Full casting announced for UK tour of THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY & JUNE

Full casting has been announced for major new musical The Ballad of Johnny & June, which opens its UK & Ireland tour at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre on 2 March.

Following sell out seasons at California’s La Jolla Playhouse and Canada’s acclaimed Citadel Theatre, the previously announced Christopher Ryan Grant brings his acclaimed performance as Johnny Cash to the UK & Ireland, with two-time Drama Desk Award nominee Christina Bianco starring as June Carter Cash.

Joining Christopher Ryan Grant and Christina Bianco will be Ryan O’Donnell as John Carter Cash, Christopher Short as Man One (Understudy Johnny Cash), Chomba S. Taulo as Man Two, Peter Peverley as Man Three, Abigail Matthews as Woman One (Understudy June Carter Cash), Anne-Marie Wojna as Woman Two, and Celyn Cartwright as Woman Three (Understudy June Carter Cash), with Denis Grindel (Swing/Understudy Johnny Cash), Lenny Turner (Swing/Understudy John Carter Cash), Michael Mahony (Swing, Understudy John Carter Cash), and Mia Jae (Swing).

John Carter Cash, son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, has co-created the musical and shaped the show based on his own recollections and memories of his parents. The Ballad of Johnny & June is narrated by the character of John and told from his point of view. This acclaimed hit new musical shows why Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash remain one of the most iconic couples in music history, packed with a soundtrack of beloved hits — ‘I Walk the Line’, ‘Ring of Fire’, ‘Hey Porter’, ‘Jackson’, ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’, ‘Wildwood Flower’ and many more.

John Carter Cash said: "It has meant a great deal to me to be involved in bringing this new musical to the stage and see my parents Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash's story told with such care, heart and honesty. Johnny and June's music was inseparable from their lives, and this musical captures that truth through powerful story telling by a brilliant company, set to their genre-defining music. I have loved working with the creative team, and my family and I are both delighted and proud that audiences across the UK and Ireland get to see this celebration of their legacy.”

The Ballad of Johnny & June is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy, and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical).

Love is a burning thing, and no one burned brighter than Johnny Cash and June Carter. He was a small-town musician and storyteller with a voice that stirred the soul. She was a multi-talented performer and a music pioneer. Johnny Cash sold more than 90 million records worldwide, won 13 Grammy Awards and a lifetime achievement award in 1999. June Carter Cash won five Grammy Awards across her illustrious career. The pair married in 1968 and remained together until June’s death in 2003.

To book tickets for The Ballad of Johnny & June at select touring venues, please click here.