Wednesday, June 30

Michael Starke "Time Warping" on Rocky Horror Tour

Michael Starke is to appear as the Guest Narrator on the Rocky Horror Show Tour when it arrives at the Bristol Hippodrome from 5th-10th July.

Starke is probably bet known for playing Thomas "Sinbad" Sweeney in Brookside for 16 years.Since leaving the soap in 200 he has appeared in the Sunday night drama The Royal as Kenneth Hopkirk and as policeman Arthur in the film The 51st State.

In 2007 he joined Coronation Street as kebab shop owner Jerry Morton. He left the show in September 2008 and is about to share the role of Edna Turnblad with Michael Ball and Brian Conley in the UK tour of award-winning musical Hairspray.

Nunn versus Mackintosh on "new" Les Miserables production

Talking to the Daily Telegraph about his current project Aspects of Love which previews at the Menier Chocolate Factory next week, Trevor Nunn mentioned that he was less than happy with his old colleague Cameron Mackintosh over a 25th-anniversary production of Les Misérables.

Nunn launched the RSC production of the musical 25 years ago at the Barbican, and this September the re-directed touring version of Les Miserables starring Gareth Gates as Marius (which is described as a “new production”) will return there. Nunn insists it is nothing of the sort.

“If John Caird [co-director] and John Napier [designer] and myself had been asked to do a revised version of Les Misérables that could tour the country and tour other countries in a way that didn’t involve a revolving stage, which makes the touring very difficult, we would joyously have accepted. We would have kept all of the ingredients that we originally invented, and we would have found slightly different solutions staging-wise.


We were not asked. In fact, we knew nothing of it. We were kept in the dark. People who were asked were an assistant director of John Caird’s and mine working on the show and John Napier’s assistant who had worked for John Napier many times in different productions abroad of Les Misérables. Those people were asked to become a new production team. It is being advertised everywhere as a new production. It is not a new production. It is a variant production that owes everything that’s good about it to the original production. And everything that’s not so good about it, and is uncomfortable about it, is the work of a group of assistants”.

Nunn has no idea why Mackintosh handed the show over to two directors who first joined the show as cast members. Nunn went on to say: “There is no point in beating about the bush. We are profoundly unhappy and we feel profoundly betrayed and we don’t understand. We seek a meeting. We are not given any explanation. What’s so extraordinary is that, in the year when the 25th anniversary of the original production is being celebrated, the same logo and the same strapline is being used for the new production. So we are also very confused. It’s completely bewildering. And the most bewildering thing – and this is not vanity or hubris – is why something inferior has been created when something superior could have been created.

Cameron Mackintosh’s response to Nunn’s outburst has been: “I am saddened by Trevor's inaccurate and ungracious remarks. I am very proud of the 1985 production that I invited Trevor to direct with John Caird. That Les Mis has become an enduring classic around the world is a testament to the work that Trevor and John did as adaptors and directors. 

However, after 25 years, I wished to create a new production that reflected the contemporary appeal of the musical today and it seemed right to engage the energies of a new younger team to do this. I believe that each new generation has to be able to put its own stamp on great material.

Over 18 months ago and at every subsequent stage we informed Trevor and John Caird and John Napier of our plans. It is wholly untrue that they were in any way 'kept in the dark'. It is bewildering to me that Trevor Nunn who has spent much of his brilliant career reimagining existing material should be questioning the right of others to do so with Les Miserables.

Les Miserables is still running at the Queen’s Theatre, has the “new” touring production about to come into the Barbican and is also staring a 25th Anniversary Concert at the 02 Arena in October.

Trevor Nunn on Aspects of Love

Trevor Nunn is currently in rehearsal for a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Don Black’s Aspects of Love which previews at the Menier Chocolate Factory on 7th July and runs from 15th July until 26th September 2010.

Nunn took some time out to talk to the Daily Telegraph and explained he was working on this revival even though   “I have made it a rule to myself not to go back over previous successes”. Aspects did three years in the West End, and his desire to do it again was slowly ignited by a conversation he has been having with Andrew Lloyd Webber for many years.

When Aspects was first conceived, Andrew always talked about it being a small-scale piece. And I don’t think that he would deny that the day came when he said, 'As I’m discovering more about the score, I’m realising that it needs bigger musical forces.’ At which point we wouldn’t be talking about small scale any more.”

So the latest version of Aspects of Love has been stripped down by the show’s original orchestrator David Cullen.  The Menier Chocolate Factory with its small intimate space is famous for presenting scaled down shows: A Little Night Music, La Cage Aux Folles and Sweet Charity starring Tamzin Outhwaite (which has transferred to London’s Haymarket Theatre) being just some of their award winning successes.

Cast of Hair at Delfont Room in July

The Tony Award-winning American cast of Hair are performing in cabaret at the Delfont Room Prince of Wales Theatre at 8:00 pm on Sunday 11th July 2010.

The show has been organised by tribe members Gavin Creel and Michael James Scott, describing the evening as a “musical journey of pop, rock, folk, musical theatre and gospel music”.

The cabaret is being held in aid of AIDS relief charity TheatreMAD.

West End Musicals Dance Captains at Big Dance launch

Dance Captains from the West End musicals Grease, Sweet Charity, Love Never Dies, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You, The Lion King, Chicago, Sister Act, The Phantom Of The Opera, Hair and Burn The Floor along with dancers from English National Ballet and performing arts students have been rehearsing at the Pineapple Dance Studios to create a special troupe to perform a version of Hairspray’s You Can’t Stop The Beat at the launch of The Big Dance this Thursday, 1st July.

The Big Dance runs from 3-11 July with over 1.2 million people taking part in 800 events ranging from performances to classes and workshops in every style of dance.

The cream of musical theatre dancers’ troupe will perform their one off routine at the London Palladium.

To find out more visit: www.bigdance2010.com/

Tuesday, June 29

More dates added for Rocky Horror Show Tour

Michael Starke is the latest guest Narrator to join  the tour of the Rocky Horror Show and he will be doing his version of the Time Warp when it arrives at the Bristol Hippodrome on 5th July.

Later this year Starke is sharing the role of Edna Turnblad in the tour of Hairspay with Michael Ball and Brian Conley and is due to appear in the show at certain venues starting on 17th August at the Liverpool Empire.

 More tour dates have been added to the Rocky Horror Show which is booking until 4th December.  For more details visit Musical Theatre News.

Clare Burt in Cabaret at the Delfont Room

Clare Burt is appearing in Cabaret at the Delfont Room, Prince of Wales Theatre at 11:00pm on Saturday 17th July.

Clare made her New York cabaret debut at the Metropolitan Room earlier this year to great acclaim singing new Jobim and Herman, Aznavour and Weill arrangements by her Musical  Director Nigel Lilley.

She first began her career in cabaret as a founder member of The Broadway Babies who were a group devoted to the work of the great American songwriters. They played several seasons at Madame Jo Jo's and went on to play the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park and the Donmar Warehouse.

Clare’s West End roles include Grizabella in Cats ( New London ), Rose Vibert in Aspects of Love  (Prince of Wales ), Celeste in Sunday in the Park with George (National) , Fosca in Passion (Bridewell ) and two new musicals by Howard Goodall:  The Hired Man (Astoria) and Girlfriends (Playhouse).

She has appeared at the Donmar Warehouse in two Stephen Sondheim musicals: Susan in Sam Mendes' production of Company and The Witch in Into The Woods as well as Carla in Nine

Casting for Sondheim's Assassins at Union

As previously mentioned, part of the celebrations for Sondheim’s 80th birthday earlier this year will see the Union in Southwark reviving his musical Assassins from 30th June to 24th July 2010.

The cast has now been announced and it includes: Glyn Kerslake, John Barr, Adam Jarrell, Joe Alessi, Nick Holder, Alison Larnder, Leigh McDonald, Paul Callen, Marc Joseph, Nolan Frederick and Lisa Stoke as well as Davis Brooks, Neil Canfer, Anthony Delaney, Hannah Bingham and Holly Easterbrook.

Over the Rainbow’s Lauren playing Sandy in Grease

Lauren Samuels was in the last three for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Over the Rainbow quest to find a girl to play Dorothy in his new production of The Wizard of Oz which opens in the West End next year. 

She may not be heading up the Yellow Brick Road but instead she is enrolling at Rydell High in the musical Grease to take over the role of Sandy from Siobhan Dillon. 

Lauren joins the cast of Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre on 26th July and is scheduled to play Sandy to 22nd January next year starring alongside former Hear'say pop star Noel Sullivan who continues in the role of Danny.

Lucie Jones plays Cosette in Les Miserables for one night only!

Former X Factor contestant Lucie Jones who famously lost to Jedward made her West End debut playing Cosette in Les Miserables alongside Nick Jonas on Saturday night.

She took over from Camilla Kerslake (who opened the previous Monday) for just one night to play the part alongside Nick (of Jonas Brothers fame) before she begins a permanent stint on at the Queen’s Theatre next month.

Camilla Kerslake will play Cosette in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Mis at the 02 Arena in October.

She previously turned down the chance to audition for a part in Les Miserables as she was involved in The X Factor, but after she was voted off the show Cameron Mackintosh asked if she would consider auditioning for the role of Cosette.

Ruthie Henshall extends Chicago run on Broadway again

West End diva Ruthie Henshall first left these shores in April to reprise her role as Roxie Hart in the Broadway company of Chicago until 13th June which she subsequently extended until July 18th.  But she must be loving her time there as she is now staying on until 29th August.

The good news is that she must be back in the UK for her Sounds of Hollywood concert tour which kicks off in Gateshead on 26th October and runs until the end of November. 

Ruthie will perform songs from glamorous era of the great musicals shown on the silver screen including ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’, ‘Wouldn't It Be Loverly’, ‘People’, ‘Don't Rain on My Parade’, ‘Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better’, ‘The Man That Got Away’ and ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ from Oscar-winning movies such as ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘A Star is Born’.

Monday, June 28

Ben James-Ellis joining Dreamboats & Petticoats

As previously blogged (Show  Me the Way to Amarillo) Tony Christie is joining the cast of Bill Kenwright’s juke box  musical Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End on 5th July.

Another change in cast is hat Ben James-Ellis is taking over the role of Norman when Ben Freeman leaves the show. 

Ben was one of the finalists in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for a Joseph in Any Dream Will Do and since then has been in the tour of Dirty Dancing and originated the role of Link Larkin in the West End production of the musical Hairspray staying with the show from its opening  in October 2007 until July 2009.

Brigstocke extending run as King Arthur in Spamalot

Comedian Marcus Brigstocke is extending his run as King Arthur in the tour of Spamalot

He was originally leaving the show on 14th August when it finished at the Liverpool Empire as he had other commitments.  He is now staying on but will not be appearing in the production at Aberdeen, Cardiff, Sheffield and Torquay.  You can find out more details of his dates at Musical Theatre News.

He rejoins the show at the Wycombe Swan on 8th November and is currently staying with it until it leaves York Grand Opera House on 27th November.

As previously mentioned Amy Nuttall is joining the Spamalot tour as the third Lady of the Lake sharing the role with Jodie Prenger and Hayley Tamaddon when it arrives at Edinburgh Playhouse on 18th October.

Sunday, June 27

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg headed for West End?

The Leicester Curve has just announced its new season which includes Michel Legrand's re-orchestrated musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg which runs from 11th-26th February followed by a West End transfer.

The last West End musical Academy Award winner Michel Legrand  was involved in was in 2008 when he collaborated with Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (the creators of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon) and wrote the music for the the world premiere of Marguerite starring Ruthie Henshall at the Haymarket Theatre.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is adapted from the 1964 French film starring Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo, and tells of the doomed romance of young lovers Geneviève and Guy which is interrupted by Guy's military service.  It won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

The new stage version will be directed by Kneehigh’s Emma Rice (Brief Encounter), with lyrics translated by Sheldon Harnick and design by Lez Brotherston. The West End transfer will be produced by Daniel Sparrow and Mike Walsh productions.

Casting for tour of Chess the Musical

The tour of Chess which is being directed by Craig Revel Horwood kicks off in Newcastle on 27th August and the first bit of casting news I’ve got is that Shona White (pictured) is playing the part of Florence Vassy. 

Shona has appeared in a number of West End musicals and tours including Wicked! Mamma Mia, the Rocky Horror Show and Shout and is currently playing the part of Rita in David Essex’s musical All the Fun of the Fair at the Garrick Theatre. 

James Fox is playing the American Frederick Trumper. He is a pop singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who represented the UK in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul.

Theatre credits include playing Judas in the Bill Kenwright tour of Jesus Christ Superstar where Tim Rice saw him and recommended him for the role of the piano playing vocalist/musical narrator lead "Piano Man" in the Tony award winning Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp musical Movin' Out. In 2006 he returned to the UK to take up the role of the "Piano Man" in the European premier of Movin' Out at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre. The lead role of the American was originally played in the West End by Murray Head

Will publish more casting details here and on Musical Theatre News as they become available.

Saturday, June 26

Adam Garcia and Alfie Boe on BBC Arts Show


 Adam Garcia and Douglas Mills from Tap Dogs at the Novello Theatre and classical singer Alfie Boe (shortly to appear in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre and the 02 Arena Concert) are appearing on Claudia Winkelman’s Arts Show on BBC Radio 2 next Friday, 2nd July and 22:00.

John Barrowman the writer!

The versatile actor and singer John Barrowman is adding yet another string to his bow by entering the literary world.

The West End musical theatre leading man, “Torchwood” and “Doctor Who” star  is writing a book for children aged between 9-12 years old with paperback publication due in August 2011. The novel will be science-fiction/fantasy following the adventures of a teenage twin brother and sister.

Barrowman will write the novel with his sister Carole, who helped him with his autobiographies Anything Goes and I Am What I Am.

BBC Books has also confirmed that Barrowman will also be writing a Torchwood tie-in novel, although it is as yet untitled and unscheduled.

New Tour Dates added for Chess the Musical

Two new dates have been added for Craig Revel Horwood’s tour of Chess which is scheduled to start on 27th August at the Theatre Royal Newcastle.

The tour of Chess extends into 2011 and it is now also visiting Milton Keynes Theatre from 25th-29th January and the New Victoria Theatre in Woking from 8th-12th March which is currently when the tour ends.

Full list of tour dates for Chess the Musical.

Casting news to follow shortly.

Friday, June 25

Tony Christie joining Dreamboats & Petticoats at Playhouse

Tony Christie is to make his West End debut on 5th July when he joins the cast of Bill Kenwright's musical Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre in London.

Christie will play Older Bobby and Phil (Bobby’s father) in the musical that features hits from artists including The Platters, Roy Orbison and Marty Wilde

In 2002 Christie’s 1970’s hit "Show Me the Way to Amarillo" was used in the TV comedy series Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights leading to a rise in his popularity.

But Tony Christie’s career was really resurrected in 2005 when Kay put together a video featuring a host of stars and released the record as a single to raise money for Comic Relief.

Jekyll & Hyde Tour starring Marti Pellow

Bill Kenwright is due to mount a tour of the musical Jekyll & Hyde with Wet, Wet, Wet lead singer Marti Pellow playing the lead role.  Pellow is no stranger to musical theatre having performed in Chicago, the Witches of Eastwick and Chess.

Jekyll & Hyde is a musical based on the novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The original stage conception is by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn. The music is by Wildhorn and the lyrics and book are by Leslie Bricusse

The production last toured the UK in 2004/5 with Paul Nicholas playing the dual role.  There are no dates yet, but this tour is due to start in 2011.

Room on the Broom at Garrick Theatre

David Essex’s new musical All the Fun of the Fair is running at the Garrick Theatre on Charing Cross Road until 5th September, but from 28th July day time performances of the children’s show Room on the Broom will be presented there. 

Room on the Broom is booking from 28th July-29th August with performance times Tuesday to Sunday at 11:00 and Sunday at 14:00.

The minimum recommended age for children seeing the show is 3 years old and the running time is 55 minutes.

Room on the Broom is adapted from the best-selling book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler who are the creators of The Gruffalo!

The story is about a witch and her cat who are flying along on her broomstick when a gust of wind blows her hat, bow and wand away into the night.

They enlist the help of a daft dog, a beautiful bird and a friendly frog and the witch’s lost belongings are found. But her broomstick is not meant for five and it snaps in two!
Then a hungry dragon appears so who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone?

Daniel Boys in Concert at Leicester Square Theatre

Daniel Boys was one of the finalists in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s quest to find a new Joseph to wear the Technicolor Dreamcoat and has also appeared in Avenue Q in London’s West End. 

He is now appearing in concert in the Main House of the Leicester Square Theatre at 19:30 on Monday 29th November singing numbers from his debut album “So Close”.



Prior to that, he is due to appear in concert at the Delfont Room at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Saturday 4th September.

The Leicester Square Theatre is two minutes' walk from Leicester Square tube station, and ten minutes' walk from Charing Cross station. It can also be reached very easily by bus.

To purchase tickets visit: https://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com

Jessie Buckley Great American Songbook Concert

 Jessie Buckley was the runner up in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s I’d Do Anything and went on to play Anne Egerman in Trevor Nunn’s award winning A Little night Music revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory and in London’s West End.

She has been doing a series of concerts at venues including Pizza on the Park and the Delfont Room (on 31st Jyly) and will be appearing at the Rosemary Branch Theatre in north London singing her unique interpretations of material from the Great American Songbook.

The concert is scheduled for 19:30 on Saturday 4th September.  To get to the theatre the nearest train is Essex Road which is 9 minutes away from the venue or if you are travelling by tube you need to get to Old Street (16 minutes) and Angels (18 minutes).

To book tickets visit: www.rosemarybranch.co.uk

Friday Night is Music Night tribute to Kander and Ebb

BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night is recording a special programme to celebrate the work of the musical theatre partnership John Kander and Fred Ebb.

The show will feature contributions from Sally Ann Triplett, Nicola Hughes, Tim Flavin and Tony Hadley performing numbers from shows including Cabaret and Chicago.

The tribute will be recorded on Monday 12th July and will be broadcast later this year.

Amanda Holden auditions for Shrek the Musical

Amanda Holden has been pictured doing some serious shopping in the USA over the past few days, but that’s not the real reason she’s there. She has been auditioning for the role of Princess Fiona in the £10million stage musical Shrek. This is the part voiced by Cameron Diaz in the Shrek films, but she has already declared that she will not be appearing in the stage production.

The show is due to open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane next May (Oliver! is closing in January to make way for it) so there is still plenty of time to go with the casting and apparently scores of actors have been seen for the four main roles of Shrek, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and Donkey. But apparently Amanda did an excellent initial audition and has been then recalled to sing and dance for the production team.

As previously blogged, at one point Michael Ball was under consideration for the part of Shrek but his diary for next year is full with the successful UK tour of Hairspray, concerts and a production of Sweeney Todd at Chichester opposite Imelda Staunton.

Thursday, June 24

Priscilla Queen of the Desert Going on Holiday

The entire company of Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical are taking two week’s holiday from 6th-19th September meaning the Palace Theatre will be dark.

The current Priscilla cast is led by Ben Richards (as Tick/Mitzi), Don Gallagher (Bernadette) and Oliver Thornton  as Adam. This closure is thought to be a West End first as cast members in other shows alternate their holidays with understudies going on for principals when they are away.

The producers are using this time for essential maintenance work on the show’s elaborate set and life-sized bus. When performances start again on 20th September Priscilla will revert to her original schedule of Monday to Saturday evenings at 19:30 with matinees at 14:30 on Thursdays and Saturdays.  She will no longer offer Sunday matinees in lieu of Monday evenings.

Michael Ball to host new day time chat show

ITV1 Daytime have decided not to commission another series of David Dickinson’s  chat show, and instead the slot has been given to The Michael Ball Show which he will present every weekday afternoon over the summer months.

Michael’s show will be a topical mix of entertainment, discussion and showbiz glamour with the occasional musical treat thrown in from Ball. Michael will be chatting with established showbiz personalities and introducing some rising stars. Also experts will join him to discuss topics of the day and he will be given cooking lessons from showbiz chefs.

Michael Ball is still involved with the tour of Hairspray and is sharing the role of Edna Turnblad with Brian Conley and Michael Stark.  Ball is next due to appear as Edna at Manchester Opera House from 13th-31st July.

Ben Richards in Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Saw Ben Richards the other night playing Tick/Mitzi in Priscilla Queen of the Desert on London's Shaftesbury Avenue.

He took over from Jason Donovan at the beginning of the month and his performance really is a tour de force.  It really is a long way away from his previous television jobs in Fotballers Wives and the Bill.

He first becomes Mitzi in full view of the audience changing into his full drag costume on stage and there really is an audible gasp at the transformation.  He certainly wears it well  - even though when he was first practicing wearing his high heels he described himself as "Bambi on Ice".

And it’s worth going to the Palace Theatre in London's West End to see the show just for the fabulously outrageous costumes.

Ruthie Henshall , Rhydian and Myleene Klass in Christmas Spectacular at 02

Ruthie Henshall is is due to go on a concert tour later this month, but she has also signed up to appear in a Christmas Spectacular at the 02 Arena which will be held at 19:30 on Thursday 23rd December.

This is the second Christmas Spectacular that impresario Raymond Gubbay has presented in association with the Daily Mail.  The concert will be hosted by Myleene Klass and feature carols, traditional tunes and the best Christmas number one hits. This new show will have even more special effects and a dazzling indoor firework finale which proved a tremendous hit with audiences last year.

Anthony Inglis will conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which will accompany Ruthie, Rhydian Roberts (who is due to go on an arena tour of Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds in November), Wynne Evans, Alison Jiear, the Royal Choral Society and Capital Voices.

To book tickets visit: www.theo2.co.uk or telephone 0844 856 0202.

Wednesday, June 23

Five Guys Named Moe back at Stratford East

As previously blogged, Clarke Peters’ Five Guys named Moe is to be revived at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe playing at the McEwan Hall on Underbelly's Pasture from 4th to 29th August with the production marking the 20th anniversary of the Olivier award winning musical.

It will now also return home to the Theatre Royal Stratford East where it premiered in 1990 and will play there for a limited season from 7th September to 9th October 2010 (previews from 3rd September).

Following its original run at Stratford East, Five Guys Named Moe transferred to the West End  where it ran for four years and won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and then went on to Broadway in 1992.

The show features the music of the great jazz legend Louis Jordan with hits including "Early in the Morning", "Choo, Choo, Ch'Boogie" and "Saturday Night Fish Fry"

The story  follows broke and newly single Nomax (Clarke Peters) as Five Guys Named Moe: Big Moe (Chris Colquhoun), Four-Eyed Moe (Carlton Connell), Eat Moe (Paul Hazel), No Moe (Horace Oliver), and Little Moe (Ashley Campbell) emerge from his 1930s-style radio in an attempt to cheer him up.

The revival is directed by Paulette Randall and choreographed by original cast member and Olivier nominee Paul J Medford.

For more information and tickets visit: www.stratfordeast.com

Catherine Zeta Jones in appearing in Ryder Cup Concert

Katherine Jenkins, Catherine Zeta Jones (who has just finished a run in the Menier Chocolate Factory's revival of Sondheim's A Little Night Music on Broadway)  and the winners of BBC's Last Choir Standing Competition Only Men Aloud are appearing in a concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to celebrate golf's Ryder Cup being played in Wales this autumn.

European and US golfers are scheduled to appear on stage to greet the audience.

The televised Welcome to Wales concert takes place at the on 29th September which is just two days before the tournament starts in Newport.

Oliver! to close on 8th January

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver! has posted its closing notices at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and will now close on 8th January 2011 instead of the advertised booking period which ended on 26th February, 2011.

As previously blogged it is Oliver’s! 50th birthday on 30th June and it will be marked by a special performance from the legendary Ron Moody who first appeared as Fagin in June 1960 at the New Theatre.

The current cast features Kerry Ellis (as Nancy), Russ Abbot (Fagin), Steven Hartley (Bill Sikes), Julian Glover (Mr Brownlow), Julius D'Silva (Mr Bumble), Wendy Ferguson (Widow Corney), Julian Bleach (Mr Sowerberry/Dr Grimwig) and  Louise Gold (Mrs Sowerberry/Mrs Bedwin)

This closure news supports rumours that there is going to be a Broadway transfer of the musical Shrek! which based on the Dreamworks animated films.  It has been tipped to open at Drury Lane in March 2011.

Tuesday, June 22

No UK tour planned for Glee

The producer of the hit US TV show Glee has confirmed he is not planning a UK stage tour and is instead focussing on the next series of the award-winning programme. Apparently two more series have been commissioned.

The cast played seven live US dates earlier this year and Dante Di Loreto said a UK tour would be considered in the future but it is a question of finding the time to do it.

The show follows a school choir (Glee club) and has won a Golden Globe award for best television series.  It has also had a number of hits in the singles and albums charts in the USA and UK.

Nick Jonas gets standing ovation at Les Miserables opening night

The youngest Jonas Brother Nick made his debut on London’s West End stage last night playing Marius in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre. And the family were there to support him with older brothers Kevin and Joe causing quite a stir when they arrived at the theatre.

Nick Jonas will be playing the part of Marius for the next three weeks and then again at the special 25th Anniversary Concert at the 02 Arena in October.

Also making her debut last night was classically trained singer Camilla Kerslake who was discovered by Gary Barlow.  She is pictured here with Jonas as she is playing his love interest Cosette, again for a period of three weeks and again at the concert.

Jonas was given a standing ovation which was a relief as the 17-year-old had said that learning a different style of music took some getting used to but it had been interesting and fun.

His stint in Les Miserables stint promises to see Jonas Brother’s fans packing the theatre, but Nick said he wasn't worried that the audience would be filled with screaming girls saying “I believe they'll be respectful and they'll know the code of conduct at the theatre. Even if they do scream, it will just add to the excitement of the night.”

Monday, June 21

Rebecca the musical heading for the West End?

Christopher Hampton’s musical version of Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel Rebecca has undergone a series of workshops and could now be heading for London’s West End next year.

Hampton has been very successful in his adaptations and is probably best known for the film and play Les Liaisons Dangereuses. He also worked with Don Black on Sunset Boulevard and Dracula the Musical.

The current rumour is that Rebecca with Maxim de Winter, Mrs Danvers and the famous Manderley could open at the Palace Theatre when Priscilla Queen of the Desert eventually drives off into the sunset.

The musical has a score by Hungarian composer Sylvester Levay and premiered in Vienna in 2006, but has since been reworked by operator director Francesca Zambello and director/actor Michael Blakemore.

Richard Fleeshman and cast of Legally Blonde at Clothes Show Live!

You can meet the cast of Legally Blonde The Musical at The Clothes Show Live! at Earls Court.  They will be at the Montagne Jeunesse (stand 219) on Friday 25th June at around 15:00.

Montagne Jeunesse is the pampering partner of Legally Blonde the Musical and to celebrate their partnership Richard Fleeshman along with fellow stars Emma Bateman, Susan McFadden, Ibinabo Jack and Elle's cute little dog Bruiser will even be making a live appearance!

Kerry Ellis at BBC Proms in the Park

 Kerry Ellis is currently appearing as Nancy in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane but is having a night off to take part in this year’s BBC Proms in the Park on 11th September in Hyde Park.  The show will be hosted by Sir TerryWogan and culminate in a live video link-up with the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Kerry originated the role of Meat in We Will Rock You and is being joined by Queen guitarist Brian May for her performance. Other performers include Björn Again, Nell Bryden, the Cast of Jersey Boys, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and José Carreras

Spamalot Tour News

As already mentioned, Amy Nuttall is to become the third lady of the Lake on the tour of Spamalot sharing the role with Jodie Prenger and Hayley Tamaddon.  She joins the tour in Edinburgh on 18th October.

Todd Carty has confirmed that he is now staying for the entire tour playing Patsy. Marcus Brigstocke is still leaving on 14th August as he is appearing at the Edinburgh Festival.

New tour dates have been added and the tour of Spamalot is now booking into next year playing at the Alexandra Birmingham over Christmas with the last date currently being at the Waterside theatre Aylesbury from 28th March-2nd April 2011

More tour dates added for Beyond the Barricade

The tour of Beyond the Barricade is a concert featuring West End musical hits performed by a cast of past principal performers from Les Miserables and other popular London musical theatre shows.

It has now extended its tour dates and is now booking up until 16th December.

Tour of Dreamboats & Petticoats extended

Bill Kenwright’s tour of Dreamboats and Petticoats has now extended its booking period and added dates for October and November visiting Torquay, Shrewsbury, York, Bradford and Northampton.

The show offers a really good night out featuring classics from artists including Roy Orbison, The Shadows, Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury and numbers like Let’s Dance, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking All Over, Bobby’s Girl, Three Steps To Heaven, Little Town Flirt, Only Sixteen, Runaround Sue, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Let It Be Me, Great Pretender, C’mon Everybody and Let’s Twist Again.

Sunday, June 20

Memorial for Michael Jackson to be unveiled at Thriller Live Lyric Theatre

It seems impossible to believe but Michael Jackson died almost a year ago.  As a tribute to his to his life and work a memorial plaque is to be unveiled on the eve of the first anniversary of his death at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End where the show Thriller Live is currently playing.

The plaque will be unveiled on 24th June in the foyer of the theatre with a ceremony attended by Diversity dance group who were the winners of Britain's Got Talent 2009 and had been booked to appear at Jackson's London 02 Arena concerts. 

The cast of Thriller Live will also attend the event and six of the young performers who have played Jackson in the production will sing Speechless - The Tribute.  The song was originally recorded by Jackson and is being released this month in aid of War Child.

Amy Nuttall is third Lady of the Lake on Spamalot tour

Actress Amy Nuttall is joining the tour of Spamalot to share the role of Lady of the Lake with Jodie Prenger and Hayley Tamaddon

She opens at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 18th October and is currently appearing in the show until it leaves Milton Keynes Theatre on 4th December.

Amy Nuttall is probably best known on TV for playing Chloe Atkinson in Emmerdale and the Stars in their Eyes Celebrity Special which she won with her impersonation of Sarah Brightman. She most recently played regular Melanie Hill in Hotel Babylon for the BBC.

Her most recent theatre credits include and both Emily in The Hired Man and Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire for David Thacker at the Bolton Octagon.  In 2005 she received rave reviews playing Eliza Doolittle in the UK tour of My Fair Lady opposite the late Christopher Cazenove and Honor Blackman.

She made her West End debut in 2006 as Sister Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls opposite Patrick Swayze and Don Johnson. She has also starred as Gloria in Boeing, Boeing and as Sally Bowles in Cabaret with Alistair McGowan at The Lyric, West End.
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Saturday, June 19

Ron Moody back as Fagin in Oliver! at Drury Lane

But not to take over from  Russ Abbott who has just joined the production playing the part.  It is the 50th anniversary the original opening of Oliver!at the then New Theatre of  in a couple of week’s time on 30th June, and Ron Moody is making a special guest appearance playing the part he created at the end of the show.

Ron Moody was the original Fagin in Oliver! He is now over 80 and has already been in for rehearsals. According to Cameron Mackintosh he is still incredibly sprightly and shows every signs of giving a memorable performance at Drury Lane.

Cameron Mackintosh talks to Jonathon Ross about Les Miserables 02 Concert

Have just been listening to Cameron Mackintosh talking to Jonathon Ross on his Saturday morning Radio 2 show. Apparently he made a promise at Albert Hall 10th Anniversary Concert that he would put on a really special show for the 25th Anniversary of les Miserables. The original cast, current London cast, cast who are touring with the new production and a number of guest stars will all be appearing at the matinee and evening performances of the concert at the 02 Arena on Sunday 3rd October.

One of the guests is Nick Jonas who was the final Broadway Gavroche performing the part for the final nine months the show played in New York. Apparently Cameron asked him on the closing night whether he would like to play Marius in Les Miserables when he grew up (Mackintosh says he has no recollection of this). So Jonas says he has been waiting be old enough to be asked! In order for him to rehearse and perform at the Queen’s Theatre for three weeks starting on Monday 21st June and also to appear at the 02 Arena concert they have rescheduled the Jonas Bros tour.

Cameron says he has no concerns that Jonas has a "pop star voice" which will not transfer to the stage as a number of performers have done this with ease including Frances Ruffelle, Paul Nicholas, David Essex, Michael Ball and Gareth Gates.

Lea Salonga who created the role of Kim in Miss Saigon is playing Fantine. This is her first time back in England since the left the show in Drury Lane. Since then she has had an enormously successful career in musical theatre in New York and Philippines (and recently got married).

Friday, June 18

Sweet Charity Tamzin Outhwaite to judge Don’t Stop Believing

Sweet Charity star Tamzin Outhwaite who is currently appearing at the Haymarket Theatre to rave reviews and former Blue member Duncan James (who has just left Legally Blonde) are lined up to be judges on the forthcoming Channel 5 talent search show Don’t Stop Believing which is aimed at finding the best musical groups in the UK.

The show will be hosted by Emma Bunton and also feature singer Anastacia and US choreographer Charles Klapow as judges.

Dame Judi Dench going into the Woods

Dame Judi Dench is less like a giant than any actress you are likely to meet, but that doesn’t matter in the forthcoming production of Sondheim/Lapine's Into the Woods which opens at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park in August, as the diminutive dame will be providing the voice of the Giant.

Dench will not appear in the show and will record her part in late July.  It will be projected among some excellent musical theatre performers including Hannah Waddingham who is playing the Witch and recently received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her performance in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. Jenna Russell is the The Baker’s Wife and won an Olivier in 2007 for her performance in Sondheim’s Sunday In The Park With George.

The cast also includes former Wicked star Helen Dallimore, former Avenue Q cast member Mark Goldthorp and the RSC’s Mark Hadfield playing the Baker.

Nick Jonas to open in Les Mis on Monday

Tomorrow night is the final curtain for some members of the Les Miserables cast at the Queen’s Theatre as they are due for a cast change.

A number of the existing cast are staying with the show.  Simon Bowman is staying as the lead Jean Valjean and Martin Ball is carrying on as Thenadier. David Thaxton is leaving the show to play the lead in Sondheim's Passion at the Donmar Warehouse.

One of the newcomers is 17 year old Nick Jonas (one of the Jonas Brothers) who is playing the romantic lead Marius for three weeks from Monday, 21st June.  And his love interest will be Take That’s Gary Barlow’s prodigy Camilla Kerslake who joins at the same time.

Rock Around the Clock Roxanne Pallett inappropriately dressed for Ladies’ Day

Former Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett who is currently appearing in the tour of Rock Around the Clock found herself being turned away from Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot because her dress was too short.  That aside and as you can see from picture she was wearing a hat which looked suspiciously like a pair of Bunny girl ears!

Luckily she is performing at the Theatre Royal in nearby Windsor so headed back there to get some advice from the wardrobe mistress on where she could find something more conservative.  She was able to find something in Debenhams and thankfully the new look met with stewards' approval and she was let in.

Sondheim revivals scheduled for Menier Chocolate Factory

The Menier Chocolate Factory’s David Babani has been talking about some Sondheim revivals he has planned there.

Future productions include Maria Friedman directing Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along  and the Sondheim and John Weidman musical Road Show which hopefully will be directed by John Doyle.

Road Show is the third collaboration between Sondheim and book writer John Weidman (Pacific Overtures and Assassins), but is not their first attempt with this material which has also been called Gold, Wise Guys and Bounce. It tells the story of brothers Addison and Wilson Mizner and their adventures across America from the Alaskan Gold Rush to the Florida property boom in the 1930s.

The production opened in Off-Broadway’s Public Theatre in 2008 and was directed by Scot John Doyle who has also directed recent New York productions of Sweeney Todd and Company for Sondheim.

The new musical Paradise Found is currently running at the Chocolate Factory with Trevor Nunn’s Aspects of Love due to start previews on 7th July.

Shrek the Musical to open in London next year?

Rumours have been circulating in the West End for the past few months about the arrival of Shrek the Musical from Broadway where it premiered in December 2008 and ran (not very successfully) for just over a year. The good news is that London’s production will be based on the revamped US touring production which launches in Chicago next month.

It was originally thought the musical might come into the London Palladium, but that venue is no longer available with  Andrew Lloyd Webber's much publicised The Wizard of Oz following Sister Act there.

The current feeling now is that Shrek the Musical will come into the West End for a March 2011 opening at either the Theatre Royal Drury Lane or Palace Theatre where Oliver! and Priscilla Queen of the Desert are currently playing booking through to 26th February and 28th May 2011 respectively.

There have also been rumours that Michael Ball has been approached to play the green ogre Shrek.