Ramin Karimloo pulls out of Company in Toronto

Updated 27th October: Ramin Karimloo has said that due to personal circumstances he will no longer be performing in this production.

According to an article in today's Toronto Star it is reported that Ramin Karimloo, the biggest musical star to come from the Greater Toronto Area, might at last be performing there.

If everything works out Karimloo will star as Bobby in Theatre 20’s production of Sondheim's Company in January after the Canadian launch of his debut album Human Heart in August and appearance at the Rose Theatre in Brampton in September. There is also a rumour that Karimloo will be the leading man when the new 25th anniversary tour of Les Misérables eventually arrives in Toronto.

“At first I was worried about the idea,” admits Karimloo. “Stephen Sondheim’s music is tough and it scares me. But the kind of things that Bobby deals with I can understand. When I heard that Gary Griffin (the Chicago-based director who has recently staged West Side Story, Evita and 42nd Street at Stratford) was going to be in charge, that helped a whole lot. I knew I had to be a part of it.”

Seems like Ramin could be away from the UK for a while ….?

Alfie Boe, Brian May & Kerry Ellis Royal Sunflower Jam Superjam Concert

Updated 14th August:  Steve Balsamo now joining line up.
This year's  Sunflower Jam Superjam charity concert is being held at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 16th September at 8:00 pm with artists including Alfie Boe, Bruce Dickinson, Brian May & Kerry Ellis and John Paul Jones - all introduced by Jeremy Irons.

Sunflower Jam works to raise money and awareness for holistic and integrated care for children, young people, adults and their families with a range of acute and chronic emotional, mental and physical conditions. Last year it focused its efforts on Great Ormond Street Hospital as it hoped to raise enough to build a room on the Children’s Oncology Ward.

Tickets for Sunflower Jam Superjam from  www.royalalberthall.com

Alfie Boe & Let It Be Cast at Proms in the Park

 Updated 5th September

The Beatles tribute musical Let It Be is due to start previews on 14th September for a limited season at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End.

They are due to open the BBC Proms in the Park 2012 playing a 30 minute set of Beatles hits in Hyde Park on 8th September.

Let it Be will kick off a night of spectacular musical celebrations with performers including Kylie Minogue, Alfie Boe, Il Divo and the London Community Gospel Choir.

Excerpts from Proms in the Park will be broadcast on Radio 3 during the interval of Last Night of the Proms on the 8th.

For tickets on BBC Proms in the Park visit www.seatwave.com

Mamma Mia’s Charlotte Wakefield in Cabaret at Landor

Charlotte Wakefield is currently playing Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia! in London’s West End, and she is due to appear in A Spotlight On... The Landor Theatre West End Cabaret Series which is a one night only performances on Sunday 19th August at the Clapham Theatre

A Spotlight On . . . allows musical theatre artists to share the music and stories that are important to them in their careers and personal lives.

Charlotte made her West End debut playing Wendla in the Original London Cast of Spring Awakening. Other theatre credits include: Juliet in Such Tweet Sorrow (RSC) Child in Merlin and Arthur and Mowgli in The Jungle Book (Chester Gateway Theatre).

Film includes: May in An Angel for May (Portman Films). Television includes: Cassie Turner in Waterloo Road (ITV), Ruby Heddon in The Royal (Yorkshire Television), Jess Swift in Occupation (BBC), Leap of Faith (BBC) and the semi regular role of Holly Cullen in Holby City (BBC)

Concerts include: Supporting Jonathan Ansell in Hold My Hand (Beverley Minster), Soloist in Finishing The Hat - Sondheim's 80th Birthday Concert (The Kings Head), Soloist in Snappy Title (Pigalle Club, London), Soloist in A Night In Wonderland (Hotel Du Vin, Brighton)

Tickets are priced at £16.00 (£14.00 concessions) from www.landortheatre.co.uk

The Great Gatsby Musical at King’s Head

From 7th August – 1st September The Great Gatsby Musical is playing at the King’s Head Theatre in North London.

This brand new musical is adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel. Conceived by composer and lyricist Joe Evans with director Linnie Reedman it is set in Roaring 20’s New York with its speakeasys, glamour and jazz. But one summer Jay Gatsby is the man who has everything. but one thing will always be out of his reach...

Sean Browne and Matilda Sturridge are playing Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan.

Tickets from https://kingsheadtheatre.ticketsolve.com

Hugh Jackman and Tom Hooper on LesMis Movie

In a joint interview with Australia’s Empire Magazine, Tom Hooper who directed the movie of Les Miserables and Hugh Jackman who is starring as Jean Valjean  made the following points.

Jackman sings his songs live in the movie alongside his fellow cast members, and he admits the motion picture 'feels immediate and real' just like the emotional production. “So much of your brain is on the miming, then you've got to act. The very first scene that I'm in, we were close to the Alps. It was below zero, it was very windy and you can see steam, you can hear the cold in my voice. Les Misérables' is one of the most emotive musicals ever written. There's no walk in the park scene. Everything is full-on.”

Director Tom Hooper has ensured it is a sung-through musical like the original production and insists there is 'nothing camp' about the motion picture and it is very grounded, very masculine and very strong about the big universal themes. “It's not first and foremost a musical. It's first and foremost a terrific story that uses the musical form to express itself. The thing about singing it live is it allows the illusion that the actors are thinking the songs up. I say to Hugh [Jackman], 'With that verse, just give yourself a fraction more time to let the new idea form, then sing about it'. It's completely revolutionary."

Les Misérables is due for release on January 11th 2013 in the UK and December 14th 2012 in the USA.

Divinely Bette (Midler) at the Gatehouse

A London based tribute act, Divinely Bette brings the most popular songs, characters, and comedy of the brilliant Bette Midler to life highlighting the musical hits of her career and celebrating the buxom comedienne

Divinely Bette is a part of the Camden Fringe Upstairs at the Gatehouse in Highgate Village from 6th-11th Augus.

The show features 12 hits including The Wind Beneath My Wings, Stuff Like That There and The Glory of Love as well as jokes and banter from the Divine Miss M herself. Please note that this show contains occasional swearing and bawdy humour.

This one woman show is performed by Kim Sheard who from the age of 12 has been getting comments about how she reminded people of Bette. After years of hating the comparison, she has finally decided that being Bette would be amazing - and decided to give it a try!

All shows are £12/£10 with tickets available from the Upstairs at the Gatehouse Box Office: 020 8340 3488 or online at www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com

Sierra Boggess & Julian Ovenden in The Broadway Sound Prom

John Wilson and his orchestra present Prom 59: The Broadway Sound - a tribute to the composers and arrangers including Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Vincent Youmans, Richard Rodgers and Frank Loesser - at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 27^th August at 8.00 pm.

The concert includes excerpts from Show Boat, No, No, Nanette, On Your Toes, Kiss Me, Kate and Annie Get Your Gun with guest soloists Sierra Boggess, Julian Ovenden, Anna-Jane Casey and Seth MacFarlane.

The prom will be Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 or shown on BBC2 on Saturday 1st September at 19:30 or you can book tickets at www.seatwave.com

Loserville Musical to open at the Garrick

Update 19th August: Now confirmed that Loserville starring Aaron Sidwell  is to start previews at the Garrick on 1st October.


Loserville (the musical by Elliott Davis and Busted's James Bourne) which just played at the West Yorkshire Playhouse starring Gareth Gates is rumoured to be coming to the West End in October with the Garrick Theatre being the likely playhouse after Chicago closes there on 1st September.

If the show does open in London Gates is no longer available to appear in the musical as he is now in the tour of Legally Blonde the Musical until October followed by The Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury from 30th November to 20th January 2013.

Voting for Superstar Final Tonight

Have been reading the ITV rules for the voting of the Superstar final tonight and there is no sing off as the contestant with the most votes will be declared the winner of the competition. 

If there is a tie tonight then the total viewers’ votes across the series to date will determine which contestant wins the competition. Although there is a rider that the producers reserve the right to change these guidelines

The final three performing tonight before voting lines open for the last time are Rory Taylor from the Wirral, Roger Wright from East London and Ben Forster from Sunderland. The show airs on ITV1 at 9:00 pm

Bookies are currently tipping Ben Forster to win as he is the only one of the trio not to have been in the bottom two for the sing off.

Mel C has been on the judging panel and is to perform her new single I Don’t Know How To Love Him which she will be singing as Mary Magdalene during the arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.

The other Jesus finalists are also returning to perform a group number

Curtains Musical Comedy at Landor

Curtains is a backstage musical comedy whodunnit from the creators of Cabaret and Chicago. It is playing at the Landor Theatre in South West London from 25th July – 1st September.

Curtains has a book by Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), lyrics by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander with additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes, based on the original book and concept by Peter Stone. It opened on Broadway in 2006 and was nominated for 8 Tony Awards and 9 Drama Desk Awards:  winning the Outstanding Book of a Musical.

Cast: Jeremy Legat (Lt Frank Cioffi), Bronwyn Andrews (Niki Harris), Fiona O’Carroll (Georgia Hendricks), Buster Skeggs (Carmen Bernstein), Leo Andrew (Aaron Fox), Bryan Kennedy (Christopher Belling), Daniella Bowen (Bambi Bernet), Tom Pepper (Daryl Grady), Dudley Rogers (Johnny Harmon), Martin Bishop (Oscar Shapiro), Thomas Sutcliffe (Bobby Pepper), Stephanie Parker (Jessica Cranshaw), Michael Webborn (Sasha Iljinsky), Josh Wilmott (Randy Dexter), Louise Gookey (Mona Paige), Zachary Morris (Harv Fremont), Julia Cave (Roberta Wooster), Alastair Knight (Detective O’Farrell) and Greg Herst (Russ Cochran).

Tickets from: www.landortheatre.co.uk

Rebecca Caine & Helena Blackman in The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is being presented at the Kilworth House Theatre in Leicestershire from 21st August to 16th September.

Helena Blackman is Maria, Nathan Taylor is Captain Von Trapp, Rebecca Caine is playing Elsa Shraeder and Jan Hartley is Mother Abbess in one of the most popular musicals of all time which originally opened on Broadway in November 1959 and was made into a film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

It features Rodgers & Hammerstein classic numbers including Edelweiss, My Favourite Things, Climb Ev'ry Mountain Do-Re-Mi and the title song The Sound of Music.

Tickets from https://tickets.kilworthhousetheatre.co.uk

Ghost Broadway Closure Next Month

 Ghost The Musical opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway on April 23rd with critics greeting it with pretty indifferent reviews.

The London leads Caissie Levy and Richard Fleeshman went to New York with the production but the show has now been given its closing notices and is due to shutter on August 18th after 39 previews and 136 performances. It has been playing around 60% capacity for some time.

There is a national tour due to start in Autumn 2013, with plans for productions in Korea, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Japan, China and Australia.

The London production opened at the Piccadlly Theatre on July 19th 2011 to good reviews but is due to close on October. 6th.

Superstar's Nathan James – Crown of Thorns Tweet

I was quite shocked last night when Nathan James was in the sing off and the Lord chose Roger to stay.  I was certain that the bottom two would be Roger and David, as Nathan has a fantastic voice but clearly there have been issues backstage about his over-confident behaviour if all the rumours are to be believed.

Even Gary Barlow who was waxing lyrical about the other four finalists being “great guys”, “lovely to work with” just described Nathan as “having a great voice and very confident”.

I could never understand why he never got through on The Voice so maybe his reputation preceded him there?

Lord Lloyd Webber was clearly very upset with him and it seems a drawing that one of Nathan’s fans did with him wearing a crown of thorns was the straw that broke the camel’s back so to speak.  The Lord seemed to be very angry that Nathan had retweeted the drawing (shown above).  He mentioned his arrogance again and then embarrassingly ranted about his tweeting. "Why do you tweet this nonsense?"causing an embarrassed silence and visibly upset Nathan who immediately went back on twitter to claim that Andrew clearly hated him (not a good move I would suggest).

Many of Nathan’s fans are saying that they could not get through on his phone line to vote for him last night and a leading theatre magazine described his demise as “stitched up like a kipper”.  But in a large show like Jesus Christ Superstar it is important that the company pulls together and hopefully Nathan now understands this.  When he had to do the sing off he looked visibly upset and humbled.

My favourite now to win is Ben closely followed by Rory.  I love Roger but just don’t think his voice is right for the part.  ALW has a habit of finding jobs for the contestants he likes to hopefully now that they have got this far their future in musical theatre is assured.  Nathan has a debut album out so this is certainly not the last we have heard of him.

Superstar's Mel C Releases I Don't Know How To Love Him

Melanie C has just released her version of I Don’t Know How to Love Him which she will be singing as Mary Magdalene on the forthcoming arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.   This track is now available for download on iTunes at http://itun.es/i6jY2Xb or you can listen to a preview on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_2BGhfcU0

It is part of her new album Stages which will be released on 10th September and features a collection of songs from the theatre.

Melanie will also perform the song during the finals of Superstar on Wednesday 25th July which is on ITV1 at 9:00 pm

Dreamboats & Petticoats Closing Next Month at Playhouse

The jukebox musical Dreamboats and Petticoats based on popular songs from the fifties and early sixties is to shutter early at the Playhouse Theatre in London.  The Bill Kenwright production was booking until November but will close in two weeks' time on 4th August.

The musical was written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran and was first performed at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley in February 2009 followed by a UK tour.  It  moved into the Savoy Theatre in London's West End from July to September in 2009 and then returned to the Playhouse Theatre in 2010 with Tony Christie and Des O'Connor appearing in the show for limited periods.

There is a second national tour of Dreamboats & Petticoats which is booking until 24th November. 

Peter Polycarpou - Laugh and Be Happy at Hippodrome Casino

Peter Polycarpou is currently turning in a great performance as Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Theatre. He has extensive theatre credits including Miss Saigon, Les Misérables , The Phantom of the Opera , Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Secret Garden, The Woods and Love Story.

Peter is directing and starring in his own retrospective of Randy Newman’s work at London's Hippodrome Casino on Sunday 26th August at 8:00 pm.

Laugh And Be Happy has eight principal performers who will sing solo and group arrangements by Peter Polycarpou, with musical arrangements by Steve Edis and musical direction by Robert Emery.

Numbers include You've Got a Friend In Me, Same Girl, When She Loved Me, Strange Things, Glory Train, Feels Like Home, Short People, Simon Smith and his Amazing Dancing Bear and Mama Told Me Not To Come.

The guest artists are Josafina Gabrielle, Rebecca Trehearn, Clive Rowe, Nick Holder and  Leila Benn Harris with principal soloists Bex Hinds, Maisey Bawden, Mimi Edwards, Jasmine Gur, Marcus Ayton, Dan Fraser, Jackie-Ross Lavender, Rob Houchen and company members Scarlett Baxter and Benn Llewellyn

Tickets at www.hippodromecasino.com

Sheridan Smith as Hedda Gabler

Sheridan Smith looking amazing as Hedda Gabler which opens at the Old Vic next September.

Seems a long way from "Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps"

(photo courtesy of Old Vic)

Boy George Musical Taboo Extends Booking Period

Updated 27th October:  Booking for Taboo now extended until March 31st 2013 at Brixton Clubhouse

The full cast  has now been announced for the new production of Boy George's Taboo at Brixton Club House. Previews start on 6th September with an official opening on the 12th.  The production runs until 23rd December.

Matthew Rowland plays Boy George. He will be joined by Sarah Ingram as young photographer Billy's mother Josie and Michael Matus will play her drunk and homophobic husband.  Paul Baker is Philip Sallon, Sam Buttery/Leigh Bowery, Adam Bailey/Marilyn, Katie Kerr/Sue Tilley, Owain Williams/Steve Strange, Niamh Perry/Kim and Alistair Brammer as Billy. Plus Daniella Bowen as Janey the journalist, Zeph Gould, Alex Hammond and Jennifer Hepburn as the ensemble.

To book tickets contact the box office on 08444 771 000 or visit  www.ticketweb.co.uk

Matilda the Musical Broadway Dates Announced

The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of  Matilda the Musical continues to be one of the hottest tickets in London’s West End having won 7 Olivier Awards and booking at the Cambridge Theatre until next February.

The Broadway transfer dates have now been announced with Matilda beginning previews at the Shubert Theatre on 4th March 2013 with an opening night scheduled for 11th April.

The production will be directed by Matthew Warchus with casting still to be announced.

New Tour of Hairspray the Musical next year

Hairspray the musical is hitting the road again next year with comedy actor Mark Benton (pictured) starring as Edna Turnblad.

Rehearsals start on 2nd January with the tour of Hairspray the Musical due to open at the Salford Lowry on 13th February 2013.

You can find full details of the tour venues for Hairspray the Musical here.  Booking details to follow shortly.

Mark Benton  is perhaps best known for his roles as Eddie in Early Doors and Howard in Northern Lights. He also played head teacher Mike Newgent in the ITV drama Britannia High and was  featured in  BBC's  Hustle

He has appeared in the seventh series of the BBC drama Waterloo Road playing teacher  Daniel 'Chalky' Chalk. Last year he played Mr Perks in the highly successful  the Railway Children which played at Waterloo Station.

Benton said:  "I can't wait to start Hairspray, it's going to be amazing fun and an interesting challenge for me as it's my first adventure into the world of musicals...that I get to go on that adventure playing a Baltimore housewife is an added bonus! As a musical I think it has everything, great songs, great script, really interesting story and lots and lots of laughs...I hope!"

Janie Dee replacing Caroline O'Connor in Hello Dolly

Update 19th October:  Michael Xavier playing Cornelius
Update 10th September:  Caroline O'Connor has pulled out of  Hello Dolly at the  Leicester Curve Theatre which will play there from November 30th-January 12th.

She will be replaced by Janie Dee Playing Dolly Levi who is described as a glamorous and wise cracking woman with a big heart.

The story is about Dolly who is determined to bring love to Barnaby and Cornelius who are not leaving Manhattan until they've each kissed a girl. But she soon realises that one of her suitors brings more than a little sparkle to her own eye - with hilarious consequences!

With music and lyrics are by the great Jerry Herman who also wrote La Cage Aux Folles, Mack and Mabel and Mame,  Hello Dolly! is directed by Curve Artistic Director Paul Kerryson.

It is full of great dance numbers including Walters' Gallop at Harmonia Gardens and the iconic New York Parade with classic numbers like Put on Your Sunday Clothes, Before the Parade Passes By and of course Hello Dolly!

The 1969 film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards starring Barbra Streisand and Michael Crawford ..

For tickets visit: www.curveonline.co.uk

Gareth Gates Celebrity MasterChef

UPDATE Tuesday 21st August: I thought Gareth acquitted himself very well on the show last night.  He's on again tonight at 18:30

UPDATE Thursday 9th August:  Gareth will be appearing on Celebrity Masterchef on BBC2 on 20th August at  18:30


Gareth Gates has just joined the cast of the tour of Legally Blonde playing law student Warner and is due to appear in pantomime over Christmas in Cinderella at Grimsby. But next month you can see him on BBC2 demonstrating his culinary skills on the next series of Celebrity MasterChef .

John Torode and Gregg Wallace will welcome a host of celebrities including Gareth , TV and radio presenter Jamie Theakston, Bucks Fizz singer Cheryl Baker, Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon, comedian Jenny Éclair, garden designer Diarmuid Gavin, presenter Michael Underwood and Richard McCourt (Dick from Dick and Dom).

The tasks in store for the latest crowd of celebrity chefs will include feeding hungry customers at The Royal Holloway University and Chessington World of Adventures, catering on the set of New Tricks and cooking a meal to be judged by former winners Lisa Faulkner and Phil Vickery.

This is the seventh series of the show which will be 30 episodes long and screened over a six-week period at 6:30pm on BBC2 starting on 13th August.

Jason Robert Brown Concert with Ramin Karimloo

Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown is performing a special concert in aid of the National Youth Music Theatre with some very special guests including Lara Pulver who is a long-time collaborator of Jason’s and star of Sherlock and Spooks and West End leading man and concert star Ramin Karimloo.

All proceeds from the concert will go towards the NYMT Bursary Scheme which supports the best young musical theatre talent throughout the country to help them develop their skills.

Jason Robert Brown & Special Guests will be held at the Apollo Theatre on Sunday 26th August at 7:30 pm.  

Tickets from www.nimaxtheatres.com

Superstar Finalists Selected

And the final 10 Jesi selected by Lord Lloyd Webber tonight are:
  
Rory Taylor, Nathan James, David Hunter, Ben Forster, Niall Sheehy, Roger Wright, Jeff Anderson, Dirk Johnston, Afnan Iftikhar and Tim Prottey Jones with Jon Moses as the reserve.

These names differ slightly from the previous list of six of the finalists published in a Daily Mail article a week or so ago.

Since they were selected the final 10 have undergone some intensive training and you can hear them sing live tomorrow night on ITV1 at 8:00 pm in front of a studio audience and the judging panel of the Lord, Dawn French, Jason Donovan and Mel C.

Superstar Finalists in Majorca Tonight

The third episode of Superstar tonight is on ITV1 at 8:00 pm and sees the remaining contestants in the running to play Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar on the Island of Mallorca.

They are staying at the Lord's holiday home in Deia which is a small, traditional coastal village on the northern ridge of the island known for its literary and musical residents. 10 will be sent home immediately leaving 20 to sing solo so that ALW can select his final 10 to go through to the live shows for the public to vote for their favourite. But before he makes his final decision the 20 are put on tour buses to make a 25 hour journey acros Europe back to London to sing the same song again for ALW, Jason Donovan and Mel C but this time with a live band.

There are still some West End leading men who have been kept very much in the background on the first two shows which have concentrated more on inexperienced auditionees like plumbers and barmen as they provide good TV.

I know that Oliver Tompsett has pulled out due to his commitments playing Drew in Rock of Ages, but Alex Gaumond (Legally Blonde, We Will Rock You) and Jonathan Williams (alternate John Valjean in Les Miserables) are still in the running.  I also suspect that the very confident(?)  Nathan James with the long blonde locks who didn't make it through his first audition for The Voice and is a member of the Tenors of Rock will get through to the final 10.

Marti Pellow Boulevard of Life Concert

He is currently starring as the narrator in the tour of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers, but Marti Pellow is due to return to his roots and perform his concert Boulevard of Life with the RTE Concert Orchestra.

It will feature songs from Wet Wet Wet, his solo career and work in musical theatre as well as songs that just "float my boat or have a story that means something to me from a chapter in my life".

The concert will be held at 8:00 pm on Friday 17th August at the National Concert Hall in Dublin.  Tickets from: www.nch.ie

Lee Mead off to LA

Lee Mead has revealed he asked for a judging role on Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's Superstar saying:, ''I put myself forward but the producers weren't too keen. I just thought it would have been quite nice as I've been through the process myself.''  But as things have turned out he wouldn't have been available anyway,

His new show West End Men opens in Jersey tomorrow night (Lee's 31^st birthday) and then goes on a short tour to Guernsey, Guildford and then Scotland towards the end of the year.  

Lee is then heading to Los Angeles for three months in August to pursue a career in TV but will miss his wife Denise Van Outen and baby daughter Betsy saying: ''Thank God for Skype! I'll also fly back a couple of times and I'll be back for Christmas. Then I go back out again for pilot season at the start of next year.''

Julian Ovenden and Annalene Beechey in My Fair Lady Prom Tomorrow

There is a semi-staged concert version of My Fair Lady on Saturday 14th July at the Royal Albert Hall starring Anthony Andrews at Professor Henry Higgins, Annalene Beechey as Eliza Doolittle, Julian Ovenden as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, James Fleet as Colonel Hugh Pickering, Alun Armstrong as Alfred P Doolittle, Sian Phillips as Mrs Higgins and Jenny Galloway as Mrs Pearce.

This is John Wilson and his orchestra’s first ever recreation of a complete musical (running time 170 minutes). His version of Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady revives the Oscar-winning orchestrations supervised by André Previn for the 1964 film.

Tickets from: www.bbc.co.uk/proms/

Sheridan Smith Film Tower Block Premiere in August

Sheridan Smith was filming the movie Tower Block in East London earlier this year with Russell Tovey and Jack O’Connell.

Film4 FrightFest has revealed it will close the festival in London on Monday 27th August. Doctor Who and Torchwood writer James Moran wrote the film which is centred on Tower Block 31: home to a brutal murder over a year ago.

The residents are too scared to come forward and the crime is never solved. But twelve months pass and the tenants of Tower Block 31 suddenly find that they’re being picked off by a sniper who is setting deadly traps throughout the building.

Film4 FrightFest will run from 23rd-27th August at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square. Tickets from www.empirecinemas.co.uk

Dates, Times and Description for Superstar Shows

Last weekend saw the start of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest castfest for someone to play the lead in his new Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour.

Show One last Saturday covered call-back auditions at Brixton Academy where Andrew Lloyd Webber, West End Casting Director David Grindrod, Melanie C and Jason Donovan whittled the final 100 down to 40.

Show Two on Sunday saw the 40 contestants at Sandal Superstar Island  performance school undergo an intensive week of vocal, acting and dance training when they were whittled down to 30.

Show Three tomorrow (Saturday 14th July at 20:00-21:00) is pre-recorded and covers performances at Andrew’s house in Majorca where 20 more contestants are eliminated.
 
Show Four (Sunday 15th July 20:00-21:00) Remaining 10 contestants perform at the London docks before the live shows.

Then we go into Superstar Live shows where the public can vote for their favourite.  Every night the show airs on ITV1 from 21:00-22:30

•    Monday 16th July / Tuesday 17th July / Wednesday 18th July / Thursday 19th July / Friday 20th July / Monday 23rd July / Tuesday 24th July (semi final) and Wednesday 25th July (final)

The live shows will be performed before the judging panel of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jason Donovan, Dawn French and Melanie C has now been added after impressing producers with her input during the audition process and at last weekend’s shows. 

She has a vested interest in finding the right actor as she is playing Mary Magdalene in the JCS arena tour.

Casting for Viva Forever Spice Girls' Musical

The first bit of casting for the Spice Girls’ Musical Viva Forever has been announced by Baz Bamigboye in today’s Mail.  Hannah John-Kamen will be playing Viva and Sally Ann Triplett will be her mother Lauren.

They both took part in the two workshops and the producer Judy Craymer (of Mamma Mia! fame) described Sally Ann as the show’s “Anchor. A kind of feisty earth mother type with a Spice spirit” playing Lauren, who lives with her adopted daughter, Viva, on a houseboat.


Sally Ann Triplett is currently playing Donna  Sheridan in Mamma Mia! at the Prince Of Wales Theatre. A very experienced performer she has extensive musical theatre credits including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Follies, Chess at the Prince Edward Theatre, Grease, Jolson The Musical , Cats, Anything Goes,  Guys and Dolls, Chicago and Lend Me A Tenor.

Hannah John-Kamen recently graduated from the Central School Of Speech & Drama and is the daughter of a Nigerian forensic psychologist and a Norwegian former model. She has been working on several television programmes. She

Rehearsals for Viva Forever! begin in October with previews starting at the Piccadilly Theatre on November 27th and an opening night on December 11th.

Chicago to Close at the Garrick

The musical Chicago which is currently playing at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End is to close on 1st September.  It was booking until January 2013.

The show opened in London 15 years ago with Ruthie Henshall and Ute Lemper playing Velma and Roxie with other stars appearing in the show including included Maria Friedman, Henry Goodman, Nigel Planer,  Denise Van Outen, Linzi Hateley, Marti Pellow, David Hasselhoff, John Barrowman, Tony Hadley, Jerry Springer, Claire Sweeney, Frances Ruffelle, Jennifer Ellison, Jill Halfpenny, Brooke Shields, Sally Ann Triplett, Bonnie Langford, Tina Arena and Christie Brinkley.

The show ran at the Adelphi Theatre for nine years until transferring to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006 and the Garrick in November 2011.

Robin Cousins is taking over the role of lawyer Billy Flynn from Raza Jaffrey on 17th July and will stay until September saying he wanted to close the show  "with the winner’s laurel on our heads".

There is still a tour of Chicago the Musical starring Ali Bastian (Hollyoaks, The Bill, Strictly Come Dancing, Burn the Floor) as Roxie Hart, Stefan Booth (EastEnders) as Billy Flynn, Tupele Dorgu (Coronation Street) as Velma Kelly and Bernie Nolan as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton which is currently booking until 15th December.

West End Stars through to Superstar Island

I have just been watching the first episode of Superstar on ITV where David Grindrod, Jason Donovan, Mel C (and Andrew Lloyd Webber in a separate room and loved his asides) were at Brixton 02 Academy auditioning the 104 call backs selected from the initial countrywide open auditions. 

I have already written about Jonathan Ansell’s audition, and have to say was impressed by the overall standard of the potential Superstars.  But one of the best things for me was that Jonathan Williams (pictured) got through.

He auditioned as one of the four Rock Tenors (3 of which got through) but Jonathan has played a number of musical theatre roles including the alternate Jean Valjean in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre.  In my opinion Jonathan has been waiting in the wings for a long time and it’s great that he has time to shine.

40 call backs were selected from tonight’s auditions to go to Superstar Island to undergo a week’s intensive training including acting and vocal coaching and the dreaded choreography. 10 contestants will be eliminated at the end of the show bringing the number down to 30. This will be shown at 8:00 pm tomorrow night.

West End performers on Superstar Island that I spotted in the closing minutes of tonight’s show were Jonathan Ansell, Alex Gaumond (We Will Rock You, Legally Blonde) and Oliver Tompsett who is currently playing Drew in Rock of Ages.

The arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar kicks off the 02 in September. 

You can find the full schedule of all the ITV Superstar shows here.

Jonathan Ansell on Superstar Tonight

Updated 19:55 7th July: As mentioned some time ago, Jonathan Ansell (who was once a member of X Factor G4 operatic boy band) took some time out when he was appearing in the musical A Tale of Two Cities to attend auditions to play the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.

G4 sold 1.5 million records and had five sell-out tours before splitting in 2007 when Jonathan went on to sign a £1million pound solo deal with Universal. He has appeared in the touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Whistle Down the Wind, performed several concerts and tours and is currently touring with Bohemian Rhapsody before going on to do panto at Sheffield over Christmas.

Which is  probably why he chose to sing Queen's “Somebody To Love” at his Superstar audition.  I have heard Jonathan sing this and the impossible Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar and with his classically trained voice he can really put these difficult numbers across,.

You can see his audition tonight on Superstar which launches on ITV1 at 7:25 pm when he says “I'm delighted to have got through and be here today. I hope all the panel can see I could be Jesus”  ALW called it a ''Stunning audition'' but there was a problem as he was signed to take part in another show (A Tale of Two Cities) with clashing dates. But the good news is that the director and producer Paul Nicholas agreed to release him for the dates he needed to be available for the Superstar selection process. 

Jonathan has a very loyal and large fan base so can certainly count on a lot of support if he is through to the final shows for the public to vote,

And he has been growing his hair for a more Jesus/rock look hopefully in readiness for the final shows ….?

We Will Rock You Announces 10th Anniversary Tour

We Will Rock You has just announced a 10th Anniversary World Arena Tour which kicks off in March 2013 at Nottingham Trent Arena.  The show will also continue to play at London’s Dominion Theatre.

This is the first We Will Rock You world arena tour featuring 24 of Queen’s biggest hits. The world tour will visit arenas in Finland, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Turkey, Bulgaria and the UK and Ireland. Further dates in Japan, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia will be announced shortly.

The production will be directed by Ben Elton, with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors. Arlene Phillips oversees the musical staging and choreography.

Booking opens shortly at the following UK venues: 27-30 March Nottingham Trent FM Arena /4- 6 April - Dublin 02 Arena / 30 May -2 June Sheffield Motorpoint Arena/ 5- 9 June Leeds Arena /12-15 June Belfast Odyssey Arena / 18 -22 June Newcastle Metro Arena .

More European tour dates to folow.

Andrew Lloyd Webber talking to Amanda Holden about Superstar

Andrew Lloyd Webber has just been talking to Amanda Holden (who is standing in for Lorraine Kelly on ITV1) about his new show Superstar which starts tomorrow night at 7:25 pm

The team led by West End casting director David Grindrod auditioned  about 5000 people up and down the country - some of extremely high standard -  and are now done to the final 10 so that the public can vote for their favourite to appear on the Jesus Christ Superstar Arena tour.

 Jason Donovan (who is on the judging panel for Superstar) and Mel C (who is playing Mary Magdalene in the arena tour) were there to help during the final stages of the thinning out process. It's also a bit of a coup getting the Vicar of Dibley (Dawn French) to join the judging panel to find a Jesus.

ALW said the winner as he needs to have amazing stage presence and incredible charisma and make the audience believe he can perform miracles. Not a lot to ask!

Idina Menzel UK Concerts Announced

The Tony award-winning Idina Menzel is appearing in concert for one week from October 8th-14th at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End.  She will be accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra and will also do one off concerts at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on October 16th and the Palace Theatre Manchester on the 17th for which booking is now open.

Her concerts will feature material she has performed over 18 months of touring in the States plus a lot of new stuff including be songs from Wicked and Rent, some standards from Cole Porter and some medleys from the 30`s.

I last saw her in the UK at the Royal Albert Hall with Marvin Hamlisch as her MD and was blown away by her performance.

Miss Menzel created the part of Maureen in the musical Rent (off and on Broadway) and was the original green witch Elphaba in Wicked in San Francisco, New York and  London.

She recently released her new CD Barefoot at the Symphony in the UK.

She is currently recording dialogue and songs for the Disney animated film Frozen where she plays a queen before she resumes her US tour.

Busy Year for Cats

The musical Cats will be back on tour early in 2013. It will be produced by RUG/David Ian and Cameron Mackintosh.  And according to Baz in today’s Mail it is also due to play at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre next summer. (But the theatre are saying there is no truth in this rumour).

Another strong rumour is that it will be back in London’s West End in time for Christmas 2013. 

Watch this space for more information and dates . . .

David Essex Lifetime Achievement Award

David Essex OBE has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Children's Charity Variety for his services to music and entertainment.

David is taking time out from rehearsals for his Rock Tour which starts on 25th October to attend his Lifetime Achievement Award Evening on Saturday 20th October at the Palace Hotel, Oxford Road, Manchester.

Tickets at £75.00, £100.00 and a limited number of VIP tickets for £200.00 each.

More information coming soon from http://variety.org.uk  or email: northwest@variety.org or call 0161 236 0500.

Claire Sweeney & Wendi Peters in White Christmas at Lowry

Claire Sweeney and Wendi Peters are playing Betty Haynes and Martha Watson in the musical based on the classic 1954 movie White Christmas at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester from 29th November- 5th January.
 
Claire is a seasoned musical theatre performer (Guys & Dolls, Shout, Fosse, Chicago, Tell Me On A Sunday) and television (Brookside, Clocking Off, Loose Women).  She is currently on a UK tour of Educating Rita with Matthew Kelly.

Wendi Peters is probably best known for her role as Cilla Battersby-Brown on Coronation Street but her stage credits include (Follies, The Vagina Monologues, Grumpy Old Women, The Mystery of Edwin Drood).

White Christmas has an ensemble of over thirty accompanied by a 17 piece orchestra. It is full of classic Irving Berlin hits including Blue Skies, How Deep Is The Ocean, Happy Holidays, Sisters and White Christmas.

Casting for the two male leads (played in the movie by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) has yet to be announced.

Book tickets www.thelowry.com

Jonathan Ansell Classical Goes Pop Concert

He is currently on a tour of Bohemian Rhapsody featuring the songs of Queen  which is due to end in Monte Carlo on 14th August and is also appearing in Momentous Musicals at Wimbledon Theatre on 19th July. , but Jonathan Ansell is also performing at Classical Goes Pop on the August Bank Holiday weekend at 7:00 pm on Saturday 25th August at Grimsby Auditorium.

The two hour show will feature music from Gershwin, Porter and Joplin.

Tickets at: www.event-tickets.org.uk

Full Schedule Details of Jesus Christ Superstar ITV Shows

Updated 8th July:
Below are full details of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Superstar shows with the provisional ITV1 listings added from 14th-20th July:

• Show One (Saturday 7th July, 19:25 - 20:25) Auditions with Andrew Lloyd Webber and West End Casting Director David Grindrod. Brixton Academy callbacks with Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Grindrod, Melanie C and Jason Donovan (final 100 down to 40).
• Show Two (Sunday 8th July 20:00 - 21:00) - Superstar Island  performance school with an intensive week of vocal, acting and dance training. (final 40 down to 30)
• Show Three (Saturday 14th July at 20:00-21:00)  - performances at Andrew’s house in Majorca (final 30 down to 20). Contenders travel back via Superstar coach. 
• Show Four (Sunday 15th July 20:00-21:00) - Final Challenge - contenders perform for one final time at London docks overlooking the O2 (the first venue of arena Tour). ALW chooses his final 10 for the live shows.
•  Superstar Live:  Monday 16 July, 21:00 - 22:30 / Tuesday 17 July, 21:00 - 22:30 / Wednesday 18 July, 21:00 - 22:30 / Thursday 19 July, 21:00 - 22:30 / Friday 20 July, 21:00 - 22:30.

Plus interviews are now being given by Amanda Holden on ITV's This Morning tomorrow (5th July) and Andrew Lloyd Webber will be on ITV1's Lorraine on Friday 6th  July and The Graham Norton Show on BBC Radio2 on  Saturday 7th July.