Casting news for Wicked in London

From Monday 20th January 2020, Nicholas McLean (currently Gary Coleman in UK Tour of Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon) will take on the part of Boq in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, with Idriss Kargbo  playing his final performance on 9th November 2019, with George Ure then taking over in the role for two months from Monday 11th November 2019 -Saturday 18th January 2020.

McLean will join a cast led by Nikki Bentley, Helen Woolf and Alistair Brammer with  Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible), Andy Hockley (The Wizard), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Natasha Ferguson (Nessarose, maternity cover for Carina Gillespie), Laura Pick (Standby for Elphaba) and Lisa-Anne Wood (Standby for Glinda).

Roger Bart to play Doc Brown in new Back to the Future musical

More casting has been announced for Back to the Future the Musical. Joining the previously announced Olly Dobson in the show will be Hugh Coles as George McFly, Rosanna Hyland  as Lorraine Baines and Cedric Neal as Goldie Wilson. Tony Award-winner Roger Bart (The Stepford Wives)  makes his UK stage debut as Doc Brown in the show.

Back to The Future - The Musical will open at the Manchester Opera House on 20th February  running until 17th May  2020 for a strictly limited 12-week season, ahead of a planned transfer to the West End.

Hugh Coles graduated from LAMDA in 2017 and landed one of the lead roles in last year's British summer movie The Festival. He most recently finished working on the BBC series Defending the Guilty, playing young barrister 'Liam' alongside Will Sharpe and Katherine Parkinson. Hugh's other screen credits include Urban Myths: The Mysterious Disappearance of Agatha Christie for Sky Arts and the final series of Doc Martin for ITV.

Rosanna Hyland's theatre credits include 'Rosalie Mullins' in School Of Rock The Musical (Gillian Lynne), 'Alice' in I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road (Jermyn Street), 'Betty Hapschatt' in Shock Treatment (King's Head), 'Hope Cladwell' in Urinetown (Apollo), Shrek The Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Sister Act The Musical (London Palladium) and Carousel (The Savoy).

Cedric Neal most recently was a semi-finalist on The Voice UK 2019 Series. He made his West End debut as 'Berry Gordy' in the original London cast of Motown The Musical. Neal was featured as 'The Arbiter' in the first revival of Chess at London's Coliseum. He can currently be seen as 'Willie' in the Soho Theatre premiere of The View Upstairs. Other London theatre includes the critically acclaimed concert staging of Martin Smith's musical King, portraying Martin Luther King Jr., Cy Coleman's revue Rhythm Of Life (St. James's Theatre), and 'Sporting Life' in the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Olivier nominated production of Porgy And Bess. Broadway credits include the Tony nominated After Midnight and the 2012 Tony Award-winning revival of Porgy And Bess. Television credits include The Good Guys (Fox) and Seasons 4 & 5 of the Emmy Award-winning drama Friday Night Lights (NBC-Universal). Film credits include Lost In London, which was written and produced by and starred Woody Harrelson.

New November cast announced for Hamilton in London's West End

The new cast for the West End production of Hamilton has been announced. From 18th  November, Karl Queensborough -  formerly the alternate in the show - will  play the title role of Alexander Hamilton, with Allyson Ava-Brown and Jason Pennycooke continuing in their roles as Angelica Schuyler and Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson respectively.

They are joined by Emilie Louise Israel as Peggy Schuyler/ Maria Reynolds, Trevor Dion Nicholas as George Washington, Simon-Anthony Rhoden as Aaron Burr, Sharon Rose as Eliza Hamilton, Emile Ruddock as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Carl Spencer as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and from 4th November 2019 Gavin Spokes will play King George. Nuno Queimado will play the role of Alexander Hamilton at certain performances.

The cast is completed by Jade Albertsen, Curtis Angus, Robson Broad, Ashley Daniels, Lisa Darnell, Kelly Downing, Lydia Fraser, Dujonna Gift-Simms, Manaia Glassey-Ohlson, Joe Griffiths-Brown, Gregory Haney, Peter Houston, Barney Hudson, DeAngelo Jones, Jake Halsey-Jones, Phoebe Liberty Jones, Travis Kerry, Natasha Leaver, Aaron Lee Lambert, Sinead Long, Louis Mackrodt, Jay Perry, Alexzandra Sarmiento and Lindsey Tierney.

The show is currently booking until the end of March 2020.

More casting news for Goldilocks at the Palladium

More casting news has just been revealed for Goldilocks and the Three Bears which is this year's Palladium Panto opening on 7th December for a five week run until  Sunday 12 January 2020.

Joining the previously announced One Show and Countryfile host  Matt Baker, as Joey the Clown, Paul O'Grady and Julian Clary as the bad and good ringmasters Gary Wilmot, Paul Zerdin and Nigel Havers as Dame Betty Barnum, Silly Billy and Daddy Bear respectively are Sophie Isaacs  (Cruel Intentions the Musical  Heather McNamara in Heathers, Kinky Boots and Made in Dagenham)in the title role as Goldilocks. Janine Duvitski (Benidorm, One Foot in the Grave) as Mummy Bear and Lauren Stroud (Strictly Ballroom, Scrooge, Top Hat and Hairspray) as Baby Bear. 

Unusually the story  will take place in a circus setting following Dame Betty Barnum and her daughter Goldilocks, whose circus is under threat from an evil rival circus owner .

 

More casting news for A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic

Rebecca Trehearn and Andrew Langtree are to  join Paterson Joseph in A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic from 23rd November to 18th  January with  Maria Omakinwa, Gloria Onitiri, Nick Hart, Myra McFadyen, Steven Miller, James Staddon, Samuel Townsend, Steven Miller, Fred Haig, Hollie Edwin, Kwêsi Edman and Melissa Allan  also in the cast, plus  Rayhaan Kufuor-Gray, Lara Mehmet, Lenny Rush and Eleanor Stollery sharing the role of Tiny Tim.

The adaptation by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) will be directed by artistic director Matthew Warchus. Set and costumes are by Rob Howell, with composition and arrangement by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker, movement by Lizzi Gee, casting by Jessica Ronane and associate direction by Joe Austin and Josh Seymour.
 

Buy tickets for A Christmas Carol

Mazz Murray & Jerome Pradon join Cinderella cast at Cadogan Hall

Mazz Murray is Madame and Jérôme Pradon is playing Sebastian in the UK premiere of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA in concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 20 October 2020.

They join the previously announced Christine Allado (Prince of Egypt, Hamilton and In The Heights) who will star as Ella with Jodie Jacobs (Unexpected Joy, Bananaman and Lizzie) as Charlotte, Dean John-Wilson (Cruel Intentions, The King & I and Aladdin) as Jean-Michel, Cedric Neal (Back To The Future, The View UpStairs and Motown The Musical) as Lord Pinkleton, Dianne Pilkington (Only Fools and Horses, Young Frankenstein and Wicked) as Marie, Zoë Rainey (Kiss Me Kate, An American in Paris and MAMMA MIA!) as Gabrielle and Jac Yarrow (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Winner of the 2019 Stage Debut Award) as Prince Topher.

Joining them from the LMTO chorus are Christopher Cameron, Charlotte Clitherow, Abigail Earnshaw, Benjamin Froehlich, Charlotte Kennedy, Richard James-King, Jade Marvin, Matt McDonald, Chris McGuigan, Mia Michaud, Sam Oladeinde, Michael Robert-Lowe, Justine Saville, Katie Shearman, Joe Thompson-Oubari and Lizzie Wofford.

Mazz Murray is currently starring as Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA! at the Novello Theatre in the West End. Her previous theatre credits include nine years as Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Mama Morton in Chicago (Phoenix Theatre), Tanya in Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre), Mabel in Fame (Victoria Palace), Grandma Bertha in Pippin (Bridewell Theatre) and Dusty Springfield in A Girl Called Dusty (Duke of York's Theatre). On television, she has appeared in EastEnders and Footballers' Wives, and on film in John Boorman's Hope & Glory and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. She has toured with Earth Wind & Fire and Billy Ocean as part of the band Woman the Band, and with Il Divo as a solo artist. Her debut solo album, Midnight Mazz, was released in 2018.

Jérôme Pradon has had a huge amount of success as an actor both in the UK and his native country, France. His UK theatre credits include Chris in the original production of Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Leon Czolgosz in Assassins (Derby Playhouse), Guillaume in the original production of Martin Guerre (Prince Edward Theatre), Aragorn in Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), the Man in Whistle Down the Wind (Aldwych Theatre) and Javert in Les Misérables (Palace Theatre). Jerome received an Olivier Award Nomination for his roles in Pacific Overtures (Donmar Warehouse). Most recently, he appeared as Ivan in Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse Theatre), Louis Braille in Braille (Charing Cross Theatre) and George in Aspects of Love (Hope Mill Theatre/Southwark Playhouse).

Cast and tour details announced for Sting and Kate Prince's Message in a Bottle

Cast and creative information have been announced for Kate Prince and Sting's Message in a Bottle,  premieres at the Peacock Theatre in from 6th February 2020

Combining Prince's hip hop dance with music by Sting, the show tells the story of a village that is besieged, forcing its inhabitants to flee. Songs featured in the show from Sting's back catalogue include "Every Breath You Take", "Roxanne", "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", "Walking On The Moon", "Englishman in New York", "Shape of My Heart" and "Fields of Gold".

Appearing in the show will be  Lukas McFarlane as Leto, Tommy Franzen as Mati and Natasha Gooden as Tana. Lizzie Gough, Kino McHugh, Michael Naylor, Aaron Nuttall, Delano Spenrath, Annie Edwards, Nestor Garcia Gonzalez and Gavin L Vincent are also cast, with Samuel Baxter, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Anna Holmström, Emma 'Shortbread' Houston, Ajani Johnson-Goffe, Daniella May, Daniel Phung and Hannah Sandilands making their ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company debuts in the show.

Alex Lacamoire, who has worked on the likes of Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Fosse/Verdon, will join the creative team as music supervisor, creating new arrangements for the show. Music production and additional arrangements are from Martin Terefe, with design by Ben Stones, video design by Andrzej Goulding, costume by Anna Fleischle and lighting by Natasha Chivers.

Sound design is by David McEwan, music co-production and mixing is by Oskar Winberg and dramaturgy is by Lolita Chakrabarti.

After its run at The Peacock, Message In A Bottle tours to Theatre de la Ville Luxembourg (26 to 28 March), The Lowry, Salford (1 to 4 April) and Birmingham Hippodrome (8 to 11 April), with further international dates to be confirmed.

Michael Ball Live From The Savoy In Aid Of BBC Children In Need

Michael Ball will be performing his BBC Radio 2 show live from the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End on Sunday 18th November, in aid of BBC Children in Need,along with special guests Alfie Boe, Boyzone and the Kingdom Choir .

 

After the show, Michael will be hosting an intimate lunch at theSavoy Hotel. Joining Michael at the lunch, and hosting their own tables, will be a selection of Radio 2’s finest presenters and some of the guests from Michael’s show. It will undoubtedly be an entertaining afternoon raising money for BBC Children In Need 

The day will run as follows:

Michael Ball Show

• 10.30am Arrive at the Savoy Theatre

• 11.00am 1.00pm Michael Ball Live from the Savoy Theatre

Michael Ball’s Children In Need Lunch (limited tickets)

• 1.15 pm Champagne Reception (lunch ticket holders only)

• 2.00 pm Children In Need Lunch (lunch ticket holders only)
  Intimate live performance from Michael
  Children in Need Auctions

• 5.00pm Carriages

Dress code for drinks and lunch: Smart Casual

Tickets for Michael Ball Live From The Savoy In Aid Of BBC Children In Need

Sandra Marvin new Becky in Waitress the Musical

Sandra Marvin has been cast as the new Becky in Waitress in the West End taking over from Marisha Wallace who leaves the show on 10th October.

Marvin most recently appeared on screen in ITV’s Emmerdale as Jessie Dingle. She has previously appeared in Committee and City of Angels at The Donmar Warehouse and starred in several West End productions including Showboat as Queenie, Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle, Porgy & Bess and Ragtime and many more. Her wide-ranging career also includes performing with Kate Bush in concert and on her live album Before The Dawn.

She will have her first performance on 17th  October joining a cast currently led by Lucie Jones as Jenna, Laura Baldwin as Dawn, David Hunter as Dr Pomatter, Joe Sugg as Ogie, Tamlyn Henderson as Earl and Andrew Boyer as Old Joe.

Waitress is booking until 28th  March 2020.

Heathers the Musical to tour next year

Heathers the Musical, which had its UK premiere at The Other Palace before transferring to Theatre Royal Haymarket in September 2018, will return for a new tour in June 2020.

The musical is is based on the 1988 cult movie that starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater and is about a teenage misfit who gets taken under the wings of three beautiful people called the Heathers, but until things take a bloodsoaked twist.

The musical is directed by acclaimed American screen and stage director Andy Fickman, with choreography by Thriller Live’s Gary Lloyd, design by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound by Dan Samson.

The UK premiere starred Carrie Hope Fletcher as Veronica Sawyer alongside Jodie Steele, T'Shan Williams and Sophie Isaacs as the three titular Heathers. Casting and full tour dates are to be announced very soon.

More Les Misérables casting for the Sondheim Theatre and on tour

More  casting has been revealed for Les Misérables when opens the  renamed Sondheim Theatre in December.

Joining the previously announced cast, led by Jon Robyns, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Shan Ako and Bradley Jaden, will be Harry Apps as Marius. Apps made his professional debut in the touring production of the show, and will now take on the part in the West End from 18th  December.
 

New casting  for the tour of the show visiting  venues across the UK and Ireland. From 18th November, Felix Mosse (Aspects of Love) will take on the role of Marius, with Frances Mayli McCann (The Great Wave) playing Eponine. 

Craig Revel Horwood announces his All Balls and Glitter tour

Choreographer, performer and Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood is to  embark on his debut solo tour around the UK in spring 2020.

On his All Balls and Glitter tour he will talk about his life – from Australia to the West End to the BBC – and perform some of the music that has been the soundtrack to his career.

Craig's professional training began in Australia, where he appeared in productions including West Side Story and La Cage Aux Folles. He then joined the Lido Du Paris as a dancer and principal singer at the Moulin Rouge before joining the UK tour of Cats.

He appeared in  Miss Saigon and was an original cast member of Crazy For You. He has been nominated for an Olivier Award for his choreography of Spend Spend Spend and My One and Only with  other credits including the UK tour of Sister Act and film Paddington 2.  He continues to perform on stage, as Miss Hannigan in Annie both in the West End and on tour, and in pantomime. for ten years

The All Balls and Glitter tour will open at Weston-super-Mare Playhouse on 22nd May 2020, before playing Coventry, Wolverhampton, Milton Keynes, Watford, High Wycombe, Crawley, Guildford, Swindon, Stoke-on-Trent, Salford, Yeovil, Poole, Torquay, Cheltenham, Leeds, Hull, Blackpool, Southend and Peterborough  currently finishing in the Isle of Wight on 4th  July.

Tickets go on sale on 4th  October.