Full casting for Caroline or Change starring Sharon D Clarke

Full casting has been announced for Caroline, or Change musical written by Tony Kushner, author of Angels in America, with a  score from Tony Award-winning Jeanine Tesori, which will run at London's  Playhouse Theatre from 20 November 2018 to 9 February 2019.

As previously announced, the cast will be led by Olivier Award-winning actress Sharon D. Clarke in a critically acclaimed performance as Caroline Thibodeaux. She will be joined by Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Keisha Amponsa Banson, Alastair Brookshaw, Me'sha Bryan, Angela Caesar, Dujonna Gift-Simms, Sue Kelvin, Teddy Kempner, Ako Mitchell, Abiona Omonua, Vincent Pirillo, Tanisha Spring and Lauren Ward with Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong, Zalika Henry, Laura Medforth, Timothy Quinlan and Teddy Wills.

Nine young performers have been cast in the roles of Noah, Jackie and Joe. Isaac Forward, Aaron Gelkoff and Jack Meredith will alternate the role of Noah, Mark Mwangi, Kenya Sandy and Jeremiah Waysome will alternate the role of Jackie and the role of Joe will be alternated by Josiah Choto, David Dube and Raphael Higgins-Hume.

Laura Tyrer to play Velma in Chicago the Musical

Laura Tyrer will join the West End cast of CHICAGO the musical at the Phoenix Theatre, playing the role of Velma Kelly from Monday 24th September  to Saturday 6th  October 2018. This was the role which Denise Van Outen was due to take over, but had to postpone due to injury. She  joins Alexandra Burke as Roxie Hart, Duncan James as Billy Flynn, Mazz Murray as Mama Morton and Paul Rider as Amos Hart. 

Laura Tyrer secured the role of Velma via an audition to be shown as part of the brand new 6 part ITV series The Big Audition, from the makers of First Dates, which begins on Friday 5th October. The series delves into the world of real life, genuine auditions.

Laura’s previous West End credits include Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, From Here to Eternity, Cabaret, Spamalot and most recently Ruthless! Her touring credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, White Christmas and Beauty and the Beast.

 CHICAGO is booking  until Saturday 5th January 2019.

Michelle Visage to join cast of Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Everybody's Talking About Jamie, the award-winning feel good musical sensation, has announced that internationally renowned personality, Michelle Visage, will be making her West End musical debut playing the role of Miss Hedge from Thursday 18 October 2018 to Saturday 26 January 2019.

Michelle Visage is joining  the West End production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie taking on the role of Miss Hedge (currently being played by Tamsin Carroll) from Thursday 18th October to Saturday 26th January.

The recording artist, actress, author, television personality, podcast co-host and radio show host, best known for being a judge on hit Emmy-winning show RuPaul's Drag Race, will make her West End stage debut in the show, which currently runs at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Producer Nica Burns said: "We are all absolutely delighted to welcome Michelle Visage to the cast of Everybody's Talking About Jamie as our new Miss Hedge. Michelle blew us away with her fantastic singing voice, her excellent characterisation of the part and her charismatic stage presence."

Visage said: "I am BEYOND thrilled to be making my West End debut in Everybody's Talking About Jamie! The reason I chose this show in particular is because of the very important message it tells. It is a great show with great music and talent but more importantly it's about love, truth and the tenacity of the human spirit! Also there is a HUGE bonus: I get to live in London, one of my favourite cities in the world! I can't wait to help audiences to fall in love with the show the way I did when I saw Everybody's Talking About Jamie for the first time and understand why everyone REALLY IS talking about Jamie!"

Michelle is an internationally renowned, platinum selling recording artist, actress, author, television personality, podcast co-host, radio show host, who has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, across multiple mediums for the past three decades. Michelle is best known in the UK for being a judge on Ireland's Got Talent and America's hit TV show RuPaul's Drag Race, which recently won Outstanding Reality-Competition Program at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards. Michelle hosts a podcast with RuPaul named RuPaul: What's the Tee with Michelle Visage which won the award for Best Host at this year's 22nd annual Webby Awards. Michelle was a finalist on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.

She joins the current cast, featuring John McCrea (Jamie), Rebecca McKinnis (Margaret), Shobna Gulati (Ray), Lucie Shorthouse (Pritti Pasha), Lee Ross (Hugo/Loco Chanel), Alex Anstey (Laika Virgin), Luke Baker (Dean Paxton), Luke Bayer, Courtney Bowman (Fatimah), Marvyn Charles, Ken Christiansen (Jamie's Dad), Jordan Cunningham (Sayid), Daniel Davids (Levi), James Gillan (Tray Sophisticay), Ryan Hughes (Mickey), Daniel Jacob (Sandra Bollock), Cherelle Jay, Jordan Laviniere (Cy), Harriet Payne (Bex), Chloe Pole, Shiv Rabheru, Lauran Rae (Becca) and Kirstie Skivington (Vicki).

West End star cast including David Thaxton, Savannah Stevenson and Celinde Schoenmaker in LMTO Camelot concert

Casting has been announced for London Musical Theatre Orchestra's production of Camelot, which runs at the London Palladium at 19:30 on 6th October. The role of Arthur will be played by Olivier Award-winner David Thaxton (Passion, Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar), Guinevere will be played by Savannah Stevenson (Wicked, Aspects of Love, Follies), and Lancelot will be played by internationally renowned opera star Charles Rice (Mozart’s Requiem, The Barber of Seville, Candide).

Sam Swann (Jekyll & Hyde) will play Mordred, Clive Carter (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again) will play both roles of Pellinore and Merlyn, Nimue will be played by Celinde Schoenmaker (Barnum, The Phantom of the Opera), Matthew McKenna (Sunset Boulevard, Starlight Express) will play Sir Dinadan, Sir Lionel will be played by Emmanuel Kojo (Girl From the North Country, Show Boat), Sir Sagramore will be played by Oliver Savile (Wicked, LMTO’s State Fair) and Raphael Higgins-Humes (Lion King, Matilda The Musical) will play Tom of Warwick.

The piece will be conducted by Freddie Tapner, and features the The LMTO Chorus : Jake Byrom, Elissa Churchill, Charlotte Clitherow, Ed Court, Emma Fraser, Lee van Geelen, Erin Hair, Daniel Hall, Adam Hepworth, Matthew McDonald, Emma Oliver, Cameron Potts, Lydia Shaw, Rosie Williamson, Lizzie Wofford and Thomas Wright.

The show marks the first time the musical has been seen in the West End in over 30 years. Based on TH White's The Once and Future King, includes numbers such as "If Ever I Would Leave You", "How To Handle A Woman", "The Lusty Month of May" and "Camelot".

Tickets for Camelot

Jodie Prenger To Star In UK Tour Of Mike Leigh's ABIGAIL'S PARTY

Jodie Prenger is to lead the cast in Abigail's Party, Mike Leigh's  comedy classic which begins next year  in Brighton on 10th January  and tours until  April  visiting  Birmingham, York, Glasgow, Stoke, Woking, Aylesbury, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Beverly and her husband Laurence are throwing a party for their newlywed neighbours, Tony and Angela. Joining them is highly strung Susan who's been banished from the party of her teenage daughter Abigail. Welcome to 1970's suburbia and its heady mix of free-flowing cocktails, classic disco and cheese and pineapple sticks. As tensions rise and tempers flare the sheen of respectability is torn away by the warring couples with hilarious and potentially disastrous consequences.

Mike Leigh's iconic Abigail's Party is one of Britain's most celebrated comedies and was described by The Guardian as 'One of the greatest plays about the human condition ever written.'

Jodie Prenger said: 'Abigail's Party is a true British classic and a real bucket list part for me. I'm thrilled to be involved in something so wonderful. Can't wait to get started.'

Buy tickets for Abigail's Party 

Casting announced for tour of Les Miserables

Casting has just been announced Cameron Mackintosh’s forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of  the Boublil and Schönberg musical “LES MISÉRABLES” which is already set to break records ahead of opening at Curve  Leicester on Saturday 3 November 2018.

With rehearsals beginning yesterday, joining the previously announced Killian Donnelly as ‘Jean Valjean’ will be Nic Greenshields as ‘Javert’, Katie Hall as ‘Fantine’, Martin Ball as ‘Thénardier’, Sophie-Louise Dann as ‘Madame Thénardier’, Harry Apps as ‘Marius’, Tegan Bannister as ‘Eponine’, Will Richardson as ‘Enjolras’ and Bronwen Hanson as ‘Cosette’.

 Completing the cast will be Joseph Anthony, Helen Aylott, Jamie Birkett, Keoni Blockx, Michael Burgen, Nicholas Carter, Mary-Jean Caldwell, Danny Colligan, Nicholas Corre, Megan Gardiner, Zac Hamilton, Jessie Hart, Teleri Hughes, Brian James Leys, Ruby Lyon, Leo Miles, Shane O’Riordan, Lee Ormsby, Jordan Simon Pollard, Corrine Priest, Aaron Pryce-Lewis, Janne Snellen, Ruben Van keer and Emma Warren.

Killian Donnelly recently played the role of ‘Jean Valjean’ in the West End production of “Les Misérables”. Prior to his run in “Les Misérables”, he played the role of ‘Charlie Price’ in “Kinky Boots” on Broadway, a role he originated at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2015, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. His other theatre credits include ‘Huey’ in the original London cast of “Memphis” at the Shaftesbury Theatre for which he was also nominated for an Olivier Award.  He created the role of ‘Deco’ in “The Commitments” at the Palace Theatre and has also played ‘Tony’ in “Billy Elliot” at the Victoria Palace Theatre as well as ‘Raoul’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty's Theatre. He first joined the company of “Les Misérables” in 2008, going on to play the role of ‘Enjolras’ from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, he played the role of ‘Courfeyrac’ in the “25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables” at The O2 Arena and also played the role of ‘Combeferre’ in the multi-award-winning film of the show, released in 2012.

Nic Greenshields most recently appeared in “Young Frankenstein” at the Garrick Theatre. His many other West End credits include “Les Misérables” at both the Queen’s and Palace Theatres, “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, “Billy Elliot” at the Victoria Palace Theatre and “Miss Saigon” at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Katie Hall’s numerous credits include playing ‘Cosette’ in this production of “Les Misérables” in 2009. She has also played the role at the Queen’s Theatre and in the “25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables” at The O2 Arena. Her other credits include ‘Christine’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End and on tour, ‘Johanna’ in “Sweeney Todd” at the London Coliseum and ‘Maria’ in the national tour of “West Side Story”.

Martin Ball has previously appeared as ‘Thénardier’ in “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre. His other West End credits include ‘Monsieur André’ in “The Phantom of the Opera”, ‘Harry’ in “Mamma Mia!” and the original cast of “Wicked”. He appeared as ‘Mr Banks’ in the first national tour of “Mary Poppins”. His other credits include “Top Hat” in both the West End and on tour.


Sophie-Louise Dann’s many West End credits include ’Celia’ in “The Girls” at the Phoenix Theatre (Olivier Award nomination), ‘Barbara Castle’ in “Made in Dagenham” at the Adelphi Theatre, “Jolson” at the Victoria Palace Theatre and ‘Diana Divane’ in “Lend Me a Tenor” at the Gielgud Theatre, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award.

Harry Apps makes his professional debut as ‘Marius’ having successfully auditioned at the recent open auditions for the show.

Tegan Bannister’s West End credits include ‘Young Nala’ in “The Lion King” at the Lyceum Theatre and “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre.

Will Richardson has appeared as ‘Rum Tum Tugger’ in “Cats” and ‘Rolf’ in “The Sound of Music”, both on international tour.

Bronwen Hanson has appeared in “Broken Wings” at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Whilst training her credits include ‘Sally Bowles’ in “Cabaret”.

London cast announced for Channing Tatum's Magic Mike Live

The cast has been announced for the first London production of Magic Mike Live, which opens at London's Hippodrome Casino on 28th  November 2018. 

Conceived and co-directed by Channing Tatum (who starred in the two films the show's based on), the piece will star Samantha Baines, Jake Brewer, Harry Carter, Pip Hearse, Sophie Linder-Lee, Jack Manley, David Morgan, Ross Sands, Dean Stewart, Manny Tsakanika, Aaron Witter, Daniel Ralph, Antonio Donadio, Sebastián Melo Taveira, Maxwell Trengove and Brian Siregar.

The production will also release 10,000 additional tickets for performances across its run, including 20 new performances in January. The show will run at 90 minute and guests must be over 18 – photo ID is required for entry.

Kerry Ellis, Tim Howar and Kimberley Walsh in A Christmas Spectacular at London Palladium & Drury Lane

Kerry Ellis and Timothy Howar (currently playing the Phantom) are to star in a Christmas Spectacular at the London Palladium on 17th December 2018 at 7:30 pm and at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 16th - 2rd3 December

With special guest Kimberley Walsh, the seasonal show offers the ultimate Christmas party with music, dance, lights, spectacle and a snow-filled finale high kicks, festive fun and special effects plus all the trimmings in the company of a full show band, West End vocalists and the  all-star Jingle Belle Dancers.

You can  sing-along to seasonal songs including Merry Christmas Everyone, Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, Sleigh Ride, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Merry Christmas Everybody and many more… with the Capital Voices choir accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra conducted by John Rigby.  

Buy tickets for A Christmas Spectacular  

   

Tour of Fame the Musical to transfer into West End

Fame the Musical is currently on an extensive UK tour celebrating 30 years since the original Miami production. It has just announced a West End transfer at the end of the tour to the Peacock Theatre in London from 11 September - 19 October 2019. Pre-sale begins 24 September with tickets on  |general sale from 1 October

With a star cast still to be announced. Fame the Musical is presented by Selladoor Productions who have recently toured with of Footloose, Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors and Flashdance - The Musical, with Gavin Kalin Productions, Dan Looney & Adam Paulden, Stephen McGill Productions and Jason Haigh-Ellery in association with BrightLights Productions and Big Dreamer Productions. Fame is Directed and Choregraphed by Nick Winston with Design by Morgan Large and Sound Design by Ben Harrison. Mark Crossland is Musical Supervisor.

Sheridan Smith to release new album A Northern Soul

Sheridan Smith has today announced the release of her second album called ‘A Northern Soul’ on 2nd November.  It  is being previewed today with the release of the lead single ‘Priceless’
 

Sheridan’s debut album "Sheridan" became one of the ten best-selling debut albums of 2017, and was the year’s second biggest debut from a British female artist after Dua Lipa. It shot into the charts at #9 and enjoyed a seven-week run in the Top 20: subsequently reaching Gold status with over 140,000 sales.
 

Sheridan Smith is also the subject of a brand new ITV documentary which will be televised on November 4th.

The tracklisting for ‘A Northern Soul’ is:

‘A Northern Soul’
‘Handle With Care’
‘Priceless’
‘Are You Just Sleeping?
‘Remedy in the Melody’
‘Rock Bottom’
‘Why Can’t I Fall In Love’
‘Ain’t That Funny’
‘Sweetest of Thieves’
‘Listen to the Rain’
‘The One’
‘Don’t Beg For Love’

Peter Andre to play Teen Angel in new tour of Grease the Musical

Peter Andre is to  star as Teen Angel on certain dates in Leicester Curve's production of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's new touring production of the musical Grease which will be directed by the  Curve's Nikolai Foster and choreographed by  Arlene Phillips.

The Teen Angel character appears at the dance at Rydell High School when he performs his big number  Beauty School Dropout in a tour that starts next year at the Leeds Grand Theatre on June 19th 

After is opening at  Leeds Grand Theatre the musical  heads out on a tour to Southend, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Dublin, Oxford, currently ending in Bromley in October 2019. More casting news  to follow.

Danny Dyer and Jo Brand to guest star in the London production of UK tour of Nativity!

Danny Dyer and Jo Brand are making guest appearances in  the UK tour of Nativity! The Musical for its London run at the Eventim Apollo over the Christmas period this year.

Actor Dyer (currently best known for his role as Mick Carter in BBC's Eastenders) will play the Hollywood Producer in the show, while comedian, writer and actress Brand will play The Critic (played by Alan Carr in the film) in London and at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh.

Louis Walsh played the role of Hollywood Producer in the London production last year.