UNEXPECTED JOY - MUSICAL WRITTEN BY BILL RUSSELL AND COMPOSED BY JANET HOOD AT THE YORK THEATRE - OFF BROADWAY- APRIL 2018 TO MAY 2018 AND SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE SEPTEMBER 2018

Unexpected Joy is the story of three generations of female singers, long-held family tensions and a week together where change is in the air – Joy, a baby boomer pop star, is visited by her daughter, Rachel and granddaughter Tamara. Rachel is married to a prominent televangelist, so Joy is reluctant to divulge that she’s planning to marry Lou, another singer who happens to be a woman. A week with all four together is bound to lead to tension, laughter, discoveries and happiness that really is unexpected. Let the sparks and music fly!

Through laughter, tears, self-discovery, and an original and compelling score, Unexpected Joy encourages its characters, as well as the audience, to take a journey of self-discovery because, at the end of the day, we really are all just one big family.

With Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell (Tony-nominated for Side Show) and Music by Janet Hood (Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens.)

★★★★★ ‘The perfect recipe for a great night’s entertainment.’ Musical Theatre Review
★★★★★ ‘A joyful thing indeed.’ Attitude Mag
★★★★★ ‘Make sure to pay Unexpected Joy a visit.’ London Theatre
★★★★★ Musical Manda
★★★★ ‘Powerful, roof-raising vocals.’ British Theatre
★★★★ ‘A compelling and joyful production.’ Broadway World
★★★★ ‘Moments of sheer joy.’ The Reviews Hub

The off-Broadway four-member female cast featured Courtney Balan (Falsettos) as Rachel, Allyson Kaye Daniel (Sistas: The Musical) as Lou, Luba Mason (Pretty Filthy) as Joy, and Celeste Rose (Sister Act) as Tamara

The UK production stars Janet Fullerlove as Joy, Jodie Jacobs as Rachel, Melanie Marshall as Lou and Kelly Sweeney as Tamara