Billy Joel musical movin' into the West End

The London production of the smash hit Broadway Billy Joel musical, Movin’ Out, was launched today.

Former Fame Academy star James Fox, 29, is leading the show, having already played the Piano Man in the US tour of the musical.

Movin’ Out will have its European premiere at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London on March 28, before embarking on a European tour.

The musical, created by US director-choreographer Twyla Tharp with orchestration by singer-songwriter Joel, is told without dialogue.

It is set to the pop legend’s classics, including Uptown Girl, We Didn’t Start the Fire, She’s Got a Way and the title track Movin’ Out.

The two-act show, the story of a group of friends across the decades, recently ended its three-year Broadway run.

Welsh singer Fox represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004.

Pop legend Joel has sold more than 100 million records since signing his first solo recording contract in 1972.

He won a Tony Award for orchestration for the musical, which also won a second Tony for choreography.

The international cast come from as far afield as Australia, Norway, Brazil, Japan and France, as well as the UK and US.

It features Holly Cruikshank, Ron Todorowski, David Gomez, British-born Matthew Dibble, and Brazilian Laura Costa-Chaud.