Powerhouse vocalist Jaz Ellington will soon hit the road with the UK tour of Bonnie & Clyde, winner of Best New Musical at the 2023 What’sOnStage Awards. 2 strong seasons in the West End have established the show as a genuine crowd-pleaser, and The Voice and ‘Song for Europe’ alumnus Ellington will take the stage in the role of The Preacher. The R&B/Soul artist has opened for Lauryn Hill, and worked with Will I Am, but the musical stage represents a new frontier. I got the chance to ask him a few quick questions…take a peak!
Featured Image: Darren Bell
Making your debut in “Bonnie & Clyde The Musical” is a significant development in your career, Jaz. What was it about the show or the part of The Preacher, that persuaded you onto the musical theatre stage?
The opportunity to play the Preacher in Bonnie & Clyde is literally a dream role for my debut performance. I grew up in a Christian household regularly attending church and performing in three different choirs. The Preacher role really hits home and I am hoping to bring him to life in an authentic way.
Do you think Bonnie & Clyde would achieve the same ‘celebrity’ status if they were alive now?
No I don’t… With the reach of social media, I think they would have been caught sooner and gone to prison before becoming celebrities! They may have become infamous, but they wouldn’t be known in a positive light. Their criminality wouldn’t go down well in 2024. They might have got a Netflix Documentary out of it though!
“I am terrified…. BUT…. I have dreamed about being in a musical theatre production since being a child.”
Jaz Ellington talks Bonnie & Clyde
Given your diverse musical background, how do you see your style blending with the musical influences present in “Bonnie & Clyde”?
I have a strong feeling that it will be a natural adaptation to the style. I see myself blending well given that my musical roots are firmly planted in the Church and gospel music. My musical inspirations are people like Aretha Franklin and Jennifer Hudson and the Preacher’s songs lean musically towards a sound that is like home for me.
Are you feeling at all nervous? You know your way about a stage, but you’re normally playing yourself. Does that change how you feel?
I am terrified…. BUT…. I have dreamed about being in a musical theatre production since being a child. I grew up watching musicals on film with my grandad starring the likes of Doris Day, Cary Grant and Dean Martin, so the opportunity now to perform in one will be a totally new experience, but one that I am so incredibly excited to embrace.
“Bonnie & Clyde” boasts a talented cast, such as Catherine Tyldesley and Danny Hatchard. Are you looking forward to working with them?
100% … These are people that I have known of before getting cast in the show and I am really looking forward to working with such an incredibly talented company.
Are you looking forward to life on the road with the show?
Yes, it’s going to be different to anything I have done before. Most of my previous tours have been one-nighters around the country but this is a tour of a week at a time and I am looking forward to doing some sight-seeing and being a tourist in the brilliant towns and cities that we are visiting.
Show info – Bonnie & Clyde
Tour: National – see show site for venues
Dates: 22nd February – 26th October 2024
Ticket price: See venues for pricing.
Showtimes: See venues for timings.
Age Recommendation: 12+
Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)
Accessibility
- See venues for accessibility information.
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