(Cover Photo: Jonathan Blansfield appears as “Frank Farmer” in the musical adaptation of  "THE BODYGUARD" coming to The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester, MA. from November 6 through November 8, 2026. Photo Courtesy of the tour and Hanover Theatre)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724

"I've spent a lot of time guarding people all over the world, and I've found one thing to be true - no matter how incompetent the assassins, no matter how much they miss their target, there's always one person who always gets hit."

                        - ("Frank Farmer") /  Lawrence Kasdan, Alexander Dinelaris

The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts

Presents the Musical 

"THE BODYGUARD"

Limited Engagement!

Book by Alexander Dinelaris

Orchestrations and Additional Music by Chris Egan

Musical Supervisor and Additional Vocal Arrangements by Richard Beadle

Based on the 1992 Warner Bros. film “The Bodyguard” Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan

Directed by Samantha Saltzman 

Choreographer Jim Cooney 

Music Supervisor Darryl Archibald   

Cast Includes: Brooke Bailey as “Rachel Marron,” Jonathan Blansfield as “Frank Farmer,” Erica Burkett as “Rachel Marron–Alternate,” Andrea Simpson as “Nicki Marron,” Keyshawn Brian Steele as “Tony Scibelli,” Anthony S. Goolsby as “Bill Devaney,” Ethan Hall as “Stalker,” Riki Stevens as “Sy Spector, Ensemble,” Carmelo Kelly as “Fletcher,” Shiloh Prendergast as “Fletcher.”   

Ensemble: Cedric Jamaal Greene, Cydney Heard, Tanner Jarrett Kirol, Joe Love, Lucy Mangion, Yurika Ono, Camal Pugh, Courtney Genoveva Saffold. 

Swing: Samantha Scott, Scott Willits.

Additional Creative Team: Scenic Design - Christine Peters; Lighting Design - Craig Stelzenmuller; Sound Design - Josh Reid; Costume Design - Whitney Locher; Hair and Wig Design - Liz Printz; Casting Director - Casting by ARC, Jarrett Reiche.

(Note: Information obtained from tour website and subject to change)

Performances:

November 6, 2026 through November 8, 2026 

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times) 

Presented at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA.

TICKETS:

For More Information visit: thehanovertheatre.org

BUY TICKETS

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

METRMAG Spotlight On: Jonathan Blansfield of "THE BODYGUARD" musical coming to the Hanover Theatre (Worcester, MA.)

(Photo: Jonathan Blansfield appears as “Frank Farmer” in the musical adaptation of  "THE BODYGUARD" coming to The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester, MA. from November 6 through November 8, 2026. Photo Courtesy of the tour and Hanover Theatre)

The official tour for the Whitney Houston jukebox musical "THE BODYGUARD" leaps onto stage at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester for one weekend only and METRMag has an exclusive interview with one of its stars. 

Making his American professional theater debut playing the character “Frank Farmer” is former Waterbury, CT. resident Jonathan Blansfield. 

METRMag recently spoke with Blansfield, a graduate of the Studio Acting Conservatory of Washington, D.C. who recalled his early exposure to theatre. 

“I attended JFK High School, a public school which had a SOAR program (School of Academic Renown) for students seeking to be more challenged.”   

Blansfield remembers being cast in the musical “Li’l Abner” for a theatre company in Waterbury, CT. which helped foster his interest in performing. 

“They did a summer musical every summer and I did that going into sixth grade,” Blansfield says. “I also did our middle school musical playing ‘Abu’ in ‘Aladdin.’ I was fortunate that both the middle and high school had great drama programs. I did all of them.” 

Despite those early acting influences, Blansfield had a versatile career trajectory before he once again hit the stage as an adult – having been active working in law and real estate, becoming a world traveler and explorer, and writing prose and poetry. 

According to Blansfield's biography: Graduating from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Blansfield spent several years pursuing adventure around the world, working as a professional sailor in the Caribbean and the United Kingdom, a ski instructor in Colorado, and a whitewater rafting guide in Oregon. 

Earning his J.D., Blansfield graduated cum laude from Vermont Law School, before building a career in Washington, D.C. as an energy and electric utility professional. 

In 2019, he launched a successful career in real estate, but when the market shifted in 2022, he found himself at a crossroads. 

It was then that he returned to the dream that had never left him - creating and sharing stories as an actor (and writer). 

Now Blansfield finds himself portraying a crucial character in someone else’s story – specifically the story in the musical’s book by Alexander Dinelaris.   

(Video: The musical adaptation of  "THE BODYGUARD" plays at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester, MA. from November 6 through November 8, 2026. Courtesy of the tour and Hanover Theatre)

"THE BODYGUARD" musical is based on the 1992 film of the same name which had an original screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan.    

Dinelaris’ musical adaptation brings the story forward to present day with some noticeable differences, and Blansfield advises audiences to view the show with fresh eyes - more on that in a moment. 

I asked Blansfield about one of his quotes in which he states that he “tried to but can't outrun the need to connect and find truth through storytelling and performance.”    

So, when was it that he decided to switch vocations and was there a specific event that prompted Blansfield to pursue acting professionally? 

“I turned away from acting when I decided in my twenties to pursue other things,” Blansfield recalls. “I got to a point in my late thirties that I realized I was chasing an idea of the man I wanted to be instead of the actual person I wanted to be.” 

Blansfield says that by “chasing external values, it got pretty lonely and…not to get too dark here…but it got to the point where my mental health was struggling. So, I had to make some major decisions, and ultimately, I decided to pursue joy and lightness without any fear of expectation.” 

For Blansfield, acting and storytelling without expectation of what it may mean down the road is the life he wanted to lead. 

“That was about two years go, but it was a no brainer,” Blansfield says. 

And what was the reaction of family and friends close to Blansfield to this seismic shift in careers? 

“I have a very small family,” Blansfield says. “My mother and I are very close, and she was and always has been very supportive. She is the type of parent who only wants happiness for her children.” 

Since making the change, Blansfield has fully embraced acting, with the role of “Frank Farmer” on this national tour a pivotal moment in his journey. 

Blansfield describes the casting process involved and how he ultimately landed the role made iconic in the film by Kevin Costner. 

“I was intensely focused on auditioning and was drawn to the role,” Blansfield remembers. “It was a blind submission using an online service like Actors’ Access.” 

Blansfield says he submitted a tape and “sort of forgot about it, until a couple of months went by and I received a call back to come to New York.” 

Once in New York, the auditions were a two-day process, and while familiar with the movie and offering how he related to the character of “Frank Farmer” for various reasons, Blansfield cites a feeling that serendipity was also involved either resulting in him being cast or at least foreshadowing it. 

“I didn’t have a great relationship with my dad and, growing up, we weren’t very close - but one thing he did give me was a CD player and some CDs - and one of the first CDs I ever owned was the soundtrack to 'THE BODYGUARD'." 

One of the other CD’s his father gave Blansfield was Paul Simon’s iconic “GRACELAND” with the hit song “You Can Call Me Al.” 

“I had gone to this café across the street from the auditions,” Blansfield recalls adding, “When that song was playing in the café and I heard the lyric, 'You can be my BODYGUARD, and you can call me Al.’” 

“That was it – That was when I realized things were aligning and that this was the moment for me. I went to the callback on Saturday and was hired by the following Wednesday. So, a very fast process.” 

Since being cast, how has Blansfield found this cast and creative team to work with? 

“It’s been wonderful,” Blansfield says. “The creatives and the cast – we are all living and working together as a team, all camped out in Toledo, Ohio.” 

"THE BODYGUARD" musical began previews and officially opened in London's West End in 2012, opening to marginally positive reviews from critics. 

Much of the criticism praised the music but saw the Dinelaris script as bland, feeling the show would be better served as a legit Whitney Houston tribute concert than a jukebox musical. 

That said, the original movie upon which the musical is based was also never a critics darling yet did booming box office business. 

Also, jukebox musicals as a genre always get treated as the "poor cousin" of original concept musicals. 

In 2013, the musical adaptation did receive four nominations by the Laurence Olivier Awards, including one nomination for Best New Musical. 

While never advancing to Broadway, the musical fared well in London with extended performances, and since closing in 2013 the musical has toured all over the globe to nearly sold-out audiences. 

As mentioned earlier, Blansfield suggests that anyone coming to see the national tour of "THE BODYGUARD" should view this adaptation while keeping an open mind. 

“The story is being treated as a new musical,” Blansfield points out, noting how everyone involved knows the movie is iconic and that it carries a lot of preconceptions. 

“We are all aware of this,” Blansfield says. “But the movie was the movie, and the show is the show. The movie could do certain things but not others and, as the musical, I think that is where we best function by filling in those gaps, focusing on using the music as an actual storytelling device, moving the plot forward instead of just having a song for the sake of having a song playing as background.”  

Blansfield describes the success of the production is due to the “comprehensive, beautifully told story from start to finish thanks to our director, Samantha Salzman.” 

The movie, which came shortly after the singer’s death, had some Houston songs written specifically for the movie. 

However, the musical instead comes fully loaded with almost all of Houston’s biggest hits including “I’m Every Woman,” “One Moment in Time,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “How Will I Know” and her smash remake of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” 

The Houston-fronted numbers made specifically for the movie (also featured in the musical adaptation) include “I’m Every Woman,” “Jesus Loves Me,” “Queen of the Night,” “I Have Nothing” and “Run To You.” 

“Frank Farmer” only gets one song to sing in the show but it is a biggie – Dolly Parton’s immortal ballad “I Will Always Love You” – but does Blansfield personally have any favorite Whitney Houston songs either from the show or just one he remembers enjoying growing up?     

“’I Will Always Love You’ will always live deep in my being,” Blansfield says. “It’s just so beautiful – and audiences will be hearing Dolly’s arrangement in a brief karaoke moment in the story. Apart from that, ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ will always have a special place in my heart. I also love a recently discovered remixed track, ‘Higher Love.’” 

While Blansfield has traveled the world, he has never been to the city of Worcester nor The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts but says he “cannot wait.” 

“I hear it is beautiful.” 

Blansfield also says he anticipates audiences will enjoy the hits and surprises upon seeing "THE BODYGUARD" musical.

“I hope they come away with a renewed appreciation for this music and this story,” Blansfield says. “For those looking for a replication of the movie, I hope they are also pleasantly surprised at having been given an element of the movie but also with added things they didn’t expect.” 

“There are some lovely moments that are brand new to this musical,” Blansfield notes in closing. “These are immortal characters that live on apart from the screen interpretation. So, I hope audiences leave our musical with a big smile on their faces and that they will join in singing and dancing with us during the finale at the end of the show.”

"THE BODYGUARD" plays at The Hanover Theatre in Worcester from November 6th through November 8th, 2026. 

For More Information contact The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester.

BUY TICKETS

Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

The international, award-winning smash-hit "THE BODYGUARD" based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, is a thrilling, romantic musical that combines high-stakes suspense with unforgettable music. 

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard Frank Farmer is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. 

Both expect to be in charge of their situation – what they don’t expect is to fall in love.  

A “BRILLIANT” (The Times), breathtakingly romantic thriller, "THE BODYGUARD" features a whole host of unforgettable classics including “Queen of the Night,” “So Emotional,” “I Will Always Love You,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Saving All My Love,” and “One Moment in Time,” alongside thrilling plot twists and emotional drama. 

"THE BODYGUARD" is an electrifying combination of romance, suspense, and chart-topping music that will captivate audiences from start to finish.

For More Information visit: thehanovertheatre.org

BUY TICKETS

ABOUT HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Worcester Center for Performing Arts is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which owns and operates HANOVER THEATRE AND CONSERVATORY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

2 Southbridge Street

Worcester, MA. 01608