Sonia and X Factor's Sam Bailey to star in Now That's What I Call A Musical at Liverpool Empire

Who remembers getting a NOW CD? Kids that was like a round thing that you put inside of a machine and it would play music… providing it wasn’t scratched!

Well now you can relive the playlist of your life with Now That’s What I Call A Musical coming to the Liverpool Empire next year.

The show has announced the full cast for the world premiere of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical – led by award-winning comedy actress and EastEnders star Nina Wadia, The X Factor winner Sam Bailey and special guest and Scouse pop icon, Sonia!

What’s the story? It’s Birmingham, 1989. Two school friends, Gemma and April, are busy with very important business – planning their lives based on Number One Magazine quizzes and dreaming of snogging Rick Astley.

Cut to Birmingham 2009 and it’s the most dreaded event of their lives– the school reunion.

Drama, old flames and receding hairlines come together as friends reunite and everything from the past starts to slot into place.

The biggest question is: what was with all that hairspray?

Cast. Credit: Now That's What I Call A Musical — Cast. Credit: Now That’s What I Call A Musical

Joining the company are Kieran Cooper (Strictly Ballroom – UK tour) as Younger Tim, Christopher Glover (The Kite Runner – 2024 Ireland UK Tour) as Dad, Chris Grahamson (Phil Spector in TINA – The Tina Turner Musical) as Tim, Maia Hawkins (Cassie in A Chorus Line at Doreen Bird College) as Younger April, Lauren Hendricks (Much Ado About Nothing at the East London Shakespeare Festival) as Ms Dorian, Shakil Hussain (Frankie Goes to Bollywood – UK tour) as Frank, Nikita Johal (Wendla in Spring Awakening at Hope Mill Theatre) as Younger Gemma, Luke Latchman (Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre) as Younger Frank, Matthew Mori (professional debut) as Younger Steve, Phil Sealey (TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera] – UK Tour) as Steve, Callum Tempest (Miss Saigon at Sheffield Crucible) as Barney and Poppy Tierney (Cabaret at Lido 2, Paris) as Mum. The cast is completed by Emily Barnett-Salter (Annie – UK Tour), Molly Cheesley (Jane Austen’s Emma – UK Tour), Lizzy Ives(professional debut), Stefanos Petri (professional debut) and Martha Pothen (Oliver! at Leeds Playhouse).

Credit: Now That's What I Call A Musical — Credit: Now That’s What I Call A Musical

NOW That’s What I Call Music was a staple gift for Christmas and birthdays at one time… and not to make anyone feel old, but they’re currently on NOW 117… wow!

The show is celebrating 40 years of the iconic NOW That’s What I Call Music brand, which has sold an estimated 200 million copies worldwide, this fun-filled production is bursting with hits from Whitney Houston, Wham!, Blondie, Tears For Fears, Spandau Ballet, and many more.