APOLLO THEATRE

Following its sell-out success critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival in 2006 and a similarly rapturous reception during its London première at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2008, Marilyn & Ella arrives at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in the West End for a strictly limited run of Sundays.

Marilyn And Ella explores how Ella Fitzgerald, one of the greatest music artists of the 20th century came to worship Marilyn Monroe, the most beautiful woman in the world, not for her external looks but for the individual inside of whom few in the wider world ever caught a glimpse.

Interspersed with numerous hit songs from the era, including I Got Rhythm, My Funny Valentine, Every Time We Say Goodbye, Mack The Knife and Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend, Marilyn And Ella is a true story brought vividly to life, featuring two of the most iconic females that ever lived.

In 1955 at the very height of her fame, Marilyn Monroe quit Hollywood for New York in search of something more real. During this time she immersed herself in the underground jazz bars of New York and for the very first time got to hear Ella Fitzgerald perform live.

Monroe was blown away and promptly called the owner of her favourite LA club Mocambo and told him that she would sit in the front row of his club every night for a week if he lifted the colour ban and allowed Fitzgerald to sing in his nightclub. He agreed, the ban was lifted, and the rest is history. Fitzgerald was later quoted as saying, “I owe Marilyn a debt.”

Interspersed with numerous hit songs from the era in which they ruled, including ‘I Got Rhythm’, ‘My Funny Valentine’, ‘Every Time We Say Goodbye’, ‘Mack the Knife’ and ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’, Marilyn & Ella is a narrative of discovery, in which a true story of an inspiring friendship is brought vividly to life, featuring two of the most iconic females that ever lived.

Dates

Opening night: 15 November 2009
Closing night: 29 November 2009