Full casting for Cats UK & European tour

Full casting has been confirmed for the UK and European tour of Cats which opens at the Manchester Opera House on Saturday 30th January 2016.

Leading the cast as Grizabella is Anita Louise Combe who recently appeared as Tessie Tura in Gypsy at the Chichester Festival Theatre and Savoy Theatre. 

Reprising his performance from the musical's recent run at the London Palladium is West End Frame Award nomineeMarcquelle Ward as Rum Tum Tugger whilst Matt Krzancontinues as Munkustrap.

The full cast includes: Kevin Stephen-Jones as Old Deutoronomy, Greg Castiglioni as Bustopher Jones/Asparagus/Growl Tiger, Shiv Rabheru as Quaxo/Mistoffelees, Joe Henry as Mungojerrie, Emily Langham as Rumpleteazer, Lee Greenaway as Skimbleshanks, Celia Graham as Jellyorum/Griddlebone, Rebecca Parker as Bombalurina, Helen Turner as Demeter,Lucinda Shaw as Jennyanydots, Sophia McAvoy as Victoria/White Cat, Phoebe Lewisas Jemima, Danielle Cato as Cassandra, Gabrielle Cocca as Tantomile, Enric Marimonas Carbucketty, James Titchener as Coricopat, Javier Cid as Macavity/Admetus, Josh Andrewsas Alonzo/Rumpus and Aaron Hunt as Bill Bailey 

Completing the cast are Megan Armstrong, Alice Cornwell, Lucy Brushett, Oliver Ramsdale and Connor McAllister.

Wicked extends booking period into 2017

Wicked! the musical  has just announced the opening of its 21st  booking period on Monday 1 February 2016 at 10am, with over 500,000 new tickets going on sale for performances until Saturday 29 April 2017.

The long-running London production  is now in its 10th anniversary year and  continues to break Box Office records at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, most recently setting a new house record with a weekly gross of £1,030,379.00 (for the week ending Saturday 2 January 2016).

Acclaimed as “a magical story of friendship, love and growing up” (OfficialLondonTheatre.com) and “a package of show-stopping songs and razor-sharp wit” (Metro), Wicked has now been seen by over 7 million people in London alone and is currently the 9th longest-running show in the West End* and already the 19th longest-running show in West End theatre history

Wicked currently stars: Emma Hatton (Elphaba), Savannah Stevenson (Glinda), Oliver Savile (Fiyero), Liza Sadovy (Madame Morrible), Tom McGowan* (The Wizard), Sean Kearns (Doctor Dillamond), Daniel Hope (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Natalie Andreou (Standby for Elphaba) and Carina Gillespie (Standby for Glinda).

Kinky Boots Extends Booking Period

The hit musical Kinky Boots,  has today announced the opening of a new booking period, with tickets now available until Saturday 24 September 2016. Tickets for this extended period will go on sale from Monday 1 February 2016.

Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess together again in The Secret Garden

Manhattan Concert Productions has announced complete casting for its 25th anniversary performances of The Secret Garden on February 21st and 22nd  at David Geffen Hall.

As previously announced, the Tony-nominated former Fun Home star Sydney Lucas will star as Mary Lennox, alongside Ramin Karimloo (Archibald Craven), Sierra Boggess (Lily), Cheyenne Jackson (Dr. Neville Craven), Ben Platt (Dickon), Jere Shea (Ben), Barbara Rosenblat (Mrs. Medlock), and original Tony-winning Secret Garden star Daisy Eagan (Martha).

Lucas' former young Fun Home costar Oscar Williams joins her in the role of Colin Craven. The cast will also feature Nikki Renée Daniels (Rose Lennox), Quentin Earl Darrington (Major Holmes), Julie Halston (Mrs. Winthrop), Jamie Jackson (Lieutenant Shaw), Allegiance star Telly Leung (Fakir), Anisha Nagarajan (Ayah), John Riddlle (Lieutenant Wright), Haley Swindal (Alice), Josh Tower (Major Shelley), and Tony nominee Josh Young (Captain Albert Lennox).

The Secret Garden, which opened at the St. James Theatre in April 1991 and played 709 performances before closing in January 1993, is based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The score is written by Lucy Simon, with a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman. The original Broadway cast featured Mandy Patinkin, Alison Fraser, Rebecca Luker, Robert Westenberg, John Cameron Mitchell, and Daisy Eagan, who won a Tony Award for her performance as Mary Lennox.

Sheffield Crucible's Showboat to open at New London Theatre in April.

Updated 12th February: Gina Beck, Emmanuel Kojo and Rebecca Trehearn, are among the cast who will transfer from Sheffield to the West End in the  musical Show Boat. Many of the company who appeared in the revival at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre over Christmas will be in the show when it begins previews at the New London Theatre on April 9th (with press night on April 25th)

According to Baz in today's Mail the excellent Sheffield Crucible production of Showboat which recently ended its run is close to confirming a transfer to the West End's New London Theatre for an April-January 2017 run, but with a different cast as not everyone is available to make the transfer (for example leading man Michael Xavier is due to be at the London Coliseum starring in Sunset Boulevard at opposite Glenn Close).

Buy tickets for Show Boat

Pixie Lott with Breakfast at Tiffany's leading men

Pixie Lott pictured with her Breakfast at Tiffany's leading men Matt Barber and Charlie De Melo

New Jersey Boys Cast Announcement

First news of the next cast change for the Jersey Boys hit musical at the Piccadilly Theatre which tke place  around about the time the show celebrates its eighth birthday. From 15th March 2016: Matt Corner will be Frankie Valli , and Simon Bailey, Declan Eagan and Matt Hunt are taking over as the Four Seasons. This is the first time since the show opened in 2008 that all four Seasons have changed

Matt Corner is currently starring as Frankie Valli in the UK tour of Jersey Boys; Simon Bailey's West End credits include Liam O'Deary in I Can’t Sing, Brit in We Will Rock You & Enjolras in Les Miserables; Declan Eagan was recently stand by Elder Price in The Book of Mormon's US tour & previously played Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys in Australia and Matt Hunt is currently in the ensemble of Jersey Boys. Dayle Hodge is transferring from the UK tour to the West End production to alternate the role of Frankie Valli.
Also joining the cast will be Mark Dugdale, Leanne Garretty, Will Haswell, Mark Heenehan, Joe Maxwell, Nathaniel Morrison and Dan O’Brien, who will join Nicola Brazil, Stuart Dawes, Lucinda Gill, Nicky Griffiths, Mark Isherwood, Ben Jennings, Chris Stoddart, Helen Ternent and Ben Wheeler.

Michael Watson, Edd Post, JonBoydon and Gary Watson will play their final performances on Sunday 13th March.

Full casting announced for Breakfast at Tiffany's

Matt Barber and Victor McGuire will be joining the previously announced Pixie Lott in the UK tour of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Barber, best known for his role as Atticus Aldridge in Downton Abbey  will play Fred whilst McGuire who has starred in sitcoms Trollied and Bread, will play Joe Bell.

The cast will be completed by Robert Calvert as Doc, Naomi Cranston as Mag, Charlie De Melo as José, Tim Frances as Rusty Trawler/Editor at 21, Andrew Joshi as Yunioshi, Melanie La Barrie as Mme Spanella, Sevan Stephan as OJ Berman/Dr Goldman with  Katy Allen and Andy Watkins.
 

More casting announced for Sunset Boulevard

More casting has just been announced for the ENO production of Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close as faded silent movie star Norma Desmond, which runs at  the London Coliseum for a strictly limited five week season opening 1st April  (press night 4th April)  until 7 May

As previously announced the cast will also include Michael Xavier (Show Boat/The Pajama Game) as Joe, Siobhan Dillon (Miss Saigon/Ghost) as Betty and Fred Johanson (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Max with Julian Forsyth as Cecil B DeMille, Mark Goldthorp as Sheldrake, Fenton Gray as Manfred, Haydn Oakley as Artie Green and James Paterson as Jonesy. Further company members include Carly Anderson, Jacob Chapman, Katie Kerr, Aaron Lee Lambert, Vicki Lee Taylor, Jo Morris, Ashley Robinson, Gary Tushaw and Adam Vaughan.
 
Ria Jones, who created the role of Norma Desmond in the original Sunset Boulevard workshop, also features in the cast as Close's standby.

Final casting will be announced shortly.

Tickets for Sunset Boulevard

Gary Barlow's The Girls Musical headed for West End?

Gary Barlow will join the cast of The Girls musical at Salford's Lowry Theatre in Salford for the final performance on January 30th .

Barlow,  wrote songs for The Girls with Tim Firth, is currently working in the US but will return for the last night at the Lowry, where he will sing Dare.

Top choreographer Stephen Mear has been brought in to work on restaging the show and producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers will continue to work on it until they feel it is  ready to transfer into to the West End.

Ramin Karimloo & Hadley Fraser Bring Him Home Duet at Union Chapel

A few days ago Tony Award nominee Ramin Karimloo performed a sold-out solo show at London's Union Chapel - with special guests including Ashleigh Gray and Hadley Fraser. Below, listen to Ramin and Hadley's stunning duet of "Bring Him Home."

Guys and Dolls to transfer to Phoenix Theatre

The Mail's Baz Bamigboye has just revealed that the Chichester Festival hit production of Guys and Dolls currently at the Savoy Theatre until 12th March (when it has to leave to make way for Sheridan Smith's Funny Girl  which opens there on 9th April)  is to stay in the West End and transfer to the Phoenix Theatre on 19th March  following the closure of  Bend it Like Beckham  on 5th March . The cast for the Phoenix run is still to be confirmed

The planned tour will still go ahead opening  at the Liverpool Empire on 16th March with a new cast to  be announced

David Essex, Jimmy Nail, Daniel Bedingfield & Heidi Range starring in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds

Casting has just been announced for Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds which  is running at the Dominion Theatre from 8th  February (press night 17th  February) to 30th April.

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet star Jimmy Nail will make his West End debut as Parson Nathaniel. He will be joined by pop star Daniel Bedingfield and Sugababes singer Heidi Range as The Artilleryman and Beth.

Further casting includes Michael Praed (Dynasty) as George Herbert, Madalena Alberto (Evita) as Carrie and David Essex as The Voice of Humanity. Liam Neeson will make an onscreen appearance as The Journalist.

Jimmy Nail was last seen on stage in the Broadway run of the Sting-scored musical The Last Ship in 2014. He is well known for his TV apppearances as Jimmy ‘Oz’ Osborne in BBC1's "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet," for writing, producing and starring in the title role of "Spender," and for creating "Crocodile Shoes" in which he played a country and western singer named Jed Shepherd. The theme song became a chart hit, and Nail also had a No. 1 single with "Ain't No Doubt." He was seen on film as Magaldi in Alan Parker's film version of "Evita."

Daniel Bedingfield, the New Zealand born British-raised singer-songwriter shot to stardom in 2001 with the No. 1 single "Gotta Get Thru This," that was followed by five more U.K Top 10 singles including "If You’re Not The One" and "Never Gonna Leave Your Side" and a debut album that sold more than four million copies worldwide. He was a judge on the first series of "The X Factor in New Zealand" and became the winning mentor when his act Jackie Thomas won the competition.
 
David Essex featured on the original 1978 double album of "The War of The Worlds," playing The Artilleryman. Now, almost 40 years later and for the first time since its inception, he returns as The Voice of Humanity. In a long career, Essex has had 19 Top 40 UK Singles—including two No. 1's—and 16 Top 40 Albums. His theatre credits over the years have included the original London productions of Godspell and creating the role of Che in Evita. More recently, he starred in All the Fun of the Fair which is based on his hit own songs.

Heidi Range is the longest serving member of the BRIT award winning girl group Sugababes, where she enjoyed six UK number one singles, two Number One albums, eighteen UK top ten hits and five UK top ten albums. She was also formally one of the original members of girl group Atomic Kitten.

Michael Praed is probably still best known for his iconic portrayal as Robin of Loxley in the classic television series "Robin of Sherwood" and subsequently the U.S series "Dynasty." Stage appearances have included The Sound of Music (London Palladium), The Pirates of Penzance (Drury Lane), Aspects of Love (Prince of Wales) and The Three Musketeers (Broadway Theatre, New York).

Madaleno Alberto was at the  Dominion in w014 in the title role of Evita. She has also played Grizabella in Cats at the London Palladium. Other musical theatre credits include Fantine in the 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables.

Cast announced to join Aladdin's Dean John-Wilson in new musical Miss Atomic Bomb

Miss Atomic Bomb is  a new musical comedy by Adam Long, Gabriel Vick and Alex Jackson-Long which is being presented at the St James' Theatre from 7th March - 9th  April 2016

Welcome to Las Vegas in 1952, where every mushroom cloud has a silver lining and fallout is your friend.Tourists are going nuts for nuclear, sipping cocktails by hotel pools while watching atomic blasts ignite the desert sky.But in the midst of this euphoria, our heroine Candy’s sheep have mysteriously died, Joey has deserted the army, fashionista Myrna is designing clothes for pigs, and Lou the hapless manager of the Golden Goose still needs an atomic gimmick… In a city controlled by the mob and the military, and with a spy in their midst, time is running out for our four friends.

Dean John-Wilson  is Joey Lubowitz. He  is going to be playing the lead in  Disney's Tony Award-winning new musical Aladdin  which opens at the Prince Edward Theatre in June. He will be joined by  Doctor Who actress Catherine Tate/Myrna Ranapapadophilou who appeared  recently in Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory) and The Vote (Donmar Warehouse), with Florence Andrews/Candy Johnson (A Little Night Music), Simon Lipkin/Lou Lubowitz(The Lorax, Assassins) and Daniel Boys/Mr Potts (Any Dream Will Do, Avenue Q).

Further casting includes , Stephane Anelli/Professor Alvin Schmul, Cavin Cornwall/General Westcott & Mr. Rosenhut ,Olivia Fines as Sharon, Suzie McAdam as Maisy Day  and the youngest member of the Strallen musical theatre dynasty Sasi Strallen as Delilah with ensemble members Michelle Andrews, Charles Brunton, Jessica Buckby,  Ryan Gover, Alyn Hawke, Sion Lloyd, , Kirk Patterson

Miss Atomic Bomb has been inspired by the real life nuclear tests and beauty pageants of the era,  co-directed by the Olivier Award-winning choreographer Bill Deamer (Top Hat) and Adam Long (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged).

Tickets for Miss Atomic Bomb

Full cast announced for tour of Chicago

Full casting has just been announced for the new tour of the award-winning musical CHICAGO, which opens at the New Theatre Oxford on Friday 12 February. Joining the previously announced John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart and Sam Bailey as Mama Morton will be Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine

Sophie Carmen-Jones’ many West End credits including Jersey Boys, Wicked and We Will Rock You. She will also appear in the forthcoming Disney film Beauty and the Beast. Neil Ditt has appeared in many West End productions including Mary Poppins and Betty Blue Eyes. His other theatre credits include creating the role of George Mole in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole at Leicester Curve and High Society and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, both at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. A.D. Richardson’s  theatre credits include the International tour of The Pirates of Penzance, the UK tour of HMS Pinafore, the RSC’s Cyrano De Bergerac and Scrooge The Musical at the New Theatre Oxford

The rest of the company includes Daniele Arbisi,  Nicola Coates, Frances Dee, Adam Denman, Francis Foreman, Waylon Jacobs, Justin-Lee Jones, Dann Kharsa, Chelsea Labadini, Ellie Mitchell, Peter Nash, Helen Siveter, Kerry Spark, Lindsey Tierney and Emily Warner.

Ashleigh Gray, Steven Webb, Andy Coxon and Liam Doyle in Concert for Muted

Interval Productions have lined up Ashleigh Gray, Steven Webb, Andy Coxon, Liam Doyle and Tori Allen-Martin to record a new British rock show and launch the album with a concert on the 4th February as a co-production with Iris Theatre at the Actors’ Church on 4th February, with performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

 Ashleigh Gray has just finished starring as Elphaba in the UK tour of Wicked. Steven Webb can currently be seen at the National Theatre in I Want My Hat Back. Liam Doyle has been playing Sam in the world tour of Ghost and Any Coxon is fresh out of Beautiful in the West End. Tori Allen-Martin, who also wrote a lot of the lyrics for Muted, has just been featured on Idris Elba’s mi Mandela album with Maverick Sabre.

The music is written by the Tim Prottey-Jones and the concert version of the show will be directed by Jamie Jackson, who recently directed the concert version of musical ‘The Natives’ for the Old Vic New Voices and was nominated for an Off West End award for Best Director for his show ‘WINK’ at Theatre 503.

Tickets are £12 and £10 for concessions available here

The Remains of Tom Lehrer (Performed by Adam Kay) at Ambassadors in April

James Seabright is presenting The Remains of Tom Lehrer (Performed by Adam Kay) to the Ambassadors Theatre on Tuesday 19th April at 8:00 pm

The satirical songs of Tom Lehrer have delighted and horrified audiences for decades, both through his own rare, acerbic performances and in the revue format of the London and New York hit show Tomfoolery.  Adam Kay brings his new take on Lehrer’s songbook to the West End for the first time. Everything from pigeon poisoning to masochistic tango via nuclear oblivion is revisited from the contemporary perspective of this award-winning performer. The acclaimed front man of London Underground Song creators Amateur Transplants has also been heard on BBC Radio Four’s The Now Show, with extensive writing credits including BBC Three sitcom Crims.

Tickets for The Remains of Tom Lehrer

Audra McDonald starring in Billie Holiday's Lady Day at Wyndham's in June

Six-time Tony Award® winner Audra McDonald makes her West End debut as legendary jazz icon, Billie Holiday at the Wyndham's Theatre from 25th June - 3rd September 2016. She is  a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winner, and  one of Broadway’s biggest stars holding the record for Tony-winning performances including her Best Actress winning performance for Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill.

The show offers an  intimate evening filled with some of the most inspiring and moving songs ever written with personal stories of Holiday’s loves and losses through a turbulent but extraordinary life.With a score featuring God Bless the Child, What a Little Moonlight Can Do, Strange Fruit, Crazy He Calls Me and Taint Nobody's Biz-ness

Buy Tickets for Lady Day  

Full cast announced for new musical Only the Brave starring Caroline Sheen, David Thaxton, Emilie Fleming & Neil McDermott

Updated 19th February: Only the Brave is being presented at Cardiff Millennium Centre from 28th March-2nd April.  Starring Welsh musical stars Caroline Sheen (Mary Poppins, Les Misérables) and David Thaxton (Les Misérables, Love Never Dies). It is a new musical about love, friendship and hope which delves into the lives of the men and women who made the most astonishing sacrifices in order to protect their country and provide a better future for those they loved.

They will be joined by Emilie Fleming (Cosette in Les Misérables last year at the Queen’s Theatre in London’s West End.  Daniel Evans’s production of Oliver!), Neil McDermott (who recently reprised his role as Ryan Malloy in EastEnders on BBC 1, a role he previously played between 2009 and 2011 and reprised in 2014. He also played Dr Ralph Ellis in The Royal between 2009 and 2011. His West End theatre credits include Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical, Jean-Michel in La Cage aux Folles, Young Buddy in Follies, Rolf in The Sound of Music and the title role inAladdin opposite Ian McKellen at the Old Vic) with Graham MacDuff (Spamalot, Carousel, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Miss Saigon, London’s , David Albury (Love Story at Union Theatre, Porgy & Bess at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, national tour of The Lion King), Karl Anthony Queensborough (Prince Charming in Cinderella at Lyric Hammersmith, A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes at the Tricycle Theatre), Helen Hobson (Bakkhai at the Almeida, Sunny Afternoon at Hampstead Theatre, Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Donna in Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales and Novello Theatres), Nikki Mae (Mamma Mia! at Novello Theatre, national tours of High School Musical 2 and Evita), Gwydion Rhys (Celyn Jenkins in Tir and Dai Jones in Cara Fi), Max Bowden (2015 national tour of Birdsong, played Justin Fitzgerald in BBC 1’s Waterloo Road), Steffan Lloyd-Evans (Jack in Jack & the Beanstalk at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, national tours of Godspell in Concert and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Moyo Akandé (appearing in Rachel Wagstaff’s Flowers for Mrs Harris at Sheffield Crucible in May 2016, credits including White Christmas at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Macbeth and Lightning Child at Shakespeare’s Globe), Thomas Aldridge (Made in Dagenham at Adelphi Theatre, The Secret Garden and Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Birmingham Rep, High Society at Shaftesbury Theatre), and Rebecca Craven (Tracy Turnblad in Leicester Curve production of Hairspray, Rhiannon Salt in BBC 1’s Waterloo Road).

Based on the true events leading up to the D-Day landings, Only the Brave follows a group of men embarking on the ultimate mission, the friendship of two women united by love and loss, and the bravery of a young French girl determined to play her part.

In collaboration with the team behind the UK tour of Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong and with an original score by Cardiff born composer Matthew Brind and Book by Rachel Wagstaff  he show will be  Directed by Steve Marmion.


Tickets for Only the Brave

Book of Mormon new cast announced

Cast changes have just been announced for  The Book of Mormon with effect from 1st  February 2016.

KJ Hippensteel (The Book of Mormon, Broadway) will be joining the cast as Elder Price alongside Asmeret Ghebremichael as Nabulungi, Delroy Atkinson and Dean Maynard.

Brian Sears will continue to star as Elder Cunningham with Stephen Ashfield as Elder McKinley and Richard Lloyd-King as Mafala Hatimbi.

The full cast will include Kelly Agbowu, Philip Catchpole, Christopher Copeland, Brendan Cull, Joseph Davenport, Jonathan Dudley, Harry Francis, Lydia Fraser, Tyrone Huntley, Reece Kerridge, Alex Lodge, Joshua Lovell, Tania Mathurin, David McMullan, Brianna Ogunbawo, Oliver Ormson, Sean Parkins, David O'Reilly, Stephen Rolley, Jacade Simpson, Rhys Taylor, Kayi Ushe, Ellena Vincent, Rodney Vubya and T'Shan Williams.

Bend it Like Beckham to close on 5th March

Bend It Like Beckham has announced it will play its final performance at the Phoenix Theatre on 5th March 2016 which is the end of its current booking period and cast contracts.

Producers say talks are under way for  both national and international tours including a tour of India visiting multiple venues.

The director Gurinder Chadha said: "I am incredibly proud of the Bend It Like Beckham cast, musicians, production and creative teams... Our show celebrates all of us on stage and behind the scenes, something myself and the team worked so well together to realise. From the responses I have received since we opened there is a genuine hunger for us to tell our story internationally so as well as planning a UK tour for the show, we are now working on expanding the production for a proposed tour of India to include multiple stadia. Whether in the UK or abroad, Bend It Like Beckham will continue to defy expectations and proudly represent and celebrate the UK we all know and love."

Brian May & Kerry Ellis ‘One Voice’ Tuesday 19th January

Brian May & Kerry Ellis are performing in concert: ‘One Voice’ at the Pheasantry on Tuesday 19th January  at 6:30 pm

 To celebrate the re-opening of The Pheasantry, following closure for refurbishment in the first weeks of January,  world-renowned guitarist Brian May in performing an  intimate concert with West End star Kerry Ellis.

Tickets for Brian May & Kerry Ellis One Voice

Anna-Jane Casey starring in Showtime Challenge 48 Hour Musicals Thoroughly Modern Millie

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Showtime Challenge: 48-Hour Musicals’ one-night-only production of Thoroughly Modern Millie is coming to the Adelphi Theatre on 20 March 2016. An all-singing, all-dancing production, featuring full cast, choreography and orchestra. Rehearsed in just 48 hours, with proceeds to the charity Mind, this promises to be the West End’s most thoroughly-exciting night of the year with the role of Muzzy  being  played by West End star, Anna-Jane Casey!

She said: “I’m thoroughly thrilled and a little bit scared to be joining the cast of Showtime Challenge 48-Hour Musicals’ production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. What a wonderfully exciting and brave project – a real shot of adrenalin in the arm of the West End. All in aid of such an important cause . . . I can’t wait to get stuck in!”

Tickets for Showtime Challenge

Alexandra Burke to play Deloris in new tour of Sister Act directed by Craig Revel Horwood

It has just been announced that Alexandra Burke will star as ‘Deloris Van Cartier’ in the national tour of Curve’s all new production of the hit musical comedy SISTER ACT, directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood with musical supervision and arrangements by Tony award-winning Sarah Travis. SISTER ACT will open at Curve on Saturday 30 July 2016. Tour schedule below with further dates and full casting to be announced shortly.

 Craig said “I am truly thrilled that Alexandra is going to be our leading lady in this all new production of Sister Act at Curve. Alexandra is such a fantastic singer and actress that I know she is going to be amazing. I couldn’t think of anyone better to play the role of the smart and funny Deloris.’

 Alexandra said “I’m over the moon to be given the opportunity to play the wonderful Deloris in Sister Act. It’s such an iconic role and a part I’ve always wanted to play. I love touring the UK and I’m thrilled to be working with Craig and his amazing creative team. I can’t wait to get started!”

 Alexandra Burke can currently be seen starring as ‘Rachel Marron’ in the national tour of “The Bodyguard”, a part she also played in the West End. She originally rose to fame after winning the fifth series of The X Factor. Her debut number one single Hallelujah sold over one million copies in the UK, a first for a British female soloist. Burke’s first album, Overcome saw the release of her subsequent number one singles Bad Boys and Start Without You. In 2011 she embarked on her first solo tour and was invited by Beyoncé to support her I Am... Tour. Her second album, Heartbreak on Hold, was released in June 2012.

ALEXANDRA BURKE WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AS ‘DELORIS VAN CARTIER’ AT ANY MATINEE PERFORMANCES

Blue's Antony Costa starring in tour of Save the Last Dance For Me.

Antony Costa from the boyband BLUE  is playing  the leading role of Milton in the new tour of Save the Last Dance For Me which kicks off at the New Wimbledon Theatre from 12th  April

Costa  returns to the stage after roles in Blood Brothers (Phoenix Theatre) and Boogie Nights (UK Tour).

Frances Ruffelle, Andrew C Wadsworth and David Bedella to star in Springtime for Henry (and Barbara)

Frances Ruffelle and David Bedella are to star in Springtime for Henry (and Barbara): A New Show by Gwyneth Herbert and Mel Brimfield at  Wilton's Music Hall for just three performances across two nights on 26-27th January,

Composer/performer Gwyneth Herbert (The A-Z of Mrs P) and artist Mel Brimfield present their latest collaboration: a fictitious "lost" musical, reconstructed in fragments, centred around the lives of British sculptors Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.

The story  played out through musical theatre storytelling; passages of the lost musical are performed by a cast include Frances Ruffelle (Les Miserables, Piaf) as Barbara Hepworth: Andrew C. Wadsworth (Oklahoma, Kiss Me Kate) as Henry Moore: Hugh Ross (Passion, Woman in Black) as The Critic and David Bedella (Jerry Springer The Opera, The Rocky Horror Show) as The Director with Herbert, her band and a 30 piece tap-dancing choir, amidst a collage of spoof arts documentary, recontextualised archive footage and a staged TV chat show.

Tickets for Springtime for Henry (and Barbara)

Sheridan Smith new TV drama The Moorside Project on BBC next month

Updated 30th January; The first one hour episode of the two-part drama will air on BBC1 on February 7th  at 9:00 pm.

 Sheridan Smith has just finished playing Fanny Brice in Funny Girl to rave reviews at the Menier Chocolate Factory.   She has a short break between the production leaving the Menier Chocolate Factory to transfer into the Savoy Theatre to finish filming  a controversial new TV drama called the Moorside Project about the 2008 abduction of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.

The two-part drama will chart the hunt for Matthews and the impact of the revelation that her 24-day disappearance was a hoax kidnapping organised by her own mother. It will give a fresh perspective on a front page story we all remember, focusing not on the crime itself but on the community that lived through it.

Sheridan Smith  is playing  Julie Bushby (pretty unrecognisable in the picture ) who was a friend of Shannon’s mother Karen  and head of Dewsbury’s Moorside estate residents local community who led the search when the nine-year-old disappeared. Matthews led the  group women who spearheaded a search for kidnapped schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.

Sheridan said: “The story is a fascinating mixture of what I thought I knew and a whole lot more that I had no idea about. “The themes of faith and trust in human nature, and the way the whole community came together really inspired me.”

 Writer Neil McKay said “This drama takes us into the heart of a story and a community that was defined more by prejudice than genuine understanding,” . “It has been a privilege to research and write. To have the story brought to life by such an outstanding cast, led by the extraordinary Sheridan Smith, is a truly thrilling prospect.”

Filming has now begun,  almost two years on from the first attempt to get the drama off the ground. It is being shot by the team behind Appropriate Adult (the acclaimed drama that told the story of trainee social worker Janet Leach who was asked by police to sit in on their interviews with serial killer Fred West).

The cast also  includes The Syndicate actor Siobhan Finneran as family liaison officer Christine Freeman; Sian Brooke – who starred as Ophelia opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet plays Natalie Brown, the friend that Karen Matthews (Gemma Whelan) goes to stay with during the search for Shannon.

Les Miserables Cast Changes

Cameron Mackintosh has just announced  cast changes for “LES MISÉRABLES” at the Queen’s Theatre in 2016.

 Joining the cast from Monday 15 February 2016 are Patrice Tipoki as ‘Fantine’; Craig Mather as ‘Marius’ and Danielle Hope as ‘Eponine.’ Peter Lockyer will continue to star as ‘Jean Valjean’, Jeremy Secomb as ‘Javert’, Phil Daniels as ‘Thénardier’, Katy Secombe as ‘Madame Thénardier’; Zoë Doano as ‘Cosette’ and Bradley Jaden as ‘Enjolras’.

 From Monday 4 April Eva Noblezada will star as ‘Eponine’.

 Rachelle Ann Go’s final performance as ‘Fantine’ in London is on Saturday 30 January 2016 before she continues the role in Manila, where the new Asian tour begins. She will return to the role at the Queen’s Theatre on Monday 9 May 2016. Patrice Tipoki will play the role from Monday 15 February until Saturday 23 April 2016. Rob Houchen and Carrie Hope Fletcher’s final performance as ‘Marius’ and ‘Eponine’ is on Saturday 13 February 2016 at the end of their contracts and over two and half years with the show.

 From 15 February the full company will be: Adam Bayjou; Sanne den Besten; Josie Brightwell; Edd Campbell Bird; Oliver Brenin; David Burnip; Phil Daniels; Jordan Lee Davies; Zoë Doano; Tamsin Dowsett; Katy Hanna; Matthew Harvey; Danielle Hope; Bradley Jaden; Matt Jeans; Charlotte Kennedy; Emma Kingston; Peter Lockyer; Jo Loxton; Craig Mather; Luke McCall; Ryan O'Gorman; Jo Parsons; Adam Pearce; Jonny Purchase; Michael Riseley; Jeremy Secomb; Katy Secombe; Courtney Stapleton; Jessamy Stoddart; Patrice Tipoki; Samantha Thomas and Lee Van Geleen.

 Patrice Tipoki can currently be seen as ‘Fantine’ in the Australian tour of the new production of “Les Misérables”. Her other credits in Australia include ‘Belle’ in “Beauty and the Beast”, ‘Elphaba’ in “Wicked” and ‘Nala’ in “The Lion King”.

 Craig Mather most recently appeared in “Sweeney Todd” at Harrington’s Pie Shop in the West End.  His other theatre credits include: the UK tour of “Tonight’s The Night” and “Les Miserables” at the Queen’s Theatre.

 Danielle Hope returns to the role of ‘Eponine’ in “Les Misérables” having played the part at the Queen’s Theatre in 2012. She has just finished playing the lead role of ‘Maria’ in the national tour of “The Sound of Music”. Danielle made her professional debut as ‘Dorothy’ in “The Wizard of Oz” at the London Palladium after winning the BBC’s smash hit “Over the Rainbow”, having competed against over 9,000 girls.  She has also appeared as ‘The Narrator’ in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ on the recent national tour.

 Eva Noblezada is currently wowing audiences as ‘Kim’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical “Miss Saigon”, having made her professional stage debut in the role when the musical opened in 2014 at the Prince Edward Theatre. Eva will perform the role of ‘Kim’ when the show opens on Broadway in 2017.  For her performance in the West End she has received critical acclaim as well as the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

 Prior to joining the West End cast in 2014 Peter Lockyer completed a year and a half run as Jean Valjean in the sold-out North American 25th Anniversary Tour of “Les Misérables”.  He has also appeared as ‘Chris’ in “Miss Saigon” on Broadway and in the first National tour and as ‘Marius’ in the 10th Anniversary production of “Les Misérables” on Broadway.

 Jeremy Secomb recently played the title role in the sold out “Sweeney Todd” at Harrington’s Pie and Mash Shop in the West End. His other theatre credits include: “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, “Lend Me A Tenor” at the Gielgud Theatre and “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” at the Palace Theatre.


Phil Daniels rose to fame through his roles in “Quadrophenia” and “Scum”. Other notable TV credits include: “Moonfleet”, “Holding On”, “Outlaws”, “EastEnders”, “Rock & Chips”, “New Tricks” and “Poirot”.  His theatre credits include most recently” Knight Of The Burning Pestle” at Shakespeare’s Globe as well as “This House” at the National Theatre and “Anthony & Cleopatra” at Shakespeare’s Globe.



Katy Secombe returned to the role of ‘Madame Thénardier’ having last played the part in 2012 opposite Matt Lucas.  She most recently played the role of Brenda in “I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical” at the London Palladium. Previous theatre credits include: “The Lyons” at the Menier Chocolate Factory and ‘Rosie’ in “Mamma Mia!” at the Prince of Wales Theatre.



Zoë Doano recently played the role of ‘Johanna’ in the sold out “Sweeney Todd” at Harrington’s Pie and Mash Shop in the West End. Her other theatre credits include: ‘Marianne’ in “The Grand Tour” at the Finborough Theatre; “High Society” UK Tour, “Sweet Smell of Success” at The Arcola Theatre, ‘Frenchy’ in “Grease” in the West End and The Sound of Music UK Tour.  Her TV credits include: “Hollyoaks” and “Doctors”.



Bradley Jaden’s theatre credits include: “Ghost”, the original UK tour, “Shrek The Musical” at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, “The 12 Tenors” tour of Europe and Japan and “Peter Pan” at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Jamie Foreman joins full cast of Mrs Henderson Presents

Full casting has just been announced for the hit new British musical MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, opening at the Noel Coward Theatre on Tuesday 9 February 2016, for a strictly limited season.

Joining the previously announced Tracie Bennett as ‘Laura Henderson’, Ian Bartholomew as ‘Vivian Van Damm’ and Emma Williams as ‘Maureen’ will be Jamie Foreman as ‘Arthur’, Robert Hands as ‘Cromer’, Matthew Malthouse as ‘Eddie’, Samuel Holmes as ‘Bertie’, Katie Bernstein as ‘Peggy’, Lizzy Connolly as ‘Doris’, Lauren Hood as ‘Vera’ and Liz Ewing as Lady Conway. The rest of the company includes Sarah Bakker, Andrew Bryant,  Rhiannon Chesterman, Alexander Delamere, Emily Goodenough, Victoria Hay, Oliver Jackson, Ian Gareth Jones,  Katrina Kleve, Lauren Logan, Tania Newton, Sam O’Rourke, Neil Stewart and Dickie Wood,

Jamie Foreman is probably best known as Derek Branning in EastEnders. His other TV credits include Lenny in Birds of a Feather. His many film credits include Bill Sikes in Roman Polanski’s Oliver Twist opposite Ben Kingsley, Duke in Layer Cake, Gary Oldman’s Nil by Mouth, Elizabeth and Sleepy Hollow

Stephen Sondheim doing Platform at National later this month

Stephen Sondheim is doing a platform performance at the National Theatre on Thursday 21st January at 6:00 pm when he will be talking  to Rufus Norris about his career and his views on current musical theatre trends.

Tickets go on sale  on Friday 8 January at  2:30 pm

Glenn Close hopefully starring in new Sunset Boulevard Movie

Hollywood and Broadway star Glenn Close opens as Norma Desmond in the ENO's Sunset Boulevard at London's Coliseum this April for a strictly limited 5 week season. But if you don't manage to catch it there are plans for her to star in a movie version of the musical which  is in the works, according to the Evening Standard.

Writer and lyricist Christoper Hampton revealed "we are looking down the line to make a movie of it later. When we first did Sunset Boulevard it was somehow still too close to the original. Now you have to ask yourself and find a director who would ask 'What is there about this story that was made so perfectly in 1950 that justified me doing it again?' "

A far as  Close starring  he added: "It is not my decision but as far as I'm concerned that is what I'm thinking. We've just had a series of talks with Paramount so everything is in place and hopefully we can get it done while Glenn is in London."

Samantha Barks to star in film of musical Strike!

Les Miserables’ Samantha Barks is to  star in a new film version of the 2005 stage musical Strike!

Co-written by Danny Schur and Rick Chafe (who wrote the original musical and collaborated on the script), Strike! is set against the backdrop of the 1919 general strike in Winnipeg in Canada. Barks is to play Rebecca Almazoff, a Jewish woman who begins an illicit affair with a Catholic man as the industrial action rages.

Director Joseph Novak is plannning  aiming to start shooting this summer with  Steven Page, a founder member of Canadian group the Barenaked Ladies and actor Alan Doyle  also attached to work on the film.

Barks will also be seen in Bitter Harvest and A Hundred Streets:  both of which should be out this year.

Andrew Lloyd Webber on BBC Radio2 This Sunday

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber is deputising for Elaine Paige on her BBC Radio 2 show this Sunday from 1:00 pm.

He is sharing songs and secrets from his own career and collaborations, the musicals which he grew up with, the shows which have inspired him and those he wishes he had been involved with from the West End and Broadway. Plus he is promising to share a few musical theatre secrets. Maybe about his new hit Broadway musical  School of Rock which he is planning to open in London?

Brian May and Kerry Ellis performing at An Evening With Russ Ballard

Brian May and Kerry Ellis are guesting at :An Evening With Russ Ballard on 20th  January  2016 at the Leicester Square Theatre, London. The show will be hosted by DJ Mike Read with Brian May and Kerry Ellis  performing some of Russ's songs on the evening in celebration to one of Britain's most respected songwriters.

Russ Ballard has written some of the most iconic rock tracks of the past four decade with  artists, other than himself,  recording  his songs including :
 Kiss, Rainbow, Skindred, Three Dog Night, Santana, Hot Chocolate, Roger Daltrey, America, Elkie Brooks, Agneyha Falltkog and Anni-Frid Lynstad from ABBA, Colin Blunstone, Ace Frehley, The Sweet, Bay City Rollers, Barry Ryan and The Shadows.He is  great raconteur with many interesting and funny stories, AND will be taking questions from the audience, as well as playing some of his hits acoustically and explaining how they came to be written.

Tickets for an Evening with Russ Ballard