Casting for Urinetown the Musical

Jamie Lloyd's production of the musical Urinetown which played at the St James' Theatre earlier this year is to transfer into the West End Apollo Theatre from Monday 29th September.with Jenna Russell reprising her performance as Ms Pennywise, with a number of the original St James' Theatre cast returning.   Richard Fleeshman will not be there as Bobby Strong due to other commitments but the part will be played by Matthew Seadon Young  and  Simon Paisley Day will play  Caldwell B. Cladwell.

They will be joined by Jonathan Slinger who will again play Officer Lockstock. Marc Elliott, Rosanna Hyland and Karis Jack will also reprise their performances as Mr. McQueen, Hope Cladwell and Little Sally. Further confirmed casting includes Chris Bennett (Swing& Dance Captain), Katie Bernstein (Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs. Millennium), Cory English (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry), Madeleine Harland (Soupy Sue/Cladwell's Secretary), Kane Oliver Parry (Robbie The Stockfish / UGC Executive),

Aaron Lee Lambert (Billy Boy Bill/ UGC Executive), Nathan Amzi (Officer Barrel), Mark Meadows (Senator Fipp), Joel Montague (Swing),  Julie Jupp(Old Woman / Josephine Strong), Jeff Nicholson (Tiny Tom/ Dr. Billeaux) and Alasdair Buchan, Christina Modestou and Vicky Lee Taylor as Swings.

Back to the Future Musical delayed

According to Baz in today's Mail  the  musical version of Back To The Future has been "put on ice"   just as workshops of the show were due to be staged following behind-the-scenes ‘creative differences’ between director Jamie Lloyd who has withdrawn ‘amicably’ from the show and Bob Gale, who wrote the 1985 film and its two sequels, disagreed over the production’s direction. Lloyd said  his decision to withdraw was ‘just a case of wanting to stand by my vision’.‘You absolutely have to believe in it or there’s not much point,’ he said. Gale will now write the version of the show that he favours, and send it out to directors later next year.

The movie featured Michael J. Fox as high-school student Marty McFly who’s also a budding rock guitarist. But his parents are losers and Marty hasn’t got much of a future. Until, that is, he is hurled back in time by crazy scientist Doc Brown — played by Christopher Lloyd — to when Marty’s folks were in high school.

The musical had been expected to open in the West End next year, but will not be ready now until  at least 2016. The American actor Roger Bart had been in informal talks about playing Doc Brown in the show.

 Jamie Lloyd, meanwhile, has jut directed Martin Freeman in Richard III at Trafalgar Studios, plus he’s busy re-casting The Commitments at the Palace Theatre, and transferring satirical comedy Urinetown The Musical to the Apollo.

Hadley Fraser & Caroline Sheen in Before After new musical

West End stars Hadley Fraser and Caroline Sheen are starring  in the world premiere of Stuart Matthew Price and Timothy Knapman’s new romantic musical, Before After, at the  St. James Studio on Sunday 28 September at 3.00pm.


Everybody has one great lost love. They broke our hearts, they haunt our dreams and we will never, ever forget it. But what if fate gave you another chance? Do you think you’d get things right the second time around? In Before After, Ami (Caroline Sheen) meets Ben (Hadley Fraser) by a tree on a beautiful hillside. She reconises him instantly - he was once the love of her life. But Ben doesn’t recognise her. As we watch their love grow in both the past and the present, might they finally find their happy ever after after all? He’s the right man in the right place - but is this the right time?

Before After will be workshopped for two weeks then performed to the paying public on Sunday 28 September at 3.00pm at St. James Studio. Industry insiders will be invited to see the show on Friday 26 September at 2.30pm.


Composer Stuart Matthew Price said: “We are thrilled with the stunning West End cast we’ve assembled and with the generous support of the Arts Council, excited to give Musical Theatre fans the opportunity to be in at the very beginning of the journey for this new British musical. We want their feedback as we look to mount a fully staged production later in 2014 or early 2015.”


Hadley Fraser, soon to star as Stine in the sold-out Donmar Warehouse production of City of Angels, made his professional debut in Les Misérables and returned to West End production as Javert in 2011. His other West End roles include: The Far Pavilions (Shaftesbury),Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (Savoy), Peter Pan (Savoy), El Gallo in The Fantasticks (Duchess). He played Raoul in the 25th Anniversary staging of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. As a vocalist he can be heard on Scott Alan’s releases Keys and Scott Alan LIVE.


Caroline Sheen played the title role in the musical Mary Poppins in the UK then in the US, where she won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production. She appeared in the West End as Fantine in Les Misérables alongside Hadley Fraser, and appears in the film version as well. She made her West End debut as Marty in Grease at the Cambridge Theatre and later starred as Sandy at the Victorial Palace. She played Florinda in Into the Woods at the Donmar Warehouse and was the original cast of Mamma Mia! at the Prince Edward Theatre, understudying the lead role of Sophie. She created the role of Jennifer Gabriel in the world premiere production of The Witches of Eastwick at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. She was Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.


Stuart Matthew Price made his debut as as perfomer in the critically acclaimed Parade at the Donmar Warehouse. Other theatre credits include Mack and Mabel at Southwark Playhouse, The Sound Of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Dear World at Charing Cross Theatre, Shrek The Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane (original West End cast); Sweet Smell of Success at Arcola Theatre and Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show. In 1999, Stuart’s first musical, Searching, won him the Stoll Moss Theatre’s Award for Most Promising Under 18 Musical Writer. Since then Stuart has worked on a number of new musicals including The Diary of Me, which premiered at the Harlow Playhouse in 2006, followed by a short run as part of the Perfect Pitch Showcase Season in 2008 at Trafalgar Studios. Stuart’s individual songs have received much acclaim too and his song Stories of Heroes, won him the 4th Annual Tim William’s Award in 2012.

Tickets for Before After

Liam Doyle, Jamie-Ray Hartshorne, Jonny Fines, Faisal Khodabukus and Alex Jordan-Mills to star in Premiere of Altar Boyz at Greenwich

The cast has just been announced for the UK premiere of Altar Boyz which will run at Greenwich Theatre for a limited period from  3rd-18th October

Liam Doyle, Jamie-Ray Hartshorne, Jonny Fines Faisal Khodabukus and Alex Jordan-Mills will play members of  a fictitious boy-band - whose members include Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham - on the last night of their 'Raise the Praise' tour. When fate brings them to New York, will the boyz take a bite out of the forbidden apple?

Liam Doyle is starring as Fiyero in Wicked (UK Tour). Other recent credits include Link Larkin in Hairspray (UK Tour) and Troy in High School Musical. Jonny Fines’ credits include Lift (Soho Theatre), Avenue Q (UK Tour) and The Sound of Music (UK Tour). Jamie-Ray Hartshorne has appeared in the premiere of new musical The Prodigals (Belgrade Theatre) and The History Boys (National Theatre). Faisal Khodabukus’ recent credits include I Can’t Sing (London Palladium), Dirty Dancing (UK Tour) and La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse Theatre). Alex Jordan-Mills played Billy in the 2013 revival of Taboo (Brixton Clubhouse), and most recently played Nick Piazza in Fame (UK Tour).

The show played Off-Broadway for five years and will be directed by Steven Dexter, whose credits include Loserville in the West End and Honk at the Watermill.  It is  choreographed by Ewan Jones (Water Babies) with musical direction from Mark Crossland

Tickets for Altar Boyz

 

 

 

Demand for Miss Saigon Gala Performance crashes Delfont Mackintosh booking system

From the number of very disappointed tweets I received earlier today it comes as no surprise to hear that the 25th anniversary gala performance of Miss Saigon on 22nd September which went on sale this morning sold out within minutes.

Over 18,000 people tried to buy tickets when booking opened which is  an unprecedented amount for a single performance in a theatre with just over 1700 seats. Fans who queued around the block at the Prince Edward Theatre managed to secure tickets at the original 1989 prices. Online demand was so overwhelming that it crashed the box office ticket system within 10 minutes and the entire Delfont Mackintosh ticket website went down shortly afterwards. The technical team restored the system as quickly as possible and the performance was sold out within minutes.

The Gala Performance was announced last week to salute 25 years since the musical originally premiered.  To celebrate this milestone the cast of the new production will be joined onstage by members of the original company in a special finale. 

For those who missed out on tickets this morning, there will be a limited number day seats available on the morning of Monday 22nd  September. The Gala Performance will also be recorded for BBC Radio 2 and will be broadcast in its entirety on Sunday 28 September.

Cast announced for Sondheim's Assassins at Menier

Updated 8th September: Tickets go on sale today for Assasins at the Menier along with the cast announcement which includes Carly Bawden as Squeaky Fromme, Simon Lipkin as The Proprietor, Mike McShane as Samuel Byck, Andy Nyman as Charles Guiteau, David Roberts as Czolgosz and Catherine Tate will be playing Sara Jane Moore.

The Menier Chocolate Factory has just  announced its winter season, which includes Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins directed by Jamie Lloyd.  I am very excited by this news as I saw this show in 1992/3 at the Donmar direced by Sam Mendes and loved it.

Assassins is  revue-style portrayal of men and women who attempted (successfully or not) to assassinate  American Presidents. It will open on 21st November an run over Christmas and New Year until 7th March, with full casting and creative team to be announced.

Jamie Lloyd's other recent shows include Urinetown which is due to come into the Apollo from the St James' Theatre on 29th September and The Commitments currently running at the Palace.

Tickets for Assassins

Sheridan Smith Who Do You Think You Are?

Updated 4th September:  ITV has just confirmed that first episode of new Cilla drama will air on Monday 15th September at 9:00 pm

Sheridan Smith is due to feature on the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are, when she goes on a hunt to discover the beginnings of her family’s musical heritage.

Sheridan was born in Epworth where her parents Marylin and Colin Smith performed as a Country and Western duo The Daltons. As she grew up she soon followed in their footsteps. She is most well-known for her roles as Emma in The Royle Family, Janet in Two Pints of Lager and Rudi in Gavin & Stacey.
She also appeared on the West End in 2010, playing the lead role, Elle Woods, in Legally Blonde. She won a BAFTA for Best Leading Actress in 2013 for her portrayal of Charmian Biggs, wife of Great Train 
Robber Ronnie Briggs, in ITV drama Mrs Biggs and is shortly to play Cilla Black in a three part series.

Sheridan's  episode was filmed 
earlier this year and is part of the 10th series of the show. It will air on BBC One at 9:00pm on on September 4th.

Anton du Beke & Erin Boag That's Entertainment Tour

Strictly Come Dancing pros Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag are touring  a spectacular new show ‘That’s Entertainment’  in UK and Ireland in 2015 .

It provides a sophisticated combination of music, song and dance for Anton and Erin to perform their quick step, foxtrot, tango and waltz with the showbiz razzmatazz of hits and steps from stage and screen including ‘Steppin’ Out With My Baby’, ‘True Love’, ‘Make ‘em Laugh’, ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ and ‘That’s Entertainment’.

They will be joined on stage by  vocalist Lance Ellington, six world-class Ensemble Dancers and the 25-piece London Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe

The tour starts on 22nd January  at Northampton Royal & Derngate and goes on a countrywide tour which is currently scheduled to end at the Bristol Hippodrome on 29th March.

Tickets for That's Entertainment

Jonathan Pryce, Simon Bowman & Lea Salonga performing at Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary Gala Performance in September

The revamped Miss Saigon opened to rave reviews on 22nd May  at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. It is the musical's 25th anniversary year and they have just announced that they are performing  a special gala  on September 22nd at 7:00 pm featuring the cast of the new production and a special finale with  members of the original company (including Jonathan Pryce,Simon Bowman and Lea Salonga who were the original Engineer, Chris and Kim), All tickets will be at the original 1989 prices of: £22.50, £20.00, £16.50 and £13.50 and they go on sale on Tuesday 26th August at 10:00am.  Fans of the show will have a two-hour priority-booking period on-line from via “MISS SAIGON” social networks and the official show website with general on-sale starting at 12.00 noon (maximum 2 tickets per person on-line). Fans can also purchase by queuing in person at the Box Office which is open from 10am (maximum 4 tickets per person). To register please visit miss-saigon.com.

The show will be recorded for BBC Radio 2 and will be broadcast in its entirety on Sunday 28 September .

The first Live Cast Recording of the entire show featuring the  2014 company  goes on sale on Monday 22nd  September.

Final Dates Cancelled of Annie Get Your Gun Tour

The tour of Annie Get Your Gun starring Jason Donovan ,  Emma Williams and Norman Pace (as Buffalo Bill (until September) is due to end earlier than planned and will now finish at the Wimbleon Theatre on 13th September.

According to The Stage the producers (Ambassador Theatre Group and Tulchin/Bartner Productions) have cancelled The final two dates at Aberdeen His Majestys and Torquay Princess Theatre which is where it was due  to end on 4th October.

In a statement from the producers they said:  Despite encouraging ticket sales and every effort being made to try to safeguard this show for our audiences, the picture across the tour led the producers to make the decision to cancel the remaining performances.

Cast announced for tour of Barnum starring Brian Conley

The new tour of Barnum is currently in rehearsal and  will open at Leicester’s Curve Theatre next month before embarking on an extensive tour which is currently due to end next August. It is based on the Chichester Festival production, but it is believed that the staging will undergo some changes.It will star Brian Conley as showman Phineas T Barnum with West End leading lady Linzi Hateley playing his wife Charity (Chairy) Barnum.

They will be joined by Kimberly Blake/Jenny Lind:Mikey Jay-Heath/Tom Thumb: Landi Oshinowo Joice Heth/Blues Singer and John Stacey Ringmaster/Bailey with ensemble members Georgie Ashford , Alison Connell, David Birch, Nick Butcher, Stefan Dermendjiev, Silvia Dopazo, Pascal Haering, Erin Jameson, Courtney-Mae Briggs, Jen Robinson, Louis Stockil, Lucy Thatcher and Edward Wade with swings Greg Bernstein, Chris Gage, Rebecca Hawkins and Joanna Goodwin swing and dance captain

Laura Michelle Kelly and Jeremy Jordan lead the cast of new production of Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland, the new musical inspired by the 2004 film of the same name  will open on Broadway next March at a theatre owned by the Nederlander Organization, spokespeople for producer Harvey Weinstein have announced.

The new production, directed by Diane Paulus, opens tonight at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a cast led by Laura Michelle Kelly and Jeremy Jordan.

An earlier production of Finding Neverland starring Julian Ovenden and Rosalie Vraig   premiered at the Curve  in Leicester just over a year ago,  with a score by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie and a book by Allan Knee, who wrote the film's screenplay. After mixed reviews, an expected West End transfer was cancelled , and the creative team (which included director Rob Ashford) was overhauled.

The musical now  features a score by British composer-lyricists Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham. Also in he creative  team are Mia Michaels (choreography), Scott Pask (scenic design), Suttirat Larlarb (costume design), Philip Rosenberg (lighting design), Jonathan Deans (sound design), Gilles Papain (projection design), Daniel Wurtzel (fan design), David Chase (musical supervisor), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (musical director), and Simon Hale (orchestrations).

Inspired by the film of the same title starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, Finding Neverland explores the friendship between faltering playwright J.M. Barrie (Jeremy Jordan) and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Laura Michelle Kelly), a widowed mother of four boys, and how that relationship inspired Barrie to write his beloved Peter Pan stories.

Jordan and Kelly are joined  by Michael McGrath as Charles Frohman, Carolee Carmello as Madame du Maurier, Jeanna de Waal as Mary Barrie, Aidan Gemme as Peter, Alex Dreier as Michael, Sawyer Nunes as George, and Hayden Signoretti as Jack. The ensemble is made up of Courtney Balan, Dana Costello, Rory Donovan, Gaelen Gilliland, Thayne Jasperson, Josh Lamon, Melanie Moore, Mary Page Nance, Stuart Neal, Emma Pfaeffle, Jonathan Ritter, Tyley Ross, Julius Rubio, J.C. Schuster, Paul Slade Smith, and Ron Todorowski. Casting for the Broadway run has not been confirmed.

Jon Lee & Richard Grieve to star in new tour of Copacabana

Dancing Fool Theatrical  in association with Harlow Playhouse are presenting a new tour starting in October of Barry Manilow's  Copacabana

Starring Jon Lee (S Club 7, Les Miserables and Jersey Boys) as Tony Starr, Richard  Grieve (Emmerdale,Footloose, Priscilla Queen of the Desert)  as Sam Silver and introducing Jennifer Harding as  'Lola.'

 The musical, written by Manilow and his longtime collaborators Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, has not been seen in the UK for ten years and will kick off at Harlow Playhouse on Thursday 2nd October 2014 (press night Friday 3 October at 7.30pm).  This new production will reimagine the original stage version of Copacabana, which was first performed in the US in 1991 and has never before been seen in the UK.Featuring Manilow hits including Dancin' Fool, Who Needs to Dream, Welcome to Havana and of course, the Grammy Award-winning Copacabana (At The Copa).

This tale of romance and stardom features aspiring songwriter Tony working as a pianist in a bar when he meets the gorgeous Lola, who is determined to make it in showbiz. Quickly falling for Lola, Tony does everything he can to assist her attempts to find stardom. At Manhattan's Copacabana Lounge both start to find fame, before fate steps in and Lola is swept away to Havana to work in a splashy night club. But Lola's new mentor and boss Rico may demand a price for putting her name in lights.

Touring venues  we have so far include Harlow Playhouse, Southsea Kings,  Buxton Opera House, Jersey Opera House, Bournemouth Pavilion, Newcastle Mill Volvo, Blackpool Grand and Billingham Forum.  More casting and  dates for next year to follow shortly.

New Sondheim number for Meryl Streep Into the Woods has been cut

Into the Woods  movie director Rob Marshall has  revealed that a previously reported new Sondheim-penned song for Meryl Streep's character of The Witch has not made the film's final cut.

"We've been incredibly faithful to the original," he said  confirming that the the highly anticipated big screen adaptation of the stage musical which is due for release at Christmas will not add any new original songs.

 Marshall promises that Streep's singing chops will certainly not  disappoint movie goers. "I don't think people will be remotely ready to hear her sing this material. The power from her is off the charts."

Cast for new tour of Blood Brothers

Maureen Nolan is set to reprise the role of Mrs Johnstone in Bill Kenwright's tour of  Blood Brothers when it begins again on 2nd  September at the Cambridge Arts Theatre
.
Maureen, who has played the role several times previously including the 2013/14 tour, is the fourth Nolan sister to take on the role, with Bernie, Denise and Linda all preceding her. This has earned the Nolans an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The cast will also include Kristofer Harding as the  Narrator, Sean Jones as Mickey, Mark Hutchinson as Eddie and Tracy Spencer as Mrs Lyons.

 The tour will also visit venues including Belfast, Dublin, Birmingham, Leicester, Glasgow, Darlington and Rhyl.

Aaron Sidwell and Louise English joining Suzanne Shaw and Paul Nicholas in Blockbuster the Musical

Aaron Sidwell and Louise English are joining Suzanne Shaw and Paul Nicholas to star in the  premiere of BLOCKBUSTER The Musical, which features the chart- busting hits of the legendary song-writing team Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who dominated the pop world in the 1970s and 1980s.

BLOCKBUSTER The Musical begins in 2014 with Mickey Block, a young busker, singing in London’s Soho. Mickey has borrowed money to buy a car. Unfortunately he crashes it without insuring it and is now being pursued by Charlie Daz, a “loan shark” to whom he owes money. Taking refuge in Crazy Max’s Retro Record shop, Mickey meets Max (Paul Nicholas), a mystical figure, who discovers Mickey has problems and tells him he can turn his life around if he performs two selfless deeds within seven days. With Charlie Daz in hot pursuit, Mickey has nothing to lose and agrees. Max tells Mickey to hide in the store’s record booth and as Charlie Daz enters the shop, Max starts the booth spinning and transports Mickey back in time to London and 1975... Mickey is totally disorientated as he tumbles back in time and out of the storeroom cupboard of the main Hall of Ealing College. Befriended by Carol (Suzanne Shaw), the lead singer of the college band, he also meets her less than reliable boyfriend Steve and Teresa, an Anti-Vietnam war activist. Mickey is instantly smitten and he and Teresa find themselves falling in love. Steve has gambling debts and is about to be arrested for selling stolen cameras. Things go from bad to worse when Teresa, while leading a demo outside the American Embassy, is kicked by a police horse and rushed to hospital in a coma. Can Mickey help Teresa pull through and out of her coma? And can he help Carol and stop the police arresting Steve,the boy she loves? Mickey remembers Max’s words,‘Two Good Deeds Mickey’. Can Mickey fulfil his destiny and turn his life around or has time run out and will Max transport him back to 2014? All will be revealed in BLOCKBUSTER The Musical...

Aaron Sidwell will play the lead character of Mickey Block, a young busker, singing in present day Soho, who is sent back in time to 1972 to perform two good deeds. Aaron - best known as Steven Beale in EastEnders - has just finished a tour of the UK as Tybalt in Romeo And Juliet. His musical theatre credits include: the starring role in Cool Rider: Live (Lyric and Duchess theatres), Michael Dork in Loserville – The Musical (Garrick Theatre); Ham in Children of Eden (Prince of Wales), Jack in Carnaby Street (UK Tour), Kyle Gibson in The Prodigals (Edinburgh Festival).

Louise English (Alice) has played many leading roles in musical theatre. She created the role of ‘Rosa’ opposite David Essex in All the Fun of the Fair in two national tours, a West End season at the Garrick Theatre and a specially recorded DVD version. She spent two years in the West End as ‘Sally Smith’ in Me and My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), was ‘Nancy’ in Oliver! (Kuala Lumpur), ‘Grace Farrell’ in Annie (National Tour), ‘Irene Molloy’ in Hello Dollie! (National Tour), ‘Louise’ in Gypsy (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield), ‘Bella Moriarty’ in Sherlock Holmes the Musical (Bristol Old Vic & National Tour).

Suzanne Shaw’s big break came in 2001 with Hear’say. Their single debut was the fastest selling non-charitable record in UK chart history, selling over 1.3 million copies. Since the band split in 2003, Suzanne moved into musical theatre, plays and TV. As ‘Roxie Hart’ in the West End cast of Chicago, she was nominated for Best Takeover in a Role in the annual Whatsonstage Awards. She was also leading lady ‘Bobby’ in the remake of Summer Holiday, ‘‘Judy’ in White Christmas; she appeared across the UK in The Vagina Monologues; and was ‘Irene’ in a UK tour of Alan Aykbourn’s Funny Peculiar. Her TV career includes playing series regular Eve Jensen in Emmerdale and she won ITV’s hit show Dancing on Ice in 2008, returning to the ice this year in the All Stars Dancing on Ice final series.


Paul Nicholas became a household favourite with his role as Vince in the BAFTA award-winning BBC TV series Just Good Friends and for LWT’s major drama Bust, for which he was nominated Best Actor. His theatrical success began in 1969 in the original London production of Hair. This was followed by the leading roles of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Danny in Grease and an appearance in Richard O’Brien’s T-Zee for the Prospect Theatre Company. Paul joined the Young Vic company under Frank Dunlop where he played Claudio in Much Ado about Nothing and in John Antrobus’s comedy Crete and Sergeant Pepper. Paul created the role of Rum Tum Tugger in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, followed by the title role in Tim Rice’s musical Blondel and Charlie Girl at the Victoria Palace with Cyd Charrise. He appeared as the Pirate King in the highly successful production of The Pirates of Penzance and starred in the first ever national tour of Barnum for which he trained in all circus skills including tightrope walking and juggling. As well as being a very successful actor, Paul Nicholas has produced many shows including: Jesus Christ Superstar (concert version), The Pirates Of Penzance (UK tour), Grease (West End and Broadway - Tony Award nomination for Best Revival 2008), The Rocky Horror Show (directed by Paul Nicholas), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (West End), Singin’ in the Rain (UK tour), Evita (UK tour), Chess (UK tour), Happy Days (UK tour), Saturday Night Fever (London Palladium and Minskoff Theatre, New York), Producer, co-adapter The Tale of Two Cities (UK tour), Jekyll & Hyde (UK tour), Keeler (directed by Paul Nicholas), Jest End (Players Theatre and Jermyn Street Theatre) Keeler Producer/Director (UK tour), The Tale Of Two Cities musical (Charing Cross Theatre). His most recent productions were WAG! The Musical and Keeler at Charing Cross Theatre in the West End and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (UK tour).

The rest of the cast are: Blair Anderson, Michael Antony, Ami Atkinson, Grace Holdstock, Vickie Hoyles, Alim Jayda, Lee Honey-Jones, Tom Millan, Tom Murphy, Carla Nella, Rosie O’Hare, Micha Richardson, Ryan Ridley.

BLOCKBUSTER The Musical opens at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford from Thursday 11 - Saturday 20 September. It will then tour to the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Monday 22 - Saturday 27 September and Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Monday 29 September - Saturday 4 October, before embarking on a No1 UK tour in 2015.

New tour of Mel Brook's The Producers next March

Adam Spiegel Productions(Midnight Tango and Dance 'Til Dawn)  is presenting a tour of Mel Brooks'  The Producers .  The musical comedy  features a riotous mix of eccentric characters and show stopping Broadway songs including the the all time classic ‘Springtime For Hitler’.

This brand new production has a  breathless combination of song, dance and laughter based on Mel Brooks’ Academy Award winning movie, which took  Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards and 3 Olivier Awards.

Impoverished by a string of flops, New York producer Max Bialystock recruits timid accountant Leo Bloom to help him pull off Broadway’s greatest scam to produce the worst show ever and run away to Rio with millions, but they learn that showbusiness can always find a way to kick you in the teeth…

The tour opens at Bromley on 6th March and visits Manchester, Milton Keynes, Southend, Brighton,
Birmingham, Bristol,  Sunderland, Woking, Southampton, Liverpool,Glasgow and Aberdeen where it is currently scheduled to end.  Full dates and booking details for The Producers Tour here.


Casting still to be announced.

Casting for The Return of the Soldier

The cast has just been announced for the world premiere of Tim Sanders (book and lyrics) and Charles Miller's (music) new chamber musical The Return of the Soldier which runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre from Tuesday 2nd- Saturday 20th September 2014.

Stewart Clarke will star as Captain Christopher Baldry with Zoe Rainey as Kitty Baldry, Laura Pitt-Pulford as Margaret Grey, Michael Matus as William Grey/Dr Gilbert Anderson and Charlie Langham as Jenny Baldry.

Directed by Charlotte Westenra, the musical is based on Rebecca West's  1918 novel which   dissects the very different love of three women for Captain Christopher Baldry.

When Christopher returns from the war suffering from shell shock, there are profound consequences for each of the women. As he tries to return to everyday life, he has to confront the traumas sustained through the stress of warfare. This powerful new musical drama with its rich and arresting score becomes an eloquent treatise on the nature of love, truth, memory and loss. In the end, only an extraordinary sacrifice will restore a fragile status quo.

 

Tickets for the return of the soldier 

New cast for Wicked! Tour

The cast of the tour of Wicked! will change from 16th September when the following new members take over: Ashleigh Gray (Elphaba), Emily Tierney (Glinda), Samuel Edwards (Fiyero), Marilyn Cutts (Madame Morrible), Steven Pinder (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Richard Vincent (Boq), Jacqueline Hughes (Standby Elphaba) with Joe Atkinson, Joshua Berg, Chrissy Brooke, Ben Carruthers, Harrison Clark, Lauren Ellis-Steele, Oliver Evans, Victoria Farley, Natasha Ferguson, Zoë George, Natalie Green, Will Knights, Sophie Leigh-Griffin, Candy Marriot, Tom Mather, Brian McCann, Ashley Morgan-Davies, Stephanie Powell, Wendy-Lee Purdy, Elisha Sherman, Grant Thresh, Hannah Veerapen and Danny Whitehead

Latest on Bridget Jones Musical

Singer Lily Allen had written a number of songs for  the musical adaptation of  Helen Fielding's novel Bridget Jones which was workshopped in 2010 with Sheridan Smith rumoured for the lead but she has now been dropped from the project

Allen's tracks -  one of which she uploaded to her SoundCloud last month-  have been pulled at the request of Fielding. Allen said: "I wrote some great music for it but Helen Fielding wants to go back and write a whole new story. It's been a long-term project and I was happy to do my bit but I'm now out of the picture."

Haydn Gwynne in Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown

Haydn Gwynne will join Tamsin Greig in the vastly re-worked musical version of Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown playing  the ex-wife of Pepa’s (played by Greig) soon-to-be-ex-lover.