Friday, March 28

David Bedella & Victoria Hamilton-Barritt In the Heights

David Bedella and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt will head the cast for the London premiere of In the Heights. Previews begin at Southwark Playhouse May 9th with an opening night on 15th May.  The show closes on 7th June.

In The Heights opened at Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre in February 2008. The production was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, winning four for Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. It was also nominated for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The action takes place Washington Heights, one of Manhattan’s most vibrant communities.  It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggle can be deciding which traditions to take with you, and which ones to leave behind. With a Latin and hip-hop infused score In The Heights tells the story century about what it takes to make a living, what it costs to have a dream, and what it means to be home.

The cast includes David Bedella as Kevin,Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Daniela with Nathan Amzi/Piragua Guy, Josie Benson/Camilla, Damian Buhagiar/Sonny, Emma Kingston/Vanessa, Jonny Labey/Graffitti Pete, Sam Mackay/Usnavi, Christina Modestou/Nina, Sarah Naudi/Carla, Eve Polycarpou/Abuela and Wayne Robinson as Benny. They will be joined by Courtney-Mae Briggs, Reiss Hinds, Holly James and Dex Lee.

Bedella's impressive musical theatre credits include Satan in the original National Theatre production of Jerry Springer the Opera, Putting It Together (St. James Theatre), Torch Song Trilogy and Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), Chicago (Cambridge Theatre) and The Rocky Horror Show (Playhouse Theatre). Hamilton-Barritt recently starred as Diana in A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. Other recent credits include Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy (Leicester Curve), Alex in Flashdance (Shaftesbury Theatre) and Rizzo in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre).

In the Heights has music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda with a book by Quiara Alegria Hudes. It is directed by Luke Sheppard, with choreography by Drew McOnie. Musical supervision is by Tom Deering, design is by takis, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Howard Hudson and sound design by Gareth Owen.

Book tickets for In The Heights


Alexandra Burke new Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard

The fabulous Miss Beverley Knight makes her last appearance as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard  at the Adelphi Theatre on 31st May to take over the lead in the musical Memphis which starts previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 3rd October.

Her role will be taken over on 2nd June by Alexandra Burke who won The X Factor in 2008 and sang Whitney Houston’s Saving All My Love For You at her audition.  It is her musical theatre debut apart from taking part in a special show of Les Miserables as part of Children in Need in 2012. Burke will stay with The Bodyguard till the end of its run on August 30th when it leaves the Adelphi to make way for Made in Dagenham the Musical which starts previews on 9th October starring Gemma Arterton.

She has been taking acting lessons and expressed an interest in doing more than just singing and was approached by producers David Ian and Michael Harrison when Knight said she was leaving. We saw her, and our creative team met her, and she was fabulous and knocked the songs out of the park Ian said.

A tour of The Bodyguard is due to begin in Manchester in August 2015.

Thursday, March 27

Casting Announced for Porgy & Bess at Open Air Theatre

Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess will run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 17th July to 23rd August. The cast will include American actor Rufus Bonds Jr  who has appeared in The Color Purple (US National Tour), Disney’s The Lion King (US National Tour) and the original Broadway production of Parade for which he was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.  

Nicola Hughes reprises the role of Bess following her Olivier Award nominated performance in Trevor Nunn’s 2006 production at the Savoy Theatre. Her stage credits also include The Color Purple (Menier Chocolate Factory), Fosse (Prince of Wales Theatre/ Olivier Award nomination) and Velma Kelly in Chicago (Adelphi Theatre).

Singer-songwriter and Sugababe Jade Ewen whose stage credits include Whistle Down The Wind and Disney’s The Lion King will play Clara

Double Laurence Olivier Award nominee Sharon D Clarke,whose credits include We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Ghost (Piccadilly Theatre) and The Amen Corner(National Theatre) will play the role of Mariah. 

Porgy and Bess will also star Phillip Boykin who will reprise the role of Crown, for which he received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for the 2012 Broadway production (Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical).

They will be joined by  Cedric Neal, Golda Rosheuvel and Leon Lopez. While American actor Neal has previously appeared in the musical on Broadway, Rosheuvel and Lopez come to the musical for the first time following a string of performances on the London stage. For Rosheuvel those include The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time and South Pacific at the National Theatre, while Lopez has appeared in productions including Rent at the Duke of York’s Theatre and Piaf at the Donmar Warehouse.

Buy tickets for Porgy & Bess







Wednesday, March 26

New tour of Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands

Matthew Bourne currently has productions of Swan Lake and Lord of the Flies  touring the UK and he is now due to direct and choreograph the New Adventures' Edward Scissorhands which has been staged in Europe, America and Australia  since its premiere in 2005.

It now returns to the UK for its first major revival this November opening at Plymouth from 10 - 15 November and then visiting Glasgow, Salford, London, Woking, Nottingham, Liverpool, Norwich, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Bradford, Southampton and Cardiff. .

Based on the Tim Burton film featuring music by Danny Elfman and Terry Davies, Edward Scissorhands tells the story of a boy created by a lonely inventor who dies leaving him unfinished. Left with only scissors for hands he must find his place in a strange world where the well meaning community struggle to see past his appearance.

Dominic North and Liam Mower share the title role. North has played leading roles in most New Adventures productions including Nutcracker!, The Car Man, Early Adventures and Swan Lake. He recently created the role of Leo in Sleeping Beauty and will soon appear as Ralph in Lord of the Flies. He returns to Edward Scissorhands having made his debut in the role at the Sydney Opera House in 2007. He went on to be nominated for a National Dance Award as Outstanding Male Dancer for this performance.

Mower is the original star of the West End hit Billy Elliot. This will be his fifth show for New Adventures, having most recently been seen as Count Lilac in Sleeping Beauty and The Prince in Swan Lake. His other credits include Nutcracker! and Play Without Words.

The show is based on the original motion picture by arrangement with 20th Century Fox, with original story and motion picture directed by Tim Burton, original screenplay, story and co-adaptation by Caroline Thompson. The set and costumes are designed by Lez Brotherston, lighting design is by Howard Harrison and sound design is by Paul Groothuis.



Book tickets for Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands




Monday, March 24

New Tour of Saturday Night Fever

There is a new tour of the musical Saturday Night Fever which starts at the Theatre Royal Bath on November 12th before going  on a nationwide UK tour to venues including the Manchester Opera House from 25th November, Lierpool Empire from 2nd December and the Theatre Royal in Glasgow from 16th December to 3rd January 2015.

It is a co-production between Theatre Royal Bath Productions and the Robert Stigwood Organisation which will be directed by Ryan McBryde (Angus, Thongs And Even More Snogging at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the European tour of The Who’s Tommy) and choreographed by Andrew Wright (Happy Days the Musical and Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of Singin’ in the Rain).

The cast will be made up of actor/musicians and the show features music by the Bee Gees including Stayin' Alive, Night Fever, Jive Talking, How Deep is Your Love? and You Should Be Dancing. .
A full list of dates will follow shortly.

Tracie Bennett leads the Westenders Concerts

Olivier Award-winning actress Tracie Bennett will lead a West End cast in The WestEnders: The World’s Most Popular Musicals in Concert which will tour the UK for just eight dates opening in  Torquay on 9th April. It then visits Southport, York Grand Opera House, Aylesbury Waterside, New Wimbledon Theatre, Crewe Lyceum, Bolton Albert Halls and the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Halls where it ends on 11th May.

Tracie Bennett will reprise her legendary performance as Judy Garland for which she received an Olivier-Award nomination whilst starring in the West End production of End of the Rainbow. Her other West End credits include La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre, Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre (Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), Madame Thenardier in Les Misérables at the Queens Theatre and She Loves Me at the Savoy Theatre (Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical).

She will be joined by Frances Fry (Oliver!, Les Miserables) Stephen Weller (Martin Guerre, Les Miserables, The Producers) Jill Nalder (Oliver!, Les Miserables) Andrew Newey (Joseph, Miss Saigon) Linda Jarvis (Aspects Of Love, Les Miserables) and Adrian Grove (Starlight Express, Les Miserables, Saturday Night Fever).

The WestEnders celebrates the world’s most popular musicals including Les Misérables, The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon  accompanied by a seven-piece band playing new arrangements with musical direction by Jae Alexander (conducting credits include West Side Story, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood, Follies, Cats, Crazy For You, Oliver!, Beauty And The Beast, Guys And Dolls, Fiddler On The Roof and South Pacific).

Saturday, March 22

Lea Salonga to join Il Divo UK Tour

The original Miss Saigon award winning Broadway and West End star Lea Salonga is to join Il Divo on their UK autumn tour.

Il Divo - A Musical Affair: The Greatest Songs Of Broadway Live sees them performing tracks from their new compilation of Broadway tracks Il Divo A Musical Affair.

Il Divo's tour will see the group play 138 live shows over a period of 10 months in 6 different continents. It starts in the UK on October 18th in Birmingham followed by Cardiff, Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, Manchester, Brighton, Bournemouth and Leeds ending at London's O2 Arena on 1st November.


Full tour and booking details here for Il Divo A Musical Affair Tour

Wednesday, March 19

Jason Donovan, Jonathan Wilkes, Emma Williams and Norman Pace to star in tour of Annie Get Your Gun

Ambassadors Theatre Group (West Side Story and South Pacific) are producing a tour of the Tony award-winning version of Irving Berlin’s classic musical Annie Get Your Gun.

It stars Jason Donovan (The Sound of Music, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Frank Butler at certain dates with Jonathan Wilkes at the remainder. West End leading lady Emma Williams (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) is Annie Oakley and Norman Pace (Chicago) as Buffalo Bill until September when he joins the cast of One Man Two Guvnors,

Tuesday, March 18

Cast Announced for Rock of Ages Tour

As already revealed, Ben Richards and Noel Sullivan lead the company as Stacee Jaxx and Drew Boley.

They will be joined by Daniel Fletcher (Dennis) and Rachel McFarlane (Justice) are reprising the roles they played in the West End. Cordelia Farnworth (Sherrie) and Cameron Sharp (Franz) will both play roles they understudied in the West End.
New cast members include: Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Lonny), Jack Lord (Hertz), Jessie May (Regina/Candi), Tom Andrew Hargreaves (Joey Primo) and Rakash Boury (Mayor) with Abigail Climer (Waitress#1), Imogen Brooke (Constance), Kylie Michelle Smith (Young Groupie), Russell Smith (Swing/Dance Captain), Tara Verloop (Swing/Assistant Dance Captain) and swings Chris Southgate, Stephen Rolley and Charlotte Anne Steen.
Following a three-year run in the West End the Tour of Rock Of Ages will open at The Palace Theatre in Manchester on 5th May and then tour until November 2014.  
 

Sunday, March 16

Kristin Chenoweth in Concert at Royal Albert Hall

Emmy and Tony Award winner Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth is performing at the Royal Albert Hall for one night only on Saturday 12th July at 7:30 pm.

Kristin  has received rave reviews for her television roles in Pushing Daisies, Glee and The West Wing, been a guest judge on American Idol and earned widespread acclaim for her role as Glinda in Wicked!

The evening will see her go on a ride of laughter, heartbreak, thrills and great music with an array of her most memorable songs and Broadway show tunes including music from Wicked, Glee and Promises, Promises.

Tickets for Kristin Chenoweth

Fame Forever Concert & Tour

You can see Fame Forever which is the official sequel to the musical Fame at the Lyric Theatre in London for one night only on 8th September prior to a 2015/16 nationwide tour.

The show was conceived and developed by David De Silva who produced the original movie. It tells the story of the characters 20 years on. With music by Steve Margoshes, composer of the original musical and book and lyrics by Ben H Winters.

Characters featured in Fame Forever include Serena Katz, who is now an English teacher at the school and Nick Piazza (her high school sweetheart) who is now a very rich TV star. Tyrone Jackson has his own dance company, while Mabel Washington is a weather girl with her daughter at the school, as does radio DJ Joe Vegas.

The 'spirit of Carmen Diaz', who died in the original appears to see "how life, her classmates and time have passed her by". The show includes a performance of the obligatory title track made famous by Irene Cara.

Tickets will be on sale soon with casting and tour dates still to be announced.


Lee Mead Concert Dates

Lee Mead is currently appearing as Lofty in BBC's Casualty on Saturday nights, but he is also due to take part in a series of concerts this year where he will be performing numbers from musical theatre and some of his own personal favourites with his band.

The current dates for Lee Mead in concert are: Sherman Cymru, Cardiff/4th May: Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple/1st June: Octagon Theatre, Yeovil/29th June: Beck Theatre, Hayes/20th July: Capitol Theatre, Horsham/10th August:  G Live, Guildford/13th August:  Theatr Hafren, Newtown/20th September: Cliffs Pavilion, Southend/5th October: Arts Centre, Aberystwyth/2nd November: and West Cliff Theatre, Clacton on 16th November.

He will also be appearing at  London Hippodrome Casino as a guest at the Stephen Rahman-Hughes Concert/29th March: London Regent Hall - Salvation Army ISS Choral Spectacular/5th April: and    Littlecote House Hotel, Berkshire - Warners Star Break on 12th April

Louise Dearman and Tim Howar Bond & Beyond Concerts

West End leading lady Louise Dearman is currently starring in a new production of The Water Babies at Leicester Curve.

Later in the year she is due to do a short tour of Bond and Beyond Concerts starting on October 19th at the Hegaon Theatre Reading.  She then visits Bridgewater Hall Manchester/26th October:  Basingstoke Anvil/30th October: Southend Cliffs Pavilion/1st November: Bournemouth Pavilion/6th November: Guildford G Live(8th November: Leicester De Montford Hall/16th November and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 23rd November.

She is performing with Tim Howar (Mike and the Mechanics vocalist/Rock of Ages/Peggy Sue Got Married/Tonight's the Night/On the Town) accompanied by the Manchester Concert Orchestra conducted by John Rigby.

The show will celebrate the UK’s most famous secret service agent with all the iconic music and songs from over 50 years including 'From Russia With Love', 'Goldfinger', 'Diamonds Are Forever', 'Live And Let Die', 'For Your Eyes Only', 'Licence To Kill', 'Tomorrow Never Dies', 'Thunderball', 'The Spy Who Loved Me', 'Moonraker' and 'Skyfall'.

Plus a tribute to other spies and detectives from around the world including The Pink Panther, Hawaii Five-O, Hill Street Blues, The Saint, Bergerac, The Avengers, The Sweeney and Poirot.

Buy tickets for Louise Dearman Bond & Beyond


Friday, March 14

Gareth Gates Acoustic Hits Tour

This June Gareth Gates is going on a Greatest Hits Acoustic Tour where he will be accompanied by piano and a guitar. He will be singing new songs and old hits assisted by some special guests.

Tickets have gone on sale this morning for the venues we have so far which are Glasgow O2, Newcastle Academy O2, Manchester Academy 3, Birmingham O2 Academy and London O2 Academy Islington. There may be more dates to come including one in the Bradford/ Leeds area.

Click here for a full list of dates and to book tickets.






Thursday, March 13

Cool Rider Marquee

Cool Rider will return to the West End for one week only at the Duchess Theatre from Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th April  (press night Wednesday 16th April) 

Ashleigh Gray and Aaron Sidwell will once again sing the roles of Stephanie and Michael, immortalised in the film by Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield. 

Tickets for Cool Rider  

Oh What A Lovely War with Caroline Quentin on BBC Radio 2 Tomorrow Night

Radio 2 is broadcasting Tony Award winning director Terry Johnson's new production of "Oh What A Lovely War"  from The Theatre Royal Stratford East where it ends on 15th March. It is the theatre where it was created by Joan Littlewood and the Theatre Workshop half a century ago. The ensemble includes Caroline Quentin with music directed by Mike Dixon.

The musical takes the form of an end of the pier Pierrot show with a series of popular songs of the period , "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," "Pack up Your Troubles", "Oh What A Lovely War" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning", interspersed with satirical sketches mapping out the progress of the war.

Your can hear Oh What A Lovely War on BBC Radio 2 tomorrow night (Friday 14th March) from 08:00-10:00 pm

Wednesday, March 12

Motown the Musical to follow We Will Rock You at the Dominion

With the news yesterday that We Will Rock You will close at the Dominion Theatre on 31st May after twelve years, the Daily Mail is now reporting that it will be followed by Motown: The Musical which follows the story of Motown founder Berry Gordy and how he created the soul label in downtown Detroit in the early 1960s.

The show premiered on Broadway last April with a story revolving around the early days of Motown and Berry Gordy's romance with Diana Ross with a book by Gordy, based on his 1994 autobiography, To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown. He represented legendary artists including Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five and The Supremes.

Gordy co-wrote the show and there were complaints about the amount of credit he took for Motown’s success with the producers now preparing to tweak the storyline so that he doesn’t come across as an arrogant music god.

The show includes fifty Motown classics including I Heard it Through the Grapvine, Reach Out and Touch, You’re All I Need, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), Baby I Need Your Lovin' and I’ll Be There.

The Dominion will close in June to undertake four months of much needed refurbishment and maintenance with Motown: The Musical expected to open at the end of this year or early in 2015.


Tuesday, March 11

We Will Rock You to close at end of May

It has just been confirmed that following a twelve year run We Will Rock You will close at the Dominion Theatre on 31st May 2014.  It was booking until 26th April so the period has now been extended by six weeks.

Co-creators Brian May, Roger Taylor and Ben Elton said: "We want to thank every one of the many hundreds of incredible musical theatre artists, musicians and crew with whom we've had the privilege of working at the Dominion since 2002. And of course the incredible audiences who have rewarded them with over four and a half thousand standing ovations!"

We Will Rock You  is the Dominion’s longest running production and is currently the fifth longest-running musical in the West End, and tenth on the all-time list behind shows including Cats, Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera.

David Pearson who is the General Manager of the Dominion Theatre has confirmed that it will be restored and refurbished  (long overdue) with an "exciting new production" due to open there in 2015.


New Cast Announced for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

As already announced Alex Jennings will be taking over as Willy Wonka from Douglas Hodge in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from 19th May. 

Further cast changes have just been revealed with Barry James playing Grandpa Joe, Josefina Gabrielle as Mrs Teavee and  Richard Dempsey and Kirsty Malpass as Mr and Mrs Bucket.

Theatre credits for the new cast members include: Barry James: The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Little Shop of Horrors. Josefina Gabrielle:  Merrily We Roll Along, Two Into One, Puss in Boots, Me and My Girl and Sweet Charity. Richard Dempsey: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice and Dirty Dancing. Kirsty Malpass: Jerry Springer the Opera and Lord of the Rings.

Clive Carter (Mr Salt), Jasna Ivir (Mrs Gloop), Paul J Medford (Mr Beauregarde), Billy Boyle (Grandpa George), Roni Page (Grandma Josephine) and Myra Sands (Grandma Georgina) will all remain in the cast.

New ensemble members include: Dan Cooke, Divine Cresswell, Connor Dowling, Gemma Fuller, Robert Jones, Matthew Rowland, Rebecca Seale, Gregory Sims, Paulo Teixeira and Laura Tyrer with further casting to be announced.

Monday, March 10

Musicals Nominated for 2014 Olivier Awards

Below is the list of musical theatre nominations for this year's Olivier Awards announced this morning by Nigel Harman and Leigh Zimmerman at the Rosewood Hotel:

Best Director
Richard Eyre for Ghosts at the Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios
Maria Friedman for Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Susan Stroman for The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic
Lyndsey Turner for Chimerica at the Almeida Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre

Best Actor in a Musical

Gavin Creel for The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Jared Gertner for The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Douglas Hodge for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Kyle Scatliffe for The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic

Best Actress in a Musical
Rosalie Craig for The Light Princess at the National Theatre, Lyttelton
Zrinka Cvitešić for Once at the Phoenix Theatre
Jenna Russell for Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Charlotte Wakefield for The Sound Of Music at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Stephen Ashfield for The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Colman Domingo for The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic
Josefina Gabrielle for Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Nigel Planer for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

MasterCard Best New Musical
The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Once at the Phoenix Theatre
The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic

Best Musical Revival
Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre
The Sound Of Music at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Tell Me On A Sunday at the St James Theatre & the Duchess Theatre

Best Theatre Choreographer
Peter Darling for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Steven Hoggett for Once at the Phoenix Theatre
Casey Nicholaw for The Book Of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Susan Stroman for The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic

Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music
The Book Of Mormon – Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt Stone for book, music & lyrics
Merrily We Roll Along – The orchestra
Once – Martin Lowe for composition & arrangements, Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová for music & lyrics
The Scottsboro Boys – John Kander & Fred Ebb for music & lyrics

White Light Award for Best Lighting Design
Paule Constable for The Light Princess at the National Theatre, Lyttelton
Tim Lutkin & Finn Ross for Chimerica at the Almeida Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Peter Mumford for Ghosts at the Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios
Paul Pyant for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Best Sound Design
Simon Baker for The Light Princess at the National Theatre, Lyttelton
Carolyn Downing for Chimerica at the Almeida Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Clive Goodwin for Once at the Phoenix Theatre
Gareth Owen for Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Best Costume Design
Nicky Gillibrand for The Wind In The Willows at the Duchess Theatre
Soutra Gilmour for Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Rae Smith for The Light Princess at the National Theatre, Lyttelton
Mark Thompson for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

XL Video Award for Best Set Design
Bob Crowley for Once at the Phoenix Theatre
Es Devlin for Chimerica at the Almeida Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
Tim Goodchild for Strangers On A Train at the Gielgud Theatre
Mark Thompson for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

BBC Radio 2 Audience Award
Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre
Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre
The Phantom Of The Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre
Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

The winners will be announced at the ceremony held on Sunday 13th April at the Royal Opera House

Thursday, March 6

Full cast announced for Gypsy at Chichester this summer

Updated 30th July: the full cast has now been announced for this production: Dan Burton will play Tulsa,  Jimmy Chisholm/Uncle Jocko),Jack Chissick/Mr Goldstone, Harry Dickman/Pop, Anita Louise Combe/Tessie, Roger Dipper/L.A./Farmboy, Louise Gold/Mazeppa, Clare Halse/Majorie May/Toreadorable, Tom Hodgkins/Weber / Boucheron, Kieran Jae/Angie/Farmboy, Julie Legrand/Electra / Miss Cratchitt,Danielle Morris/Geraldine / Toleadorable), Jane McMurtrie/Jaynie,Jack North/Little Rock / Farmboy, Damien Poole/Yonkers / Farmboy, Gemma Sutton/June,Natalie Woods/Agnes / Toreadorable and Lauren Varnham/Waitress / Delores / Toreadorable.

 Gypsy is now confirmed for Chichester season starring Imelda Staunton /Mama Rose with  Kevin Whately/Herbie and  Lara Pulver as Louise. It is directed by Jonathan Kent with choreography by Stephen Mear.

Imelda Staunton returns to Chichester to play the legendary Mama Rose with Jonathan Kent directing her again (last time was Mrs Lovett with Michael Ball in Sweeney Todd  in 2011). 

Lara Pulver returns to Chichester to play Louise following her performance in Uncle Vanya (2012). Kevin Whately (ITV's Morse, Peak Practice and Lewis) makes his Chichester debut as Herbie.

It will run at the Festival Theatre from 6th October-8th November and is based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  The show is considered by many to be the greatest of the Broadway musicals with classic numbers including Let Me Entertain You and Rose’s Turn.


Book tickets for Gypsy

Full Cast Announced for Guys & Dolls at Chichester

Updated 8th April: Guys & Dolls starring Peter Polycarpou and Sophie Thompson is set to play at the Chichester Festival Theatre from 11th  August - 21st September.

This multi award-winning musical originally opened in 1950, winning five Tony Awards including Best Musical. It includes the hit numbers Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat and My Time of Day and inspired the award-winning 1955 movie which starred Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson and Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit.

The cast includes Peter Polycarpou as Nathan Detroit, returning to Chichester following his performance in The Pajama Game which he is leaving in June  to play this role and Sophie Thompson as Miss Adelaide. Her last appearance at Chichester was in The Chalk Garden (1986).

They will be joined by Jamie Parker/Sky Masterson: Clare Foster/Sarah Brown: Carl Sanderson/Rusty Charlie: Harry Morrison/Nicely Nicely Johnson: Nick Wilton/Harry the Horse: Nic Greenshields/Big Jule: Mark Heenehan/Lieutenant Brannigan: Ian Hughes/Benny: Melanie La Barrie/General Cartwright and Neil McCaul/Arvide Abernathy.

With ensemble members Etian Almeida, Karen Aspinall, Lucy Banfield (Dance Captain), John Brannoch, Stephanie Bron, Daniel Ioannou, Melissa James, Lucinda Lawrence, Adam Margilewski and Anabel Kutay.

American director Gordon Greenberg makes his directorial debut at Chichester:  choreography is by internationally renowned  Carlos Acosta with additional choreography including Hot Box numbers by Andrew Wright.  Peter McKintosh/Designer: Gareth Valentine/Dance Arrangements, Musical Supervisor & Musical Director: Larry Blank/Orchestrator: Tim Mitchell/Lighting Designer and Paul Groothuis/Sound Designer.

This production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York

Booking info for Guy & Dolls 

Wednesday, March 5

New Cast for tour of Cats

The international tour of Cats the Musical is currently in Athens and returns to the UK on 2nd April opening in Norwich.

The new cast are now in place led by Joanna Ampil as Grizabella who has returned to the show.  She will be joined by  Dawn Williams/Rumpleteazer: Clare Rickard/Jellylorum/Griddlebone: Charlene Ford/Bombalurina: Lily Frazer/Demeter: Alice Redmond/Jennyanydots: Alicia Beck/Victoria/White Cat: Natasha Mould/Jemima: Nicholas Pound/Old Deuteronomy: Ben Palmer/Munkustrap: Filippo Strocchi/Rum Tum Tugger: Joseph Poulton/Quaxo/Mistoffelees: Paul F Monaghan/ Asparagus/Bustopher Jones/Growl Tiger: Benjamin Yates/Mungojerrie: Ross Finnie/Skimbleshanks: Cassie Clare/Cassandra: Freya Rowley/Tantomile: Joel Morris/Carbucketty: Richard Astbury/Coricopat: Cameron Ball/Admetus/Macavity: Adam Lake/Alonzo and Adam Salter as Bill Bailey. With swings Ryan Gover, Barry Haywood, Alice Jane, Grace McKee, Dane Quixall and Libby Watts.

Monday, March 3

Made in Dagenham Musical to open at Adelphi in October

It  has finally been confirmed that Gemma Arterton will star in Made in Dagenham the Musical which starts previews at the Adelphi Theatre on 9th October and opens on 5th November.  Other casting so far is Adrian Der Gregorian (Sweet Smell of Success, The Woman in White) as her husband Eddie.


Gemma Arterton has already done a workshop on the musical and has stage credits including the Duchess of Malfi at the Globe and The Little Dog Laughed. She is best known for her film roles which include St Trinian's, Quantum of Solace and Clash of the Titans.

In Made in Dagenham she plays Rita O'Grady who wages war against the corrupt union bosses in the Ford Dagenham car plant in the 1960s. When the girls in the sewing machine room are told they will have their pay grade dropped to ‘unskilled’ Rita leads them in a protest against the Ford Corporation. But can she keep up the fight at work for equal pay for women without sacrificing the happy home she’s worked so hard for?

Directed by Almeida artistic director Rupert Goold, the show has a book by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) with music from David Arnold (musical director of several Bond films and the
Olympics closing ceremony) and lyrics by Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer: The Opera).

Tickets for Made in Dagenham are on sale now

Saturday, March 1

Aaron Sidwell, Sabrina Aloueche, Sophia Ragavelas and Keith Jack perform Island Song

West End Stars Aaron Sidwell, Sabrina Aloueche, Sophia Ragavelas and Keith Jack are performing witty and moving songs from a new musical Island Song at the St James Theatre Studio at 15:00 and 19;00 on 13th April.

Island Song has been written by Carner & Gregor who had a sell-out concert at the London Hippodrome last year, and a successful Off Broadway run for their first show Unlock'd.

Tickets for Island Song

I Can't Sing X Factor Musical Previews postponed again until next week

The X Factor Musical I Can't Sing has already cancelled its first two previews at the Palladium with the first one due to open tonight.  But now due to technical difficulties it has been postponed again and will now start on Wednesday 5th March.

The delay is due to "an integral part of the stage mechanism for the show's set" which is not operating correctly and needs to be resolved before performances can start.

A statement from Rebecca Quigley producer for Stage Entertainment: "Our teams have been working extremely hard to correct a problem which has developed this week with a particularly intricate piece of technical equipment.Our show features a hugely ambitious set, including a multi-truck system on track embedded in the stage, to allow pieces to move constantly during the performance. This tracking system is not operating correctly and it's imperative, for the safety of our actors and the quality of the production that we're committed to delivering, that we take the time needed to resolve this issue.

I'd like to offer our sincere apologies to everyone who has bought a ticket for this week's preview performances and can assure you that everyone at the Palladium is working night and day to guarantee that I Can't Sing!, in all its hilarious, all-singing, all-dancing glory, will begin previews next week as scheduled."

Ticket holders should contact their point of purchase for exchanges.