Anne Hathaway on crash diet for Les Miserables Movie

Anne Hathaway is currently involved in the filming of the Les Miserables movie starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. 

She is playing the role of Fantine who is a single mother forced to turn to prostitution who eventually dies with consumption.  To make her look suitably “waif-like” for the role Miss Hathaway has been put on 500 calories a day crash diet to lose 16lbs or more in less than three weeks.

Hathaway is by no means overweight and currently a healthy size 10 but she only has 15 to 20 days to lose as much weight as possible. She has already filmed the opening scenes before her world falls apart and she still looks a normal weight.

A representative said: “It’s not ideal but, as with any high-budget movie, there are strict time constraints. Producers have assigned her a personal trainer and she is literally eating nothing more than a couple of apples a day, and some protein – mainly in the form of a shake. Anne knows the risk of such an extreme diet and will undergo weekly medicals to make sure everything is still functioning as it should do.”

Luckily Hathaway is no stranger to having to lose weight for roles as last year she had to slim down to fit into an unforgiving cat suit to play Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. She also lost weight to play Andrea Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada.

Michael Ball Signing New Sweeney Todd Album on Saturday

Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball are currently starring in Sweeney Todd as Mrs Lovett and the Demon Barber at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End..

This Saturday 31st March they will be joined by other cast members Luke Brady and Lucy May Barker at Dress Circle in Monmouth Street between 12 noon and 1:00 pm to sign copies of the 2012 Sweeney Todd London Cast Album.

Simon Bowman, Earl Carpenter & Rohan Tickell Three Phantoms Concert in Newcastle

The Three Phantoms concert is a celebration of musical theatre by three West End stars who have worn the white mask and cape to play the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of The Opera.

But this concert is a much wider look at musical theatre, a showcase for the sheer with numbers from Beauty and The Beast, Martin Guerre and Les Miserables, linking the pieces with gentle mocking and comic anecdotes

With founder members John Owen-Jones touring in The Phantom of the Opera and Matthew Cammelle touring in South Pacific, Earl Carpenter will now be joined by Rohan Tickell and Simon Bowman. Carpenter shows a real comic touch and presentation skills with some great impressions of Michael Crawford

The trio are joined by the original Canadian Christine Rebecca Caine who has great fun demonstrating her impressive range in Spamalot’s Diva’s Lament and Think of Me from The Phantom of The Opera.

The piano accompaniment is by Anthony Gabriele with cellist Yvonne Marie Parsons.  Choreography is by Adam Cooper (currently starring in Singin’ in the Rain at the Palace Theatre in London).

Their next concert is at the Theatre Royal Newcastle on 6th & 7th June evenings at 7:30 pm plus a matinee on the 7th at 2:00 pm. Bookings open this morning at 9:00 am at www.theatreroyal.co.uk . Contact Box Office for more details 08448 11 21 21.

Alfie Boe, Tom Jones and Jessie J Summer Concerts at Sandown

It has just been announced that legendary Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones, opera and musical superstar Alfie Boe and Brit Award winner Jessie J will all be performing at Sandown Park racecourse this summer.

The racecourse is hosting three music nights: two in July and one in August.Sir Tom Jones will perform at the first of them on July 18th. Alfie Boe will perform live with his orchestra after the racing on July 25^th and Jessie J will appear on August 9^th performing chart-topping hits including Price Tag, Do it Like a Dude, Who You Are and Domino.

For more information or to book tickets visit www.sandown.co.uk/music-nights

Let It Be Beatles Tribute Show at Prince of Wales Theatre in September

A Beatles Tribute musical is due to open at the Prince of Wales Theatre from September 14th to 19th January 2013 between Mamma Mia leaving there on 1st September to re-open at the Novello Theatre on September 6th and The Book of the Mormon starting previews there on 24th February.

The Broadway show Let It Be: A Tribute To The Beatles presents the history of the Beatles as a concert revue with the four musicians on stage performing 30 of the band's biggest hits live.

The show begins by recreating the band's debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964 with I Want To Hold Your Hand and All My Loving followed by other early numbers including A Hard Day's Night, I Saw Her Standing There, Yesterday, Twist And Shout and Day Tripper. 

Not able to use photos or album covers, Let It Be recreates the times with band photos, faux press conferences and other footage and pictures representing the main issues of the '60s.

The first half concludes with the Sgt. Pepper phase with Strawberry Fields and A Day In The Life, while the second half moves into the band's experimental period with Come Together and Revolution. Ending on a high with the combination of Let It Be and Hey Jude.

Booking opens for Let It Be this Friday 30th March.

Jodi Kimura taking over role of Bloody Mary on South Pacific Tour

The Rodgers & Hammerstein musical South Pacific is currently on tour until mid August with a rumoured West End transfer in the autumn.  Jodi Kimura will take over the role of Bloody Mary from Loretta Ables Sayre when the production arrives in Sunderland on 1st May.

Jodi has already played the part on the first US South Pacific tour. Her other theatre credits include World Goes Round, Spelling Bee (Marcy), JC Superstar (Mary), La Mancha (Aldonza), Full Monty (Vicki), Godspell (Sonia) and Juno in Olympia Dukakis’ premiere of Another Side of the Island.

John Owen-Jones New Album Unmasked

He is currently starring as the Phantom in the tour of Phantom of the Opera, and John Owen-Jones new album Unmasked is due for release on 16th April.  You can pre-order a copy here from Amazon for £7.97.

The 14 track listing is: Nature Boy: Thunder ball: This Is The Moment: The Music of the Night: Till I hear You Sing: All I ask Of You: Being Alive: I Don’t Remember You/Sometimes A Day Goes By: Down To The Sea: Somewhere: Without You: Love of My Life: Bring Him Home and Hallelujah

Dolly Parton's 9 To 5 tour booking opens today

Dolly Parton’s musical version of the movie 9 To 5 kicks off a UK tour on October 12th at the Manchester Opera House. So far ten theatres have been booked for the tour which opens at Manchester Opera House on 12th October. It will then visit the New Wimbledon Theatre (22nd-27th October), Sunderland Empire (29th October-3rd November), Woking New Victoria (5th-10th November), Glasgow King's Theatre (12th-17th November), Stoke Regent Theatre (19th-24th November), Edinburgh Playhouse (26th November-1st December), Oxford New Theatre (3rd-8th December), Theatre Royal Brighton (10th-15th December) and Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre (17th December-5 January, 2013).

Tickets go on sale today at 9 minutes to 5! (16:51).

Dolly wrote the music and lyrics for the stage musical ranging from rockabilly to rhythm and blues. She will be heading to the UK to attend one or two rehearsals. She was in the 1980 film version, with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.  9 to 5 is about female office workers getting their own back on a sexist male boss who goes too far.  The book by Patricia Resnick (co-writer of the original screenplay) tells the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do - even in a man's world.

9 To 5 played on Broadway from April-September 2009 and was nominated for 15 Drama Desk Awards (the most received by a production in a single year) and four Tony Awards, including Best Score.

Dolly Parton said:  "I am so excited that 9 To 5 the Musical is coming to the UK. I'm hoping you have as much fun watching it as I had writing the music for it. 9 to 5 the Musical is perfect for anyone that's ever wanted to string up their boss, which is almost all of us."

The show has been touring in the USA since 2010 and has been redirected by Jeff Calhoun, who took over directing duties from Joe Mantello.

If 9 To 5 works on tour it may well come in to London’s West End next year.

Barry Manilow still recovering from major hip operation

Barry Manilow had to cancel some shows at the start of his concert tour in the USA because of a hip operation taking longer to heal than expected, but he is now up and running and has kicked off in Illinois.

Manilow is now amazingly 69 years old and still recovering from a "major" operation to re-attach the muscles to his hip. In his first post-surgery interview Manilow spoke to Rolling Stone about his hip: "It's coming back slowly – too slowly for me. But I was able to get through six shows. As soon as I'd finish, the curtain would close and I'd fall back into a wheelchair and they'd wheel me back into a dressing room. I'm not ready to do this yet, but I did it. I got through it and I'm better than I was three weeks ago. Everybody thinks I had some sort of a hip replacement; that wasn't it. I had ripped the muscles off my hip on both sides and they had to pull them back and nail them back into my hips. So that kind of surgery, which was supposed to take two hours, took seven hours. It was major surgery and it's a long recovery period. I don't know how I got through those six (shows), but I just couldn't cancel it. These people were out there. They were so excited; I just had to go through this. They say when the spotlight hits you, you don't feel anything. I always thought that was full of shit, (but) it's true”.

The show he is travelling with and bringing to the UK opening at London’s 02 Arena in May and touring for 5 dates is the smallest he’s ever done with him at the piano accompanied by a small band.

Cast for UK Tour of Starlight Express

Full casting has been announced for the UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe's Starlight Express which opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 10th May .

Mykal Rand who joined Starlight Express in 1987 and has performed in six different productions will play Electra.  Joining him will be Kristofer Harding as Rusty (2007 UK Tour):  Jamie Capewell as Greaseball (West End, UK Tour & Buchum): Lothair Eaton as Poppa (Las Vegas, Bochum and New Zealand): Amanda Coutts as Pearl (Bochum) and Ruthie Stephens as Dinah (UK Tour 2004 – 2008).

The cast also includes: Kelsie Cobban, Camilla Hardy, Robert Nurse, Lex Milczarek, Glenn Robb, Stuart Armfield, Gavin Ashbarry, James Marshall, Nick Bower, Kris Manuel, Andy Barke, Tristan Adams, Matt King, Adam Illsley, Lisa Dahmane, Louise Lenihan, Sarah Riches, Aaron Piper, Darryl Paul Saunders, Tony Andrade.

Arlene Phillips is returning to the show as director and choreographer. She choreographed the original West End production as well as several revivals of the show.

Hannah Waddingham & Clive Rowe join Kiss Me Kate at Chichester

As previously tipped Hannah Waddingham will join Adam Garcia (Bill Calhoun) and Holy Dale Spencer (Bianca) to play Lilli Vanessi in Trevor Nunn's Kiss Me Kate at the Chichester Festival Theatre which will open June 18th. Stephen Mear will choreograph.

Also just announced are Clive Rowe and David Burt who are inspired casting for the pair of gangsters who sing Brush Up Your Shakespeare.

Waddingham currently has a small part in the film of the musical Les Miserables and has worked with Nunn before in his production of A Little Night Music. She most recently starred in the West End revival of The Wizard of Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Adam Garcia & Kimberley Wyatt to host Revolution Dance Show at Haymarket

A new West End dance show called Revolution will be playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket every Sunday evening at 19:30 for six weeks from May 6th to June 10th.

Revolution will be co-hosted by Adam Garcia and Kimberley Wyatt. The show is presented by Dancers Inc will showcase some of the UK's best dance acts with 20 performers from various talent shows including Britain's Got Talent, Got To Dance and So You Think You Can Dance as well as dancers who have been on tour with Take That, Cheryl Cole and The X Factor.

Tobias Mead (Britain's Got Talent), Charlie Bruce and Lizzie Gough (So You Think You Can Dance) and Aaron Renfree (We Will Rock You) are among the acts appearing in the show.

Tickets available from www.dinc-revolution.com

Amanda Holden confirms hosting Jesus Christ Superstar

Amanda Holden has confirmed that she is hosting the new Andrew Lloyd Webber ITV reality show “Superstar” to find a Jesus to star in his arena tour Jesus Christ Superstar which opens at London’s O2 Arena later this year.

Amanda Holden said: "As I have a West End background, and I nearly met Jesus the other week, I'm the best qualified. We haven't signed on the dotted line yet, but I am. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to talk about it! They've gone all over the country and Andrew said they've even had some girls auditioning to play Jesus as well."

Holden most recently appeared in London's West End as Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical and is also a judge on “Britain’s Got Talent” which starts again on ITV this Saturday.

Mel C and Jason Donovan have been assisting with the call backs for the competition and there is still a strong rumour that Nicole Scherzinger has been approached to play Mary Magdalene.

Sierra Boggess in Prince of Broadway

It seems that Sierra Boggess will not be available to play I in the new musical Rebecca which failed to open on Broadway due to lack of funding earlier this year and is now slated for the autumn.  As she is now due to appear in the new Harold Prince tribute Prince of Broadway, with Linda Lavin (The Lyons, Collected Stories), LaChanze (The Color Purple, Once on this Island), David Pittu (Is He Dead?, Lovemusik), Emily Skinner (Billy Elliot, Side Show) and Richard Kind (The Producers, Spin City).

Sebastian Arcelus (Elf), Daniel Breaker (Shrek), Josh Grisetti (Enter Laughing), Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein), Amanda Kloots-Larsen and Caroline O'Connor also will appear in the show.

Prince will direct the show along with Susan Stroman (The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys) as co-director and choreographer. Due to open on Broadway in November the show has a book by David Thompson and takes its songs from shows in which Prince has been involved including The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Cabaret, Evita, West Side Story and The Pajama Game.

The production also features musical supervision, incidental music, vocal and dance arrangements by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, orchestrations by Don Sebesky and musical direction by Eric Stern.

Celebrating one of the most influential and successful careers in the American theatre of the past 60 years, Prince of Broadway will look at the good and bath circumstances and fortune that led to Hal Prince creating some of the most enduring and popular theatre of all time

Kym Marsh & Jodie Prenger playing Elsie Tanner in Corrie Musical

Kym Marsh who plays Michelle Connor in Coronation Street is transforming herself into Weatherfield’s scarlet woman and street siren Elsie Tanner.

Marsh will play Elsie in her younger years, while West End diva Jodie Prenger will play her as an older woman (during the 1980s).  The musical will premiere in Manchester at the MEN Arena on May 9th and 10th and then visit the Dublin 02 Arena (18th & 19th May): Belfast Odyssey Arena (21st & 22nd May) and Newcastle Metro Radio Arena (29th & 20th May).

Elsie was played by the late Pat Phoenix for more than 20 years. Talking about her new role Miss Marsh said: ‘The strong, determined and indomitable women have always defined Coronation Street right from the very first episode to the present day and Elsie Tanner will go down in history as one of the most gossiped about women in Weatherfield. She’s left some rather big stiletto shoes to fill but to have the opportunity to represent such an iconic character of yesteryear on a stage of this scale is an absolute honour."

Miss Marsh began her career as a singer and joined pop group Hear’Say after winning the ITV reality show Popstars in 2001.

The new musical will be hosted by Paul O’Grady and also appearing in Street of Dreams will be Coronation Street veterans Julie Goodyear who played Bet Lynch on TV, Kevin Kennedy who was Curly Watts and Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow.

Songs included in the show are Tony Warren's iconic Opening Episode featuring Ena Sharples, Elsie Tanner and Annie Walker, Woman Stanley Woman - Hilda and Stan Ogden's posh second honeymoon at the Savoy Hotel, He's My Man - a catfight on the cobbles between love rivals Elsie Tanner and Bet Lynch, Norman Bates With A Briefcase - featuring serial killer Richard Hillman, Cunning Clever Crafty - Jack and Vera's "blind date" with Jack as the suave 'Vince Fontaine' and spectacular Moulin Rouge homage and Sweet Butterfly featuring lovelorn knicker factory worker Sean Tully.

Buy Tickets for Street of Dreams

Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along at Menier in November

UPDATED 28th March: Just announced by the Menier Chocolate Factory as part of their new season. Runs 16th November 2012-23rd February 2013

On sale to Chocolate Factory Supporters - 3rd September/On sale to the general public - 12th September

According to the Stephen Sondheim Society the long awaited production of Merrily We Roll Along, to be directed by Maria Friedman, is now slated to open at The Menier Chocolate Factory in November 2012.

Merrily We Roll Along has a book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.

The story revolves around Franklin Shepard who was once a talented composer of Broadway musicals, but has now abandoned his friends and his song writing career to become a Hollywood producer. The musical begins at the height of his Hollywood fame and moves backwards in time charting the most important moments in his life.

"Not a Day Goes By," "Good Thing Going," "Old Friends," and "Our Time" are especially popular with singers who perform on the cabaret circuit.

Tickets for 10th Anniversary of Queen’s We Will Rock You

The Ben Elton and Queen smash hit musical We Will Rock You has announced that tickets for its special tenth anniversary celebration show at the Dominion Theatre on May 14th will go on sale from 10:00 from Thursday, 22nd March. The special tenth anniversary show will have an earlier start time of 7.00pm.

The show has been seen by over 6 million people at the Dominion and 13 million around the world. Special guests are expected in the audience and possibly even on stage on the 14th.

Details of prices and availability can be found at www.wewillrockyou.co.uk or telephone ticket line: 0844 847 1775.

Graham Bickley, Mary Carewe, Ria Jones and Michael Dore The Very Best of Rodgers and Hammerstein

At the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 15 April 2012 at 3:30 pm West End vocalists Mary Carewe, Ria Jones, Graham Bickley and Michael Dore, with Music Director David Firman  accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform an evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein classics including Oh, What A Beautiful Morning: My Favorite Things: Climb Ev’ry Mountain: When I Marry Mr Snow: I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair: Shall We Dance?: Getting To Know You: Some Enchanted Evening: I Have Dreamed and You’ll Never Walk Alone

Tickets for Rodgers and Hammerstein Concert

Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean

 The barely recognisable Hugh Jackman playing Jean Valjean the convict on the film set of the LesMis movie currently being shot in London!

He has had his head shaved leaving very short and patchy hair with prosthetic scars attached to his scalp. He he has grown his beard naturally but left it tatty and ungroomed so that it looks perfect for the part.

Kerry Ellis, Brian May, Jonathan Ansell and Ramin Karimloo on BBC Radio2 Tonight

Updated Friday 13th July:  This concert will be aired again in the Friday Night is Music Night slot on BBC Radio 2 at 8:00 pm tonight.

On 20th April Kerry Ellis will appear in a “musicals special” for Friday Night is Music Night at the Watford Colosseum. 

The show will feature guest appearances from Ramin Karimloo (Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, Les Miserables), ex G4 tenor Jonathan Ansell (Whistle Down the Wind, A Tale of Two Cities) and Brian May (Queen) backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The concert broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 at 8:00 pm on the 20th and will include songs from Wicked, We Will Rock You, Love Never Dies, Cabaret, The Way We Were and My Fair Lady.

You can book tickets here for Kerry Ellis in Concert

Lunchtime With Imelda Staunton

Lunchtimes With... is a series of live, one-on-one interviews at London’s Criterion Theatre with some of the world's leading actors.

Next month BAFTA award winning actress Imelda Staunton who is best known for her performance in Mike Leigh's Vera Drake and as Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge in the Harry Potter films will be in conversation with critic and journalist Mark Lawson (Front Row). Tonight Imelda opens as Mrs Lovett in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd playing opposite Michael Ball in the title role at the Adelphi Theatre.

Her platform takes place at 1.15pm on Thursday 26th April and has an informal “drop-in” feel, where you're welcome to bring your lunch and eat quietly. The conversation will last for 45 minutes and will end with an opportunity for audience members to ask their own questions. Each platform will revolve initially around the guest’s current production and role, before expanding to touch on other aspects of their career and life.

Buy tickets for Lunchtime with Imelda Staunton

Full Cast List for A Tale of Two Cities Musical Starring Jonathan Ansell & Michael Howe

The musical version of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is currently in rehearsal and due to open at the Charing Cross Theatre on 5th April where it runs until 12th May.

The impressive and experienced musical theatre cast is as follows: Michael Howe/Sydney Carton: Jonathan Ansell & Anthony Hansen/Charles Darnay:  Jennifer Hepburn /Lucie Manette: Jemma Alexander/Mme Therese Defarge: Craig Berry/Ernest Defarge: John Fleming/Dr Alexandre Manette: Miles Eagling/ Stryver: David Alder/Jarvis Lorry: Pippa Winslow /Miss Pross: Tom Murphy/Gabelle: Christopher Gilling/Marquis St Evremonde: Mark Slowey/John Barsad: Neil Canfer/ Gaspard: Rebecca Wicking /The Seamstress and Matt Stevens/male ensemble + cover

UPDATE 24th April 2012:   Jonathan Ansell will not be doing all performances of A Tale of Two Cities. He will be performing on 5th-10th April inclusive and at Press Night on the 18th April. He then returns to the show on 24th April until the end of the run on 12th May. The role of Charles Darney will be shared with Antony Hansen who was the youngest Joseph finalist in Andrew Lloyd Webber's television show Any Dream Will Do,

The musical is dramatically staged by West End star Paul Nicholas and is in celebration of the bicentenary of Charles Dickens. 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

Jonathan Ansell joins Gareth Gates and Rachael Wooding in Momentous Musicals

Updated 24th May: West End stars Gareth Gates , Jonathan Ansell, Daniel Boys and Rachael Wooding will star in a gala concert of Momentous Musicals at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 19th July 2012.

Gareth Gates (Joseph, Les Misérables) leads this homage to musical theatre featuring songs from much-loved shows including West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and Miss Saigon. He is joined by a cast of West End stars including ex G4 member Jonathan Ansell, Daniel Boys (Avenue Q), William Sweet, Rachael Wooding (Jersey Boys, Hairspray, Fame, Evita) with an amazing ensemble of dancers and a live on stage band.

Momentous Musicals is produced by Neil Eckersley for Speckulation Entertainment. It is directed by John Garfield-Roberts, with choreography by Racky Plews.

Book tickets for Momentous Musicals

Latest Cast List for Les Miserables Film

With names being added on a daily basis, below is the latest very impressive cast which King's Speech director Tom Hooper has assembled for the movie of Les Miserables which is currently being shot in the UK and France and due to be released in December of this year, 

Principals: Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert; Anne Hathaway as Fantine; Sacha Baron Cohen as Thenardier, Daniel Huttlestone as Gavroche, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier; Amanda Seyfried as Cosette; Eddie Redmayne as Marius; Samantha Barks as Eponine; Aaron Tveit as Enjolras; George Blagden as  Grantaire, Bertie Carvel as Bamatabois and  Colm Wilkinson as the Bishop of Digne

Updated 16th April 2012: West End stars featuring in the movie include: Frances Ruffelle  (original Eponine in Les Mis) Gina Beck (Cosette in London, Christine in Phantom), Killian Donnelly (Raoul in London's Phantom), Daniel Evans (Sunday in the Park With George), Fra Fee (London's Les Mis), Hadley Fraser (Javert in London), Katie Hall (Cosette in the O2 Les Mis), Linzi Hateley (former Eponine), Michael Jibson (Our House, Road Show), Chris Key (London's Les Mis), Alexia Khadime (Eponine in London), Adrian Scarborough (Betty Blue Eyes), Caroline Sheen (Mary Poppins and Les Mis), Katy Secombe (Madame T in London's Les Mis), Jos Slovick (West End Spring Awakening),  Hannah Waddingham (Little Night Music, Spamalot, Into The Woods, The Wizard of Oz), Gemma Wardle (Eponine in London), Kerry Ellis (Les Mis, Oliver!, My Fair Lady, Wicked!, We Will Rock You), Alison Jiear (Jerry Springer),  Gemma Wardle (Eponine), Claire Foster (Avenue Q, Crazy For You), Nancy Sullivan (Eponine, Never Forget), Lynne Wilmot (Mme Thenardier, Oliver!, Jerry Springer), Ashley Artus (Thenardier), John Barr (Assassins, Bent), Adam Pearce (Evita, Oklahoma!,Love Never Dies), Gabriel Vick (Avenue Q, A Little Night Music) and jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth.

Sweeney Todd Broadway Bound?

In the last two interviews I have heard with Sweeney Todd’s Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton they mention Stephen Sondheim’s involvement, excitement and delight in both in the West End version which is due to open on 20th March and in the cast highlights CD which is due to be released on 2nd April.  

Certainly the excerpt they have just played on Graham Norton of Sweeney and Mrs Lovett singing "Priest"  makes me want to go out a get a copy as soon as it's available. Imelda Staunton stole the show for me and in the cast recording her acting abilities, vocal skills and comedy timing are showcased at their very best.

 They have also said that Sondheim is very keen for this updated version of his show (it is no longer kitsch Victoriania and now set in industrial London East End circa 1930) to transfer to Broadway. It has a limited run at the Adelphi and is currently due to close on Saturday 22nd September 2012.

Michael Ball looks very different as Sweeney as he is wearing a straightened hairpiece at the front and has grown a beard and lost weight (to avoid the obvious headline "guess who ate all the pies?") . He said "it's been great to leave the West End as an overweight mother of one (Edna Turnblad in Hairspray) and come back as serial killer". He has said he feels Sweeney Todd is Sondheim's greatest piece, and having seen it at Chichester and at previews I must say I agree with him.

Alfie Boe in BBC2 Titanic Commemoration Concert

Alfie Boe will be joining a star studded line-up including Bryan Ferry and Joss Stone in Titanic: A Commemoration in Music and Film, which will broadcast live on BBC 2 at 8:00 pm on April 14th, 100 years after the ill-fated liner hit an iceberg.

The 90 minute event comes from the Belfast Waterfront which is just across the river from the Harland and Wolff shipyard  where the famous ship was built.

It  will include the Ulster Orchestra and massed choir performances and reflect the stories of people associated with the Titanic - its design and construction and those whose lives were changed or lost as a result of its ill-fated north Atlantic journey.Archive and specially commissioned documentary material, accompanied by visual effects, will tell the story of the ship, those who built her and those who perished or survived.

Other performers confirmed to appear include Charlie Siem, one of the UK’s brightest new classical stars, violinist Nicola Benedetti, Colin Morgan (star of BBC One’s Merlin) and Ian McElhinney (City of Ember, Closing the Ring and Game of Thrones). The final line up of performers will be announced nearer to the event.

You can register for complimentary tickets to the event up until 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 28th at www.bbc.co.uk/tickets. A maximum of four tickets will be allocated per household address on the basis of a random draw.

Musical Theatre 2012 Olivier Award Nominations

The nominations for the 2012 Olivier Awards have just been announced at a ceremony at the  Mayfair Hotel hosted by 2011 Olivier Awards Best Actress winner Nancy Carroll and Best Actor Roger Allam.  The musical theatre shows which have been nominated are as follows:

Olivier Audience Award : Billy Elliot The Musical, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables and Wicked! are the four long-running shows that have made it onto the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award shortlist.

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical leads the Olivier Awards with MasterCard nominations, recognised in 10 categories which the maximum number of eligible awards for a musical. All four young actresses playing Matilda are nominated collectively for Best Actress in a Musical, while Bertie Carvel is recognised for Best Actor in a Musical and Paul Kaye is nominated for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical.

Best Director: Directors Sean Foley (The Ladykillers), Nicholas Hytner (One Man, Two Guvnors), Rufus Norris (London Road) and Matthew Warchus (Matilda The Musical).

Best Actress in a Musical: Kate Fleetwood (London Road), Sarah Lancashire (Betty Blue Eyes) Scarlett Strallen (Singin’ In The Rain) and the four Matildas.

Best Actor in a Musical: Bertie Carvel (Matilda), Nigel Lindsay (Shrek The Musical), Reece Shearsmith (Betty Blue Eyes) and Paulo Szot (South Pacific).

Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Sharon D Clarke (Ghost The Musical), Sophie-Louise Dann (Lend Me A Tenor), Nigel Harman (Shrek) , Paul Kaye (Matilda) and Katherine Kingsley (Singin’ In The Rain)

Best Musical Revival:  Crazy For You, Singin’ In The Rain, South Pacific and The Wizard Of Oz.

Best Theatre Choreographer: Peter Darling (Matilda),  Javier de Frutos (London Road), Stephen Mear (Crazy For You) and Andrew Wright (Singin’ In The Rain)

Best Lighting Design: Anna Christie/Howard Harrison,  Frankenstein/Bruno Poet,
Ghost The Musical/Hugh Vanstone and Matilda The Musical/Hugh Vanstone.

Best Set Design: Ghost/Rob Howell, The Ladykillers/Michael Taylor, Matilda/Rob Howell and One Man, Two Guvnors/Mark Thompson 

Best Costume Design: Crazy For You/Peter McKintosh,  Matilda/Rob Howell, Shrek/Tim Hatley and South Pacific/Catherine Zuber.

Best Sound Design; Ghost/Bobby Aitken, Frankenstein/Underworld and Ed Clarke, The Ladykillers/Ben and Max Ringham and Matilda/Simon Baker

The winners of the 2012 Olivier Awards will be announced in a ceremony at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 15th April  hosted by Sweeney Todd’s Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton.

Holly Dale Spencer to play Bianca in Chichester’s Kiss Me Kate

In the Chichester Festival Theatre Production of Kiss Me Kate the part of Bianca will be played by Holly Dale Spencer who is currently appearing in Crazy for You at the Novello Theatre.

Her musical theatre credits include: Betty Blue Eyes (Novello), Oliver! (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), The Grapes of Wrath (Chichester Festival Theatre and UK tour), Mary Poppins (UK tour), Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (Bristol Hippodrome), Santa Claus – The Musical (Alexandra, Birmingham), High Society (UK tour), Peter Pan (New Wimbledon), Anything Goes (UK tour), The Ha’penny Bridge (Point, Dublin), It’s a Wonderful Life (Riverside Studios), Quick Step with Caroline O’Connor (Lille Opera House), Aladdin (Sheffield Lyceum) and The Nutcracker (Birmingham Royal Ballet).

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

The only other 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.

Sweeney Todd Highlights CD

Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton and the cast of the new production of Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Theatre have recorded an album of the highlights which will be on sale at the theatre on the opening night of the show on 20th March or online from 2nd April. You can pre-order a copy here from Amazon

The track list is as follows:
Prelude / The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd
No Place Like London
Worst Pies In London
My Friends / The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd
Johanna
The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd
Wait
Kiss Me
Ladies In Their Sensitivities
Pretty Women
Epiphany
A Little Priest
God, That's Good!
Johanna (Reprise)
By The Sea
Not While I'm Around
Searching
The Judge's Return
Final Scene
The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd

This is a "highlights version" which was recorded in the presence of Stephen Sondheim and is similar to the 1979 Broadway highlights version. Numbers missing include Poor Thing, Green Finch, Pirelli's Miracle Elixir, The Contest, the Judge’s Johanna and ballads Ah Miss after Green Finch, Wigmakers Sequence/The Letter and Beadle's Parlor Songs.

Alfie Boe Touring again next March

Alfie Boe’s Bring Him Home Tour has been a great success and the singer has now confirmed an even bigger UK tour next March which will be playing at some of the country’s biggest arenas and the Royal Albert Hall in London. It follows his new studio album which is due to be released in early November 2012.

Below is a list of the Alfie Boe 2013 tour dates. Booking opens at 09:30 am on Friday 16th March:

22nd March Birmingham NIA: 23rd March Manchester MEN Arena: 25th March Edinburgh Playhouse: 27th March Glasgow Clyde Auditorium: 28th March Newcastle Metro Radio Arena: 30th March Brighton Centre: 31st March Plymouth Pavilions: 3rd April Bournemouth International Centre and 8th & 9th April London Royal Albert Hall.

Kander & Ebb Gala Starring Maria Friedman and Chita Rivera Cancelled

As previously reported, a tribute gala to song writing duo Kander and Ebb was due to take place at the Victoria Palace on April 29th.  The show was being produced by Barry Mishon to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Action.

This has now been cancelled and the charity which was supporting the show financially and announced last night that it was “unable to afford to proceed with this venture”.

The show was due to feature performers including Chita Rivera, Marvin Hamlisch, Maria Friedman, Janie Dee Tyne Daly and Frances Ruffelle.

Rebecca Musical back on track for Broadway Opening

The new musical Rebecca which starred newly engaged couple Sierra Boggess in the title role and Tam Mutu as Maxim de Winter was due to open on Broadway later this month but because of investment problems at the end of January the producers announced that it would be postponed until later this year. 

It has now been reported that the show might be making its Broadway debut sooner than expected at the Broadhurst Theatre when A Streetcar Named Desire closes there.

Producer Ben Sprecher writes "Rebecca is moving forward. We have identified the final missing piece of investment and the Shuberts (to whom I shall be forever indebted) have graciously allowed us to resume production to open at the Broadhurst in fall of 2012. Thank you all for you patience and most of all to the extraordinary creative team who have stuck by this fantastic production through thick and thin as Rebecca continues to play in productions throughout the world."

In answer to a question regarding potential casting for the show, or if the previously announced stars would still be with the production Spechrer wrote: "Rebecca the Musical we will be making casting announcement over the next several weeks." 

Tam Mutu is joining Les Miserables in London playing Inspector Javert in June so it is unlikely he will free. The rest of the original cast included  Karen Mason (Mrs. Danvers), James Barbour (Jack Favell), Howard McGillin (Frank Crawley), Donna English (Beatrice de Winter), Nick Wyman (Giles) and Henry Stram (Ben).

Jason Donovan and Mel C to assist Jesus Christ Superstar Auditions

Andrew Lloyd Webber is on the look out for a new Jesus Christ Superstar when he launches his new TV show later this year. He has just revealed that Jason Donovan and former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm are to assist him in the selection process.

Mel C and Jason will work with West End casting supremo David Grindrod during the callbacks which are taking place over the next three days when the best contenders are whittled down to a final 40 who will then undergo intensive training sessions before a winner is eventually picked.

But while the two stars will be helping during the initial stages, Lord Lloyd Webber is yet to announce who will be on the judging panel on the live shows. Previous judges include Charlotte Church, John Barrowman, Bill Kenwright, Barry Humphries and Denise Van Outen.

Jason has previously worked with the Lord when he appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other stage highlights include The Rocky Horror Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to name a few. 

Mel C has appeared in Blood Brothers in London's West End and offered advice to contestants who auditioned for the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said:  “I’m pleased to appoint David, Jason and Melanie to assist me with the candidates during Callbacks as I select my final 40 to go further for intensive training.  They will be using their unique arena and stage experience to help me narrow down my choices for the live shows. What we’re looking for is a rock star who will go on to sing the role of Jesus in the UK’s first ever arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Marti Pellow to join tour of Blood Brothers

He has been playing the Narrator in the West End production of Blood Brothers for a limited run, and now is due to join the tour of Blood Brothers for just five weeks from 12th June to 14th July when it visits Tunbridge Wells, Manchester and Glasgow. Maureen Nolan is playing Mrs Johnstone.

Marti Pellow was lead singer of the highly successful band Wet Wet Wet and has gone on to build a musical  theatre career starring in the West End, on Broadway and on National Tours in the musicals Chicago, Jekyll and Hyde and The Witches of Eastwick.  He also co-starred with Josh Groban in the TV and film special Chess in Concert.

Michael Ball as Sweeney Todd New Cast Recording

Stephen Sondheim will be at the Adelphi Theatre tomorrow for the first preview of his updated musical Sweeney Todd which he loved when it opened at Chichester last autumn.

It is now set in the 1930’s and directed by Jonathan Kent with amazing performances from Michael Ball as Sweeney and Imelda Staunton and Mrs Lovett.

Sondheim also oversaw a cast highlights album which it is hoped will be on sale by official opening night on March 20th.

South Pacific to take over from The Wizard of Oz at the Palladium?

The rumour that The Wizard of Oz is due to close to make way for the tour of South Pacific moving into the Palladium in the Autumn is gaining momentum as certain facts that are starting to substantiate this:

FACT:  Samantha Womack was due to leave the tour of South Pacific at the beginning of March but is now staying on for the remainder of the run sharing the role of Nellie Forbush with Rebecca Thornhill.  The tour is currently scheduled to end at Woking on 21st July.

FACT:  The new Wizard and Dorothy - Russell Grant and Sophie Evan - are currently contracted until 13th May so if the ailing show does not continue over the summer months South Pacific could easily be there by the Autumn.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical delayed until next Autumn

It was hoped that the new Sam Mendes musical of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory would begin previews at the London Palladium next spring, but it has now been put back until Autumn 2013.

Under the direction of Mendes and with songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (the team behind Hairspray)  using a libretto by David Greig (the man behind the National Theatre of Scotland's fantastical version of Peter Pan) the new musical is eagerly anticipated.  Designer Mark Thompson has already begun preliminary work on how The Chocolate Factory will look and Peter Darling will choreograph.

It will follow in the very successful footsteps of  Roald Dahl's Matilda which is going great guns at the Cambridge and due to open on Broadway next year.

Danielle Hope and Tam Mutu to join Les Miserables cast

Danielle Hope has recently left The Wizard of Oz where she played the part of Dorothy after winning the role on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Over The Rainbow talent search on BBC television.

She is now due to play Eponine in Les Miserables taking over the role from Alexia Khadime at the Queen’s Theatre from June 18th when the cast change will also see Geronimo Rauch playing Jean Valjean and Tam Mutu (Love Never Dies) as Inspector Javert.

Legally Blonde's Carley Stenson taking over from Kimberley Walsh as Shrek’s Princess Fiona

Carley Stenson is currently playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre until it closes on 7th April.  She will then take over from Kimberley Walsh as Princess Fiona in the production of Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane which has extended its booking period until 31 March 2013 releasing 389,000 for sale.

Carley Stenson is best known for her long-running part on the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and made her West End debut as Margot in Legally Blonde.  Her other stage credits include Grease (Palace Theatre, Manchester), Summer Song (Bridgewater Hall), Remembering Diana (Her Majesty’s), Godspell (Globe Theatre, Blackpool) and Aida (Opera House, Manchester).

Girls Aloud band member  Kimberly Walsh will play her final performance as Princess Fiona on 21st May  and Stenson joins the production on 23rd May.

Russell Grant's Emergency Knee Operation takes him away from Oz

Russell Grant was plagued by an injured knee when he was appearing in Strictly Come Dancing last year. 

He put off an operation to carry on appearing in the show and is currently playing the Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium but his knee hasn’t held out as hoped and he has to have an emergency operation on Saturday.

He is starting physio on Tuesday and aiming to back in the Land of Oz week commencing 22nd March. He is contracted to stay with show until 13th May. UPDATE:  Happily Russell made a good recovery from his op and returned to the land of Oz on the 22nd as planned.

Because of the emergency knee operation he will not now be doing HMS Pinafore.

Top Hat Musical Starlight Charity Gala Night

Irving Berlin’s Top Hat Tour has been tweaked with new songs added prior to its transfer into the Aldwych Theatre next month. It  is about to embark on two more tour dates this month at Woking and Bristol before it starts previews in London's West End in April.

It stars Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen in the roles originally played in the film by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Tom is an ambassador for the Starlight Charity and there is a special charity night of Top Hat the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre on Thursday 19th April at 7:30 pm. Tickets are £95 for top seats and an after show champagne celebration with the cast.

Starlight brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill children by granting them once-in-a-lifetime wishes and providing entertainment for children in hospitals and hospices throughout the United Kingdom. All Starlight’s activities are aimed at distracting children from the pain, fear and isolation they can often feel as a result of their illnesses.

All proceeds from the show will benefit Starlight. To book tickets visit http://www.starlight.org.uk/events/top-hat-the-musical/

David Essex Over the Moon

David Essex is currently starring in his touring musical All The Fun of the Fair.

He has just been interviewed on the Alan Titchmarsh show and said that his new autobiography Over the Moon has just reached number one in the Sunday Times bestsellers list.

He is also due to appear on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on BBC Radio2 on Friday 9th March  from 2:00pm

His new book is an update of A Charmed Life which was published in 2002.

He said of his new book: “With so many adventures I felt it was time to write them down. I hope the reader will enjoy the journey as much as I have.”

Cat Simmons taking over from Sam Barks in Oliver! Tour

Samantha Barks is currently playing Nancy in the tour of Oliver! but leaves on 1st April to start filming the Les Misérables film where she is playing Eponine opposite Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert.

Cat Simmons will take over the role from 3rd April mid way through the show's run at the Birmingham Hippodrome which is also the same date that Brian Conley takes over playing Fagin from Neil Morrissey.

Cat’s theatre credits include the leading role of Mary Magdalene in the tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. Her West End credits include Whistle Down the Wind and Fame. She appeared in the Young Vic’s Simply Heavenly and the Old Vic’s production of Aladdin opposite Ian McKellen. She is best for playing DC Kezia Walker in the ITV’s The Bill.

Jason Manford appearing with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton in Sweeney Todd

Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton are playing Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett in Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd which is due to start previews at the Adelphi Theatre on 10th March and open on the 20th.

The production was launched at Chichester Festival Theatre last year to great critical acclaim (with high praise from Sondheim himself) and much of the original cast have remained with the show for its West End transfer. They also made a cast recording of the highlights of Sweeney Todd last weekend which is due to be released

Michael Ball has regrown his beard in readiness for the role and he and Imelda Staunton have just been interviewed on the Jonathan Ross Show. One piece of breaking news is that Robert Burt who is playing Pirelli is away for a month during the run and comedian Jason Manford will be taking over his role. Manford won ITV's Born to Shine where celebrities put their new taught skills to the test in aid of Save the Children with his rendition of a Verdi aria.  He has a good operatic voice and has always wanted to appear in a musical guesting on Alfie Boe's Bring Him Home tour earlier this year.

According to Jason's Facebook page he is performing Pirelli from 2nd - 28th July and 15th 18th and 24th August

Victoria Beckham Delays Spice Girls Musical

According to the Daily Mail Victoria Beckham’s fashion career is taking precedence over the new Spice Girls musical Viva Forever which is being produced by Judy Craymer and written by Jennifer Saunders. Other projects included performances at the Olympics opening ceremony and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert with a big budget TV show also on the cards.

The plan was for Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown to lead a nationwide search to find the main characters for their West End show in a format similar to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s talent searches.

But plans have now been shelved as Victoria refuses to rejoin the band for new projects because she feels she is finally being taken seriously as a fashion designer and doesn’t want to jeopardise her new career.

Mel B is believed to be keen to push ahead with the TV show with a source telling the Mail: “Mel B is desperate for this show to happen. All the other girls would consider it, but Victoria has made her feelings very clear. Other than attending the world premiere of the musical, she wants to focus on her fashion career. She would be fine with the other four going ahead without her, but Emma doesn’t believe that’s the right thing to do.” Baby Spice Emma Bunton insists that the show doesn’t happen unless all five Spice Girls are involved. 

Matilda's Tim Minchin to Write New Musical

Tim Minchin is riding high in London’s West End after turning Roald Dahl’s Matilda into a critically acclaimed and commercially successful musical which is heading for Broadway next year
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But the talented British-born, Australian-raised writer has told The Standard that he going to write an original play against the advice of theatre impresarios Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Stephen Sondheim.

They all urged him to choose a classic story for a new show, but Minchin says he is "Desperate to do the opposite. I want to go back into my studio and get on my piano, and just see what I feel like writing. My suspicion is I will feel like writing a musical I've been thinking about since I was 18. It's an original story, which is apparently what musicals can't be. Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim and Cameron Mackintosh have all told me to my face I should concentrate on classic stories, and that makes me want to ignore them. Matilda's running and I've got my career in comedy, so I can handle a failure. It's a love story, quite dark: the lovers don't meet until quite late in the piece. It's about fate and destiny, quite a Greek-style drama with meddling, incompetent gods.”

Good luck to him I say as Matilda is one of the best thing's I've seen in the West End for a long while.

Kerry Ellis and Kaiser Chiefs Ricky Wilson to join Jeff Wayne’s new The War of the Worlds Arena Tour

The producers of Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: the New Generation – Alive on Stage promised they would announce two of the guest artistes who will be appearing in the new production when it opens at Dublin’s 02 Arena on 29th November.

The first name to be revealed is West End star Kerry Ellis playing Beth. She will star alongside Liam Neeson who is  replacing Richard Burton appearing in 3D holography as the story's narrator journalist George Herbert. At a press launch  this morning Ricky Wilson - the lead singer from the Kaiser Chiefs (pictured) has also been announced as playing the Artilleryman which is a role previously played by Jason Donovan and David Essex.

Kerry has an impressive list of West End credits since she joined the cast of Cameron Mackintosh's West End revival of My Fair Lady in 2001 performing the part of Eliza Doolittle on numerous occasions  while Martine McCutcheon was off. 

She was subsequently spotted by Brian May and Ben Elton and in 2002 was cast in We Will Rock You originating the role of Meat which she left in 2004 to play Ellen in Cameron Mackintosh's UK tour of Miss Saigon. In 2005 she joined the cast of Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre playing the role of factory girl Fantine. In 2008 Kerry played Svetlana in Chess In Concert at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Josh Groban .

Kerry played the green witch Elphaba in the production of Wicked! at the Apollo Victoria Theatre for two years and in 2010 took over the role of Nancy from Jodie Prenger in Cameron Mackintosh's London revival of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane which she played until the production closed on 7th January 2011.

Kerry has recently done a concert tour and launched her first full album “Anthems” which was produced by Brian May.

Jodie Prenger to play Elsie Tanner in Corrie Musical

Jodie Prenger shot to fame on Andrew Lloyd Webber's I’d Do Anything BBC talent show and has since been playing Nancy in Oliver! and the Lady of the Lake in the tour of Spamalot.  She has just taken over the role of Dolly in One Man, Two Guvnors at the Haymarket in London’s West End and is also now starring as Elsie Tanner in the Coronation Street Musical Street of Dreams.

The show premieres at the Manchester MEN Arena on 9th and 10th May.  It is being hosted by Pauil O'Grady and also stars Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch), William Roache (Ken Barlow) and Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts) who are recreating their iconic roles.

Jodie told the Manchester Evening News: “I just love the character of Elsie to bits. The great thing about it, it’s half my heart and half my head taking this role, as my nan was always known as Elsie Tanner. she was the spitting image of Elsie. My nan’s brother used to deliver all Pat Phoenix’s groceries, so it’s almost like I was destined to play the role. Also my fella’s called Simon Booth and of course Pat was married to Tony Booth. I couldn’t be happier. I’m up to my eyeballs on youtube watching old videos. It’s brilliant. Elsie Tanner is that cracking, strong northern woman, and there’s loads of strong northern women I’m going to be channelling into this role. She had her ups and downs. Every man should be scared of her!”

Jodie will play the older Elsie with guest stars playing the younger version.

For more information visit Street of Dreams