Thursday, March 31

Details of UK open auditions for Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock

Andrew Lloyd Webber has just launched the first open London auditions to find child performers for his new musical School of Rock which is expected to open in the West End in spring 2017

He said  “We need brilliantly talented children who can act, sing and play rock instruments. In the USA, more than 22,000 kids auditioned and we ended up with a band who can rock out with the best. We have to discover that band in Britain, not just kids who act and sing. Our show depends on it.”

Lloyd Webber  launched  the show on Broadway in 2014 (where it has broken box office records at the Winter Garden Theatre) because child performance legislation there made it easier than the UK.

To audition for the UK production, children must be eight years old (nine when rehearsals begin) and under 5ft tall.

More information can be found here.

Tuesday, March 29

Details of Olivier Awards coverage on Sunday

The Olivier Awards 2016 have announced the details for this year's ceremony broadcast, including the first wave of presenters.

The awards (celebrating their 40th anniversary) take place at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 3rd April hosted by Michael Ball.

Guests  include past Olivier winners Matthew Bourne, Sharon D. Clarke, Paul Copley, Daniel Evans, Julia McKenzie, Lesley Manville, Vanessa Redgrave, Juliet Stevenson, ZoĆ« Wanamaker, Leigh Zimmerman and Dame Shirley Bassey. Also in the line up of presenters,  will be  DREAMGIRLS star Amber Riley and GAME OF THRONES and soon-to-be DOCTOR FAUSTUS star Kit Harington. The evening will also feature a  performance by KINKY BOOTS Tony winner Cyndi Lauper who will duet with   Michael Ball.

There is an exclusive  performance by Jack Savoretti to mark the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death inspired by the 2002 album When Loves Speaks: a collection of Shakespeare’s sonnets interpreted in spoken word and song which was co-curated by Alan Rickman. Savoretti’s performance of Sonnet 18, widely known for its opening line ‘Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day?’, will be introduced by two-time Olivier Award winner Rory Kinnear – the last person to win an Oliver Award for a Shakespeare role. Many of the album’s contributors are past Olivier Award winners including Juliet Stevenson, who will be presenting an award at the ceremony, and 2016 nominees Kenneth Branagh and Imelda Staunton.

Extended highlights will be broadcast shortly after the ceremony on ITV 1 at 22:15. The full ceremony will be shown on ITV3 on Monday 4th April at 23:00. (Both broadcasts available on the ITV Hub for the following 30 days).  Those wanting to watch the ceremony live in full can head to Covent Garden Piazza where it will be relayed on big screens on  the ITV Stage following an afternoon of live performances from nominated shows and special guests

The ceremony will also be broadcast live on Mellow Magic, Magic Radio's new spin-off station who are also broadcasting a special four-part documentary celebrating 40 years of the Olivier Awards which is narrated by three-time award-winner Imelda Staunton.

International audiences  can watch the full broadcast on the Olivier Awards new YouTube channel from 22:00 (BST) on Sunday 3 April.

Will post any more information as soon as it is announced.

Elaine Paige Stripped Back Concert Tour

Elaine Paige  has just announced a 20 date series of Stripped Back weekend concerts running from October to December 2016, when she  her perform her favourite tracks, from contemporary songwriters, accompanied by  a small group of musicians.  This follows her last solo tour in 2014 celebrating her 50 year career to  say “farewell” to a full touring schedule.

She said:   “I’m so excited about this series of ‘weekend’ concerts. Having made the decision not to do a back to back tour again, this appealed to me not only because of the schedule, but as I’ve marked my 50 years on stage, this is going to allow me to do something completely different, a brand new show celebrating the contemporary songwriters I love such as Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Jim Webb, Burt Bacharach, Leonard Cohen, Sting, Elton John, Lennon & McCartney … the list goes on. Their music has been the soundtrack to all our lives, not just mine. And its the ideal opportunity to perform in an intimate way … I recently played the Royal Albert Hall with the 60 piece BBC Concert Orchestra … I’m doing these new shows ‘Stripped Back!”

Tickets go general sale on Friday 1st April at 10am (presale starts tomorrow) for the following dates:

October 2016

    Saturday 1st – Guildford G Live
    Sunday 2nd – Canterbury Marlowe Theatre
    Thursday 6th – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
    Saturday 8th – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
    Thursday 13th – Southend Cliffs Pavilion
    Friday 14th – Basingstoke Anvil
    Friday 21st – Grantham Meres Centre
    Saturday 22nd – Scunthorpe Baths Hall
    Saturday 29th – Leicester The Curve Theatre
    Sunday 30th – Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

November 2016

    Friday 4th – Leeds Grand Theatre
    Saturday 5th – Birmingham Symphony Hall
    Saturday 12th – Malvern Concert Hall
    Saturday 19th – Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes
    Sunday 20th – Scarborough Spa
    Tuesday 29th – Cheltenham Town Hall
    Wednesday 30th – Northampton Derngate

December 2016

    Monday 5th – Bury St Edmonds The Apex
    Tuesday 6th – Bury St Edmonds The Apex
    Sunday 18th – London Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Friday, March 25

American Psycho London Cast Recording now on sale

Duncan Sheik's American Psycho: Original London Cast Recording is available from Concord Records today. The album's release coincides with the show's Broadway premiere , with previews beginning last night.

The album features the cast of the , sold-out run in London at the Almeida Theatre  from December 3rd 2013 to February 1st, 2014 and  features Matt Smith (best known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC science fiction series "Doctor Who," for which he received a BAFTA Award nomination) as Patrick Bateman, Gillian Kirkpatrick as Patrick's Mother/Mrs. Wolfe, Cassandra Compton as Patrick's secretary Jean, and Susannah Fielding as Patrick's girlfriend, Evelyn Williams. The London cast also included Ben Aldridge, Charlie Anson, Jonathan Bailey, Katie Brayben, Holly Dale Spencer, Simon Gregor, Holly James, Lucie Jones, Tom Kay, Eugene McCoy, and Hugh Skinner.


Buy American Psycho London Cast Recording

Wednesday, March 23

Michael Ball to take over Weekend Wogan Sunday Morning BBC Radio 2 Slot

Michael Ball is to take over ‘Weekend Wogan’ Sunday morning BBC Radio 2  slot from  10th April, moving from Sunday evenings (7pm - 9pm) to Sunday mornings (11am – 1pm). The  new show is entitled The Michael Ball Show.

Michael says: “I feel so honoured to have been asked to return to Sunday mornings on BBC Radio 2. I learned so much from my great friend and mentor Sir Terry Wogan. He was simply the best.”

Richard Madeley, who has presented the programme since December, will present the show for 10 weeks each year.



Matt Gillett taking over as Childcatcher in tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Matt Gillett is to o Play The Childcatcher in the tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, taking over the role fom Martin Kemp who is scheduled to leave  the production on April 24th. Matt will be taking over the role from May 4th in Milton Keynes.

Matt Gillett, previously played Bob Crewe in the UK & Ireland Tour of Jersey Boys and appeared in Top Hat in London's West End, will join Lee Mead (Casualty, Legally Blonde, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) as Caractacus Potts, Carrie Hope Fletcher (LesMis, War of the Worlds) as Truly Scrumptious, Shaun Williamson (The Railway Children, EastEnders) as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst, Michelle Collins (EastEnders, Coronation Street) as Baroness Bomburst, and Andy Hockley (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Grandpa Potts.

Jason Manford (The Producers, Sweeney Todd), who plays Caractacus Potts until April 24th , returns to the role on September 21st. Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray), who plays Lord Scrumptious and Baron Bomburst until April 24, returns to the show from August 24.

Ewen Cummins plays The Toymaker/Mr Coggins, with Sam Harrison as Boris and Scott Paige as Goran, and Kathryn Barnes, Rosanna Bates, Alex Louize Bird, Abigail Climer, Jade Davies, Ewan Gillies, Joanna Goodwin, Nathan Vaughan Harris, Christopher D Hunt, Paul Iveson, Nia Jermin, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Mollie Melia-Redgrave, Perry O'Dea, Matt Overfield, Ross Russell, Craig Turner and Robert Wilkes.

Saturday, March 19

Casts of Hairspray, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, Guys and Dolls, In the Heights, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Magic of the Musicals

For one night only the official casts from some of the most popular West End Shows will appear at Royal Albert Hall in Magic of the Musicals.

On Monday 23rd May at 7:30pm you can watch
The casts of Hairspray, Mamma Mia!, Matilda , Guys and Dolls, In the Heights, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and more  performing songs including The Winner Takes It All (Mamma Mia!); Luck Be A Lady (Guys & Dolls); Pure Imagination (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory); Naughty (Matilda); I Know Where I’ve Been (Hairspray).

Tickets for Magic of the Musicals

Friday, March 18

Chris Peluso new Gaylord in Showboat Musical

Chris Peluso (most  recently seen in the West End as Chris in Miss Saigon) will play Gaylord Ravenal in  the Sheffield Crucible's production of the musical Showboat which is currently in rehearsal to open at the new London Theatre in April. He will join original cast members  Gina Beck, Emmanuel Kojo and Rebecca Trehearn, Malcolm Sinclair, Lucy Briers, Sandra Marvin, Alex Young and Danny Collins.

Peluso appeared in the original Broadway production of BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, as well as two U.S. tours of WICKED and LESTAT and ASSASSINS on Broadway. Michael Xavier, who played the part in Daniel Evans' original production, is not available to reprise role as he will be starring opposite Glenn Close in SUNSET BOULEVARD at the London Coliseum.

Wednesday, March 16

Georgia May Foote joining Pixie Lott and Emily Atack as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffanys' Tour

Coronation Street and Striclty Come Dancing's Georgia May Foote is joining the cast of Breakfast at Tiffany's as part of the UK tour  after it leaves the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 19th  September to 19th  November at Milton Keynes, Bristol, Malvern, Sheffield, Belfast, Cardiff and Norwich.

Foote, who was recently seen in Strictly Come Dancing, will make her professional stage debut as Holly Golightly, sharing  the role with Pixie Lott and Emily Atack.

Foote said: "I am so excited that for my first theatre role I will be playing such an iconic character. I cannot wait to join the cast of Breakfast at Tiffany's as Holly Golightly. It's a wonderful adaptation of an incredible story and I'm really thrilled to be part of it!"

Director Nikolai Foster added: "Completing our perfect trio of leading ladies taking on the role of Holly Golightly, we are all thrilled Georgia is joining the team. It's hugely inspiring for all of us to be working with actors who are perfectly suited to the role and will help encourage new generations of theatregoers to share Capote's beautiful story."

Monday, March 14

New 2017/18 tour of Hairspray the Musical announced

Producer Mark Goucher has just confirmed that following the  success of the current UK tour of Hairspray the Musical  which is due to end in May, the new touring production  will return at the end of summer 2017 and visit venues across the country until the spring of 2018.

Casting, dates and locations for the 2017/18 tour will be announced in due course.

The producer of Hairspray Mark Goucher said: “I am delighted that after seeing this new production of Hairspray, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have personally extended the rights to the show, in order for us to embark upon a second UK tour. This next tour of Hairspray will give us the opportunity to bring the show to new venues which we were unable to visit in 2015/16 and also to return to theatres which welcomed the show during its current tour.

Friday, March 11

Amanda Holden to lead revival of Stepping Out tour directed by Maria Friedman

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden is to lead revival of Richard Harris's 1984 play Stepping Out It will be directed by Maria Friedman and  is set to open at the Theatre Royal Bath Theatre Royal Bath from  12th – 22nd October followed by Richmond Theatre (24-29 October) and Cambridge Arts Theatre (w/c 31 October) (with an additional date to be announced).

"I know how to tap badly, which is most important for Stepping Out" and its inexperienced  dancing characters, Holden told the Mail. The play is about a  group of eight people  from very different backgrounds who attend the same tap dance class in North London each week. Holden will take on the role of 'Vera', described as "a perfectionist who hides a secret about her private life." Her friends Angela Griffin and Nicola Stephenson will also appear in the production with further casting to be announced.

Angela Griffin appeared in ‘Coronation Street’ from 1993 to 1998. Subsequently, she joined the original cast of the BBC medical drama series ‘Holby City’. She has also appeared in the BBC dramas ‘Cutting It’, ‘Down to Earth’, ‘Waterloo Road’ and ‘Lewis’. From November 2009 to July 2010, Griffin hosted her own live daytime show on Sky1 called ‘Angela and Friends’. Her theatre credits include Dolly in One Man, Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2013 and Caroline in Breeders at the St James Theatre in 2014.

 Nicola Stephenson's television credits include Margaret Clemence in Channel 4's ‘Brookside’; ITV's ‘Christmas Lights’/’Northern Lights’/’City Lights’, ‘Safehouse’ and ‘Emmerdale’; BBC's ‘Holby City’, ‘Clocking Off’, ‘The Chase’ and ‘All at Sea’. In 2012, Nicola played Louise, a series lead in the ITV drama ‘Homefront’ and in 2014 she joined the regular cast of ‘Waterloo Road’ for 11 episodes. Her theatre roles include A Patriot for Me at the Royal Shakespeare Company, His Girl Friday and Edmund at the National Theatre, and War Horse at the New London Theatre.

Maria Friedman
is best known as a four-time Olivier Award-winning star of the musical stage. She has played Dot in Sunday in the Park with George at the National Theatre, Fosca in Passion at the Queen’s Theatre, Mrs Lovett in Sweeny Todd at the Royal Festival Hall with Bryn Terfel, and Mary in Merrily We Roll Along at the Leicester Haymarket


 STEPPING OUT was adapted for the big screen in 1991, starring Liza Minnelli and Julie Walters.
Director Maria Friedman added: "It's about having the courage to put one foot in front of the other, and Amanda and her friends are all up for it and it speaks to them after 30 years."

The cast will also include Angela Griffin and Nicola Stephenson. Holden's musical theatre credits include Shrek The Musical and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Ben Richards to play title role in The Bodyguard opposite Beverley Knight in London

Ben Richards, will play Frank Farmer in The Bodyguard when the musical, based on the 1992 movie starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston,  returns to the Dominion Theatre in July.

The show, directed by Thea Sharrock and starring Beverley Knight  will have a six-month run  from July 15th.

Beverley Knight also starred in the production when it was at the Adelphi and  has been recording a new album and goes on  a short concert tour in May and June.

Ben Richards plays Sergeant Ben Bradley on Hollyoaks, with musical theatre credits including Grease, Guys And Dolls and Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert and the tour of the  Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5

Danny Boyle to direct Miss Saigon movie?

According to Baz in today's Mail, Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle is in negotiations to direct the film version of the musical Miss Saigon for  impresario Cameron Mackintosh, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner at Working Title Films -  the producers behind the film version of Les Miserables.

Miss Saigon opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 1989 and ran for a decade, and a revival has just ended at the Prince Edward Theatre.  The show is due to open on Broadway next year and a DVD of  the 25th Anniversary celebration is due out later this year

Tuesday, March 8

Titanic Musical extends booking until August

Updated 5th May; Niall Sheehy (Miss Saigon/Les Miserables) has joined the cast of Titanic as Barrett, replacing the previously announced Dom Simpson who has withdrawn from the production due to knee surgery.

Updated 19th April:  casting has just been announced for this show: In the cast of 20, eight of the originals are back on board: Scarlett Courtney, Matthew Crowe, Sion Lloyd, Shane McDaid, Philip Rham, Dudley Rogers, Victoria Serra and Judith Street.

They will be joined by: David Bardsley, Alistair Barron, Helena Blackman, Scott Cripps, James Gant, Luke George,  Douglas Hansell, Rob Houchen, Claire Machin, Jessica Paul, Peter Prentice and  Dom Simpson.

The  Award-winning production of Titanic, first seen at Southwark Playhouse in 2013, is returning to London for a ten week season running  at the Charing Cross Theatre from 28th May - 6th August 2016.

Thom Southerland (Grey Gardens, Grand Hotel) will return to direct the production, teaming up again with producer Danielle Tarento and Cressida Carre for musical staging. Mark Aspinall joins the production as musical director with design by David Woodhead, lighting by Howard Hudson and sound by Andrew Johnson.

Based on real people aboard the doomed liner in 1912, Maury Yeston and Peter Stone's musical was first staged on Broadway in 1997, shortly before the release of James Cameron's blockbuster film. It ran for two years and picked up five Tonys, including Best Musical.

Tickets for Titanic




Monday, March 7

Emily Atack to replace Verity Rushworth in Breakfast at Tiffany's Tour

Ex Emmerdale actressVerity Rushworth has just announced that she is expecting a baby in  the summer which means that Emily Atack will now take her role  in the upcoming production of Breakfast at Tiffany's. She is sharing the role with Pixie Lott.

Atack is best known for her TV role as Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the award winning E4 series The Inbetweeners. She has also appeared in Heartbeat and  Blue Murder. She will play Holly Golightly on the show's UK tour, appearing at His Majesty's Aberdeen, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Theatre Royal Bath, Glasgow Theatre Royal, King's Theatre Edinburgh and Wycombe Swan.

Director Nikolai Foster said: It's a thrilling prospect for all of us to be working with actors who are perfectly suited to the role and will encourage a new generation of theatregoers to share Capote's beautiful story. We cannot be sad to be losing Verity as it is for such a happy reason and we all wish her well with her pregnancy.

Declan Bennett to play lead in Regent Park's Jesus Christ Superstar

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre have just announced the lead casting of EastEnders' Declan Bennett in the title role of their production of  Jesus Christ Superstar

The production, directed by Open Air Theatre's artistic director Timothy Sheader, will celebrate 45 years since Rice and Lloyd Webber's musical premiered and runs from 15 July – 27 August 2016.

Bennett  was the original lead in the London cast of Once (Phoenix), Bennett has also appeared in Boy George's musical Taboo (Venue Theatre), RENT (US tour and Broadway), American Idiot (Broadway) as well as on BBC's EastEnders as Charlie Cotton.

As a solo singer-songwriter, his latest album Record:BREAKUP was released as a live acoustic version in 2013. He achieved five UK Top 20 singles, and a UK Top 20 album with Brit Award nominated boy band Point Break.

Timothy Sheader said: Declan's music background brings a particular skill set and authenticity to this gig-like production of the show, and his past stage work... makes his Jesus a particularly exciting prospect.







Casting announced for Forever Plaid 50's Musical Comedy


Updated: Casting has just been announced for Forever Plaid, with Jon Lee, best known for being an original member of pop group S Club 7, will star alongside Keith Jack (Any Dream Will Do, HMS Pinafore), Matthew Quinn (Dreamboats and Petticoats, Carnaby Street') and Luke Striffler (Hairspray, Avenue Q'').
Aria Entertainment and Guy James are  presenting the 50's musical comedy Forever Plaid at the St James Theatre from 5th - 24th April 

Forever Plaid offers a ‘heavenly’ journey through some of the greatest close-harmony songs of the 50’s with The Plaids singing nostalgic hits including “Rags To Riches”, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing”, “Catch A Falling Star” and  “Three Coins In A Fountain” - all in glorious harmony.


Tickets for Forever Plaid

Sunday, March 6

Details and line up for West End Fest in May

WestEndFest is back for its first concert of 2016, this time in conjunction with The MadTrust! on 15th May at The Actors Church in Covent Garden at 7:30 pm !


Performers confirmed so far include: Jonny Labey, Sam Mackay, Emma Kingston, Liam Doyle, Sabrina Aloueche, Aaron Sidwell, Lauren Varnham, Sarah French, Peach Coyne, Cassie Compton, Kieran Brown, Ian Stroughair, Matthew Wycliffe, Anton Stephans, Sarah O'Connor, Georgina Hagen, Katie, Paine, Ambra Casserotti, Oliver Savile, Rebecca Trehearn, Ceili O'Connor and Mitch Miller.

The show  was founded four years ago by Sabrina Aloueche and Parnell Page, and has since become a hugely popular bi-annual celebration combining dance, comedy, songs and raising lots of money for charity.It incorporates themes each time, including "Mis-cast" where singers from the West End stage attempted to deliver first-class performances in roles they would never normally be cast in, and "Songs you love - but shouldn't"- the performers' guilty pleasures.

This time around the comperes of the event Ian Stroughair and Kieran Brown will be presenting the theme "Icons - your own spin", with a  cast tackling their favourite songs from their most adored icons in their own individual way. Most of these songs that have been sung by the millions worldwide are being sung in ways you've never seen before - plus a HAMILTON medley!

All profits will go The Make a Difference Trust. Originally founded as West End Cares in 1990 and later becoming Theatrecares, The Make A Difference Trust  raises funds for HIV and AIDS Projects that raise awareness and provide care, support and education in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.

There are homemade cupcakes being baked for the day, lots of treats, WestEndFest merchandise on sale, and an auction that takes place on stage hosted by WestEndWilma at the interval.


Tickets for WestEndFest

Casting announced for Toxic Avenger rock ‘n’ roll musical at Southwark Playhouse

Updated 17th March: the cast has just been annunced: Mark Anderson (The Book of Mormon, Legally Blonde) stars as Toxie with  Hannah Grover/Sarah (Ghost, Evita), Lizzii Hills/Ma Ferd, Mayor and Nun (Chicago, EastEnders), Marc Pickering/White Dude  (Sleepy Hollow, Les Miserables) and Ashley Samuels/Black Dude (The Book of Mormon).

Southwark Playhouse are presenting the European premiere of the monster  rock ‘n’ roll musical  comedy Toxic Avenger for 5 weeks from 2nd April-21st May.  It is by the Tony Award-winning creative team behind Memphis, Joe DiPietro and David Bryan and is  based on the 1984 cult classic film from Troma Entertainment.

The citizens of Tromaville are crying out for a hero – enter Melvin Ferd the Third, an aspiring earth scientist determined to clean up the toxic waste problem. But when a corrupt Mayor and her government goons try to stop this heroic feat, Melvin is tossed into a vat of toxic waste and transformed into The Toxic Avenger, New Jersey’s first superhero!

‘Toxie’ is a seven-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a supersized heart to match. He’s out to save New Jersey, end global warming, woo the prettiest (blindest) librarian in town and get home in time for dinner, in this toxic love story with an environmental twist. Prepare to laugh, scream and sing as ‘Toxie’ rocks the house and saves the day.

The show is based on Lloyd Kaufman’s The Toxic Avenger and is being presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.



Tickets for Toxic Avenger

Broadway Musical Side Show to open at Southwark Playhouse later this year

The Broadway musical Side Show will receive its UK Premiere in a brand new production at Southwark Playhouse, running from 26th October to 3rd December with previews from Friday 21st October. It will be directed by Hannah Chissick (Down the Dock Road, Royal Court Liverpool, Brass, NYMT, Marry Me a Little, St. James Studio) with casting to be announced

The musical is inspired by the true story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, who  make ends meet playing a headline act at a seedy side show, languishing under the rule of an oppressive ringmaster. But when spotted by a talent agent, they are thrust into the spotlight of the famed 1920’s Orpheum Circuit. They soon become the highest paid vaudeville stars of their time, but whilst Daisy relishes the spotlight, Violet wishes for a quiet life with a man she loves, and who loves her. Can they balance their individual dreams with their inescapable physical connection? Side Show is a heartwarming musical about the search for love and acceptance amidst the spectacle of fame.

 Side Show first opened on Broadway in 1997, where it was nominated for four Tony Awards; Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, the only time a nomination has been shared by two actresses; Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner.Side Show features a score by Dreamgirls composer Henry Krieger, with both shows making their London debuts just weeks apart from each other when Dreamgirls opens in the West End in November. Krieger was nominated for Tony Awards for Best Score for Side Show and Dreamgirls, won a Grammy Award for the cast album of Dreamgirls, and received three Academy Award nominations for the additional songs he wrote for the 2006 film.


It has a Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book, and shared the nomination for Best Score with Krieger. Russell’s other musicals include Elegies for Angels and Punks and Raging Queens. Additional Book material is by Bill Condon, who reworked Side Show for its 2014 Broadway revival. Condon is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director, best known for writing the screenplay for the 2002 film Chicago, and directing and writing the critically acclaimed films Gods and Monsters and Dreamgirls, for which he won a Golden Globe.


Side Show is presented by Paul Taylor-Mills, who returns to Southwark Playhouse following his acclaimed productions of In The Heights and Carrie: The Musical. In The Heights this week received four Olivier Award nominations including Best New Musical for its transfer to King’s Cross Theatre, whilst Carrie: The Musical last month won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off West End Production.

Tickets for Side Show

Saturday, March 5

Julie Atherton Sabrina Aloueche and Tori Allen-Martin to star in Made in LDN

Casting has been announced for Made in LDN, a season celebrating new British musical theatre writing at the Cockpit in Marylebone. The season takes place on the second Sunday of every month from March to June with Made in LDN running  on 13 March, 10 April, 8 May and 12 June with tickets available here.

Julie Atherton
(Avenue Q), Sabrina Aloueche (Les Miserables) and Tori Allen-Martin (Yarico) will be joined by Vince Kidd (The Voice), Andy Coxon (Les Miserables) and Liberty Buckland (Yarico).Other performers include Greg Oliver (Muted), Richard Carson (Miss Saigon), Natalie Green (Wicked), Matthew Pennington (HRHaitch) and Jean Luke Worrell (Yarico) with more to be announced.

The cast will perform work from Aaron Lee Lambert's From Up Here, Sam Cassidy and Matt Wills' 27, Luke Bateman and Mary Evans' H.R.Haitch, Scott Morgan's Strange People, Allen-Martin and Tim Prottey Jones' Equally, Sarah Henley and James Fox's The Unblinding and Tim Gilvin's original pieces, plus excerpts from Stay Awake Jake.


Wednesday, March 2

New tour of Ghost the Musical

Bill Kenwright is producing a tour of musical Ghost, which will feature new music and an expanded book. Ghost originally ran  at the Piccadilly Theatre from June 2011 to October 2012.

The new production will open at the New Wimbledon Theatre in the autumn before touring to venues including Edinburgh Playhouse, Bristol Hippodrome, Manchester Palace, Oxford New Theatre, Sunderland Empire, Birmingham Alexandra, Blackpool Opera House and Aylesbury Waterside, currently ending in April 2017. Full dates and booking links here.

Kenwright said the staging would be “an innovative reimagining” that will have new music in addition to the original score, and an expanded book by Bruce Joel Rubin who said that  the new version of the show would open in the US before coming to the UK

The show has music by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard with the creative team and casting yet to be announced.

Graham Norton hosting Midlife Cowboy Charity Show

Graham Norton is  hosting a one-off reading and sing through of Midlife Cowboy, a musical by comedian Tony Hawks at a charity evening toraise funds for the Tony Hawks Centre for children with cerebral palsy. It will take place at the Lyric Theatre on 25th April.

The event will feature special guests including Jack Dee, Ben Miller, Caroline Quentin and Doon Mackichan with more guests still  to be announced. All will  help to debut the show about the loves, lives and passions of Swindon's premier Cowboy Club.

Originally titled The Heartbreak Kid, Hawks and Miller won a Perrier Pick of the Fringe when they performed Midlife Cowboy at the Edinburgh Festival in 1994. Hawks has since updated the show
 
Ticket prices start from £16 with all proceeds going to the Tony Hawks Centre.

Billy Elliott final show to be in aid of East Durham Trust

Billy Elliot The Musical final West End show on April 9th will be raising money in aid of East Durham Trust.

All proceeds from ticket sales  will be donated to the organisation dedicated to counteracting the effects of social and economic deprivation in the area the musical is set.

Since it opened at in London in 2005, Billy Elliot The Musical has been seen by more than 5.4 million people in the capital and nearly 11 million around the world.  It is  currently out on tour at Plymouth.

Speaking about the move, Malcom Fallow, CEO of East Durham Trust, said: “I want to thank everyone involved in Billy Elliot The Musical for their incredible support. This is a fantastic gesture and it will genuinely be appreciated by the people of East Durham and make a significant difference to our ongoing work in the community.”

Casting announced for The Knights Of Music tour hosted by Phillip Schofield

Phillip Schofield is back on stage for the first time in 17 years and will host a UK concert tour from 21-24th April, entitled The Knights of Music, visiting  Cardiff, Ipswich, Northampton and Southampton.

Schofield currently presents ITV’s This Morning ND previously starred in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium, as well as the UK tour of Dr Dolittle

The Knights of Music is a celebration of the legendary knights of the entertainment industry who have transformed the face of music, film and theatre throughout the ages.

The knights include: Sir Elton John, Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Sir Cliff Richard, Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Paul McCartney and The Beatles, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Sir Tim Rice, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Bob Geldof, Bono and newly knighted Sir Van Morrison.

With a live on stage band, musical numbers will include: ‘I’m Still Standing’, ‘Rocket Man’ (Elton John), ‘Twist And Shout’, ‘Hey Jude’ (The Beatles), ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ (Les Miserables), ‘Do You Want To Dance’ (Cliff Richard), ‘It’s Not Unusual’ (Tom Jones), ‘Close Every Door’ (Joseph) and ‘Satisfaction’ (Mick Jagger).

Phillip Schofield said: “I’m so thrilled to be hosting The Knights of Music. It promises to be a great night of music and surprises. It’s been quite a while since I’ve appeared on stage so I’m really looking forward to a great evening.”
  
It is Directed by award winning Gary Lloyd, THRILLER LIVE! The Michael Jackson Musical, CARRIE the Musical, 20TH CENTURY BOY, THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

It features West End stars including: Danielle Hope Who won BBC’s OVER THE RAINBOW, Dorothy THE WIZARD OF OZ, London Palladium, Eponine LES MISERABLES, Narrator JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT and Maria Rainer THE SOUND OF MUSIC (National Tour).

Liam Doyle – won  GMTV’s newcomer to play Troy in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, Link Larkin in HAIRSPRAY, Eddie in MAMMA MIA, Fiyero in WICKED, Sam in GHOST.
Hannah Grover – Eva Peron in EVITA, Molly Jensen in GHOST, Narrator JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT, also appeared in LEGALLY BLONDE and MAMMA MIA

Andy Coxon – Barry in BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical, Pablo in SISTER ACT, Montparnasse & Understudy Marius in LES MISERABLES, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, EVITA. Film: Ensemble Student in LES MISERABLES (Working Title),

Emily Jane Brooks – THE CANTERVILLE GHOST, Rosemary Ashe ME AND MY GIRL, CRAZY FOR YOU, A SLICE OF SATURDAY NIGHT, THE SONGS THAT WON THE WAR.

Simon Schofield – Frankie Valli in NEW JERSEY NIGHTS, played Rolf in ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’, Joseph in ‘JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT, LES MISERABLES.




The Knights Of Music UK TOUR Trailer