School of Rock Announces Open Auditions

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new show School of Rock is searching for  children  for the West End run of the show with open auditions being held in Manchester on 4th December at the Salford Lowry, for children to join the cast of School of Rock in 2017.

The show is looking for boys aged 8 to 12 years old who can play either the guitar, piano, keyboard or drums and girls of the same age who can play bass guitar or who have exceptional vocals.

The auditions will be held at the Lowry Arts and Entertainment Centre and will begin at 10:00am and close at 6:00 pm on Sunday 4 December.

For further information and to register for a place:www.schoolofrockthemusical.co.uk/manchester

More casting announced for tour of The Wedding Singer

Further cast members for the forthcoming  tour of The Wedding Singer has just been announced. The show opens at Leicester Curve in February, before embarking on an extensive K tour.

Joining Jon Robyns as Robbie Hart, Ray Quinn as Glen, Cassie Compton as Julia, Roxanne Pallett as Holly, Ruth Madoc as Grandma Rosie and Samuel Holmes as George will be Nadia Forde (Linda in Dublin), Tara Verloop (Linda), Paris Green, Hannah Jay-Allen, Susie Fenwick, Helen Walsh, Eamonn Cox, Simon Anthony, Ainsley Hall-Ricketts, Andrew Carthy, Mark Pearce, Ryan-Lee Seager and Erin Bell. Barbara Rafferty will also play Grandma Rosie in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie to transfer to Apollo later this year

Updated 21st June; Everybody's Talking About Jamie will open at the Apollo Theatre from 22nd November, with previews from 6th  November 2017.

John McCrea, is to play the title role in  the new musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie - by Dan Gillespie Sells (front man of The Feeling).  It runs at The Crucible in Sheffield from February 9 to 25.

With a book by Tom MacRae and directed by Jonathan Butterall it is a a coming-of-age story of a 16-year-old from Sheffild who has a secret. He is about to sit exams who makes a decision regarding how much he should reveal of his secret life.  His Dad’s left home and the future is terrifying. But with his brilliant mum behind him, will Jamie be brave enough to stand up for who he really wants to be?

McCrea was in The Buskers Opera at the Park Theatre earlier in the year and has a portrait of him by Phil Sharp hanging in the National Portrait Gallery. The cast also includes Daniel Anthony (Levi), Mina Anwar (Leigh), Luke Baker (Dean), Courtney Bowman (Fatimah), Tamsin Carroll (Miss Hedge) and Charles Dale (Hugo).

They are joined by Raj Ghatak (Sandra Bollock), Barney Hudson (Mickey), Gabrielle Brooks (Becca), James Gillan (Tray Sophisticay), Kush Khanna (Salah), Harriet Payne (Bex), Shiv Rabheru (Callum), Lucie Shorthouse (Pritti), Kirstie Skivington (Vicki and Dance Captain), Spencer Stafford (Laika Virgin / Jamie's Dad) and Josie Walker (Margaret).

Tickets for Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Apollo

Half a Sixpence Extends booking period

With the rave reviews for both the show and leading man Charlie Stemp who plays Arthur Kipps, it comes as no surprise that Cameron Mackintosh has announced  that booking for the Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre production of HALF A SIXPENCE at the Noël Coward Theatre has been extended by three months to 22nd April 2017.

Tickets are priced from £12.50 - £77.50. A limited number of £20 seats are released each day from 10.00am in person at the box office.

¨With Cameron Mackintosh likening Chrlie Stemp to a "young Michael Crawford", here are just come of the headline reviews

★★★★★

‘CHARLIE STEMP IS ONE OF THOSE FAIRY-TALE FINDS THAT’S THE STUFF OF LEGEND’ Daily Telegraph

★★★★★

‘THE MUSICAL OF THE YEAR’ Whatsonstage

★★★★★

‘YOU SIMPLY DON’T WANT IT TO END, TERRIFIC, SOME OF THE CATCHIEST NUMBERS AN AUDIENCE COULD WISH FOR’ Sunday Telegraph

 ★★★★

‘Charlie Stemp is the real deal - his performance is like one big, athletic, all-singing, all-dancing, all-banjo-playing tidal wave of cheer’ Time Out

 ‘HALF A SIXPENCE HAS THE KEY QUALITY ANY MUSICAL NEEDS: A MOMENT OF PURE ECSTASY’

The Guardian

Casting announced for ENO's Carousel starring Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins

Updated 20th January: the latest bit of casting to be announced is that Only Fools and Horses and Goodnight Sweetheart star NICHOLAS LYNDHURST is performing  a non-singing part playing the dual roles of the Starkeeper and minister Dr Seldon in the show. Further casting includes Brenda Edwards (Nettie Fowler), Derek Hagen (Jigger Craigin), Alex Young (Carrie Pipperidge), Gavin Spokes (Enoch Snow), Susan Kyd (Mrs Mullin), Martyn Ellis (Mr Bascombe) and Davide Fienauri (Carnival Boy) with Matthew Whennell-Clark, Bruce Aguilar Rohan, Will Barratt, Jay Bryce, Danielle Cato, Jacob Chapman, Nolan Edwards, Alexander Evans, Lizzi Franklin, Alice Jane, Tessa Kadler, Hannah Kenna Thomas, Jasmine Leung, Leisha Mollyneaux, Rachel Muldoon, Saori Oda, Kane Oliver Parry, Daniel Perry, Alastair Postlethwaite, Joseph Poulton, Verity Quade, Genevieve Taylor, James Titchener, Adam Vaughan, and Anna Woodside. Final casting will be announced shortly.

Baz Bamiboye has just announced that mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins is to  make her stage debut opposite opera singer Alfie Boe in the ENO's version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's  landmark musical Carousel which is romantic New England fantasy set both in heaven and on earth. Jenkins will play Julie Jordan, the naive mill-worker who falls in love with hell-raising fairground barker Billy Bigelow played by Boe. Carousel has one of the most melodic scores ever written for the stage, but it harbours a dark, underlying tale that deals with Billy’s domestic abuse.  Further casting is to be announced.

After premiering on Broadway in 1945, it was  made into a Hollywood film starring Shirley Jones and Gordon McRae. The score includes the classic "Mister Snow", "Soliloquy", "What's the Use of Wond'rin" and "You'll Never Walk Alone".

The show will have  a five-week run of  41 performances at the London Coliseum from 11th  April to 13 May, with previews from 7th  April 2017.

Rehearsals begin in February, but Jenkins  has already done some work with New York-based director Lonny Prince telling Baz ‘I want to be as prepared as possible, and I was working with Lonny on the script and character all last week, which has been exciting in itself,’ Boe is currently on a pretty much sold out  Together concert tour with Michael Ball. 

The production is being produced  by Michael Linnit and Michael Grade and will be semi-staged like Sweeney Todd which starred Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel and  last year’s Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close, with a supporting cast, choir and 40 piece  orchestra

The last major production of Carousel in London was Nicholas Hytner’s fabulous multi-award-winning version at the National in 1992. It won phenomenal reviews and Cameron Mackintosh transferred it to the West End, and then Broadway.

Tickets go on general sale  from 9:00 am on 30th November 

Sheridan Smith starring in film of Jo Brand's novel The More You Ignore Me

Sheridan Smith has recently finished playing Fanny Brice to great critical acclaim in Funny Girl at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Savoy Theatre.  

She has just been photographed filming her first role since her stint in the show for a film adaptation of Jo Brand's novel The More You Ignore Me.  It is being filmed in Blackpool over five weeks  and is set in the 1980's following  Sheridan's character Gina -  a young mother with schizophrenia who is  trying to create a happy loving home for herself, her husband and daughter. She becomes fixated with the locate TV weatherman, before climbing onto the roof naked, and is then taken to the local psychiatric hospital, leaving at home her daughter Alice (played by Ella Hunt from LEsMis) and husband Keith (Mark Addy).

Pictured here she looks very retro in a long brown wig, crocheted cardigan, knitted halter-neck top and purple skirt, she looks brilliantly retro.

The Keith English directed film also stars Michelle Collins, Sheila Hancock, Tony Way, Clive Mantle, Tom Davis and the book's author Jo Brand with tunes by The Smiths.

If you missed her in London, Sheridan is due to reprise the role of Fanny on the tour of Funny Girl at certain venues opening in Manchester next February.

New tour of Flashdance next year

Selladoor  (producers of Footloose, Avenue Q and Little Shop of Horrors) are mounting a tour of  FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL next year opening at Glasgow King's on 4th August and visiting venues across the UK until the summer of 2018.

Dance like you’ve never danced before! FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of 18 year old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, who dreams of going to the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy and becoming a professional dancer. When a romance complicates her ambitions, she harnesses it to drive her dream. The musical features some amazing choreography to  iconic hits including Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria, I Love Rock & Roll and the title track Flashdance - What a Feeling.

Based on the Paramount Pictures film (Screenplay by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhas, story by Tom Hedley) Flashdance is an inspiring musical about the power of holding onto your dreams and love against all the odds.

Nativity the Musical to open next year

The world premiere of Nativity! The Musical will open at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 20th October 2017, prior to a short tour to  Southend Cliffs Pavilion, Sheffield Lyceum, Manchester Palace, Hammersmith Eventim Apollo and a Christmas season at Leeds Grand Theatre. Presented by Jamie Wilson, Entertainment One (eOne), Ramin Sabi, Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Most school children one Christmas wish, to star in a Nativity, and at St Bernadette’s School they decide to mount a musical version. The show follows teacher Mr Maddens and his crazy assistant Mr Poppy as they struggle with hilarious children and unruly animals to make everyone’s Christmas wish come true. It features songs including "Sparkle and Shine", "Nazareth" and "One Night One Moment".

Nativity! The Musical will be written and directed by Debbie Isitt -  creator and director of the films, with music and lyrics by Nicky Ager and Isitt, Nativity! It will be choreographed by Andrew Wright, designed by David Woodhead, with lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Tom Marshall and musical supervision and orchestrations by George Dyer.

The Nativity! film series began in 2009 featuring acors including Martin Freeman, David Tennant and Catherine Tate. It is one of the most popular UK Christmas recent film franchises:  Nativity! Nativity 2 Danger in the Manger! and Nativity 3 Dude Where’s My Donkey? have all gone on to reach top box office positions on theatrical release and sold nearly 2 million DVDs.
.

Drew McOnie to choreograph On the Town Musical at Regent's Park next May

Baz in today's Mail has just announced that Drew McOnie who choreographed the sell out  Jesus Christ Superstar, will direct and choreograph a revival of the musical On The Town which will open  the new season  at Regent 's Park Open Air Theatre  on  May 19th and run until 1st July (Press Night: 25th  May)

The show opened on Broadway in 1944 with music by Leonard Bernstein, book  and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green based on Jerome Robbins' idea for his 1944 ballet Fancy Free, which he had set to Bernstein's music. Classic songs include  New York, New York; Come Up To My Place and Some Other Time. The musical integrates dance into its storytelling: Robbins made a number of ballets and extended dance sequences for the show, including the "Imaginary Coney Island" ballet.

A 1949 film version starred Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin telling the story of three  American  sailors who hit New York on 24-hour shore leave determined to see the sights, and meet three women. The musical will remain set in 1944 with casting not yet begun.

Priority Booking for the 2017 season opens at 11:00 am on  22 November; Public Booking opens at 11:00 am on 15 December.

Samantha Womack, Les Dennis and Carrie Hope Fletcher cast in The Addams Family Tour

Some inspired casting has just been announced for the Addams Family: After 10 years in  EastEnders playing Ronnie Mitchell Samantha Womack (Guys & Dolls, South Pacific) has been cast as slinky Morticia Addams for the UK tour of The Addams Family musical which opens in Edinburgh next April before embarking on a six month tour.

Les Dennis, (Hairspray) who is soon leaving Coronation Street to appear in She Loves Me at the Menier over Christmas is to play Uncle Fester and Carrie Hope Fletcher (Eponine in Les Mis London and Dubai, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is playing Wednesday.

Casting announced for new rock musical Lizzie.

Casting has just been  announced for new rock musical Lizzie which will premiere  at the Fredericia Theater in Denmark in January before receiving its UK debut at Greenwich Theatre from 24th February to 12th March 2017, with previews from 22nd February.

Broadway's Eden Espinosa will be joined by Jodie Jacobs (Carrie, 27), Bleu Woodward (Kinky Boots) and Bjørg Gamst (The Little Mermaid).

Lizzie is set in New England in 1892, and focuses on the trial of Lizzie Borden, who was put on trial for murder after her parents were axed to death in their own home. "Lizzie Borden took an axe,
Gave her mother forty whacks,When she saw what she had done,Gave her father forty-one"

It has music by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, lyrics by Cheslik-DeMeyer and Tim Maner and a book by Maner. It will be directed by Victoria Bussert, and is produced by Aria Entertainment.

Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment said: "Lizzie is one of those contemporary, chamber and also commercial new musicals which instantly grabbed my attention due to its vibrant rock score and dark subject matter.We are excited to be working with an incredible international cast and can't wait to help introduce this phenomenal piece to the UK."

 Tickets for Lizzie

Casting for New Hadley Fraser Musical Committee at Donmar

Updaed 8h May;  Casting has just been announced:  Sandra Marvin (City of Angels) will play Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of Kids Company, and Omar Ebrahim will play Alan Yentob, former chairman of the charity. Wih Alexander Hanson as Bernard Jenkin MP, Rosemary Ashe as Kate Hoey MP, Robert Hands as David Jones MP, Liz Robertson as Cheryl Gillan MP and Anthony O'Donnell as Paul Flynn MP. They will be joined by David Albury and JoAnna Kirkland.

Adam Penford is to direct a new musical (The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Takes Oral Evidence on Whitehall's Relationship with Kids Company) which runs at the Donmar  from 24th June to 12th August. 

The new musical is inspired by the commons evidence about the high profile charity Kids Company. It will be written with lyrics from edited from the transcript of the evidence session by Hadley Fraser and Josie Rourke with music from Tom Deering 

Tickets for Committee 

Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso's Working to open at Southwark next year

Southwark Playhouse will host the European premiere of Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso's Working next year.

The musical from Academy Award-winner Schwartz, whose hits include Wicked and Godspell, is based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with the American workforce.

Working features a range of musical styles and genres from contributing composers including Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights) and five-time Grammy Award-winner James Taylor. It first opened on Broadway in 1978 with Schwartz directing a cast including Patti LuPone. The production,  runs at Southwark Playhouse from 7th June-8th July with previews from 2nd June. It will be directed by Luke Sheppard (In the Heights) and choreographed by Fabian Aloise (Matilda). It is co-produced by Jack Maple and Ramin Sabi. Casting by Will Burton is yet to be announced.

Working is the  genre-defining musical from Grammy and Academy Award winner STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (Wicked; Godspell) based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with the American workforce. The original  portrait of the American workday is told from the perspective of those that the world so often overlooks – the schoolteacher, the housewife, the fireman and the waitress amongst many – whose daily grind and aspirations reflect the truths of the people that make up a nation. It takes a  dynamic and contemporary look at what it is to work and what it is to be a musical.

Buy tickets for Working

Friday Night is Music Night: Merry Christmas! with John Owen-Jones, Rosalie Craig and Louise Dearman

A special Friday Night is Music Night: Merry Christmas! is being performed at the Royal Festival Hall at 7:30 pm on Saturday 10th December.

Presented by Ken Bruce, Mark Gatiss leads a company of star actors as Scrooge in a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol in this Friday Night Is Music Night Christmas special. Including six scenes from the Dickens classic and music from Katie Melua, Shaun Escoffrey and West End stars John Owen Jones, Rosalie Craig and Louise Dearman accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe.BBC Concert Orchestra.

 

The concert will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 23rd December


Buy tickets for special Friday Night is Music Night: Merry Christmas!

Les Miserables Cast Changes Announced

Now in its record breaking 32nd year, Cameron Mackintosh has just  announced cast changes for “LES MISÉRABLES”  at the Queen’s Theatre.

From Monday 5 December .Simon Gleeson  will replace Peter Lockyer as ‘Jean Valjean’; Lucy O'Byrne will take over from Rachelle Ann Go  as‘Fantine’ and Hollie O’Donoghue will take over from Eva Noblezada  to   play ‘Eponine’. 

From Monday 12 December Paul Wilkins joins the company as ‘Marius’ with Charlotte Kennedy making her debut as ‘Cosette’ having made her West End debut in Les Misérables last year. Continuing in their roles are David Langham as ‘Thénardier’; Katy Secombe as ‘Madame Thenardier’ and Chris Cowley as ‘Enjolras’.

 From Monday 9 January 2017 to 22 April 2017 Hayden Tee will join the company to play ‘Javert’.  Jeremy Secomb is taking a sabbatical from the show to perform as ‘Sweeney Todd’ in the off-Broadway revival of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” following successful runs at Harrington Pie and Mash Shop in 2014 and in the West End in 2015.

From 9 January 2017, the full company will be: Thomas Aldridge; Adam Bayjou; Oliver Brenin; Lucyelle Cliffe; Andy Conaghan; Chris Cowley; Vinny Coyle; Tamsin Dowsett; Aimée Fisher; Simon Gleeson; Antony Hansen; Steffan Harri; Holly-Anne Hull; Will Jennings; Josie Kemp; Charlotte Kennedy; David Langham; Joanna Loxton; Simon Lynch; Kayleigh McKnight; Felix Mosse; Lucy O'Byrne; Hollie O’Donoghue; Adam Pearce; Jonny Purchase; Sophie Reeves; Jeremy Secomb; Katy Secombe; Hayden Tee; Samantha Thomas; Lee Van Geleen; Danny Whitehead and Paul Wilkins.

Simon Gleeson has previously played the role of ‘Jean Valjean’ in Les Misérables in Manila, Singapore and on the Australian tour, winning the Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Musical in 2014. Previous West End theatre credits include: “Mamma Mia!”; “Eureka”; “The Far Pavilions” and “Imagine This”. His other theatre credit include: “Chess” and “Love Never Dies”.

 Lucy O'Byrne is making her West End debut as ‘Fantine’. Her previous theatre credits include ‘Maria’ in the UK Tour of “The Sound of Music”; “Therese Raquin” at the Park Theatre and “Fiddler on the Roof”.

Hollie O’Donoghue joined the ensemble of Les Misérables in 2015.  Her previous theatre credits include: “The Commitments” at the Palace Theatre; “Peter Pan” at The Castle, Wellingborough; “Ragtime” at the Landor Theatre, London and “Bright Lights Big City” at The Bridewell.

Paul Wilkins has previously played the role of ‘Marius’ in “Les Misérables” in Manila and Singapore and is currently playing the role in Dubai. He made his West End debut in “Les Misérables” in 2015.

Charlotte Kennedy made her West End debut in “Les Misérables” in 2015.  She has also appeared in “Elaine Paige in Concert” at the Royal Albert Hall.

Hayden Tee has just finished playing the role of ‘Javert’ in Les Misérables on Broadway and will be performing the same role when the production opens in Dubai in November. He returns to the West End production of Les Misérables having previously played the role of ‘Marius’. His other theatre credits include: “South Pacific”; “Little Women”; “Titanic”; “Cats” and “Into the Woods”.


David Langham’s most recent theatre credits include “Wendy & Peter Pan” for the Royal Shakespeare Company; “The Light Princess” at the National Theatre and the UK tours of “Oliver!” and “Spamalot.”  His TV and film credits include: “Doctor Who” and “The Phantom of the Opera”.


Chris Cowley most recently appeared in “The Last Five Years” at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. His other theatre credits include: “Wicked” at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and “Saturday Night Fever” at the English Theatre Frankfurt.


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

Jesus Christ Superstar to return to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2017

Following its  sell-out success earlier this year,  Jesus Christ Superstar is to return for 41 performances next year at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 11th August – 16th September.

The production won the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical in the Evening Standard Awards and received 15 nominations in the BroadwayWorld Awards, including Theatrical Event of the Year. With direction by Timothy Sheader, design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Drew McOnie, musical direction by Tom Deering, lighting design by Lee Curran and sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph. Casting information will be announced at a later date.

Priority booking for Members will open at 11:00 am, 22nd November 2016. Public booking opens at 11:00 am on 15th December.

Michael Xavier, Siobhan Dillon and Fred Johanson joining Glenn Close on Broadway in Sunset Boulevard

Having just won a well-deserved  Evening Standard Award for Best Musical Performance,  Glenn Close is now taking the  fabulous Sunset Boulevard to  Broadway with some of her London co-stars. The excllent Michael Xavier, Siobhan Dillon and Fred Johanson are  reprising the London Coliseum ENO roles of Joe Gillis, Betty Schaefer and Max von Mayerling, respectively.

Performances  are set to begin at the Palace Theatre on February 2, 2017, opening  on February 9 and playing  a limited run for 16 weeks The semi-staged production will be directed by Lonny Price and  feature a 40-piece orchestra.  Additional casting to  be announced at a later date.

EastEnder Rita Simons in tour of Legally Blonde

Rita Simons (best known as Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders) is due to leave the soap soon (after playing the character for  9 years) and will make her musical theatre debut by going on the  road from September 2017 for seven months to play Paulette, the manicurist looking for love with the iconic "Bend and Snap" number in the tour of the musical Legally Blonde. 

The show is due to open at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley and then visit venues including High Wycombe, Bristol,Manchester, Southampton and Woking taking it up until April 2018. More tour details including dates and  booking links to follow.

Cynthia Erivo heading for Hollywood in new Lynda La Plante movie Widows

The uber talented Tony Award winner and star of Broadway's "The Color Purple", Cynthia Erivo, is to join Viola Davis in a brand new big-screen version of the popular Lynda La Plante series Widows, which was a hit on ITV in 1983. It  is set to be directed by Oscar-winning film-maker Steve McQueen, whose 12 Years A Slave won the best picture Academy and BAFTA awards. He will also write the screenplay with "Gone Girl" author, Gillian Flynn.

It is  about the wives of a bunch of gangsters who, after their four husbands are killed in a car crash during a failed robbery attempt subsequently join forces to carry out the heist they  had been planning.  Erivo will play Belle: a widowed mother-of-two who works as a dental technician.

Erivo leaves the Color Purple on 8th January (when it closes) and after a short break starts work on Widows in Chicago.

She  said she thought McQueen’s offer was a gag. ‘I said I’d love to play the role — fantastic! But can he (McQueen) see the show, so I know that it’s not, like, a joke! To be offered a role, without having to read for it, is just crazy! And awesome.’

Cynthia Erivo is a multiple award-winning actress who has starred on West End and Broadway stages. She  made her Broadway debut reprising her starring role as 'Celie' in the  revival of The Color Purple which she first played in 2013 at London's Menier Chocolate Factory. She played  'Puck' in the Liverpool Everyman production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Nick Bagnall and in  2014, returned to her classical roots in the Donmar Warehouse's  all-female production of Henry IV directed by Phyllida Lloyd. In that same year she played the lead in  Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty musical Dessa Rose at Trafalgar Studios.

Other theatre credits include the  Perfect Pitch musical, Lift,  Kneehigh Theatre's production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at the Gielgud Theatre;'Deloris Van Cartier' in the UK tour of Jerry Zaks' production of Sister Act; I Can't Sing, Harry Hill and Simon Cowell's  musical, at the London Palladium.  Erivo  is also an accomplished songwriter, having written the song, "Fly Before You Fall," for the 2014 feature film Beyond the Lights. In March 2015, she made her solo concert debut with the show entitled "Hear My Soul" at Kings Place in London.

Danielle Hope & Louisa Lytton join cast of Grease Tour

Danielle Hope will play Sandy opposite The Wanted’s Tom Parker, Darren Day and former EastEnder Louisa Lytton as Rizzo in the cast of next year’s national tour of the musical Grease.

Hope made her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz after winning the ITV  show Over The Rainbow, will take on the role of Sandy opposite former award-winning boy band singer Parker who makes his professional music theatre debut in the iconic role of Danny Zuko.

Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and star of ITV’s The Bill, Lytton will take on the role of tough girl Rizzo with TV personality and singer Darren Day playing Teen Angel at a number of venues. Further casting is to be announced.

Strictly Come Dancing and West End stars in The Golden Age of Dance Gala

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers Anton du Beke and Joanne Clifton will be special guests at The Golden Age of Dance gala at the  Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 13th November hosted by former Strictly contestant Russell Grant.

They will join a cast of West End dancers and performers including Lucy Jane Adcock (Chicago, Starlight Express, Guys and Dolls); Marianne Benedict (Cats, The Wizard of Oz); Darren Bennett (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels); Matthew Croke (Wicked, Singin’ in the Rain); Flora Dawson (White Christmas, Singin’ in the Rain); Charlotte Gooch (Top Hat, Dirty Dancing, Grease); and Genevieve Nicole (The Producers, Chicago). Accompanied by The Novello Orchestra led by Only Men Aloud’s David Mahoney, the performances will feature the timeless music of composers including George and Ira Gershwin.

With choreography by Alan Burkitt (Top Hat, Singin’ in the Rain) who will also perform, The Golden Age of Dance will celebrate the artistry of  Golden Age stars including Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.

Tickets for The Golden Age of Dance

Stiles & Drewe Wind in the Willows Confirmed for Palladium

The new Wind In The Willows musical by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and Olivier Award-winning songwriting team George Stiles and Anthony Drewe based on Kenneth Graham's much-loved classic, has been confirmed to open at the London Palladium on 29th June 2017, with previews from 17th June. It will run for a limited season and is currently booking until 9th September.

Comedian, actor and presenter Rufus Hound will continue to star as Toad in the production which is playing at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton until 20th November following its premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth and a run in Manchester.

Booking details and full casting for the West End run to follow.

Buy Tickets for The Wind in the Willows

Sharon D Clarke and Cornell S John to star in The Life at Southwark next year

Michael Blakemore is to direct the UK premiere of The Life award winning musical which will star Sharon D Clarke (Ghost, Pigs and Dogs) as Sonja and Cornell S John (Porgy and Bess) as Memphis at Southwark Playhouse from 29th March to 29th April 20 with previews from 25th  March. Further casting is to be announced.

The Life is s a thrilling exposé of the darker side of 1980’s New York, The Life is a defiant and heartfelt musical lament for the old Times Square. A world of pimps and prostitutes, innocents and opportunists, it’s a gutsy and gritty joyride filled with both pathos and fun.

Queen and Fleetwood are just trying to get by. New York has hit a moral rock bottom, and opportunity is becoming a scarcity. Queen is now selling herself to anyone with cash in Times Square, while Fleetwood is spending that cash on his nightly fix. Such is a regular story for those in The Life – just ask Sonja, whose market value as a hooker is depleting. It seems that nothing ever improves for those in The Life, but when a mysteriously innocent farm girl named Mary shows up, and Memphis and Joio, the biggest players in town, offer to help Queen out, will things start looking up?

Described by the New York Times as “Broadway’s best kept secret” The Life features a rarely heard score by celebrated composer Cy Coleman (City of Angels, Sweet Charity). The original production of The Life, directed by Michael Blakemore, opened on April 26, 1997. It was nominated for 12 Tony Nominations and 9 Drama Desk Awards, and won three, including Best Musical. 20 years later to the day, Michael Blakemore will be directing the musical again.

On bringing the show to the UK, Blakemore said: "Getting The Life on in London has been an ambition of mine ever since we did it on Broadway. The score is Cy Coleman's masterpiece and we'll be presenting it with the original 11-piece orchestrations.Funny, sharp and extraordinarily poignant, I think it will be something more than just a good night out."

Produced by Amy Anzel and Matt Chisling, the musical will have set and costume by Justin Nardella, choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves, projections by Nina Dunn, lighting by David Howe and musical direction by Tamara Saringer.

Tickets for The Life

Kerry Ellis joining Encore Radio as presenter

Kerry Ellis is to present her own radio show on the recently launched musical theatre station Encore Radio. She will present a weekly three hour show every Saturday between 10:00 am and 1:00pm, where she will be playing her favourite musical songs plus  tracks from her influences including  Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Celine Dione and Michael Ball.

Ellis' work on Broadway and the West End includes Elphaba in Wicked, Nancy in Oliver!, originating the role of Meat in We Will Rock You and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.

She is currently starring in new musical Murder Ballad at the Arts Theatre in London.
Other presenters on Encore radio include Duncan James from pop band Blue and ex-Classic FM DJ Jamie Crick.

Sheena Easton, Clare Halse and Tom Lister lead cast of 42nd Street at Drury Lane

The cast has just been announced for the revival of 42nd Street  at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane next year previewing from 20th March with an opening gala on 4th April.

It includes Grammy Award winning singer Sheena Easton ("9 to 5" and "We've Got Tonight") who is to make West End debut  as Dorothy Brock, the tough Broadway star who fractures her ankle on he eve of the opening night.

Clare Halse (Marjorie May in Gypsy) will play ingénue Peggy Sawyer — who is plucked from the chorus line to take over from the injured Dorothy, and Tom Lister (Carl King in Emmerdale, Calamity Jane and The Water Babies) plays the demanding director racing against time to put on the fictional show titled Pretty Lady. They will be joined by Jasna Ivir, who will play ‘Maggie Jones’, Norman Bowman as ‘Pat Denning’, Stuart Neal as ‘Billy Lawlor’, Graeme Henderson as ‘Andy Lee’, Christopher Howell as ‘Bert Barry’, Bruce Montague as ‘Abner Dillon’, Mark McKerracher as ‘Mac/Doc/Thug’ and Emma Caffrey as ‘Annie’.

With ensemble members  Clare Rickard, Victoria Hay, Leah Harris, Jasmine Kerr, Millie O’Connell, Katy Riches, Gabrielle Lewis Dodson, Daisy Steere, Karli Vale, Sophie Camble, Christina Shand, Courtney George, Zoe Rogers, Jessica Keable, Sara Bispham, Lisa Dent, Katharine Pearson, Kirsty Fuller, Rebecca Herszenhorn, Charlene Ford, Dylan Mason, Philip Bertioli, Luke George, Ronan Burns, Eddie Myles, Ryan Gover, Sam Murphy, Freddie Clements, Zac Watts, Greg Bernstein, Kristen Gaetz, Charlotte Anne Steen, Gabrielle Cocca, Kate Ivory Jordan, Josh Andrews, Martin McCarthy.

TV Broadcast date for 2016 Royal Variety Show featuring An American in Paris, The Girls and Dreamgirls

Updated 4th December:  This year's Royal Variety show will be shown on ITV from 7.30pm - 10.05pm on Tuesday 13th December 

David Walliams has just been announced as the host of this year's Royal Variety Performance which takes place at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on 6th December and is recorded  to be broadcast on ITV. Walliams said he was "very honoured and excited" to be hosting the show for a second time. "I was lucky enough to host back in 2012 so will be looking forward to another fabulous evening with huge talent."

Sting, Robbie Williams, Barry Gibb and Emeli Sande are among the acts who will be performing in front of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

This year's musical theatre line up includes shows  opening in London next year including  An American In Paris and Dreamgirls with  Gary Barlow performing with the cast from his new musical The Girls.

Also performing on the night will be this year's Britain's Got Talent winner, magician Lance Corporal Richard Jones, and dance troupe Diversity, who previously won the show, the cast of Cirque Du Soleil's The Beatles Love show.. McFly singer Tom Fletcher will read from his book The Christmasaurus and comedians Joe Lycett, Alan Davies and Rob Beckett are also on the line-up.

Kerry Ellis Christmas Concert

Club 11 London and the Hippodrome Casino are thrilled to announce a Christmas concert with Kerry Ellis on 20th December 2016 at 8:00pm   at London's Hippodrome Casino.

We well as playing leading roles in musical theatre, Kerry has achieved chart-topping success as a recording artist  with her debut album Anthems. 

Curently appearing in Murder Ballad at the Arts Theatre,Kerry originated the role of Meat, in Queen’s We Will Rock You and was the first British Elphaba in the West End musical, Wicked which then immediately transferred to Broadway and she played Elphaba at the Gershwin Theatre for 6 months.

Her many other leading role credits include Nancy in Oliver! at Drury Lane, Eliza Doolittle My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon and Fantine in Les Miserables.

At the end of 2012, she starred in the Arena tour of Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds alongside Jason Donovan and Ricky Wilson. 

Buy tickets for Christmas with Kerry Ellis

The Jungle Book in Concert

Disney in Concert: The Jungle Book is the ultimate symphonic cinema concert, featuring the iconic score by the Sherman brothers and unforgettable songs like ‘Trust In Me’, ‘That’s What Friends Are For (The Vulture Song)’ and of course t ‘The Bare Necessities’.

The Jungle Book in Concert  takes place at 14:30 and 18:30 at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday  26th Mar 2017

Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel, Disney’s 1967 animated masterpiece, The Jungle Book, is one of the world’s most loved films.  This is the UK premiere event of this  heart-warming story and memorable movie soundtrack in this. The film is shown in HD on a giant screen, accompanied by a live orchestra, choir and guest singers.

Tickets for The Jungle Book In Concert

Beautiful Carole King Musical to tour next year

Producers (Paul Blake, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and Mike Bosner in association with Michael Harrison) have just announced that Beautiful - The Carole King Musical is to tour the UK,  opening at the Bradford Alhambra on 9th September 2017. Tickets go on sale soon.

The producers of the show said “We are truly thrilled that Beautiful will be touring the UK next year. The response from audiences in London has, and continues to be amazing. We know that the rest of the country will take this great show with the most wonderful songs to its heart”.

The show tells the true story of singer and musician Carole King who wrote hits including "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman", "You've Got A Friend", "It Might As Well Rain Until September", "Up On The Roof", "You've Lost That Loving Feeling", "Take Good Care of My Baby" , "Locomotion" and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place"and her rise to stardom as one of the most successful solo acts in pop music history.
 

The musical opened in the West End in 2015 and is currently booking until July 2017  at the Aldwych Theatre with a cast change due at the end of this month. . The book is by Douglas McGrath with words and music by Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

Casting announced for Stiles & Drewe Soho Cinders

Casting has been announced for the Union Theatre's production of Soho Cinders by George Stiles, Anthony Drewe and Elliot Davis which runs  from 23rd November to 22nd December 2016 (opening night  25th November). Directed by Will Keith, the production will be choreographed by Joanne McShane with lighting design by Iain Dennis. It is produced by Sasha Regan for Union Productions.

The full cast will include Josh Lewindon (Robbie), Emily Deamer (Velcro), Lewis Asquith (James Prince), Chris Coleman (Lord Billingham), Michaela Stern (Clodagh), Natalie Harman (Dana), Samuel Haughton (William George), Lowri Walton (Marylin), Meg Matthews, Oliver Bingham, Lance Collins, Harry Wright, Luke Byrne, Matt Morris, Charis Murray, Chloe Polson Davis and Jade Bailey.

Soho Cinders was first showcased in 2008 with  a gala concert production in 2011. It received its world premiere at London's Soho Theatre in 2012.

Stiles and Drewe's  reworking of the Cinderella story is set in the heart of London's Soho. When impoverished launderette owner Robbie becomes romantically involved with engaged Mayoral candidate James Prince, his step-sisters become the least of his problems! James and Robbie’s worlds collide forcing them to fight for their own fairy-tale ending in this hilarious, satirical twist on the classic Cinderella story. The potent mix of politics, sex scandals and true love come together in this contemporary musical with an infections score that you’ll be humming long past the stroke of midnight!

Tickets for Soho Cinders

Cast changes at Beautiful Carole King Musical later this month

On 28th November Matthew Seadon-Young and Barbara Drennan will join the West End cast of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical to play Gerry Goffin (Carole King’s husband and song-writing partner) and Genie Klein (King’s mother) respectively.

Cassidy Janson continues in the title role as well as Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, a role for which she won the 2015 Olivier for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical and Ian McIntosh as song-writer Barry Mann. Joseph Prouse, who recently joined the company, plays Donnie Kirshner (music publisher and producer).

The nwq cast will also include Gavin Alex, Georgie Ashford, Koko Basigara, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe,Ashford Campbell, Treyc Cohen, Natasha Cottriall, Michael Duke, Matthew Gonsalves, Jammy Kasongo, Leigh Lothian and Earl R. Perkins who play iconic musical performers and band members of the era and swings Derek Aidoo, Rosie Heath, Dominic Hodson, Emma Louise Jones, Jessica Joslin, Vicki Manser, David O’Mahony and Jaime Tait.

Chistina Bianco O Come All Ye Divas Xmas Show

Star of Forbidden Broadway in New York and London,  Christina Bianco is premiering her new festive show O Come, All Ye Divas at the Charing Cross Theatre for just 15 performances from 20th December to 7th January

Bianco's ‘Diva’ impressions include tlegendary performers Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Edith Piaf , Idina Menzel, Adele, Britney Spears and Ariana Grande.

She will be adding  her own distinctive spin to some Christmas numbers featuring classic renditions and unlikely interpretations of  holiday tunes with hilarious sketches, interactive games, and a fabulous band, 

Bianco made her West End debut in Forbidden Broadway at the Vaudeville Theatre in 2014 and recently completed a well-received UK tour of her one-woman show, Me Myself and Everyone Else.

Tickets for O Come, All Ye Divas

Full cast announced for Saint Joan starring Gemma Arterton

Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Josie Rourke has just announced the full cast for her revival of Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan. The production will star Gemma Arterton in the title role with Matt Bardock, Richard Cant, Hadley Fraser and Elliot Levey. They will be joined by Fisayo Akinade,, Niall Buggy, Hadley Fraser, Simon Holland Roberts, Arthur Hughes, Rory Keenan, Syrus Lowe, Guy Rhys and Jo Stone-Fewings.

The production will run at the Donmar Warehouse from 9th December - 18th February (press night 19th December).

Saint Joan will be broadcast live to cinemas around the world, directly from the Donmar Warehouse on Thursday 16th February 2017. This will be the fourth Donmar production to be screened in cinemas, and follows the acclaimed productions of Christopher Hampton’s Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Coriolanus starring Tom Hiddleston, both directed by Rourke.