Full Cast for Tour of Cats

The new tour of Cats the Musical is currently in rehearsal and due to open at Edinburgh Playhouse on 9th February.

Below is the full cast list:  Joanna Ampil/Grizabella: Katie Warsop/Rumpleteazer: Clare Rickard/Jellylorum: Melissa James/Baombalurina: Lily Fraser/Demeter: Alice Redmond/Jennyanydots: Alicia Beck/Victoria/White Cat: Dawn Williams/Jemima: Nicholas Pound/Old Deutoronomy: Ben Palmer/Munkustrap: Oliver Savile/Rum Tum Tugger: Joseph Poulton/Quazo/Mistoffelees: Paul F Monaghan/ Asparagus/Bustopher Jones/Growl Tiger: Barnaby Thompson/Mungojerrie: Ross Finnie/Skimbleshanks: Jessica Buckby/Cassandra: Lizzi Franklin/Tantomile: Joal Morris/Carbucketty: Richard Astbury/Coricopat: Cameron Ball/Admetus/Macavity: James Darch/Alonzo and Will Lucas as Bill Baily

Great Tickets and Meal Deals on Musicals

48 Hour Meal Deal Sale - all packages £24 if booked between Wednesday 30th January  10:00am – Friday 1st February 10:00am for shows including:

    Spamalot
    Singin’ in the Rain
    STOMP
    Midnight Tango
    Mamma Mia!
    Thriller Live

Spamalot – original ticket price up to £59.50 down to £24 including a meal – best deal out of them all at the moment – it has strictly limited availability on the top price seats though. Monday – Wednesdays 30th Jan – 11th April – going to be packaged with fire and stone restaurant in Covent Garden – one course meal – a choice of pizza.

Singin’ in the Rain – original ticket price is up to £50 Dress Circle seats – second best deal – it includes all seats up to that price though so Balcony & Dress and may have restricted view at the top. – Monday – Thursday until March 31st excl. half term – going to be packaged with Little Sicily Italian restaurant – soho – 2 courses as well as Cabana restaurant – St Giles place – 2 courses.

STOMP – original ticket is up to £49.50 Rear Dress Circle Seats – this will be packaged with Battersea Pie Station in Covent Garden – pie and mash – All performances excluding Saturdays – until 30th March.

Midnight Tango – up to £30 – Third/fourth price upper circle seats – 4th feb – 28th feb – packaged with Kitchen Italia – covent garden 2 courses

Mamma Mia! - £20 Balcony/Slightly Restricted View Grand Circle Seat – packaged with Smollensky’s – 2 Course

Thriller Live – Upper circle/Balcony seats £33.50 original ticket price from 30th Jan – 31st March Sunday to Thursday performances – meal at Planet Hollywood – 2 Courses

Hugh Bonneville & Sheridan Smith Co-hosting 2013 Olivier Awards

Updated 8th March: Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville (the Earl of Grantham)  is co-hosting this year's Oliviers with Sheridan Smith. The pair worked together in David Walliam's Mr Stink which was televised at Christmas. I think they will be a great pairing with Bonneville's dry wit acing as a perfect complement to Smith's endearing scattiness.

This year's 37th Olivier Awards will be held at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden on Sunday 28th April.

The show will be co-hosted by Sheridan Smith with Julia McKenzie providing the voice over for the awards. Sheridan's "partner in crime" is still to be announced. The cast of Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical will be performing.

BBC Radio 2 will be broadcasting live coverage (from the red carpet to winner's speeches)  from 6:00 pm presented by Ken Bruce.  Shortly after the ceremony ends ITV1 will be broadcasting highlights.

In  Covent Garden piazza there is a free event where the show will appear live on big screens, plus there will be performances from West End shows.

Radio 2 will also be broadcasting the award nominations live from a reception at the Mayfair Theatre at 11.30am on 26th March.

Jennifer Ellison Singin' in the Rain's New Lina

There are a number of cast changes taking place in Singin' in the Rain at the Palace Theatre with Scarlett Strallen having already left on Saturday to start rehearsal for A Chorus Line and the role of Kathe Selden being covered by Sherrie Pennington  until Louise Bowden takes over on 18th February.

Adam Cooper is remaining in the show but Daniel Crossley and Katherine Kingsley are leaving on 16th February to be replaced by Stephane Anelli and Jennifer Ellison playing the roles of Cosmo Brown and blonde bombshell Lina Lamont

Stephane Anelli's musical theatre credits Legally Blonde the Musical, Saturday Night Fever, Sinatra, Fiddler on the Roof, On the Town, Never Forget, Gotta Sing Gotta Dance and Shoes  at Sadler’sWells).

Jennifer Ellison is probably best known for playing Emily Shadwick in  Brookside until 2003 and as Meg Giry in the 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera. She has also appeared in Chicago playing Roxie Hart,  Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds 2009 tour as Beth and the tour of  Legally Blonde The Musical as Paulette.

Cast Announced for Once the Musical

Once the Musical is currently in rehearsal opening at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin before it moves into the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End in March.

Croatian  film, television and theatre actress Zrinka Cvitesic is playing the Czech immigrant leading lady role (Girl) who Dublin-based street musician Guy (played by Declan Bennett) falls for playing out a story of  how love and cultures clash.

 Declan Bennett is an English singer/songwriter whose musical theatre credits include Willy Russell’s Our Day Out: Boy Band which featured a number of his own compositions: The Kissing-Dance: Boy George's Taboo:  Roger Davis in the American national tour of  Rent and at the 2010 Grammy Awards he performed with Green Day as a cast member of American Idiot the musical which he also played on  Broadway.

They will be joined by Valda Aviks (Baruska), Ryan Fletcher (Svec), Aidan Kelly (Billy), Gareth O' Connor (Eamon), Michael O' Connor (Da) , Miria Parvin (Ex Girlfriend), Jos Slovick (Andre), Flora Spencer-Longhurst ( Reza), Jez Unwin (Bank Manager) and Gabriel Vick (Emcee).

Alternating the role of Girl's young daughter Ivanka will be Poppy-Lily Baker, Mia-Jai Bryan,Pacha Anna Green and Nancy Ann Jeans.

Chorus Line to Tour after West End

The West End revival of A Chorus Line is due to open next month at the London Palladium which is its first time in London since 1976.

The director Bob Avian has now announced  plans to tour the musical following its London run which is currently booking until January 2014.

He told The Stage newspaper that a tour has been “built in” with the show’s producers, who include Mark Goucher and Adam Kenwright saying “What’s built in already is a tour following the West End run. No matter how long it runs here we will get a tour out of it. The producers are known for touring and that was part of the deal. We did not know how long we could run in London because of the theatre’s availability and because the size of the theatre eats up your advance so quickly, so the tour was very important to us. That is why we went with these producers, who are known for their tour expertise.”

Avian added  it would be the Palladium show that tours, rather than a separate production alongside it.  “It would be this physical production – the sets, the costume, the lighting – so we don’t have to build it all again.”

Kristin Chenoweth UK Concert Tour Cancelled

Updated 9th March: concert tour cancelled http://www.speckulationentertainment.com/

The fabulous Kristin Chenoweth is coming back to the UK to perform after an absence of more than ten years.  She  last appeared in the UK in 2002 in Divas at the Donmar.

She now has a concert tour opening at the London Coliseum on 11th March which will also visit the Manchester Opera House on 13th  March: Edinburgh Festival Theatre on the 15th and the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on the 17th. Just click on the venues for booking links.

Kristin Chenoweth originated the role of Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked! and won a Tony award for her performance in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

The show includes material from the worlds of opera, pop and musical theatre, songs from her celebrated albums, and music from the shows she has been in.  Her recent US tour received rave unanimous rave reviews.

Produced by Neil Eckersley for Speckulation Entertainment, the tour will be directed by Richard Jay-Alexander with musical direction by Rob Fisher.

Nicholas Pound playing Old Deuteronomy in Tour of Cats

More casting for the tour of Cats which is now in rehearsal to open in Edinburgh next month: Nicholas Pound is playing Old Deuteronomy which is the part originally played by Brian Blessed at the New London Theatre all those years ago.

He has worked in the UK and abroad for the last 25 years and until last week was a founder member of Tres Divos who are an immensely popular singing duo performing pop and opera classics, musicals, soul and swing on the Costa del Sol (where he moved to in 2007).

His  stage roles include Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Peron in Evita, Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, The Rocky Horror Show, King Richard in Robin, Prince of Sherwood, Molokov in Chess, Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar and Old Deuteronomy in Cats in 1999.

Hadley Fraser to star in Chichester's The Pajama Game

The Chichester Festival Theatre 2013 programme will be announced next month, but for some time now it has been common knowledge that Richard Eyre will direct a revival of the Pajama Game musical which will preview in April at the Minerva.


It is based on the novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. With a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross it tells the story of problems in a pajama factory where workers are demanding a  pay rise of seven-and-a-half cents or else ...

The show features numbers including Steam Heat and Hernando’s Hideaway.

While all this is going on love blooms between Babe (who is heading the grievance committee) and Sid Sorokin (the handsome new factory superintendent who represents the other side).

West End star Hadley Fraser is playing Sid.  His musical theatre credits include Les Miserables, Pirate Queen and the Fantasticks. He has been performing in several sell out concerts recently  is also a member of the Sheytoons band which he formed with Ramin Karimloo.

Louise Bowden replaces Scarlett Strallen Singin' in the Rain

Scarlett Strallen leaves Singin' in the Rain at the Palace Theatre this Saturday to join the company of A Chorus Line which starts previews at the London Palladium on 5th February.

Sherrie Pennington will cover the role of Kathy Selden for a few weeks (but she is going into Charlie & the Chocolate Factory).  Louise Bowden takes over on 18th February.

Louise's musical theatre credits include Ragtime at Regent's Park, White Christmas at Sunderland Empire, playing Meat in We Will Rock You at the Dominion, UK tour of Mary Poppins, Into the Woods at the Royal Opera House, Guys & Dolls at the Piccadilly and the international tour of Mamma Mia!

New LesMis Movie song Suddenly to be added to LesMis on stage?

The new song Suddenly which has been specially written for the LesMis movie by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil could be added to the stage show at the Queen’s Theatre.

Hugh Jackman (Jan Valjean) sings it in the movie to the young Cosette in the horse drawn carriage as he whisks her away from the grip of the Thenardiers.  The lyrics are so strong that he almost speaks the song rather than sings it telling the sleeping child that now that he has her his life has changed and he realises the meaning of love.

It has met with mixed reviews, but I personally love the song and found  it very moving and a perfect link to explain Valjean's future feelings for the child.

In a Q & A session at a special BAFTA Masterclass Claude-Michel Schönberg said about the Oscar nominated song being used on stage: "It's possible. It is something we are looking at, although changing stage musicals is like causing earthquakes. So while I’m not saying no, it is a work in progress." He also said that he and Alain Boublil might move the iconic song "I Dreamed a Dream" to a different place in the show as has been done for the film.

In the meantime, Michael Ball has recorded the song for his new Both Sides Now album which is due to be released shortly.

Geek! A New Musical

Geek! A New Musical is a new comedy musical which will run at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London’s Covent Garden from 22nd April to 18th May 2013.

It is written by Scott Morgan, produced by CJ de Mooi and starring Ewen Macintosh (the Office) and CJ de Mooi (Eggheads) with more casting to be announced soon. As a commitment to encourage new talent the show will feature at least one performer who has never had a professional contract.

Ever felt like a teenage outcast? Sidelined by the popular kids? Just want to be loved, admired and crazy beautiful? Well get over yourself ‘cos it ain’t gonna happen sweetie! However this  new musical might just offer some solace in what you laughably call your life.

Buy tickets for Geek! A New Musical

Workshop on Simon Cowell X Factor The Musical

As mentioned back in  September TV comedian Harry Hill and top music producer Steve Brown are putting together a humorous script for a musical version of the X Factor.

Simon Cowell has now revealed that if he backs it he might well hold an audition show to find someone to play him.

He said: “We’re going to see a workshop on the musical in a couple of weeks’ time. What I’m hearing is that it’s very funny and very good. That workshop will be the time we decide whether we are in or out. We have to wait and see whether it’s going to work. But the buzz from the people who know about these things is that it’s very good. Musicals are not my business but I’m going to approach it like I would a TV show. The team have spent a long time working on this and from the very first time I met Harry Hill he was absolutely besotted with the idea, so we’ll see."

Katy Secombe and Rebecca Caine in Darling of the Day

Jule Styne and Yip Harburg's Darling of the Day premieres in the UK at London's Union Theatre previewing from March 20th and running from March 22nd until 20th April.

It has music by Jule Styne (Gypsy, Funny Girl), lyrics by EY (Yip) Harburg (the Wizard of Oz, Finian's Rainbow), book by Nunnally Johnson which is based on the novel Buried Alive by Arnold Bennett

Paul Foster will direct Katy Secombe (Mamma Mia!, The Music Man, Les Miserables) and Rebecca Caine (Les Miserables, Phantom,Oklahoma! The Sound of Music) in the starring roles. There is a cast of 14 with more details to be announced shortly.

In 1905 London the famous Edwardian painter Priam Farll is brilliant, unconventional, shy and can be violently outspoken. He is due to receive a knighthood but is appalled by society's expectations of its "darling of the day" (a Victorian/Edwardian term for a fashionable celebrity) so he seizes the chance to "get out of the world alive" when his faithful butler Henry Leek suddenly dies, and  assumes his  identity. 

But things get complicated by the arrival of Alice Challice (Katy Secombe) a widow with amorous designs on him.  This role was originally played by Patricia Routledge for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Rebecca Caine plays Lady Vale

Set and costumes will be designed by Christopher Giles, with musical direction and arrangements by Inga Davis-Rutter and choreography by Matt Flint.

Tickets for Darling of the Day

Ben Richards Leaving 9 to 5 the Musical

The Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Musical has been on an extensive UK tour for the last few months with cast changes due after it leaves the Churchill Theatre in Bromley on 2nd February.

Ben Richards who is playing the  boss Franklyn J Hart is leaving then for three months to go to Los Angeles for their "Pilot Season" which is typically the period between January and April when studios film samples of new shows.   A pilot is one episode ordered by the network as a test which they will will cast, produce and test with audiences and studio executives to decide whether to pick it up as a regular series.

Ben  was due to do this over a year ago, but his plans had to be postponed when he was diagnosed with cancer, from which he now thankfully has the all clear.

His part will be played until his return in May by Mark Moraghan who appeared in the West End playing Bob the Mechanic in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Other musical credits include Mr Fair Lady, Our Day Out, You'll Never Walk Alone, Come Fly With Me as well as TV appearances in  Brookside, Holby City, Casualty, The Bill and Doctors.

More 9 to 5 cast changes to be announced shortly.

MiG Ayesa & Adam Garcia Sunday in the Apartment Concert

MiG Ayesa/We Will Rock You Tour: Adam Garcia/Kiss Me Kate: Michael Falzon/War of the Worlds Arena Tour  and Daniel Fletcher/Rock of Ages join the line-up of talented Aussies performing at SUNDAY IN THE APARTMENT at 3:00 pm Sunday 27th January in the stunning Exhibition Hall at Australia House on the Strand as part of Australia Day Weekend.

Tickets for Sunday in the Apartment

Jonathan Ansell Wells Cathedral Concert

Jonathan Ansell is doing a one off performance of Omega & Alpha at Wells Cathedral in Somerset at 7:00 pm on Saturday 13th April.

He will be joined by Marta Fontanals-Simmons (mezzo-soprano), Gerard Delrez (bass-baritone) with a choir of 120 and a half-symphony orchestra with Martin Emslie conducting his new oratorio.

Omega & Alpha examines the confusions that must have been in the minds of the people around Jesus as he embarks on his journey to death and his unwillingness to save himself. It effectively charts the Omega (the end) of Jesus’ life and the Alpha (the beginning) of Christianity.

The work is a mixture of sacred music and  musical theatre offering a new rendition of the Passion story. The Wells performance will incorporate , although it has also been scored for smaller ensembles and organ.

There will be an opportunity after the concert to meet the composer and soloists and discuss the work.

Tickets for Omega & Alpha

Alexander Hanson, Hal Fowler and Carly Bawden working on Andrew Lloyd Webber's new Profumo Musical

Updated 8th February: At the end of this month a group of musical theatre actors are workshopping the score for this musical. They will include Alexander Hanson as Ward, Hal Fowler as Profumo, Iris Roberts is  Christine Keeler and Carly Bawden will portray Mandy Rice Davies.

Lloyd Webber said: "it’s highly unlikely they will be in the completed show because they’re all booked up to do other things. All we’re doing is putting a bunch of people, who are good sight-readers, around a piano to see what works."

As already mentioned, Andrew Lloyd Webber's is in the process of putting together a musical based on Stephen Ward (pictured) who was heavily  nvolved in the scandalous1963 Profumo Affair.

The  project will reunite lyricist Don Black and playwright Christopher Hampton who were the team behind his  1993 Sunset Boulevard musical.

The New York Post has now reported that  producer Robert Fox and director Richard Eyre have joined the team . There is an invitation only reading in London in March, followed by the usual try out in front of specially invited guests at Lloyd Webber's annual summer Sydmonton Festival.

If it does go ahead it is rumoured that ALW wants West End leading man Julian Ovenden to star.

Hugh Jackman as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls the Movie?

It is hoped that the record breaking success  of the Les Misérables film at the box office will open the doors for more movie adaptations of hit musicals.

Hugh Jackman picked up a Golden Globe on Sunday for his Jean Valjean in   LesMis and says he'd love to do it again. His name has already been mentioned for Miss Saigon the movie and at the BAFTA reception at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills he said "I think I wanna do maybe a lighter one next time. What about some dancing in the next one?"

He is thinking about Guys and Dolls that won the Tony for Best Musical saying : "I wouldn't mind doing Sky Masterson. That would be fun."

West End Stars in Burt Bacharach Tribute Concert

As part of St James Studio Cabaret Weekends on Saturday 19th January at 8:00 pm they will be presenting BACHARACH: Of Life & Lovesong paying tribute to the music industry legend.

Featured artists include Sandra Marvin (Hairspray, The Lion King, Porgy & Bess), Edward Baruwa (Sister Act, Avenue Q, Les Miserables), Alana Maria (Dancing In The Streets, 125th Street), Ross William Wild (We Will Rock You!, Grease) and Stephanie Fearon (RENT!, Over The Rainbow).

They will perform more than 30 classic hits including I Say a Little Prayer For You, Wishin’ & Hopin’. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head, Anyone Who Had A Heart andAlfie

The concert will be directed by Johnathan Peter, and accompanied by a live band lead by Musical Director Terence Penk,

Tickets for BACHARACH: Of Life & Lovesong

Jacqui Dankworth Concert: Songs from Stage & Silver Screen

The fabulous Jacqui Dankworth is performing a selection of Songs from Stage & Silver Screen in her own inimitable style at the Cadogan Hall in Chelsea on Tuesday 16th April at 7.30pm

She will be adding her own special touch to numbers including On My Own (Les Misérables), Almost Like Being In Love (Brigadoon), What I Did For Love (A Chorus Line), Windmills of Your Mind (The Thomas Crown Affair), Speak Softly Love (The Godfather), Nature Boy (Moulin Rouge) plus many others which started life on the silver screen and have now become jazz standards: At Last, The Folks Who Live On The Hill, In the Still of the Night – and many more.

Tickets for Jacqui Dankworth

MiG Ayesa, Norman Bowman and Aaron Sidwell in next WestendFest

The next Westendfest concert featuring leading West End musical theatre performers from London shows will be held at the Actors’ Church, St Paul’s Covent Garden at 7:30 pm on Sunday 3rd February 2013.

The artists performing include MiG Ayesa, Rebecca Trehearn, Norman Bowman, Paul Read Ayres, Simon Adkins, Aaron Sidwell, Matt Wycliffe, Amy Diamond, Greg Oliver, Lauren Varnham, Victoria Allen-Martin, Craig Mather, Liam Doyle, George Maguire, Katie Paine, Jennifer Tierney, Keith Jack, Benedict Cork, Cassie Compton and Matthew McKenna.

Tickets from:  http://www.seetickets.com

Barnum confirmed at Chichester Festival Theatre

Updated 21st February:  Chichester Festival Theatre have now announced their 2013 season  and confirmed that Barnum will be performed at Theatre in the Park in a specially constructed  1400 seater tent theatre from 15th July - 31st August. Opening night 24th July.

Priority booking opens on 26th February with tickets on general sale from 7th March. 

According to the Daily Mail, Broadway leading man Christopher Fitzgerald has been cast as P T Barnum in Cameron Mackintosh's revival at Chichester Festival Theatre this summer.

Fitzgerald has appeared on Broadway in The Merchant of Venice, Finian's Rainbow, Young Frankenstein, Boq in Wicked! and Amour. His off-Broadway credits include Small Engine Repair, Stairway to Paradise, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Saturday Night, Fully Committed, Babes in Arms, Corpus Christi and The Cripple of Inishmaan.

Cameron Mackintosh said:"It needs an actor who can sing, dance, juggle, be a clown and an acrobat--and this man can do all of that." Adding "A lot of work has been done on it and it's very different."

The revival with  music by Cy Coleman, book by Mark Bramble and lyrics by Michael Stewart will open this summer. The original production starred Jim Dale on Broadway and opened at the London Palladium in 1981 starring Michael Crawford. This production has been mooted for some time with previous actors mentioned including Douglas Hodge, John Barrowman and Michael Ball.

This production is directed by Open Air Theatre's Timothy Sheader and co-directed and choreographed by Liam Steel (Into the Woods) and Andrew Wright (Singin' in the Rain).

The plan is that it will transfer into the West End, and given Chichester's recent successes of Sweeney Todd, Kiss Me Kate and Singin' in the Rain this seems very likely (with the Gielgud Theatre as hot favourite).

Book tickets for Barnum

The Secret Garden in Concert at Greenwich for One Night Only

Updated 13th March: The Secret Garden will transfer to the Greenwich Theatre for one night only as part of the Greenwich children's theatre festival on Friday 12th April. Tickets from www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Updated 22nd January: Veteran comedian and actor Freddie Davies is joining the cast to  recreate the role of Ben Weatherstaff,  having appeared in the original RSC and West-End productions.

As already mentioned The Secret Garden musical is being presented as an intimate concert at The King’s Head Theatre, Islington from 10th February – 17th March 2013.

The cast has just been announced with Zac Donovan (son of Jason Donovan) sharing the role of Colin with with Tyler Fagan (Gustave in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies and Michael Banks in Mary Poppins). The role of Mary Lennox will be shared between Ana Martin and Olivia Hallett.

Alexander Evans (Masterclass on Broadway) will play Archibald Craven:  Amanda Goldthorpe-Hall is  Mrs Medlock (which she understudied in the original UK production): Rachael McCormick is Martha (Mrs Corny in Oliver!): Graham Hoadly who has just played Bert Barry in a tour of 42nd Street: Zoe Curlett (LesMiserables and Phantom) will play the role of Lily.

They will be joined by:  Ross Barnes (A Winter's Tale), Robert Dalton (Save the Last Dance Tour), JorDon Lee Davies (Into the Woods : St David's Hall), Martin Dickinson (Jekyll & Hyde Tour), Natalie Douglas (Steel Pier), Wesley Dow (When Harry Met Barry ), Joanna Eliot (Let There Be), Fiona Finsbury (The Young Ones), Mona Goodwin (Spring Awakening), Matthew Ronchetti (A Winter's Tale) and Pippa Winslow (Old Goat Song).

The Secret Garden : in Concert will be directed by Matthew Gould with David Keefe as musical director.

Cast List for Charlie & the Chocolate Factory

Below is the latest list for Sam Mendes' production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which starts previews at Drury Lane in May.

Joining Douglas Hodge who is playing Willy Wonka are Nigel Planer and Myra Sands as Grandpa Joe and Grandma Georgina. Jack Shalloo and Alex Clatworthy are playing Charlie’s parents.

Paul J Medford will play Mr Beauregarde (father of Violet): Jasna Ivir will play Mrs Gloop (the  gluttonous Augustus' mother) and Clive Carter will be Mr Salt (father of spoiled Veruca): Iris Roberts is Mrs Teavee.

Other cast members  include Joe Allen, David Birch, Michelle Bishop, Mireia Mambo Bokele, Matthew Clark, Jennifer Davison, Luke Fetherston, Nia Fisher, Kate Graham, Clare Halse, Mark Iles, Daniel Ioannou, Kieran Jae, Jane McMurtrie, Natalie Moore-Williams, Sherrie Pennington, Damien Poole, Paul Saunders and Jay Webb.

More casting still to come ...

American Psycho Musical to open at Almeida?

Headlong's new musical adaptation Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel .American Psycho is rumoured to be opening at the Almeida Theatre this autumn.

The Tony Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) has collaborated with  Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark script doctor) to adapt the book for the musical stage. Headlong's Rupert Goold will direct.

The 1991 novel tells the story of a businessman who is a self-possessed serial killer working on Wall Street in the 1980s. The book's graphic violence and sexual content generated a great deal of controversy before and after publication. The 2000 film adaptation starred  Christian Bale.

Moby Dick to Rise Again?

When Sir Cameron Mackintosh was talking to Graham Norton on his BBC Radio 2 Show on Saturday morning he mentioned a possible revival of his 1992 Moby Dick musical by Robert Longden and  Hereward Kaye.

It was blasted by critics and closed after only four months at the Piccadilly Theatre. I saw it a couple times and have to say I found it all a bit of fun.

Mackintosh says there are now two revivals in the works: “A production that’s going to open in London in a pub theatre and there’s one being eyed up for Broadway in the next two years.”

It was due to be revived at the Landor Theatre over a year ago but was cancelled because of funding issues with the cast into their third week of rehearsals.

Cast Announced for Rent in Concert

Celebrating 20 years since it's first staged performance Rent in Concert is going on a short tour in April and May starring West End and Broadway leading lady Kerry Ellis as Mimi and Rory Taylor who was the runner up in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Superstar playing Roger.

More cast members have just been announced and Kerry and Rory will be joined by Paul Ayres/Mark: Nikki Davis-Jones/Maureen: Leon Lopez/Collins:Ian Stroughair/Angel: Jemma Alexander/Joanne and Kenny Thompson as Benny. Members of the ensemble still to come.

Nikki Davis-Jones opens in the new musical Lift at the Soho Theatre at the end of this month with other musical theatre credits including standby Elphaba in Wicked! Never Forget, Mamma Mia and Blood Brothers.

Paul Ayres has appeared in Ghost, alternate Galileo in We Will Rock You and covered Frankie Valli Jersey Boys

Leon Lopez appeared iun Brookside for four years with theatre credits We Will Rock You, A Little Night Music, Tick, Tick… BOOM! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Piaf and Strictly Motown. He is reprising the role of Collins which he has played in the West End and at a gala concert.

Ian Stroughair's credits including Chicago, Fame and Cats and he also performs in cabaret as alter-ego Velma Celli.

Jemma Alexander has been in  Lend Me a Tenor, Singin in the Rain', The Full Monty and A Tale of Two Cities.

Kenny Thompson has appeared in The History Boys, Carmen Jones, Showboat. Mother Courage and Her Children.

Liza Minnelli Concert at Royal Festival Hall

Liza Minnelli is returning to Royal Festival Hall for the first time since 1973 for one night only on 1st March as part of Southbank Centre's The Rest Is Noise Festival.

Her appearance is part of Southbank Centre's 'Berlin in the '20s and '30s' weekend on 1st-3rd March which explores Weimar Berlin as the centre of Germany's political and artistic developments.

She will be performing her unique interpretation of cabaret songs, jazz standards and Broadway tunes, including numbers from the 1972 film Cabaret that brought her international stardom.

Bob Fosse's film Cabaret featuring Minnelli's Academy Award-winning performance as Sally Bowles is being screened on 3rd March.

Book tickets for Liza Minnelli

Sunday Night with Michael Ball New BBC Radio 2 Show

Michael Ball has been putting the finishing touches to his new album Both Sides Now which is due for release next month before he sets off on a new concert tour in April and May.

He is also about to join Radio 2 in a brand new two hour Sunday night show which starts at 7:00 pm on 20th January.  Sunday Night with Michael Ball offers a blend of music from the movies, classic albums, the West End and Broadway, iconic vocalists and contemporary favourites along with  nostalgic popular favourites and modern greats.

Listeners will be invited to nominate their chosen artist into the Singer’s Hall of Fame, into which Michael will induct two artists each week and celebrate their life in song and performance.

Cast Changes next month for Top Hat the Musical

From 5th February there will be some cast changes to Top Hat the Musical at the Aldwych.

As already announced, Gavin Lee will be replacing Tom Chambers as Jerry Travers but news today is that Broadway actress Kristen Beth Williams will be playing Dale Tremont, joined by Alex Gaumond as Alberto Beddini and Clive Hayward as Horace Hardwick.

Kristen Beth Williams has appeared in Nice Work If You Can Get It, Promises Promises and Anything Goes on Broadway. Alex Gaumond’s  West End credits include Galileo in We Will Rock You and Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde the Musical while Clive Hayward was recently in Yes Prime Minister at the Trafalgar Studios

Vivien Parry continues as Madge Hardwick with Stephen Boswell as Horace's valet Bates joined by ensemble and swing members Michelle Andrews, Caroline Bateson, Jeremy Batt, Charlie Bull, Alan Burkitt, Matthew Cheney, Louise Davidson, Russell-Leighton Dixon, Matt Gillett, Jonny Godbold, Ian Goss, Fenton Gray, Alyn Hawke, Lauren Jade, Paul Kemble, Jenny Legg, Martin McCarthy, Grace McKee, Debbie Paul, Holly Rostron, Callum Train, Lois Urwin, Graham Vick, Alexandra Waite-Roberts and Aron Wild.

More Casting News for Tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert

The tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert starts at Manchester Opera House on 9th February with dates currently on sale until November.

Following are all the casting details we have to date: Jason Donovan will be reprising the role of Tick/Mitzi which he played in the West End until 4th May. Richard Grieve (best known as gay farrier Jonny Foster in Emmerdale) will play Bernadette. ( He has also appeared in the show in the West End playing Tick/Mitzi). Graham Weaver is Felicia (he originally understudied the role in the London production).

They will be joined by Laura Mansell, Bleu Woodward and Emma Kingston/3 Divas: Alan Hunter/Miss Understanding: Regan Shepherd/Farrah: Frances Mayli Mc Cann/Cynthia: Katie Birtill/Marion and Leon Kay/Frank.

2013 The Year of Cats The Musical

There are a lot of new musical theatre productions to look forward to this year, but for me the stand out one is the tour of Cats which  is about to go into rehearsal and opens at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 8th February followed by a an extensive UK tour currently ending at Woking on 20th July before it heads off to Ostend.

It was the show which tempted me into this crazy business after I saw it when it  first opened at the New London Theatre in 1981 with Wayne Sleep as the magical Mr Mistoffelees, Elaine Paige as Grizabella and Paul Nicholas as Rum Tum Tugger. 

It has become one of the world's best loved musicals being presented in over 20 countries and around 250 cities. 

Casting for the tour of Cats currently includes Oliver Savile/Rum Tum Tugger: Katy Warsop/Rumpleteazer: Joanna Ampil/Grizabella: Joseph Poulton/Mr Mistoffelees: Clare Rickard Jellylorum/Griddlebone and Cameron Ball as Macavity.  More to follow shortly ...