Saturday, February 10

More casting news for new Wild About You Musical


Jamie Muscato
will be joining Eric McCormack, Rachel Tucker, Oliver Tompsett and Tori Allen-Martin in the new musical in concert Wild About You, which is making its World Premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th and 26th March.

Wild About You is a new musical with music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy and book by Eric Holmes.

When Olivia finds herself in the hospital with limited memory, she must dig through her messy past to figure out which of the loves of her life is her emergency contact, only to understand that her desire to make everyone happy has left no one happy. Through a series of realizations, she reclaims her right to be flawed and loved in all her human complexity. However, as she regains clarity, tragedy strikes, but that is when Olivia literally moves Heaven and Earth to reconnect with her greatest love – her son.

Thursday, February 1

Full cast joining Jodie Prenger as Rose in Gypsy in Concert

The Hope Mill Theatre has announced a one-night concert production of Gypsy, featuring Jodie Prenger as Rose on 25th  February 2024, at the Opera House in Manchester. The concert aims to raise funds for Hope Mill Theatre’s ‘Hope for the Future’ campaign,  to secure the future life of the award-winning Manchester venue.

Directed by Joseph Houston and choreographed by William Whelton, co-founders of Hope Mill, the production will explore a new model for Hope Mill productions and aims to bring their work to a larger scale.

Gypsy, a musical fable with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, tells the story of Rose (Prenger) and her daughters navigating the showbiz world. The show includes well-known songs such as “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”, “Together (Wherever We Go)”, “You Gotta Get a Gimmick”, and “Rose’s Turn”.

Joining Prenger on stage will be Tom Lister (as Herbie), Grace Mouat (as Louise), May Tether (as June), Divina De Campo (as Mazeppa), Harriet Thorpe (as Tessie Tura), Liz Fletcher (as Electra), Idriss Kargbo (as Tulsa), Peter Gunn (as Pop/Mr Goldstone) and Angela Lonsdale (as Miss Cratchitt), Halle Brady (as Baby June), and Amelia Munshi (as Baby Louise).

Completing the company are students from Laine Theatre Arts – Jacob Morrish, Josh Egan, Harvey Pearce, Nat Ingham, Cameron Boulter, Holly Henderson, Ynez Williams, Aisling Sharkey, Georgia Clements, and Eloise Knowles – alongside students from Stagebox Theatre Academy..

 Tickets are now on sale for Gypsy 


Friday, January 26

Todrick Hall joins cast for new Burlesque Musical



Burlesque is a  glamorous, gritty and outrageously fun new musical based on the much-loved hit movie. It  will run at Manchester Opera House from 13th-29th June 2024.
 
Jess Folley, known for winning The Voice Kids UK and X Factor – The Band, is set to take on the role of Ali in the stage adaptation of hit film Burlesque, originally starring Christina Aguilera. Joining her will be Todrick Hall as Sean and It’s a Sin star Michael Mather as Jackson with George Maguire as Vince, Billie-Kay as Sophia, B Terry as Georgie, Jess Qualter as Daphne, Yasmin Harrison as Brenda/dance captain, Lily Wang as Fifi, Hollie-Ann Lowe as Summer, and Alessia McDermott in the ensemble.
 
Tickets for the Glasgow (Wed 11 Sep - Sat 28 Sep) and second Manchester season (Thu 03 Oct - Sat 02 Nov) have just gone on sale.w Further casting information is to be announced on 5th February.

Discover a club like no other...a place beneath the city lights where the sequins sparkle, seduction shimmers, and a life can change in the flick of a feather boa.

When Ali heads to the bright lights of New York in search of her long-lost mother, she finds herself drawn into a dazzling underground world where the beat of the music and the heat of the dance moves will change her life forever. Among this unlikely family of misfits, dreamers and schemers, Ali will unwittingly find her real voice, discover her talent, and find where she really, truly belongs.

Written by Steven Antin, with additional material by Kate Wetherhead, and directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, Burlesque The Musical is a scintillating journey of self-discovery that absolutely sizzles with songs by Christina Aguilera, Sia and Diane Warren, alongside additional songs by Jess Folley and Todrick Hall.  

Buy presale tickets for Burlesque

 

 

 

 

Friday, January 19

Oliver Tompsett and Eric McCormack to star in Wild About You


Oliver Tompsett
  is to join Will & Grace star Eric McCormack in the world premiere of the musical Wild About You at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in concert on 25th and 26th March 2024, with tickets now on sale.

Tompsett´s many musical theatre credits include  & JulietWe Will Rock You and Rock of Ages, Pretty WomanKinky BootsGuys and Dolls and Wicked. Emmy Award winner McCormack’s previous credits include The Cottage, The Best Man and The Music Man. Additional casting will be announcesd shortly.

Wild About You features music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy (who has starred on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Paradise Square and Jesus Christ Superstar) and a book by Eric Holmes (The Good Fight). The concert performances will be directed and choreographed by Nick Winston (Bonnie and Clyde) with  casting by Harry Blumenau.

The show follows Olivia, who finds herself in the hospital with limited memory, she must dig through her messy past to figure out which of the loves of her life is her emergency contact, only to understand that her desire to make everyone happy has left no one happy. Through a series of realizations, she reclaims her right to be flawed and loved in all her human complexity. However, as she regains clarity, tragedy strikes, but that’s when Olivia literally moves Heaven and Earth to reconnect with her greatest love - her son.

A concept album for the show was released online last autumn, with notable performers such as Katharine McPhee, Alex Newell, Jackie Burns, Jenn Colella, Joaquina Kalukango, Jessie Mueller, Lea Salonga, and others involved. The album is produced by two-time Tony Award-winner Brian Spector and Daniel Edmonds, who also serves as the album’s music supervisor/director, arranger and orchestrator.


Thursday, January 18

Full casting for The Addams Family with Ramin Karimloo, Michelle Visage and Lesley Joseph in concert at The London Palladium



 
The Addams Family  coming to the West End in concert for two nights only at The London Palladium on 12th and 13th February 2024,

The show is to be led by Michelle Visage as Morticia Addams, Ramin Karimloo as Gomez Addams and Lesley Joseph as Grandma with  Sam Buttery (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Uncle Fester, Nicholas Mclean (Annie Get Your Gun) as Pugsley Addams, Dickon Gough (As You Like It) as Lurch, Sean Kingsley (Patriots) as Mal, Ryan Kopel (Disney’s Newsies) as Lucas, Kara Lane (Rebecca) as Alice and  Chumisa Dornford-May (Aspects of Love) as Wednesday Addams.

In the ensemble are Leeroy Boone (The Phantom of the Opera), Abigail Brodie (The Wind in the Willows), Gavin Eden (Hairspray), Chloe Gentles (Mamma Mia! ), Katie Hutton (Cats), Matthew Ives (Back to the Future), Jessica Keable (42nd Street) and Castell Parker (Sister Act).

Following the  dysfunctional family  the piece’s book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the characters created by Charles Addams.

The show will be directed by Matthew White, with choreography by Alistair David, production design by Diego Pitarch, orchestrations by Richard Beadle, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Richard Brooker and casting by Jane Deitch.

Buy tickets for The Addams Family

Thursday, December 14

More casting announced for Opening Night starring Sheridan Smith


More casting has just been announced for the new musical  Opening Night which will star Sheridan Smith  at the Gielgud Theatre from 6 March until 27 July 2024.  The new musical  is based on John Cassavetes’ 1977 film which follows a theatre company's preparations to stage a major new play on Broadway. But drama ignites behind the scenes when their leading lady: an alcoholic actress who is concerned about aging and haunted by the ghost of one of her deceased fans which forces everybody to deliver the performance of their lives. Joining Sheridan as Myrtle will be Hadley Fraser as Manny, Shira Haas as Nancy, Nicola Hughes as Sarah, Amy Lennox as Dorothy and John Marquez as David. with further casting to be announced. 

Hadley Fraser’s many West End credits include most recently The Lehman Trilogy at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, City of Angels at the Garrick and Donmar Theatres, Young Frankenstein, also at the Garrick Theatre and Javert in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre. Hadley starred at Raoul in the 25th Anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and Grantaire in the 25th Anniversary of Les Misérables at the O2. On Broadway he created the role of Tiernan in The Pirate Queen.

Shira Haas garnered international critical acclaim for her role in the Netflix series Unorthodox, for which she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series and was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, becoming the first Israeli to be nominated for an acting Primetime Emmy Award. Shira won the Tribeca Film Festival Award for Best International Actress for her performance in the film Asia. Additional credits include this year's Netflix series Bodies, the international hit series Shtisel, and Niki Caro's film The Zookeeper's Wife. Shira will next star in Marvel’s fourth Captain America film, Captain America: New World Order. Opening Night will mark Shira’s West End debut.

Nicola Hughes is a double Olivier Award nominee for Best Actress in a Musical for her starring roles in Fosse at the Prince of Wales Theatre and Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre. Her other West End credits include Velma Kelly in Chicago and Lola in Damn Yankees, both at the Adelphi Theatre and The Acid Queen in the original London company of Tommy at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Other theatre credits include Simply Heavenly at the Young Vic and Trafalgar Studios, Allelujah! at The Bridge Theatre, Caroline or Change at Chichester Festival Theatre and Shug Avery in the original London company of The Color Purple at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Nicola most recently appeared at The Witch in Into the Woods at the Theatre Royal Bath, for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Performance at this year’s UK Theatre Awards.

Amy Lennox recently starred as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. She received an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her portrayal of Lauren in the West End production of Kinky Boots. Her other credits include Ellie in the London premiere of the David Bowie and Enda Walsh musical Lazarus. She was in the original West End cast of the musical Legally Blonde and created the role of Doralee in the original UK production of 9 to 5 The Musical.

 John Marquez recently played Alfred Doolittle in Pygmalion at the Old Vic. He has also appeared at the Old Vic in The American Clock and Flea in her Ear. His many other theatre credits include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre, Privates on Parade at the Noël Coward Theatre, Ragtime at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The Taming of the Shrew for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Anniversary at the Garrick Theatre and The Emperor Jones, Market Boy and Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads, all at the National Theatre. John is best known to TV audiences as PC Joseph Penhale in the hit ITV series Doc Martin.

Thursday, December 7

Casting for the London premiere of Cruel Intentions

 

Casting for the London premiere of Cruel Intentions which  is based on the cult 1999 movie by Roger Kumble includes Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Six) and Daniel Bravo (Witness for the Prosecution) lead the cast as Kathryn and Sebastian the manipulative step-siblings, with Abbie Budden (Peter Pan, TikTok star) as Annette and Rose Galbraith (Old Friends) as Cecile.

Completing the line-up are Josh Barnett (Newsies, Last 5 Years) as Blaine, Jess Buckby (42nd Street, Anything Goes) as Ms Bunny Caldwell / Dr Greenbaum, Nickcolia King-N’Da (RSC) as Ronald and Barney Wilkinson (Bonnie & Clyde, Bat out of Hell) as Greg, with further casting to be announced.

 The show runs at The Other Palace  for 14 weeks from 11th January-14 April 2024

Josh Barnett (Blaine Tuttle/Court Reynolds) was Race in Newsies (Troubador Theatre), alternate Jamie in The Last 5 Years (international tour), swing in Anything Goes (Barbican), and Rodger in Grease (UK tour).

Daniel Bravo (Sebastian Valmont) was 1st cover Leonard Vole in Witness For The Prosecution (County Hall), George Holly in Suddenly Last Summer (The English Theatre Frankfurt), Patrick in Elegies for
Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (King’s Head Theatre) and Luke in Speak (Paines Plough).

Jess Buckby (Mrs. Bunny Caldwell/Dr. Greenbaum) was Ann Reilly in 42nd Street (Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris), Angel (Virtue) & understudy Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Barbican/UK tour), Mimsie in
Funny Girl (Théâtre Marigny, Paris), 1st cover Morticia in The Addams Family (UK tour).

Abbie Budden (Annette Hargrove) was Tiger Lil in Peter Pan (Capitol Theatre) and has gained 1.5m followers on TikTok through a series of hugely popular self-written and performed comedy sketches.

Rose Galbraith (Cecile Caldwell/Marci Greenbaum) was in Sondheim’s Old Friends (Gielgud Theatre) and Maria Friedman and Friends: Legacy (Menier Chocolate Factory) and High Society (West Green House Opera). On TV she was in Dalgliesh: The Murder Room (C5).

Nickcolia King-N’Da (Ronald Clifford) was Simon Chachava in The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Michael Grandage Company, Rose Theatre Kingston), Boy/Myself in Boys (Barbican), Shakie in The Death of a Black Man (Hampstead Theatre) and Venice Preserv’d and The Provoked Wife (at the RSC). He recently filmed two upcoming movies, Dali and Monique.

Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Kathryn Merteuil) was Catherine Of Aragon in Six (Vaudeville). Her other West End shows include Alline Bullock/Tina Turner in Tina, The Tina Turner Story, Bat Out of Hell for which she won a nomination for Best Understudy in the 2018 West End Wilma Awards; and The Book of Mormon. She was also Rizzo in Grease (UK tour).

Barney Wilkinson (Greg) was alternate Clyde in Bonnie & Clyde (Garrick/Arts Theatre), alternate Strat in Bat Out of Hell (Dominion), Jack in Into The Woods, directed by Terry Gilliam (Theatre Royal Bath), Adam/Artie Green in Sunset Boulevard (The Curve UK tour & international tour), Young Gideon in Sting’s The Last Ship (Toronto). On TV  he was in Dr Who, Grantchester and Father Brown. He recently played Joe Buck in the workshop of Midnight Cowboy, directed by Nick Winston.

 

 

 

Wednesday, December 6

First casting news for 2024 tour of Calendar Girls Musical


First casting news for the 2024 leg of the tour of Calendar Girls the musical is that it will include Laurie Brett (EastEnders)/Annie, Helen Pearson (Hollyoaks)/Celia, Samantha Seager (Coronation Street)/Chris, Maureen Nolan (The Nolans, Blood Brothers)/Ruth, Lyn Paul (The New Seekers, Blood Brothers)/Jessie and Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle’s War)/Cora who are joined by Liz Carney (Marie), Colin R Campbell (John), Andrew Tuton (Rod), Jayne Ashley and Victoria Hay.

It restarts  at Bromley in January

Sunday, December 3

Julian Clary to play Herod at more Jesus Christ Superstar tour dates

photo by Paul Coltas

Julian Clary has confirmed additional performances as Herod  in the Jesus Christ Superstar tour next year.

He is now due to perform during a selection of dates in Bromley in late February, Bristol in mid-March, Southampton in late March and Llandudno and Southend in early July. At each venue  Clary will perform from Thursdays to Saturdays.




Friday, November 24

WICKED ANNOUNCES 2024/5 LONDON CAST



WICKED  have just announced that they will welcome Michael Fenton Stevens (The Wizard), Graham Kent (Doctor Dillamond), and  former cast member Laura Harrison (Standby for Elphaba) to London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre from Tuesday 12th March 2024.

Mark Curry (The Wizard), Steven Pinder (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba), Yuki Abe, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Fergus Dale, Nicola Espallardo, Danny Fogarty, Ross Harmon, Harry Mills, Daniel Parrott, Christine Tucker, and Jaydon Vijn  all depart the company on Sunday 10th March 2024.

Alexia Khadime (Elphaba), Lucy St. Louis (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Caitlin Anderson (Nessarose), Joe Thompson-Oubari (Boq), Lisa-Anne Wood (Standby for Glinda), Conor Ashman, Jessica Aubrey, Joshua Clemetson, Effie Rae Dyson, Kate Leiper, Jemima Loddy, Joshua Lovell, Rory Maguire, PaddyJoe Martin, Millie Mayhew, Aiesha Naomi Pease, Jeanie Ryan, Natalie Spriggs, James Titchener, Micaela Todd, and Taela Yeomans-Brown all continue

Michael Fenton Stevens (The Wizard), the famed British actor and comedian, has been a popular and enduring presence on television, radio, and stage since the early 80s. His prolific career has ranged from providing voices for the original Spitting Image series (including voicing the UK Number 1 hit ‘The Chicken Song’) to playing ‘Dr John Radcliffe’ in the RSC production of Helen Edmundson’s Queen Anne in Stratford-upon-Avon and London. His many hundreds of television appearances include ‘Sir Henry’ in Benidorm (ITV); ‘Ronnie Green’ in Hapless (Netflix) with Tim Downie; ‘Mr. Griffith’ in My Family (BBC); ‘Home Secretary’ in Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s My Dad’s The Prime Minister (BBC); ‘Reverend Gordon Fox’ in Julia Davies’ Nighty Night (BBC); ‘Richard Johnson’ in Mike Bassett: Manager (ITV), with Ricky Tomlinson; ‘Hank Millbeck’ in The Legacy of Reginald Perrin (BBC); and the voice of ‘Mr. Beakman’ in Josh Selig’s 3rd & Bird animated series (CBeebies). For radio, Michael starred in the long-running BBC Radio 4 comedy series Radio Active, which was also developed into the popular television series KYTV; played ‘Paul Morgan’ in 60 episodes of The Archers; the title character in Inspector Steine; and appeared in Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. His many stage appearances have included: Yes, Prime Minister (in the West End as ‘Simon Chester’, and on tour as ‘Jim Hacker’); and William Congreve’s Love For Love (RSC). Together with Angus Deayton and Philip Pope, he founded the parody pop group The Hee Bee Gee Bees in the early 80s. He currently hosts the popular podcast series, My Time Capsule.

Graham Kent (Doctor Dillamond) was most recently seen in the UK & Ireland Tour of Conor McPherson’s Girl from the North Country and on television as ‘Albert Quirk’ in Julian Fellowes’ Belgravia (ITV). His London stage appearances have included ‘Mr. Price’ in Kinky Boots (and in the live capture by Broadway HD); Herge's Adventures of Tintin (Barbican), and Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane).

Laura Harrison (Standby for Elphaba) is currently appearing in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. Laura returns to Wicked having previously been part of the 2022/23 ensemble cast, during which time she performed the role of ‘Elphaba’ on many occasions to huge acclaim. Laura trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Thursday, November 16

Adam Garcia to lead cast as Caractacus Potts in new tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang




Casting news just announced is that Adam Garcia is set to take on the lead role of Caractacus Potts in the new tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which kicks off in Southampton next April  

 Garcia is best known for his recent portrayal of Julian Marsh in 42nd Street at Leicester Curve and Sadler’s Wells. Other credits include Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever and Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me, Kate, while Garcia has appeared in various films, including Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Coyote Ugly, and Riding in Cars with Boys. He had a recent stint as a finalist on the UK series of The Masked Dancer.

Just announced: Casting for Hadestown in London

Casting has just been confirmed for the West End premiere of multi award-winning  musical Hadestown which will open at the Lyric Theatre, London with performances from Saturday 10th February 2024.

Winner of 8 Tony® Awards including ‘Best Musical’ and a Grammy® Award for ‘Best Musical Theatre Album’, Hadestown returns to London five years after its sold-out run at the National Theatre in 2018.

The West End cast will include Dónal Finn (Orpheus) known for playing Mat Cauthon in Series 2 of Prime’s The Wheel of Time, Grace Hodgett Young (Eurydice) who is currently starring as Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, Grammy® Award-winner Zachary James (Hades) who originated the role of Lurch in The Addams Family at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway and the role of Abraham Lincoln in the world premiere of Philip Glass Opera The Perfect American at Teatro Real in Madrid, Musical Theatre actress and singer Melanie La Barrie (Hermes) whose many credits include originating the roles of Mrs. Corry in Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre and Nurse in & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre, and Gloria Onitiri (Persephone) who originated the role of Fairy Godmother in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, Princess Desiree in Upstart Crow at the Apollo Theatre and who previously performed in Hadestown at the National Theatre.

Bella Brown, Madeline Charlemagne, and Allie Daniel will play the Fates and Lauren Azania, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, Beth Hinton-Lever, Waylon Jacobs, and Christopher Short will play the Workers, with Lucinda Buckley, Ryesha Higgs, Miriam Nyarko, and Simon Oskarsson as Swings.