	Kelly Price
Mrs Western	Melanie Walters
Big Mickey	Lemuel Knights
Ensemble	Tom Francis Naomi Katiyo David Mairs-McKenzie Lisa Mathieson Fallon Mondlane Jena Pandya Nathan Rigg Owen Saward Carrie Willis
Swing	Alison Driver

Awards and nominations

Original Birmingham production

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2022	WhatsOnStage Awards	Best Regional Theatre Production		Nominated
2022	WhatsOnStage Awards	Best Video Design	Akhila Krishnan	Nominated

v t e Tom Jones
Discography
Studio albums	Along Came Jones (It's Not Unusual) What's New Pussycat? A-tom-ic Jones From the Heart Green, Green Grass of Home Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings 13 Smash Hits Delilah Help Yourself This Is Tom Jones Tom I Who Have Nothing She's a Lady Tom Jones Close Up The Body and Soul of Tom Jones Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like Memories Don't Leave Like People Do Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow What a Night Do You Take This Man Rescue Me Darlin' Tom Jones Country Don't Let Our Dreams Die Young Love Is on the Radio Tender Loving Care At This Moment Carrying a Torch The Lead and How to Swing It Reload Mr. Jones 24 Hours Praise & Blame Spirit in the Room Long Lost Suitcase Surrounded by Time
Live albums	Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas Tom Jones Live at Caesar's Palace John Farnham & Tom Jones – Together in Concert
Compilation albums	Tom Jones' Greatest Hits 20 Greatest Hits: The Tenth Anniversary Album of Tom Jones
Songs	"All You Need Is Love" "Baby, It's Cold Outside" "Black Betty" "Burning Down the House" "Carrying a Torch" "Darlin'" "Daughter of Darkness" "Delilah" "Detroit City" "Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings" "Gimme Shelter" "Green, Green Grass of Home" "Help Yourself" "I (Who Have Nothing)" "I'm Coming Home" "It's Four in the Morning" "It's Not Unusual" "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" "Kiss" "Lady Lay Down" "Love Me Tonight" "Mama Told Me Not to Come" "Move Closer" "Puppet Man" "Rainin' in My Heart" "Resurrection Shuffle" "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" "Sex Bomb" "Sixteen Tons" "She's a Lady" "Stoned in Love" "Thunderball" "Till" "What in the World's Come Over You" "What's New Pussycat?" "Without Love" "With These Hands" "The Young New Mexican Puppeteer"
Related articles	This Is Tom Jones (TV show) Tom Jones Tom Jones: The Right Time The Wexford Carols "The Ballad of Tom Jones" What's New Pussycat? (musical) Tom Jones impersonator

v t e Henry Fielding's The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749)
Films	Tom Jones (1917) Tom Jones (1963) The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones (1976)
Opera	Tom Jones (1765) Tom Jones (1907)
Other	The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling (1997 TV series) What's New Pussycat? (2021 musical) Tom Jones (2023 TV series)
Related	The History of Sir Charles Grandison

What's New Pussycat? (musical)

Production history

Birmingham (2021)

Musical numbers

Cast and characters

Awards and nominations

Original Birmingham production

Reception

References

External links

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