Sheridan Smith not Legally Blonde on Mondays &Tuesdays

According to her Twitter, although Sheridan Smith has extended her contract and  is staying on a as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre until 8th January, 2011 she will not be performing on Mondays or Tuesday from 23rd October so that she can fulfil her filming commitments.

Jennifer Saunders to write Spice Girls musical

Comedienne Jennifer Saunders has been drafted in to do some writing for the Spice Girls Musical which has the working title Viva Forever.

According to The Sun newspaper she will write the script based around the girl group's most famous songs.

The project was thought up by Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer and Simon Fuller - the original manager of the Spice Girls.

Saunders made a cameo appearance in the group's 1997 ill-fated film Spice World as a fashionable woman/party guest -  possibly based on her character Edina Monsoon.

Les Miserables extends booking period

Les Miserables has increased its booking period by 8 months with tickets now on sale to 29th October 2011 at the Queen's Theatre in London’s West End.

The show has been running for 25 years and there are two special Les Miserables O2 Concert 25th Anniversary Productions (matinee and evening shows) at the O2 Arena on Sunday 3rd October.

This concert will feature an all star cast including Nick Jonas as Marius, Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Lea Salonga (the original Kim in Miss Saigon) as Eponine and Little Brittain star Matt Lucas at Thenadier

Van Outen, Dillon & Stenson to join new Legally Blonde cast

As previously tipped, Denise Van Outen will take over from Jill Halfpenny as hairdresser Paulette in Legally Blonde the Musical  at the Savoy Theatre. She joins Sheridan Smith, Richard Fleeshman, Alex Gaumond, AoifeMulholland and Peter Davison with Siobhan Dillon and Hollyoaks' Carley Stenson on 25th October 2010.

Sheridan  announced earlier this week that she is extending her run until 9th January 2011.

Denise Van Outen will take over the role of  Paulette the hairdresser from Jill Halfpenny. Her West End credits include Tell Me on a Sunday, Rent: Remixed, Chicago and Les Miserables.This is her first West End show since she gave birth to baby Betsy with husband Lee Mead (currently playing Fiyero in Wicked!) in May.

Siobhan Dillon (pictured) was one of the finalists in “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” She has appeared as Sandy in Grease in London’s West End and as Sally Bowles in the tour of Cabaret.  She is due to take over the part of Vivienne from Caroline Keiff in September

Carley Stenson will be playing Margot. She is best known for playing Steph Cunningham in Hollyoaks for the past ten years. She has also appeared in regional productions of Grease, The Boyfriend, Oliver! and Abbamania and is a member of the all-female band Diamond.

Other cast members from 25th October include: Stephane Anelli (Padamadan, Nikos), Emma Bateman (Stenographer), Thomas Camilleri (Carlos), Chris Ellis-Stanton (Grandmaster Chad, Dewey, Kyle), Kimmy Edwards (Judge, Saleswoman), Ibinabo Jack (Pilar), Suzie McAdam (Enid), Andy Mace (Dad, Winthrop, Reporter), Susan McFadden (Serena), Sorelle Marsh (Courtney, Mom, Whitney), Aoife Mulholland (Brooke), Sean Mulligan (Pforzheimer), Dawn Sievewright (Kate, Chutney), Robbie Towns (Aaron), Dominic Tribuzio (Kiki), Tamara Wall (District Attorney) and Stephen Webb (Lowell), as well as Jonathan Mawson, Jane McMurtrie, Lucy Miller, Ruthie Stephenson and Gregor Stewart as swings.

Ghost the Musical to Premiere in Manchester next March

As previously mentioned, the musical adaptation of the film Ghost, which starred Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, will have its world premiere next year.
 
It is due to open at the Manchester Opera House for a limited seven-week season from 28th March to 14th May 2011, prior to a West End transfer in June with the Piccadilly Theatre (where Grease is currently playing) hotly tipped as the venue.

Ghost is the musical writing debut for the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. He is working with Grammy Award winner Glen Ballard and screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin who has adapted his original screenplay.

The Manchester production will be directed by Matthew Warchus and designed by Rob Howell. Musical supervision and arrangements are by Christopher Nightingale, illusions by Paul Kieve, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and sound by Simon Baker.

No casting has yet been announced for Ghost the Musical, but Laura Michelle Kelly who is playing Mary Poppins on Broadway has taken part in two earlier workshops.

Public booking for the Manchester Opera House opens on 10th September 2010.

Whoopi Goldberg has to leave Sister Act

Sad news that Whoopi Goldberg, who has been playing Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical at the London Palladium, will miss her final three performances this week as she has had to fly back to the United States to be with her mother who’s suffered a stroke. Hopefully it’s not too serious.

The role of  will be played by Ms Goldberg's understudy until Thursday 2nd September  when Sally Dexter takes over the role. Miss Dexter has played Nancy in Sam Mendes's 1994 revival of Oliver! at the London Palladium, Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot the Musical , Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Anna in the original production of Patrick Marber's Closer, Regan in King Lear and Bad Girls - the Musical. 

The producers are saying that if you have booked to see Whoopi Goldberg and do not wish to attend the scheduled performance refer back to your original point of sale.

Duncan Bannatyne – The Musical!

Dragon’s Den Duncan Bannatyne has a musical depicting his affair, divorce and rise from ice cream seller to multi-millionaire entrepreneur.  The two-hour unauthorised account by award-winning director Gordon McDougall is based on Bannatyne’s book Anyone Can Do It.

Bannatyne's character sings about the trials in his life, including his court martial for trying to throw a Navy officer overboard.

The play will premiere in November in Shepton Mallet in Somerset. Ironically this is the same place the Bannatyne Group rescued a luxury hotel from going bust and saved the four-star; Grade II listed Charlton House from administrators earlier this year, saving 62 jobs.

Bannatyne was born in Clydebank and spent years in the Royal Navy until his dishonourable discharge, which included a spell in military prison. He bought an ice cream van for £450 which laid the basis for his £320million fortune

Sheridan Smith injures her back at Legally Blonde matinee

Sheridan Smith who is playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical couldn’t carry on with this afternoon’s matinee at the Savoy Theatre as she put her back out in Act I but managed to struggle through to the interval.

Apparently medics are concerned that she’ll cause more damage if she carries on so it sounds as if she won’t be on again today. Hopefully a bit of rest and a good night's sleep will see an improvement and she might be back on tomorrow.

Frances Ruffelle Beneath the Dress at Garrick

Following a very successful stint at the Edinburgh Festival, Frances Ruffelle returns to the West End stage at the Garrick Theatre for one night only on Sunday 12th September in Frances Ruffelle: Beneath the Dress.

The concert is an exploration of her musical influences with songs by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington & Kurt Weill, plus lesser-known song writers whose work has inspired her.  She will be accompanied by a funky six-piece band.

Frances Ruffelle was the original Eponine in Les Misérables 25 years ago and most recently has starred as Roxie Hart in Chicago.

Book tickets at: https://tickets.nimaxtheatres.com

Sheridan Smith staying Legally Blonde until next year!

OMG what Great News - Sheridan Smith has extended her run as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical at the Savoy Theatre until 9th January 2011.

Ben James Ellis appearing in Puss in Boots at Arts Theatre

Ben James Ellis first came to fame as a finalist in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Any Dream Will Do search for a Joseph to wear the Technicolor Dreamcoat.  He is currently playing Norman in Dreamboats and Petticoats with Tony Christie at the Playhouse Theatre  in London's West End.

When his stint in the show comes to an end he will be appearing at the Arts Theatare in a new version of Puss in Boots with former EastEnder Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo)

Before Dreamboats Ben made his name playing Link Larkin in the award-winning musical Hairspray starring Michael Ball.

Puss in Boots opens at the Arts Theatre, off Leicester Square, London, on November 18th and runs until January 9th.

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

Guests on next week’s Michael Ball Show

The guests appearing on Michael Ball’s ITV afternoon chat show for week Monday 30th August to Friday 3rd September include:

Monday 30th August - One Show host Jason Manford, Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley and Katie Melua.

Tuesday 31st August - Michelle Collins, Mica Paris and Rick Astley.

Wednesday 1st September - husband and wife Maxwell Caulfield and Juliet Mills plus a Morris Dancing challenge from the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical.

Thursday 2nd September - Brian Conley, Brian May and Kerry Ellis (currently playing Nancy in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane)

Friday 3rd September – X Factor finalist Olly Murs and Amanda Redman.

Harold Prince to Restage Paradise Found?

Harold Prince would like to restage Paradise Found, the Arabian Nights-style musical he co-directed with Susan Stroman at London's  Menier Chocolate Factory earlier this year.

Prince is quoted as saying “We did it in London in a theatre that’s too small for it, and it really impeded my, if I will allow myself the word, vision and the author’s. But again, the only people who were willing to put money into it were willing to do it only in a small theatre. The material is great. But it should be big … Now I have to do it and do it somewhere where there’s a large chorus.

We had wonderful actors [in London], but everyone was doubling and tripling. We had Shuler Hensley and Mandy Patinkin and Judy Kaye and Kate Baldwin, just an extraordinary cast, but they were doing chorus work, as well. That’s not what the material demands, so now I have to do it that way. In fact, I’m meeting with the authors the week after next, and we’re going to aim for it.”

The London production was much anticipated and warmly received but the critics gave very negative reviews.

Gavin Creel from Hair in Concert

Gavin Creel is currently playing Claude in Hair at the Gielgud Theatre, but after the show closes in London’s West End on 4th September he will be performing a number of UK concerts.

The Tony Award nominee will perform concerts at the Komedia in Brighton on October 19th, at the London’s Jazz Café on October 20th and at The Deaf Institute in Manchester October 21st.

Creel received Tony nominations for his work in Hair and Thoroughly Modern Millie. and has previously appeared in London in Mary Poppins. We is also a singer-songwriter with albums including "Goodtimenation" and the "Quiet."

To buy tickets visit: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Lee Mead & Wicked Cast in Charity Football Match

Lee Mead and the boys from Wicked who are currently at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London’s West end will be playing in a charity football match against The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Tour this Friday 27th August at Westway Sports Centre kicking off at 12 noon.

The sports ground is near Latimer Road tube station on the Hammersmith & City and Circle Lines - West London Zone 2.

The Wicked team will include Lee Mead, Tommy Sherlock, Danny Mac, Dan Jones, Jack Wilcox, Niall Sheehy and Gareth Chart with Rick Ashton, Joe Cartwright, Alex Arden and Ross Taliana front of house staff and Luciano Macis from backstage.

They will be raising money for GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity) for more information and to make an online donation if you can’t get to the match visit: www.justgiving.com

Sondheim on Sondheim heading for London?

Rhydian Roberts may well have let the cat out of the bag about a production of Sondheim on Sondheim coming into the West End.  On BBC Radio 2 he revealed that the show (which ended a limited engagement on Broadway in June 2010) will be playing in London at the beginning of October.
 
Roberts is due to appear in a new touring arena version of Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds with Jason Donovan at the end of November, but said that he was " due to go into a Sondheim show in the West End in October for a short stint."

Sondheim on Sondheim is an intimate portrait of the composer in his own words and music. It uses exclusive interview footage to give the audience an inside look at his personal life and artistic process. It would be the perfect production to round off his 80th birthday celebrations.

According to the official Stephen Sondheim Society website this news has also been confirmed by Sondheim  favourite  Maria Friedman. No official announcement on the transfer has yet been made.

Kerry Ellis is amazing

Anyone who saw John Barrowman’s Tonight’s The Night last night and caught Kerry Ellis singing a number from her new album Anthems would find it hard not to be impressed.

Kerry sang the title track – Anthem from the musical Chess - with Queen's Brian May doing a guitar solo.  It’s all too easy to forget just what great performers our musical theatre leading ladies are away from the West End stage.

New touring musicals

With the Edinburgh Festival going on August always tends to be a pretty “dead” month for musical theatre, but there are a number of new touring musicals starting up shortly with most of them booking into next year.

Just click on the links below for more details of the shows:

Touring Production	Start Date
Annie	24th August
Blues Brothers	23rd August
Buddy	21st February 2011
Chess	27th August
Christmas with the Rat Pack	25th November
Don’t Stop Believin’ (Glee)	2nd September
Gotta Sing Gotta Dance	2nd September
Scrooge (Tommy Steele)	18th October
Sunshine on Leith (Proclaimers musical)	31st August
Tell Me On A Sunday (Claire Sweeney)	30th August
Thriller Live	20th September
War of the Worlds (Jason Donovan/Rhydian)	24th November
We Will Rock You	3rd December

Musicals Week on This Morning

During next week some West End musicals will be performing on ITV’s This Morning.
On Monday 23^rd August Mamma Mia will be on the show.
Tuesday 24^th is Sister Act.
Wednesday 25^th you can see the cast from Grease
Thursday 26^th is Dirty Dancing
Friday 27^th is a live performance by the company of We Will Rock You.

Seal and Heidi Klum drag up at Priscilla Queen Of The Desert

The very alpha-male soul singer Seal showed off his feminine side last night when he and his and supermodel wife Heidi Klum joined the drag queens backstage at Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and donned multi-coloured eye masks with huge false eyelashes to give them a trannie look.

They watched show at the Palace Theatre in London's West End and couldn't resist getting into the spirit of things backstage afterwards.

Disney's Anika Noni Rose and Jason Robert Brown in Concert

Anika Noni Rose is a Tony Award-winning actress who voiced Princess Tiana in Disney’s The Princess And The Frog. She will make her West End debut next month with fellow Tony winner Jason Robert Brown when they appear in concert at the Garrick Theatre on 24th and 25th September.

Anika Noni Rose played Grace Makutsi in the BBC Sunday night drama The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, was Lorrell Robinson in the film Dreamgirls, won a Tony Award for her performance in Caroline, Or Change and was most recently seen on Broadway starring opposite James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

Brown is making his West End concert debut and has appeared off-West End at the New Player’s Theatre.  He and Anika Noni Rose will perform new material plus a selection of songs from his shows Songs for a New World, Parade, The Last Five Years and 13. His band, The Caucasian Rhythm Kings, will accompany them along with a four-string French horn section.

Tickets at:www.uktheatretickets.co.uk

Michael Ball Show guests for next week

The Michael Ball Show is on ITV1 every weekday afternoon between 3:00-4:00 pm. His guests for next week include:

Monday 23rd August - makeover duo Colin and Justin, Jimi Mistry, music from Ellie Goulding plus Christine Hamilton demanding “Cash for Questions” in the competition

Tuesday 24th August - Suzanne Shaw (Emmerdale) and Bill Patterson. There’s music from chart star Joshua Radin and Paul Rankin is in the kitchen.

Wednesday 25th August - Michael Aspel, Theatre Impresario Cameron Mackintosh who is celebrating 25 years of Les Miserables plus Gareth Gates who is playing Marius on the touring production.

Thursday 26th August - Vidal Sassoon, Jodie Prenger (appearing as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot), Penny Smith and music from Gabriella Cilmi.

Friday 27th August - Tommy Steele (shortly to begin a tour of Scrooge the Musical), plus I’m A Celebrity star Kim Woodburn.

Elaine Paige recording new Duets album

West End diva Elaine Paige is currently in New York recording a new "Duets" album which is being produced by the legendary Phil Ramone.

On the album Elaine will be duetting with Paul Anka, John Barrowman, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Olivia Newton John, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, Billy Ocean, Lee Ann Rimes, Jon Secada, Neil Sedaka and Dionne Warwick.

As soon as I have news of the release date will let you know.

New tour of Gotta Sing Gotta Dance

Gotta Sing Gotta Dance is back with a new show for 2010 which features two hours of song and dance numbers from the MGM  musicals of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly and West End stage hits including Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables, Oliver!, Wicked, Jersey Boys and Hairspray.

The tour starts at the King’s Theatre Glasgow on 2nd September and travels all over the UK until it finishes at the Theatre Royal Wakefield on 30th October.

The cast includes Craig Daniel Adams,  Lara Denning, Rebecca Lisewski, Lisa Mathieson, Philippe Reynolds, Clare Rickard and Adam Scown.

New Fagin needed for Oliver!

Russ Abbot is playing Fagin in the West End production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.  He is pictured here playing the part with Ron Moody making a special guest appearance earlier this year. 

He was on the Michael Ball Show yesterday afternoon and confirmed he will be leaving before Christmas with his last performance scheduled for Saturday 4th December.

Oliver is currently booking until 26th February 2011 which means that Cameron Mackintosh will have to find someone else to pick a pocket or two over the Christmas and New Year period until the show closes to make way for Shrek the Musical which is starring Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona and Richard Blackwood as Donkey and is due to open on 7th June.

New mechanic for Priscillabus

As previously mentioned, Ray Meagher who is best known for playing Alf Stewart in the long running Australian television soap Home and Away, will join the West End cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical at the Palace Theatre.

He is taking over from John Bowe as Bob the mechanic from 30th September 2010.

Lee Mead Big Red Heart Appeal Charity Concert

Lee Mead is currently appearing as Fiyero in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria in London’s West End six days a week, but he is travelling up to Grimsby this Sunday to perform a concert at Grimsby Auditorium in aid of the Big Red Heart Appeal which is to help raise cash for cardiac equipment at their Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital

Connie Fisher taking break from Sound of Music to get married

Connie Fisher is leaving the tour of the Sound of Music for a couple of months as she is off to get married to a man she met on a railway platform in Wales last July. Jeremy Reed proposed to Connie after the curtain call on the opening night of the Sound of Music in Cardiff

Connie will finish the run at the Birmingham Hippodrome this week and return to the show when it arrives at the Liverpool Empire on 12th October.

Kirsty Malpass will play Maria while the show is at Plymouth and Bournemouth.

New musical comedy Departure Lounge

Waterloo East Theatre is hosting the London premiere of a new musical comedy by Dougal Irvine. Departure Lounge runs from 28th September-31st October.

The cast includes Chris Fountain (Justin Burton in Hollyoaks and Dancing on Ice),Verity Rushworth (Penny Pingleton in Hairspray and Donna Windsor-Dingle in Emmerdale), Harry Hepple, Liam Tamne ( Fiyero in Wicked and Link in Hair) and Steven Webb

Departure Lounge takes place at Malaga Airport on Spain’s Costa del Sol where four less-than-innocent 18 year olds have just spent a week in the sun to celebrate graduating from school. Their flight is delayed and as they start to reminisce about their time together it appears that individual memories of the holiday are very different - particularly when it comes to romance and the girl on all their minds.

The production played to sold-out houses and received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival and Summer Play Festival in New York

Book tickets at: http://waterlooeast.ticketsolve.com

Sally Dexter to take over from Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act

When Whoopi Goldberg finishes her limited run in Sister Act on 31st August, Sally Dexter will play Mother Superior in the West End production at the London Palladium until it closes on October 30th in advance of its Broadway debut in 2011.

Sally Dexter’s stage credits include Nancy in Sam Mendes's 1994 revival of Oliver! at the London Palladium (for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award), Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot the Musical , Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Anna in the original production of Patrick Marber's Closer and Regan in King Lear. She spent several years with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the Royal National Theatre.

She starred in Bad Girls - the Musical at the Garrick Theatre in 2007  and can be heard as Madame Giry on the concept cast recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies.

Sister Act is closing to make way for Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Wizard of Oz

New Cast for We Will Rock You

As already mentioned, former Coronation Street actor Kevin Kennedy (he played Curly Watts) will play the part of Pop in the Queen musical We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End. He has already played this part on the last tour of We Will Rock You.

Former X Factor contestant Brenda Edwards (pictured) appeared with Kennedy on the tour and will return to the role of the Killer Queen. Joining them in the 2010/11 cast will be: Ricardo Alfonso (Galileo), Sarah French (Scaramouche), Rachel John (Meat), Alex Bourne (Kashoggi) and Ian Carlyle (Britney).

Kevin Kennedy to join WWRY at Dominion

Kevin Kennedy is due to join We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre on 3rd September as part of their 10th anniversary cast.

Kevin is best known for playing Curly Watts in ITV's Coronation Street between 1983 and 2003. He has been playing the ageing hippy 'Pop' in Ben Elton's and Queen’s tour of We Will Rock You.

Guests on Michael Ball Show this week

The Michael Ball Show starts this afternoon on ITV1 between 3:00-4:00 pm. His guests this week include:

Monday 16th August - Les Dennis (who is on the tour of Hairspray with Michael), Katie Price with Rachel Allen in the kitchen.

Tuesday 17th August - Russ Abbot (currently starring as Fagin in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane ), BBC Proms host Katie Derham, chef Jo Pratt and music from The Saturdays.

Wednesday 18th August - chef Rachel Allen, Joanna Lumley, Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole and a performance from Adam Garcia and the cast of Tap Dogs.

Thursday 19th August - Christopher Biggins, Jenni McAlpine (Fizz from Coronation Street) plus music from R&B star Craig David.

Friday 20th August - comedian Omid Djalili, new Xtra Factor host Konnie Huq and Rachel Allen is in the kitchen.

Blood Brothers Mrs Johnstone swap

Bill Kenwright has productions of Blood Brothers in London at the Phoenix Theatre and also on tour.

The two actresses playing the lead role of Mrs Johnstone are about to swap over with ex-Seekers member Lyn Paul (pictured) who has been on the tour of Blood Brothers coming into the West End to play the part from 31st August to 23rd October, 2010. 

Ex-Factor finalist Niki Evans has been appearing in the London production and she is about to join the tour from 30th August-28th November with the exception of when it plays at the Liverpool Empire when Spice Girl Mel C is returning to play the role.

Don’t Stop Believin’ Glee Tribute Tour

Don’t Stop Believin’ is a new tour which is a tribute to Glee offering an evening of singing and dancing to songs including Don’t Stop Believin’, I’ll Stand By You, Don’t Stop Me Now, I Feel Good, You Can’t Always Get Want you Want, Single Ladies and Living on a Prayer.

Directed and Staged by Carole Todd (Dreamboats & Petticoats, Dancing in the Streets) the tour starts at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool on 2nd September and visits venues all over the UK until it ends at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield on 4th December.

Charity Cabaret Lunch with Lee Mead, Jodie Prenger and Claire Sweeney

West End stars Lee Mead (currently appearing in Wicked) , Jodie Prenger (Lady of the Lake in Spamalot) and Claire Sweeney (Tell Me On A Sunday) are among artistes lined up to appear in Sunday Lunch with the Stars at Hitchin Priory on September 19th. They are close friends of former Hitchin actor Neil Rutherford, the fourth member of the cabaret team.

Neil is now a casting director for the Ambassador Theatre Group and has been responsible for many West End and touring productions.  He has organised the charity cabaret lunch in aid of the new youth wing at Hitchin’s Queen Mother Theatre.

Chartridge Conference Company is allowing free use of its 200-seat Priory marquee for the event which includes a drinks reception and three-course Sunday lunch before the cabaret.

Application forms for tickets are available at Hitchin Town Centre Initiative office, 27 Churchyard (01462 453335) or from appeal secretary Paula Downes via e-mail paula.downes@ntlworld.com

Is Claire Sweeney is a bigger celebrity than Jack Tweed?

Claire Sweeney is about to start a nationwide tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tell Me On A Sunday starting at the Northampton Royal & Derngate on 30th August.

Let’s hope the regional hotpots are more welcoming than Mahiki in London was last night when she was out and about wearing a fabulous Herve Leger bandage dress looking incredibly glamorous but was turned away from the celebrity hotspot which is frequented by Princes William and Harry.

Goodness only knows where they got the doorman from as later on he welcomed very casual and scruffy-looking Jack Tweed whose only claim to fame is being married to the late Jady Goody and appearing in court of a fairly regular basis.

Cameron Mackintosh postpones My Fair Lady film

Chichester Festival Theatre currently has a superb production of Pygmalion starring Rupert Everett as Professor Higgins and Honeysuckle Weeks as Eliza Doolittle.

It has received rave reviews and is expected to make a swift transfer into London’s West End. It is also hotly tipped to make actress Honeysuckle Weeks (best known for her role as Samantha Stewart alongside Michael Kitchen in the ITV series Foyle's War since 2002) into a big star.

With this in mind, and because of difficulties in finding a director and casting the lead role, Sir Cameron Mackintosh has decided to postpone production of his musical film version of My Fair Lady from 2010 to the second half of 2011.

New Tour of Buddy the Musical

A new tour of Buddy the musical is scheduled to start next February at Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury.  There are four more dates currently booked at the Bristol Hippodrome, Palace Theatre Manchester, Sunderland Empire and Richmond Theatre with more to come.

Buddy Holly was tragically killed in a plane crash 1959 at the age of 22, leaving behind a legacy of over 30 timeless hits. Buddy tells his story with two hours of his greatest hits including That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, True Love Ways, Oh Boy, Heartbeat and many more.

Christmas with the Rat Pack tour

A new tour of Christmas with the Rat Pack is due to start in Reading on 25th November and visit over 20 venues until it finishes in Worthing on 18th December.

The show is set in glamorous and sophisticated Las Vegas in the late 1950’s when three of the world’s most popular entertainers: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr & Dean Martin were appearing at the famous Sands hotel.

Hit follows hit including: Witchcraft, The Lady is a Tramp, Mr Bojangles, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, That’s Amore, Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime, New York, New York, My Kinda Town, Fly Me to the Moon, Sway, Volare, Me And My Shadow, My Way, Memories Are Made Of This.

Seasonal classics include: Baby it’s Cold Outside, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, White Christmas, Winter Wonderland & Auld Lang Syne

Blood Brothers extends West End booking period

Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers is currently playing in London’s West End and is also on tour. It has extended its booking period at the Phoenix Theatre to 26th November, 2011.

You’re running out of time to see X Factor contestant Niki Evans playing the role of Mrs Johnstone as she leaves on 21st August.

Spice Girl Mel C will play Mrs Johnstone again on the Blood Brothers tour when it arrives at the Liverpool Empire from 8th – 20th November.

Suggestions for Michael Ball's Sunday Brunch

Michael Ball is playing Edna Turnblad on the tour of Hairspray at certain venues and is also one of the producers for the new musical Love Story which is coming into the Duchess Theatre later this year.

He is due back on BBC Radio 2 to present more of his Michael Ball's Sunday Brunch Radio shows on Sundays 5th, 12th. 19th and 26th September between 11:00 and 1:00 pm.

He is asking for suggestions for Michael Ball's Better Than The Original which is a cover song that's better than the original. If Michael agrees, or even if he doesn't, he'll play it for you on the show.

You can email your suggestions at www.bbc.co.uk

Kerry Ellis & Brian May Radio & TV Appearances

Kerry Ellis is currently starring as Nancy in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.  She is about to release her debut album Anthems and will be appearing with Queen’s Brian May on Weekend Wogan this Sunday 15th August between 11:00 am-1:00 pm on BBC Radio 2.  Brian has produced Kerry's album and the pair will perform together live in the BBC Radio Theatre in London.

The pair are due to appear again on John Barrowman’s Tonight’s The Night at 19:50 on BBC1 TV on Saturday 21st August. They will perform two songs on the show, one of which will be with a daughter who was nominated by her mother to do a duet with Kerry.

Casting news on Flashdance the Musical!

Rehearsals start on Monday 16th August for this new production of Flashdance the Musical which is previewing in London’s West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre from 24th September with the press night on 14th October.

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt will play Alex and Matt Willis will play Nick. They are joined by Sarah Ingram (Hannah ), Charlotte Harwood (Gloria), Hannah Levane (Keisha) and Twinnie-Lee Moore (Jazmin) with Brendan Cull, Russell Dixon, Sam Mackay, Ricky Rojas, Andrew Spillett and Robbie White, as well as Ivan Blackstock, Tyman Boatwright, Myles Brown, Joseph Conner, Natalie Edmunds, Nicholas Gilligan, Zoe Green, James Hall, Ben Harrold, Emily Hawgood, Kirby Huges, Sia Kiwa, Lindsay Shaw, Maria Swainson, Amy Thornton and Daniel Uppal.

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt created the role of Alex for the recent UK Tour of Flashdance the Musical and has recently been playing Rizzo in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre. Her other theatre credits include Mamma Mia! Fame, Desperately Seeking Susan the Saturday Night Fever UK Tour and West Side Story International Tour.

Matt Willis was a founder member of pop rock band Busted.  He has recently been pursuing a solo career releasing singles Up All Night, Hey Kid and Don’t Let It Go to Waste and Crash for Mr Bean’s Holiday. He won the 2006 ITV series of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

Flashdance the Musical will be directed by Nikolai Foster with choreography by Arlene Phillips and orchestrations and musical supervision by Phil Edwards.

Ruthie Henshall’s Celebrity Attic

West End diva Ruthie Henshall is soon to finish her Broadway run in Chicago on and will shortly return to the UK to prepare for her Sounds of Hollywood Concert tour which starts on Tuesday 26th October at The Sage in Gateshead.

But if you want to see her before then the episode of Cash in the Celebrity Attic that she filmed earlier this year will be on BBC2 on Wednesday 25th August 2010 at 16.30.

Wizard of Oz Google Doodle

When I switched on my PC this morning my Google homepage had an image from the Wizard of Oz.  The reason this Google doodle was put on today is because it is the 71st anniversary of the classic film starring Judy Garland – seems impossible that it really was that long ago that she skipped up the Yellow Brick Road.

The Google doodle (pictured) is a scene from the film when Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion catch their first glimpse of the Emerald City.

The doodle is another of Google’s attempt to commemorate people or events on its home page, but if you prefer to see the real thing then don’t forget Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Wizard of Oz musical (with additional songs and lyrics by him and Tim Rice) is due to open at the London Palladium in London's West End next March (press night in February).

Latest on Musical Theatre Charity Gala at Apollo Victoria Theatre

The Apollo Victoria Theatre is coming up for its 80th birthday, and on Sunday 10th October they will be presenting a special Gala featuring the cast of  Wicked (past and present including Lee Mead and Oliver Tompsett), a special reunion of performers from Starlight Express (which ran there for a number of years) and a host of other West End musical theatre stars.

These will  include Sharon D Clarke (original Killer Queen in We Will Rock You and shortly to appear in Ghost), members of the original casts of Saturday Night Fever, Bombay Dreams and Movin’ Out, the Jersey Boys (Franki Valli appeared there), Patina Miller from Sister Act, Topol (reprising his role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof), Frances Ruffelle (original Dinah in Starlight Express) and  The Divas from Priscilla Queen of the Desert playing the Supremes (Diana Ross appeared there).

In the audience will be some very special guests who have close connections with the theatre’s musical past including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Arlene Phillips, Meera Syal and Max Clifford.

The Apollo Victoria will be transformed from its usual Green. Act One will be a tribute to the artists who have played the venue, with Act Two focusing on the musicals which have played there, ending with Wicked. 

The concert has been created by Wicked’s UK Associate Director, Petra Siniawski and UK Dance Supervisor, Adam Murray.  It will be a showcase of songs which have been performed on the Apollo Victoria’s stage over its 80 years and all excess proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Cancer Research UK. There will also be a raffle in support of the Entertainment Artiste’s Benevolent Fund on the evening itself.

The Gala Performance will be the grand finale of a day of celebrations when the theatre will be opened to the public for talks, tours and an exhibition illustrating the building’s varied and fascinating story.

Tickets for the Gala Performance can be obtained from the theatre box office, Ticketmaster online and by telephone on 0844 847 2288. Ticket prices from £15 to £60 all profits from ticket sales will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

Rhydian Roberts playing Kashoggi on some We Will Rock you Tour dates.

Rhydian Roberts  is in the tour of Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds with Jason Donovan at the end of this year and  is then  scheduled to appear in the tour of We Will Rock You when it plays at the Cardiff Millennium Centre from 18^th March-11^th April and Southampton Mayflower Theatre from 20th April – 28th May 2011.

He is joining Noel Sullivan as Galileo, Jenny Douglas as Meat and Leon Lopez playing Britney.

Noel Sullivan from Grease playing Galileo in We Will Rock You tour

Noel Sullivan is currently playing Danny Zuko in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, but he is due to join the tour of We Will Rock you playing Galileo when it starts at Manchester Palace Theatre on 3rd December 2010.  The tour is currently booking until 7^th January 2012 when it finishes at Edinburgh.

Other casting to date is that Leon Lopez is playing Britney and as previously mentioned Dorothy finalist Jenny Douglas is playing Meat.