Adam Cooper joins Three Phantoms

West End performer, choreographer and former principal dancer at the Royal Ballet Adam Cooper will join the Three Phantoms team as choreographer of the 2011 autumn tour starring Matthew Cammelle, Earl Carpenter and John Owen-Jones with special guest Rebecca Caine.

Cooper is currently appearing in Chichester Festival Theatre’s revival of Singin’ in the Rain with stage credits including Swan Lake and Cinderella for Matthew Bourne’s company, Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake for the Royal Ballet , Singin’ in the Rain (Sadler’s Wells & Chichester),Guys and Dolls, Shall We Dance (Sadler’s Wells) and White Christmas.

West Side Story at Royal Albert Hall

From 22nd-24th June 2012 the Royal Albert Hall will be celebrate the 50th anniversary of this iconic piece of film and theatre as a full live symphony orchestra plays Leonard Bernstein's electrifying score.

This will be in tamden with the re-mastered film of West Side Story  being shown in hi-definition on the big screen with the original vocals and dialogue in tact.

Tickets at: www.royalalberthall.com

Michael Crawford playing Wizard of Oz until next year

The original contract that Michael Crawford had for playing the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new version of The Wizard of Oz was due to end on 4th September of this year.  But obviously Crawford is enjoying his return to the West End as he has now extended his run at the London Palladium until 5th February 2012.

Cast announced for Sweeney Todd starring Michael Ball

Chichester Festival Theatre has just released the full cast list for their production of Sweeney Todd which will star Michael Ball in the title role and Imelda Staunton as Mrs Lovett.  It will run at Chichester from 24th September to 5th November with an anticipated West End transfer in the New Year.

The full cast list is: MICHAEL BALL/Sweeney Todd:  LUCY MAY BARKER/Johanna:  JOHN BOWE/Judge Turpin: LUKE BRADY/Anthony: ROBERT BURT/Pirelli: GILLIAN KIRKPATRICK/Beggar Woman: JAMES McCONVILLE/Tobias: PETER POLYCARPOU/Beadle Bamford: IMELDA STAUNTON/Mrs Lovett and SIMEON TRUBY/Jonas Fogg.

They will be joined by: VALDA AVIKS, WILL BARRATT, JOSIE BENSON, EMILY BULL, JOHN COATES, DANIEL GRAHAMROBINE LANDI, BRIAN McCANN, TIM MORGAN, ADAM PEARCE, VINCENT PIRILLO, WENDY SOMERVILLE, ANTON STEPHANS, KERRY WASHINGTON and ANNABEL WILLIAMS.

David Shannon in Abbey Road Concert

A Symphony at The Park concert commemorating the history of the legendary Abbey Road Studios will be held in Chiswick House Gardens on 20th August.

West End star David Shannon will join other guest soloists performing  songs by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Oasis and scores from Harry Potter, Star Wars and the concert premiere of Disney’s Peter Pan sequel “Return to Neverland” -  all originally recorded or produced during Abbey Road Studios 80 year legacy.

Numbers that David will be performing include Moon River, Imagine, Live and Let Die,One Day Like This and He Ain't Heavy.

They will be accompanied by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus.

Tickets and more information at: www.symphonyatthepark.com

Lee Mead Christmas Concert

You can currently see Lee playing Emmett in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre.  He leaves the show on 8th October and embarks on a concert tour in Japan, but he will be back in the UK at the end of the year and is performing Lee Mead’s Merry Christmas at the Barbican Theatre on 22nd December at 7:30 pm.

Lee Mead and his special guest Laura Wright will be performing with his band and you can hear favourite numbers including: Any Dream Will Do: Anthem: If I Can Dream: Close Every Door: When The Stars Go Blue with seasonal classics: The Christmas Song: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: Baby It's Cold Outside:  Blue Christmas and I'll Be Home For Christmas.

Tickets go on general sale on Friday 29th July at: www.barbican.org.uk

Slay It With Music at Greenwich

A Stage Kindly's production of Slay It With Music is transferring from the Space on the Isle of Dogs to the Greenwich Playhouse in South London from 9th August-4th September.

It tells the story of an ageing film-star’s comeback in a gory horror film.  Movie star Enid Beaucoup was forced into retirement by a gory scandal that rocked her career, and now lives on her sister’s moderate success acting in soap operas.

But after her sister is fired Enid has no choice but to head back to the silver screen. Supported by her adoring butler (though not by her nosy neighbours’ creepy kid), Enid finds out that the road back to stardom is not without its pitfalls, but certainly is a barrel of laughs.

Cast includes Andrea Miller, Ellen Verenieks, Helen Kelly, Candice Palladino, Charlotte Stevenson, Gemma Rook, Sofokolis Kostoulas, Andrew Hayler, Mark Lawson, Hayley Sheldon, Sarah Nightingale, Nick Whitfield.

Book & Lyrics by Michael Colby, music by Paul Katz. Directed by Joseph Walsh:  musical director - James Cleeve.

Tickets at: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Cast for Follies on Broadway starring Elaine Paige & Bernadette Peters

The final piece of casting is now complete with Don Correia starring as Theodore Whitman for the Broadway transfer of the Kennedy Center’s critically acclaimed new production of James Goldman Stephen Sondheim’s musical Follies.

He joins the previously announced Bernadette Peters as Sally Durant Plummer, Jan Maxwell as Phyllis Rogers Stone, Danny Burstein as Buddy Plummer, Ron Raines as Benjamin Stone and Elaine Paige as Carlotta Campion who are reprising their roles for the Broadway transfer.

The production also stars Christian Delcroix as Young Buddy, Rosalind Elias as Heidi Schiller, Colleen Fitzpatrick as Dee Dee West, Lora Lee Gayer as Young Sally, Michael Hayes as Roscoe, Florence Lacey as Sandra Crane, David Sabin as Dimitri Weismann, Kirsten Scott as Young Phyllis, Frederick Strother as Max Deems, Nick Verina as Young Ben, Susan Watson as Emily Whitman and Terri White as Stella Deems - all of whom are reprising their roles for Broadway.

New to the production are Tony Award nominee Jayne Houdyshell as Hattie Walker and Mary Beth Peil as Solange LaFitte.

Rounding off  the ensemble is Lawrence Alexander, Brandon Bieber, John Carroll, Mathew deGuzman, Sara Edwards, Leslie Donna Flesner, Jenifer Foote, Leah Horowitz, Suzanne Hylenski, Danielle Jordan, Joseph Kolinski, Amanda Kloots-Larsen, Brittany Marcin, Erin N. Moore, Pamela Otterson, Clifton Samuels, Kiira Schmidt, Brian Shepard, Jessica Sheridan Amos Wolff, Ashley Yeater.

The $7.3 million production recently played a six-week run in the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater from 7th May to 19th June.

The Broadway transfer of Follies will open at the Marquis Theatre on 12th September following previews from 8th August for an open run that will initially book through to 30th December 2011.

Denise Van Outen, Sarah Harding & Neil Morrissey in Ray Cooney film

West End star and television presenter Denise Van Outen is set to make her movie debut in Ray Cooney’s classic farce Run For Your Wife.  She is currently shooting the film co-starring with Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud in a big-screen adaptation of the West End play playing Michelle and Stephanie - two women married to the same man.

Bad boy actor Danny Dyer will star as the bigamist, cab driver John Smith and Men Behaving Badly's Neil Morrissey plays John's pal Gary in the movie. Morrissey is due to star as Fagin in the new tour of Oliver! at the end of this year.

Ray Cooney wrote the play in 1983 and is directing the movie with cameos from various pals including Sir Cliff Richard, comedian Barry Cryer and Rolf Harris.

Stand Tall new Rock Musical

Stand Tall is a new rock/pop musical which is loosely based on the story of David & Goliath from the Bible, without the sling but with an electric guitar.   It has 17 songs ranging from rock to hip-hop and blues and is running at the Landor Theatre from Wednesday October 12th - Saturday 12th November.

David is a shepherd by day and rock star by night.  His life becomes complicated when he is proclaimed to be The Chosen One by the mystical Black Sheep and is given the honour of becoming King … but he’s not sure as it could get in the way of his music!

Goliath is a bully with a gang of hoods causing mayhem and chaos across town.  He’s very angry that David is to become his King and sets out to harm him.

An early version of Stand Tall - A Rock Musical was written specifically for schools to help tackle the issue of bullying.

The cast includes Jack Shalloo, Ryan O'Donnell, Keisha Amponsa Banson, Natasha J Barnes and  Martin Pirong.

The production is directed by Simon Greiff whoe previous credits include the premiere of “The Pork Crunch” (Pleasance), “Spring Awakening” (Wilde Theatre), the British premiere of “Striking 12” (Waterloo East), “Home: The Scott Alan Song Cycle” workshop (Her Majesty’s) which he also co-created. He was the resident director on the No1 tour of “We Will Rock You” and is currently creating “Stories From The Lighthouse” with the award-winning British musical writer Laurence Mark Wythe, whose musical “Tomorrow Morning” was produced at the Landor earlier this year.

Nearest Rail/Tube to the Landor: Clapham North (Northern Line) Clapham High Street (BR)

Tickets at: www.landortheatre.co.uk

Lend Me A Tenor closing on 6th August

The cast of Lend Me A Tenor: The Musical were given their two weeks' notice last night with the show due to close on August 6th.

The musical which stars Matthew Kelly, Damien Humbley, Joanna Riding  and Cassidy Janson was due to run until early November, with the comedy The Ladykillers starring Peter Capaldi due to take over at the Gielgud on November 26th.

Cast Announced for The Hired Man at Landor

Howard Goodall & Melvyn Bragg’s musical The Hired Man is playing at the Landor Theatre Tuesday 2nd August - Saturday 27th August 2011.

The Hired Man is an emotional love triangle taking place in the run up to the first world war. It’s the moving story of a young married couple and their struggles to earn  a living off the land and to survive working in the coal-mines.

The score by Howard Goodall is inspired by the music of Kurt Weill, with English choral & folk music and a band of five musicians.

John Tallentire will be played by Joe Maxwell and Emily Tallentire will be played by Catherine Mort. Joining them are Martin Neely, Sean-Paul Jenkinson, Mark Fredrick, Abigail Matthews, Ben McMath, Ian Daniels, Garry Mannion, Matthew Gent, Kimberly Powell, Jamie Birkitt, James Parks, Matthew McLoughlin, Ruri James, Emily Barlow and Alistair Baron.

The Hired Man will be directed by Andrew Keates (Bent, Just So, Conjugal Rites), with additional orchestrations and musicals supervision by Niall Bailey and choreography by Cressida Carre, design by Freya Groves and lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Sarah Weltman and fight direction by Andrew Ashenden.

Nearest Rail/Tube to Landor: Clapham North (Northern Line) Clapham High Street (BR)

Tickets at: www.landortheatre.co.uk

All Star West End Charity Concert in aid of the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital

Will be held at the Actors Church (St Paul's), Covent Garden on Sunday July 31 at 7:00 pm.

The cast for the concert will include Alexia Khadime (Les Misérables), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Flashdance), Liam Tamne (Les Miserables), Hannah Levane (Flashdance), Craig Mather (Les Miserables), George Ure (Wicked!), Twinnie Lee Moore (Flashdance) and Cassie Compton (Wicked!) 

The programme will consist of a mixture of well known musical theatre songs and new writing (including some songs from the hit Tim Prottey-Jones album, "More With Every Line").

Tickets at  http://www.etickets.to

Michael Ball’s Sunday Brunch with Amanda Holden & Nigel Harman

Returns to BBC Radio 2 this Sunday 24th July from 11:00-13:00.

This week his guests are Nigel Harman and Amanda Holden who are currently appearing in  Shrek the musical  at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Update Sunday 24th July at 10:40: AMANDA HOLDEN ILL SO JUST NIGEL HARMAN ON SHOW

We Will Rock You cast changes

There is a cast change about to take place for the Queen/Ben Elton Musical We Will Rock You.

Mazz Murray, the show's longest serving Killer Queen, is to return to the show for a special two week season from August 8th-20th, after which time Brenda Edwards returns to the role.

Other changes with effect from 8th August include Alex Gaumond (Galileo), Lauren Samuels (Scaramouche) and Wayne Robinson (Britney)

Principals who are staying on include Brenda Edwards (Killer Queen), Kevin Kennedy (Pop) and Rachel John (Meat).

The actor playing the role of Khashoggi is still to be confirmed.

Extra date added to Ramin Karimloo Concert Tour

Ramin Karimloo’s “A Night with the Phantom” concert has added another date and will be at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre on 4th November.

Latest news on film of Les Miserables

Hugh Jackman is playing Jean Valjean in the movie version of the musical Les Miserables which starts shooting next February.  He has just revealed that his audition with director Tom Hooper lasted for three hours and he has been cast early because he was up for another movie and didn’t want to wait and get until November to find he had no movie at all.

Jackman said that the stage version which has no spoken dialogue is not going to work on film, so there is now dialogue and songs.  He added that “Tom’s take on the film is very exciting.”

Hooper is still in the early stages of casting and is working with Working Title and Cameron Mackintosh on other roles. He has met with Paul Bettany (pictured) about playing Inspector Javert, although rumour has it that Russell Crowe is also keen and was in watching the show at the Queen’s Theatre recently.

Amy Robbins joining Blood Brothers

Ex Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton is currently starring as Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers in London’s West End until the end of this month.  From 1st August until the end of January 2012 the role will be taken by Amy Robbins who is best known for playing Dr Jill Weatherill in the television series The Royal.

She has played Police Sergeant Rachel James in Casualty and film roles include Maureen in Strange Relations alongside Julie Walters and Paul Reiser and Sylvie in Killing Me Softly.

Hugh Jackman London Concerts

As already reported, the divine Hugh Jackman is playing Jean Valjean in the movie version of Les Miserables which is being directed by Oscar Winning the King’s Speech Tom Hooper. 

Shooting will begin next February and Jackman is planning to do a series of Sunday night concerts in London during breaks from filming in the Spring.

He has just finished his fabulous In Concert show in Toronto when he was accompanied by two Broadway performers and a 17-piece orchestra.  I have seen Jackman perform several times and he is a real showman giving a great performance singing classic numbers from Oklahoma! (which he starred in as Curly at the National), Carousel, Over the Rainbow, Dreamgirls and the Peter Allen catalogue (he starred in the Boy from Oz on Broadway).

Hugh also hopes to perform his concert show on Broadway in October next year.

News to follow on the London events.

Michael Praed returns to Sound of Music

Michael Praed is returning to the tour of the Sound of Music to play Captain Von Trapp for just one date when it visits the Norwich Theatre Royal from 9th-20th August. He will star alongside former Emmerdale star Verity Rushworth.

Michael Praed has already toured with this production and left earlier this year when Jason Donovan took over the role.  He has appeared in a range of West End productions including Aspects of Love and The Pirates of Penzance.

New Mark Bolan Musical

20th Century Boy is a new musical which celebrates the life of Marc Bolan and his band T Rex.  It runs at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich from 8th September-1st October with a tour and West End transfer anticipated.

Marc Bolan has been described as a rocker, poet, electric warrior, king of glam and godfather of punk. Before his tragic death in 1977 - just a few weeks before his 30th birthday - Bolan had a string of number one hits and an army of obsessive fans. This new musical looks behind the glitter and sequins to discover what drove his ambition and life at break neck speed.  It features 27 songs from Bolan's back catalogue which includes Bang a Gong (Get It On), Children of the Revolution, Hot Love, Ride a White Swan, Metal Guru and 20th Century Boy.

George Maguire leads an 11-strong cast as Bolan. He was one of the original Billys in Billy Elliot, and recently appeared in the musical Thrill Me about murderers Leopold and Loeb. Also in the cast are Jenna Lee James, Donna Hines (Gloria), Craig Storrod (Rolan Bolan), Greg Barnett (Tony Visconti), Katie Bernstein (Helen Shapiro), Peter Manchester (Simon Napier-Bell) and Matthew Ashcroft (Steve Took).

Michael Xavier in Pop Opera in the Park

West End leading man Michael Xavier has recently appeared at the Regent’s Park Theatre in Sondheim’s Into the Woods and starred as Oliver in Love Story in London’s West End.  He was nominated for two Olivier Awards: Best Actor in a Musical and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical.

You can see him this Saturday, 23rd July performing at Pop Opera in the Park at Weston Park on the Shropshire / Staffordshire border. The event will feature pop favourites by Take That, Snow Patrol and many others performed in an operatic style as well as well known arias including Nessun Dorma and Nella Fantasia.

He will be joined by Simon Greenhill, Il Voce Celesti and Oliver Brenin (The Full Monty, Hello Dolly, South Pacific, Imagine This and Follies).

The event will be an intimate one and is ideal for bringing a rug, picnic and a bottle of bubbly to enjoy the park before the concert begins at 7.45 pm. Gates open at 5:00 pm

Ticket prices are £22.00 for adults and £14.50 for children (under 12).  For further information and to book tickets visit: www.weston-park.com/popopera or call 01952 852100,

Colm Wilkinson joining Ramin Karimloo at Phantom Anniversary Concerts

Distinguished West End star Colm Wilkinson has just given an interview in a Canadian magazine saying that he will be joining Ramin Karimloo at the Phantom’s 25th Anniversary Concerts alongside several other performers who've taken on the role over the years.

The last time he appeared on stage with Karimloo was at the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the 02 Arena last October.

Billy Stritch sings the Mel Tormé Songbook

Award-winning composer, arranger, vocalist and jazz pianist Billy Stritch is appearing at the Pheasantry in London’s Kings Road from August 16 -21st with “Stritch sings the Mel Tormé Songbook".

The show will feature some of Tormé's greatest arrangements including "Mountain Greenery”, "Lulu's Back In Town”, “Blue Moon” and "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square".

Billy Stritch was associate producer, pianist and arranger for Liza Minnelli’s Gently CD which earned two Grammy nominations. He was co-arranger with Marvin Hamlisch for Minnelli On Minnelli at the Palace Theater in New York City and his arrangements have also been performed in the annual Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. memorably in the

It is over 15 years since Billy last played as a solo act in London, though he has performed here many times as Liza Minnelli's pianist. He is now one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York and national jazz and cabaret scene. He has appeared in cabaret venues across the USA, as well as concert performances at the London Palladium, NHK Hall in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro’s Municipale Auditorium. In New York, he has performed at The Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and has arranged for many top performers.

Billy has four solo CDs to his credit including his most recent “Billy Stritch sings Mel Tormé.” Stritch also accompanies Liza on her latest album “Confessions"

Book tickets here for Billy Stritch at the Pheasantry

Sierra Boggess' run in Master Class extended

Sierra Boggess is due to return to London in October to star in the Phantom of the Opera’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall, but she is currently appearing in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally's Master Class with Tyne Daly.

The show was originally scheduled to play a limited engagement ending on 14th August, but it has just announced its second extension and will now play through to 4th September.

Terrence McNally’s award-winning play about Maria Callas is about one of her famous Master Classes where she challenges the next generation to make the same sacrifices and dare to rise to the same heights she did.

Directed by Stephen Wadsworth, Master Class stars Tony and Emmy Award winner Tyne Daly as 'Maria Callas' and Olivier Award nominee Sierra Boggess (Sharon). The cast also features Clinton Brandhagen (Stagehand), Jeremy Cohen (Manny), Alexandra Silber (Sophie) and Garrett Sorenson (Tony).

Grease and WWRY's Rhydian Roberts on ITV's This Morning

Welsh X Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts is currently appearing as Khashoggi on the tour of Queen's We Will Rock You.  He is also due to play Teen Angel on the tour of Grease in October and November when it visits Blackpool, Sunderland, Norwich and Liverpool Empire.

He also has a new album entitled Waves which is due for release on 1st August, and you can hear him singing a track from it on ITV's This Morning later today.

Chichester’s Singin’ in the Rain West End bound

The Chichester Festival Theatre production of Singin’ In The Rain  is in talks about transferring to the West End in the New Year.
 
When the production ends at Chichester in the autumn Adam Cooper will be touring with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas until early January, after which it is anticipated expected that Singin’ In The Rain will move into the West End.

There’s talk of it going to the Palace Theatre after Priscilla closes on 7th January, but there seem to be several musicals who are vying for this venue.

Julian Ovenden in Finding Neverland musical?

Finding Neverland was a 2004 film about J M Barrie who wrote Peter Pan. It starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. 

The Weinstein Company in New York are now producing a musical stage version with a four-week workshop taking place in the autumn with Julian Ovenden and Kelli O’Hara  playing J M Barrie and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.

If they are happy with the workshop the Weinsteins plan to take it to Broadway with Ovenden and O’Hara.

Neil Diamond's Brother Love heading for Gielgud?

Brian Conley has got a very busy time ahead if the Mail's Baz Bamigboye’s is correct that he and Darren Day are in negotiations to bring the Neil Diamond musical Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show into the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End some time this autumn.

Conley is playing Buttons in Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome over Christmas and then going on to share the role of  Fagin in the new tour of Oliver! which opens on 13th December at the Cardiff Millennium Centre with Men Behaving Badly’s Neil Morrissey in the role. Conley takes over next year at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre on 1st May 2012 and plays the part until 13th November when Morrissey returns. Presumably Conley will then be off to start rehearsals for his next panto!

Brother Love toured earlier this year with Conley playing preacher Brother Love who decides the world needs to experience the “Power of Neil” via his music. This production was directed by Craig Revel Horwood and starred Darren Day and Ben James-Ellis.  It played at open air grounds inside a heated and adapted big-top.

Sheridan Smith to star in film Tower Block

Ex-Legally Blonde star and West End diva Sheridan Smith is one busy lady these days.  She has just finished appearing in Flare Path at the Haymarket Theatre and is now due to star in a gritty new film called Tower Block.

James Moran (Severance and Torchwood) has written the script for the film which is about the repercussions facing residents of Tower Block 31 after they witness the murder of a young teenager. Shooting starts July 18th on location around East London.

Sheridan will be joined in the cast by Skins and Eden Lake actor Jack O’Connell, Russell Tovey (History Boys) and Ralph Brown (Mean Machine).

Rebecca the Musical Announces Broadway opening

The producers have just announced that the musical Rebecca which is based on the classic novel by Daphne Du Maurier novel will open on Broadway next year on April 22nd at a Shubert theatre to be announced. Previews will begin on Tuesday, March 27 2012.

Sierra Boggess (currently starring in Master Class on Broadway and soon to appear in the Phantom 25th Anniversary Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall) is in negotiations to play the role of Maxim de Winter’s new wife "I."

Rebecca has original book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, music by Sylvester Levay, English book adaptation by Christopher Hampton (Sunset Boulevard), English lyrics by Hampton and Kunze and direction by Michael Blakemore (Kiss Me, Kate; City of Angeles; Noises Off) and Francesca Zambello (Little Mermaid). Multiple Tony-nominated director/choreographer Graciela Daniele is in talks to do the musical staging for the show.

Gareth Gates is Jersey's Mr Battle

West End star, Dancing on Ice and Pop Idol winner Gareth Gates has just finished playing Marius in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre.

He is due to take part in the annual Jersey Battle of Flowers where islanders build floats and decorate them with flowers for parades along Victoria Avenue on August 11th and 12th.

The Jersey Battle of Flowers started life as a celebration of the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 but was so popular it returned the following year. It was the practice of tearing and throwing flowers that gave the event the Battle of Flowers name. Now 109 years after that first Battle thousands still flock to Jersey to watch the island's biggest annual event.

Previous Mr Battles include former Coronation Street actor Danny Young in 2010, chef  Marco Pierre White in 2009, actor Christopher Biggins in 2008 and rugby player Kyran Bracken in 2007.

An Audience with Kerry Ellis

Kerry Ellis will be performing An audience With … at The Shaw Theatre in London’s  Euston Road on Friday 30th September and Saturday 1st October at  8:00 pm.

Kerry  will be singing a few of her most loved songs accompanied by Craig Adams.  She will also discuss her life and career with journalist and theatre critic Mark Shenton, followed by questions from the audience.

Tickets cost £25 and go on sale on Monday 18th July from Ticketmaster or by telephone now : UK customers 0844 844 0444 or outside UK 00 44 161 385 3211

The Shaw Theatre is located at 100-110 Euston Road with the nearest main line stations  St Pancras International, King's Cross and Euston and underground access via King's Cross/St Pancras, Euston and Euston Square.

Lucy May Barker playing Johanna in Sweeney Todd at Chichester

The cast for Sweeney Todd at Chichester just gets better and better with Michael Ball playing the title role, Imelda Staunton at Mrs Lovett, Peter Polycarpou as the Beadle and now Lucy May Barker is playing Johanna.

She has a fabulous singing voice which will perfectly complement this role having most recently played Ilse in the original London cast of the four-time Olivier Award winning Spring Awakening

Sweeney Todd runs at Chichester from  24th September - 5th November prior to a much anticipated West End transfer.

Claire Sweeney taking over from Liz McLarnon in Legally Blonde tour

The tour of Legally Blonde the musical is currently playing at the Liverpool Empire Theatre with Ex-Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon playing divorced manicurist Paulette until 17th September. The part will then be taken over by Claire Sweeney from 19th September to 3rd December.

Claire has been on an extensive UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s one woman show Tell Me On A Sunday which ends on 13th August.

She has a string of credits to her name on stage and screen including TV dramas Brookside (Lindsay Corkhill), Clocking Off and Merseybeat. She has presented numerous television programmes including 60 Minute Makeover, Loose Women, My Big Fat Diet, Here Comes the Sun and Challenge of a Lifetime. She has also taken part in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Come Dine with Me.

Roles in the West End roles include Roxie Hart in Chicago and Miss Adelaide opposite Patrick Swayze in Guys and Dolls. Claire headlined in Fosse - The World Tour and starred in the musical Shout! She has also performed duets with International Opera stars Bryn Terfel and Jose Carreras at The Royal Albert Hall.

Christie Brinkley joins Chicago on Wednesday

Supermodel Christie Brinkley was due to open in Chicago the musical playing Roxie Hart tomorrow (Monday 11th July), but  had to postpone her start date indefinitely last week due to her mother being admitted to hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Luckily all is now well and she flew in to the UK last night and is opening at the Cambridge Theatre on this Wednesday 13th July for six weeks until 27th August when the production closes. 

She joins  Jonathan Wilkes as Billy Flynn, James Doherty as  Amos Hart and Amra-Faye Wright (who has also come from the Broadway production)  as Velma.

Jonathan Ansell appearing at Medway Castle Proms

Next  Saturday 16th July Jonathan Ansell will be appearing at Rochester Castle in Kent at the grand finale of this year’s Medway Castle Concerts.

The Royal Philharmonic Proms Orchestra will perform a selection of classical favourites, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display. Highlights of this year's programme will include Tchaikovsky's thundering 1812 Overture, the ever-popular Nessun Dorma, and excerpts from Bizet's passionate opera Carmen. 

The orchestra will also be joined on stage by guest soloists soprano Jo Appleby (who has toured worldwide with opera band Amici Forever) and tenor Jonathan Ansell who shot to fame with pop opera group G4.  He has just completed a very successful concert tour and continues to sell out theatres all over the UK including the Elgar Room at London's Royal Albert Hall.

The evening will end with a stunning finale of all the traditional Last Night of the Proms flag-waving favourites for the audience to join in with, including the Sailor’s Hornpipe, Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory.

Book tickets for the Castle Proms online   or call in person at The Central Theatre or The Brook Theatre box offices in Chatham, Medway Visitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester, or  phone the Box Office on 01634 338338.

Musical Shrektacular

Next Friday, 15th July Friday Night is Music Night on Radio 2 welcomes the cast from the musical Shrek! with its stars Nigel Lindsay, Richard Blackwood, Nigel Harman and Amanda Holden.

The show is on from 20:00-22:00 and celebrates the finest music from animated films old and new with numbers from Shrek, Madagascar, Prince of Egypt and Chicken Run plus many more.

Shrek, Donkey, Lord Farquaad and Princess Fiona  share the hosting duties from London's Hackney Empire and are joined by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe.

Rogers & Hart Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered at Jermyn Street

Jermyn Street Theatre is presenting Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered which is a celebration of the music and lyrics of Rodgers and Hart.  It is running from 26th July-13th August.

This nostalgic musical journey takes you back to the stylish days of the 1930's with songs including My Funny Valentine, Blue Moon, Isn't it Romantic, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World and Manhattan – plus  some lesser known gems.

The cast includes Stephen Ashfield (Taboo, Fame, Tomorrow Morning, Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys)  with Laura Armstrong (A Little Night Music, Lend Me A Tenor), Valerie Cutko (My Fair Lady, Phantom, Camelot), Katie Kerr (Little Shop of Horrors) and Tim McArthur (Blink!, When Harry Met Barry).

The production is directed by Tim McArthur, designs and costumes by Russell Fisher. The Musical Director is David Harvey

Tickets at: 020 7287 2875 or www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk

Simon Bailey & Mark Inscoe in Parade at Southwark

The revival of Parade acclaimed Broadway musical by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Alfred Uhry and composer Jason Robert Brown will play a  six week season in the new double-chambered vault theatre space at the Southwark Playhouse from Wednesday August 10th - Saturday September 17th (press night 16th August).

Alastair Brookshaw (Hot Mikado, Shoes, Cabaret, Blood Brothers) plays the central role of Jewish factory manager Leo Frank who was accused and convicted of raping and murdering a 13-year-old employee in 1913.

Laura Pitt-Pulford (Guys & Dolls, Copacabana, Sunset Boulevard) plays his wife and she is joined by Simon Bailey (Phantom of the Opera, Passion, Les Miserables, We Will Rock You) and  Mark Inscoe (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, La Cage Aux Folles, The Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas).

The rest of the cast features Kelly Agbowu, Jessica Bastick-Vines, Michael Cotton, Terry Doe, Natalie Green, David Haydn, Abiona Omonua, Philip Rham, Samantha Seager, Victoria Serra and Samuel J Weir.

Parade is about  a true incident which caused  anti-semitic tensions in Atlanta and led to the revival of the defunct KKK and the birth of the Jewish Civil Rights organisation. Parade covers the trial, examining class and race relations, prejudice, and the Deep South as well as telling the love story between Leo and his wife.

Parade is Directed by Thom Southerland: Musical Stager Tim Jackson: Musical Director Michael Bradley: Designer John Risebero: Lighting Designer Howard Hudson and Sound Designer Theo Holloway

Southwark Playhouse is on the Corner of Tooley Street and Bermondsey Street.  Nearest Rail/Tube: London Bridge Northern line/Jubilee line

Box Office: 020 7407 0234 tickets at www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Denise Van Outen Born to Shine

Denise Van Outen is to head a judging panel including Dancing On Ice's Jason Gardiner for a new ITV1 celebrity talent series called Born To Shine.

Natasha Kaplinsky will host the series which starts on Sunday July 17th at 8:00pm on ITV1 and runs for six weeks concluding with a fundraising event for Save The Children.

Born To Shine will see talented youngsters teaching celebrities skills ranging from tap dancing to beat boxing which they must then perform in front of the judges (who will be joined by a different guest judge each week.). The stars include Jodie Prenger (being taught to rap) Jason Manford, Joe Swash, Ruth Langsford and Nick Moran.

Tour of Eva Cassidy Over the Rainbow

Hollyoaks star Sarah Jane Buckley will be playing the lead role of Eva Cassidy in a tour of a musical about her life.

Eva Cassidy Over The Rainbow starts on 3rd September at St Helens Theatre Royal and currently ends at Dunfermline on 5th November. 

Other cast members include Maureen Nolan (Barbara Cassidy), Strictly Come Dancing's Brian Fortuna (Danny Cassidy), Alexis Strum (Karen/Margaret and alternate Eva), Jonathan Parker (Chris Biondo), Robert Grose (Chuck Brown) and Michael Cookson (Hugh Cassidy).

The show is a moving tribute to one of music's lost greats following the life of the legendary Eva Cassidy through dramatic scenes and stunning live renditions of her most beautiful music.

Elaine Paige back in Follies on Broadway

The Kennedy Center's critically-acclaimed production of James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's Follies is transferring to Broadway this summer playing a limited engagement at the Marquis Theatre with performances beginning on August 7^th and an opening night of September 12^th.

It has just been announced that Elaine Paige will reprise her role as Carlotta Campion and be joined by more cast members from the Kennedy Center production including Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein and Ron Raines. Other members of the Broadway company will be announced shortly.

Elaine Paige won an Olivier Award for creating the title role in Evita  in London’s West End where she also created the role of Grizabella in Cats and starred in Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Chess, Anything Goes, Sunset Boulevard , The King and I and The Drowsy Chaperone. She has also recently completed a concert tour and released a new CD entitled “Elaine Paige and Friends”.

EastEnders & Dancing on Ice’s Sam Attwater joining Dreamboats & Petticoats

Ex-EastEnders actor and this year’s Dancing on Ice Winner Sam Attwater is joining the cast of Dreamboats & Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End playing the lovable rogue Norman from 18th July.

Attwater has appeared in musicals including Tonight's the Night, 12 Tenors, 20th Century Boy, and Our Benny. He also appeared as a dancer in Bollywood film Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

His debut EP, Breaking Boundaries, was released on 24th January 2011.

Lily Allen still writing songs for Bridget Jones Diary the Musical

Her pop career may be on hold indefinitely while she concentrates on starting a family with new husband Sam Cooper, but Lily Allen is still writing material for the new Bridget Jones' Diary musical which she says she has almost finished. She told Elle she still enjoys writing but the thought of touring is a nightmare and she will not make a new album.

If all goes to plan the new musical is scheduled to open next year.  Sheridan Smith and Michael Xavier are currently  involved in a workshop playing the Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant parts.

Originally announced in late 2009 the musical was rumoured to open in early 2011 but both Allen and Smith have confirmed it will "hopefully" be early 2012. Author of the hit book, Helen Fielding, signed contracts in 2010 giving the production to go-ahead.

Stephen Daldry will direct with Peter Darling as choreographer. The pair previously worked together on West End and Broadway productions of Billy Elliot.

Alex Gaumond joining We Will Rock You

Ricardo Afonso is currently playing Galileo in the Queen and Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre.  He is due to leave at the end of July and Alex Gaumond (recently Emmett from Legally Blonde) will take over the role on 8th August

Ricardo is joining the new tour of Top Hat the Musical starring Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen which kicks off Milton Keynes Theatre on 16th August.

West End and Broadway stars performing at Dress Circle Benefit Gala

The benefit Gala to try and save the Dress Circle Shop in London’s Monmouth Street from closure is being held on Sunday 7th August at 7:30 pm at Her Majesty's Theatre in London’s West End.

It will be an evening of celebration crammed with musical theatre performers from across the world backed by a 33 piece orchestra conducted by Simon Lee. 

The evening will be hosted by Aled Jones and features performances from John Addison, Helen Anker, Jonathan Ansell, Rosemary Ashe, Julie Atherton, Samantha Barks, Tracie Bennett, Mark Bonnar, Norman Bowman, Daniel Boys, Rebecca Caine, Anita-Louise Combe, Kim Criswell, Portia Emare (The Idolls), Shaun Escoffery, Josefina Gabrielle, Tiffany Graves, Ashleigh Gray, Ellen Greene, Jodie Jacobs, Ramin Karimloo, Alexia Khadime, Joanna Kirkland, Debbie Kurup, Sarah Lark, Emma Lindars (The Idolls), Simon Lipkin, Gary Milner, Claire Moore, Robyn North, Landi Oshinowo, Steven Page, Malinda Parris, Dianne Pilkington, Peter Polycarpou, Stuart Matthew Price, Lara Pulver, Zoe Rainey, Charlotte Riby (The Idolls), Jon Robyns, Frances Ruffelle, Caroline Sheen, Emily Tierney, George Ure, Hannah Waddingham, Stephen Webb, Jayne Wisener. (All artists are subject to availability).

The gala will feature performances from some of the best loved musicals of all time, including
Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, Parade, Avenue Q, Rent, Witches of Eastwick, Dreamgirls and Wicked!. Backed by a 28-piece orchestra, the gala presents the opportunity to hear this music on a scale very rarely heard. 

Tickets from www.seetickets.com

Beyoncé confirms A Star is Born

Beyoncé has now confirmed that she will star in Clint Eastwood's upcoming remake of A Star Is Born which is due to begin filming this autumn with a release date set for 2012.

She will play aspiring singer Vicki Lester which was the part made famous by Janet Gaynor (1937), Judy Garland (1954) and Barbra Streisand (1976).

The most famous version was made in 1954 and turned Vicki into a singer, added songs, and cast Judy Garland and James Mason as the lovers. Leonardo DiCaprio has been approached to play the male lead Norman Maine.

A Star Is Born tells the story of an aspiring young actress meeting and marrying an established Hollywood movie star, whose career collapses and he sinks into alcoholism as her career takes off.

The last 1976 remake starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson was produced by Streisand’s then husband Jon Peters.  He is also producing the new movie which Eastwood is directing and which will once again be set in the music biz and not in Hollywood.

If DiCaprio comes through he can certainly add the emotional depth to make as much of Norman Maine as James Mason once did.

Elaine Paige Chichester Cathedral Concert

Elaine Paige has just returned from the USA where she has been appearing to great critical acclaim  in Stephen Sondheim's Follies.

She will next be performing a selection of her favourite jazz classics and contemporary numbers in a one off concert entitled An Evening with Elaine Paige next Saturday (July 9th) at 8:00 pm at Chichester Cathedral.

Tickets at www.chifest.org.uk