Phantom Tour First Two Previews Cancelled

John Owen-Jones is playing the Phantom in the opening leg of the Phantom of the Opera Tour which was due to start previews at the Theatre Royal Plymouth last night.

During the tech run earlier this week he tweeted “This is the most technically difficult show I've ever worked on. It's HUGE”. Also his Phantom make up takes two hours to apply as opposed to London's 45 minute application

Having played The Phantom in London's West End he obviously knows his stuff as the Open Dress Rehearsal was cancelled for Saturday 25th Febuary saying the show will be going ahead as planned from Monday 27th February.

Another statement has just been issued: "Cameron Mackintosh regrets to announce the cancellation of the first preview performance of his new production of The Phantom of the Opera, originally scheduled for Monday 27th February. The size and complexity of the production which is being put together for the first time has necessitated more technical rehearsal time to fully integrate the company and set safely. Several large scenic elements can only be incorporated into the show for the first time on Monday morning.  The first preview will now take place one day later on Tuesday 28th February at 7.30 pm. Ticket holders for Monday 27th will receive a full refund from their point of purchase and will also be offered the opportunity to attend a dress rehearsal as our guests on Tuesday 28th February at 2.00pm. Those wishing to attend this performance must collect a ticket from the box office in advance. We regret the disappointment and inconvenience this will inevitably cause but trust that the public will understand that in such a new, complex and spectacular production, safety is of paramount importance". 

Let’s hope they will be able to sort out the technical difficulties soon as I have heard fabulous things about this restaged Phantom.

The Story of Musicals Series on BBC2 tomorrow

There's another chance to see the excellent The Story of Musicals three part series which was first aired a few months ago. 

The first episode will be broadcast tomorrow (Saturday 24th February) on BBC2 at 8:20 pm and covers how Britain has influenced musical theatre across the world, focusing on the years following the Second World War, when the West End was reclaimed from American domination. The programme also explores the successful partnership between lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

It features contributions from Cameron Mackintosh, Elaine Paige, Ron Moody, Bill Kenwright, Sheila Hancock, Harold Prince, Robert Stigwood, Tommy Steele, Paul Nicholas and Willy Russell.

Rock of Ages cast performing on Dancing on Ice this Sunday

Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley are presenting a special rock music-themed edition of Dancing on Ice this Sunday at 6:50 pm when the cast from Rock of Ages will be performing Don't Stop Believin'

Elaine Paige Los Angeles Bound with Follies

She has been appearing in Follies on Broadway and Elaine Paige has only briefly returned to the UK before heading back across the pond to reprise her role when the show opens in Los Angeles.

The Broadway-to-Los Angeles transfer of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s musical Follies will star Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein, Ron Raines and Elaine Paige joined by Tony winner Victoria Clark who is replacing Bernadette Peters.

Following a summer 2011 engagement at the Kennedy Center, Follies opened on September 12th Broadway's Marquis Theatre, where it ended its run on January 22nd .The production will run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from May 3rd to June 9th.

Olympic Games put back Sheridan Smith's Bridget Jones Musical Opening

Sheridan Smith is currently in Manchester (and shortly to go to Australia) sporting a new red hairdo while filming five hour-long episodes for ITV drama Mrs Biggs which tells the story of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs first wife Charmian who fled to Australia with him to escape British justice.

Sheridan’s mum, Marilyn, told her local newspaper that the ITV production and her daughter’s casting in the lead role was done with the blessing of Charmian who still lives in Australia saying “She’s excited that she’s got the part, it was a much sought-after role by many actresses. The wife still lives in Australia and Charmian approves of Sheridan playing her.”

Marilyn also added that Sheridan’s lead role in Bridget Jones The Musical has been postponed while the show’s producer, Stephen Daldry works on the London Olympic Games opening ceremony. She said: “It’s been put back a few months but Sheridan’s definitely playing Bridget.” So it now looks pretty definite that the show is opening will next year with the Savoy Theatre being the strongest contender.

Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Gary Barlow to write new song for Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber have just made an announcement on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 that they are working together to write a new song for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee which will culminate in a special performance at the concert which Gary is putting together for 4th June.

Gary is writing the first draft of the lyrics with Andrew writing the music.  They have not yet come up name(s) for the main artist(s) who will record the song.

They are only just starting to work on the piece but they have revealed that once the song is written Gary  is planning to travel all over the Commonwealth (including the Solomon Islands, Jamaica,etc) to record and film unique musicians to be included on the track. Gary's travels are also being made into a documentary for BBC1.

Marti Webb Joins Dave Willetts in 42nd Street Tour

42nd Street was the Winner of the 1980 Tony Award for Best New Musical and the 2001 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. It is the inspiring tale of small town Peggy Sawyer’s rise to fame from the chorus line to leading lady.

Ironically the story came true during the 1984 production at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for a teenage Catherine Zeta-Jones who was a chorus member and understudy for Peggy Sawyer.  She was performing the part when one of the producers happened to be in the audience and was cast permanently in the role shortly afterwards.

Dave Willetts is playing notorious director Julian Marsh which is a role he has played before when he took over from Paul Nicholas on the 2007 tour.  He will be joined by Marti Webb playing past her prime prima donna Dorothy Brock.

Willetts musical theatre credits include taking over as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables from Colm Wilkinson, succeeding Michael Crawford as The Phantom of the Opera, Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love and most recently playing Professor Callaghan in the UK tour of Legally Blonde the Musical.

Marti Webb is best known for her roles in Evita and Tell Me On a Sunday as well as taking over from Elaine Paige as Grizabella in Cats, playing Mrs Johnstone in the UK tour of Blood Brothers and starring as Aunt Eller in a UK tour of Oklahoma.

The tour of 42nd Street opens at Oxford New Theatre on 5th June and currently tours the UK until 1st December when it ends at Nottingham.

New Tina Turner Musical

Soul Sister is a new musical inspired by the life and times of Ike and Tina Turner starring Emi Wokoma whose musical theatre credits include Dancing In The Streets and Porgy and Bess (directed by Trevor Nunn).

The new musical includes classic numbers What’s Love Got to Do with It, Proud Mary, Private Dancer and River Deep Mountain High. Soul Sister to illustrate the highs and lows and passions and heartbreak of Ike and Tina Turner as their careers blossomed and their marriage crumbled.

Soul Sister runs at the Hackney Empire from 14th April-5th May.  Tickets from www.hackneyempire.co.uk

Ruthie Henshall Australian Stage Debut

West End diva Ruthie Henshall is long overdue a return to London’s West End.  This Spring she is due to make her first Australian stage performance at Sydney’s Theatre Royal on April 20th At 8:00 pm in a special charity event for the White Ribbon Foundation.

This is a one-off charity performance of the musical revue Side By Side By Sondheim which features Ruthie and more than twenty of Australia’s most acclaimed stage performers and at least one Australian celebrity who will be announced shortly.

Ruthie has starred in some of the most successful musicals of the past twenty-five years on Broadway and in London’s West End, including Les Miserables, Chicago, Miss Saigon, Crazy For You,  Marguerite and Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together.

The concert is being staged to raise money for the White Ribbon Foundation which is an Australian campaign to stop violence against women. They are hoping to raise $100, 000 for the charity

Only 1000 seats available for this charity event with tickets will on sale from Monday 27th February, from www.ticketek.com.au

Rebecca Thornhill playing Nellie Forbush on South Pacific Tour

Samantha Womack is currently playing Nellie Forbush in the tour of South Pacific but is due to leave the show on 3rd March when the role will be taken over by West End leading lady  Rebecca Thornhill who will be Washing that Man Right Out of Her Hair at selected venues including Stoke, Manchester, Sunderland and Plymouth.

Rebecca Thornhill has an impressive list of musical theatre credits including Les Miserables, Show Boat, Chicago with David Hasselhoff, Ragtime, Mary Poppins, The Full Monty, Witches of Eastwick, Aspects of Love, Annie Get Your Gun,  Oklahoma! at the Royal National Theatre and Lyceum, Beauty and The Beast, Cats, Putting it Together, Sophisticated Ladies, Me and My Girl and She Loves Me.

She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Lina Lamont in the West Yorkshire Production of Singin’ in the Rain at the Royal National Theatre.

Killian Donnelly, Linzi Hateley, Alistair Brammer join cast of LesMis Movie

Various past and present LesMis cast members have been tweeting that they are appearing in the movie of Les Miserables directed by the King's Speech Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. 

The incredibly strong cast is currently: Hugh Jackman/Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe/ Javert, Sacha Baron Cohen/Thenardier, Helena Bonham Carter/ Madame Thenardier , Samantha Barks/Eponine, Eddie Redmayne/ Marius, Aaron Tveit/Enjolras, Amanda Seyfried/ Cosette and Anne Hathaway as Fantine.

The latest additions are Colm Wilkinson playing the Bishop of Digne, Frances Ruffelle/featured whore, George Blagden/Grantaire, Killian Donnelly/Combeferre, Fra Fee/ Courfeyrac, Alistair Brammer /Jean Prouvaire.

Plus currently unspecified roles being played by Kelly-Anne Gower, Julia Worsley,  Jonny Purchase, Gabriel Vick, Stevee Davies, Jos Slovick, Mary Cormack, James Charlton, Linzi Hateley and Sara Pelosi.

Whitney Houston Bodyguard Musical to preview at Adelphi on 6th November

Since my last blog things seem to have moved on with the Whitney Houston Bodyguard Musical.

Producers Michael Harrison and David Ian have now set up an official website for the production. UPDATE 29th MARCH: It has just been announced that the show will start previews at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End from 6th November with an early December press night.

Thea Sharrock will direct Heather Headley (who has a truly amazing voice) in the role of rock star Rachel Marron (the part played by Whitney). The musical will feature Whitney Houston classics hits including: Queen of the Night,So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, I'm Your Baby Tonight,Run to You, I Have Nothing,How Will I Know, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and I Will Always Love You.

Marti Pellow extends run in Blood Brothers

Marti Pellow is playing the Narrator in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre for a limited period and was due to leave the production in a couple of week’s time on 3rd March but has now extended his run in London’s West End  until 28th April.

Willy Russell’s’ Blood Brothers is currently booking until 24th November, 2012

Latest on Book of Mormon West End Opening

Update 7th June: Announcement regarding Book of Mormon West End opening to be made tomorrow morning. Likely to open at the Prince of Wales Theatre in February next year as casting call has gone out for rehearsals: 7th January 2013:  Previews Saturday 23rd February and Press Night: Wednesday 13th March 2013

According to the Daily Mail the deal has been done to bring the Broadway musical The Book Of Mormon to the West End opening at the Prince of Wales Theatre next March. Mamma Mia! is playing there until 1st September when it moves to the Novello Theatre re-opening on 6th September.

The intention is to cast the show here as  the Mormon’s producers have always stressed that the show is the star, not the actors.  I suspect that if they can't find the right actors to play the two main Mormon preachers the American leads (Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells) will be brought over.

The show has some outrageous numbers but having seen it I am not convinced the humour will travel across the Pond and work in the West End. I certainly won't be rushing to see it again, but let's hope I'm in the minority.

Lee Mead Appearing in Sky TV’s Bedlam

West End star Lee Mead is currently on his Love Concert Tour and has just released a new Love Songs Album. 

He is also due to appear in the next series of the spooky drama Bedlam on SkyLiving television playing a new boy called Scott who doesn’t believe in ghosts. But when he moves into a flat at the haunted Bedlam Heights scary things begin to happen.

Bedlam Heights is a converted lunatic asylum where Kate (Charlotte Salt) has been working with her father Warren (Hugo Speer) to renovate the former asylum into the latest in modern living. She's also bagged herself a rather stylish flat which she now shares with best mate Molly (Ashley Madekwe) and Ryan (Will Young).Then  Kate's troubled cousin Jed (Theo James) turns up saying he just needs a place to crash, but the creepy goings on at Bedlam Heights soon start to get under his skin. Can he really 'Save Kate'? And from whom, or what, does she need saving?

Lee said: “When the role in Bedlam came up I was really excited at the chance to be involved, and star alongside such a great cast in a fresh and original psychological drama.It's completely different from anything else I've done before. And while I can't give too much away about my character Scott, I think it's safe to say that the episode I'm in is genuinely scary - I'm really looking forward to seeing it back".

Bedlam Series 2 is due to be shown in the Spring on Mondays at 10:00 pm

Daniel Boys, Hadley Fraser, Dianne Pilkington, Lauren Samuels and Liam Tamne In-Between Concept Album

Nine West End stars can be heard on the concept album for a new musical, The In-Between which is released online today  Performers featured on the recordings include Sabrina Aloueche, Julie Atherton, Daniel Boys, Cassandra Compton, Hadley Fraser, Alexia Khadime, Dianne Pilkington, Lauren Samuels and Liam Tamne.

A quirky tale of love, friendship and letting go, The In-Between is a fantasy musical telling the story of sarcastic misfit, Flick Wimple, a perpetually underachieving nineteen-year old who stumbles through the wrong doorway and finds herself trapped in between parallel worlds.  Desperately searching for a way home, Flick must overcome new challenges as she finds help in unexpected places and is forced to confront her troubled past…

The In-Between has music, lyrics and book by Laura Tisdall, whose previous credits include Bill Kenwright’s UK tour of The Haunting and Kerry Ellis and Brian May’s Anthems: The Concert. Laura has also written the music for the Hugh Wooldridge/Bill Kenwright UK tour of The Haunting starring Paul Nicholas.  Her first musical, Faerytale, was showcased by Guildford School of Acting at the Electric Theatre.  The In-Between is her second musical.

As an arranger and orchestrator, Laura has been the Musical Associate for The Night of 1000 Voices, Kerry Ellis and Brian May’s Anthems: The Concert and The Wonderful World of Captain Beaky at the Royal Albert Hall with Vanessa Redgrave, Joanna Lumley and Hugh Bonneville. She was also Musical Associate for The Alan Jay Lerner Memorial Concert (St Paul’s Church) and arranger/orchestrator for the Cantabile Christmas Cracker (Prince of Wales Theatre).

The concept album can be heard in full at www.theinbetweenmusical.com or www.facebook.com/theinbetweenmusical

Gareth Gates Hair Tour Cancelled

UPDATE 28th February:  Tour has been cancelled. The producers have just issued the following statement:

"The producers of Hair are sorry to announce that unfortunately the forthcoming UK tour will not be going ahead. Despite the best efforts of all involved to keep the production moving forward, it has become apparent that certain criteria could not be met and regrettably the show will not now open in Liverpool as originally planned. The producers would like to apologise to the many fans of this iconic show who had been greatly excited by its planned revival."

The UK tour of Hair starring Gareth Gates is under threat as its  producers have filed for bankruptcy.

It is due to open at the Liverpool Empire on 10th April and tour until 21st July.  The fifteen theatres who have booked the tour have been informed that a last minute rescue may come from a UK producer, who I suspect might be Bill Kenwright.

Full Cast List for The Phantom of the Opera Tour

The Phantom of the Opera is going on tour next year starting at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in February 2012 extending into 2013. The role of the Phantom will be played by John Owen-Jones and  Earl Carpenter with Simon Bailey as Raoul and Katie Hall playing Christine.

Other cast members include Angela M Caesar/Carlotta: Andy Hockley/Monsieur Firmin: Simon Green/Monsieur Andre: Elizabeth Marsh/Madame Giry: Vincent Pirillo/Ubaldo Piangi and Olivia Brereton as Christine at certain performances.

They will be joined by Alistair Barron, Rosie Bell, James Bisp, Greg Castiglioni, Cindy Corinne Ciunfrini, Caroline Crawley, Rachel Crocker, Michael Diana, Liesl Dowsett, A C Garcia, Hannah Grace, Henry Grant Kerswell, Sam Harrison, Sophie Hartley, Kirk Jameson, Sarah Joyce, Lauren Lotz, Lee Ormsby, Siani Owen, David Phipps-Davis, Claire Platt, James Pullum, Leigh Rhianon Coggins, Emma Roberts-Simms, Ben Sleep and Richard Woodford.

Ramin Karimloo, David Shannon & Geronimo Rauch Jean Valjean Dates

Ramin Karimloo has now extended his contract by three weeks and will stay on as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables until 31st March when he leaves to go on his Ramin in Concert tour which starts on 1st May,

David Shannon will then take over the role (which he has played before) from 3rd April until Geronimo Rauch (an Argentinian singer and actor who is currently playing Jean Valjean in the New 25th Anniversary production of Los Miserables in Barcelona) arrives to take on the role for a year from 18th June.

Earl Carpenter in A Musical Night Of Queen

Earl Carpenter is playing the Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End until March of this year and is also due to star in the Phantom Tour at Edinburgh Playhouse from 1st October.

He has recently appeared as Khashoggi in the Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You and will be performing in A Musical Night of Queen at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday 3rd July at 7:30 pm.  He will be joined by an impressive line-up of West End singers from the recent UK tour of the show and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Some of the greatest music by British rock band Queen will be featured including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions, Killer Queen and I Want It All.

Tickets for A Musical Night of Queen

Whitney Houston Bodyguard Musical

With the tragic demise of Whitney Houston over the weekend renewed interest is being sparked in The Bodyguard Musical which the producers are still advertising as opening in London’s West End in Autumn 2012.

Houston starred in 1992 film The Bodyguard opposite Kevin Costner who played former Secret Service Agent turned bodyguard who is hired to protect the music star Houston from a stalker.

There were a couple of reports last year about who was to take the lead.  Firstly in October R&B star Heather Headley announced on her Facebook page that she was to play the lead saying: "So, let's talk about London... Yes! I've been offered the role of Rachel in the musical version The Bodyguard. Very Honored! The script has been rewritten a bit and it's very interesting. Needless to say, the music is great (they're using many of the songs of Whitney's catalogue) - very challenging, but great. We'll start on the West End in London and then we'll move to Broadway."

Headley has been attached to the production since she took part in a workshop for the musical last summer.
The Grammy Award winner starred as Nala in Broadway's original The Lion King and then landed the title role in Aida winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Then last November it was reported by the British Press that X Factor Misha B who was voted off during the semi-finals had been asked to star in The Bodyguard Musical.

Digital Spy reported: "Lots of people have been considered from Alexandra Burke to Leona Lewis, but Misha is top of the list. Her not making The X Factor final was a blessing in disguise for those involved with the show."

With all the publicity surrounding Whitney Houston (for such sad reasons) at the moment I am sure news will be forthcoming and will post it here as soon as I can.

Sheridan Smith’s Great Train Robbery

 Update 23rd August: the first episode (of 5) of Mrs Biggs is on ITV1 on Wednesday, 5 September from 9:00-10:30pm

Award winning West End star Sheridan Smith's career has gone from strength to strength working on stage, television and film projects since she left Legally Blonde the musical.  She is due back in London to play Bridget Jones in the musical of the same name which is now likely to open at the Savoy next year rather than this.

Sheridan has been tweeting about her change of image with her normally short blond bob now restyled and dyed red for her next job playing Charmian Biggs (wife of Great Train robber Ronnie) played by Daniel Mays in the ITV drama Mrs Biggs.

Filming will take place on locations in Australia and the UK. The five-part series will examine how Charmian and their sons moved to Australia with Biggs after the robbery, where they remained when Biggs headed off to Brazil. Charmian has worked with the drama’s producers and approved Sheridan to portray her.

Adam Garcia cast in Chichester's Kiss Me Kate

The only musical Chichester Festival Theatre is presenting this season is Cole Porter/Sam and Bella Spewack's  Kiss Me Kate which will open on 18th June and run until September 1st. It will be directed by Trevor Nunn,  choreographed by Stephen Mear, designed by Rober Jones with Gareth Valentine as the musical director.

The only casting announced so far is that Adam Garcia is playing the role of Bill Calhoun. Garcia has a number of West End theatre credits including playing Doody in Grease,Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, he created the role of Fiyero in Wicked!and starred in the musical dance show Tap Dogs.

He has extensive film credits including Wilde, Coyote Ugly, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Bootmen (based on the Tap Dogs story), Riding in Cars With Boys and Standing Still. Television work includes Doctor Who, Britannia High, Mr Eleven, Hawthorne and most recently as a judge on the Sky reality show Got To Dance and as himself in Heston’s Titanic Feast.

Latest from Cameron Mackintosh on LesMis Movie

Les Misérables film producer Cameron Mackintosh has confirmed that as already tweeted by Hugh Jackman the movie will feature a new song for Jean Valjean. Written by the original song writing team of Claude Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil and lyricist Herbert Kretzmer the new number is called Suddenly.

In an interview yesterday Mackintosh said: "It's a really lovely new song.  It was something that Alain and Claude-Michel came up with, after a passage in the book, which beautifully explains what happens when Valjean takes Cosette from the inn and looks after her. Herbie's written a lovely lyric to it, and we're all delighted how it seems to fit into the film version. The whole thing has been written by Alain and Claude-Michel in the same way they've worked with Herbie on the original score — I think rather religiously. They've gone back to their working methods of 30 years ago!"

When asked if there might be an additional original song played over the closing credits Mackintosh responded; "No, no. The one thing you don't have to worry about Les Miz is there are enough tunes! I mean, we're going to have great fun compiling reprises — all of the songs — that we want to put over the credits, which I'm sure will be endless."

He also confirmed that the vocals for the film would be sung live rather than dubbed as most of the stage musical is sung-through and dubbing would be a chore. Mackintosh explained:  " We have a fantastic cast; many of them are drawn either from the musical theatre or can sing in a way that music is second nature to the way that they act. That's why we're all very excited about the adventure that we're entering.

We're doing something which has not been done before on this scale. There is a huge amount of music and a huge amount of singing in Les Misérables; you can't get the performances except through the voice. The whole thing that we have to achieve with the movie is that we tell a story through music. It's a film story we're telling. Therefore, we need to take the audience into that world. 

One of the things that impressed me about  Tom Hooper when he first showed his interest in being the director of the movie is that he both embraced the score and also wanted to create live sound, and get the excitement of the performance and the depth that you only get…by recording it live. Over the last four or five years, technology has moved so far that it is now something that is possible to try. I'm sure we're going to learn a lot on the way, but we're all up for that adventure."

Alfie Boe appearing in The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert

Alfie Boe has just finished the major part of his Bring Him Home Tour and is now about to join a star-studded line-up to celebrate The Queen's 60 years on the throne.

Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Tom Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, Annie Lennox, Madness and Jools Holland will appear at the Diamond Jubilee concert, with more contemporary acts like Jessie J, Alfie Boe, JLS, Ed Sheeran and Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang.

The concert takes place on 4th June on a specially designed stage in front of Buckingham Palace near the Queen Victoria Memorial and will be broadcast live on BBC One and to millions around the world.

A national ballot will distribute free tickets to 10,000 UK residents, which can be applied for online or by post until March 2nd. Ticket holders will also get the chance to attend a Jubilee picnic in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

Details of how to apply for tickets here.

Jonathan Ansell That Glorious Noise Concert at Beverly Minster

In the forthcoming That Glorious Noise Concert tenor Jonathan Ansell performs some of G4's greatest hits, classic musical theatre tunes and some of operas most famous arias at the Beverly Minster on Saturday 31st March at 7:30 pm. Proceeds from this event will support The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Joining him on stage will be special guest artist Charlotte Wakefield who has played Sophie in the tour of the  Abba Musical Mamma Mia!. They will be accompanied by the Rodillian Singers and the Longcroft School Gospel Choir.

Buy tickets for Jonathan Ansell  or ring the Box Office on 01924 918679

Ray Quinn in Rise and Fall of Little Voice

Ray Quinn is currently playing the part of Warner in the tour of Legally Blonde until 14^th July.

He is then joining Beverley Callard (Coronation Street’s Liz McDonald) to play Billy in a three month tour of the Olivier Award Winning The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. This is the part which Ewan McGregor played in the film which also starred Michael Caine, Jane Horocks and Brenda Blethyn. The tour starts at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford on 3rd September and tours for 13 weeks until it ends at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield on 1st December.

Shy Little Voice (played by Jess Robinson) spends most of the time immersed in her late Father’s record collection and perfecting her astonishing impersonations, much to the dismay of her out of control mother Mari (played by Beverley Callard).

A hint that Little Voice might be able to have a social life beyond her mother occurs when the family telephone has to be repaired and meek assistant telephone installer Billy (Ray Quinn) shows interest in her and returns to the house to deliver information pamphlets.

Overheard singing by Ray Say (played by Joe McGann), a hapless talent scout and Mari’s man of the moment, Little Voice is propelled to stardom as Ray sets about creating the show of the century in the dingy local working men’s club. With an agent from London coming and everything gambled on this one performance, Mari and Ray’s ticket to the big time rests squarely on Little Voice’s shoulders. But has anyone asked Little Voice what she wants?

Little Voice features songs from the world’s most iconic divas including Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland and many more.

New Song for Hugh Jackman in LesMis Movie

Hugh Jackman tweeted this picture of him and Claude Michel Schoenberg with the caption “what an honour...singing a new song with the composer, Claude Michel, at rehearsals for les mis!”

So it sounds like there’s going to be a new number in the film for Jean Valjean.  Simon Shorten who covered the part at the Queen's Theatre until last June replied to Jackman "if you learnt it from a demo track that would freak me out, as It was me singing it! Lol!" so it's obviously been written for a while.

Jackman is currently at Pinewood Studios working with director Tom Hooper until shooting begins next month in the UK and France.

Weather problems in the Land of Oz

Michael Crawford came on stage before his final performances of the Wizard of Oz today to explain that there were some electrical problems (there are two electric board vans outside the theatre) due to the snow and ice.

The cast actually have go out onto the roof of the London Palladium  to get to the flying floor and so some of the magical effects cannot work. Also no revolve, no tilting stage and no trapdoor.Michael Crawford said  in his best Frank Spencer voice "we've got a problem" ....

Michael has been exceptional as the Wizard and brought so much to the show and the part - he will be sorely missed.

Ramin Karimloo Houdini Musical put on hold

Ramin Karimloo is currently appearing as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables at the Queens Theatre in London’s West End, he has a new album Ramin due for release in March and then he is doing a concert tour in May. He is also shooting two films this year and hopes there will be further touring of his album to North America.

All this means that the musical adaptation of Houdini he was producing and starring in will not now be happening as he simply doesn’t have the time. It is a new musical which has a book by Hadley Fraser who is in the Sheytoons band with Karimloo

The timing is also wrong now as there is another musical production planned for Broadway starring Hugh Jackman (who is currently in the UK playing Jean Valjean in the Les Miserables movie due for release at the end of this year).

Jonathan Ansell starring in new A Tale of Two Cities Musical

The new musical A Tale of Two Cities will be running at the Charing Cross Theatre from 5th April - 12th May in celebration of the bicentenary of Charles Dickens.

Based on the Dickens story this classic tale tells of one man’s ultimate sacrifice for love, set against brutal conflicts between the rebels and aristocracy during the French Revolution and 19th century London society.

Jonathan Ansell will be playing Charles Darnay the French once-aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution despite his virtuous nature.  More casting details to follow.

Dramatically staged by Paul Nicholas with Music by David Pomeranz and Book by Steven David Horwich and David Soames, John Cameron’s (Les Miserables) moving musical arrangements underscore Horwich’s compelling lyrics.

Tickets at http://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/

Niki Evans joining Legally Blond Tour

Claire Sweeney is currently playing the part of Paulette on the tour of Legally Blonde,  but is due to leave the show on 11th February to start rehearsals for Educating Rita which she is starring in with Matthew Kelly at the Menier Chocolate Factory in April before taking it out on tour.

Niki Evans (pictured) will take over the role from 14th February when the show opens at Sheffield.  Evans was a finalist in the fourth series of the X Factor in 2007 and has since appeared as Mrs Johnstone in both the UK tour and West End production of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers. 

Ray Quinn and Les Dennis also recently joined the Legally Blonde tour as Warner and Professor Callahan.

Bridget Jones the Musical to Open at Savoy Theatre in December?

Producer Sonia Friedman was overheard saying that Bridget Jones the Musical will open at the Savoy Theatre and it is expected the show will announce its opening there in the next few weeks. The show is facing delays due to set and book revision so although it is scheduled to open in December it might be put back until the New Year.

It is believed that Lily Allen has finished the songs and a second workshop was held last month with West End stars Sheridan Smith and Michael Xavier (who is soon to tour with Wonderful Town)  playing Bridget and Daniel Cleaver. The Savoy would mean a return home for Sheridan who starred in Legally Blonde there for over a year,

The timing fits perfectly with the closure of Legally Blonde the Musical on 7th April which will be followed by a revival of Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys, starring Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths opening on May 17th for a limit run until July 28th.

Jonathan Williams, Ross Hunter and Alexia Khadime in Great Ormond Street Concert

Giggin4Good's winter showcase in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital is taking place this  Sunday 5th February at 7:00 pm at the Actor’s Church, St Paul’s Covent Garden. It features a host of West End  performers plus  the cast and creatives from new musical My Lands Shore.

The show will include songs from Broadway & West End blockbusters including Wicked!, Rent, Follies and  Carousel as well as showcasing songs from two brand new musicals: My Land's Shore and Roundabout 

The cast includes Rebecca Caine (Les Mis, Phantom), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Flashdance, Grease), Jonathan Williams (Les Mis, Godspell), Alexia Khadime (Les Mis, Wicked) and  Ross Hunter (Legally Blonde, We Will Rock You).

Tickets for Giggin4Good at http://www.etickets.to/

Casting for the Mystery of Edwin Drood at Landor

The thrilling and comical musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood is playing at the Landor Theatre from 11th April-5th May.  It is written by Rupert Holmes and based on the unfinished novel by Charles Dickens.

The musical won 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical and 11 nominations in 1985 and after its huge success transferred to London's West End soon after starring Ernie Wise and Lulu.

Edwin Drood is a play within a play. With a Chairman at the helm the actors of the Theatre Royale re-enact the story of Edwin Drood for the delectation of the audience!  It is set against a backdrop of the Great British traditions of music hall and pantomime where the actors vie for the boo's and hisses and sympathies of the assembled audience and YOU get to decide the outcome that is The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

The cast is headed by Natalie Day (Les Misérables) as Edwin Drood, Victoria Farley (Les Misérables) as Rosa Budd and Daniel Robinson (Jekyll & Hyde UK Tour) as John Jasper with former Coronation Street star Wendi Peters (she played Cilla Battersby-Brown) as Princess Puffer.

The cast also includes: Loula Geater (Helena Landlass), David Francis (Neville Landlass), Denis Delahunt (Chairman), Richard Stirling (Reverend Crisparkle), Oliver Mawdsley (Horace), Mark Ralston (Bazzard), Paul Hutton (Durdles), Tom Pepper (Deputy) and Ben Goffe (Harry Sayle).

Edwin Drood is being directed by Matthew Gould with James Cleeve as Musical Director. The show’s Costume Designer will be Jean Gray; Set Design by Natasha Piper with Lighting Design by Maria Kearney.

Tickets available online at www.landortheatre.co.uk or by telephoning the box office on 020 7737 7276

Barry Manilow postpones New York and Chicago Concerts

UPDATED 8th FEBRUARY:  On he advice of his doctors Barry Manilow has now postponed his  New York City concerts which had been scheduled for February 10th-14th  at Radio City Music Hall. He will now play the venue April 30th, May 1st and 2nd.
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The legendary entertainer Barry Manilow is performing a limited number of concerts in UK arenas in May of this year, but has had to postpone his scheduled appearances this week at the Chicago Theatre and reschedule them for July.

A statement from his publicists says he is recovering from “extensive muscular surgery in his hips”. He has been receiving physiotherapy during rehearsals for his new concert tour and hopefully will resume performances at the Radio City Music Hall in New York on 10th February,

Chicago’s Ali Bastian, Bernie Nolan, Stefan Booth and Tupele Dorgu on ITV’s This Morning

The new tour of Chicago is due to start at the Bradford Alhambra on 10th February and the stars of the show are appearing on ITV1’s This Morning today which is on from 10:30-12:30.

Ali Bastian (Hollyoaks, The Bill, Strictly Come Dancing, Burn the Floor) is Roxie Hart, Stefan Booth (EastEnders) is Billy Flynn, Tupele Dorgu (Coronation Street) is Velma Kelly and Bernie Nolan is Matron ‘Mama’ Morton talk about appearing in the stage hit Chicago together

Sam Barks playing Eponine in Les Miserables Movie

Cameron Mackintosh went on stage last night at the curtain call of Oliver! which is playing at the Palace Theatre in Manchester to tell Samantha Barks she will be playing Eponine in the movie of Les Miserables.

He told the cast and audience that he had a big announcement to make before flying to America that Barks would be taking the role of Eponine saying: "For the last few months in Hollywood, Broadway and London, we've been searching for Eponine and you in Manchester are going to be the first people to find who it is... and now our director Tom Hooper has chosen her for the movie."

It came as a surprise to Barks with audience members reporting that "the look on her face was priceless". She said: “I can’t believe I’m going to play Eponine, a role so close to my heart, a role I played in the West End. It’s the happiest moment of my life.”

Barks is currently playing Nancy in the tour of Oliver! She was one of the finalists in the Andrew Lloyd Webber "I'd Do Anything" search for Nancy and has recently been playing Eponine in Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre.  I suspect she will be soon be leaving the tour as rehearsals are already under way at Pinewood Studios under the direction of King's Speech Tom Hooper. She said on the BBC that she wasn't sure what with happening with her remaining Oliver! dates as her filming schedule was still being worked out. Shooting will start in March.

She will join a very starry cast which includes:  Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Anne Hathaway as Fantine and Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier.

Taylor Swift has been mooted as playing Eponine and has been in London meeting with Cameron Mackintosh but obviously a deal was not struck. Personally I was hoping that common sense would prevail and that Sam Barks would get this role (she was fabulous in the role in the West End).  It's great that some musical theatre performers are now getting roles with Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle also appearing in the movie.