The Fantasticks opening at Duchess Theatre

A brand new production of the classic musical The Fantasticks is opening at the Duchess Theatre next year.  It is currently booking from 24th May to 4th September 2010.

The Fantasticks first played in New York nearly fifty years ago and is the longest running show of any kind in the United States and the longest running musical in the world.

This production will be Directed by Amon Miyamoto and  designed by  Rumi Matsui who previously worked together on the Broadway production of Pacific Overtures - for which Matsui’s work was nominated for a Tony Award. Lighting design will be provided by 2009 Tony Award winner Rick Fisher.

The Fantasticks is loosely based on the play The Romancers about two next door neighbours whose fathers put up a wall between their houses to ensure that their children fall in love – on the basis that children always do what their parents forbid.

Elements of the musical are drawn from the story of Pyramus and Thisbe with the story winding its way through Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream and Donizetti’s L'Elisir d'Amore. Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt’s score features titles including Much More, I Can See It and Try To Remember.

New Cameron Mackintosh Musical

Sir Cameron Mackintosh is producing a new musical called Betty Blue Eyes which is based on Alan Bennett's comedy film A Private Function. It is supposedly in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee which will occur the following year.

The film starred Maggie Smith and Michael Palin and  is set in post-war England telling the story of a small town organising a street party to celebrate the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip. But rationing is still in effect and the townsfolk must hide a pig which will provide the centrepiece for their wedding feast. There were three pigs used in the filiming - all called Betty - hence the name of the musical.

Betty Blue Eyes has been put together by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who Mackintosh has worked with in the past. The musical will start rehearsals in early 2011, open at the West Yorkshire Playhouse for a four-week run and then transfer into one of Mackintosh’s West End theatres by Easter 2011.

Ray Davies's Kinks “Come Dancing” musical tour cancelled

Ray Davis from the Kinks was apparently so happy with the story, book, music and lyrics for his “Come Dancing” musical tour that he cast himself as the star.

But now it has all been cancelled and the theatres to which the show (which was being produced by Bill Kenwright) was due to tour are now offering refund.

The cancellation comes just days after it was announced that the story of The Kinks was to be turned into a film, highlighting the rivalry between Davies and his younger brother Dave.  The group has a number of hits including Waterloo Sunset and You Really Got Me, but the brothers had a notoriously difficult relationship often fighting on stage.  Rumour has it that Ray actually once stabbed Dave with a fork while they were in a restaurant!

They were briefly reunited in 2004 when Ray was shot by a mugger and Dave suffered a stroke and they moved in together to convalesce which again proved to be an impossible time for them.

Milestone tonight for the Lion King

The Lion King becomes the ninth longest-running musical in West End history when it plays its 4,265th performance tonight.

It celebrated its 10th anniversary in October 2009 and since it opened the musical has played to over eight million people at the Lyceum Theatre.

The London company  boasts  46 performers with 11 principals: George Asprey as Scar, Shaun Escoffery as Mufasa, Stephen Matthews as Zazu, Brown Lindiwe Mkhize as Rafiki, Nick Mercer as Timon, Keith Bookman as Pumbaa, Andile Gumbi as Simba, Gloria Onitiri as Nala, Gary Forbes as Banzai, Allyson Addo as Shenzi and Mark Sangster as Ed.

Latest casting for Love Never Dies

Niamh Perry,  who was a contestant on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s I’d Do Anything,  is to join the cast of his new musical Love Never Dies.

The full cast for the show now  includes Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Joseph Millson, Liz Robertson, Summer Strallen, Adam Pearce, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Derek Andrews, Dean Chisnall, Helen Dixon, Lucie Downer, Paul Farrell, Charlene Ford, Chris Gage, Lucy van Gasse, Celia Graham, Simon Ray Harvey, Jack Horner, Erin Anna Jameson, Pip Jordan, Jessica Kirton, Louise Madison, Janet Mooney, Colette Morrow, Tam Mutu, Ashley Nottingham, Tom Oakley, Mark Skipper, Jonathan Stewart, Tim Walton and Annette Yeo.

Miss Perry  finished fifth in the reality TV search for a Nancy to appear in Oliver! and has been appearing in the West End playing Sophie in the Abba musical Mamma Mia!

Siobhan Dillon to play Sandy in Grease

Former Maria hopeful Siobhan Dillon who was one of the contestants for the part in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s live television castathon is to take on the lead role of Sandy in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre from 25th January.

She will be playing opposite Noel Sullivan as Danny who was a former Pop Stars contestant and part of the long departed group Hear’say.

After coming third in “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” Maria Dillon made her West End debut in Grease the following year playing the role of Patty Simcox. She now returns to the show after recording two albums and appearing in the UK tours of Can’t Smile Without You as Mandy and Cabaret as Sally Bowles.

Grease celebrates its 1000th performance at London's Piccadilly Theatre tonight and is now booking to 4th September 2010.

In search of Pamela Anderson?

Then look no more ... she was doing a very scary double act(!?) with Vivienne Westwood presenting a trophy at  last night's Comedy Awards and she's also been to a hugh Heffner Playboy party in LA rather than perform as Genie of the Lamp at Wimbledon.

Her start date has now apparently  been put back to Tuesday 15th December, but she has missed the charity children's gala and as she has not been spotted in rehearsals I would think it unlikely that even a magic lamp will make her appear!

We'll wait and see ..... but I suspect you'll get a much better performance from the other genies Ruby Wax and Paul O'Grady.

Megan Mullally from Will & Grace to Make West End Debut

Megan Mullally, who is probably best known here for playing kooky Karen Walker in Will & Grace, will make her West End debut in London's West End next near.

She will be appearing  for just 8 performances at the Vaudeville Theatre from February 16th-21st and will be accompanied by her band Supreme Music Program. This is the first time she has toured with them outside the USA.

The show will include songs from her albums The Sweetheart Break-In, Big As A Berry and the recently released Free Again!

Miss Mullally has won two Emmys and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.  Her  recent credits include Mel Brooks' musical "Young Frankenstein" and  “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” opposite Matthew Broderick

She is also working on Karen: The Musical, a stage production based on her Will & Grace character.

Auditions for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Wizard of Oz

Could you play Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new West End production of The Wizard of Oz? BBC1 is launching a brand new TV talent search to find Dorothy along the same lines as they did for Joseph (with his Technicolor Dreamcoat) and Nancy in Oliver!

Nationwide auditions begin in January and are open to everyone - regardless of experience - but you must have been aged 16 or over by 26th June 2009. The 2010 dates are as follows:

• Glasgow - Friday 8th & Saturday 9th January - (applications close 20th December 2009)
• Cardiff - Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th January - (applications close 4th January)
• Belfast - Sunday 24th January  - (applications close 11th  January)
• Manchester - Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st January & Monday 1st February - (applications close 18th January)
• London - Friday 5th, Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th & Monday 8th February  - (applications close 25th January)
  

Click here for an online application form and make sure you do it soon as Glasgow applications have a closing date of 20th December!

You will be randomly allocated an audition day and time slot which will be emailed to you a week prior to the auditions with all other information. You cannot choose your audition time.

Even More Dreams Coming True for Susan Boyle

The West End cast of Les Miserables were in the TV studio yesterday singing alongside Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle for her forthcoming TV Special I Dreamed a Dream – The Susan Boyle Story which goes out this Sunday, 13th December at 9.30 pm on ITV.

She was moved to tears when she saw the cast in full costume ready to sing "One Day More".  Les Miserables is playing at the Queen's Theatre and the current cast includes Simon Bowman as Jean Valjean, Hans-Peter Janssens (Javert), Rebecca Seale (Fantine), Alistair Brammer (Marius), Emily Bull (Cosette).Nancy Sullivan as Eponine.

And if that wasn’t enough to tip her over the edge, SuBo was then given the opportunity to sing with her all time idol Elaine Paige.  The duet of “I Know him So Well” was kept a secret from Miss Boyle until shortly before the performance, and again the Britain’s Got Talent performer was overcome with emotion.

David Essex Fun of the Fair Musical to open at Garrick

The musical All the Fun of the Fair which was co-written  by David Essex and named after his hit 1975 album will debut in the West End in the New Year.  All the Fun of the Fair is co-written by Jon Conway (the creator of Boogie Nights,) and features many of David Essex’s hits including “Winter's Tale”, “Hold Me Close”, “Gonna Make You a Star”, “Rock On” and “Silver Dream”.

All the Fun of the Fair is set in a travelling funfair and tells the story of the owner Levi Lee (Essex), who is trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife while fighting off  the attentions of an  over amorous divorcee. He is also trying to deal with his difficult teenage son and his tangled love life as well as the worrying predictions of a gypsy fortune-teller.

All the Fun of the Fair premiered in September 2008 at the Churchill Theatre Bromley and has been very successful on tour. It will open at the Garrick Theatre and is booking from 17th April to 5th September 2010.

Essex is no stranger to musical theatre and his  big break came in 1971 when he was cast as Jesus in the original London production of Godspell. Other roles have included Fletcher Christian in Mutiny! (which he also co-wrote) and Che in the original cast of Evita (which gave him the hit “Oh What a Circus”). More recent musical credits include Footloose in the West End and the tour of Aspects of Love.

Linzi Hateley to return to Mamma Mia!

Linzi Hateley returns to the London cast of the musical Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre next  Monday 14 December to play Donna Sheridan -  a role she has already played  to great acclaim. At certain performances this part will be played by Melissa Jacques.

Jessie May will be playing her first major West End role as the daughter Sophie. The cast also features Katy Secombe as Rosie, Jane Gurnett as Tanya, Norman Bowman as Sam Carmichael, Paul Ryan as Harry Bright, Christopher Hollis as Bill Austin, Oliver Hembrough as Sky, Jodie Read as Ali, Laura Selwood as Lisa, Ben Heathcote as Pepper and Sam McKay as Eddie.

Inspired by Abba's songs, Mamma Mia! is a tale of family and friendship on a Greek island paradise when on the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

Ben Freeman from Dreamboats & Petticoats to Marry

Former Emmerdale star Ben Freeman is to tie the knot with his former Hollyoaks girlfriend Jennifer Biddall.

They have been together for eight months and met while starring in the touring musical Dreamboats And Petticoats.

Whoopi Goldberg introduces Sister Act cast at Royal Variety Show

The Queen was entertained last night by a host of stars at the first Royal Variety Performance to be held in Blackpool since 1955.

The town's illuminations lit the way as the Royal party made its way to the Opera House in the Winter Gardens where the charity event's host, comedian Peter Kay, welcomed the Queen to "the entertainment capital of the world".


Blackpool's Opera House seats 2,900 people and was used to host the show in the 1950s when acts including Morecambe and Wise, Arthur Askey and George Formby appeared there.  The annual event was first staged in 1912 with proceeds going to the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund.

The show's performers included Lady Gaga, Bette Midler, Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity, 2008 X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, Michael Buble and Hollywood actress Goldberg who introduced the cast from stage show Sister Act who led all the entertainers in a rousing finale  rendition of the song Spread The Love Around.

Susan Boyle to appear with Les Miserables London cast

Piers Morgan will be the host of the hour long Susan Boyle TV Special: I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story, which will be aired on ITV at 9.30 pm this Sunday, 13th December.

The programme is a candid documentary of Susan Boyle’s journey from a small village in rural Scotland to international fame and fortune following her Britain’s Got Talent performance.

In addition to interviews with friends, celebrity fans and Simon Cowell, Susan will sing “Cry Me a River” and “Wild Horses” from her new album.  She will also be performing “One Day More” with the London cast of Les Miserables.

Latest News on War of the Worlds Tour

Jeff Wayne’s musical War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage is touring major arenas in the UK and Europe in 2010-2011.

Stars of the show will include Jason Donovan (fresh from Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Liz McLarnon (Atomic Kitten) and Justin Hayward (Moody Blues). Jeff Wayne will be conducting the Black Smoke Band and ULLAdubULLA Strings.

The music and sound effects will be mixed live in surround sound, and special effects include:
•    An 11 ft high floating hologram of Richard Burton
•    A 35 ft, 3 ton Martian fighting machine firing heat rays into the audience
•    A 100 ft by 25 ft screen projecting a CGI animated film in sync with the show
•    Pyrotechnics and flame effects

Great American Seasonal Songbook returns to New End Theatre

After sell-out performances during the summer "The Great American Songbook" returns to Hampstead New End Theatre,  but with a "seasonal twist" and a new name “The Great American Seasonal Songbook”.  So called because the cabaret show  will focus on the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter, featuring songs such as My Funny Valentine, The Summer Wind, Autumn in New York and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. 

It will feature music from American “greats” including Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Rogers & Hammerstein and Rogers & Hart.  Accompanied by a live swing band.

The Great American Seasonal Songbook stars  international jazz/musical theatre vocalist Louisa Parry and singer/songwriter David Martin who has sold over 26 million records worldwide and is best known for writing Barry Manilow’s classic hit "Can't Smile Without You"

The show runs from Tuesday 8th December 2009 to Sunday 10th January 2010 on Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 20:15 with Thursday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 15:30

John Barrowman on Strictly Come Dancing's Take Two

John Barrowman is to take time out from his panto rehearsals for Robin Hood at the New Theatre Cardiff to appear on BBC2's Strictly Come Dancing Take Two on Friday 4th  December at 18.35

Maria Friedman Rodgers & Hammerstein Concert

Maria Friedman and Daniel Evans perform show-stoppers from the legendary Broadway duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein at the Barbican Hall in London on Sunday 14th March. They will be accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra and Capital Voices.

Maria Friedman and Daniel Evans bring to life the colourful characters, fabulous storylines and timeless tunes from four of the greatest musicals of all time, Oklahoma! The King and I, South Pacific and Carousel.

The Magical World of Rodgers & Hammerstein programme  includes. Hello Young Lovers – The King and I, People Will Say We’re in Love – Oklahoma!, Some Enchanted Evening – South Pacific and If I Loved you and You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel.

Daniel Boys & Jessie Buckley in Valentine’s at the Musicals Concert

You can hear Jessie Buckley from the BBC's “I'd Do Anything” & Daniel Boys from “Any Dream Will Do” and Avenue Q singing show-stopping love songs for the perfect Valentine's Celebration Concert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on Friday 12 February and Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 14thFebruary.

They will be singing  love duets from musicals including  Maria - West Side Story,  If I Loved You - Carousel, Too Much In Love To Care - Sunset Boulevard, On The Street Where You Live - My Fair Lady, Can You Feel the Love Tonight - The Lion King, My Funny Valentine -Pal Joey, Falling In Love Is Wonderful - Annie Get Your Gun, Love Changes Everything - Aspects of Love, I Don't Know How To Love Him - Jesus Christ Superstar, As Long As He Needs Me – Oliver!, How Deep Is Your Love - Saturday Night Fever, I've Had The Time Of My Life - Dirty Dancing, Take A Chance On Me -  Mamma Mia, Moon River - Breakfast at Tiffany's, All I Ask of You - Phantom of the Opera and Last Night of the World - Miss Saigon

They will be  accompanied by the Manchester Concert Orchestra conducted by John Rigby and the Capital Voices Choir.

Anton & Erin Steppin' Out Tour

Strictly Come Dancing couple Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag return with their new show Anton & Erin's  Steppin`Out,  following last year's sell out UK tour. They are joined by West End star Graham Bickley, guest dancers and a live orchestra.

The show features music from composers including Cole Porter, Jerome Kern,   George Gershwin and Irving Berlin with classic hits Let's Face the Music and Dance, Steppin' Out With My Baby and Strike up The Band.

The tour dates run from Friday 15th January-Sunday 28th February. You can find out where they are appearing and book tickets online at www.musicaltheatrenews.com/tours

Ruthie Henshall to return to Chicago this month

Ruthie Henshall is returning to the hit stage musical Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre for a nine week season between 14th December and 28th February, to play Roxie Hart which is the role she originated when the musical first opened in London 12 years ago.

She is joined by Terra C MacLeod, who will play Velma Kelly, a role she originated in the French production of Chicago. Ian Kelsey and David Ganly continue in the show playing Amos Hart and Billy Flynn.

Due to previous concert commitments as detailed below, Ruthie will not be performing between 28th December and 2nd January, when Bonnie Langford will play Roxie Hart – a role she has been performing on Broadway.

Ruthie is also performing a number of concerts over the coming months. She will be appearing in the Sound of Musicals singing showstoppers from musicals including Chicago, Kiss me Kate, Mamma Mia, My Fair Lady, High Society, Les Miserables, Crazy for You, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, The Sound of Music and The Phantom of the Opera.

Concert dates are Manchester Bridgewater Hall - Monday 28th December: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - Tuesday 29th December: Birmingham Symphony Hall - Wednesday 30th December and London Barbican Hall on Saturday 2nd January.

.You can also see her in From Broadway to Hollywood at the Buxton Opera House, on 30th January when she sings her favourite songs from stage and screen accompanied by the BBC Big Band. Numbers include I Only Have Eyes For You, You Made Me Love You, Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, The Man I Love, Don’t Rain On My Parade, Our Love Is Here To Stay and The Folks Who Live On The Hill.

Film of the Musical Nine Released this Month

The film based on the musical Nine, starring Daniel Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Fergie, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson and Sophia Loren premiered in London on 3rd December.   

It can be seen in  London on December 18th and goes on general release on Boxing Day, December 26th

The film is based on the 1982 four Tony awards winning Broadway musical which was inspired by Fellini’s autobiographical film 8 ½. It is about a famous Italian film director, Guido Contini (played by Daniel Day Lewis), who is coming up to this 40th birthday and struggling to mount his ninth film, for which he does not have a script.  He is also juggling the seven women in his life: his wife (Cotillard), mistress (Cruz), his star (Kidman), costume designer and confidante (Dench), mother (Loren), American journalist (Hudson) and a prostitute (Fergie). His search for inspiration ignites memories of his past stormy relationships.

The various stage versions of the musical Nine have starred Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce in the lead with Chita Rivera, Eartha Kitt, Elaine Paige, Dilys Laye, Sara Kestelman and Sarah Parish playing various female roles.

Gruffalo Prefect Show for Under 5s

There can be few under fives who don’t know about the Gruffalo from Julia Donaldson’s bestselling book.  It was recently voted Top Bedtime Story in a BBC Radio 2 poll.

It's no surprise then that the production at the Apollo Theatre which opened on 25th November is a hot ticket for families. It has a running time of just under an hour, which a tolerable period for younger members of the family to sit still.  It is full of sing-along’s, very visual comedy and a licence to roar which makes it great entertainment for everyone over three.

Napoleon Ryan and Alan Park share storyteller duties with plenty of comic asides, pratfalls and banter between the catchy numbers composed for each of the woodland creatures.

It runs until 10th January at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue

Griff Rhys Jones to take over as Fagin in Oliver!

Griff Rhys Jones will take over from Omid Djalili to play the role of Fagin in Oliver! on 14th December.  He will play the role until at least June 2010 alongside Steve Hartley as ‘Bill Sikes’ (a role he played in the 1990’s production).

Griff Rhys Jones first shot to fame in the satirical TV comedy series "Not the Nine O'Clock News" which also included Rowan Atkinson, who originated the role of Fagin when this production began performances at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in December 2008.

Kelsey Grammer to star in `La Cage aux Folles' revival

John Barrowman has now left La Cage Aux Folles  to go and play Robin Hood in panto at the New theatre Cardiff, and Douglas Hodge and Denis Lawson are playing the parts of Albin and George at the Playhouse Theatre in London until 9th January 2010.

Douglas Hodge originated the role of Albin at the Menier Chocolate Factory and is taking it to Broadway next Spring, where he will be joined by Kelsey Grammer  (of Frasier fame) when the show opens at the Longacre Theatre on 18th April.

Into the Hoods Limited Season at Queen Elizabeth Hall

The award-winning smash hit from the West End Into the Hoods is on at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre for a strictly limited season from 16th December-10th January. There is an audio-described performance at 14:00 on 9th January.

The show has some great dance moves and includes music from Massive Attack, Kanye West and Black Eyed Peas.  It is a fairytale of two runaway kids on their adventures at the ominous Ruff Endz estate, featuring characters like aspiring singer Lil Red under contract to greedy producer Wolf, and Prince who is dating both rapper Rap-on-Zel and DJ Spinderella.

Into the Hoods is performed by critically acclaimed dance company ZooNation, whose dancers performed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday party.   You can get tickets at www.southbankcentre.co.uk/intothehoods