RIP Ann Emery

West End veteran Ann Emery passed away yesterday (29th September 2016) aged eighty-six.

Her numerous theatre credits included 'Mother Dear' in Betty Blue Eyes, 'Mrs. Hopkins' in My Fair Lady, 'Hortense' in Martin Guerre, Hard Times (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Cats (New London Theatre) and Babes In The Wood (King's Theatre, Hammersmith).

She famously originated the role of Grandma in the West End production of Billy Elliot in 2005, and remained  with the show until 2014 when she had to leave citing  back problems.

Stephen Daldry, who directed Billy Elliot, has released the following statement:

Ann Emery has been at the heart of the Billy Elliot family for over a decade. She created the role of Grandma over 11 years ago, and has been central to the lives of hundreds of children who performed with her.

Her zest for life, professional experience and care for the often very young performers who she worked with was truly exceptional. She will be have a special place in all our hearts as an ‘old pro’, who never seemed old and never took the profession for granted.

She was herself a child of the theatre, whose enthusiasm and joy was always apparent. Her first appearance at the Victoria palace was in the Crazy Gang in the 1930’s. It was also where she gave her last much celebrated performance in Billy Elliot.

She will be remembered fondly, and today deeply missed. What a treat it was to have known her.

Rachelle Ann Go joins Miss Saigon Broadway cast

Rachelle Ann Go is to  reprise her performance as Gigi in the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon joining the already announced Eva Noblezada as Kim and Jon Jon Briones as The Engineer, from the West End revival. She  is currently starring alongside Noblezada in the West End production of Les Miserables. 

Also joining the cast is Devin Ilaw as Thuy.

Directed by Laurence Connor, Miss Saigon opens in New York on 23rd March 2017 for a limited run to 14th January 2018 ahead of a US tour.

Full cast announced for One Love New Bob Marley Musical

Updated 20th January:  the leads have just been announced - Alexia Khadime (Nala in The Lion King: Elphaba in Wicked; Eponine in Les Miserables and Nabulungi in The Book Of Mormon) is playing  Rita Marley — wife of reggae legend Bob. Bob Marley will be played by Amsterdam-based singer Mitchell Brunings, who portrayed the singer when the musical premiered in Baltimore.

Eric Kofi Abrefa (Labyrinth and Wildefire, Hampstead Theatre; The Glass Menagerie, Headlong; Humans, Channel 4) will play Bob's closest friend, Pablo. Cat Simmons (Sweet Charity, Manchester Royal Exchange; Jane Wenham: The Witch of Walkern, Out of Joint; Oliver!, National Tour) will play Bob's lover, Cindy Breakspeare.

Newtion Matthews (The Frontline, Shakespeare's Globe; Dancing in the Streets, UK Tour) will play Bunny Wailer alongside Jacade Simpson (The Book of Mormon and The Scottsboro Boys, West End) who will play Peter Tosh.
 

Adrian Irvine (King Lear and Romeo and Juliet, National Theatre) will play Jamaican Prime Minister, Michael Manley while Simeon Truby (War Horse, National Theatre international tour) will play Leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga. Ricardo Coke-Thomas (The Book of Mormon and Shrek the Musical, West End; Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, National Theatre) will play Tony Welsh. Birmingham-born Thomas Vernal, a recent graduate from The Arden School of Theatre, will play Claudie Massop.


DelRoy Brown (King David: Man of Blood, Mercury Theatre Colchester; The Harder They Come, Theatre Royal Stratford East; Scott and Bailey, ITV) will play Bob's manager, Don Taylor. Alex Robertson (Tomorrow I Was Always a Lion, Belarus Free Theatre; The Seagull, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) will play Chris Blackwell. Natey Jones (Doctor Faustus, Don Quixote and The Alchemist, all Royal Shakespeare Company/ Barbican) will play Don Letts.

Maria Omakinwa (Show Boat, Sheffield Crucible/ West End; The Bodyguard, West End) will play Judy Mowatt. Shyko Amos returns to Birmingham Repertory Theatre (where she last performed in This Island) to play Marcia Griffiths.

The ensemble will include Taofique Folarin, Martina Isibor, Melissa James, Lemuel Knights, Tanisha Spring, Ellena Vincent and Marcquelle Ward.

One Love  is  a new musical  based on the life of reggae legend Bob Marley which will play at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 10th March-8th April.

With support from  the Marley family it is being  created by Kwame Kwei-Armah, and will focus on the singer's life and activism featuring many of his classic songs. Currently in the development stage, Armah wants  to use the show to highlight the singer's attempts at peacemaking in his native Jamaica, which was in the midst of clashes between political factions and rival gangs at the height of his fame.

With all the  historical speculation about the singer's drug use and multiple children, the creator of the show  does not intend to approach the singer's life from a perspective of "sex and loose morality" telling the Mail "We start looking at Bob as a young man, trying to hustle and get his way into the music industry; and as he becomes successful, so grows his social responsibility"

Tickets for  One Love

Tracie Bennett joins Follies starring Philip Quast, Imelda Staunton and Janie Dee

Updated 17th March: Dawn Hope who is  playing Stella Deems, will lead a big show-stopping number called Who’s That Woman. Updated 23rd December: Tracie Bennett is to  play Carlotta Campion: the former showgirl and one-time movie star who has been to hell and back who sings Sondheim’s showstopper number I’m Still Here: which was originated by Yvonne De Carlo on Broadway and by Dolores Gray (followed by Eartha Kitt) in the 1987 London production produced by Cameron Mackintosh.

Bennett has received two Olivier Awards for Best Supporting Role in a Musical for her performances in the musicals She Loves Me and Hairspray with an addition nomination for her work in High Society. Bennett was also nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Mrs Henderson Presents while her performance as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow earned her an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Play and a Tony Award nomination in the same category when the production transferred to Broadway.

 

Updated 25th November: Peter Forbes will play Buddy Plummer who married to  Sally Durant played by Imelda Staunton.

Updated 12th October:It has just been announced that Philip Quast is to play Benjamin Stone  joining Imelda Staunton  as Sally Durant Plummer with Janie Dee as Phyllis Stone with  Josephine Barstow as Heidi in a London revival of Follies by Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman.

Olivier award wining Quast has a list of West End credits including  George Seurat  in Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize winning musical Sunday in the Park with George, Emile de Becque in South Pacific, Judge Turpin in a concert version of Sweeney Todd at London's Royal Festival Hall and Javert in Les Miserables. 

Directed by Dominic Cooke, the show will open in the Olivier Theatre at the National in August 2017. Dates still to be announced.

When former members of the Weismann Follies reunite on the eve of their theater's demolition, two couples remember their past and face the harsher realities of the present. In the crumbling glamour of the theater, The Shadows of their younger selves remind them of the complicated steps they've danced-both on the stage and throughout their lives. Containing classics including   "Broadway Baby," "I'm Still Here," "Too Many Mornings, "Could I Leave You?" and "Losing My Mind," Follies is an excellent representations of  the vaudeville days between the two World Wars.

The show was originally produced on Broadway by Harold Prince with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, opening in April 1971 starring Dorothy Collins, John McMartin, Gene Nelson, and Alexis Smith. It ran for 522 performances and received seven Tony Awards, including Best Original Score.

Imelda Staunton is set for a busy time in the West End and on Broadway as she is also appearing with Game of Thrones star, Conleth Hill, in a West End revival of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a limited season from 22 February to 27 May 2017. She has also said there are plans for her to take her award winning performance of Momma Rose in  the Chichester and Savoy production of Gypsy to Broadway in 2018.

Jersey Boys to close in London next March followed by tour

It has just been announced that  The Jersey Boys is to end its run at London's Piccadilly

Theatre on March 26th 2017 after a nine year run.The show originally opened on 18 March 2008 at the Prince Edward Theatre before moving to the Piccadilly Theatre in March 2014, is currently the sixth longest running musical in the West End.

The show will embark on a second UK tour in December 2017 opening  at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.

Michael David the producer said: "We hoped that West End audiences would embrace it, but you never imagine it'll multiply and resonate as much as it has.  We couldn't be more proud of the cast and crew who gave their all every night, and are profoundly grateful to the audiences who returned that energy without fail.Our time in London has been extraordinary, and we hope audiences around the UK will continue to embrace Jersey Boys as we bring the show to their hometowns."

Take That, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe in line up for Children in Need Rocks for Terry

Updated 12 November: This show will be broadcast on BBC1 at 8:30 pm on Monday 14th November.

Take That, Ellie Goulding, Olly Murs, Gregory Porter, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Rick Astley, Alexander Armstrong, The Vamps, and Ward Thomas are among the artists  performing at BBC Children in Need Rocks for Terry: a  special concert hosted by Fearne Cotton and Greg James.

It will take place at the at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 1st November at 18:15 and will celebrate the life of legendary broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan with a selection of his all-time favourite music. All proceeds, after costs. will benefit BBC Children in Need

Gina Beck Singular Sensations at Charing Cross Theatre

West End leading lady GINA BECK is appearing in  the acclaimed Singular Sensations at Charing Cross Theatre on Sunday 16th October 2016 at 3:00 pm. As well as performing she will be talking in depth  to the host Edward Seckerson ( formerly the presenter of BBC Radio 3’s long-running musical theatre show Stage & Screen )

She most recently starred as Magnolia in Daniel Evan’s acclaimed production of SHOW BOAT and appeared in FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD at the Watermill Theatre and as Glinda in WICKED at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, West End and on the US national tour. Prior to that she appeared in THE BELLE’S STRATAGEM at the Southwark Playhouse and as Maria Von Trapp in THE SOUND OF MUSIC for Bronowski Productions at the Plenary Hall Theatre, Kuala Lumpa.

Other theatre  credits include THE KISSING DANCE at The Jermyn Street Theatre and the LES MISERABLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT at the O2 Arena. In September2010 she completed two years starring as Christine in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Her Majesty’s Theatre, West End.

TV credits include DOCTORS for the BBC and THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES for BBC, directed by Simon Cellan-Jones.

Buy tickets for Gina Beck Singular Sensations

Wicked 10th Anniversary tonight and 2018 tour announced!

WICKED  celebrates 10 years at London’s Apollo Victoria  tonight (Tuesday 27 September). Over the past decade, Wicked has become “one of the most popular West End musicals ever” (London Evening Standard).

It is already the 8th longest running show currently playing in the West End and on Saturday 12th November at 2:30pm, it will become the 18th longest running show in West End theatre history, overtaking Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. It is one of only three Broadway transfers in West Endhistory to ever run 10 years or more (the two others being Disney’s The Lion King and the 1997 revival of Chicago).

    

The  record-breaking UK & Ireland Tour will return in February 2018, opening at the Bristol Hippodrome (with tickets on sale from 1 February 2017). Further dates to be announced. The production is currently playing  in Singapore and continues touring internationally until January 2018.

November release date for Gypsy DVD starring Imelda Staunton

It has just been announced that the DVD and digital download of Gypsy starring Imelda Stauntonwill be released on 28th November 2016.

Filmed in front of an audience at the Savoy Theatre, and shown on the BBC over Christmas, Gypsy features Imelda Staunton in her Olivier Award-winning performance as Momma Rose with a cast also including Peter Davison, Lara Pulver and Gemma Sutton.

With lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne, the show is based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, a famous 1950s striptease artist with a score featuring classic songs including "Let Me Entertain You", "Rose's Turn" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses". The show was directed by Jonathan Kent with choreography from Stephen Mear.

You can pre-order a copy from Amazon here

Phantom of the Opera 30th Anniversary Gala Performance

The Phantom of the Opera celebrates its 30th Anniversary on Monday 10th October at Her Majesty's Theatre with a very special charity gala performance in aid of The Music in Secondary Schools Trust.

To celebrate this milestone, the current cast including Ben Forster as ‘The Phantom’, Celinde Schoenmaker as ‘Christine Daae’ and Nadim Naaman as ‘Raoul’ will be joined on stage by members of the original company and special guests in a special finale.

Tickets are priced at £30 and £19.86. There will also be 30 pairs of exclusive tickets priced at £300 each (£600 per pair) which include top price seats and an invitation to the private after-show party.

 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on 9th October 1986 starring Michael Crawford as 'The Phantom' and Sarah Brightman as 'Christine'.  It is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Prague, Oberhausen and on tour in the US. It  will open in Stockholm in September.

Tickets for this very special performance are now available from Her Majesty’s Theatre box office, in person, on 0844 412 2707 or visit “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” website www.thephantomoftheopera.com

David Walliams' Gangsta Granny to Transfer into the West End

The adaptation of David Walliams' children's book  Gangsta Granny which was recently nominated for a UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children is currently on tour and will transfer to the West End at the Garrick Theatre from 1st August until 3rd September, with previews from 26 July.

Birmingham Stage Company's production is adapted by Neal Foster, the man behind the Horrible Histories shows including Barmy Britain - Part One, Two and Three and The Best of Barmy Britain. Gangtsta Granny tells the story of Ben, who is staying with his granny on Friday night and is expecting the same boring cabbage soup. What he doesn't realise is that his granny has a secret.

Walliams said: "I'm delighted that my Gangsta Granny is making her West End debut. It's my most popular book so it will be wonderful to see the Birmingham Stage Company's terrific adaptation in dazzling neon next summer."

Tickets for Gangsta Granny at the Garrick Theatre

Robert Lindsay, Madalena Alberto, Carrie Hope Fletcher with exceptional West End Cast in Broadway production of A Christmas Carol

Updated 25th November.  An exceptional cast has just been announced for the London Musical Theatre Orchestra's concert production of Alan Menken's A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theatre. Olivier Award-winner Robert Lindsay will star as Scrooge. Sisters-in-law Carrie Hope Fletcher and Giovanna Fletcher perform alongside each other for the first time, taking on the roles of Emily and Mrs Cratchit respectively.

Further casting includes Madalena Alberto (Evita) as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Hugh Maynard (Miss Saigon) as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Norman Bowman (Murder Ballad) as Jacob Marley, Peter Polycarpou (Les Miserables) as Mr Fezziwig, Gina Murray (Chicago) as Mrs Fezziwig  and John Addison (The Go-Between) as Fred Anderson.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is being presented  at London's Lyceum Theatre on Monday 19th December at 7.30pm featuring a star studded West End cast accompanied by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra

NOTE: the event was originally to be performed  the Lyric Theatre but in order to present this concert production to its fullest orchestral capacity a creative decision was taken to move to the larger stage of the Lyceum. Anyone who has purchased tickets for the Lyric will be contacted by their point of purchase within the next week with details of their re-allocated seats at the Lyceum

The London premiere of this Christmas classic gets the full Broadway treatment by the Broadway team of Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid), Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Seussical) and Mike Ockrent (Crazy For You, Me and My Girl). 

Called by The New York Times "a tonic for adults, and for children a transfixing journey," this spectacular musical extravaganza ran for ten years at New York's Madison Square Garden. 

Tickets for A Christmas Carol

Stepping Out tour starring Amanda Holden to transfer to West End

It has been confirmed that Stepping Out by Richard Harris will transfer to the West End following its UK tour. Directed by Maria Friedman, Stepping Out tours the UK from 12th October 2016 including dates at Theatre Royal Bath, Richmond Theatre, Cambridge Arts Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre. Further casting for the West End production is still to be confirmed.

Starring Amanda Holden as Vera  with Angela Griffin, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Tamzin Outhwaite and Nicola Stephenson, the play will open at the Vaudeville Theatre on 14th March 2017 (previews from 1st March). It is currently booking until 17th June

Stepping Out charts the lives of seven women and one man attempting to tap their troubles away at a weekly dancing class. Initially all thumbs and left feet, the group is just getting to grips with the basics when they are asked to take part in a charity gala. Over the course of several months we meet the group, and all of them have a story to tell. There's perfectionist Vera, mouthy Maxine and uptight Andy, bubbly Sylvia and shy Dorothy, eager Lynne and cheerful Rose, and, of course, Geoffrey. At the piano is the dour Mrs Fraser and spurring them all on, the ever-patient Mavis.

Tickets for Stepping Out 

Broadway's Anthony Rapp in Concert during Rent 20th Anniversary Tour

Amended 24th September; Broadway star Anthony Rapp is coming to London to appear in his solo concert  to coincide with the  RENT 20th Anniversary Tour  when it is in the Main House at the St James Studio between 5th-17th December 2016.

He  created the role Mark Cohen  in the original off-Broadway, Broadway and West End productions of Rent, will present his solo concert in the Studio for a limited two week run from 5th-17th December.

Rapp most recently reunited with his RENT co-star Idina Menzel in new musical If/Then on Broadway, before reprising his performance for the US tour.He last performed in London in his show Without You at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2012.

Tickets for Anthony Rapp Live In Concert

Full cast for new musical Anastasia on Broadway

Updated 11th January: The full cast has just been announced - Joining previously announced Christy Altomare, Derek Klena, John Bolton, Ramin Karimloo, Carolien O'Connor, and Mary Beth Peil are Zach Adkins, Sissy Bell, Lauren Blackman, Kathryn Boswell, Kyle Brown, Kristen Smith Davis, Janet Dickinson, Constantine Germanacos, Wes Hart, Ian Knauer, Ken Krugman, Dustin Layton, Shina Ann Morris, James A. Pierce III, Molly Rushing, Nicole Scimeca, Jennifer Smith, Johnny Stellard, and Allison Walsh.


West End and Broadway star Ramin Karimloo  has been cast in  the new Broadway musical Anastasia based on 20th Century Fox’s 1997 animated film. He will play Bolshevik general Gleb joining a cast that already includes Christy Altomare (playing the young woman who may or may not be a lost Russian duchess) with  Derek Klena, John Bolton and Caroline O’Connor. 

Darko Tresnjak (“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”) directs with composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens having written  the score, with original songs filling out the tunes they originally wrote for the animated film. Terrence McNally has written  the book.

Karimloo, is  about to open in London at the Arts Theatre where he is starring in Murder Ballad  with Kerry Ellis.

Following a tryout run in Connecticut earlier this year, Anastasia will move to Broadway to  begin previews on March 23 and April 24 opening.  A trailer for the production released earlier this week on the show’s Facebook page, attracted over  seven million views

The New York staging of “Anastasia” is produced by Stage Entertainment USA, Bill Taylor and Tom Kirdahy Productions.

Mamie Parris to take over as Grizabella from Leona Lewis in Cats Broadway

Mamie Parris is taking over from Leona Lewis will play her final performance as Grizabella on 9th October in the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats.

 

Parris originated the role of Patty in Lloyd Webber's new Broadway musical School of Rock and starred as Elphaba in the US tour of Wicked and as Judy in the US tour of 9 to 5. Broadway credits include On the Twentieth Century, Ragtime, 110 in the Shade and The Drowsy Chaperone.

The Broadway cast of Cats also includes Andy Huntington Jones as Munkustrap, Ricky Ubeda as Mr. Mistoffelees, Tyler Hanes as Rum Tum Tugger, Kim Fauré as Demeter, Sara Jean Ford as Jellylorum, Christopher Gurr as Bustopher Jones, Jess LeProtto as Mungojerrie, Shonica Gooden as Rumpelteazer and Christine Cornish Smith as Bombalurina.

Kerry Ellis & Adam Garcia to appear at Wicked's 10th Anniversary Gala

Original Wicked London cast members Kerry Ellis and Adam Garcia are set to make a special appearance at the curtain call of the Wicked! the musical's 10th anniversary gala  at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on Tuesday 27th September 2016.  Garcia originated the role of Fiyero in London whilst Ellis was the standby for Idina Menzel in the original cast. She went on to become the first British actress to play Elphaba in the West End and on Broadway.

The Mail's Baz Bamigboye also  reports that among the other special guests in attendance will be Matt Willis and Nigel Planer who have played Fiyero and the Wizard.

Wicked celebrates its tenth birthday The current cast includes the West End's longest serving Elphaba Rachel Tucker who recently returned to the musical following a stint on Broadway and Australian Glinda Suzie Mathers who is making her West End debut in the production.

Cast for Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Casting has been announced for the West End return of Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Apollo Theatre on 21st October for a limited run to 29th January 2017.

Again the members of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society battle against technical hitches, flying mishaps and cast disputes. Will they ever make it to Neverland?

The cast includes Matt Cavendish as Max, Bryony Corrigan as Sandra, Susan Harrison as Lucy, Harry Kershaw as Chris, Bailey Patrick as Trevor, Laurence Pears as Francis, Daniel Pitout as Jonathan, Oliver Senton as Robert, Sydney Smith as Dennis and Adeline Waby as Annie with  Katherine Carlton and Tom Cox. Bryony, Harry, Laurence and Matt join the cast straight from the Olivier award-winning production, The Play That Goes Wrong.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong will also be broadcast on BBC One this Christmas with  David Suchet (The Bank Job, A Perfect Murder, Poirot) guest starring as the narrator.  The Show will be filmed in front of a live audience in Pinewood Studios during September: more  details to follow when schedule available.

Tickets for Peter Pan Goes Wrong

John Barrowman, Scarlett Strallen and cast of Aladdin in Disney's Broadway Hits Concert

Update: This concert will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Friday 16th December at 8:00 pm 

John Barrowman (La Cage aux Folles) will lead the cast as the performing emcee at the European premiere of Disney's Broadway Hits at the Royal Albert Hall on at 7:00 pm  Sunday 23rd October. He will be joined by Scarlett Strallen (A Chorus Line, She Loves Me), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins on Broadway) and Merle Dandridge (Aida and Tarzan on Broadway).

The show will celebrate over two decades of Disney shows including Beauty and the Beast, Aida, The Lion King, Aladdin, Mary Poppins, Tarzan and The Hunchback of Notre Dame  Oscar-winning composer and performer  Alan Menken, who wrote hits including Whole New World (from Aladdin) and Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas), will appear on stage.

Other acts performing include include  the West End cast of Aladdin, Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King on Broadway) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan). Accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted Keith Lockhart.

Louise Dearman & Oliver Tompsett Best of James Bond Concert

West End stars Louise Dearman and Oliver Tompsett will be performing The Best of James Bond concert at London's Royal Festival Hall at 7:30 pm on Friday 30th September. The concert will feature Bond songs from the past 50 years performed alongside a tribute to other spies and detectives from around the world.

They will be  singing classic Bond tunes accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra conducted by John Rigby.  Featured numbers include From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Tomorrow Never Dies, Thunderball, For Your Eyes Only, You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me, Skyfall and Diamonds are Forever.

Tickets for The Best of James Bond

Sheridan Smith to play some dates in tour of Funny Girl

Sheridan Smith will reprise her performance as Fanny Brice at a number of selected venues for the UK tour of Funny Girl which kicks off at the end of February at the Manchester Palace Theatre and currently ends in Llandudno on 22nd July 2017. 

She is set to perform in Manchester, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Southampton, Bradford, Southend, Cardiff and Dublin. Further casting will be announced shortly, and patrons should check with venues for the performance playing schedule.

The show is still running in London at the Savoy Theatre where it is booking until 8th October starring Sheridan Smith and Darius Campbell.

Mel Giedroyc and Caroline Quentin join Douglas Hodge, Haydn Gwynne and Alex Gaumond performing New Songs 4 New Shows

Updated 27th September: Mel Giedroyc and Caroline Quentin are joining  cast of New Songs 4 New Shows

Giedroyc will perform in Fanatical, a romantic comedy set at a sci-fi convention written by Matt Board and Reina Hardy. She will play the conference organiser alongside Game of Thrones' Gemma Whelan, who makes her musical and West End debut. It will be directed by Lottie Wakeham with choreography by Tim Jackson.

Joan, by Gwyneth Herbert and Mel Brimfield, is about the life of Joan Littlewood and will feature performances form Quentin, Gwyneth Herbert and Ian Shaw. The Gala performance  of New Songs 4 New Shows has a West End cast including: Douglas Hodge (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Gemma Whelan (Game Of Thrones), Haydn Gwynne (Threepenny Opera), jazz supremo Ian Shaw, Alex Gaumond (We Will Rock You), sublime tenor Hal Cazalet and singer/songwriter Gwyneth Herbret (The A-Z Of Mrs. P) with Jos Slovic, Laura Jane Matthewson, Emmanuel Kojo, James Smoker and Daniella Bowen.

New Songs 4 New Shows is being performed at the Lyric Theatre on Monday 28th November at 7:30 pm  and presents  a sneak preview of four exciting new musicals that will go into full production from 2017 onwards, hearing their songs for the first time in this fully staged concert production. 

 The Wigmaker a modern hairy fairy tale about a beautiful wigmaker - but when she locks the door at night the wigs come to life, with music and lyrics by the acclaimed Tony award winning actor Douglas Hodge and book by celebrated playwright Bryony Lavery. Douglas will be performing songs from the show alongside Haydn Gwynne who will sing the show stopping Women Go Grey!

Fanatical is a romantic comedy which takes place at a Science Fiction Convention by Matt Board and Reina Hardy, includes a power Ballard to be performed by Game Of Thrones' Gemma Whelan in her musical and West End debut. A talented young production team will work with the Fanatical sequence, directed by Lotte Wakeham (And The World Goes Round - Stephen Joseph Theatre) and choreographed by Tim Jackson (Made in Dagenham - Hornchurch).

    The Happy Prince classic Oscar Wilde story brought to life, with a score by opera singer Hal Cazalet and book by Michael Barry. Performances will include the heart breaking pas de deux between the tragic Swallow and the happy Prince, directed by quadruple Oliver Award winner Maria Friedman and choreographed by hotshot Drew McOnie (In The Heights) and danced by Sophia Hurdley and Alan Vincent, both principles with Matthew Bourne's New Adventures Company.

    Joan - the life and times of Joan Littlewood written by Gwyneth Herbert and Mel Brimfield, with performances from Gwyneth singing Fun Palace, Ian Shaw performs Hey Joan (inspired by Murray Melvin's recollections of life with Joan) and a surprise guest star will sing Puppet On A Shoestring.

Douglas Hodge says: "I've always had a secret life as a songwriter, so when The Stable came forward to commission Wigmaker I leapt at the chance. The story started life as a short film and then when I married a wigmaker in real life it seemed crazy not to follow the notion all the way to the West End. I've always been envious of the way Broadway generates and develops as many new musicals as plays, and now The Stable is supporting home grown brand new musicals. It won't just be a chance for the audience to see new work it will be the first chance too for the composers to see their work up on its feet."

Tickets for  New Songs 4 New Shows

Full casting announced for Annie Get Your Gun at the Sheffield Crucible.

Updated 28th October: Sheffield Theatres has announced that its major new revival of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun has extended its run for one week due to public demand, now closing on 21st January.

Annie Get You Gun will be directed by Paul Foster and open at the Sheffield Crucible  on 14th December (previews from 8th December) running until 14th January 2017.

Joining the previously announced Anna-Jane Casey as Annie Oakley and Ben Lewis as Frank Butler are Nicolas Colicos (Buffalo Bill), Mike Denman (Pawnee Bill), Lauren Hall (Winnie Tate), Matthew Malthouse (Foster Wilson), Timothy Quinlan (Charlie Davenport), Cleve September (Tommy Keeler), Maggie Service (Dolly Tate) and Karl Seth (Chief Sitting Bull).

Completing the ensemble are Josh Andrews, Ronan Burns, Emma Caffrey, Matthew Croke, Omari Douglas, Rosie Fletcher, Melissa James, Jasmine Kerr, Natasha Mould, Jak Skelly, Leah West and Emma Woods.

Choreography is by Alistair David with design by Laura Hopkins, musical direction by Paul Herbert, lighting by Natasha Chivers and sound by Nick Lidster.

Tickets for Annie Get Your Gun

Full Casting announced for West End transfer of Gary Barlow & Tim Firth's The Girls

Full casting has been announced today for the West End transfer of Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s new musical The Girls which goes on general sale from 12 noon.

The cast will be led by Debbie Chazen as Ruth, Sophie-Louise Dann as Celia, Michele Dotrice as Jessie, Claire Machin as Cora, Claire Moore as Chris and Joanna Riding as Annie.

Also in the cast are Joe Caffrey as Rod, Jeremy Clyde as Denis, John Davitt as Doctor, Soo Drouet as Brenda, James Gaddas as John, Jenny Gayner as Miss Wilson (coffee), Steve Giles as Lawrence, Maxwell Hutcheon as Colin, Shirley Jameson as Miss Wilson (tea), Marian McLoughlin as Marie, Judith Street as Lady Cravenshire with Jane Lambert, Rebecca Lewis, Victoria Blackburn and Frazer Hadfield, and introducing young cast members  Josh Benson as Tommo, Ben Hunter as Danny and Chloe May Jackson as Jenny.

The Girls  will be directed by Tim Firth, with musical staging by Lizzi Gee, comedy staging by Jos Houben, design by Robert Jones, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, sound design by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster, musical direction and orchestrations by Richard Beadle, with casting by Sarah Bird.

Buy tickets for The Girls  

Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp to appear in Million Dollar Quartet at South Bank Centre

Martin Kemp the Spandau Ballet rocker-turned-actor, who appeared in EastEnders and recently played the Childcatcher in the tour of Chitty Chity Bang Bang  has been cast as Sam Phillips, who discovered Elvis Presley in Memphis, in the tour of Million Dollar Quartet when it plays the in London at the Royal Festival Hall over the Christmas season, from December 17th until January 2nd. /(Jason Donovan is currently playing the role until 3rd December)

Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp to appear in Million Dollar Quartet at South Bank Centre

Martin Kemp the Spandau Ballet rocker-turned-actor, who appeared in EastEnders and recently played the Childcatcher in the tour of Chitty Chity Bang Bang  has been cast as Sam Phillips, who discovered Elvis Presley in Memphis, in the tour of Million Dollar Quartet when it plays the in London at the Royal Festival Hall over the Christmas season, from December 17th until January 2nd. /(Jason Donovan is currently playing the role until 3rd December)

Willemijn Verkaik to return to Wicked as Elphaba from 30th January

Willemijn Verkaik is returning to Wicked to play  Elphaba from 30th January 2017 (Rachel Tucker leaves the show on the 28th).  Sue Kelvin will take over as as ‘Madame Morrible’ from Anita Dobson on Monday 30th January 2017 and Sarah McNicholas will also join the cast as ‘Nessarose’ on the same date.

Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba) has previously played ‘Elphaba’ on Broadway, in both Stuttgart and Oberhausen in Germany (and she can be heard on the Original German Cast Recording), at the Circustheater in Holland and in the West End. She is the only actor in the show’s history to perform the role in more than one language. She returns to the Apollo Victoria Theatre as part of the production’s ongoing 10th anniversary celebrations. Willemijn recently starred as ‘Kala’ in Disney’s Tarzan at the Apollo Theater in Stuttgart, Germany and provided the singing voice of ‘Elsa’ in the Dutch and German language versions of Disney’s Academy® Award-winning film Frozen.

Aimie Atkinson joins cast of In The Heights

Aimie Atkinson is joining  In The Heights to star as Daniela taking over from Philippa Stefani. The role of Daniela was originated in the UK by Victoria Hamilton-Barritt. She will  join the show at the King's Cross Theatre this Friday (16th September). Having been extended several times, Lin-Manuel Miranda's show is currently booking until 8th January 2017 when it is expected to end is run.

Atkinson's credits include: Serena in Legally Blonde (Kilworth House), Teresa in Blockbuster (UK tour), Penny Lane in Carnaby Street (UK tour), Shelby Stevens in Steel Pier (Union), Chloe in Never Forget (UK tour), Luisa in Zorro the Musical (UK tour), Elizabeth in Dirty Dancing (tour), Amber in Legacy Falls (Charing Cross) and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Brighton).

Also  joining the cast on Friday are Arun Blair-Mangat as Benny, Juliet Gough as Camilla and Stephanie Rojas as Carla. Sarah Naudihas been with the show since it opened at the Southwark Playhouse in 2014, is taking over as Vanessa and Damian Buhagiar is returning as Sonny, having originated the role in the UK.

Continuing their roles are Sam Mackay as Usnavi, Gabriela Garcia as Nina, David Bedella as Kevin, Norma Attallah as Abuela, Jonathan Bishop as Graffiti Pete and Vas Constanti as Piragua Guy. Completing the cast are Reiss Hinds; Chritopher Tendai; Michael Cortez; Shanice Burton; Raffaella Covino; Genesis Lynea; Alex Thomas and Tara Young.

Dsicounted Tickets for In The Heights 

Crazy For You starring Tom Chambers launches UK tour

Jamie Wilson productions have just announced that they are producing a 2017 UK tour of the Watermill Theatre's production of Crazy For You, with Tom Chambers playing Bobby.  (He created the role of Jerry Travers in the West End musical “Top Hat”, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His other stage credits include a recent UK tour of “Private Lives” and “White Christmas” in the West End. Tom’s TV credits include the BBC dramas “Holby City” and “Waterloo Road”. He also won the 6th season of “Strictly Come Dancing” in 2008.) The multi award-winning, romantic comedy, features a fabulous score from the Gershwin brothers’ songbook, filled with great dance numbers, charts the troubled love story of Bobby, son of a wealthy New York banking family and frustrated Broadway hoofer, and Polly, daughter of the proprietor of a failing theatre in Deadrock, Nevada. Sent to close the theatre down, Bobby falls for Polly and, in the guise of a Hungarian impresario, decides to save the theatre by putting on a show.

Mistaken identities, plot twists, heartbreak, happiness and  memorable tunes, including I Got Rhythm, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Embraceable You, all feature in this celebration of the great Broadway musicals.

The show is currently in its final week at the Watermill Theatre, having opened in July.  Directed by The Watermill’s Artistic and Executive Director Paul Hart, the reimagined production has  musical arrangements by Catherine Jayes, choreography by Nathan M. Wright, design by Diego Pitarch, lighting by Howard Hudson and sound by Tom Marshall.The tour will open in Plymouth on 17th August 2017, and is currently booking to 9th December 2017 in Liverpool (full dates and booking links here).

Tour for the cast is to be announced but the Watermill cast includes Caroline Sheen (Polly), Matt Bateman (Eugene Fodor); Kit Benjamin (Everett Baker); Hollie Cassar (Tess); Peter Dukes (Bela Zangler); Lindsay Goodhand (Lottie Child / Patricia Fodor);Katrina Kleve (Mitzi); Jeremy Legat (Lank Hawkins); Emile Ruddock (Custus); Ned Rudkins-Stow (Moose); Seren Sandham-Davies (Patsy); Lucy Thatcher (Irene Roth) and Anne White(Margie).

Casting announced for An American in Paris

Full casting has now been annnounced for An American in Paris which is due to open in London's West End next year at the Dominion Theatre.

Joining Robert Fairchild and British dancer Leanne Michelle Cope  from the Broadway production who are leading  a company of over 50 actors, dancers and musicians including Jane Asher as Madame Baurel, Haydn Oakley as Henri Baurel, with David Seadon-Young and Zoë Rainey. Ashley Day will alternate the role of Jerry Mulligan for two days every week before taking over from Fairchild when he leaves the show on 19th  June 2017.

The company also features Julian Forsyth and Ashley Andrews, Sophie Apollonia, Zoe Arshamian, Sarah Bakker, James Barton, Alicia Beck, Chrissy Brooke, James Butcher, Jonathan Caguioa, Jennifer Davison, Katie Deacon, Rebecca Fennelly, Sebastian Goffin, Alyn Hawke, Nicky Henshall, Genevieve Heron, Amy Hollins, Frankie Jenna, Justin-Lee Jones, Robin Kent, Kristen McGarrity, Julia J. Nagle, Daniela Norman, Aaron Smyth, Todd Talbot, Max Westwell, Jack Wilcox, Carrie Willis, Stuart Winter and Liam Wrate.

Breaking News: School of Rock Casting Announced

Casting has been announced for the West End premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's School Of Rock which will  begin previews at the New London Theatre on 24th October opening on  14th November 2016, with booking open to 23rd July  2017.

The show is currently in rehearsal and Andrew Lloyd Webber said: "As many people know I'm passionate about children engaging with music from an early age, and to that end I cannot wait for UK audiences to see the remarkably talented group of young actor musicians we have found for our production.  They're currently blowing the roof off our rehearsal rooms working with our wonderful cast of grown ups led by the hilarious David Fynn."

 

David Fynn is to lead the London cast as wannabe rock star Dewey Finn.  He will be joined by Florence Andrews (West End productions of The Wizard of Oz and Wicked);as Rosalie Mullins, Oliver Jackson (The Glee Club, Mrs Henderson Presents) as Ned Schneebly and Preeya Kalidas (Bend It Like Beckham, Bombay Dreams) as Patty Di Marco.  Dewey Finn was the  the role made famous by Jack Black in the film.  Comedy actor David Fynn's  television credits include The Inbetweeners, Sherlock, Game of Thrones, a series regular in Pete vs Life for Channel 4 and Undateable for NBC/Comedy Central.  On stage he has appeared at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and at the Donmar Warehouse in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

The adult  cast is completed by Gary Trainor as the alternate Dewey with ensemble members Jonathan Bourne, Nadeem Crowe, Michelle Francis, Rosanna Hyland, Cassandra McCowan, Joel Montague, Andy Rees, Cameron Sharp, Tasha Sheridan, Andrew Spillett and Lucy Vandi and swings, Charlotte Bradford, Jason Denton, Cellen Chugg James, Chris Jenkins, Alfie Parker and Charlotte Scott.

 
The 39 talented performers alternating in the following roles of the the children in the band are:

Zack: Tom Abisgold (12 years old from Ashton Hayes), Toby Lee (11 years old from Priors Marston) and Jake Slack (12 years old from Chesham).

Freddy: Bailey Cassell (11 years old from Dagenham), Jude Harper-Wrobel (10 years old from Kings Langley) and Noah Key (12 years old from Bridgnorth).

Lawrence: Giles Carden (12 years old from Cobham), Oscar Francisco (12 years old from Coventry) and James Lawson (12 years old from Chiswick).

Katie: Selma Hansen (13 years old from Willesden), Lois Jenkins (11 years old from Lewisham) and Sophia Pettit (13 years old from Morden).

Summer: Isabelle Methven (12 years old from Harpenden), Lucy Simmonds (11 years old from Waterlooville) and Eva Trodd (11 years old from Bromley).

Marcy: Madeleine Haynes (12 years old from Barnet), Leah Levman (10 years old from Chiswick) and Natasha Raphael (10 years old from Ealing).

Shonelle: Jaydah Bell-Rickets (10 years old from New Cross), Shoshana Ezequiel (12 years old from Watford) and Ameila Poggenpoel (10 years old from Formby).

Sophia: Lola Moxom (11 years old from Rochester), Mia Roberts (11 years old from Shoreditch) and Grace Schneider (11 years old from Maida Vale).

Tomika: Nicole Dube (11 years old from Colchester), Amma Ris (11 years old from Haringey) and Adithi Sujith (9 years old from Wembley).

Billy: Jobe Hart (9 years old from Buckingham), Joshua Vaughan (10 years old from Birmingham) and Logan Walmsley (10 years old from Buckingham).

Mason: Presley Charma (9 years old from Teddington), Lucas Chow (12 years old from Willesden) and Ben Dawson (11 years old from Portsmouth).

James: Bradley Bissett (11 years old from Ramsgate), Denzel Eboji (12 years old from Dagenham) and Sonny Kirby (11 years old from Welwyn Garden City).

Madison: Zachary Dowlatshahi (19 years old from Teddington), Harry Egerton (11 years old from Halesowen) and Jacob Swann (11 years old from Greenwich)

 

Miss Saigon open auditions

Cameron Mackintosh has just announced that he is holding open auditions for East and Southeast Asian performers for the international tour of Miss Saigon.

He is looking for male and female East Asian and Southeast Asian actors, singers, dancers. Artists must have a valid UK/EU passport or already have a full working visa for the UK for the entirety of the contract.All applicants must have excellent vocal and dance abilities. Successful applicants must be available to start rehearsals from May 2017. (Industry casting and children's casting to be announced separately. Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 (Occupational Requirement) applies.)Applicants who do not fit all the requirements should not apply.

Auditions will be held in London on Thursday 22 September 2016: to register for an appointment, please send your CV and photo to saigoncasting@camack.co.uk or by post to Miss Saigon Casting, Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, 1 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3RB.

Cast Changes to Matilda the Musical

Ahead of its fifth birthday in the West End this autumn, Matilda has just announced its new cast. Sara Sheen and Abbie Vena will join Zaris-Angel Hator and Clara Read in the title role from 13th September 2016.

Tickets for the new booking period, which includes performances at the Cambridge theatre between 30th May and 15th October 2017, will go on sale on the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth, 13th September.

Craige Els will continue as Miss Trunchbull, having joined the cast in September 2014. Also remaining in the company are Michael Begley as Mr Wormwood, Miria Parvin as Miss Honey and Rebecca Thornhill who plays Mrs Wormwood.

The full new adult cast includes: Richard Astbury, Oliver Brooks, Collette Coleman, Maria Graciano, Elliot Harper, Daniel Hope,Daniel Ioannou, Kate Kenrick, Katie Lee, Fergal McGoff, Tom Muggeridge, Matthew Rowland, Matthew Serafini, Biancha Szynal, Laura Tyrer and Sharlene Whyte.

The young performers who will be joining the London company in the three teams playing the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall are: Nicholas Antoniou-Tibbitts, Molly Beech, Hannah Bouhamdi, Max Brophy, Olivia Calladine-Smith, Elena Cervesi, Lydia Coghlan, Anya Evans, Miles Harcombe, Michael Hawkins, Sam Jennings, Harrison Langham, Ben Lewis, Craig Noakes, Tia Palamathanan, Owen Pennington, Charlotte Ross-Gower, Alexander Stuckey, Felix Warrenand Scarlett Wennink.

Child cast members Oliver Llewelyn-Williams, Maxim Samartsev, Ynez Williams, Maisy-May Woods-Smeeth and Dora Yolland will continue in their current roles.

Mica Paris to play Mama Morton on Tour of Chicago

David Ian, producer of the international award-winning musical CHICAGO is delighted to announce that platinum selling singer, Mica Paris, will star as ‘Mama Morton’ in the tour of Chicago  when the show plays Sunderland Empire from 28 November to 3 December 2016 and Birmingham Alexandra Theatre for the Christmas season, from 12 December to 31 December 2016.
 

Also starring in CHICAGO are John Partridge as Billy Flynn, Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart, Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and A.D. Richardson as Mary Sunshine with 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. 

 Mica Paris is one of the UK’s most respected female singers with a career of Top 10 hit singles and albums worldwide. The range, power and beauty of Mica Paris' singing made an immediate impact on the UK music scene in 1988 when she released her debut, platinum-selling album, 'So Good’ from which she had her first top ten hit, 'My One Temptation'. More worldwide hit albums and singles followed including 'Black Angel', 'Stay' and 'Carefree’.Mica has collaborated with, and been a special guest for many respected artists including Prince, Michael Bolton, Dionne Warwick, Paul Rodgers, David Gilmour and Jools Holland. Her musical  theatre credits include appearing in the West End productions of ‘Mama I Want To Sing’, ‘The Vagina Monologues’ and ‘Sweet Lorraine’ as well as a sell-out residency at Ronnie Scott's Club. Mica was most recently seen in the UK and Ireland tour of ‘Love Me Tender.’

Wicked extends booking period from 10:00 am today!

With a new cast opening tonight, Wicked has extended its booking period to 4th November 2017. Tickets are on sale from today (Monday 5th September) at 10:00 am.

The new cast take over from 5th September includes Rachel Tucker starring as Elphaba, Suzie Mathers as Glinda, Oliver Savile as Fiyero and Anita Dobson as Madame Morrible. Mark Curry plays The Wizard and Martin Ball is Doctor Dillamond.

Wicked celebrates ten years in the West End on Tuesday 27 September. It  is the eighth longest-running currently playing in the West End.

The Addams Family announces Tour Dates

Breaking news this morning: The Addams Family is to launch a UK tour next year opening Edinburgh King's and Festival Theatre on 20th April 2017.





It will then visit:

20-29 April 2017 

 Festival Theatre, Edinburgh 

 on sale 5 September

9-13 May 2017 

 Royal & Derngate, Northampton 

 on sale 19 September 

23-27 May 2017 

 Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury 

 on sale 5 September 

30 May – 3 June 2017 

 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend 

 on sale 21 September

6-10 June 2017 

 Birmingham Hippodrome 

 on sale 12 September

20-24 June 2017 

 Hall for Cornwall, Truro 

 on sale soon

27 June – 1 July 2017 

 Nottingham Theatre Royal 

 on sale 12 September

4-8 July 2017 

 The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford 

 on sale 12 September

18 – 29 July 2017 

 Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 

 on sale 9 September 

1-12 August 2017 

 Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre 

 on sale 30 September

15-26 August 2017 

 Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin 

 on sale 28 October 

29 August – 9 September 2017 

 The Lowry, Salford 

 on sale 9 September

The Addams Family  opened on Broadway in 2010 with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and  book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.

Featuring Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley and more it is a heart-warming story of love, family and friendship wqith  a live orchestra and extraordinary original score, Wednesday Addams is all grown up and has a shocking secret: she’s fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. When the two families meet for dinner, will Gomez keep his daughter’s secret from his cherished Morticia, or will there be hilarious consequences?

Natasha J Barnes to play Cinderella at Palladium

Natasha J Barnes is the actress who famously stepped into the breach when Funny Girl's Sheridan Smith was forced to take a two month leave of absence.

She received rave reviews for her performance and from the producer Michael Harrison and choreographer Andrew Wright seeing her in the show she has now been cast to play Cinderella in the Palladium panto. Also joining the cast are Wendy Somerville (the Threepenny Opera) and Suzie Chard (Soho Cinders) as the Ugly Stepsisters.

Harrison told the Daily Mail:"Natasha will be feisty and funny, and she's got that extra twinkle. When you're on stage with O'Grady and Clary, you've got to hold your own."

Latest news on She Loves Me starring Scarlett Strallen

Updated 5th September: Scarlett Strallen will star in a revival of She Loves Me at the Menier Chocolate Factory over Christmas

The musical tells the story Amalia and Georg who work as clerks in Maraczek’s Parfumerie, and aren’t exactly the best of friends. However, they have something in common and  write to romantic pen pals. Despite the anonymity of their secret admirers, they live for the love letters that they exchange and the day they will finally meet. This wonderful love story has been the basis for the films The Shop around the Corner and You’ve Got Mail. The musical version – written by the authors of Fiddler on the Roof – has delighted audiences since its 1963 Broadway premier and features a sparkling score that includes the now-classic songs Ice Cream and A Trip to the Library.

Scarlet Strallen  returns to the Menier to play Amalia where she previously appeared as Cunegonde in Candide. Her other theatre work includes A Chorus Line (Palladium), Singin' in the Rain (Palace Theatre) and Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre).

The show premiered on Broadway in 1963 and was last staged at the Savoy Theatre  in London in 1994, starring Ruthie Henshall and and John Gordon Sinclair.

Directed by Matthew White (who returns to the Chocolate Factory where he previously directed Candide, Sweet Charity, Little Shop of Horrors and The Last Five Years) The show will preview from  25th November, open on 7th December and run until 5th March. Booking opens for Menier supporters on 5th September before public booking opens on 14th September. Music supervision will be by Catherine Jayes with set & costume by Paul Farnsworth, lighting by Paul Pyant, sound by Greg Clarke and orchestrations by Jason Carr.