Hadley Fraser The Shock of the New Concert

West End star Hadley Fraser is soon to start rehearsals for The Pajama Game which he is appearing in at the Minerva Studio at Chichester Festival Theatre in April.

He will also perform in concert celebrating shows that have transformed musical theatre alongside 30 students from the Royal Academy of Music musical theatre course on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night at 8:00 pm on Friday 5^th April.

The Shock of the New will be presented by Ken Bruce and include music from productions including Les Miserables, Rent and Parade charting the history of musical theatre by paying tribute to landmark musicals. The concert will begin with Show Boat and move on to classic shows like Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady and West Side Story.

All the musicals featured were revolutionary in their day. From Jerome Kern to Jason Robert Brown, via the likes of Sondheim, Lerner and Loewe, Kander and Ebb, Boublil and Schonberg and Jonathan Larson.

New Carnaby Street Musical starring Sid Owen from EastEnders and Verity Rushworth

Updated 11th March:  Sid Owen has pulled out of Carnaby Street Musical and is replaced by Aaron Sidwell. Owen has been pictured in Los Angeles where is he is staying with his friend Adele who is reportedly introducing him to movie industry contacts in a bid for him to gain work in the USA.

Carnaby Street is a new musical set London's West End in the swinging sixties with all its famous clubs, trendy fashions and eccentric characters.

It features the timeless music of great bands including The Beatles,  Rolling Stones, Manfred Mann, The Animals, The Searchers, The Kinks and  The Who. Packed with over 30 Classic Hits including:  Let's Spend the Night Together, You Really Got Me, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Sweets for my Sweet, Roll Over Beethoven, Go Now Keep On Running and  You Really Got Me.

Written by Carl Leighton-Pope and Robert Johns, it will be directed by Bob Tomson (Blood Brothers, Dreamboats and Petticoats) with design by Matthew Wright, choreography by Carole Todd, lighting by Nick Richings and sound design by Ben Harrison.

Carnaby Street tells the story of Jude who is a working class boy from Liverpool who is new in town with nothing but his guitar and his dreams of fame and fortune. We follow the highs and lows of his journey in pursuit of stardom.

Sid Owen (Ricky Butcher from EastEnders) will play band manager Jumpin' Jack Flash with Verity Rushworth (Donna Windsor-Dingle from Emmerdale, Hairspray and the Sound of Music),  Tricia Adele-Turner (Legally Blonde) and Mark Pearce (Ghost, Blues Brothers) as Wild Thing.

They will be joined by  Paul Hazel, Hugo Harold-Harrison, Tom Connor, Cici Howells, Jonny Bower, Mike Slader, Lauren Storer, Gregory Clarke, Dan Smith, Lilly Howard, Claude Pelletier, Craig Anderson and Matthew Quinn.

Carnaby Street opens at the Hackney Empire in London where it runs from April 6th-14th before embarking on a UK tour to the High Wycombe Swan, Rhyl Pavilion, Hastings White Rock Theatre, Windsor theatre Royal, Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall, Manchester Opera House, Lowestoft Marina, Birmingham Alexandra, St Albans Arena and Bournemouth Pavilion where it currently ends on 29th June.

Full list of dates and booking links here

Lion King ,Viva Forever and Wicked! to be hit by strikes?

UPDATED 1st March: Ambassador Theatre Group  successfully completed ACAS negotiations with BECTU yesterday resolving  all disputed issues including the move to monthly pay.

West End hit musicals including the Lion King ,Viva Forever and Wicked! could be hit by strikes if the Ambassador Theatre Group and  theatre union BECTU can't reach agreement over pay rises for hundreds of staff (most of whom are paid £6.45 an hour which just above the minimum wage).

ATG runs 41 UK theatres with 12 in the West End, including the Lyceum,Victoria Apollo and  Piccadilly.

BECTU  is balloting for strike action after they walked away from talks at the conciliation service ACAS on Monday.  A spokesman for the management said: "ATG was stunned and disappointed when Bectu decided to break off from negotiations on Monday. Virtually all outstanding issues had been resolved and ATG is keen to continue talks with Bectu in order to find a swift resolution."

The  union warned "Plans for industrial action will not be decided until the strike ballot has got under way, but the union has already warned theatregoers that they should check in advance whether the shows they have booked might be hit."

ATG are accused of sabotaging talks by demanding changes in conditions which were agreed only a few months ago.  This includes cutting the minimum amount of time front-of-house workers would be paid for each performance from 3.5 to three hours. The management spokesman said improved pay and an agreement on minimum hours had been offered at the talks and rejected.

lastminute.com 24 Hour Meal Deal Ticket Sale

lastminute.com are  holding a 24hr Meal Deal Sale from 10:00 am today (Thursday 28th February) to 10:00 am Friday 1st March

The cost is only £24 per person for a meal and a show for the following musicals:

Thriller Live  : Planet Hollywood – 2 Course meal – Original ticket £33.50 Upper Circle Seat

Let It Be :  Smollensky’s Bar & Grill – 2 Course meal – Original ticket £20 – Third Price Seat

Spamalot :  Fire and Stone – 1 course – choice of any pizza – Original ticket up to £59.50 Top Price Seat (strictly limited availability on top price)

Merrily We Roll Along : Grace – 2 Course meal – Original ticket price up to £35 – Fourth Price Seat Royal circle/balcony – may have restricted

STOMP : Battersea Pie Station, Covent Garden – pie and mash – original ticket price up to £49.50 – rear circle seat

Burn The Floor : Cabana – 2 course meal – original ticket price - £21 - Third price Grand circle seat

Mamma Mia! : Kitchen Italia – 2 Course meal – original ticket price £20 - fourth price seat (balcony - might have restricted view)

Singin' in the Rain - free meal at Little Sicily - original ticket price £30

Gypsy, Guys & Dolls and A Damsel in Distress musicals planned for Chichester

Chichester artistic director Jonathan Church has revealed at today's press briefing for the new season that three major musicals are currently in development

He confirmed the rumour Sweeney Todd star Imelda Staunton returning to Chichester to star in Gypsy directed  by Jonathan Kent. Dates are still being worked on but the show could be one of the first to be staged in the Festival Theatre when it reopens next year.

Other planned musicals  for the future are a new revival of Guys and Dolls and a collaboration between American choreographer/director Rob Ashford and director/composer  Jeremy Sams on new stage version of the 1937 comedy film A Damsel in Distress which starred Fred Astaire with songs by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by PG Wodehouse.

Chichester Festival Theatre's Pajama Game Starring Hadley Fraser and Joanna Riding

As already mentioned,  Richard Eyre will direct a revival of the Pajama Game musical for the 2013 Chichester Festival Theatre season.

Rehearsals start in about two weeks’ time for the production which opens the 2013 season and plays at the Minerva from 29th April to 8th June (previews from 22nd April).

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 pyjama factory where workers are demanding a pay rise of seven-and-a-half cents or else ...

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). The show features numbers including Hey There (You With The Stars In Your Eyes), Steam Heat and Hernando’s Hideaway.
 
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.   

Joanna Riding is Babe and her credits include My Fair Lady and Carousel (Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical), The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Billy Elliot, An Ideal Husband, Blithe Spirit, The Witches of Eastwick, Guys and Dolls and Stella (for Sky).

Peter Polycarpou is playing Vernon Hines (a time and motion expert who is in love with Gladys the quick-witted secretary and is always jealous of her flirting).

They are joined by Jenna Boyd/Mae: Dan Burton/Earl: Ricardo Coke-Thomas/Joe: Amy Griffiths/Martha: Richard Jones/Frank: Claire Machin/Mabel: Eugene McCoy/Prez: Jo Morris/Rita/Dance Captain: Sophia Nomvete/Brenda: Landi Oshinowo/Poopsie: Alexis Owen Hobbs/Gladys:  Carl Sanderson/Charley: John Stacey/Max Ganzenlicker: Colin Stinton/Hasler/Pop and Lauren Varnham/Charlen.

Priority booking for CFT's 2013 season opened on 26th February with tickets on general sale from 7th  March.

More Concerts Added to Maria Friedman at the Pheasantry

Updated 8th March:  Due to sold out week two new shows added on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th March

Following her very successful directorial debut of  Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory (soon to transfer to the Harold Pinter Theatre) the award winning Maria Friedman sings Lenny & Steve at The Pheasantry on the King's Road from 5th-10th March

With Tony nominated musical director Jason Carr she explores the work of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, performing songs from West Side Story,  New York, New York; I Can Cook Too; Losing My Mind and Send In The Clowns.

Book tickets for Maria Friedman

Oscars Celebrate Movie Musicals

The Oscars Ceremony is being held this Sunday 24th February and will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and covered by BBC in the UK.

The musical theatre actors who will be performing include Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones with LesMis movie Oscar nominees Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks and Helena Bonham Carter taking part in a celebration of movie musicals of the last decade.  Chicago and Dreamgirls will also be featured.

Previously announced performers include Adele, Dame Shirley Bassey, Norah Jones and Barbra Streisand with the ceremony ending with performances by Kristin Chenoweth (who is performing concerts in the UK in March) and Oscar host Seth McFarlane.

Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour Australia Dates

Jesus Christ Superstar is doing another arena tour in the UK in October (which is the postponed March tour) and it has now been announced that the show is heading to Australia at the of end May/start of June.

Tim Minchin (who comes from Perth), Melanie C and Ben Forster will be reprising their roles as Judas Iscariot, Mary Magdalene and Jesus.  Chris Moyles and Alexander Hanson will not be joining the tour with Andrew O’Keefe (host of Australia's Deal or No Deal) playing  King Herod and Jon Stevens playing Pontius Pilate.

The tour will be visiting: 31st May  Perth Arena/4th June Adelaide Entertainment Centre/7th & 8th June Sydney Entertainment Centre/11th June Brisbane Entertainment Centre/14th & 15th June Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena.

Tickets will go on general sale on the 8th March and on presale from the 27th February for Frontier Members.

You can book tickets at www.jesuschristsuperstar.com

Preview of Michael Ball’s New Album Both Sides Now

As soon as MICHAEL BALL finished playing the lead in the multi award winning musical Sweeney Todd last year he set up a new concert tour  which takes place in April and May and recorded his new solo album Both Sides Now which is due for release on 25th February.

The album features songs by some of his favourite artists including Joni Mitchell, Katie Melua and Dolly Parton, mixed with musical theatre standards and new songs by world famous composers. I was fortunate enough to be sent a five track sampler CD to review before it is released.  

The tracks I listened to were Both Sides Now was sung tenderly and with real emotion but I found his version a bit slow and drawn out compared to the original which I love. Joni Mitchell is Michael’s favourite singer/songwriter so it’s no surprise that he chose this as the title track which she wrote in 1967

The Perfect Song is a new number written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Leslie Bricusse which marks the first time they have ever worked together. It will be released as a single on March 18th. 

Michael describes how the song came about: “I was chatting to Andrew Lloyd Webber at a party and told him I was recording a new album and he said to me: ‘Actually Michael I’ve just written a new song with Leslie Bricusse and I think you should have it!  I was in Los Angeles last week for Leslie’s 82nd birthday and Michael Caine, who was there as well, asked Leslie and me if we’d ever written a song together.  We realised we hadn’t and thought it was a great idea! Andrew then told me that Leslie came up with the title ‘The Perfect Song’, and Andrew wrote the music in the back of a cab on the way home!  He then sent over the music to Leslie and Leslie wrote the lyrics.  It’s an absolutely beautiful song written by two of the finest songwriters in the world and I’m extremely proud to be premiering it on my new album.”

My think my expectations of this new song were probably very high but I’m afraid I felt disappointed.  The Perfect Song is very sweet, slow and melodic and it started to grow on me after I listened to it the second time, but to me musically it was nothing new and the lyrics were nothing special.

Next was Joan Armatrading’s Love and Affection which started very slowly but once the orchestrations kicked in and it got going Michael sang it beautifully.

The Katie Melua hit Closest Thing to Crazy was one of best renditions I have heard. Sung with real emotion.  Loved it!

And last but not least Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Changes Everything from Aspects of Love which Michael sings with Il Divo. It is the last track on the album and starts off very low key with Michael and orchestral backing then the "Divos" join in one at a time until it builds with them all singing.  Good thing is they do not try to out sing one another but combine perfectly to sing it as group plus one! Not my favourite song on the album but my favourite performance of the numbers I was asked to review. 

All of the tracks I listened to underlined Ball's vocal virtuosity and musical theatre voice with real feeling and emotion. The album is a well thought out and good mix of numbers.

The ones which I am looking forward to hearing are the new song Suddenly which Boublil, Schonberg & Kretzmer wrote for the LesMis movie which I think he will sing beautifully. Hugh Jackman sang this to Cosette in horse drawn carriage as he was whisking her away in from Thenardiers. But he acted and spoke it more than singing it so will be interested to hear what Michael makes of it.

Track number 13 is Fight The Fight which is a new song by Tim Rice & Stuart Brayson from the new musical From Here To Eternity which starts previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre at the end of September.  It was first recorded as a big production number but sounded wrong so has been pared right back to being very simple with guitar and strings and Michael harmonising with himself.

Also Adele’s Make You Feel My Love is a favourite of mine along with I Won’t Send Roses from Mack and Mabel.

The full track listing for Both Sides Now is:

1.    Both Sides Now (org. Joni Mitchell 1967)
2.    The Perfect Song (new song by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leslie Bricusse)
3.    I Won’t Let You Go (James Morrison 2011)
4.    Closest Thing To Crazy (Mike Batt, hit for Katie Melua 2003)
5.    Love And Affection (Joan Armatrading 1976)
6.    Suddenly (new song  from ‘Les Misérables’ movie).
7.    I Will Always Love You ( from ‘The Bodyguard’)
8.    I Won’t Send Roses (Jerry Herman, ‘Mack and Mabel’)
9.    Run (org. Snow Patrol, 2007 / also hit for Leona Lewis, 2009)
10.  Love Don’t Live Here Anymore (Hit for Rose Royce 1978)
11.   Songbird (Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac 1977 recorded by Eva Cassidy 1996)
12.  When She Loved Me (Randy Newman, From ‘Toy Story 2’)
13.  Fight The Fight (Tim Rice & Stuart Braysonnew musical ‘From Here To Eternity’)
14.  Make You Feel My Love (org. Bob Dylan / also hit for Adele 2010)
15.  Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball and II Divo

You can pre-order Both Sides Now from Amazon before its release date on 25th February for  £9.99

I will certainly be buying it as the sampler I have listened to is more than enough to make me want to hear more!

42nd Street Charity Gala

A charity gala performance of the Broadway musical 42nd Street is to be held at the London Palladium on 17th March at 7:45pm in aid of The Caron Keating Foundation.

It will be hosted by Barry Mishon together with Gloria Hunniford who is the mother of Caron Keating and patron the family run charity supporting all types of cancer causes.

The stars announced so far include Brian Conley,Vikki Carr, Stephane Anelli, Anna Jane Casey, Dean Chisnell, Caprice, Janie Dee, Grazina Frame, Russell Grant, Flavia Cacace,Jane How, Diane Keen, Rula Lenska, Annette McCloughlin, Claire Oberman, John Partridge, Wendi Peters, Arlene Philips, Gaby Roslin, Summer Strallen, Gok Wan, Gary Wilmot, Angela Rippon and Gloria Hunniford, plus a fashion line of Bond Girls including Shirley Eaton ("Goldfinger"), Valerie Leon ("The Spy Who Loved Me") and Madeleine Smith ("Live & Let Die"). They will be joined by 100 tap dancers. With Barry Mishon tweeting more stars on a daily basis …

The Musical director is Alan Williams and So You Think You Can Dance winner Matt Flint will choreograph several numbers.

To book tickets contact the box office on 0844 412 4657 or visit www.seetickets.com.

For more details on the charity visit www.caronkeating.org

Les Miserables Opening on Broadway in March 2014

Cameron Mackintosh just just announced that his new production of Les Miserables will open at a Shubert Theatre on  Broadway in March 2014.

The US national tour of the new production has been a sell-out breaking box offices since it began in November 2010. It has played in 64 cities grossing more than $130 million.

Cameron Mackintosh said: To my constant surprise, my productions continue to be enjoyed as much as ever by audiences all around the world and I'm thrilled to have the unique chance of redoing them all over as if they were brand new shows. I'm even more delighted that they are proving just as big hits at the box office in their new form as the originals, having recently reinvented Oliver!, Phantom and Miss Saigon to similar acclaim to the new Les Miserables. It's marvelous that modern audiences are embracing them as contemporary musicals rather than revivals. I am delighted that Broadway audiences will now join the millions of Americans who have already flocked to see this glorious new staging and spectacular re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.

Wendy Mae Brown in Ghost Tour

For me one of the stand out performances in the production of Kiss Me Kate which closes at the Old Vic on 2nd March is Wendy Mae Brown with her belting voice playing Hattie.

And now is seems the cliche "what's in a name" has come true because she is going to play Oda Mae Brown in the Tour of Ghost the Musical which kicks off in April at Cardiff Millennium Centre.   This is the larger than life part of the medium originally made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie and played superbly by Sharon D Clarke in London's West End.

Wendy Mae Brown theatre credits include Stepping Out, Come Dancing,  King Cotton, Porgy and Bess,  Barnum, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Rent,The Wizard of Oz and Mamma Mia!

Sheridan Smith to star in new film musical

Sheridan Smith has just finished filming the Channel 4 TV drama series Dates and is now due to fly off to Turkey to star in a comedy film Belly Dancing for Beginners. Plus she is due to appear in a new episode of Jonathan Creek which will be screened over Easter.

She has recently auditioned for a coveted role in a musical that is still under wraps that Sheridan tweeted she "really wanted".  But her mum Marilyn has told a local Epworth newspaper: “The new film has yet to be formally announced but Sheridan’s really delighted with it and so is her agent. All I can say is that it’s a musical, so Sheridan will be singing. She’s excited.”

She also added  "Sheridan is delighted, honoured and petrified” to be hosting the Olivier Awards at the Royal Opera House in London on April 28th. "It’s a prestigious event but quite nerve wracking for her"

Ruthie Henshall I've Loved These Days track Listing

Ruthie Henshall is currently on tour with her An Intimate Evening with Ruthie Henshall concert.

To coincide with this her new album I've Loved These Days has been released today. It includes the tracks:

1. A Hard Day’s Night (Lennon/McCartney)
2. Don’t Rain On My Parade (Styne/Merrill)
3. Both Sides Now (Mitchell)
4. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Gershwin/Gershwin)
5. Adelaide’s Lament (Loesser)
6. Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) (Joel)
7. Electricity (John/Hall)
8. Blizzard Of Lies (Frishberg/Frishberg)
9. Send In The Clowns (Sondheim)
10. When You’re Good To Mama (Kander/Ebb)
11. Vincent (McLean)
12. I've Loved These Days (Joel)

As well as a 12 page booklet  including some rare photographs.

Extended Highlights CD of LesMis Movie to be released

A  two-disc edition of the soundtrack to the film version of Les Miserables will be released next month. It will  have 22 more tracks than the highlights edition which is currently available.

The full soundtrack will be released by Polydor Records on 18th March. You can pre-order it here from Amazon for £14.76.

The Highlights edition is currently top of the UK album chart and is the fastest-selling album in the UK this year.

Producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh said: "Post-production on the Les Miserables film was extremely tight, with recording of the orchestra, final edit and sound mix having to be completed in only a few weeks. There was only enough time to remix a limited number of tracks so that at least a highlights album could be released for the fans before Christmas. We are delighted with the success of that album and very pleased that we can now add 22 more tracks and  audiences can now enjoy at home a full representation of the film's powerful and emotional version of this great score".

The new CD packaging will also  feature previously unseen photos from the film set as well as additional  notes.

Shona White, Cassidy Janson & Niall Sheehy in The Route to Happiness Musical at Landor

The Route To Happiness is a new musical which runs from Tuesday 19th to Sunday 24th February at the Landor Theatre in south west London.

It stars Cassidy Janson/Trinity (Lend Me A Tenor, Avenue Q and Wicked): Niall Sheehy /Marcus (Superstar finalist) and Shona White /Lorna (Chess, Les Miserables and Wicked.)

Written by British composer-lyricist Alexander S  Bermange the musical follows  the individual and interweaving experiences of three Londoners in pursuit of their respective dreams: finding love, making money, and becoming famous.

Tickets are available by calling 020 7737 7276 or visiting www.bermange.co.uk

Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo, Lea Salonga & Yu Shirota in 4 Stars: One World of Broadway Musicals

Having just written about Ramin Karimloo heading off to Toronto in the autumn to play Jean Valjean,  he is also out of the country in June performing in Tokyo with Sierra Boggess, Lea Salonga and Yu Shirota in 4 Stars: One World of Broadway Musicals.

Directed by Daniel Kutner the concerts are on from 15th-23rd June at Tokyo’s Aoyama Theatre and from 27th-30th  at Osaka’s Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall.

The show features music direction, supervision and arrangements by Jason Robert Brown including numbers from Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera as well as songs from shows by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kander and Ebb, Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz.

More on the LesMis Movie DVD

A release date of 22nd March is scheduled for the LesMovie on Blu-ray and DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The  film will be available on DVD, Blu-ray or combo pack and information on bonus features have been announced.

Bonus Features Exclusive to the Blu-ray:
Les Misérables Singing Live: The star-studded cast and production team discuss how the daunting challenge of singing live rather than lip-syncing to pre-recorded tracks ultimately gave them the creative freedom to deliver nuanced, emotionally powerful performances.
Battle at the Barricade: Director Tom Hooper wanted the dramatic building of the barricade to be as visceral and intense as possible, so he had his actors build it in real time, literally hurling furniture out of windows to construct an actual barricade. This featurette takes an in-depth look at the creation and filming of all the action on this remarkable set.
The West End Connection: Meet the "godfather" of the original stage production of Les Misérables, renowned West End producer Cameron Mackintosh, who was deeply involved in the filming, as well as former Les Misérables theatrical stars who were thrilled to appear in supporting roles in the current film.
Les Misérables on Location:  Filming rather than staging Les Misérables presents the opportunity to shoot in real world locations: a massive dry dock on the coast of England, a beautiful underground chapel in the heart of London and the ancient city of Winchester. Members of the cast and crew talk about what it was like to find and work in these incredible locations.

Bonus Features on both  Blu-ray and DVD:
The Stars of Les Misérables: Director Tom Hooper talks about casting the iconic characters, and the actors discuss why it was important to them to be a part of this groundbreaking version of Les Misérables.
Creating the Perfect Paris: Production designer Eve Stewart created a massive Paris set featuring real cobblestones and running water. Take an intricate look into the detailed recreation of these Paris streets that no longer exist in today’s world.
The Original Masterwork: Victor Hugo's Les Misérables: This mini-documentary takes a look at the historical backdrop and universal themes of Hugo's classic, and how the filmmakers mined the novel to enrich the look and feel of the film.
Feature Commentary with Director Tom Hooper

Ramin Karimloo playing Jean Valjean in Toronto

Ramin Karimloo played Jean Valjean for a limited period in the West End production of Les Miserables, and is now due to play the role again in September in the Mirvish Canadian production opening their 2013-2014 season.

Ramin comes from Toronto and saw Colm Wilkinson play Valjean there in the 1980s. He has never done a show on his home turf and was scheduled to make his  debut as Bobby in the Theatre 20 production of Company this month, but the show was postponed  and his commitments meant that he could no longer appear in the show.

This special production is in celebration of The Mirvish family's 50 years of producing and presenting theatre in Toronto.  It will include the revisions that Cameron Mackintosh and  made for the show’s 25th anniversary tour.

Dates are still to be confirmed but previews are expected to begin September 26th and opening night is scheduled for October 9th. The show is is expected to run at least through to February 2014.

Merrily We Roll Along Charity Play Reading

Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Merrily We Roll Along directed by Maria Friedman runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory until 9th March before transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre in April (details yet to be announced).

A charity evening will be held on Sunday 24th February at 7:30 pm when the current cast including Mark Umbers, Jenna Russell and Damian Humbley will take part in a rehearsed reading directed by Adam Lenson.

The proceeds from all ticket sales will be donated to Chickenshed Theatre company who work with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to produce outstanding theatre.

ALL TICKETS ONLY £12.50 or call the box office on 020 7378 1713

Sheridan Smith in Channel 4 Series Dates

Updated 11th June:  Sheridan's first episode of Dates will air tonight on Channel 4 at 10:00 pm.  She is also in episode 8 - showing dates to follow.

 Award winning actress Sheridan Smith has just finished filming a Jonathan Creek special which will be shown over Easter,  and she has today started work in London on a new Channel 4 dating drama series called Dates with TV and film award winning actor Andrew Scott  (Sherlock villain Moriarty) and Utopia’s Neil Maskell

Dates is the brainchild of Skins creator Bryan Elsley. Over nine episodes it follows the lives of different couples in their quest for love to see how their first meeting with each other plays outs. As the romances progress some result in further meetings while others end in disaster.

The majority of the characters will only go on one date, but Sheridan's alter-ego will go on two. In one she will play sexy schoolteacher Jenny who finds herself sat across a dinner table with Scott who plays a  Christian name Christian in the series, will find himself sat across a dinner table from schoolteacher Jenny.

She will also play Lucy dating city trader Nick, played by Neil Maskell in a show described as “hopeful, surprising, awkward” and “sexy as hell”.

 The series will air this summer.

X Factor: The Musical Likely to Offend?

According to an article in today's Mail the plot of X Factor: The Musical was unveiled to Simon Cowell’s closest circle at a private read-through in Soho last week.

Until now he has managed to keep details of the new musical being written by comedian Harry Hill closely under wraps, but details of the script suggest it is quite likely to offend current and former stars of the show.

Among those being targeted is presenter Dermot O’Leary whose character is portrayed as pathetic and needy and Cheryl Cole's character is a judge called Geordie who spends a lot of time sobbing into a Chelsea football jersey (referring to her very public  failed marriage to footballer Ashley Cole).

Sharon Osbourne and Dannii Minogue do not feature in the musical with the panel made up of actors playing Cowell, Louis Walsh and Geordie.

It tells the story of Shenise (thought to be based on 2008  winner Alexandra Burke) and her ‘journey’ on the ITV1 talent  show.

During the second act there is ballad "Falling in Love With Myself" for the character of judge Simon Cowell, who was played at the workshop by West End leading man Alexander Hanson (A Little Night Music, Pontius Pilate in the last Arena Tour of Jesus Chris Superstar).

At the end of the show Simon is revealed to be an alien who blasts off back to space  from where he controls the entire world.

Cowell is known for his love of causing controversy for publicity and a production source told the Mail: "This is Simon’s pet project and he’s ecstatic with the script. He was in tears of laughter at the read-through. He knows how much trouble he’s going to cause. Dermot, Dannii, Cheryl and Sharon will all be furious for different reasons. This is his ultimate revenge  he doesn’t care who he offends. Simon is confident his musical is going to be a huge hit. He hasn’t been this excited about a project for ages."

So confident that his company Syco has invested  £10 million with hopes that it will open in the West End.  

Colm Wilkinson Broadway and Beyond Concert Tour

UPDATED 19th February:  Two more dates added to Colm's tour: Lyceum Theatre London 24th June and Edinburgh Playhouse 20th June - tickets on sale this Friday

Les Miserables star Colm Wilkinson (he was the original Jean Valjean) is appearing in his Broadway and Beyond concert in Ireland and the UK later this year.

He will perform musical theatre standards including his signature song Bring Him Home as well as Music of the Night and  Some Enchanted Evening  plus classics like Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.

Colm will be performing in Ireland at the Cork Opera House/6th & 7th June :  Bord Gais Energy Theatre/10th & 17th June/Limerick University Concert Hall/13th & 14th June and Cardiff St David's Hall on Saturday 29th.

Wilkinson made a cameo appearance as the  Bishop of Digne, the priest who takes pity on Valjean, in the Les Miserables movie and was one of the "Four Valjeans" with Alfie Boe, Simon Bowman and John Owen-Jones at the special 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables at the O2 Arena.

This is a special treat as he does not often perform in concert in this country as he lives in Canada and spends most of his time working there.

Tickets for Broadway and Beyond

Heather Headley, Graham Bickley and Liz Robertson Romantic Classics Concert

You can hear the sensational Heather Headley from the hit musical The Bodyguard on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night at 8:00 pm next Friday, 15th February in a special Romantic Classics concert in celebration of St Valentine's Day.

The concert was recorded a the Mermaid Theatre on 16th January, with  Ken Bruce presenting a night of romantic classics with Tony and Grammy award-winning Headley who performs  numbers including I Will Always Love You.

She will be accompanied The BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart and joined by West End performers Liz Robertson and Graham Bickley who sing selections from The King and I (Rodgers and Hammerstein): A Conneticut Yankee (Rodgers and Hart): Dance a Little Closer (Lerner and Strouse) and Carmelina (Lerner and Lane).

Cast Changes for Rocky Horror Tour

There are some cast changes for the anniversary tour of the Rocky Horror Show.

Ben Forster has been playing the role of Brad Majors but is due to leave on 2nd March so that he could play the lead again in the now postponed tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.  Sam Attwater will take on the role from 4th March to 20th July.

Sam is probably best known for playing Leon Small in EastEnders. He won the sixth series of Dancing on Ice in 2011 and most recently appeared as Norman in the West End in Dreamboats & Petticoats.

Roxanne Pallett is due to leave the Rocky Horror Show on 11th May when the role of Janet will be played by  Dani Harmer from 13th May to 17th August. Dani played the title role in Tracy Beaker and was one of the finalists in the last series of Strictly Come Dancing when she was partnered by Vincent Simone.

New Tour Dates for Jesus Christ Superstar Tour

The new  Andrew Lloyd Webber arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar which was due to start in March has been postponed until later in the year and will now start in October.

In a joint statement from Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group and AEG Live: "Due to circumstances beyond their control RUG and AEG are rescheduling the Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour dates originally planned for March. This is largely due to the enormous demand across the Globe with tours in Australia, Europe and USA to be announced soon."

"In order to avoid disappointing the thousands of fans who have already purchased tickets for the tour in March, the UK dates will be rescheduled for October and the good news is that in addition to the previously announced cities the new time period enables us to add two brand new buildings that were not available in March, the Leeds Arena and The Hydro, Glasgow."

The new tour dates are: The Hydro, Glasgow (1st October), Birmingham NIA Arena (3rd October), Leeds Arena (4th October), Newcastle Metro Arena (6th October), Cardiff Motorpoint Arena (8th October), Nottingham Arena (10th October), Manchester Arena (11th October), London O2 (13th October) and Liverpool Echo Arena (15th October). Tim Minchin, Melanie C, Ben Forster and Chris Moyles will return for the rescheduled dates.

All tickets remain valid for the rescheduled shows with refunds available at point of purchase. New shows go on sale on Friday 15th February.

Tour of Fiddler on the Roof opens at Southampton in September

UPDATED 9th April: More news of  dates for the Fiddler on the Roof Tour is that it will be staged at The Mayflower in Southampton from September 5th-14th prior to a UK and Ireland tour.

It will play at Edinburgh's Festival Theatre from 1st-5th  October and at the Marlowe in Canterbury from 5th-9th November  with many more venues to be confirmed.

Music and Lyrics  have now announced their next production will be a new tour of Fiddler on the Roof produced by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood.

Fiddler on the Roof was the longest running production on Broadway for over 13 years and is full of instantly recognizable songs including If I Were a Rich Man, Matchmaker Matchmaker and  Sunrise Sunset.

It tells the story of Tevye (originally played by Topol) who is the local milkman in his village of Anatevka. He has always stuck by his traditions but suddenly his headstrong daughters decide that they want to marry for love rather than accept whatever Yente the Matchmaker comes up with. 

Tevye loves his daughters but has to convince his wife and the villagers that their decisions are actually falling in with tradition – not any easy thing to do. Tradition is all well and good, but in the end the world moves on, as do the villagers - but maybe not for the reasons they intended.

Patti LuPone London Concerts

Broadway star Patti LuPone is performing in concert in London West End for seven nights only at the Leicester Square Theatre from 16th – 23rd June.

The shows will be hosted by the Grammy and Emmy nominated Seth Rudetsky, who will accompany her on the piano and chat about her extensive and varied career.

Songs performed will include music from Evita (which she last performed live 30 years ago) Gypsy, Company and Anything Goes.  LuPone will also share anecdotes throughout the night.

Patti LuPone is best known for her Tony Award-winning performance as Eva Perón in Evita on Broadway and creating the role of Fantine in the original London cast of Les Misérables. She created the role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard in the West End and won a second Best Actress Tony Award as Mama Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy.

Her Broadway career has also included Tony Award nominations for Anything Goes, Sweeney Todd and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. She also appeared in concert with her Evita co-star Mandy Patinkin in An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin.

Film work includes Union Square, Parker, City By The Sea, Heist, State and Main, Summer of Sam, Driving Miss Daisy, and Witness.

TV guest appearances include Glee, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Will & Grace, OZ, Frasier, Law & Order and Life Goes On.

In addition, Seth Rudetsky will perform his hilarious solo show Deconstructing Broadway on Saturday 22 June at 9:30 pm

Tickets for Patti LuPone Concerts

Barbra Streisand to Perform at Oscars this month

The legendary Barbra Streisand is performing at this year's Oscar Ceremony on Sunday 24th February. The last time she performed was 36 years ago in 1977 when she sang Evergreen from A Star is Born which was that year's winner of the gong for best original song.

The late and great composer Marvin Hamlisch is expected to be remembered at this year's ceremony so hopefully she will be part of that tribute and sing one of his songs.

The ceremony's producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said: "In an evening that celebrates the artistry of movies and music, how could the telecast be complete without Barbra Streisand?"

Norah Jones will also perform the best original song nomination Everybody Needs a Best Friend from Ted and Adele will sing the Bond number Skyfall, which is up for the same prize.

Hugh Jackman's Houdini the Musical Delayed

As I mentioned last June Hugh Jackman is keen to star on Broadway in the new Harry Houdini Musical.  But the production is under threat since Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin has dropped out.

Jackman signed up to play the escapologist in the new show which was due to be written by Sorkin (The West Wing, The Social Network and A Few Good Men). But Sorkin has had to leave the project due to his commitments in writing film scripts and his new hit TV show The Newsroom.

In a statement he said: "I was really looking forward to returning to Broadway and working with such an incredible team. I am very disappointed my schedule won't allow that at this time."

The musical's producers Scott Sander and David Rockwell added: "Mr Sorkin's considerable talents are an asset to any project and we regret that he's unable to remain with Houdini. However, what Hugh and the creative team continue to create is one of the most exciting projects we've ever been a part of. Our projected arrival on Broadway and additional creative team announcement will be made at a future date."



I suspect that part of the deal with Jackman was that Sorkin was the writer, so this could now be shelved indefinitely.