The story and music of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash can be heard in York next week.
Hot on the heels of sold-out seasons at New York’s La Jolla Playhouse and Canada’s Citadel Theatre, the acclaimed hit new musical The Ballad of Johnny & June is stopping in York on its debut UK tour.
Packed with all the legendary hits of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash including ‘I Walk the Line’, ‘Ring of Fire’, ‘Hey Porter’, ‘Jackson’, and ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ The Ballad of Johnny & June is coming to the Grand Opera House York from Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 1 August.
Love is a burning thing, and no one burned brighter than Johnny Cash and June Carter. He was a small-town musician and storyteller with a voice that stirred the soul. She was a multi-talented performer and a music pioneer. Johnny Cash sold more than 90 million records worldwide, won 13 Grammy Awards and a lifetime achievement award in 1999. June Carter Cash won five Grammy Awards across her illustrious career. The pair married in 1968 and remained together until June’s death in 2003.
The Ballad of Johnny & June transports you through the soaring highs and shattering lows of a love story that defined an era. Told through the eyes of their son John Carter Cash, this new musical shows why Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash remain one of the most infamous couples of the 20th Century.
Producer Howard Panter said: “We are delighted to be bringing this acclaimed production of The Ballad of Johnny and June to theatres in the UK and Ireland for a major tour in 2026. A journey through love, struggle and redemption told through some of the greatest music ever written and brought to life by an exceptional creative team.
“We can’t wait for audiences to experience this extraordinary story that captures the passion and power of two true musical icons.”
The show is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, and features a stellar cast, including Christopher Ryan Grant as Johnny Cash and Christina Bianco as June Carter Cash.
Christopher is a Broadway veteran, with credits including Thanksgiving Play, the Iceman Cometh, and Million Dollar Quartet. He is also an accomplished musician, and has played on stage with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Wanda Jackson, and Melissa Etheridge.
Christina has multiple theatre credits to her name, her most recent being as The Narrator in the UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat.
She also captured international acclaim as a YouTube sensation with her ‘diva’ impression videos gaining over 25 million views, and has performed on television programmes such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, The Paul O’Grady Show, and This Morning.
And you can see the cast in action in the city centre too! A pop-up performance is set to take place at FortyFive Vinyl Cafe in York on Wednesday 29 July at 1pm, where Christina Bianco, Christopher Ryan Grant and Ryan O’Donnell will perform a short selection of songs from Johnny and June.
YorkMix caught up with stars Christopher and Christina to find out more about the show.
“A lot of people that come to the show are fans of Johnny and June,” said Christina. “They feel like they know what they’re getting themselves into, and they know the music that they love.
“But I think the lovely thing that we’ve been experiencing in every single venue that we play is that there’s a lot of surprise – we’re not a jukebox musical and we’re not a tribute show. There’s so much of the story of Johnny and June that people wouldn’t know before, particularly because the show has been built with the insight of their son, John Carter Cash.
“So we are absolutely shedding a light on their story, but it’s really lovely to watch the audience appreciate them and resonate with them.
“The show is going to make you laugh, but it’s also going to make you cry.”
Christopher added, “what’s really exciting for us is to see the other side of the audience and to open them up to an entire life.”
Talking about performing in York, Christina said that she, “loves York. I’ve been to York twice and the last time I was here I was performing at York Theatre Royal.
“But I have a long list of things I’ve yet to see and places I’d like to eat, so I’m very excited to be back.”
Tickets for The Ballad of Johnny and June start from £15.60 and are available here.
“You’ll get to watch a crazy, tumultuous, funny, gritty love story unfold.”
