FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOr THE WORLD PREMIERE OF DARK OF THE MOON AT CHARING CROSS THEATRE

Book by Jonathan Prince

 Music and Lyrics by Lindy Robbins, Dave Bassett & Steve Robson

 Based on THE play by Howard D Richardson and William Berney

18 MAY – 8 AUGUST, CHARING CROSS THEATRE

Witzend Productions and Charing Cross Theatre Productions are proud to announce the full cast for the world premiere of new musical Dark of the Moon, based on the classic 1941 play by Howard D Richardson and William Berney, playing at Charing Cross Theatre from Monday 18 May to Saturday 8 August 2026, with a national press night on Tuesday 26 May.

Joining the already announced duo of Glenn Adamson (Bat Out if Hell, West End, UK, US & Australasian Tour) as ‘John, The Witch Boy’ and Lauren Jones (The Addams Family, UK Tour; A Christmas Carol, The Old Vic) as ‘Barbara Allen’, will be Sue Appleby (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre; Rutherford and Son, National Theatre) as ‘Gemma Allen’, Josie Benson (Mamma Mia, West End; The Harder They Come, Stratford East) as ‘Conjur Woman’, Jordan Broatch (&Juliet, UK Tour; 42 Balloons, Lowry) as ‘Devin’, Martin Callaghan (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, UK Tour; The Wizard of Oz, Birmingham Rep Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse) as ‘Preacher Haggler’,Sophia Duncan (Roles We’ll Never Play, RWNP, West End Disney Concert, Crazy Coqs) as ‘Ella Bergen’, David-Michael Johnson (Shining in Misery, The Other Palace; The Creakers, Theatre Royal Plymouth/Southbank Centre) as ‘Mr. Wharton’, Thomas-Lee Kidd (Fiddler on the Roof, Regent’s Park Open Air; White Christmas, Sheffield Crucible) as ‘Thomas Allen’, Al Knott (Midnight at the Palace, Gilded Balloon; Starlight Express, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre) as ‘Raven’, Kiah Lindsay (A Christmas Carol, Crucible Theatre; Alice by Heart, Bridewell Theatre) as ‘Grace/Katie’, Gemma Maclean(Mamma Mia! The Party, The O2; Only Fools and Horses, Theatre Royal Haymarket) as ‘Patricia Bergen’, Wills Mercado (The Last Five Years, UK Tour; The Pied Piper and the Secret Garden, Regents Park Music Festival) as ‘Floyd Allen’, Samuel Murray (Bonnie and Clyde, Old Joint Stock Theatre; Cinderella, Crossroads Pantomimes) as ‘Marvin Hudgens’, Gary Turner (The Bodyguard, UK and Japan Tour; Strictly Murder, Hello World) as ‘Conjur Man’ and Appolilly Szwarc (High Society, ArtsEd; Spring Awakening, ArtsEd) as ‘Arwen’. Completing the cast are onstage swings Will Foggin (My Fair Lady, The Mill at Sonning; Spring Awakening, ArtsEd), Vieve Hamilton (Cinderella, Hackney Empire; High Society, Arts Ed) and Nick Wyschna (Death Comes to Pemberley, UK Tour; One Punch, Dog Eat Dog).

DARK OF THE MOON is a supernatural tale of powerful witchcraft, small-town prejudices and the power of love. This timeless, spellbinding new musical portrays the clash of two dynamically polarized worlds—a charming rural Appalachian town and the mystical world of witches and warlocks from the Smoky Mountains that loom high above. The show’s unique musical score reflects those conflicting worlds using a thrilling blend of country/bluegrass and rock. Barbara Allen - a human girl and John - a curious witch-boy - find each other and defy their communities to build a life together. But will love conquer all - or will they be haunted by a deal that was made by the dark of the moon?

Directed by Georgie Rankcom (The Frogs; Anyone Can Whistle; How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying; Before After – Southwark Playhouse), the musical features a book by Emmy® Award nominee Jonathan Prince (American Dreams) and music and lyrics by Grammy® Award-winning and multi-platinum songwriters Lindy Robbins (Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper”), Dave Bassett (Elle King’s “Ex’s and Oh’s”) and Steve Robson(Rascal Flatts’ “What Hurts the Most”).

Originally written by Howard Richardson and William Berney while students at the University of Iowa in the early 1940s, the play Dark of the Moon is loosely inspired by the traditional Scottish ballad Barbara Allen. Following its original Broadway production by the Shubert Organization, the play has been widely produced internationally and has attracted notable performers and directors including Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones. Sir Peter Brook directed a London production at the Ambassador Theatre in 1949.

The story has recently re-entered the cultural conversation through references in the Stranger Things stage play The First Shadow and the final season of the hit Netflix series.

Georgie Rankcom said, “I'm so excited for this phenomenal company to take our audiences into the world of 'Dark of the Moon'. It's a beautiful piece that, at its heart, is about love and connection in the face of hatred and boasts a truly unforgettable score. We're all so excited to share this story with you from 18 May.”

Additional members of the creative team are choreographer Jane McMurtrie, musical supervisor Brad Haak, musical director Matt Herbert, orchestrator Dillon Kondor, casting director Peter Noden, production designer Libby Todd, lighting designer Jonathan Chan and sound designer Andrew Johnson.