Preview of new Tim Rice Musical from here to Eternity this Saturday at West End Live

Audiences at this weekend’s free West End Live in Trafalgar Square will get a sneak preview of the new Tim Rice musical From Here To Eternity during their 10 minute slot at 15:10 on Saturday 22nd June.

The actor (name to be released)  playing the role of Private Robert E Lee Prewitt (made famous by Montgomery Clift in the 1953 film) will sing the rock-style number Fight The Fight.

From Here to Etermity starts previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 30th September and opens on 23rd October.

Ramin Karimloo, Hadley Fraser and Kerry Ellis to present on new Stage Door radio station

West End stars which so far include Ramin Karimloo, Hadley Fraser, Kerry Ellis, Louise Dearman, Alex Gaumond, Mark Evans, Louise Bowden and Oliver Tompsett. are to present shows on a new  radio station dedicated to musical theatre which will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be accessible online.

Stage Door is a partnership between independent production company Wise Buddah (Terry Wogan’s BBC Radio 2 Sunday show) and agency Mothership Management, which represents a number of  musical theatre performers.

It has been estimated that the cost of running the station for the first year will be £145,000 which will hopefully raised with the help of an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign launched to encourage musical fans to pledge money.  The organisers say this will enable fans to “have a voice in deciding what content they want to hear and stop the station being dependent on investors who are looking for a return on their investment".

To encourage pledges they are offering incentives including singing lessons with one of the presenters and the chance to record a show for the station. To pledge money click on  this link.

Stage door launch video

Tour of Ghost to Finish Early

The touring production of  Ghost the musical was booked to visit Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre from June 17th-28th next year, but producers have announced that it will now end its tour in March 2014.

Miss Saigon to Open Later This Year in London

UPDATED 15:07 19th June: There is a new Miss Saigon announcement that is embargoed until midnight with some corrections to previous reports.Watch this space ...
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In an article in the New York Post theatre columnist Michael Riedel has confirmed that Miss Saigon will open in London later this year, probably in Cameron Mackintosh's Prince Edward Theatre (currently home to The Jersey Boys).
The second batch of auditions are currently underway in the Phillipines with the co-directors of  the revival will be Laurence Connor and James Powell, who also co-directed the revival of Les Miserables which will hit Broadway in 2014.

Sheridan Smith in ITV's The Widower

Sheridan Smith has been cast in upcoming ITV drama The Widower alongside John Hannah, Alex Ferns, Scott Ainslie, Paul Blair, Kate Fleetwood, Kate Arneil, Alan Convy, Ian Cairns and Reece Shearsmith.

The Widower is written by Neil McKay (who wrote Bafta-winning drama Appropriate Adult) and tells the true story of Malcolm Webster who was convicted of murdering his first wife and later attempting to murder his second wife.

It will comprise of three one-hour episodes, which are being directed by Paul Whittington.

Kids Week Booking Opens Next Tuesday

Booking opens for Kids Week next Tuesday 18th June at 10:00 am.

Children aged 16 can go and see a participating London show for FREE in August when accompanied by a full paying adult. You can also purchase up to two extra children’s tickets at half price.

Participating shows include:  Wicked!, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Disney's The Lion King, Horrible Histories  - Barmy Britain, Let It Be Beatles musical, Mamma Mia!, Matilda the Musical, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Thriller Live, Stomp, Top Hat and West Side Story.

You can find out more and book tickets here

Jersey Boys Moving to Piccadilly Theatre Next Year

The Jersey Boys musical is to transfer from the Prince Edward to the Piccadilly Theatre next March. It is currently booking at the Prince Edward to 16th February 2014.

The show opened at the Prince Edward in 2008 and will follow Dirty Dancing which starts previews at the Picadilly there on 13th July and is currently booking to 22nd February 2014. It goes in following the closure of the Spice Girls Musical Viva Forever at the end of this month.

No further productions have been announced for the Prince Edward, but the current rumours are either a West End transfer of the Disney musical Newsies or the return of Miss Saigon which has been holding auditions in the Phillipines with a view to a West End revival.

Les Miserables Cast from 17th June

Principals: Geronimo Rauch - Jean Valjean / Daniel Koek - Jean Valjean (Alternate) /Tam Mutu - Javert /Na-Young Jeon - Fantine /Wendy Ferguson - Mme Thénardier / Cameron Blakely - Thénardier /Rob Houchen - Marius /Carrie Fletcher - Eponine /Samantha Dorsey - Cosette /Anton Zetterholm - Enjolras

Ensemble & Swings: Koko Basigara, Rosanna Bates, Niall Sheehy, Ethan Bradshaw, Melanie Bright, Josie Brightwell, Dougie Carter, Jade Louise Davies, Lee Dillon-Stuart, James Gant, Carolina Gregory, Katy Hanna,Dayle Hodge, Chris Holland, Sarah Lark.Adam Linstead ,  Rhidian Marc, George Miller, Carl Mullaney, Jenny O'Leary, Jonny Purchase, Leo Roberts, Nicky Swift.