Matilda's Tim Minchin to Write New Musical

Tim Minchin is riding high in London’s West End after turning Roald Dahl’s Matilda into a critically acclaimed and commercially successful musical which is heading for Broadway next year
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But the talented British-born, Australian-raised writer has told The Standard that he going to write an original play against the advice of theatre impresarios Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Stephen Sondheim.

They all urged him to choose a classic story for a new show, but Minchin says he is "Desperate to do the opposite. I want to go back into my studio and get on my piano, and just see what I feel like writing. My suspicion is I will feel like writing a musical I've been thinking about since I was 18. It's an original story, which is apparently what musicals can't be. Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim and Cameron Mackintosh have all told me to my face I should concentrate on classic stories, and that makes me want to ignore them. Matilda's running and I've got my career in comedy, so I can handle a failure. It's a love story, quite dark: the lovers don't meet until quite late in the piece. It's about fate and destiny, quite a Greek-style drama with meddling, incompetent gods.”

Good luck to him I say as Matilda is one of the best thing's I've seen in the West End for a long while.

Kerry Ellis and Kaiser Chiefs Ricky Wilson to join Jeff Wayne’s new The War of the Worlds Arena Tour

The producers of Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: the New Generation – Alive on Stage promised they would announce two of the guest artistes who will be appearing in the new production when it opens at Dublin’s 02 Arena on 29th November.

The first name to be revealed is West End star Kerry Ellis playing Beth. She will star alongside Liam Neeson who is  replacing Richard Burton appearing in 3D holography as the story's narrator journalist George Herbert. At a press launch  this morning Ricky Wilson - the lead singer from the Kaiser Chiefs (pictured) has also been announced as playing the Artilleryman which is a role previously played by Jason Donovan and David Essex.

Kerry has an impressive list of West End credits since she joined the cast of Cameron Mackintosh's West End revival of My Fair Lady in 2001 performing the part of Eliza Doolittle on numerous occasions  while Martine McCutcheon was off. 

She was subsequently spotted by Brian May and Ben Elton and in 2002 was cast in We Will Rock You originating the role of Meat which she left in 2004 to play Ellen in Cameron Mackintosh's UK tour of Miss Saigon. In 2005 she joined the cast of Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre playing the role of factory girl Fantine. In 2008 Kerry played Svetlana in Chess In Concert at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Josh Groban .

Kerry played the green witch Elphaba in the production of Wicked! at the Apollo Victoria Theatre for two years and in 2010 took over the role of Nancy from Jodie Prenger in Cameron Mackintosh's London revival of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane which she played until the production closed on 7th January 2011.

Kerry has recently done a concert tour and launched her first full album “Anthems” which was produced by Brian May.

Jodie Prenger to play Elsie Tanner in Corrie Musical

Jodie Prenger shot to fame on Andrew Lloyd Webber's I’d Do Anything BBC talent show and has since been playing Nancy in Oliver! and the Lady of the Lake in the tour of Spamalot.  She has just taken over the role of Dolly in One Man, Two Guvnors at the Haymarket in London’s West End and is also now starring as Elsie Tanner in the Coronation Street Musical Street of Dreams.

The show premieres at the Manchester MEN Arena on 9th and 10th May.  It is being hosted by Pauil O'Grady and also stars Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch), William Roache (Ken Barlow) and Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts) who are recreating their iconic roles.

Jodie told the Manchester Evening News: “I just love the character of Elsie to bits. The great thing about it, it’s half my heart and half my head taking this role, as my nan was always known as Elsie Tanner. she was the spitting image of Elsie. My nan’s brother used to deliver all Pat Phoenix’s groceries, so it’s almost like I was destined to play the role. Also my fella’s called Simon Booth and of course Pat was married to Tony Booth. I couldn’t be happier. I’m up to my eyeballs on youtube watching old videos. It’s brilliant. Elsie Tanner is that cracking, strong northern woman, and there’s loads of strong northern women I’m going to be channelling into this role. She had her ups and downs. Every man should be scared of her!”

Jodie will play the older Elsie with guest stars playing the younger version.

For more information visit Street of Dreams

Phantom Tour First Two Previews Cancelled

John Owen-Jones is playing the Phantom in the opening leg of the Phantom of the Opera Tour which was due to start previews at the Theatre Royal Plymouth last night.

During the tech run earlier this week he tweeted “This is the most technically difficult show I've ever worked on. It's HUGE”. Also his Phantom make up takes two hours to apply as opposed to London's 45 minute application

Having played The Phantom in London's West End he obviously knows his stuff as the Open Dress Rehearsal was cancelled for Saturday 25th Febuary saying the show will be going ahead as planned from Monday 27th February.

Another statement has just been issued: "Cameron Mackintosh regrets to announce the cancellation of the first preview performance of his new production of The Phantom of the Opera, originally scheduled for Monday 27th February. The size and complexity of the production which is being put together for the first time has necessitated more technical rehearsal time to fully integrate the company and set safely. Several large scenic elements can only be incorporated into the show for the first time on Monday morning.  The first preview will now take place one day later on Tuesday 28th February at 7.30 pm. Ticket holders for Monday 27th will receive a full refund from their point of purchase and will also be offered the opportunity to attend a dress rehearsal as our guests on Tuesday 28th February at 2.00pm. Those wishing to attend this performance must collect a ticket from the box office in advance. We regret the disappointment and inconvenience this will inevitably cause but trust that the public will understand that in such a new, complex and spectacular production, safety is of paramount importance". 

Let’s hope they will be able to sort out the technical difficulties soon as I have heard fabulous things about this restaged Phantom.

The Story of Musicals Series on BBC2 tomorrow

There's another chance to see the excellent The Story of Musicals three part series which was first aired a few months ago. 

The first episode will be broadcast tomorrow (Saturday 24th February) on BBC2 at 8:20 pm and covers how Britain has influenced musical theatre across the world, focusing on the years following the Second World War, when the West End was reclaimed from American domination. The programme also explores the successful partnership between lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

It features contributions from Cameron Mackintosh, Elaine Paige, Ron Moody, Bill Kenwright, Sheila Hancock, Harold Prince, Robert Stigwood, Tommy Steele, Paul Nicholas and Willy Russell.

Rock of Ages cast performing on Dancing on Ice this Sunday

Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley are presenting a special rock music-themed edition of Dancing on Ice this Sunday at 6:50 pm when the cast from Rock of Ages will be performing Don't Stop Believin'

Elaine Paige Los Angeles Bound with Follies

She has been appearing in Follies on Broadway and Elaine Paige has only briefly returned to the UK before heading back across the pond to reprise her role when the show opens in Los Angeles.

The Broadway-to-Los Angeles transfer of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s musical Follies will star Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein, Ron Raines and Elaine Paige joined by Tony winner Victoria Clark who is replacing Bernadette Peters.

Following a summer 2011 engagement at the Kennedy Center, Follies opened on September 12th Broadway's Marquis Theatre, where it ended its run on January 22nd .The production will run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from May 3rd to June 9th.

Olympic Games put back Sheridan Smith's Bridget Jones Musical Opening

Sheridan Smith is currently in Manchester (and shortly to go to Australia) sporting a new red hairdo while filming five hour-long episodes for ITV drama Mrs Biggs which tells the story of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs first wife Charmian who fled to Australia with him to escape British justice.

Sheridan’s mum, Marilyn, told her local newspaper that the ITV production and her daughter’s casting in the lead role was done with the blessing of Charmian who still lives in Australia saying “She’s excited that she’s got the part, it was a much sought-after role by many actresses. The wife still lives in Australia and Charmian approves of Sheridan playing her.”

Marilyn also added that Sheridan’s lead role in Bridget Jones The Musical has been postponed while the show’s producer, Stephen Daldry works on the London Olympic Games opening ceremony. She said: “It’s been put back a few months but Sheridan’s definitely playing Bridget.” So it now looks pretty definite that the show is opening will next year with the Savoy Theatre being the strongest contender.