Les Miserables Major cast changes in June

From Monday 12 June 2017, there will be major cast changes at the West End production of “LES MISÉRABLES” at the Queen’s Theatre, which is now in its record breaking 33rd year.
 

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that Killian Donnelly will star as ‘Jean Valjean’. He joins “Les Misérables” fresh from Broadway where he is currently playing the lead role of ‘Charlie Price’ in “Kinky Boots”. West End leading lady and former Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson, will join the company as ‘Fantine’ and Hayden Tee returns to play ‘Javert’ from 17 July having performed the role at The Queen’s Theatre until 22 April this year.

 Also joining the company are Steven Meo as ‘Thénardier’; Karis Jack as ‘Eponine’, Jacqueline Tate as ‘Madame Thénardier’ and Hyoie O’Grady as ‘Enjolras’. Paul Wilkins will continue in the role of ‘Marius’ and Charlotte Kennedy will continue in the role of ‘Cosette’ having both originally joined the company in 2015.

 From 17 July 2017 the full company will be: Emma Barr; Adam Bayjou; Oliver Brenin; Ciarán Bowling; Hugo Chiarella; Andy Conaghan; Killian Donnelly; Alice Ellen Wright; Sophie-May Feek; Hyoie O’Grady; Catherine Hannay; Antony Hansen; Holly-Anne Hull; James Hume; Karis Jack; Ciaran Joyce; Charlotte Kennedy; Katie Kerr; Rebecca Lafferty; Jo Loxton; John Lumsden; Anna McGarahan; Steven Meo; Jonny Purchase; Lauren Soley; Carley Stenson; Jacqueline Tate; Shaq Taylor; George Tebbutt; Hayden Tee; Lee Van Geleen; Danny Whitehead and Paul Wilkins.

Killian Donnelly is currently playing 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: ‘Jackie Day’ in “Donegal”, a new play by Frank McGuinness, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and ‘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 onto 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.

Carley Stenson’s West End credits include 'Elle Woods' in “Legally Blonde”, 'Princess Fiona' in “Shrek The Musical” and 'Lady of the Lake' in “Spamalot”. Carley also starred as 'Christine Colgate' in the tour of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. She is probably best known for playing the regular role of 'Steph Cunningham' in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, for which she was nominated for several awards during her 10 years with the show.

Hayden Tee returns to the West End production of Les Misérables having played the role of ‘Javert’ in the West End from 9 January 2017 to 22 April 2017.  He has previously played the role on Broadway and in Dubai. He has also previously played the role of ‘Marius’. His other theatre credits include: “South Pacific”; “Little Women”; “Titanic”; “Cats” and “Into the Woods”.

Steven Meo’s previous theatre credits include “Pride & Prejudice” at The Regents Park Open Air Theatre and on UK tour; “The Taming of the Shrew”, “Boeing Boeing”, “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog” all for Theatre Clwyd; “The Distance” for Sheffield Crucible/Orange Tree Theatre and “Flesh and Blood” for Hampstead Theatre and on tour.

Karis Jack’s theatre credits include “The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin” at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East & Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; “Baddies: The Musical” at the Unicorn Theatre’ “Hairspray” at Curve, Leicester and on UK tour; “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Salisbury Playhouse and Mercury Theatre, Colchester; and “Urinetown: The Musical” at the Apollo Theatre and St James Theatre.

Jacqueline Tate’s previous theatre credits include: “Allegro” at the Southwark Playhouse; “Avenue Q” at the Wyndham's Theatre, Gielgud Theatre and national tour; “South Pacific” at The Barbican Theatre and UK tour; “The Phantom of The Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre and “My Fair Lady” and “Evita” on international tour.

Hyoie O’Grady is making his professional and West End debut in “Les Misérables”.

Paul WilkinsP has previously played the role of ‘Marius’ in “Les Misérables” in Manila, Singapore and Dubai. He made his West End debut in “Les Misérables” in 2015.

Charlotte Kennedy made her West End debut in “Les Misérables” in 2015.  She has also appeared in “Elaine Paige in Concert” at the Royal Albert Hall.

Conor McPherson's new Bob Dylan play The Girl From the North Country opens at Old Vic in July

Playwright Conor McPherson's new play The Girl From the North Country is set to legend Bob Dylan's classic songs. It is set Dylan's home town of Duluth, Minnesota in the midst of the Great Depression and is named after a track Dylan wrote in 1963 called Girl From The North Country.

Set in a a guest house, focusing on the family who run it: starring Shirley Henderson and Ciaran Hinds, with Sam Reid and Sheila Atim as their children. They are a  family adrift, their future on a knife edge. Lost and lonely people drifting through rooms of their guesthouse. But Nick Laine thinks he’s seen a way out…

It includes songs spanning the five decades of Dylan’s career — featuring classics  Like A Rolling Stone, Forever Young, Make You Feel My Love and Time Out Of Mind, as well as tunes that people probably don’t have in their Dylan collections. ‘There’ll be known songs, and unknown songs. But they’re all great songs.’ The show’s instruments and arrangements will have a Thirties feel. The on-stage band will use steel guitars, harmoniums, mandolins and harmonicas.

The company of actors and musicians will include: Sheila Atim (Les Blancs, National Theatre), Ron Cook (The Children, Royal Court), Bronagh Gallagher (The Faith Machine, Royal Court), Shirley Henderson (Bridget Jones' Diary), Ciarán Hinds (Hamlet, Barbican), Claudia Jolly (BBC's NW), Arinzé Kene (One Night in Miami, Donmar Warehouse), Debbie Kurup (The Bodyguard, Adelphi), Kirsty Malpass (Groundhog Day, The Old Vic), Jim Norton (The Weir, Royal Court), Tom Peters (The Crucible, The Old Vic), Karl Queensborough (Aladdin, Lyric Hammersmith), Sam Reid ('Tis Pity She's A Whore, West Yorkshire Playhouse), Michael Shaeffer (London Road, National Theatre), Jack Shalloo (Groundhog Day, The Old Vic) and Stanley Townsend (The Nether, Royal Court).

Buy tickets for The Girl From the North Country which opens at the Old Vic and is booking from 20 July 2017-7 October 2017

Star studded Palladium concert to celebrate Bill Kenwight 50 Years in Showbiz

BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night is celebrating  producer Bill Kenwright’s 50 years in showbusiness at a gala concert at The London Palladium at 7:30 pm on Thursday 11th May .

The show will be presented by Academy Award winning lyricist Don Black and feature a star studded cast including Kiki Dee (Blood Brothers), Marti Pellow (Jekyll and Hyde), Martin Shaw and Simon Bowman (Are You Lonesome Tonight), Madelena Alberto (Evita), Kris Harding (Starlight Express), Joe McElderry (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Danielle Hope (The Sound of Music), John Partridge (La Cage Aux Folles), Glenn Carter (Jesus Christ Superstar) and Tommy Steele (Scrooge) accompanied by the 60 piece BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Mike Reed.

The Liverpool-born theatre and film producer’s milestone will be recorded and broadcast on n a Friday Night Is Music Night special on June 3rd.

Tickets for Friday Night is Music Night Celebrates Bill Kenwright 

Kerry Ellis, Russell Watson and Hugh Maynard to star in new Heaven on Earth musical arena tour

Kerry Ellis, Russell Watson and Hugh Maynard are to star in new musical arena tour Heaven on Earth

The musical has a book, music and lyrics by Sara Jeffs, and is a classic re-telling of the biblical story of Adam and Eve.

Kerry Ellis (Wicked) will play Eve, Hugh Maynard (Miss Saigon) will play Adam and Russell Watson will feature as the voice of God but will not appear on stage.

The production will be directed and choreographed by Racky Plews (American Idiot), with set design by Jacqueline Pyle (Olympic opening ceremony), and arrangements by Geoff Alexander (the Harry Potter films).

The creative team will recreate the Garden of Eden in arenas around the UK, with special effects including fire, water and animatronics.

Tickets for Heaven on Earth which will open at Birmingham iBarclaycar Arena on 4th December 2017 before embarking on a UK tour to Birmingham, Cardiff, Nottingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Portsmouth, Newcastle, Glasgow, Exeter and Wembley.

  

Full cast for Annie the Musical starring Miranda Hart

Full casting has been announced for Annie the Musical which will starts rehearsals today and opens at the Piccadilly Theatre on 5th June (previews from 23rd May).

Joining the previously announced Miranda Hart as Miss Hannigan will be Alex Bourne (Mamma Mia!) as Daddy Warbucks, Holly Dale Spencer (Sweet Charity) as Grace Farrell, Jonny Fines (Grease) as Rooster and Djalenga Scott (Grease) as Lily.

The title role will be shared by three actors, 13 year-old Madeleine Haynes, and 12 year-old Lola Moxom and Ruby Stokes.

Annie's dog Sandy will be played by a 4 year-old Labradoodle called Amber.

They will be joined by  ensemble members  Keisha Atwell, Sophie Ayers, Bobby Delaney, Nic Gibney, Patrick Harper, Ben Harrold, George Ioannides, Megan Louch, Benjamin Mundy, Ben Oliver, Heather Scott-Martin, Anne Smith, Kate Somerset How, Katie Warsop and Russell Wilcox.

Latest News on Sondheim's Company starring Rosalie Craig

Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's  musical Company is part of the opening  season being assembled by director Marianne Elliott and producer Chris Harper for their new company, Elliott Harper Productions. The season starts in October with Simon Stephens’s play Heisenberg, directed by Elliott. Oedipus To Antigone, directed by Yael Farber, will follow in January; while Company, directed by Elliott with musical staging by Drew McOnie, is set to run in April for 12 weeks with negotiations currently under way for Elliott Harper to open all three productions at the Gielgud Theatre.

The production Company has already announced  a gender change, with award-winning Rosalie Craig playing the central role of Bobby as a woman. Top choreographer Drew McOnie who is currently directing and choreographing On The Town for the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park has now joined the creative team.

Company is about a group of couples who want to marry off their single friend, Bobby, Sondheim has enthusiastically agreed to re-work part of  it  with  Elliott.

Main casting news when Elliott has completed her work on the two-part drama Angels In America, which is currently previewing at the National.

Casting news for Dick Whittington at the Palladium this Christmas

Initial casting news has just been released for the pantomime Dick Whittington which will run at the Palladium this Christmas.

Julian Clary will return to the Palladium after last year's production of Cinderella, playing Spirit of the Bells alongside Paul Zerdin as Idle Jack and Nigel Havers as Captain Nigel. Ventriloquist Zerdin appeared as Buttons in Cinderella, and Havers played Lord Chamberlain

Jessica Martin to star in Ballroom Musical at Waterloo East

The European Premiere of the Broadway musical Ballroom will run  at Waterloo East Theatre from 12^th May to 4^th June 2017 (press night 15 May). The show has not been produced since it closed on Broadway in March 1979 where its  was developed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Bennett co-creator of A Chorus Line. Based on the CBS television movie The Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, with book by Jerome Kass, music by Billy Goldberg, lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman, and features the classic Broadway song Fifty Percent. The Broadway production was nominated for 9 Tony Awards and 7 Drama Desk Awards.

JESSICA MARTIN is playing the lead role Bea Asher who, having lost her beloved husband Morrie, opens a thrift shop that amounts to an ongoing garage sale of her own belongings. When her friend Angie urges her to get out of the shop and start living again by suggesting that she visit the local Brooklyn dance hall, Bea agrees and begins life anew at the Stardust Ballroom. There she meets middle-aged mailman Alfred Rossi and falls in love again. Her dream of a happily-ever-after relationship is shattered when she discovers Alfred hasn't been as honest about his personal life as she thought, but having found a new life and love decides that "50%" of someone you love is better than "all of anybody else".

Jessica's impressive list of musical theatre credits include leading roles in shows such as ME ANDMY GIRL (Adelphi Theatre & National Tour), MACK AND MABEL (Piccadilly Theatre), SOUTHPACIFIC (National Tour), the Olivier award nominated productions of BABES IN ARMS and THECARD (both at the Open Air Theatre Regent's Park), MARGUERITE (Theatre Royal Haymarket) andSUNSET BOULEVARD (Comedy Theatre), to name a few. Most recent credits BIG The Musical (UKPremier Plymouth & Dublin), Bumblescratch (Adelphi), Elf: The Musical (Dominion).

More casting news to follow 

Buy tickets for Ballroom

Matthew McKenna and Caroline Sheen to lead cast in Kiss Me Kate at Kilworth House

Matthew McKenna and Caroline Sheen are playing the leading roles of Fred Graham and Lillie Vanessi at Kilworth House Theatre’s production of Cole Porter and Bella Spewack's  Kiss Me, Kate in the grounds from 31st  May-16th  July.

Joining them are Justin Thomas (Bill Calhoun); Monique Young (Lois Lane); Cory English (Gangster 1); Carl Sanderson (Gangster 2); Gary Davis (General Harrison Howell) with  Andrew Gordon-Watkins; Piers Bate; Davide Fienauri; Tarinn Callender; Craig Turner; Adam Philpott; Paul Hutton; Thomas Audibert; Emily Squibb; Holly Willock; Katia Sartini; Helen Turner; Molly May Gardiner; Tash Holway; Jessica Pardoe; and Laura Ellis.

The production will be produced by Celia Mackay with  director Matthew White and choreographer Sam Spencer-Lane heading the creative team.

First staged on Broadway in 1948, Cole Porter’s  musical version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew contains a numbers including ‘Too Darn Hot’, ‘Another Op’nin’ Another Show’, ‘Always True To You in My Fashion’ and ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’.

Tickets for Kiss Me Kate

RAMIN KARIMLOO Back From Broadway! Concert

Broadway and West End star Ramin Karimloo returns to the London stage at the Royal Festival Hall, on 13th January at 7:30 pm with his new solo show  Ramin Karimloo Back From Broadway

An Olivier and Tony award nominee, Ramin is best known for playing leading roles in The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables in the West End. He also originated the role of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies and made his Broadway debut as Valjean in the 2014 revival production of Les Misérables. He is currently back on Broadway starring in the new musical Anastasia, which opened in March 2017.

The Royal Festival Hall concert sees Ramin return with his band complete with a string quartet and brass section.  The evening is packed full of musical theatre hits and standards including Bring Him Home, Music of the Night, Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, Old Man River and many more.  The evening will also include original material penned by Ramin himself. Buy your tickets now for a lively and magical evening in the generous company of Ramin Karimloo...unmissable!


For pre-sale tickets use this link using the special code: RAMIN

Casting and more dates for Miss Saigon UK Tour

The initial casting and more dates for the UK tour of Miss Saigon which opens at the Leicester Curve in July has just been announced. 

Red Concepcion will play ‘The Engineer’, Sooha Kim is  ‘Kim’, Ashley Gilmour ‘Chris’, Zoë Doano ‘Ellen’ and Gerald Santos ‘Thuy’. At certain performances ‘Kim’ will be played by Joreen Bautista.

They are joined by David Allwood, Randy Chien, Vinny Coyle,  Kristine Mae Diaz, Michael James Eborall,  Aynrand Ferrer, Seng Henk Goh, Emily Beth Harrington, Jack Heasman, Tom Hier, Barnaby Hughes, Kamm Kunaree, David Kar-Hing Lee, Amanda Lingdren, Ela Lisondra, Winchester Lopez,  Christian Rey Marbella, Jay Marsh, Tom Mussell,  Thao Nguyen, Saori Oda, YoungJoo Park,  Kiel Payton, Katherine Picar, Alistair So, Carl Jae-Suk Sohlberg, Eloisa Amalia Tan, Gavin Tsang, Amadeus Williams, and Gerald Zarcilla. Further casting to be announced soon.

 In addition to  venues already announced, MISS SAIGON is now also confirmed to play the Manchester Palace Theatre (21 March – 12 May 2018), The Bristol Hippodrome (16 May – 23 June), Theatre Royal Plymouth (4 July – 4 August) and Norwich Theatre Royal (15 August – 15 September). Tickets go on sale in May with with more venues to be announced soon.

 Red Concepcion’s many theatre credits in his native Philippines include Adam/Felicia in Priscilla Queen of the Desert for which he won the ALIW Award and Gawah Buhay Award, Tommy in The Normal Heart and Alan Strang in Equus as well as the musicals West Side Story and Hairspray.


Sooha Kim made her professional debut in this recent production of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre where she covered the role of Kim before going on to play the role in the Japanese production. Her credits whilst training in Korea include Maureen in Rent and Carmen in Fame.

Ashley Gilmour also appeared in Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre. His most recent credits include playing Link Larkin in the national tour of Hairspray.

Zoë Doano’s many West End theatre credits include Cosette in Les Misérables, Johanna in Sweeney Todd and most recently Grazia in Death Takes A Holiday. She has also appeared in the national tours of The Sound of Music and High Society.

Gerald Santos was the youngest ever winner of the biggest singing contest in the Philippines, Pinoy Pop Superstar. He has released five studio albums and has won numerous awards including winning twice Best Male Concert performer at the prestigious ALIW Awards.

2017 Olivier Awards - Musical Theatre winners

The winners of the Olivier Awards 2017 with Mastercard were announced last night  (Sunday 9 April 2017) at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The  ceremony was hosted by Jason Manford and will be broadcast on ITV on Tuesday 11 April at 8:00pm.

Predictably Harry Potter And The Cursed Child collected a record-breaking nine Olivier Awards, overtaking Matilda and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time  as the most decorated production in the ceremony’s history.

In the musical categories, Groundhog Day, written by Tim Minchin and Danny Rubin, was named Mastercard Best New Musical. The production, which is currently in previews on Broadway, also received the award for Best Actor in a Musical for Andy Karl’s portrayal of Phil Connors.

Amber Riley, who performed a show-stopping rendition of And I Am Telling You, was named Best Actress in a Musical, while her co-star Adam J Bernard won Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Rebecca Trehearn won Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Show Boat, which transferred to the West End from Sheffield Theatres.

Two shows composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber also received awards, with School Of Rock The Musical winning Outstanding Achievement in Music for the three children’s bands who play instruments live every night at New London Theatre and Jesus Christ Superstar winning Magic Radio Best Musical Revival.

Disappointingly the highly popular and critically acclaimed productions of The Girls and Half a Sixpence did not win anything despite several nominations..

The list of winners in the various musical theatre categories is  as follows:

Best Theatre Choreographer:  Matthew Bourne for The Red Shoes at Sadler’s Wells

Outstanding Achievement in Music: School Of Rock The Musical

Best Entertainment and Family: Matthew Bourne’s production of The Red Shoes at Sadler’s Wells

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Adam J Bernard for Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Rebecca Trehearn for Show Boat at New London Theatre

Magic Radio Best Musical Revival: Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Actor in a Musical: Andy Karl for Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Best Actress in a Musical: Amber Riley for Dreamgirls at Savoy Theatre

Mastercard Best New Musical: Groundhog Day at The Old Vic

Louise Dearman, Tyrone Huntley, Zizi Strallen, Oliver Saville among West End Stars in Musical Marathon

The Other Palace is hosting The Musical Marathon on Sunday 16th April 2017. It is a one-off charity concert bringing together a variety of West End stars in aid of male cancer charity Orchid. Buy Tickets for  £26; £26 for 26 miles, 26 songs and an unmissable night of musical talent.

Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director of The Other Palace and producer of shows including In The Heights and The Wild Party, is running the London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April, and will bring together a host of his theatrical friends to raise vital funds for Orchid, and their fight against male cancer.

The evening will be hosted by Caroline Flack and will feature performances from Louise Dearman, Tyrone Huntley, Zizi Strallen, Olivier Saville, Liam Doyle, Nathan Amzi, Kim Criswell, Liam Tamne, Christina Modesto, Emma Kingston, Lockie Chapman, Shaun McCourt and Idriss Kargbo.

 Orchid is the UK’s leading charity working on behalf of anyone affected by male cancer. Established in 1996 by testicular cancer patient, Colin Osborne MBE and the oncologist who saved his life, Professor Tim Oliver, Orchid exists to save men’s lives from male cancer through a range of support services, education and awareness campaigns and a pioneering research programme.

Latest News on Presenters and Performers at Sunday's Olivier Awards

The Olivier Awards 2017 with Mastercard has revealed further details of the ceremony, hosted by Jason Manford on Sunday 9th  April at the Royal Albert Hall which  will be broadcast on ITV on Tuesday 11th April from 8:00pm to 10:00pm. It will broadcast worldwide at the same time, outside the UK, on Facebook. The awards ceremony will also stream to China for the first time ever via YouKu.

Presenters this year include David Baddiel, Alfie Boe, John Boyega, Michaela Coel, Leanne Cope, Julian Clary, Robert Fairchild, Ben Forster, Phoebe Fox, Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, Matt Henry, Ruthie Henshall, Amanda Holden, Rufus Hound, Cush Jumbo, Nathan Lane, Rose Leslie, Maureen Lipman, Danny Mac, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Laura Mvula, Paul O'Grady, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Sophie Okonedo, Charlotte Ritchie, Mark Rylance and Russell Tovey.

The presenters join the previously announced line-up of i performers which will include Gary Barlow & Tim Firth with the company of The Girls, Amber Riley from Dreamgirls, Tim Minchin from his musical Groundhog Day and the companies of School Of Rock The Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar and Matthew Bourne’s touring production of The Red Shoes. Six-time Tony Award-winner, Audra McDonald (shortly to open in London in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill) performs exclusively as part of the In Memoriam section.

As previously announced, a new Red Carpet Live show debuts this year from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, hosted by Anita Rani, Jamie Lambert and Frank DiLella, exclusively onfacebook.com/OlivierAwards
 

Magic Radio will be broadcasting the entire show live on Sunday 9th April, hosted by Alice Arnold and Olivier Award-winner Ruthie Henshall, with build-up on air from 5:30pm. Sirius XM will broadcast the show via radio in the US

Cast announced Kiss Me Kate heading for London Coliseum

Updated 27th February:  The cast has just been announced:

• Baritone Quirijn de Lang (Sam Trouble in Tahiti and Count Almaviva The Marriage of Figaro) back in the role of Fred Graham / Petruchio.
• Soprano Stephanie Corley (Hanna Glawari The Merry Widow) as Lilli Vanessi / Kate. 
• Actor and singer Zoë Rainey comes to the role of Lois Lane / Bianca following the success of An American in Paris at the Dominion. 
• Dancer, singer and actor Alan Burkitt (Top Hat) returns as Bill Calhoun / Lucentio, having played the role during the Welsh National Opera run in 2016.

Opera North's production of Kiss Me, Kate is to transfer to London for a run at the Coliseum from June 20th-30th, 2018. It is the first time Opera North's production has been staged in the capital.

The show will open  Leeds Grand Theatre  from  May 23rd-26th, 2018,  before transferring to the Coliseum which is the  home of English National Opera, .

Kiss Me, Kate has music and lyrics by Cole Porter and is about the production of musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and the conflict between show runner Fred Graham, and his ex-wife and leading lady Lilli Vanessi.It features classic numbers including  Another Op'nin' Another Show, Brush Up Your Shakespeare, Always True to You in My Fashion and Too Darn Hot.

With a  cast to be announced the production will be directed by Jo Davies, and feature the the full-scale orchestra and chorus of Opera North conducted by James Holmes, with choreography by Will Tuckett. It has set and costume design by Colin Richmond and lighting by Ben Cracknell.

Buy tickets for Kiss Me, Kate

Louise Dearman & Simon Bowman Shaken and Stirred Concert

BBC Radio Friday Night is Music Night at 8:00 pm tomorrow features West End stars Simon Bowman and Louise Dearman in a Shaken and Stirred concert recorded at the Hackney Empire on 15th March featuring music with a spy theme including  The Ipcress File; Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy; The Third Man, The Avengers and 007 James Bond.

More casting announced for Sondheim's Follies at the National starring Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee and Philip Quast

The Mail's Baz Bamigboye has just revealed more casting news on this production: Joining the previously announced Imelda Staunton  as Sally Durant Plummer and  Janie Dee as Phyllis Stone, Philip Quast  as Benjamin Stone, Peter Forbes as Buddy Plummer, Dame Josephine Barstow as Heidi Schiller, Dawn Hope as  Stella Deems who leads the show-stopping number called Who’s That Woman, Tracie Bennett as Carlotta Campion: the former showgirl and one-time movie star who has been to hell and back who sings Sondheim’s showstopper number I’m Still Here are Di Botcher as ex Weismann showgirl Hattie Walker, with  Geraldine Fitzgerald as Solange who sings about 'Paree' , Bruce Graham is Roscoe, Alex Young  and  Fred Haig play young Sally and  young Buddy, Adam Rhys Charles is young Ben, Gary Raymond as showman Dimitri Weismann, Christine Tucker , Aimee Hodnett, Emily Langham  and Kate Parr are the young showgirls Weismann Follies and Liz Izen plays Deedee with Billy Boyle, Emily Goodenough,  Sarah Marie Maxwell,  Edwin Ray,  A Jordan Shaw, Barnaby Thompson, Christine Tucker and Alex Young.

Directed by Dominic Cooke with choreography by Bill Deamer, music supervisor Nicholas Skilbeck, music director Nigel Lilley, lighting designer Paule Constable, sound designer Paul Groothuis and associate choreographer Kylie Cruikshanks. Follies features an orchestra of 21 and includes songs including  "Losing My Mind", "I'm Still Here" and "Could I Leave You?". the show runs at the Olivier  from 6th September to 4th November with previews from 22nd August . Public booking opens on 5th May at 08:30.

When former members of the Weismann Follies reunite on the eve of their theater's demolition, two couples remember their past and face the harsher realities of the present. In the crumbling glamour of the theater, The Shadows of their younger selves remind them of the complicated steps they've danced-both on the stage and throughout their lives. Containing classics including   "Broadway Baby," "I'm Still Here," "Too Many Mornings, "Could I Leave You?" and "Losing My Mind," Follies is an excellent representations of  the vaudeville days between the two World Wars.


The show was originally produced on Broadway by Harold Prince with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, opening in April 1971 starring Dorothy Collins, John McMartin, Gene Nelson, and Alexis Smith. It ran for 522 performances and received seven Tony Awards, including Best Original Score.

Details of open auditions for Cilla the Musical

Producers of the tour of CILLA THE MUSICAL  have confirmed the dates and locations for their search for for a charismatic and talented actress with a great voice to portray the title role,with open auditions taking place around the country.

The dates and locations for the auditions are :

Tuesday 2nd May -  Liverpool Empire

Monday 8th May -  Edinburgh Playhouse

Tuesday 9th May - Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre

Friday 12th May - London Dominion Theatre

Register by Thursday 27th April 2017 to guarantee your chance to be seen. After this time, registration will only be possible on the day at each venue, on a first come first served basis


- Candidates must be at least 18 years old on the 1st August 2017, with the ability to play Cilla from her first discovery as a teenager onwards.

- You must be available for full time work from 1st August 2017 up until 1st July 2018 and be willing to tour for most of this period.

- Once registered, you will be contacted with more information about your chosen day in due course.

For full information about the auditions and to register please go to: https://www.cillathemusical.com

Robert Willis (Executive Producer and Cilla's son), said:My mum Ioved singing and performing ever since she was a young girl and she was determined to do what she loved. Having performed at the clubs around Liverpool, including the famous Cavern Club, she got her big break when Brian Epstein spotted her and signed her. It was the start of everything that was to follow. She was a natural born performer who lived to entertain her audience. We are hoping to find that person who also dreams big and has the talent to match but just needs the chance to show it. We can't wait to meet you!

Mamma Mia! Cast Changes

Sara Poyzer will be  playing the role of Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! at London's Novello Theatre from Monday 12th  June  along with Kate Graham as Tanya and Jacqueline Braun as Rosie.

Poyzer has just returned from playing the role on the UK Tour with other stage work including Janet in the UK Tour of Jonathan Miller's production of Rutherford & Son and Billy's Mum in Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace). 

Kate Graham's other West End credits include Cherry in Sam Mendes's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factor ( Drury Lane) and Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot(Victoria Palace ). 

Jacqueline Braun previously played Rosie in the first UK Tour of Mamma Mia!. She has also played the key roles of Eponine in Les Misérables and Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar in Germany and Killer Queen in We Will Rock You in Switzerland.
 

The producer Judy Craymer has also announced, on the eve of the musical's 18th birthday in London on 6th April  that the booking period in London will extend to 3rd March 2018, with tickets going on sale from Friday 7th  April.
 

Also from Monday 12 June, ensemble member Georgina Castle will play Sophie Sheridan with  Christopher Jordan-Marshall, making his West End debut as Sky. Also new to the cast  will be Bobbie Little as Ali, Harriet Bunton as Lisa, Damian Buhagiar as Pepper and Nye Rees as Eddie, with Caroline Deverill playing the role of Donna Sheridan at certain performances. They will be joining Richard Trinder as Sam, Alasdair Harvey as Harry and Dugald Bruce-Lockhart as Bill.

Cast for Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso's Working

The cast has  just been announced for the European premiere of Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso's Working which  employs a range of musical styles and genres from contributing composers, including five-time Grammy Award-winner James Taylor and Pulitzer Prize-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In The Heights) as well as Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers & Susan Birkenhead.

 It is running at Southwark Playhouse from 7th June to 8th July, with previews from 2nd June.

 Working is based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with the American workforce, told from the perspective of those that the world so often overlooks – the schoolteacher, the housewife, the fireman and the waitress amongst many – whose daily grind and aspirations reflect the truths of the people that make up a nation. It  has a cast including  Peter Polycarpou , Krysten Cummings and Liam Tamne  with  Gillian Bevan, Dean Chisnall  and Siubhan Harrison .

Peter Polycarpou has a wide range of theatre, TV and film credits to his name. He recently appeared as Buddy Fiddler in City of Angels (Donmar Warehouse), Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre) & Inspector Messiter in The Magistrate (National Theatre). Peter was part of the original casts of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil's Les Misérables and Miss Saigon and played Ali Hakim in the National Theatre's Olivier Award-winning stage and film production of Oklahoma! alongside Hugh Jackman and Maureen Lipman. Peter played regular Chris Theodopolopodous in BBC 1's Birds of a Feather from 1990-1994 and appeared in the film adaptation of Evita starring Madonna, as well as the 2004 musical film De-Lovely.

Krysten Cummings originated the role of Mimi Marquez in the West End production of Rent, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination. She also played the role on Broadway. She most recently appeared in the Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Dean Chisnall is currently playing the Narrator in Blood Brothers (UK Tour). His previous theatre credits include the title role in Shrek the Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane & National Tour), LoveNever Dies (Adelphi Theatre), La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse Theatre) and Never Forget (Savoy).

Gillian Bevan played regular Clare Hunter in the Channel 4 series Teachers. Her other TV credits include recurring roles in Holby City (BBC1) and Doctors (BBC 1). Gillian recently played the title role in the RSC's production of Cymbeline. Her previous theatre credits include the Witch in Into the Woods (Manchester Royal Exchange), Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot (West End), Polonia in Hamlet (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory).

Liam Tamne most recently starred as Frank N Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show (UK Tour). His other theatre credits include Raoul, in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's Theatre), Enjolras in Les Misérables (The Queen's Theatre) and Link Larkin in Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre). Liam was part of team Will.I.Am on BBC's The Voice in 2013.

Siubhan Harrison most recently starred as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Savoy and Phoenix Theatres). Other notable theatre credits include Lorene in From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), Sally Simpson in Tommy (Prince Edward Theatre) and Rizzo in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre).

The musical will be directed by Luke Sheppard with choreography by Fabian Aloise, with Set Design by Jean Chan, Costume Design by Gabriella Slade, Lighting Design by Nic Farman and Sound Design by Tom Marshall with Musical Supervision by Alex Parker and Musical Direction by Isaac McCullough

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Take That's The Band Tour fastest selling theatre tour ever

The UK Tour of Take That and  Tim Firth's new musicalTHE BAND, with the music of Take That, went on general sale at 12.00 noon today, and within the first two hours the Box Office took £2 million, making it the fastest selling theatre tour ever.

The musical was launched on Sunday 2nd April,  at the Manchester Apollo (where Take That first performed in 1992), at a rehearsed reading in front of an audience of invited guests, from fans to friends.

The Band UK Tour will begin at Manchester Opera House on 8th September, with a national press night on Tuesday 26 September 2017.