Casting announced for tour of Son of a Preacher Man

Casting has been announced for the UK tour of new musical Son of a Preacher Man, which opens in Bromley in September.

Joining the previously announced Diana Vickers, Debra Stephenson and Ian Reddington will be Michael Howe, Michelle Long, Kate Hardisty, Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong, Lewis Kidd, Liam Vincent-Kilbride, Jon Bonner, Rachel McAllister, Ellie-Jane Goddard, Gary Mitchinson and Jess Barker.

Casting announced for tour of Beautiful Carole King Musical

Paul Blake, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Mike Bosner in association with Michael Harrison are delighted to announce that Bronté Barbé will play Carole King in the tour of BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL which opens at the Bradford Alhambra on Saturday 9th September 2017

Bronté will be joined by Kane Oliver Parry as King’s husband and song-writing partner ‘Gerry Goffin’, Amy Ellen Richardson as song-writer ‘Cynthia Weil’, Matthew Gonsalves as song-writer ‘Barry Mann’, Carol Royle as King’s mother ‘Genie Klein’ and Adam Howden as music publisher and producer ‘Donnie Kirshner’. At certain performances, ‘Carole King’ will be played by Leigh Lothian.

Bronté Barbé was a finalist in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s BBC1 television series “Over The Rainbow” in 2010. Since then she has appeared on stage in both London’s West End and around the UK. Previous credits include “Cool Rider” in the West End and ‘Princess Fiona’ in the UK Tour of “Shrek -The Musical”. She most recently starred in “The Wild Party” at The Other Palace.

Kane Oliver Parry has starred in “Carousel” and “Sweeney Todd” at London’s Coliseum. West End credits include “Wicked” and “Urinetown”. Kane also appeared in “The Light Princess” at the National Theatre and the International Arena Tour of “We Will Rock You”.

Amy Ellen Richardson’s West End theatre credits include “Merrily We Roll Along”, “Crazy For You” and “Les Misérables”. After appearing in the UK Tour of “Singin’ in the Rain”, Amy recently reprised the role of Kathy Selden in Tokyo at Theatre Orb.

Matthew Gonsalves is currently appearing in the West End production of “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical”. His other theatre credits include “Dirty Dancing” and “Dreamboats and Petticoats” both on UK Tour. Matthew has also been a singer and vocal arranger for artists including Florence and the Machine, Westlife, Will Young, Leona Lewis, and Barry Manilow.

Carol Royle’s theatre credits include “Moonlight” at the Donmar and the UK Tour of “An Ideal Husband”. Carole has also appeared in many television series including “Crossroads”, “Casualty”, “Doctors” and “Life Without George”.

Adam Howden’s previous theatre credits include Offie nominated “The Talented Mr Ripley”, “Romeo & Juliet”, “Richard III” and “Spring Awakening”. Television credits include “Doctors”, “The Interns”, “Whitechapel”, “New Tricks” and “Holby City”.

Leigh Lothian is currently appearing in “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical” at the Aldwych Theatre. Her other West End credits include “Chariots of Fire” at the Gielgud Theatre. Leigh has also appeared in “The Beautiful Game” at the Union Theatre and “Avenue Q” and “Kiss Me, Kate”, both at the Gatehouse Theatre.

The cast is completed by Merryl Ansah, Lauren Byrne, Matt Campbell, Khalid Daley, Jessica Joslin, Esme Laudat, Emma Lucia, Grant McConvey, Jacob McIntosh, Paige Miller, Matt Mills,  Simeon Montague, Ben Morris, David O’Mahony and Saran Webb.

Wonderland remaining tour dates cancelled

The tour of  WONDERLAND the musical due to take place  at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre next week has  been cancelled with immediate effect. Some performances scheduled at Swansea this week did not take place and the remaining tour dates of the Frank Wildhorn musical at theatres in Richmond and Bournemouth have also been cancelled.

Sales for the production in Wolverhampton had been strong with over 4000 people due to attend. The decision to cancel has been made by the producers (Neil Ecklersley of Speckulation Productions) and Adrian Jackson CEO and Artistic Director of Wolverhampton Grand said: "Wonderland has performed in over 25 venues up and down the country and it is extremely disappointing that Wolverhampton audiences will not now have the opportunity to see it. Cancelling a production is never taken lightly and only when all other options have been exhausted. Unfortunately, in the case of Wonderland, it is understood that the production company had no other option. The Grand Theatre prides itself on the experience and customer service we deliver to our patrons and we deeply apologise for this situation which is completely outside the control of the theatre."

Contact your point of sale to obtain a full ticket refund.

Kelsey Grammer, Jamie Muscato & Matt Seadon-Young to star in UK premiere of Big Fish

Tony Award-nominated actor Kelsey Grammer is making his West End debut in the London Premiere of the American musical BIG FISH which is  set to begin performances at The Other Palace on November 1st  through to December 31st, 2017. The staging will be  'intimate and humble' and  feature a revised book and score from John August and Andrew Lippa.

Grammer will play the tall-tale weaving Edward Bloom with Matthew Seadon-Young  portraying his son Will and Jamie Muscato (Lazarus, Bend it Like Beckham) playing Young Edward. Laura Baldwin (Shrek, Alice in Wonderland) joins the cast as Young Sandra with Frances McNamee (Little Shop of Horrors) as ‘Josephine Bloom’, Forbes Masson (Travesties, Dr.Faustus) as ‘Amos/Don’, Landi Oshinowo (Shrek, Sister Act) as ‘Witch/Jenny Hill’, Dean Nolan (Fiddler on the Roof) as ‘Karl’, and George Ure (Sweeney Todd, Wicked) as ‘Zaki’. They are joined by Sophie Linder-Lee (The Rocky Horror Show, Wicked), Gemma McMeel (Titanic and Candide) and Jonathan Stewart (Guys and Dolls).

Nigel Harman will direct the musical by Andrew Lippa and John August .

Based on the  novel by Daniel Wallace and the  Tim Burton film, Big Fish centres on Edward Bloom, a travelling salesman who lives life to its fullest, telling  incredible, larger-than-life stories which thrill everyone around him - most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. Bloom’s son, Will, further embellishes his father’s exploits, having him grapple with a catfish as big as a man, extricate a child from the jaws of a monster dog and cut giants down to size. But essentially, the story is about a father and son who don’t get to know each other until the former is on his deathbed in hospital. Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales

Grammer who is best known as Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC sitcoms “Cheers” and “Frasier” for which he has won five Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe awards. has appeared in the musicals La Cage Aux Folles and Finding Neverland in New York.

Tickets for Big Fish the Musical 

Oliver Savile & Rob Houchen to star in concert of new musical The Prince

The Prince is a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Scott Morgan ('Geek! - A New Musical') which  is to be staged in concert form for one night at the Arts Theatre, in London's West End at 7:30 pm on September 10th, 2017.

Featuring a brand new score and a heartwarming story about Prince Casper who has a  21st birthday when the Book of Tradition dictates that he must marry his betrothed bride-to-be and live ‘happily ever after’ but he has other plans. Join Prince Casper on a journey of self discovery, love and betrayal. young Prince who fleas his kingdom in search of adventure and ends up finding so much more and finding out what matters most; power or true love?

Starring Oliver Savile (Wicked, Phantom of the Opera), Rob Houchen (Titanic, Les Miserables), Maria Coyne (Phantom of the Opera, Wicked) and newcomer Stephanie Brown accompanied by  a 10 piece orchestra.

Buy tickets for The Prince

Oliver Tompsett and Carolyn Maitland to star in new Charles Miller musical You Know How to Love Me

You Know How To Love Me - A Charles Miller Celebration,  is part of Aria Entertainment’s From Page To Stage  International Summer Musical Festival for new musicals at the start of their musical theatre life. It  runs for three weeks at The Other Palace from MONDAY 14th AUGUST to SUNDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER 2017.

You Know How To Love Me is an intimate evening  which is  Celebration of British Composer Charles Miller, who will tell some of his favourite stories from the past and will feature a selection of his greatest songs performed leading West End artistes  including Carolyn Maitland (Ghost, Miss Saigon), Oliver Tompsett (Guys & Dolls, We Will Rock You, Wicked), Shona White (Mamma Mia, Wicked) and Miranda Wilford (Remembering Fred, Thriller Live!) in the Studio (18/08–19/08.) MD/Piano - David Randall and Cello - Sarah Bowler. Co-producer Guy James. 

Charles Miller has become one of the most important and sought after composers over the last decade. His songs have become firm favourites with audiences and performers alike. Frequently named amongst the likes of Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown and Alan Menken, his versatility constantly refreshes and surprises audiences around the world with shows like Brenda Bly: Teen Detective, When Midnight Strikes and The Return Of The Soldier.

Buy tickets for You Know How To Love Me

Ben Richards to star in premiere of Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater‘s SOME LOVERS

Ben Richards returns to musical theatre in the premiere of Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater‘s SOME LOVERS - the headline show for Aria Entertainment’s From Page To Stage  Summer Festival at The Other Palace for  just 12 performances from Thursday 24 August – 2 September 2017

SOME LOVERS is the new musical from Tony and Grammy Award winning writer Steven Sater (Spring Awakening), and Academy Award, Grammy Award winning pop legend Burt Bacharach - his first score for the theatre since 1968’s Promises Promises. A valentine to New York SOME LOVERS is a contemporary parable about the gifts we give one another -a love story, set over twenty years. Four actors play two characters, Ben and Molly, caught between the present and past. Ben will be played by Ben Richards (The Bodyguard, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – West End, Footballers’ Wives, Hollyoaks); Molly by Gemma Wardle (Betty Blue Eyes – West End, Eponine in Les Miserables – West End); Young Molly is Jenna Innes (Charlotte Donne in Animus - The Bridewell Theatre); and making his professional debut as Young Ben is Aaron Kavanagh who graduates from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland this month (July 2017.)

The creative team for SOME LOVERS: Director – Katherine Hare (Co-founder of Triptic, Resident Dir Sunny Afternoon – West End); MD - Jordan Li-Smith (Ragtime – Charing Cross Theatre); Choreographer – Philip Thomas (Tick Tick Boom! - Park Theatre); Designer – Nik Corrall (Tick Tick Boom! - Park Theatre, Ass Designer Marlowe Theatre); Lighting Designer - James Smith (Ass LD Wind In The Willows - London Palladium); Sound Designer – Chris Bogg (Yank! The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre.) SOME LOVERS is produced in association with SENBLA.

Tickets for Some Lovers

Britney Spears: The Cabaret heading for London

Following sell-out seasons in Australia, Britney Spears: The Cabaret arrives in London for one week only  at The Other Palace from Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th September.

 Not so much a cabaret as a cry for help, Britney Spears: The Cabaret charts the rise and fall of the true Princess of Pop, and takes a satirical look at the perils of fame. Transforming her greatest hits into cabaret standards, and weaving them into the fabric of her life story, Britney Spears: The Cabaret is at turns side-splittingly funny and strangely touching.

Star of Australian stage and screen Christie Whelan Browne reprises her critically acclaimed performance as Britney. Her stage work in Australia includes Company, The Producers, Xanadu, The Drowsy Chaperone (Helpmann Award Nomination) and playing opposite Geoffrey Rush in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Later this year Christie will star in the world premiere stage adaptation of Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical for Sydney Theatre Company.

Britney Spears: The Cabaret is written and directed by Dean Bryant, whose directing work in Australia includes Sweet Charity (Hayes Theatre Company, Helpmann Award for Best Director of a Musical), and Skylight and Next to Normal (Melbourne Theatre Company). Writing credits include Prodigal (Off Broadway) and Liza (on an E) (Vaudeville Theatre, West End). Musical direction and arrangements are by Mathew Frank.

Tickets for Britney Spears:The Cabaret

Full casting for arena tour of Heaven on Earth starring Kerry Ellis and Hugh Maynard

Full casting has been announced for the brand-new arena spectacular Heaven on Earth which will be touring arenas across the UK from December 2017 to May 2018.

The greatest story ever written comes spectacularly to life in a brand new musical experience. This epic and inspirational journey of Adam and Eve is told through state of the art digital technology, innovative staging and stunning choreography.

Joining the previously announced  Kerry Ellis as Eve (Wicked, Cats, Les Miserables, We Will Rock You) and Hugh Maynard as Adam (Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Lion King), and featuring the voice of the UK’s award winning and bestselling classical artist, Russell Watson as God, are:

Richard Carson as Enoch (Mamma Mia, Miss Saigon, Wicked), Lisa Bridge as Isla (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bend It Like Beckham, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Neil Moors as Serpent, (Jesus Christ Superstar, Shrek, The Sound of Music), Denis Grindel as Cain (The Commitments), Michael Colbourne as Abel (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Les Miserables) and Albert Simon Hart as Young Enoch (Oliver).

The ensemble includes:Alice Baker, Laura Benazaize, Tom Brandon, Charlie Bull, Carly Cook, Martin Dickinson, Mike Fellows, Taofique Folarin, Loula Geater, Richie Gooding, Kelly Hampson, Zoe Innes, Abbi Kennedy, Victoria Lamm, Nick Len, Adam Margilewski, Stephanie Rojas, Craig Ryder, Guy Salim, Hayley Ellen Scott, Spin, Sam Varley and Sharon Wattis.

The creative team for the show includes director & choreographer Racky Plews - American Idiot (West End and Tour), Footloose (West End and Tour), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tour), set designer Jacqueline Pyle - Robbie Williams (Take The Crown Tour), Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremony (UK), Take That (Progress Live Tour), and arranger Adam Langston – (Alien Covenant, Les Miserables, Independence Day Resurgence, Walking With Dinosaurs) and musical director Richard John – Sinatra (London Palladium), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre).

Buy tickets for Heaven on Earth tour which will visit:


    Birmingham Barclaycard Arena 4 - 7 December 2017  
    Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 15 - 18 Jan 2018  
    Nottingham Motorpoint Arena 27 -30 Jan
    Leeds First Direct Arena 9th - 12 Feb
    Manchester Arena 22 – 25 Feb
    Sheffield Arena 7 – 10 March
    Edinburgh Royal Highland Centre 14 - 17 March 
    Liverpool Echo Arena Liverpool 22 - 25 March
    Aberdeen AECC Arena 28 - 31 March
    Portsmouth Guildhall 4 - 7 April
    Newcastle Radio Metro Arena 11 - 14 April
    Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 18 - 21 April
    Exeter Westpoint Arena 26 - 29 April
    The SSE Arena, Wembley 9 - 12 May

Open auditions and cast changes announced for Motown the Musical

Motown The Musical is now booking at the Shaftesbury Theatre until 5th  January 2019 (with 500,000 new tickets now on sale) and has just announced open auditions for the roles of young Michael Jackson, Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder.

You can register  Brixton Community Base, Talma Road, from 9.15am on Saturday 19 August with budding stars aged 8 to 13 encouraged to apply. More information can be found on the show's website.

From 4th September, new cast members will include  David Albury and Kayi Ushe taking over the roles of Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye respectively. They will perform alongside Cedric Neal as Berry Gordy and Lucy St. Louis as Diana Ross.

Casting announced for Tenderly Rosemary Clooney Musical

Joseph Hodges presents the UK Premiere of Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical at the New Wimbledon Studio from 1st-23rd Sepember (press night 4th September at 7:45 pm).

In Tenderly, Rosemary Clooney’s journey starts with her simple Maysville, Kentucky childhood and follows her rise to Hollywood stardom. With her signature songs woven in and out, we learn both the story of her successes on film, radio, and TV, as well as her struggles in her personal life – with a career fading during the advent of rock-and-roll and her battles with addiction and depression. Audiences stand and cheer as they rejoice at her triumphant comeback and even more successful career as a jazz singer.

Featuring all of your favourite Clooney hits including Someone to Watch Over Me, Hey There (you with the stars in your eyes), Mambo Italiano, Sway, Come On-A My House, and the unforgettable title track Tenderly.

Katie Ray will star as Rosemary Clooney. Her  recent theatre credits include Dyanne in the UK tours  of Million Dollar Quartet, Truly Sc 

Fed Zanni will playClooney’s Doctor and other roles including Clooney’s lovers. His recent theatre credits include The 12 Tenors (EuropeanTour), Somewhere in England (NewWimbledonTheatre) and Jesus in Jesus ChristS uperstar.
 

Tania Azevedo will direct the production with musical direction from Daniel Jarvis,musical staging by Chi-­San Howard,design by AnnaYates, lighting by Ali Hunter and casting by HarryBlumenau.
 

Tickets for Tenderly Rosemary Clooney Musical

Cast announced for John Wilson Orchestra Oklahoma! at the BBC Proms:

A star studded cast has today been revealed for the BBC Proms performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! (Friday 11 August, 2:00pm & 7:30pm - Royal Albert Hall, London).

  

Actress Belinda Lang takes up the role of Aunt Eller and is joined by musical theatre stars Nathaniel Hackmann as Curly, Robert Fairchild/ Will Parker, Scarlet Strallen as Laurey with  David Seadon-Young/Jud Fry , Lizzy Connolly/Ado Annie  and comedian Marcus Brigstocke as Ali Hakim together with a supporting cast of the west end’s leading singers and dancers including Ensemble step outs:Andrew Carnes - Clive Carter (from vocal ensemble) Gertie Cummings - Melle Stewart (from female vocal ensemble)Ike Skidmore - Emmanuel Kojo (from vocal ensemble)Cord Elam - James Leece (from dance ensemble)

 Oklahoma! was the first musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1943 and is based on Lynn Riggs’ play Green Grow the Lilacs. It includes classic hits such as Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’, People Will Say We’re in Love and the title tune, Oklahoma.

The semi-staged production is masterminded by stage director Rachel Kavanaugh and choreographer Alastair David, accompanied by conductor John Wilson and the John Wilson Orchestra. This year marks ten years since John Wilson first performed at the BBC Proms and eight years since the John Wilson Orchestra made its Proms debut. His much-loved appearances with the John Wilson Orchestra at the festival continue to grow in ambition, with this production being no exception.  The show will be Broadcast  live on BBC Radio 3 and televised on BBC Four the same evening.

Noel Sullivan and John Owen-Jones to star in Tiger Bay Musical

Noel Sullivan (Danny Zuko in Grease, Galileo in We Will Rock You) and John Owen-Jones have been cast in the world premiere of Tiger Bay the Musical which is Wales Millennium Centre's biggest in-house production to date which run from 15th to 25th November 2017

A fictional story of revolution, reconciliation, courage and love, the award-winning creative team - composer: Daf James, writer Michael Williams and director, Melly Still have remained sympathetic to the reality of the era which includes forming a predominantly Welsh cast. The musical tells the story of the notorious underworld of Wales' capital at the turn of the 1900s. Sullivan plays Harbour Master, Séamus O'Rourke, an opportunist, exiled from Africa to make his fortune through unsavoury means on Cardiff Docks. Les Miserables star Owen-Jones will play Cardiff's richest man John Crichton-Stuart.

Also joining the cast is Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduate Vikki Bebb playing  Noel’s love interest, Rowena Pryddy, a shop girl with suffrage ideals. and Welsh schoolgirls Louise Harvey and Ruby Llewellyn who will share the role of tenacious water boy, Ianto.

Tickets for Tiger Bay the Musical .

 

Stephanie Clift to take over from Lucie Jones in Tour of The Wedding Singer

Stephanie Clift joins the cast of  tour of The Wedding Singer taking over from Lucie Jones who leaving the show to play Elle Woods in the Tour of Legally Blonde from September. Clift will play Holly for the remainder of the 2017 UK tour from 1st August. She joins Jon Robyns as Robbie Hart, Ray Quinn as Glen,  Cassie Compton as Julia and Ruth Madoc as Grandma Rosie.

Clift graduated from ArtsEd in 2013, and has plaed  Lisa in Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre. She played Susan in the UK tour of Crush and most recently, Audrey in the UK tour of Little Shop of Horrors. She has also appeared in series two of Broadchurch for ITV and BBC's Christmas special of Call the Midwife.

Frances Ruffelle, Tyrone Huntley and Martin Kemp appearing at new Pizza Express live venue

Frances Ruffelle, Tyrone Huntley and Million Dollar Quartet star Martin Kemp are some of the latest additions to the star-studded launch  line-up at Pizza Express Live Holborn which will operate seven nights a week

The new venue has been designed to allow the audience to get close to some of the biggest names in entertainment, with tickets are already on sale for An Audience With Martin Kemp on 31st August,  Ruffelle’s solo show I Say Yeh-Yeh on 3rd September and  Jesus Christ Superstar's Tyrone Huntley on 24th September.

The intimate space in the basement of the newly designed restaurant High Holborn will feature a wide range of music, cabaret, comedy, and ‘audience with’ Q&A sessions.

Ruffelle and Huntley join a long list of previously announced West End star names scheduled to appear including Maria Friedman, Madalena Alberto, Anna-Jane Casey and the casts of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. Kemp’s appearance at the venue will be the first of five ‘audience with’ events.

Tickets for Pizza Express High Holborn

Broadway musical Fun Home to open at Young Vic next June

The UK premiere of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical  Fun Home by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron is to open at Young Vic from 18th June to 1st  September 2018 (press night is 27 June). New York theatre director Sam Gold is to direct with a UK cast Public booking for the 2017/2018 season opens on Friday 21 July at 10am

Fun Home is a musical adaptation of  Alison Bechdel’s celebrated 2006  novel about growing up gay in a close complicated family. It opened in New York in October 2013, followed by a Broadway run that won five Tony Awards, and a successful US national tour.

Fun Home Tells the story of Alison at three different ages, revealing memories of her uniquely complicated family – her mother, brothers and volatile, brilliant, enigmatic father – that connect with her in surprising new ways.

Tickets for Fun Home

Rachel Tucker November London Concert just announced

Rachel Tucker is returning to London for a solo concert  at Shoreditch Town Hall on 17th November 2017.

West End leading lady Rachel Tucker will follow her recent UK tour with her biggest one to date. The Wicked star will be joined by an eight-piece band led by MD Kris Rawlinson, as well as 50 children from the Stagebox Musical Theatre Choir.The concert will include songs from musicals that she has become famous for as well as new material from her On the Road sessions.

Tucker rose to fame on Andrew Lloyd Webber's TV talent show I'd Do Anything, she has since gone on to play Elphaba in Wicked in the West End and on Broadway, where she also starred in Sting's The Last Ship.

Tickets for Rachel Tucker at Shoreditch Town Hall

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White to return to London later this year

Thom Southerland (Titanic, Grey Gardens, Grand Hotel) is to direct the first ever revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical The Woman in White at London's Charing Cross Theatre for  a strictly limited 12-week season from 20th November-10th February 2018.

Casting is to be announced, but is it rumoured that negotiations are currently under way for Lara Pitt-Pulford to play Marian Halcombe who lives in a mansion with her younger half-sister Laura Fairlie

The Woman in White is produced by Patrick Gracey, Steven M. Levy and Vaughan Williams by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Limited.It is  tempestuous tale of love, betrayal and greed, adapted from Wilkie Collins’ haunting Victorian thriller, this is the premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel’s revised score.

Walter Hartright’s life is changed forever after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman, dressed in white, desperate to reveal her chilling secret. When he takes up his position as drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, Marian, he sees in Laura’s face an eerie reflection of the forlorn creature he met previously. Walter and Laura’s feelings for each other are thwarted by her engagement to the sinister Sir Percival Glyde. What is the connection between, Laura, Sir Percival, and the woman in white? Can true love prevail?

Andrew Lloyd Webber told Baz Bamigboye in today's Mail that he and lyricist David Zippel were well aware that the show (which ran  for nineteen months in the West End and three months on Broadway) wasn’t perfect. As is ever the case, there were some things that could have been done better. He and Zippel have been tinkering with it for about three years now, and have given Southerland the tidied up version’ to direct as he sees fit. We’re going to let Southerland  have a free hand in doing it, It’s important to let him have his own directorial take on it.

Southerland said the new Woman In White will be leaner (cuts have been made to the music and libretto; and the problematic second act has been streamlined) and more intimate — and not just because the Charing Cross is a fraction of the size of the Palace where it was last performedSoutherland said; It’s going to be small,Roughly about four people: Marian, Laura, Anne Catherick and Walter Hartright. And then you have the Count,’ he added, referring to Count Fosco (played in a fat suit by Michael Crawford in London and Michael Ball on Broadway), the dastardly aristocrat who charms women in harm’s way. Southerland said his Count will be young and handsome.  

Creatives
Music Andrew Lloyd Webber | Lyrics David Zippel | Book Charlotte Jones
Director Thom Southerland | Movement Cressida Carré | Set Designer Morgan Large | Costume Designer Jonathan Lipman | Lighting Designer Rick Fisher | Sound Designer  Andrew Johnson | Casting David Grindrod Associates | Orchestrations David Cullen

Tickets for The Woman in White

Casting announced for Hair at the Vaults

Initial casting has just been announced for for the 50th anniversary production of Hair which transfers from the Hope Mill Theatre to The London Vaults from Wednesday 4th  October 2017  to Saturday 13 January 2018 (Press Night Wednesday 11th October 2017 at 7.30pm & 50th Anniversary Gala Tuesday 17yh October at 7.30pm)

Jonathan O'Boyle will direct the production which transfers following a  run at the Hope Mill Theatre last year.

The cast for this  young and moving production of HAIR includes: Daniel Bailey (Motown The Musical - Shaftesbury Theatre, The Lion King - Lyceum Theatre), Berger - Andy Coxon (Mitch in Yank! - Charing Cross Theatre), ADAM DAWSON (Jet in West Side Story RSC Live - Stratford), ABIOLA EFUNSHILE (Urdang graduate 2017), Margaret Mead - Patrick George (Cats - UK tour), Hud - JAMMY KASONGO (Beautiful The Carole King Musical - Aldwych), Jeanie - Jessie May (Fiona in Blondel - The New Union Theatre, Rock Of Ages - UK tour). Returning to the production from the acclaimed Manchester run are: Cassie - Natalie Green (Wicked - UK tour), Sheila - Laura Johnson (Rizzo in Grease - UK tour), Dionne - SHEKINA MCFARLANE (Parade - Hope Mill Theatre, The Lion King - UK & International tour), Claude - ROBERT METSON (Ryan in Bear - Southwark Playhouse), Woof - Liam Ross-Mills (Les Misérables - West End, Ben in Ushers: The Front of House Musical - Charing Cross Theatre), Mary - KORYANN STEVENS (West Side Story - Live Nation) and Chrissy - KIRSTEN WRIGHT (Our Seasons End - The AC Group).

With a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot, Hair is set in the East Village of New York in 1967 and tells the story of a tribe of young people yearning to change the world — under the shadow of the Vietnam War. It features the songs "Aquarius", "Let the Sun Shine In" and "Good Morning Star Shine".

Tickets for Hair

Casting announced for The Toxic Avenger

Final casting is announced  for the transfer to the Arts Theatre of the acclaimed rock musical, The Toxic Avenger which runs from Thursday 28 September– Sunday 3 December (Press Night Monday 2 October at 7.00pm).

Joining Mark Anderson, who returns after starring to great acclaim as Melvin/Toxie in the original London production, are: Natalie Hope, Emma Salvo, Oscar Conlon-Morrey and Ché Francis with Peter Bindloss and Sophia Lewis as swings/understudies.

Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s cult 1984 comedy schlock-horror Troma film, The Toxic Avenger,  The Toxic Avenger The Musical tells the story of the citizens of Tromaville who are crying out for a hero. Enter nerdy Melvin Ferd the Third, an aspiring earth scientist, determined to clean up the state’s major toxic waste problem. When a corrupt Mayor and her government goons get wind of his plans, they vow to stop this heroic feat. Melvin is attacked and tossed into a vat of toxic waste... transforming him instantly into The Toxic Avenger - New Jersey’s first superhero! Toxie is a 7-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a supersized heart to match. His aims are to save heavily polluted New Jersey, end global warming, win the heart of the prettiest (blindest) librarian in town - and get home in time for dinner! Prepare to laugh, scream and sing to songs including ‘Who Will Save New Jersey?” “Get the Geek”, “Thank God She’s Blind” “Hot Toxic Love” and “Choose Me, Oprah!” as ‘Toxie’ rocks the house and saves the day! 

Mark Anderson (Melvin/Toxie)
Previous theatre includes: The Toxic Avenger The Musical (Southwark Playhouse); Stiles & Drewe’s Three Little Pigs (International tour); The Book of Mormon Original West End cast (Prince of Wales Theatre); Love Me Tender (National tour); Once Upon A Mattress (Union Theatre); Legally Blonde (National tour); Mary Poppins (National tour); Hello, Dolly! (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); The Boy Friend (West End); You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Tabard Theatre).

Natalie Hope (Mayor)
Previous theatre includes: Sweet Charity (Manchester Royal Exchange); Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve Theatre); The Commitments (Palace Theatre, West End); Our House (Savoy Theatre, West End); Sister Act (UK tour); Evita (UK tour); Disney’s High School Musical (UK tour); Fame (Shafesbury Theatre, West End and UK tour); Don’t Stop Believing (UK tour); Rocky Horror Show (UK tour); Laughter in the Rain (UK tour); Beyond the Barricade (UK tour).

Emma Salvo (Sarah)
Previous theatre includes: Holy Crap (King’s Head Theatre), Grease (Royal Caribbean), Newsrevue (Canal Cafe Theatre), Sincerely, Mr Toad  (UK tour).

Oscar Conlon-Morrey (White Dude)
Oscar has just graduated and is making his professional debut.

Ché Francis (Black Dude)
Ché has just graduated and is making his professional debut. 

Buy tickets for The Toxic Avenger

Beverley Knight and Danny Mac to star in Cinderella this Christmas

Beverley Knight (in her pantomime debut) and  Danny Mac are to star in Cinderella at Birmingham Hippodrome which runs from Tuesday 19th  December - 28th  January 2018 

Soul diva and Midlands-born Beverley Knight who is doing her I Love Soulsville Tour later this year will take up her first pantomime role as The Fairy Godmother with Strictly Come Dancing finalist Danny Mac who  recently starred  in On the Town in the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park and who is due to  play Joe Gillis in a Tour of Sunset Boulevard which launches in Septermber.

Revealing this year's casting, Qdos Producer and Director Michael Harrison said: "This year's fantastic line-up will ensure another smash-hit pantomime for Birmingham Hippodrome in 2017/18. With so many stars across the worlds of music, theatre, dance and comedy I'm delighted we've assembled such a stellar cast for Birmingham's ultimate pantomime. Once again there'll be plenty of laughs, surprises and audience participation to look forward to, so audiences should book their tickets to the ball today."
 

Matt Slack plays Buttons and Cinderella will be played by  pop and television star Suzanne Shaw, who rose to fame via the popular ITV talent search Popstars and the record-breaking music group Hear'Say. Robin Colvill and James Brandon, better known as The Grumbleweeds, will appear as The Broker's Men and completing the line-up will be Ceri Dupree and Phil Randall as the Ugly Sisters. 

Buy tickets for Cinderella 

Ruthie Henshall and G4 join Lesley Garrett and Friends Charity Gala

Lesley Garrett & Friends is a 30th Anniversary Concert in  aid of the Lady Taverners which will be held at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on Sunday 24th September at 5:00 pm
 

Lady Taverners President soprano Lesley Garrett will be joined by Ruthie Henshall, G4, Jacqui Dankworth, the London Gay Men’s Chorus, Judith Chalmers and Angela Rippon to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Lady Taverners with a gala evening of songs from West End musicals.

In their 30th anniversary year, the Lady Taverners are continuing to raise funds to support the charitable programmes of the Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading youth sports charity whose aim is to enhance the lives of disadvantaged and disabled young people through sport and recreation by creating sporting chances within their communities.

Tickets for Lesley Garrett and Friends

New Rolling Stones Musical heading for London?

According to Dan Wootton in today's Sun newspaper,  top-secret workshops are being held in London for a new Rolling Stones musical based on their chart-topping hits. If the band like what they see, the show could become the next jukebox musical to launch in ­London and on Broadway

A theatre source said: “The workshops are being kept very much under wraps and only incredible ­talent is being invited to attend.The idea came from top ­theatre execs who know the concept of a Stones musical has the potential to be a worldwide hit.But they know the show has to be outstanding for the band members to back it.Only then will it ever see the light of day — and at the same time make the rockers as absolute fortune.”

Full cast announced for South Pacific

Casting has been announced for the new one-off concert staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical South Pacific which takes place at Cadogan Hall on 15th October
 

Joining the previously announced Rosalie Craig as Nellie will be, John Owen Jones (Emile), Jacqueline Tate (Bloody Mary), Peter Polycarpou (Billis), Bradley Jaden (Cable) and Divine Cresswell (Liat). They will be joined by  Jessica Croll, Jonathan Dudley, Francesca Gordon, Emma Harrold, Charlotte Kennedy, Kayi Ushe, Joe Vetch and Danny Whitehead.

Presented by Alex Parker and directed by Jordan Murphy, this concert version is adapted by David Ives and will feature a 32-piece orchestra led by Emily Davis with songs  including "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "Happy Talk".

Tickets for South Pacific

Sunny Afternoon John Dagleish and George Maguire concert A Long Way From Home

The Kinks Sunny Afternoon musical Olivier Award winners John Dagleish and George Maguire are to reunite next month for a concert at Live at Zedel on 7th and 15th  August.

Produced by Adam Blanshay for JFL Theatricals, the show is entitled A Long Way From Home and will see the pair perform together for the first time since they left the West End production of Sunny Afternoon featuring stories and songs from their early days growing up to the present day.

Dagleish's other theatre credits include Common (National Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Young Vic) and The Winter's Tale (Garrick). Maguire's stage work also includes Another Night Before Christmas (Bridge House Theatre), The Busker's Opera (Park Theatre) and Hair (Piccadilly Theatre).

Tickets for A Long Way From Home  Live at Zedel

National's Follies live cinema broadcast announced

London's National Theatre has announced plans for a live broadcast of its forthcoming revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies in  international cinemas on November 16th .

Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, the production is directed by Dominic Cooke and includes  classic songs  Broadway Baby, I'm Still Here and Losing My Mind, Stephen Sondheim's legendary musical is staged for the first time at the NT. Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton play the magnificent Follies in this  new production.

More details to follow.

Ramin Karimloo Back from Broadway January Concert in London

Broadway and West End star Ramin Karimloo returns to the London stage with his new solo show Back from Broadway which he will be performing at The Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank on 13th JanuAry 2018 at 7:30 pm.
 

Best known for playing leading roles in The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables in the West End. He is currently on Broadway starring in the new musical Anastasia.

Ramin sold  out all three of his London solo shows last year. This Royal Festival Hall solo show sees Ramin return with his band, complete with a string quartet and brass section.

The evening is packed full of musical theatre hits including ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘Music of the Night’, ‘Empty Chairs and Empty Tables’, ‘Old Man River’ as well as original material penned by Ramin himself.

Tickets for Ramin Karimloo Back from Broadway 2018

All star line up in Dance Gala for Grenfell Fire Victims

Arlene Phillips, Graham Watts and Guy Chapman have organised a one-off dance show, bringing together some of the world's top performers, to raise funds for emergency relief funding for the Grenfell Fire victims.

Gala for Grenfell will take place at the Adelphi Theatre for one night only at 7:00 pm on 30th  July and feature performances from leading dancers and dance companies, including; The Royal Ballet (featuring Edward Watson), Stars from Strictly Come Dancing, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, The Mariinsky Ballet (featuring Xander Parish), Ballet Black, Rambert, Adam Garcia, Rina Kanehara and Aitor Arrieta (Winners of English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer 2017), Danny Collins and Rachel Muldoon (performing Drew McOnie’s choreography from 2016’s Jekyll & Hyde at the Old Vic), Tommy Franzen and Xena Gusthart, Jonny Labey and Chrissie Brooke (Dance Dance Dance champions) and ZooNation.

The dancers will include Akram Khan, Adam Garcia, Tommy Franzen and Xena Gusthart, Rina Kanehara and Aitor Arrieta, Danny Collins and Rachel Muldoon, Dance Dance Dance champions Jonny Labey and Chrissie Brooke and various performers from Strictly Come Dancing.

Arlene Phillips said: "I began to wonder if there was a way that I could help... dance is my world, my life, so how could I galvanise and bring the dance community together to raise funds for those who need it most, now and into the future?"

All proceeds will go The Kensington & Chelsea Foundation to provide for those by the Grenfell Tower fire.

Tickets  for Gala for  Grenfell  on sale from 10:00 today. 

Donations can also be made here

Natalie Anderson joins cast of Fat Friends the Musical

Emmerdale, the Royal and This Morning star Natalie Anderson is to join Freddie Flintoff, Jodie Prenger,  and Sam Bailey in the tour of Fat Friends the  musical

Her previous stage credits include Nessarose in Wicked in the West End, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Tara in Exposure The Musical at St James' Theatre.

She is to play the role of Lauren who is the leader of the Super Slimers,  and said  “I’m so thrilled to be playing Lauren in Fat Friends the Musical. I was a huge fan of the original series and cannot wait to bring it to life on stage. I’m also equally excited to be working with the incredible Kay Mellor whom, from an early age, I have greatly admired and been inspired by.”

Written and directed by BAFTA-winner Kay Mellor, with original music from Nicholas Lloyd Webber, Fat Friends will open in November at Leeds Grand Theatre ahead of an extensive UK tour.

James Dreyfuss joins West End cast of Candide

James Dreyfus will return to the role of Pangloss  to star in LMTO's concert staging of Candide directed by Shaun Kerrison at Cadogan Hall on Friday 21st July.
 

Dreyfus played the role in the Menier Chocolate Factory production in 2013 and  has theatre credits including The Producers, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Harvey.

With a score by legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, Candide tells the story of Candide, the bastard cousin of Baron Thunder-Ten-Tonck, who is expelled from home, dragged into the Bulgarian army, brought before the Spanish Inquisition, swindled out of a fortune, shipwrecked on a desert isle, and separated time and again from his true love Cunegonde. She, too, bears a barrage of misfortunes including, sale into prostitution, forced marriage to an exorbitantly wealthy man, and slavery. Through it all, however, they try to hold onto the lessons of their dear master Dr. Pangloss: “Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”. The musical features the songs "Glitter and Be Gay", "We Are Women" and "Make Our Garden Grow".

Based on Voltaire's novel, this concert production of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical will feature a 34-piece orchestra conducted by Freddie Tapner.
 

He joins the previously announced Rob Houchen as Candide with Louise Gold (Blood Brothers), Michael Matus (The Phantom Of The Opera), Stewart Clarke (Easy Virtue) as Maximillian, Anna O'Byrne (The Phantom of the Opera) as Cunegonde and Jessica Duncan (Les Miserables) as Paquette.

Dreyfus said: "I am very excited to be joining the London Musical Theatre Orchestra for their evening at the Cadogan Hall, especially as it's to revisit Dr Pangloss in Candide. To be surrounded by such talented young singers and musicians is very comforting! Can't wait."

Tickets for Candide

Kara Lily Hayworth to play lead in Cilla The Musical

A graduate of Central School of Speech and Drama, has beaten  thousands to land the lead  role in an upcoming musical about Cill Black's life.  Kara Lily Hayworth  was among thousands of people who attended open auditions for the lead role in the tour of Cilla - The Musical earlier this year.  After training at Central,  Hayworth recently performed the led role of Satine in Secret Cinema’s Moulin Rouge!This is her first leading role in a musical.

The show is adapted from the ITV series Cilla which starred Sheridan Smith and was written by Jeff Pope. It is directed by Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson and will open at the Liverpool Empire on September 7th  before touring the UK.

Black's eldest son, Robert Willis said: "We wanted somebody who wasn't going to impersonate my mum but someone who could capture her spirit. Kara came in with her huge personality and amazing voice – when I saw the response of the audience at the Cavern, I knew she was the one my mum would have wanted!"

Hayworth said: “When I was 11 I was shopping out with my mum and bumped into Cilla and asked her for an autograph. I told her I wanted to be an actress – she laughed and said ‘It’s a tough industry, but if you really work hard and go for it, you’ll be just fine.She was a huge inspiration to me as a child; I grew up watching her on Blind Date every Saturday night with my Nan. To be chosen to play her is such an honour and I’m so excited to take on the role. To open in her hometown of Liverpool is so special and a real privilege.”

Full cast announced for Sunset Boulevard Tour starring Ria Jones and Danny Mac

As previously announced, Ria Jones is to star as Norma Desmond in a new UK tour of Sunset Boulevard which is part of Leicester Curve's new Autumn season . Strictly Come Dancing finalist Danny Mac will play Joe Gillis for the 2017 tour dates they will be joined by Adam Pearce/Max Von Mayerling, Molly Lynch/Betty Schaefer, Dougie Carter/Artie Green and Carl Sanderson/Cecil B DeMille.

Adam Pearce’s many West End credits include “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre, as well as the original casts of “Love Never Dies” at the Adelphi, “The Light Princess at the National Theatre and “Urinetown” at the St James Theatre.  Adam has also appeared in “Evita”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Sweeney Todd”, all at the Adelphi.
 

Molly Lynch most recently appeared in English National Opera’s “Carousel” at the Coliseum, where she has also appeared in “Sweeney Todd”. Her other credits include “Fiddler on the Roof” at Grange Park Opera.

Dougie Carter recently played ‘Jean-Michel’ in the national tour of “La Cage Aux Folles”. His West End theatre credits include “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre and “Alice” at St James Theatre.

Carl Sanderson’s many West End credits include “Cats”, “The Phantom of the Opera”, “Acorn Antiques – The Musical” and “Starlight Express”. His other theatre credits include the national tours of “My Fair Lady” and “Hairspray” as well as “Guys and Dolls”, “The Music Man” and “The Pajama Game” all at Chichester Festival Theatre.

The rest of the company includes Bernadette Bangura, Matthew Barrow, Benjamin Chambers, Joanna Goodwin, Kristoffer Hellström, Iain Mattley, James Meunier, Gemma Naylor, Fiona O’Carroll, Joanna O’Hare, Jessica Paul, Sam Peggs, Tom Vincent and Barney Wilkinson