Dirty Dancing returning to London in February

 

Dirty Dancing is returning to the West End for 10 weeks at the Dominion Theatre from 2nd February to 16th April 2022! 

The musical boasts two smash-hit West End runs, four successful UK tours as well as many international tours. The new London production will star Michael O’Reilly as Johnny Castle opposite Kira Malou as Frances “Baby” Houseman with Carlie Milner as Penny Johnson. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, the UK production includes designs by Colin Richmond, orchestrations and musical supervision by Sarah Travis, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Tom Marshall and Richard Brooker and casting by David Grindrod. The team of producers includes Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions, Donovan Mannato, Playing Field, Gavin Kalin, and Curve.

 Buy tickets for Dirty Dancing which is booking from 2nd February to 16th April 2022

Full casting announced for the 2022 UK Tour of Mamma Mia!

Full casting is today announced for the new UK Tour of the feel-good musical Mamma Mia! 

Commencing on 18 January 2022 at Plymouth Theatre Royal the cast includes Sara Poyzer (Donna Sheridan), Nicky Swift (Rosie), Helen Anker (Tanya), Richard Standing (Sam Carmichael), Phil Corbitt (Bill Austin), Daniel Crowder (Harry Bright), Jena Pandya (Sophie Sheridan), Toby Miles (Sky), Jasmine Shen (Ali), Mariella Mazzilli (Lisa), James Willoughby Moore (Pepper), Corey Mitchell (Eddie) and Sarah Harlington (Alternate Donna Sheridan).

They will be joined by  Taylor Bridges, Ambra Caserotti, Martin Dickinson, Billy Downes, Chloe Gentles, Rachel Ivy, Luke Jasztal, Matt Kennedy, Lewis Kidd, Robert Knight, Hollie Nelson, Natasha O'Brien, Phoebe Roberts, Blair Robertson, Kaine Ruddach, Amy Thiroff and Cameron Vear.

Casting for the 2023 dates in Wolverhampton, Manchester, Cardiff, Blackpool and Leeds will be announced in due course.

Russell Watson to play Billy Flynn on tour of CHICAGO

David Ian in association with Barry and Fran Weissler are delighted to announce that multi-award-winning UK classical singer and stage star Russell Watson is to  take over the role of ‘Billy Flynn’ from Darren Day in the acclaimed UK and Ireland tour  CHICAGO. He  joins the previously announced Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’ and Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’ at Liverpool Empire on Monday 7 February 2022.

The cast will also include Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billie Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens and Harrison Wilde.

 Russell Watson is regarded as one of the world’s greatest classical singers, having released ten critically acclaimed studio albums. His debut album, ‘The Voice’ held the number one chart position in the UK for a record-breaking 52 weeks. Throughout his extensive career Watson has collaborated with Meatloaf, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, Alexandra Burke, and Luciano Pavarotti. He recently appeared as a contestant on the twentieth series, and castle edition, of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! His stage credits include Parson Nathaniel in Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds on tour and Karl Oscar in the English world premiere of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ Kristina at Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.

 

Ben Elton to direct a new 20th anniversary tour of We Will Rock You with casting already announced

Ben Elton will direct a new 20th anniversary tour of We Will Rock You, opening next February. He directed he original production, saying today: "I can hardly believe it's been 20 years since We Will Rock You premiered in London. Or that much of what we thought was science fiction in the script back then has turned into science fact! I guess Queen were always ahead of the game! I've directed this show all over the world and I can't wait to bring it home to the UK with a brand new production and a fabulous cast of young Bohemians, most of whom were rocking in their cradles when this adventure first began." 

The musical features songs from Queen's back catalogue including "We Are The Champions", "Radio Ga Ga", "I Want To Break Free", "Somebody To Love", "Killer Queen", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Under Pressure", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Another One Bites The Dust" and "We Will Rock You".   It opens in Portsmouth on 7th February 2022 with tickets are on sale belowand a cast including Ian McIntosh/ Galileo, Elena Skye/Scaramouche, Jenny O'Leary /Killer Queen and Adam Strong/Khashoggi with Michael Mckell as Buddy, Martina Ciabatti Mennell as Oz and David Michael Johnson as Brit.The ensemble includes Laura Bird, Kate Leiper, Joanne Harper, Anna Davey, Edward Leigh, Spin, Karen Walker, David Muscat, Damien Walsh, Laura Ava-Scott, Victoria Collins, Joseph Connor, Louis Clarke-Clare and Jacob Fearey.   Further creatives <re to be announced

New cast members joining Wicked in February

New principal cast members joining the West End production of Wicked from 1st February 2022 include  Lucie Jones (Waitress) set to take on the role of Elphaba, with  Ryan Reid (Dreamgirls) as Fiyero, Sophie-Louise Dann (The Windsors: Endgame) as Madame Morrible and Gary Wilmot (Anything Goes) as The Wizard. Helen Woolf will return from maternity leave to reprise her role as Glinda.

Continuing principals include Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba) and Charli Baptie (Standby for Glinda).

The current principal cast members scheduled to play their final performances on 30 January 2022 include Laura Pick (Elphaba), Sophie Evans (Glinda), Alistair Brammer (Fiyero), Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible) and Andy Hockley (The Wizard).

From 1 February, the full cast will feature Jones (Elphaba), Woolf (Glinda), Reid (Fiyero), Dann (Madame Morrible), Wilmot (The Wizard), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Amy Webb (Standby for Elphaba), Charli Baptie (Standby for Glinda), Yuki Abe, Kofi Aidoo-Appiah, Meg Astin, Alishia-Marie Blake, Pàje Campbell, Grace Chapman, Michael Colbourne, Fergus Dale, Nolan Edwards, Nicola Espallardo, Danny Fogarty, Laura Harrison, Amie Hibbert, Lucie Horsfall, Samuel How, Christian Knight, Nick Len, Jasmine Leung, Rhidian Marc, PaddyJoe Martin, Jessica-Alice McCluskey, Stacey McGuire, Harry Mills, Lewis Newton, Natalie Spriggs, Samantha Thomas, Joe Thompson-Oubari and James Titchener.

Executive producer Michael McCabe said: "We're thrilled to announce that the new cast of Wicked from 1 February 2022 will be led by the sensational Lucie Jones as Elphaba, West End Dreamgirls star Ryan Reid as Fiyero, two-time Olivier Award nominee Sophie-Louise Dann as Madame Morrible and Gary Wilmot – whose prolific 40+ year career has made him one of the UK's most popular actors and entertainers – as The Wizard."

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice tour announces full cast

The upcoming tour of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice has announced its complete cast.

Jim Cartwright's piece tells the story of a reclusive daughter with a mega singing voice.

As previously announced  show will star Drama Desk nominee Christina Bianco as LV, Everybody's Talking About Jamie star Shobna Gulati as Mari Hoff and Ian Kelsey (Coronation Street, Emmerdale) as Ray Say.

Joining them are Akshay Gulati (The Family Way) as Billy, Anna Hale (London Road) as understudy LV and Sadie, William Ilkley (War Horse) as Mr Boo with Fiona Mulvaney (The Ferryman) as Sadie and James Robert Moore (All That) in the role of Phone Man. Moore is also resident director on the production.

Shoshana Bean to be joined by West End stars Richard Fleeshman, Celinde Schoenmaker and Rob Houchen in SING YOUR HALLELUJAH concert

Fourth Wall Live and Broadway´s Shoshana Bean are delighted to announce that singer songwriter Britten Newbill and West End stars Richard Fleeshman, Celinde Schoenmaker and Rob Houchen will be joining Shoshana’s SING YOUR HALLELUJAH concert at the Cadogan Hall on Sunday 4 December at 7.30pm.

SHOSHANA BEAN’S three solo albums have all topped the iTunes R&B and Blues charts in the US and UK, with her fourth and most recent project, “Spectrum” debuting at number one on the Billboard Jazz charts. She has sold out solo concerts around the globe and performed alongside the likes of Ariana Grande, David Foster, Postmodern Jukebox, Brian McKnight and Michael Jackson. She is a veteran of the Broadway stage and is perhaps best known for her portrayal of ‘Elphaba’ in the Broadway production of “Wicked”. Other prominent performances include ‘Shelley’ in the Tony-Award-winning production of “Hairspray” and ‘Jenna’ in the Broadway production of “Waitress. She won a IRNE Award for her performance as “Fanny Brice” in Funny Girl and earned a Jeff Award nomination for her portrayal of “CeeCee Bloom” in the pre-Broadway musical production of Beaches. This solo show, “Sing Your Hallelujah” is produced by For The Record Live and presented by Fourth Wall Live. David Cook serves as Music Director.

Rob Houchen is a musical theatre performer and singer, whose theatre credits include ‘Marius’ in Les Misérables, The Producers, Spring Awakening, Eugenius!, Godspell and The Light in the Piazza. In 2016 he released his self-titled debut album. 

Richard Fleeshman is an Olivier Award nominated stage and television star whose West End credits include Company, Urinetown, Ghost The Musical and Legally Blonde. His television credits include Reign, Monday Monday and playing ‘Craig Harris’ in Coronation Street for four years.

Celinde Schoenmaker is a West End star whose credits include ‘Fantine’ in Les Misérables and Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera. Her other credits include Barnum, The Light in the Piazza and Marry Me A Little. On film she can be seen as ‘Renate Blauel’ in Rocketman.  

Britten Newbill is a prolific American singer, songwriter and performer whose work includes writing for Macy Gray, John Legend and many more.

Buy tickets for Shoshana Bean  SING YOUR HALLELUJAH concert

Legally Blonde the Musical to be presented at Regent`s Park next May

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has unveiled its 90th anniversary season for 2022 commencing  with a new revival of the hit musical Legally Blonde. The piece has music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, book by Heather Hach, and is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture. It tells the story of Elle Woods, who overcomes social expectations in order to become a successful Harvard Law School graduate.

The new revival is playing from 13 May to 2 July 2022. It will be directed by Six co-creator Lucy Moss, with a creative team including Pippa Ailion CDG and Natalie Gallacher CDG (casting directors), Cat Beveridge (musical supervisor), Tony Gayle (sound designer) and Ellen Kane (choreographer).

With casting news to follow booking opens as follows_

Priority on-sale: Tuesday 16th November, 11.00am / Public on-sale: Tuesday 7th December, 11.00am.

Royal Albert Hall staging of Kiss Me, Kate on BBC4 this weekend

The 2014 Royal Albert Hall staging of Kiss Me, Kate is to be shown on BBC Four this  Sunday 21st November at 8.00 pm GMT .

With stage direction by Shaun Kerrison, choreography by Alistair David, direction by Bridget Caldwell and production by Helen Mansfield the concert is performed by the John Wilson Orchestra and has an all star  cast including  Alexandra Silber, Ben Davis, Louise Dearman, Tony Yazbeck, Jason Pennycooke, James Doherty, Michael Jibson, Ian Talbot, Louise Marshall, Alex Bourne, Christopher Howell, Michael Pickering and  Gary Watson. 

Cole Porter and Sam and Bella Spewack's play-within-a-play follows a divorced couple who find themselves starring opposite each other in a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew and features  classic numbers including "Too Darn Hot", "Another Op'nin' Another Show", "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" and "So in Love".

I

Chichester`s South Pacific to embark on UK tour

Jamie Wilson, Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and Gavin Kalin are delighted to announce the critically acclaimed, landmark Chichester Festival Theatre production of RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S SOUTH PACIFIC will open at Manchester Opera House on 16 July 2022 ahead of a season at Sadler’s Wells, London from 27 July to 28 August 2022 (with a press night on 4 August 2022), before embarking on a UK and Ireland Tour

Reprising their roles as ‘Emile de Becque’ and ‘Ensign Nellie Forbush’ in Manchester and at Sadler’s Wells will be West End, Broadway and screen star Julian Ovenden and West End leading lady Gina Beck wih urther casting to be announced.

This powerful love story, set on a South Pacific Island during World War ll is brought thrillingly to life with a sensational cast of over thirty and a full orchestra in this epic new five-star production directed by Chichester Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Daniel Evans. SOUTH PACIFIC boasts one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most memorable scores, and this much-loved Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening”, “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” and “Bali Ha’i”.

Julian Ovenden is perhaps best known for playing ‘Charles Blake’ in ITV’s Downton Abbey. He is also an international recording artist and has starred on Broadway and in the West End. His West End credits include All About Eve at the Noel Coward Theatre, Marguerite at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, The Treatment at the Almeida Theatre, and My Night With Reg, Merrily We Roll Along and Grand Hotel at the Donmar Warehouse. On Broadway he has been seen in Showboat with the New York Philharmonic at the Lincoln Centre and Butley at the Booth Theatre. He has also performed at several of the BBC Proms and played Captain Georg von Trapp in The Sound of Music Live on ITV.

Gina Beck’s many West End theatre credits include playing ‘Miss Honey’ in Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre, ‘Magnolia’ in Show Boat at the New London Theatre, ‘Glinda’ in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria, ‘Christine Daae’ in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre and ‘Cosette’ in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre. Her television credits include Doctors, The Return of Sherlock Holmes and The Crush. Her film credits include Les Misérables.

SOUTH PACIFIC is directed by Daniel Evans, with set and costume design by Peter McKintosh, and choreography and movement direction from Ann Yee. The Musical Supervisor is Nigel Lilley, Musical Director is Cat Beveridge and new orchestration is by David Cullen, with original Broadway orchestration by Robert Russell Bennett. The lighting designer is Howard Harrison, sound designer is Paul Groothuis, video designer is Gillian Tan, additional arrangements and Happy Talk orchestration is by Theo Jamieson, casting director is Charlotte Sutton CDG and additional children’s casting by Verity Naughton. 

CLAIRE SWEENEY TO STAR AS VIOLET NEWSTEAD IN THE UK TOUR OF DOLLY PARTON’S 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL

The producers of Dolly Parton’s smash-hit 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL have just announced that television and musical theatre star Claire Sweeney is to  take over from Louise Redknapp and join the production as Violet Newstead from 13 January until 5 March 2022. 

Claire Sweeney has a television and theatre career which spans over 20 years. She is probably best known for playing the role of ‘Lindsey Corkhill’ in “Brookside”. Her other television credits include “Clocking Off” and “Merseybeat” along with a presenting role on “60 Minute Makeover” and as a panellist on ITV’s “Loose Women”. Claire’s West End roles include ‘Roxie Hart’ in “Chicago” and ‘Miss Adelaide” in “Guys and Dolls”. Claire previously played ‘Baroness Bomburst’ in the National Tour of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and the title role in “Educating Rita” at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory and prior to that, played ‘Paulette’ in the UK tour of the award winning “Legally Blonde”. She most recently appeared as ‘Irene’ in the National Tour of “Crazy For You”. Her other theatre credits include “Tell Me on a Sunday” and the title role in “Shirley Valentine”.

Claire joins the cast which includes Vivian Panka making her professional UK stage debut as ‘Judy Bernly’, Stephanie Chandos (9 to 5 The Musical – previously covering the role of ‘Doralee’, Hairspray and We Will Rock You,) as ‘Doralee Rhodes’, Sean Needham (Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia!, Wicked and Buddy) as ‘Franklin Hart Jr.’ - a role he played on many occasions in both the West End and on tour,  Julia J. Nagle (American in Paris, Aspects of Love, Dirty Dancing) as ‘Roz Keith’ and Russell Dickson (Evita) as ‘Joe’.

 The cast is completed by Alexander Bartles, Sierra Brewerton, Rebekah Bryant, Emily Bull, Demmileigh Foster, Sonny Grieveson, Callum Henderson, Joshua Lear, Ross Lee Fowkes,  Sarah-Marie Maxwell Jon Reynolds, Clayton Rosa, Kirsty Anne Shaw, Ricardo Spriggs, Grace Walker, Emily Woodford, and Richard Taylor Woods.

Full casting announced for Love Story Musical Concert

Casting has been announced for the  concert production of Love Story at Cadogan Hall on 28th  November 2021. It will be directed by Kirk Jameson (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), marking Stephen Clark and Howard Goodall's show's tenth anniversary.The musical director  will be Andrew Linnie. The musical First seen in Chichester, the musical is based on Erich Segal's novel (which was then turned into a film) and follows a Harvard jock who falls for a gifted musician.

Rebecca Caine (Les Misérables) will join the previously announced Emma Williams and Michael Xavier. Michael Matus (The Phantom of the Opera) will replace Peter Polycarpou as Phil Cavilleri, who had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts. Simon Green (Titanic) will play Oliver Barrett III with  Jenna Boyd (Come from Away) as the Doctor. 

The ensemble includes  Simbi Akande (The Prince of Egypt), Jordan Cunningham (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Alison Driver (What's New Pussycat?), Charlie-Jade Jones (West Side Story), Maximillian Murphy (Parade), and Nikhil Singh Rai (Les Misérables, Mountview)