Patrick Swayze
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American film star Patrick Swayze is set to make his West End debut as Nathan Detroit in
Guys and Dolls. The actor will start performances on 10 July, the same day Claire Sweeney begins performances as Miss Adelaide. Both are scheduled for an eight-week engagement.
Swayze, who was trained as a dancer, appeared on Broadway in Chicago (also appearing on the American tour), Grease and Goodtime Charley (for which he is credited as Pat Swayze). A three-time Golden Globe nominee, Swayze is best known for his work for the silver screen. Although he had small film roles before (including one in the popular The Outsiders), it was 1987’s Dirty Dancing that made Swayze a household name. His subsequent film credits include Steel Dawn, Road House, Next of Kin, Ghost, Point Break, City of Joy, Father Hood, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, Three Wishes, Green Dragon, Donnie Darko and Waking Up in Reno. He reprised the role of Johnny Castle in the 2004 Dirty Dancing sequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.
Swayze is not the first Hollywood star to appear in this production—it opened in 2005 with Ewan McGregor as Sky Masterson. If he only remains with the
Claire Sweeney
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production for his scheduled eight weeks, Swayze will miss appearing in the West End simultaneously with the stage musical version of
Dirty Dancing (he is not affiliated with the stage version), as that does not begin performances until 24 September.
Sweeney is best known as the star of the popular
Brookside series. She also appeared on television in
Celebrity Big Brother. Sweeney, who spent four years as a singer on cruise liners, appeared in
Chicago in the West End in 2002. The following year she appeared in the Fosse tour both in the U.S. and the U.K. and
Aladdin at the Milton Keynes Theatre. She will headline the national tour of
Guys and Dolls in September.
Guys and Dolls, directed by Michael Grandage, will continue to star Adam Cooper and Kelly Price as Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown, respectively.