Miss Nightingale the Musical at King's Head Theatre

This new musical will receive its world premiere at The Lowry Theatre in Salford on January 20th-22nd and then transfer to the King’s Head Theatre in Islington on 26th January running until 19th February.

Miss Nightingale is a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Matthew Bugg, who will also direct and choreograph.  It stars Ilan Goodman (Six Degrees of Separation, Old Vic), Richard Shelton (Sinatra in Rat Pack Confidential) and “burlesque sensation” Amber Topaz.

Maggie Brown dreams of becoming a famous singer as she nurses wounded soldiers in an East End hospital.  With her songwriter George, a Jewish refugee, she auditions at every night club and cabaret bar in London. But nobody wants their act.  Their luck and lives change when they meet the handsome, charming and wealthy Sir Frank Conner.   But more than a few feathers are ruffled and polite society is shocked by her scandalous exploits, outfits and songs as she takes the West End by storm.

Miss Nightingale the musical brings the vintage-style glamour, sounds and sex scandals of the 1940s to life.

This is the first musical that Matthew Bugg has written. He has worked as a composer, musical director and choreographer at many theatres in the UK, and is an associate artist at the Mercury Theatre Company. He has also played Ariel in Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Tickets at: www.kingsheadtheatre.com

Connie Fisher and Michael Praed leaving Sound of Music Tour

Connie Fisher and Michael Praed leave the tour of the Sound of Music tour at the New Theatre Oxford this Sunday, 2nd January.  They have been playing the roles of Maria and Captain von Trapp for quite a while. 

There is then a short break until the end of the month when Verity Rushworth and Jason Donovan take over the parts when the show re-launches at the New Theatre Hull on 29th January.

Les Miserables' Lyricist Herbert Kretzmer receives an OBE

Fleet Street journalist and lyricist Herbert Kretzmer has been awarded an OBE in the 2011 New Years Honours List.

He has been seen on television a couple of times recently in connection with the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert as he is the English lyricist for the musical.

Kretzmer wrote lyrics for the BBC’s TV satire show “That Was The Week That Was” and won an Ivor Novello Award for the Peter Sellers-Sophia Loren comedy hit “Goodness Gracious Me”. Other award-winning Kretzmer lyrics include “Yesterday When I Was Young” and the chart-topping “She” written with the French singer Charles Aznavour.

In 1985 Kretzmer’s collaboration with Aznavour came to the attention of producer Cameron Mackintosh, who invited him to write an English version of a French musical Les Misérables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg). Kretzmer’s lyrics extended the two-hour Paris original into a three-hour show.
In 2008 Kretzmer wrote the lyrics for “Marguerite” (from an original text by Alain Boublil) starring Ruthie Henshall.  It was set in Nazi-occupied Paris to the music by Michel Legrand.

Kretzmer’s latest musical project is Kristina which premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in April.  It is based on Vilhelm Moberg’s novels about Swedish emigrants to Minnesota in the 19th Century. The show was originally conceived and written by Abba lyricist Bjorn Ulvaeus and composer Benny Andersson .

Michael Ball launches New Year campaign for Help for Heroes Charity

Hairspray the Musical is currently playing at the Edinburgh Playhouse with Michael Ball reprising his role as Edna Turnblad.

Earlier this week he took time out to launch a New Year campaign aimed at raising money for the Help for Heroes charity which supports injured armed forces personnel.

He invited revellers at Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party on New Year’s Eve to text their New Year resolutions to be displayed on giant screens along Princes Street on New Year's Day. 25p from each text will go towards the charity.

Michael said: "My resolution for 2011 is to build more bridges and what better way to put that into practice than to encourage you all to text your messages and resolutions to raise money for this fantastic charity."




Michael is due to begin a new concert tour aptly named "Heroes" in the New Year starting at Dublin's Grand Canal Theatre on May 24th touring the UK and  closing in Brighton on June 26th.

Ruthie Henshall appearing in Famous & Fearless on 7th January

Chris Evans and Clare Balding are presenting a new live event show where eight celebrities compete in a range of tough action sports from freestyle BMX and power skateboarding to extreme abseiling to win money for charity.  

Famous & Fearless starts on Channel 4 at 9:00 pm on Sunday 7th January with West End star Ruthie Henshall making a guest appearance.

Famous and Fearless will be broadcast live from January 2nd to January 7th from the Echo Arena Liverpool and the eight regular celebrities include Olympic medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes, former Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn, Sir Richard Branson's son Sam, adventurer Charley Boorman, comedian Rufus Hound and New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu.

There is £10,000 up for grabs for each event and an extra £50,000 for the overall winner.

Sheila Hancock receives CBE in New Years Honours List

The fabulous West End actress Sheila Hancock has been awarded a CBE for her services to drama in the 2011 New Year Honours List.

People appear on this list in recognition of their outstanding achievement and service across the UK.

Miss Hancock has enjoyed a long and successful career on the stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, a number of sitcoms, a Carry On film and a recent West End adaptation playing Mother Superior in the Musical Sister Act.

She has also recently appeared  as a TV talent show judge on Over The Rainbow - Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for a Dorothy to star in his new musical The Wizard Of Oz.

Her reaction to the award was "It is lovely, really lovely. I’m surprised how pleased I am.'

Andrew Lloyd Webber & Michael Crawford on New Year’s Eve TV 100 Years of the Palladium

At 9:00 pm on New Year’s Eve you can tune into BBC2 to hear Andrew Lloyd Webber, his Wizard of Oz Michael Crawford, Sir Cliff Richard, Bruce Forsyth and a host of West End Stars sharing their favourite stories including gossip, glamour and behind the scenes activities at the London Palladium as it celebrates its 100th birthday

Jessica Martin joining Spamalot tour as The Lady of the Lake

The touring version of Monty Python’s Spamalot goes from strength to strength continuing well into 2011.

As already mentioned, comedian Phill Jupitus will be taking on King Arthur’s crown from Matthew Kelly when it reaches Plymouth on 31st January. Jodie Prenger who is playing the Lady of the Lake will be sharing the role with Jessica Martin from 24th January when the show is at Southend.

Martin has a wealth of experience in West End musicals including Me And My Girl, Mack and Mabel, South Pacific, The Wizard of Oz, Babes in Arms, the Card, Sweeney Todd, Marguerite and Sunset Boulevard. 

She will be alternating with Jodie playing the Lady of the Lake when Spamalot visits Southend, Swansea, Sunderland, Ipswich, Eastbourne, Dartford, Leicester, Wolverhampton and Hull ending on 7th May.

Les Miserables the Pantomime?

As it’s still the Festive Season (just) I’ve still got pantomime very much on my mind.  Earlier this week I was interviewed on BBC Radio Merseyside about the history of panto and shows and artistes I have worked with, and last night I watched the BBC2 Matt Lucas documentary about the lead up to the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the 02 Arena in October.

The thing that struck me is that the cast of characters assembled by the writers Alain Boublil, and Claude-Michel Schonberg (and of course Victor Hugo) could be directly compared to those in a traditional panto.

For example compare Les Miserables with Aladdin: in Les Miserables  you have the lovers Marius and Cosette (Aladdin and Lotus Blossom), the over protective father Jean Valjean (the Emperor of China), the comedy aspect Monsieur and Madame Thenardier (Widow Twankey and Chinese policemen) and the baddie Javert (Abanazar).

As pantomime originated in Ancient Greece and became better known in its current format in Europe during the Middle Ages when it was picked up by the touring Italian Commedia dell’arte, Victor Hugo would have been very familiar with the genre. 

It’s just a thought ….

Cast Changes when Sheridan Smith leaves Legally Blonde

As previously mentioned, Susan McFadden takes on the role of Elle Woods when Sheridan Smith leaves Legally Blonde the Musical on 8th January.  You can already see her playing the part every Monday and Tuesday night.  Susan is currently contracted until 10th July 2011.

This leaves Susan’s role of Serena vacant from the 12th when Nicola Brazil (pictured) will be joining the cast.  Her musical theatre credits include Alice (David Essex’s All The Fun of The Fair Garrick Theatre), Amber (Hairspray at the Shaftesbury), Sandy (Grease at Piccadilly) and as an ensemble member in Wicked at the Victoria Apollo.  Nicola has most recently been playing Cinderella at the Waterside Theatre Aylesbury.

Aoife Mulholland was playing the part of Brooke but she is pregnant and left on 22nd December.

Other cast members from 10th January 2011 include: Stephane Anelli (Padamadan, Nikos), Emma Bateman (Stenographer), Nicola Brazil (Serena), Thomas Camilleri (Carlos), Chris Ellis-Stanton (Grandmaster Chad, Dewey, Kyle), Kimmy Edwards (Judge, Saleswoman), Ibinabo Jack (Pilar), Suzie McAdam (Enid), Sorelle Marsh (Courtney, Mom, Whitney), Sean Mulligan (Pforzheimer), Dawn Sievewright (Kate, Chutney), Lincoln Stone (Dad, Winthrop, Reporter), Robbie Towns (Aaron), Dominic Tribuzio (Kiki), Tamara Wall (District Attorney) and Stephen Webb (Lowell) as well as Jonathan Mawson, Jane McMurtrie, Lucy Miller, Ruthie Stephenson and Gregor Stewart as swings.

Daniel Boys and Julie Atherton in musical Ordinary Days

West End stars Daniel Boys and Julie Atherton from Avenue Q are  together again in the musical Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon at the Trafalgar Studios from 8th February-5th March 2011.

Ordinary days tells the story of Deb who loses her most precious possession - the notes to her graduate thesis - and  unwittingly starts a chain of events that turns the ordinary days of four New Yorkers into something extraordinary. Told through a series of intricately connected songs and vignettes, Ordinary Days is an original musical about growing up and enjoying the view.

Tickets for Ordinary Days

Order Ordinary Days album at: www.amazon.co.uk

Lead actress Natalie Mendoza quits Spiderman the Musical which now has opening postponed for fifth time

The ill fated musical Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark is currently previewing on Broadway and has suffered yet another blow after Natalie Mendoza who was playing the lead role of the villainess Arachne has decided to leave the show.  Natalie's representatives are currently negotiating a suitable exit agreement for the actress.

Natalie was one of four cast members injured whilst performing in Spider-Man being hit on the head by a rope at the show’s first preview in November. She carried on performing but fell ill the following day and was diagnosed with a concussion.

With a budget of $65 million, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark features music by U2 members Bono and The Edge and is the most expensive production in Broadway history.

The musical has been besieged by problems from the very start, with critics trashing the show and the opening delayed by four weeks for an artistic overhaul. It was   due to open on February 7th at the Foxwood Theatre in New York but the opening has been delayed yet again to 15th March which is the fifth postponement - citing  more time is needed to rehearse a new ending.

With the sudden departure of Mendoza her understudy America Olivo will step in and take over the role of Arachne.

Annalene Beechey, Emily Tierney, Rosemary Ashe and Jeff Nicholson in Scrapbook Concert

West End musical theatre stars will be performing songs from the recently released album Scrapbook - the songs of Rob Archibald and Verity Quade at 7:30 pm on Sunday 9th January in the Main House at the Leicester Square Theatre.

Performers include: Annalene Beechey (Beauty & the Beast, Wicked, Les Mis, Phantom, Marguerite), Rebecca Lock (Martin Guerre, Phantom, Avenue Q), Rosemary Ashe (Witches of Eastwick, Phantom, Les Mis, Mary Poppins), Stuart Matthew Price (Parade), Wendy Somerville (Hairspray, Les Mis), Emily Tierney (Glinda in TheWizard of Oz, Wicked, All the Fun of the Fair), Ako Mitchell (Sister Act, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Jeff Nicholson (Les Mis), John Barr (Les Mis, Batboy, Ragtime, Aspects of Love), Kerry Winter (The Last Five Years, The Sound of Music, Grease), Anna Francolini (Onassis, Merrily We Roll Along) and  Keisha Amponsa Banson (BBC's I'd Do Anything, Little Shop of Horrors, Footloose).

Tickets at: https://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com

Latest News on The Wizard of Oz

As the London Palladium continues its transformation into the Emerald City for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of the Wizard of Oz, the Lord reports that “Rehearsals are going well. Danielle Hope is incredibly hard-working and she has developed a great relationship with Michael Crawford. She is getting the work experience of a lifetime by working with one of the greatest musical theatre performers we have ever had.”

Lord Lloyd Webber told the Telegraph "The most exciting thing about this production is to see if we can make it work for the first time in the theatre properly because it's never really translated on stage before.”

He has co-written four new songs with Tim Rice because there wasn’t anything for either of the witches or the wizard (played by Hannah Waddingham, Emily Tierney and Michael Crawford). There is a slightly longer opening sequence and the ending is truer to the book where Oz is a real place and not a dream as in the Judy Garland film.

The Wizard of Oz begins previewing in February next year and opens on 1st March with £8.5 million already taken in advance ticket sales. There is an extended preview period from 7th-28th February to get the musical's tornado scene right as it requires the theatre's double revolving stage to be reinstalled. Anyone who used to watch the 1960s television programme Sunday Night at the London Palladium will remember this revolve the performers going round and waving at the end of the show.

By the time The Wizard of Oz opens the Palladium will have undergone its biggest revamp since it opened in 1910 utilising huge spaces that had been boarded up and forgotten since the Second World War.  Lloyd Webber says: "There was a carpenter's workshop that had been boarded up for 70 years and was like a time capsule when we found it. A lot of our staff have worked here for 50 years and had no idea it was there. We had a box office that was designed for selling two thousand tickets in 10 minutes, but you don't need that any more. We found a storeroom full of old ticket stubs, with a beautiful ceiling that had been covered over with plasterboard.”  The old rooms will be used to extend the bars, provide new entrances and more lavatories.

By Jeeves Musical at Landor Theatre

A new production of  the musical By Jeeves which is based on P G Wodehouse’s  stories of Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves is playing at the Landor Theatre in south west London from 1st February to 5th March.

Bertie Wooster is due to give a concert in a church hall when his banjo mysteriously disappears. His quick-witted and unflappable manservant Jeeves suggests that he entertain his audience by relating the hapless romantic misadventures of his circle of high-society London cronies.

Bertie Wooster is being played by Kevin Trainor (Billy in Jonathan Harvey's "Canary" at Hampstead Theatre and Trent Conway in "Six Degrees of Separation" at the Old Vic). Jeeves is being played Paul M. Meston (Paul in Steven Berkoff's "Messiah:Scenes from an Execution").

The cast is completed by Brendan Cull/Harold "Stinky" Pinker ("Flashdance" and "Spamalot" in the West End): Owen Rhys Davies/ "Bingo": Helen George/Madeleine ("The Woman in White", "High School The Musical"): Tim Hudson/Sir Watkyn Bassett: Jenni Maitland/"Stiffy":  David Menkin/"Cyrus": Charlotte Mills/"Honoria" ("Jerusalem" at The Royal Court, West End ) and Andrew Pepper as "Gussie" ("Mary Poppins" West End and  the Scarecrow in "The Scarecrow and his Servant" at Southwark Playhouse).

This new production features 13 songs composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Alan Ayckbourn.

Clapham North Station is only a 3 minute walk away from the Landor, The nearest mainline station is Clapham High Street which is a  5 minute walk away.

Tickets at: www.landortheatre.co.uk

Andrew Lloyd Webber World Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar planned for next year

According to an interview in today’s Telegraph Andrew Lloyd Webber is planning a world arena tour of the rock opera of Jesus Christ Superstar which he wrote with Sir Tim Rice in 1970.

He wants the work "to go back to its rock roots. Every major artist I've spoken to has said they want to be in it. I'm not going to name names, but I'm getting demo tapes from some of the top artists in the world. It's extraordinary”.

It’s a very demanding score vocally with the parts of Judas and Jesus requiring very strong voices with exceptional ranges.  I last saw the show at London’s Lyceum in 1996 with Ramon Tikaram and Steve Balsamo in these roles respectively.

In 2004 it was restaged for a UK tour which Bill Kenwright took on the road with Glenn Carter as Jesus and pop singer James Fox as Judas. It was scheduled to end in December of that year, but its success resulted in it begin extended until August 2005.

I think Lloyd Webber’s plans for an arena tour are very exciting as the rock musical could be really spectacular on a large stage.  In the UK Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds starring Jason Donovan and Rhydian Roberts has just ended after rave reviews and the Arena Tour of Batman the Musical  is due to start at the MEN Arena in Manchester on 24th July, 2011.

The plan is that Jesus Christ Superstar plays 200 arenas in America with its route already in the planning stages.  The Lord then wants to take it on a world tour playing at O2 Arena in England.

Why Rebecca the Musical is not opening at Shaftesbury Theatre

There have been all sorts of rumours circulating why Rebecca the Musical has been pulled from its Spring opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End with Flashdance closing there on 15th January.  

I am very sad that it has been postponed, especially as there was a very strong rumour that the excellent Miss Haydn Gwynne was in line to play the deluded Mrs Danvers

Well wonder no more why it has been delayed as the producer Ben Sprecher said yesterday:  “The reason that Rebecca will not be at the beautiful Shaftesbury Theatre is that the excavation under the stage, in order to allow for the staircase of Manderlay, could not be done. We are committed to not compromising the artistic vision of this production. The Theatre is situated over an ancient stream which, when we did the test hole, completely filled up with water. Second, the Theatre back wall is supported by the interior walls that would have to be removed during the excavation. Further, in the UK whenever there is a substantial excavation, any artefact found in the digging immediately brings the construction job to a compete halt indefinitely while it is determined whether or not the is any significance to the "find", All of these obstacles combined forced us to rethink going forward at this historic theatre. Therefore, REBECCA the musical will be announcing its new production schedule and theatre very shortly.

Thank you all for your excitement about the show. On behalf of all the creative personnel on this production, we hope it will be worth the wait.”

John Barrowman Wins Christmas Strictly Come Dancing

The celebrity Christmas version of BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing last night really proved that musical theatre traning does cover all aspects of entertainment. 

John Barrowman opened the show with his partner the glamorous Christina Rihanoff and danced incredibly well given the small amount of rehearsal the celebrities has been given.  Barrowman would describe himself as a "mover" rahter than a "dancer" but his quickstep literally swept the floor beating competitors Ronni Ancona, Fern Britton, Vince Cable and June Brown hands down.

He promised drama and lots of sequins, and apparently the grey trousers and waistcoat he was wearing had the most sparkle ever worn by a male competitor!  

Hadley Fraser, Mark Evans, Rosalie Craig and Liam Tamne in Concert

A number of West End musical theatre stars are performing the Songs of Bobby Cronin at the New Players Theatre on Sunday 27th February. 

The concert will showcase the work of the award-winning American composer/lyricist and will feature an impressive line including Simon Bailey (Phantom, Passion), Natasha Barnes (Spring Awakening, Striking 12), Rosalie Craig (Lord of the Rings, Aspects Of Love), Mark Evans (Oklahoma, Wicked), Samantha Barks (Les Miserables) Jye Frasca (Wicked, Jersey Boys), Hadley Fraser (Fantasticks, Les Mis O2), Ashleigh Gray (Grease, Wicked), Jodie Jacobs (Bright Lights Big City, Footloose), Rebecca Lock (Avenue Q, Phantom), Ceili O'Connor (Fantasticks, Wizard of Oz), Katie Rowley Jones (Wicked, Sister Act), Caroline Sheen (Les Mis, Mary Poppins US Tour), Liam Tamne (Wicked, Hairspray) and Sally Ann Triplett  plus a four piece band under the musical direction of Simon Beck (West Side Story, Spamalot). More guests are to be announced shortly.

Special offer tickets (2 for £50) code 'valentines at www.ticketweb.co.uk


Tickets are £30 and £22.50 (special student offer) and can be purchased online at
www.newplayerstheatre.com

Lee Mead and Kerry Ellis in Lionel Bart tribute on Christmas Eve

Lionel Bart would have been 80 this year and to mark the occasion Barbara Windsor is presenting Friday Night is Music Night from Hackney Empire (Bart’s favourite venue) on Radio2 on Christmas Eve at 8:00 pm.

She will be joined by musical theatre star Lee Mead performing "From Russia with Love" which was composed by Bart, Kerry Ellis (Nancy in Oliver!) Emma Barton who recently appeared in Chicago and EastEnders Samantha Womack (Ronnie Mitchell).

Bradley Walsh will be there to remember Bart’s work which starts with the Cliff Richard hit Living Doll to the score for the musical Oliver! which is currently playing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Full cast for Marti Pellow's Jekyll & Hyde tour

The full cast has now been announced for the tour of the musical Jekyll & Hyde starring Marti Pellow.

Marti Pellow will be playing Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde with the remainder of the cast for the tour include: Emma/Sarah Earnshaw (Wicked!) , Lucy/Sabrina Carter (Oliver!) , Utterson/Mark McGee (Les Miserables, Saturday Night Fever,Whistle Down The Wind, Starlight Express), Sir Danvers/David Delve, Lord Savage/Jacob Chapman, General Glossop/Martin Dickinson, Bishop of Basingstoke/Jon De Ville, Poole/James Gant, Lady Beaconsfield & Nellie/Amira Matthews, Bisset/ Daniel Robinson, Sir Archibald Proops/Matt Stevens, Simon Stride/Michael Taibi with ensemble members Grace Gardner, Alexandra Grierson, Carolyn Maitland and  Rob Copeland  and Kerri Watt Ensemble / Swing.

Alfie Boe signing copies of new album Bring Him Home

Alfie Boe: Bring Him Home. is due for release on 27th December. It can be pre-ordered at www.amazon.co.uk/Bring-Him-Home-Alfie-Boe

Alfie will be at Dress Circle in London's Monmouth Street on Saturday,8th January between 1.00-2:00 pm to sign copies of the album

Tracks on Alfie’s Bring Him Home album include a duet with Kerry Ellis on Come What May from Moulin Rouge; another with Matt Lucas on The Impossible Dream; plus versions of On The Street Where You Live, Some Enchanted Evening, If I Loved You, As If We Never Said Goodbye and of course the title track Bring Him Home.

You can listen to a preview of Bring Him Home here.

Ex Corrie Star Bill Ward to appear in Million Dollar Quartet

Former Coronation Street star Bill Ward who played Charlie Stubbs is to take on the role of influential music producer and record label founder Sam Phillips, who was the Sun Records boss who brought together the “million dollar quartet” of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis

Ward's previous West End musical theatre credits include Sir Lancelot in Spamalot and Scar in the Lion King.

Million Dollar Quartet is currently playing on Broadway and in Chicago and is now heading for London’s West End opening at the Noel Coward Theatre on 28th February 2011 with previews from 8th February 2011.

The show which features some of the greatest rock numbers including Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, That's All Right, Sixteen Tons, Great Balls of Fire, Walk the Line, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Who Do You Love? And Hound Dog.

Critics invited back to review revamped Love Never Dies

Love Never Dies recently closed at the Adelphi Theatre for three days so that some changes could be implemented. Since it re-opened all the feedback I have received about the re-vamped version has been most mostly positibve.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has clearly decided that the time is right to try to win the hearts of the London critics as they have been invited to revisit and re-review the show on 21st December.

There has been no announcement about who has actually implemented the changes, which include the repositioning of Ramin Karimloo's (The Phantom) ballad "Till I Hear You Sing" at the start of the show and the revised ending, but it is believed that producer and director Bill Kenwright has played a big part.

Sunset Boulevard, Lloyd Webber's last original musical to play at the Adelphi Theatre, was also “tweaked” during the course of its West End run and invited the critics back to see it again.

Verity Rushworth is the new Maria in Sound of Music Tour

Connie Fisher is due to leave the role of Maria in the Sound of Music Tour when it finishes its run at Oxford New Theatre on 2nd January 2011. 

Its next port of call is the New Theatre in Hull on 29th January when Jason Donovan will be joining the tour as Captain von Trapp and Verity Rushworth will be the new Maria.

Verity is probably best known for her role as Donna Windsor-Dingle in the ITV1 soap Emmerdale which she appeared in from the age of 12 from 1998 to 2009.

In February 2009 she made her West End debut by playing the role of Penny Pingleton in hit musical Hairspray.  She has recently been appearing in the new musical Departure Lounge at Waterloo East Theatre in London.

Daniel Boys hosting free Get Into London event

Daniel Boys is hosting a free concert at the Royal Festival Hall on 4th January to launch  Get Into London Theatre where 58 shows (including  musicals, plays, entertainment shows, opera and dance) are offering reduced price tickets  from as little as £10 from 4th January to 18th February, 2011

He will be joined by the casts of  Jersey Boys, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, Mamma Mia! and Stomp  from 14:00 to 17:00. 

The launch event will feature a demonstration of jumping rope by the cast and resident director of Legally Blonde, a workshop on body percussion from Stomp and the chance to learn the finale to Mamma Mia! from dance captain Tim Stanley.

The cast of the The Fitzrovia Hour, which opens at Trafalgar Studios in January, and Potted Panto duo Dan and Jeff will also be there.

Tickets for all shows and activities can be booked through www.getintolondontheatre.co.uk or by calling the hotline on 0871 230 1548.

The launch event at the Royal Festival Hall is free and tickets are not required.

Tim Howar cast in Stephen Mear’s Shoes at the Peacock

Stephen Mear’s Shoes premiered at Sadler's Wells in September 2010, and has now transferred with a brand new cast to the Peacock Theatre where it will play for a limited eight-week run from Tuesday 8th February - Sunday 3rd April 2011.

You can buy tickets for Shoes at the Peacock Theatre here

Shoes is a musical that reflects life from street-level with wit, irreverence and affection.Shoes celebrates our obsession with shoes, from Louboutins to Crocs, through the medium of dance and music.The dancers flash their heels to 29 original numbers  by Richard Thomas, co-creator of Jerry Springer: The Opera.The cast features 12 dancers, four singers and a live band. It is directed by choreographer Stephen Mear (Mary Poppins, Sweet Charity and The Little Mermaid).

The Four Singers performing in shoes include Tim Howar  (Peggy Sue Got Married, Tonight's the Night and We Will Rock You). His background is in rock music and he is currently co-fronting band Mike & The Mechanics' new album and UK tour in Spring 2011. Howar is joined by Damian Humbley (The Woman in White, The Last 5 Years, Little Shop of Horrors and Lend Me A Tenor at Plymouth Theatre Royal).

The remaining singers are Gemma Duffy, whose previous theatre credits include Footloose - The Musical and Australian soprano Jennifer Peers who has appeared in Richard Thomas' Jerry Springer - The Opera at Sydney Opera House and in My Fair Lady for Opera Australia.

The production features over 250 pairs of shoes. Major designers and brands include Terry de Havilland, Manolo Blahnik, Beatrix Ong, LK Bennett, Nike, Birkenstock, Finsk, Joseph Azagury, Oliver Sweeney, Salvatore Ferragamo, Christian Louboutin, Rupert Sanderson and Alexander McQueen.

Tracie Bennett End of the Rainbow Show Recording out on 31st January

One of the best shows I have seen this year is The End of the Rainbow starring the amazing Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland.  It was due to   play at the Trafalgar Studios until 5th March, but due to poplular demand the booking period has now been extended  by 5 weeks until April 16th.  You can purchase tickets for The End of the Rainbow at: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

They are releasing  a London Cast Recording on 31st January 2011 which you can pre-order at: www.amazon.co.uk

The track listing on the album is: 

1. Anything But Love/Just In Time
2. Medley – The Bells Are Ringing for Me and My Gal / You Made me Love You/ The Trolley Song
3. The Man That Got Away
4. When You’re Smiling the whole World Smiles With you
5. Come Rain or Come Shine
6. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
7. Get Happy/By Myself
8. When the sun Comes Out
9. Smile
10. I Could Go On Singing
11. San Francisco
12. Zing Went the Strings of my Heart
13. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Bonus Track) 

STOP PRESS: Tracie Bennett will be at Dress Circle on Saturday 5th February from 12:00 noon 1:00 pm to sign copies of the New London Cast Recording of "End of the Rainbow".

Hannah Waddingham, Alan Cumming and Emma Williams in Lance Horne Concert

Following two sell out concerts at New York’s Lincoln Center, you can see Emmy award winning composer Lance Horne. First Things Last for one night only on Sunday 30th January at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End.

Lance Horne: First Things Last will star Olivier and Tony Award winner Alan Cumming, Julie Atherton  and Paul Spicer (Avenue Q), Hannah Waddingham (The Wizard of Oz) and Emma Williams (Love Story) with special guest star Norm Lewis who is currently playing Javert in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre.

Lance Horne: First Things Last celebrates the release of his debut album of the same name which is released on Yellow Sound Label on 11th January 2011. It features his songs performed by US artists including Alan Cumming, Lea DeLaria, Cheyenne Jackson, Ricki Lake, Meow Meow, Amanda Palmer, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Alexandra Silber and West End stars Julie Atherton, Aneurin Barnard, Paul Spicer, Hannah Waddingham and Emma Williams.

Lance Horne composes, writes lyrics, sings, plays piano, produces and musically directs original works in collaboration with artists from all around the world. First Things Last is his latest exploration of the most engaging sounds from musical theatre on Broadway and in the West end.

Tickets at: https://tickets.nimaxtheatres.com

Lee Mead switches on Xmas lights at hospital where baby Betsy was born

Denise Van Outen gave birth to baby daughter Betsy in May of this year, and husband Lee Mead returned to University College Hospital where she had the baby to switch on the Christmas lights with young gospel singers from Maria Fidelis Convent School who were the winners of the 2010 BBC Songs of Praise choir competition and who raised the roof with their fabulous singing.

Lee is currently appearing as Fiyero in the musical Wicked and is also due to perform in concert Christmas with Lee Mead at the Coliseum this Sunday with Niamh Perry and Rachel Tucker as his special guests.

More tour dates for Chess the Musical

Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood's tour of the classic musical Chess which was written by Tim Rice and Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson has extended and is now booking into 2011.

The new tour starts on 25th January 2011 at the Milton Keynes Theatre and is currently playing an additional 11 dates before it ends at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow on 9th April. .

David Shannon, Jacqui Scott, Andrew Halliday and Robyn North in Christmas at the Musicals - The Best Of The West End

Is being presented at the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham on Thursday 16^th December. The concert includes best loved songs from musicals past and present, with a seasonal extra to add to the Christmas spirit.

Christmas at the Musicals features four West End musical theatre soloists: Robyn North (Phantom of the Opera, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Scrooge), Jacqui Scott (Evita, Cats, Miss Saigon, Chess), Andrew Halliday (Phantom of the Opera, City of Angels, Chess, Cats) and David Shannon (Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Whistle Down the Wind). 

They will be accompanied by the West End Theatre Orchestra.

Tickets at: www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk

Additional Matinees for West End Musicals over Christmas and New Year

Below are the additional shows which are being performed for musicals in London's West End during the weeks leading up until Christmas and New Year.
 
Just click on the name of the show for more details and to make a booking:

Show	Extra Matinee Dates
Billy Elliot	Wednesday 21st – 14:30 Friday 24th - 14:30 Monday 27th - 14:30 Tuesday 28th - 14:30 Friday 31st - 17:30
Blood Brothers	Wednesday 22nd - 15:00 Friday 24th - 15:00 Wednesday 29th - 15:00 Friday 31st – 14:00
Chicago	Wednesday 22nd - 15:00 Thursday 23rd - 15:00 Tuesday 28th - 15:00 Wednesday 29th - 15:00
Dirty Dancing	Wednesday 22nd - 15:00 Tuesday 28th - 15:00 Wednesday 29th - 15:00
Dreamboats & Petticoats	Wednesday 22nd - 15:00 Friday 24th -  15:00 Wednesday 29th – 15:00 Friday 31st – 14:00
Flashdance	Monday 20th – 17:00 Tuesday 21st – 17:00 Wednesday 22nd – 17:00 Wednesday 29th  - 17:00 Thursday 30th – 17:00
Grease	Monday 20th – 17:00 Tuesday 21st - 17:00 Wednesday 22nd - 17:00 Tuesday 28th - 15:00 Wednesday 29th -15:00 Thursday 30th - 15:00
Jersey Boys	Wednesday 22nd – 15:00 Thursday 23rd - 15:00 Friday 24th - 15:00 Wednesday 29th - 15:00 Friday 31st - 15:00
Legally Blonde	Friday 24th – 14:30 Monday 27th - 14:30 Friday31st - 14:30
Les Miserables	Monday 20th - 14:30 Thursday 23rd – 214:30 Friday 24th – 14:30
Lion King	Friday 24th - 14:30 Thursday 30th - 14:30 Friday 31st – 14:30
Love Never Dies	Thursday 23rd - 14:30 Monday 27th - 14:30 Thursday 30th - 14:30 Friday  31st - 14:30
Love Story	Thursday 23rd – 15:00 Thursday 30th – 15:00
Mamma Mia!	Monday 20th - 15:00 Tuesday 21st - 15:00 Thursday 23rd - 15:00 Tuesday 28th - 15:00 Thursday 30th - 15:00
Oliver!	Monday 20th – 14:30 Thursday 23rd - 14:30 Friday24th - 14:30 Friday 31st - 14:30
The Phantom of the Opera	Wednesday 22nd - 14:30 Thursday 23rd - 14:30 Friday 24th - 14:30 Sunday 26th - 14:30 Wednesday 29th - 14:30
Priscilla Queen of the Desert	Tuesday 21st - 14:30 Monday 27th - 14:30 Wednesday 29th - 14:30 Friday31st - 14:30
Stomp	Wednesday 22nd – 15:00 Tuesday 28th – 15:00
Thriller Live	Wednesday 22nd – 15:30 Wednesday 29th – 16:00 Thursday 30th – 16:00
We Will Rock You	Monday 20th – 14:30 Thursday 23rd - 14:30 Monday 27th - 14:30 Tuesday 28th - 14:30 Thursday 30th - 14:30 Friday 31st - 14:30
Wicked	Monday 20th - 14:30 Thursday 23rd - 14:30 Friday 24th - 14:30 Tuesday 28th - 14:30 Friday 31st - 14:30

Samantha Barks & Lucie Jones in Direct from the West End Concert

Lucie Jones and Samantha Barks are playing Cosette and Eponine in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London’s West End.

You can see them both in Direct from the West End Concert performing songs from the musicals including Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Oliver, West Side Story, Miss Saigon and Hairspray.

They will be performing three two hour concerts next year at the Grand Opera House in York on 23rd January: New Theatre Oxford on 6th February and at the Theatre Royal Windsor on 13th February.

They are supported by a cast of leading West End performers including Gina Beck (Phantom of the Opera), Scott Garnham (Les Misérables) , Rachel Bingham (The Sound of Music) , Killian Donnelly (Les Misérables) , Jeff Nicholson (Les Misérables) and Jessie May (Mamma Mia)

Direct From the West End support MacMillan Cancer Support

Tickets at: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Bid for Afternoon Tea with Jonathan Ansell

Classicfm Christmas Appeal Auction are offering a number of lots including afternoon tea with Jonathan Ansell at the Sanctum Soho Hotel in London.

The on air auction is running from 13th-17th December but you can bid online with the highest bid received by midday on the 22nd December being the winner.

The award winning Sanctum Soho Hotel was the subject of a TV documentary last year and is favoured by musicians and celebrities for its stunning design and great service.

The lot is that next year two people will join Jonathan for a Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea which includes a three course selection of hot and cold dishes, finished off with a silver tankard of Jack Daniels or Irish coffee and a cigar.  The time and date to be agreed with Jonathan and the Hotel.

You can make a bid at :  http://www.classicfm.co.uk

Hannah Waddingham and Nigel Harman Appearing in Miss Marple

There is a new two hour Agatha Christie Miss Marple being broadcast on ITV1 on Sunday 2nd January 2011 at 9:00 pm which Hannah Waddingham (The Wizard of Oz) and Nigel Harman (Shrek) are appearing in.

Julia McKenzie plays Miss Marple in The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side.  It tells the story of Hollywood star Marina Gregg (originally played by Elizabeth Taylor) who has left Los Angeles and taken up residence in Gossington Hall at St Mary Mead with her dashing film director husband Jason Rudd (originally played by Rock Hudson but now played by Nigel Harman). 

Hannah Waddingham is young American actress Lola Brewster who also happens to be Jason’s ex-lover.

Barbra Streisand “My Passion for Design”

Barbra Streisand has just brought out her first book revealing the taste and style that have inspired her beautiful homes and collections.

My Passion for Design focuses on the architecture and construction of her newest homes with many of her own photographs of the rooms she has decorated, furniture and art she has collected and her spectacular gardens on the California coast.

Your can order a copy of Barbra Streisand My Passion for Design at: www.amazon.co.uk

Andrew Lloyd Webber pulls out of theatres sale

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company has withdrawn from a deal to sell the Palace, Her Majesty's, the Cambridge and the New London Theatres to a consortium led by Michael Grade.

Mr Grade offered around £50m for the four theatres, but Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group announced yesterday that the deal had fallen through at the eleventh hour.

A statement released by RUG today says that while “both sides remain satisfied that the price was and is a fair reflection of the value of these theatres…At the eleventh hour, GradeLinnit raised issues relating to a long-standing contractual agreement between one of the theatres and a production company about a possible future production. GradeLinnit decided that they would not want to take this contract forward as owners of the theatre. The Really Useful Group has chosen to continue with the agreement and therefore the sale will not be going ahead.”

Sources close to Lloyd-Webber report that he is "delighted" that the theatres are to remain under his ownership, and when the sale was agreed in October he described it as "a totally gut-wrenching decision".

Judi Dench in Sondheim on Sondheim next year?

Dame Judi Dench was doing a platform in the Lyttelton Theatre at the National last night talking to John Miller about her new book And Furthermore.

During conversation she mentioned that she will be involved with Sondheim on Sondheim when it comes to London next year.  Saying “I’ll be there”. She said there will be a permanent cast but with a male and female guest appearing for four weeks at a time.

Sondheim on Sondheim was conceived by James Lapine and is a haphazard anthology show which blends live performance of Sondheim songs with archival video footage and taped interviews with Sondheim. It has a cast of 8 and presumably Dench would take the role played by Barbara Cook on Broadway.

You can purchase And Furthermore at www.amazon.vo.uk

Lee Mead's Sunday Concert at Fairfield Halls Cancelled

Lee Mead’s concert at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon scheduled for this Sunday 12th December has been cancelled after Mead had to pull out at very short notice due to “unforeseen commitments” - whatever that means?

Fairfield's box office will be contacting ticket holders or call 020 8688 9291 for further information.

Sierra Boggess and Tam Mutu Concert on BBC Radio 2

West End stars Tam Mutu and Sierra Boggess are currently appearing in Andrew Lloyd’s Webber’s Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre.

You can hear them  in concert on Friday Night is Music Night on Friday 17th December on BBC Radio 2 from 8:00pm-10:00pm singing a selection of music about the masked men of stage and screen with a programme including Robin Hood, William Tell, The Masked Ball, Batman and Spiderman. 

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber introduces pieces from his own shows including The Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies

They will be accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Simon Lee.

Louise Dearman, Jessie Buckley, Daniel Boys, Samantha Barks and Rachel Tucker on More With Every Line Album

"More With Every Line - The Music of Tim Prottey-Jones" is the debut album of songs by a young British composer who blends musical theatre with a pop/rock edge.

The album consists of 13 tracks performed by an impressive list of West End musical theatre stars from "After The Turn" and "Once Bitten", musicals which Tim Prottey-Jones is in the process of developing.

There will be a signing and  performances from star vocalists on the album at Dress Circle in London's Monmouth Street on Saturday, February 12th at 11.30am. The full list of performers who will be attending the event will be announced soon.

The full track list is:

1. Bite Your Lip - Jon Boydon & Sabrina Aloueche
2. Fallen - Louise Dearman
3. My Heart Beats In My Song - Daniel Boys
4. Time - Victoria Hamilton-Barritt & Noel Sullivan
5. I Will Be There - Jessie Buckley
6. Butterflies - Tituss Burgess
7. Just One Look - Jon Lee & Julie Atherton
8. See This Day Away - Aaron Lazar
9. I Know Who You Are - Colleen Ballinger
10. Strong Without You - Samantha Barks
11. Rescue Remedy - Drew Sarich
12. More Than You Could Know - Tim Prottey-Jones & Stuart Matthew Price
13. Rain On Me - Rachel Tucker

The album can be pre-ordered at: www.amazon.co.uk

Cameron Mackintosh teams up with Tickets for Troops for LesMis Bring Him Home single

The Four Valjeans sang Bring Him Home at the finale of the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena in October.  It was such a success that Cameron Mackintosh and Tickets for Troops have teamed up to release it as a single to raise money for the charity.

The single will be released on itunes on 12th December for 99p and will be available in the shops on 13th December with all profits going to ‘Ticket for Troops’.  

The Valjean Quartet (Colm Wilkinson from the original London cast, Simon Bowman from the current London cast, John Owen-Jones from the 25th Anniversary touring production and Alfie Boe who sang the role in the O2 Concert) will also perform “Bring Him Home” on this year’s Royal Variety Performance which is being broadcast on BBC1 at 8:00 pm on 16th December.

Steph Fearon signing My Parade album on Saturday 5th March

Steph Fearon was one of the finalists in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for a Dorothy in his forthcoming production of The Wizard of Oz with Michael Crawford playing the title role.

This Christmas she appeared in the pantomime Aladdin at Buxton Opera House and sets off on a tour of The Wizard of Oz in April playing Dorothy.

In December she released her debut album “My Parade” which  is a  collection of her favourite classic and contemporary musical theatre compositions with tracks including  Another Suitcase in Another Hall, As Long as You`re Mine (featuring Leon Lopez), He’s No Good, Don’t Tell Me On A Sunday, Somebody to Love, Somewhere Over The Rainbow and Don’t Rain On My Parade

She will be at Dress Circle in Monmouth Street on Saturday 5th March from 1:00-2:00 pm signing copies of the album.


You can order a copy of Stephanie Fearon's My Parade here