Why Andrew Lloyd Webber Sold Four Theatres

As mentioned a couple of days ago,  Andrew Lloyd Webber is in the process of selling four of his theatres which have a a combined seating capacity of 4,900 seats and are referred to as “mid-sized” music houses.

This is a reluctant decision on his part but  mounting debts and health concerns have led to his agreeing a deal  which means he will part with the Palace, Her Majesty’s, the Cambridge and the New London Theatres by January 2011.

He underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2009 and suffered post-surgical complications. He had to spend more time recuperating than he planned, delaying the Broadway transfer of “Love Never Dies” .

“It has been a totally gut-wrenching decision for me to decide to sell the four theatres. However, following my illness last year I was advised to reduce the debt in the family company” said the 62-year old composer talking about his decision.

GradeLinnit have bought the theatres and Lloyd Webber said: “I have agreed that the purchase price be reduced by five million pounds to enable GradeLinnit to invest this sum in the theatres, principally in the Palace. My commitment to composing, producing and Theatre ownership remains as strong as ever.”

His company RUG is retaining the ownership of the Palladium, Theatre Royal Drury Lane and its 50% interest in the Adelphi which they co-own with Nederlander. These theatres are larger in size with a combined seating capacity 6,100.

Lloyd Webber added: “It is particularly difficult for me as the New London was Cats’ home for 21 years and for nearly 25 years Her Majesty's has been and still is the home of The Phantom of the Opera. The Palace has huge personal associations and was described by John Betjeman as 'the only theatre architecture ... which climbs into the regions of a work of art'. I am particularly proud that over the 25 years that I have owned the Palace I have been able to restore the magnificent auditorium and the exterior thereby removing the huge neon advertising hoarding that defaced both the theatre and Cambridge Circus."


Really Useful Group chairman Mark Wordsworth claimed that ‘de-gearing’ RUG was seen as a possible way to reduce Andrew’s stress after his failing health and has left him unable to concentrate on the production of shows like ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and “Love Never Dies’

Cast and Dates Announced for Les Miserables US Tour

The complete cast has just been announced for the US national tour of the new 25th anniversary production of  Les Miserables which will premiere in New Jersey on 19^thNovember 2010 and end next September.

Laurence Connor and James Powell direct the cast of Lawrence Clayton (Jean Valjean), Andrew Varela (Javert), Michael Kostroff (Thénardier), Shawna Hamic (Madame Thénardier), Betsy Morgan (Fantine), Jeremy Hays (Enjolras), Chasten Harmon (Eponine), Justin Scott Brown (Marius) and Jenny Latimer as Cosette. 

The ensemble will include Richard Todd Adams, Richard Barth, Cathryn Basile, Julie Benko, Cole Burden, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Casey Erin Clark, Jon Fletcher, Jason Forbach, Lucia Giannetta, Ian Patrick Gibb, Cooper Grodin, Ben Gunderson, Cornelia Luna, Benjamin Magnuson, Jason Ostrowski, John Rapson, Rachel Rincione, Heather Jane Rolff, Sarah Shahinian, Alan Shaw, Joseph Spieldenner, Joe Tokarz, Aliya Victoriya and Natalie Weiss.

The tour starts at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn New Jersey  and visits Philadelphia, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Baltimore, Louisville Kentucky, Columbus, Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Omaha, Arizona, Madison, Nashville, Salt Lake City, Tempe, Los Angeles, Portland and Denver ending at the Jefferson Concert Hall in Birmingham on 25^th September 2011.

For more details visit:  www.lesmis.com   

Sound Of Music cast reunite on Oprah

The entire cast of The Sound Of Music were reunited for the first time yesterday on the Oprah Winfrey Show to mark the 45th anniversary of the classic film musical.

Dame Julie Andrews (now aged75) and Christopher Plummer (80) joined the now grown-up Von Trapp children and recalled their memories of making the 1965 movie which won five Oscars.

The seven Von Trapp children, Charmian Carr (Liesl), Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich), Heather Menzies (Louisa), Duane Chase (Kurt), Angela Cartwright (Brigitta), Debbie Turner (Marta) and Kym Karath (Gretl) joined Oprah on the sofa.

Dame Julie Andrews told the story of trying to sing The Hills Are Alive on the mountain while trying to stop the downdraft from the helicopter flying around her from knocking her over. She also ended up falling into the lake during the boat scene when she tried to rescue Karath who couldn't swim.

The Sound of Music still continues to be very popular with special singalong screenings of the movie often being presented, and a UK theatre tour starring Connie Fisher as Maria and Michael Praed as Captain Von Trapp still playing to full houses and touring into next year.

So You Think You Can Dance Auditions Extra Dates Added

The organisers of the So You Think You Can Dance are holding some additional audition dates, but are requesting that you register before you turn up to save time.  You can do this by email: soyouthinkyoucandance@bbc.co.uk or Tel: 020 8225 6240.

 If you can’t register beforehand you can still just turn up on the on the day. They are in Belfast on 13th November, Cardiff on 14th November, and back in London at the Toynbee Studios (which is your last chance to try out for the show) on Sunday 21st November.

Further details of venues and times can be found on the So You Think You Can Dance website

Elaine Paige appearing in Follies

The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced additional casting and a two week extension for its revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical Follies. The production has been extended two weeks and will now run from May 7th-June 19th 2011 in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.

Elaine Paige will play Carlotta Campion - the seen-it-all-before ex-Follies girl and fading film star, who belts out show-stopper “I’m Still Here”.  She follows a long line of musical theatre stars who have played the part including Shirley MacLaine, Carol Burnett, Elaine Stritch and the late Eartha Kitt. She also recorded a new album when she was in New York recently.  Elaine Paige and Friends  is due to be released in the UK on 1st November.

Speculation that Kim Cattrall would be joining Bernadette Peters (who is playing Sally Durrant Plummer) to perform the role of Phyllis Rogers Stone was incorrect and Jan Maxwell will be playing the part. Miss Maxwell  is a Broadway regular whose appearances in The Royal Family and Lend Me a Tenor in New York both earned her Tony Award nominations.

Other casting in the musical features Terrence Currier (Theodore Whitman), Rosalind Elias (Heidi Schiller), Florence Lacey (Sandra Crane), Linda Lavin (Hattie Walker), Régine (Solange LaFitte), David Sabin (Dimitri Weismann), Susan Watson (Emily Whitman) and Terri White as Stella Deems.

Jodie Prenger playing Nancy Again

Jodie Prenger won the part of Nancy in Oliver! in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s television casting show I'd Do Anything in May 2008.

She is reprising the role for one day only on Saturday 13th November, performing the matinee and evening performances while Kerry Ellis who is the current Nancy is performing songs from her hit album Anthems at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Since leaving the cast of Oliver! in March 2010, Jodie has been playing the Lady of the Lake in the UK tour of Spamalot.  She is currently touring the UK with John Barrowman and returns to Spamalot on 6th December when it plays at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham over Christmas.

Jodie is also due to star in a new BBC1 comedy series called Candy Cabs and also has a new album scheduled for release in early 2011

Kerry Ellis Performing Anthems Album at the Festival of Remembrance

Kerry Ellis is taking a day off from playing Nancy in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to perform at this year's Festival of Remembrance at The Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 13th November 2010.

This annual Festival commemorates and honours all those who have lost their lives in battle and is attended by the Royal Family. 

Kerry will be performing songs from her hit album, Anthems which you can hear as the concert will be broadcast live on BBC1 television.

For the matinee and evening performances on 13th November only Jodie Prenger will return to the role of Nancy which she originally played after winning “I’d Do Anything” in 2008.

News on Sale of Four Andrew Lloyd Webber Theatres

The possible sale of four West End Theatres which are owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group has been under discussion for several months and has yet to be confirmed, but a letter to staff yesterday suggests that the negotiations are nearing completion.

The Palace, New London, Cambridge and Her Majesty's are likely to be purchased to a consortium led by Michael Grade

A spokesperson for RUG confirmed that an agreement (believed to be in the region of £50 million) had now been reached between the parties for the sale of the four theatres, but stressed that final contracts were still yet to be signed.

Andre Ptaszynski, Chief executive of the Really Useful Group, wrote to staff yesterday with part of the letter saying: “The proposal is that staff currently employed by Really Useful Theatres Ltd, New London Theatre Properties Ltd, Palace Theatre London Ltd and New London Theatre Ltd would continue be employed by the same employer, albeit that the ownership of these companies would change”.

The plan is that the Really Useful Group will retain ownership of its three biggest theatres: the London Palladium, Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Adelphi which is part-owned with Nederlander.

Hugh Jackman to Star in Musical about Harry Houdini?

One of the most enjoyable and  memorable musicals I have ever seen was on Broadway when Hugh Jackman gave a Tony winning performance in The Boy from Oz.  He was also amazing as Curly in Oklahoma! which was directed by Trevor Nunn at the National Theatre in 1998, so I am hoping that his next theatre project which is a musical biography of Harry Houdini gets to the stage.

He is doing a workshop in January 2011 with some of the creative team already on board: Aaron Sorkin, (writer), Danny Elfman (composer) and Jack O’Brien directing.

The Houdini musical has been in the pipeline for a couple of years and hopefully Jackman’s involvement will speed up the process.  Jackman says it’s just one of several stage projects in development. “I’m working on two or three things, because I don’t want to be away from the stage for too long. New musicals take a long time to get into shape, so I have a feeling it may be something else first on Broadway. But if Houdini is ready, I’ll do that. I’m practicing my magic tricks right now.”

Jackman is also involved in a planned feature film version of Carousel in which he would reportedly star as Billy Bigelow opposite Anne Hathaway as Julie Jordan. “We love it, I love it, and we’re working on it,” he said. “Now we just have to convince people to pay for it!”

Brian Blessed pulls out of Sleeping Beauty Panto

Richmond Theatre has confirmed that the actor Brian Blessed has had to pull out of this year's panto Sleeping Beauty after suffering breathing difficulties. He has been diagnosed with pulmonary odema and ordered to rest for three to four months

He was due to play the wicked wizard, but is now being replaced by ex Eastender Anita Dobson, as the more traditional Wicked Queen.

His daughter Rosalind Blessed is appearing in the spoof soap musical Legacy Falls at the New Players Theatre with previews starting tonight.

Ray Quinn not appearing in Dirty Dancing due to Injury

There’s a Latest News item on Ray’s website saying “Due to injury Ray Quinn will not be performing in Dirty Dancing until further notice. We wish him a speedy recovery and a swift return. Everyone on RQW hopes you get better soon Ray and we look forward to seeing you back in Dirty Dancing very soon” 

Apparently Ray was knocked off his bike a few days ago and has a broken collar bone so I guess he will be out of action for a few weeks.

He's due to take a break from the show on Saturday 27th November to start rehearsals for Jack and The Beanstalk at the Derngate Theatre Northampton

Will let you know as soon as I have any more information.

John Barrowman in Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special

John Barrowman has just announced that he will be performing on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. It will be pre-recorded and broadcast at 7:00 pm on BBC1 on Christmas Day when Barrowman will be appearing as Aladdin in panto in Glasgow.

John is teaming up with blonde bombshell Kristina Rihanoff (pictured) and will join contestants including Vince Cable who is dancing with Erin Boag, Fern Britton with Matthew Cutler, June Brown with Vincent Simone and Ronni Ancona with Anton Du Beke.

John said: "I'm ecstatic - I've watched Strictly since the first series. I am looking forward to the challenge as it's so different to any of the dancing I've done in musicals. But more than anything I am so looking forward to the costumes. I can guarantee this - there will be sequins."

Producers are hoping to attract high-profile celebrities who were unable to commit to the original series because of the amount of time involved. Stars taking part in the Christmas special will reportedly have to rehearse and film the show within two weeks.

Susan McFadden playing Elle in Legally Blonde on Mondays & Tuesdays

Susan McFadden is the alternate Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, playing the role on Monday and Tuesday nights at the Savoy Theatre when Sheridan Smith is not appearing due to filming commitments.

Susan’s theatre credits include: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (UK Tour); Grease (Piccadilly Theatre); Cinderella (Theatre Royal, Wakefield); Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella (Gaiety Theatre, Dublin); Singin’ in the Rain, Annie (Olympia Theatre & Everyman Palace); Dance of Desire (Ambassador Theatre, US and Dublin Tour) and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Andrews Lane Theatre & Irish National Tour).

Evening Standard Awards Musical Theatre Nominees

This year’s London Evening Standard Theatre Awards nominees have been announced. The list covers some of the most high-profile West End shows with a starry list of performers, directors and playwrights alongside some serious new talent.

The shortlist of nominees will be announced a week before to the awards ceremony, which will be held this year on 28th November at the newly reopened Savoy Hotel.

The nominations which include musical theatre references are as follows:

Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress: Sheridan Smith: Legally Blonde (Savoy)

Ned Sherrin Best Musical Award:  Hair (Gielgud Theatre),  Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre), Les Misérables (Cameron Mackintosh 2010production at Barbican Theatre), Passion (Donmar Warehouse) and Sweet Charity (Menier Chocolate Factory; transferred to Theatre Royal Haymarket)

Best Design: Lez Brotherston: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Vaudeville). Vicki Mortimer: The Cat in the Hat (National’s Cottesloe transferred to Young Vic) and Christopher Oram: Passion (Donmar Warehouse)

Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer: Melanie Chisholm for her performance in Blood Brothers (Phoenix)

David Hasselhoff playing Captain Hook at Wimbledon

I have been waiting for the New Wimbledon Theatre to announce who is starring in their pantomime Peter Pan this year.  But I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be the cult figure David Hasselhoff who starred in the hit TV series Baywatch and Knightrider.

Jerry Springer will alternate with David Hasselhoff  playing Hook on 31st December - 8th January  & 13th - 14th January.

Hasselhoff famously performed a rock gig standing upon a partially demolished Berlin Wall and has been working with Simon Cowell as one of the judges on America’s Got Talent. He was the first celebrity eliminated from eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars on September 21st this year.

He is joined by Louie Spence who is the choreographer, dancer and star of Pineapple Studios playing Roger the cabin boy.

Maybe his former Baywatch colleague Pamela Anderson has urged him to do it as she starred the Genie of the Lamp in Aladdin at the same theatre last Christmas.

Hasselhoff will be screwing on the hook and donning the pirate’s gear from 10th December to 16th January so will be performing at Wimbledon when it celebrates it 100th birthday on Boxing day.

To quote Hasselhoff : “Peter Pan is a show that has always been close to my heart, as my first theatre role was playing Lost Boy Nibs when I was a child. I am so delighted to be asked to join this British tradition.  I know all about pantomime as some of my good friends have already appeared in previous productions. They’ve told me how much fun it is. Get ready London for Hoff The Hook!”

Elaine Paige UK Concert Tour Dates

Elaine Paige is touring the UK in concert in February and March 2011, including a performance the Royal Festival Hall in London on March 4th.

Her new CD Elaine Paige and Friends will be released in the UK on November 1^st (USA in early 2011). 

The album has been produced by Phil Ramone and features duets recorded by with 14 of her favourite musical performers, including Paul Anka, John Barrowman, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, Idina Menzel, Olivia Newton-John, Billy Ocean, Sinead O'Connor, LeAnn Rimes, Jon Secada, Neil Sedaka and Dionne Warwick.

The thirteen tracks include Take A Bow, The Prayer, Just The Way You Are, Closest Thing To Crazy, Where Is The Love, You Are Everything, All The Way and Thank You For Being A Friend.

You can order a copy at www.amazon.co.uk

Her tour dates are:

Location	Venue	Date
Ipswich	Regent Theatre	23rd February 2011
Blackpool	Opera House	25th February
Gateshead	The Sage	26th February
Edinburgh	Playhouse	28th February
Glasgow	Royal Concert Hall	1st March
Eastbourne	Congress Centre	3rd March
London	Royal Festival Hall	4th March
Manchester	Bridgewater Hall	6th March
Birmingham	Symphony Hall	7th March
Cardiff	Millennium Centre	9th March
Torquay	Princess Theatre	11th March

go on sale on October 28^th. 

Ria Jones & Graham Bickley Best of Broadway Concert

Mary Carewe, Ria Jones, Graham Bickley and Michael Dore will be singing hit songs from the shows including The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Chicago, Dirty Dancing. Chess, Hairspray, Wicked, Cabaret and Billy Elliott.

On Saturday 6th November at 7.30pm David Firman will be conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.  They will be performing over two hours of hit songs from Broadway to London's West End!

Book tickets at: www.royalalberthall.com

Simon Bowman in James Bond concert at Royal Albert Hall on Sunday

He is currently appearing as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables at the Queens Theatre in London’s West End, but on Sunday 31st October Simon Bowman will be singing the Music of Bond with Mary Carewe at the Royal Albert Hall at 7:30 pm

Carl Davis will be conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the concert will be presented by Honor Blackman.

The show will feature James Bond classic songs including Goldfinger, Licence to Kill, Dr No, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die and From Russia with Love.

Book tickets at www.royalalberthall.com

New Musical Big Starring Tom Chambers Cancelled

As previously mentioned, the musical Big starring Tom Chambers was due to open at the Liverpool Empire in February 2011 prior to a national tour and West End transfer.

But the show has now been cancelled as theatre availability was unconfirmed, with the producers announcing "Due to circumstances beyond our control the tour of Big - The Musical as advertised in the Liverpool Empire Autumn Guide will no longer be taking place in Spring 2011. However, the producers hope to tour this show at a later date".
 
It seems that  Holby City's Tom Chambers will no longer be able to take on the lead role of Josh due to prior commitments.

The February dates it should have been playing at Liverpool are now empty so the whole production has been cancelled.

Spice Girl Mel C Recording West End Show Tunes Album

Melanie Chisholm  played Mrs Johnston in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End earlier this year and is now set to join the tour for one date when it plays at the Liverpool Empire from 8th-20th November.

She recently performed at the Roundhouse and her vocals have never sounded better. Apparently she is considering releasing an album of West End show tunes saying “I've been recording a lot of tracks and really enjoying it. Performing in Blood Brothers has been a real inspiration and my voice feels the strongest it's been. It's a maybe as to whether I release them but they're good to go."

Hopefully she will bite the bullet and release the tracks on an album!

Phantom of the Opera 10,000th Performance Celebration

At the matinee yesterday (Saturday 23rd October) the Phantom of the Opera celebrated the show's 10,000th performance.

Andrew Lloyd Webber  went up on stage during the curtain call and said a few words thanking the audience for their support over the last 10,000 performances before introducing Michael Crawford who was the original Phantom.

Andrew and Michael were then presented with a cake to celebrate the landmark performance.

Crawford will next appear on the West Stage playing the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium next February.

Daniel Boys Forthcoming Concerts & Panto

Daniel Boys has got a few UK concerts coming up in the near future:

27th October Greenwich Theatre, London
30th October Epsom Playhouse
29th November Leicester Square Theatre, London

He also starts panto rehearsals next month playing Prince Simon in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage.  This runs from 27th November to 23rd January 2011.

Ben James Ellis now in Snow White at Crawley

Ben James Ellis was one of the Joseph finalists in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Any Dream Will do and has since appeared in London’s West End in Hairspray and Dreamboats and Petticoats opposite Tony Christie.

He was due to appear in panto at the Arts Theatre, but sadly the venue had to unexpectedly close. 

Ben is now appearing in Snow White at the Hawth Theatre in Crawley playing the Prince opposite Craig Revel Horwood as the Wicked Queen.

The panto runs from 10th December to 2nd January 2011.

We Will Rock You adds Wednesday Matinees in November

The Queen/Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You currently only performs mid week matinees at the Dominion Theatre on the last Wednesday of every month and during school holidays.

But from 3rd November 2010 there will be matinee performances every Wednesday at 14:30.  You can book tickets at  www.wewillrockyoutickets.com

Jodie Prenger visits Dogs for the Disabled for Children in Need

Jodie Prenger is taking a break from playing the Lady of the Lake in the tour of Spamalot (she rejoins it over Christmas playing at the Alexandra Birmingham from 6th December-1st January), and is currently appearing as John Barrowman’s special guest on his concert tour which ends on 2nd November.

But she managed to take some time out to visit the  charity Dogs for the Disabled National Training Centre in Banbury Oxfordshire. 

She heard about their  work through BBC's Children in Need. They offer children with disabilities the chance to have a dog as a best friend and helper and receive much needed  support from Children in Need to help it continue its vital work.

Jodie’s  first stop was to meet Pudsey who is a four month old yellow Labrador sponsored by Children in Need.

The live show this year will be hosted by Terry Wogan as usual and will be broadcast live on BBC TB on Friday 19th November

Jonathan Ansell not heading for West End just yet

It seems that news leaked this morning by the Daily Mail that Jonathan Ansell would be joining the cast of Jersey Boys is a bit premature, as he has tweeted “There is not much to say about Jersey Boys. I am meeting them but nothing is decided yet. Don't know how they found out?”

Let’s hope if this doesn’t work out something else in the West End comes along soon as would be great to see Jonathon appearing on the London stage.

David Essex and new wife Susan Hallam-Wright appearing in Peter Pan at Darlington

David Essex is playing Captain Hook in pantomime at the Darlington Civic Centre this Christmas alongside his new wife Susan Hallam-Wright who is playing the title role of Peter Pan.  The panto runs from Saturday 4th December- Sunday 16th January 2011.

The couple last appeared together in Essex’s musical All the Fun of the Fair which ran for a limited season in London’s West End earlier this year.

Michael Crawford and Andrew Lloyd Webber attending Phantom's 10,000th performance on Saturday

If you are going to this Saturday's matinee performance of The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End, don’t be surprised if you see Lord Lloyd Webber and the original Phantom Michael Crawford in the audience to mark the show’s 10,000 performance.

Scott Davies is currently playing the ghostly apparition with John Owen-Jones (who most recently played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables’  25th Anniversary Tour) due to take over the role on 1st November.



Michael Crawford is soon to work with Andrew Lloyd Webber again playing the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz which opens at the London Palladium next February,

Ashley Jensen joining Sheridan Smith in Hysteria

Ashley Jensen will join Maggie Gyllenhaal and a fabulous cast including Gemma Jones, Sheridan Smith, Anna Chancellor, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Felicity Jones  and Rupert Everett in the movie Hysteria which as previously reported is a comedy about the origin of the vibrator.

The film starting shooting in the UK next week (which is when Sheridan stops playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre on Monday and Tuesday nights).

Phantom Lyricist Charles Hart involved in Love Never Dies Revamp

I have already mentioned that Bill Kenwright is overseeing the inclusion of some changes to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies when it closes for four days next month at the Adelphi Theatre, but now it seems there is a new lyricist on board as well.

Charles Hart has been brought in to re-jig the words to some of the numbers so that they fit the revamped production.  He is best known  re-writing the lyrics and contributing to the book of  The Phantom of the Opera, as well as  co-writing (with Don Black) the lyrics to Lloyd Webber's 1989 musical Aspects of Love.

Apparently Kenwright is not re-directing the production as first thought but is helping to correct some of the show's problems, including the ending which in my opinion really does not work.

Jonathan Ansell, Lee Mead and Ray Quinn possible Jersey Boys?

According to the Mail’s Baz Bamigboye  Jonathan Ansell  is being considered to play one of the Four Seasons in the musical Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre.

Jonathan is currently touring in Lark Rise to Candleford and prior to that appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Whistle Down the Wind. He is a trained tenor opera singer whose voice would lend itself perfectly to singing Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons huge catalogue of hits.

Ryan Molloy who plays Frankie Valli is staying on through 2011, but Stephen Ashfield who has played Valli’s song-writing partner Bob Gaudio since the show opened two years ago is thinking about leaving in the spring.

It is also rumoured that Lee Mead who is leaving Wicked in January and Ray Quinn who is with Dirty Dancing until the end of May are in discussion about future roles in the show.

All three would too much of a West End leading man overload but it could end up being quite a cast!

Injured David Birrell returns to Passion at Donmar

The injured actor David Birrell who sustained damage to his face and eye when a prop gun misfired during a production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Passion at the Donmar Warehouse is now back playing the role of the Colonel.

Just glad to hear that he’s made a good enough recovery  to get back to work and relieved that they are using sound effects rather than a gun in the duelling scene where he sustained the injury.

The Lion King Celebrates 11th Anniversary at the Lyceum

Disney's musical The Lion King celebrates its eleventh anniversary at the Lyceum Theatre this month with over 8.5 million people going to see the production since it opened in the West End in 1999.

The show is now the ninth longest-running musical in West End history playing over 4,600 performances.

The current London company of 46 performers is led by 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, Narran McLean as Nala, Gary Forbes as Banzai, Allyson Addo as Shenzi and Mark Sangster as Ed.

You can currently book tickets until Sunday 24th July 2011

John Barrowman hosting Glasgow’s Children in Need

Children In Need Rocks Scotland will be held at the Glasgow SECC on Friday 19th November.  It will be hosted by John Barrowman who will have finished his concert tour by then.

The show will feature Pearl & The Puppets, Punjabi No.1 dance group, The Box, Caesar Twins, RSAMD choir, Janey Godley, Mark Nelson, Nina Conti, Des Clarke, Fred McAulay and Craig Hill with more acts to be announced.

You can register your interest for tickets at www.bbc.co.uk

Bill Kenwright to take over as Director for Love Never Dies

I have just blogged that Love Never Dies is to close for four days in November and has extended its booking period to 28th May next year,

But I have just heard that during the closure for re-working prolific producer Bill Kenwright will be the new Director and Bill Deamer the Choreographer instead of Jack O’Brien and  Jerry Mitchell respectively.  Deamer most recently worked with Kenwright on the current international tour of Evita.

Kenwright  has been linked to ALW a lot lately and appeared as one of the judges on his Any Dream Will Do search to find a Joseph.

Love Never Dies 4 days closure in November for revamp

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies is closing for four days from 22nd-25th November so that a number of changes can be made. 

Performances will resume on 26th November.

The show has just extended its booking period by another two months at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End to 28th May 2011.

Love Never Dies is heading for Australia next year premiering in Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in May 2011.

Maureen Nolan taking over from Lyn Paul in Blood Brothers

The Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers has announced a cast change for next month when ex-New Seekers member Lyn Paul leaves the show on 20th November and Maureen Nolan (looking rather more glamorous than the role requires on the left) takes over as Mrs Johnston at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End from 22nd November 2010.

Four of the Nolan sisters have played this role at various times, with Maureen first performing it at the Phoenix Theatre between 2005 and 2006 and then joining the nationwide tour in 2009.

On the tour of Blood Brothers Spice Girl Mel C is due to reprise the same role which she played earlier this year then the production plays at the Liverpool Empire next month from 8th-20th November.

Blood Brothers is currently booking until  26th November 2011

Richard Fleeshman leaves Legally Blonde this Saturday

Time is running out to catch Richard Fleeshman playing Warner Huntington III in the musical Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End as his last performances are this Saturday 23rd October.

There are a number of new cast members joining the show on Monday 25th October including Denise Van Outen (Paulette): Simon Thomas (Warner): Siobhan Dillon (Vivienne): Carley Stenson (Margot).

Sheridan Smith has extended her contract and is currently playing Elle Woods until 8th January 2011,  but she will not be performing on Mondays or Tuesday from 23rd October due to other commitments.

Principals staying on in the show are Alex Gaumond (Emmett), Peter Davison (Professor Callahan), Susan McFadden (Serena) and Aoife Mulholland (Brooke).

Legally Blonde is currently booking to 20th February, 2011.

Rachel Tucker and Lousie Dearman staying on in Wicked!

There are quite a few cast changes in  Wicked! the Musical at the Apollo Victoria next February.

Lee Mead who is currently playing Fiyero does his last performance on Saturday 5th February 2011 with auditions currently taking place for his successor.

The good news is that Rachel Tucker (Elphaba) and Louise Dearman (Glinda) are both staying on. Both have tweeted that they have renewed their contracts until 10th December 2011. But it is likely that they will be doing fewer performances.

Also continuing in their roles are Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible), Clive Carter (The Wizard), Julian Forsyth (Dr Dillamond) and Nikki Davis-Jones (Standby Elphaba).

Lee Mead (Fiyero), Cassandra Compton (Nessarose), George Ure (Boq) and original London cast member Sarah Earnshaw (Standby Glinda) will all depart on 5th February 2011.

Will keep you posted as Rachel and Louise's performance days and more casting information is confirmed.

Ruthie Henshall on Wogan this Sunday

Ruthie Henshall in currently in rehearsal for her Sounds of Hollywood Tour which begins on 26th October.

But she has taken some time out to appear on Weekend Wogan this Sunday, 24th October which is broadcast live from the BBC Radio Theatre in London on BBC Radio 2 at 11:00 am.

Ray Quinn leaving Dirty Dancing to go up the Beanstalk

Ray Quinn is currently playing Billy Kostecki in Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End.

As previously mentioned, he is taking a break from the show to perform in Jack at the Beanstalk at the Derngate Theatre in Northampton from 10th December 2010 to 9th January 2011. 

His last performance in Dirty Dancing before he has to go into panto rehearsal is on Saturday 27th November.  His part is being covered by Will Breckin from the 29th November to 15th January, with Ray taking a few day’s break when Jack ends and returning to Dirty Dancing on Monday 17th January. H then remains with the show until Saturday 28th May.

Sondheim's Road Show headed for Menier Chocolate Factory next year

As reported by TheatreSpy back in June  Stephen Sondheim & John Weidman’s Road Show will be directed by John Doyle (Sweeney Todd and Company on Broadway) and presented at the Menier Chocolate Factory next year

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 when it was directed by the Scot John Doyle.

Sweet Charity's Tiffany Graves playing Killer Queen in WWRY Tour

Tiffany Graves has been cast as Killer Queen in the tour of We Will Rock you which tours the UK next year, starting at the Palace Theatre Manchester on 3rd December and currently booking until 7th January 2012.

She is starring alongside Noel Sullivan as Galileo, Leon Lopez as Britney and Dorothy finalist Jenny Douglas playing Meat.

Rhydian Roberts  is in the arena  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 WWRY when it plays at the Cardiff Millennium Centre and Southampton Mayflower

She is currently playing Helene and the alternate Charity in Sweet Charity at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and recently performed Mein Herr at the Apollo Victoria's 80th birthday celebrations.

Her West End theatre musical credits include: Velma Kelly in Chicago, Cats, Follies, Chess in Concert and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Graves was also a soloist in the Royal Gala opening of the Wales Millennium Theatre and has at the Royal Albert Hall on number occasions as a soloist in The Night of a Thousand Voices.

Oklahoma! Tour heading for Italy

Marti Webb, Mark Evans and the rest of the touring cast of Oklahoma! the musical  have been given a good finishing gig by the producers.  The final date of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic is in Trieste in Italy from 24th - 28th November.

This has been a really successful tour with great reviews so I hope there are plans to re-mount the production again next year. 

Flashdance Crackles

Scanning just a few reviews this morning I must say I agree with the critics about the opening night of Flashdance the Musical at the Shaftebsury.  It’s not a film or musical that I particularly like so was not looking forward to it and had heard some pretty negative rumblings about the previews.

But I was bowled over. To quote the old cliché “a star is born” with Victoria Hamilton-Barritt playing the lead Alex superbly with incredibly high energy, great dancing and a belting voice.

And Alex’s love interest Nick who is played by ex-Busted member Matt Willis gave a pretty good account of himself as well.  This was his West End debut so another couple of weeks into the show I reckon he’ll be really great in the part.

The production was choreographed by Arlene Phillips at her very best with some really mind blowing, muscle stretching routines.  She’s a hard taskmaster and perfectionist and should be feeling very pleased as she has certainly got the best out of her dancers in this show.  She never stops as goes into pre-production next week for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical the Wizard of Oz which she is also choreographing.

Ticket sales have not been great so far but after tonight I predict a surge in bookings.  Well worth seeing.

CAmeron MAckintosh confirms no revival of Boublil/Schonberg musical Martin Guerre

Updated 3rd January 2017 :In an  interview with Graham Norton on BBC Radio 2, Mackintosh revealed he has now given up on this project.

"I don't think we ever found what it was that made the story sing in the way the music required it to," Mackintosh said.The producer did acknowledge that Boublil and Schonberg had "unfinished business" with the show and added: "I firmly believe there is something wonderful in there, but I am not the person that will ever get it out of them."


Fresh from the success of the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables, composer and lyricist Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil are priming their musical Martin Guerre for a West End revival next year.

I saw the original production at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1996 when it starred Iain Glenn, Matt Rawle and Rebecca Lock. It was directed by Declan Donnellan and choreographed by Bob Avian.  I must say I found it completely unmemorable and  thought it was lacking something and was in no rush to see it again.

It played in the West End until 1998: a very re-worked version opened at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds before it embarked on a national tour and was last seen when Craig Revel Horwood revived it at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury in 2007.

Cameron Mackintosh told the Stage that plans to revive the show were in place and revealed that Horwood’s production had provided ideas on how a new version could work. He said “There is a lot of interest in Martin Guerre. It needs a little work on it, again. The last version was a very successful one at the Watermill and that production was so good it gave us a few ideas. It’s interesting; at least half a dozen people are after it. I would love to see it happen and maybe this is the right time,” he said.

Alan Boublil has also said that he is rewriting Marguerite - another of his collaborations with Schonberg - which starred Ruthie Henshall, Julian Ovenden and Alexander Hanson. It opened at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2008 and closed early after only five months.

He admitted he had never felt the show was ready to be staged saying: “I am completely rewriting it at this moment because I never thought it was finished. I think we took it to the stage too early.” I certainly agree with his words as much as I love Henshall and Ovenden this is another show I would not rush back to see!

Cast Announced for Three Musketeers new musical

The Three Musketeers is a new musical with a very strong cast of  Hal Fowler playing Porthos, Matt Rawle as Aramis, and Paul Thornley as Athos with Michael Pickering playing D'Artagnan, Kaisa Hammarlund as Constance and C J Johnson as Milady.

 Also in the cast will be Michael Camp, Iain Fletcher, Ben Heathcote, Kirsty Hoiles, Christopher D Hunt, James Lailey, Matthew McKenna, Mark Meadows, Amanda Minihan, Peter Moreton, Jake Samuels, Chris Thatcher, Marcello Walton and Sally Whitehead.

D'Artagnan arrives in Paris with dreams of joining his childhood idols the musketeers. But time has not been kind to the legendary Athos, Porthos and Aramis and they are no longer the heroes they once were. And D'Artagnan finds that his greatest test may be the battle for the heart of the one he loves.

The Three Musketeers is being directed by Francis Matthews and features an original score by George Stiles (Mary Poppins, Honk), lyrics by Paul Leigh and book by Peter Raby with Francis Matthews. Original concept by William Hobbs.

The Three Musketeers previews from  27th November (opening night Friday 3rd December) and runs until 2nd January 2011.

Sunday 19th  December at 15:00  Signed performance
Thursday 30th December at 13:00 Touch Tour
Thurs 30th December at  14:30 Audio-described performance

Recommended for ages 10+ (parental guidance).

For more information and to book tickets visit: www.rosetheatrekingston.org

Darius playing Prince Charming in a Kilt

Darius Campbell is currently in the middle of The History of Big Bands Tour which ends on 4^th November in Eastbourne.  

He’s then heading north to play the Prince in  the pantomime Snow White at the King's Theatre in Glasgow this year.

According to Darius he made three demands before agreeing to play the Prince: “I wanted seven real dwarves, I wanted to sing Michael Buble songs and finally I told them that this Prince Charming doesn't wear tights - he wears a kilt. They said, 'yes, yes, yes', which was great because it means I am coming home for Christmas.".

It has also been a big year for his family and they  had already decided that they were going to be together this Xmas so the Glasgow panto is ideal.