Deborah Cox to Take On Whitney Houston's Classic Role in American Tour of The Bodyguard

Grammy-nominated pop singer Deborah Cox (Jekyll & Hyde) will lead the cast of an upcoming American tour of the new musical The Bodyguard. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the tour will launch in fall 2016, with stops, dates, and full casting to be announced.

Based on the Warner Bros. film of the same name with screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, The Bodyguard tells the story of former Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard, Frank Farmer, who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron (Cox) from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don't expect is to fall in love. On-screen, the roles were originated by Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston.

Adapted for the stage by Oscar-winning Birdman scribe Alexander Dinelaris, The Bodyguard features hit songs including "One Moment in Time," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," and the legendary tune "I Will Always Love You." The stage version premiered in 2012 at London's Adelphi Theatre, where it starred Heather Headley, and was nominated for four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. The run concluded on August 29, 2014.

The Bodyguard features set and costume design by Tim Hatley, lighting design by Mark Henderson, and sound design by Richard Brooker. Choreography is by Karen Bruce, and orchestrations and additional music are by Chris Egan.