ASH Stilborn is the new leading man for the York Light Opera Company. He will play the all-singing, all-dancing New York banker Bobby Child in George and Ira Gershwin and Ken Ludwig’s musical comedy Crazy For You at York Theatre Royal from March 1 to 12.

Ash may be new to York Light, but he is a familiar face on the York theatre scene, having performed regularly with Bev Jones’s Northern Musical Theatre Company at the Grand Opera House, Theatre Royal and Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

In Crazy For You, banker Bobby is banished from New York by his father to a family-owned ranch, where it is hoped he will mend his ways and become a more responsible person.

Travelling West to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre, this stage-struck 1930s’ playboy is out of place in a small western town but nevertheless falls in love with Polly Baker. Yet if he forecloses, he will lose Polly, so he convinces her to put on a show that will pay off the debt her father owes on the theatre. Cue misunderstandings, disguises and improbable appearances.

Playing opposite Ash will be Alexa Chaplin, who was Belle in last year’s production of Beauty And The Beast.

Newcomer Emma Craggs will be New York socialite Irene Roth, Bobby’s fiancée; and Richard Hawley will play Lank Hawkins, Deadrock’s resident misery, in his first principal role with the company.

Further roles in a cast assembled by director-choreographer Martyn Knight go to stalwart Eric Daines as Polly’s father, Everett, and company dance captain Rachael Wilkinson as showgirl Tess.

Crazy For You was first performed by the company in 1998 and only two of the original cast are in this new production. Ironically, both will play the same roles as last time: Rory Mulvihill as impresario Bella Zangler and Geoffrey Turner as Eugene Fodor, the English travel guide writer.

“Rehearsals are going extremely well,” says publicity officer Tony Reeves. “We have an excellent, enthusiastic cast, and I’m certain audiences are going to enjoy the superb dance routines, some of them with the entire company tapping.”

Adapted from the 1930s musical Girl Crazy, Crazy For You ran at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway for 1,622 performances with a score of Nice Work If You Can Get It, Someone To Watch Over Me, Embraceable You, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Slap That Bass and I Got Rhythm.

Tickets for the 7.30pm evening performances and 2.30pm Saturday matinees at the Theatre Royal range from £5 to £22, available on 01904 623568 or online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk