Alyson Hannigan

Perry Meets Hannigan in London’s When Harry Met Sally, Beginning Feb.

Luke Perry is Harry and Alyson Hannigan is Sally in a new stage version of Rob Reiner’s 1989 movie When Harry Met Sally, set will open at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket on Feb 20, after previews from Feb.10.

The show is directed by Loveday Ingram and produced by James Tod, with music by current "cool" jazz star Jamie Cullum and his brother Ben.

Hannigan is arguably a more bankable name than Perry these days, with her star-making turns in TV’s "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and the "American Pie" big-screen franchise. (Interestingly, with Anthony Head in rep at the Savoy it only needs Sarah Michelle Gellar to land a West End role for all three "Buffy" leads to "stake" their theatreland claims in 2004). When Harry Met Sally sees the 29-year-old actress moving away from adolescent roles.

Perry, of course, is known to television viewers worldwide for his role as Dylan in "Beverly Hill 90210."

The film "When Harry Met Sally" was a surprise hit when it premiered in 1989, and helped establish the careers of many of the artists involved, including Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, who thereafter were thought of as viable romantic leads; screenwriter Nora Ephron, who soon after graduated to the position of director; and Harry Connick, Jr., who scored the hit soundtrack spawned by the movie.