Ben Forster, Tyrone Huntley, Julian Ovenden and Rebecca Trehearn in European premiere Sondheim on Sondheim musical revue

Ben Forster, Tyrone Huntley and Rebecca Trehearn, Julian Ovenden, Claire Moore and Liz Callaway have been cast in the European premiere of the musical revue Sondheim on Sondheim which runs at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on March 15th , featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by  Keith Lockhart.

Sondheim on Sondheim first ran in New York in 2010 and features taped interviews with Sondheim alongside performances of songs from shows such as West Side Story, Merrily We Roll Along and Into the Woods.The revue is described as an “intimate portrait of the famed songwriter in his own words and music” using  interview footage and Sondheim’s songs to provide audiences with an insight into his personal life and artistic process.

The original production was conceived by James Lapine, who wrote the books for Sondheim shows including Into the Woods and Passion.

Buy tickets for Sondheim on Sondheim 

Cast announced for new tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie starring Hayley Tamaddon

The last tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie starring Strictly Come Dancing's Joanne Clifton ended last July. There is a new tour starting this March this time  starring HAYLEY TAMADDON as the adorable Millie. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Delia Dingle in Emmerdale and Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street and for winning the fifth series of ITV’s Dancing on Ice. Her musical theatre roles include Roxie Hart in Chicago (UK Tour), The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot (UK tour), Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour), Frenchie in Grease (UK Tour), Diana Morales in A Chorus Line (Sheffield Theatres), Trish in Boogie Nights (UK Tour), Carmen in Fame (UK Tour), Laura in Boyband (West End) and Lisa in Mamma Mia (West End).

With rehearsals for the show starting today , it has just been announced that she  will be joined by Lucas Rush who will reprise the roles of David Krumpler/Mrs Meers which he played in the last tour. He will be joined by Guy Salim/Ching Ho,  Lisa Bridge/Miss Dorothy Brown, Michael Colbourne/Jimmy Smith, Natalie Spriggs /Miss Flannery, Nicola Blackman/Muzzy Van Hossmere, Partick Jeremy/ Bun Foo, Richard Meek/ Trevor Graydon  with ensemble members Annie Guy, Emma Lloyd, Jessica Nelson/Alternate Millie Dillmount, Laura Ellis, Millie O'Connell, Patrick George, Scott Norton and Tom Summers.

JUST ANNOUNCED: New Les Miserables Tour of UK and Ireland

After nearly a decade since the last UK tour, Cameron Mackintosh has announced that his  Broadway production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical LES MISÉRABLES is to go on tour at the end of this year opening  at the Curve Leicester on 3rd November 2018 (press night 14 November 2018 ), before playing the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin, Festival Theatre Edinburgh and Manchester Palace Theatre. Further dates and casting news to follow.

 Cameron Mackintosh said, Since I first conceived the new production of “Les Misérables” to celebrate the shows 25th anniversary in 2009, this production has taken the world by storm - more than matching the success of the original, which can now only be seen in London.  I am thrilled that modern audiences have embraced this production as Les Mis for the 21st century and it is playing to packed houses all over the world in many languages. It also inspired the hugely successful movie version starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne.This latest version comes  from its recent Broadway triumph (now once again on a sell-out tour of North America) and is even more spectacular than the original.  I am very proud that this extraordinary Boublil and Schönberg musical remains as fresh, thrilling and exciting as ever – and people are still storming the barricades for a ticket.

This  new staging has scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, and has been seen in North America, South America, Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Spain, France, Manila, Singapore, Dubai and Broadway.

Lulu to join 42nd Street cast next month

Pop singer  Lulu, will be taking over the role of Dorothy Brock from Sheena Easton for sixteen weeks beginning March 19th in the West End production of 42nd Street currently playing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane,

She last appeared in the West End  31 years ago in the short-lived The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Savoy Theatre and prior to that took over in Andrew Lloyd Webber's solo show Song and Dance at the Palace Theatre. She played Adelaide in the tour of the National Theatre's production of Guys and Dolls which moved into the Prince of Wales.

Other news of cast changes on the 19th Ashley Day (Evita, Mary Poppins,  The Book of Mormon , American in Paris) is joining as Billy Lawlor taking over from Stuart Neal and Matthew Goodgame joins as Pat Denning taking over from Norman Bowman.  Tom Lister is staying as Julian Marsh and  Clare Halse carries on playing Peggy Sawyer.

Other cast members staying with the show include Jasna Ivir as 'Maggie Jones', Graeme Henderson as 'Andy Lee', Christopher Howell as Bert Barry' , Bruce Montague as 'Abner Dillon', Mark McKerracher as 'Mac/Doc/Thug' and Emma Caffrey is 'Anytime Annie'.

The March ensemble  will include Clare  Rickard,  Ella  Martine,  Hannah  Amin,  Lucy  Andic,  Sara  Bispham, Pamela  Blair,  Abi  Curruthers,  Danielle  Cato,  Lisa  Dent,  Natasha  Ferguson,  Madeleine  Francis,  Maria Garrett, Maddie Harper, Leah Harris, Rebecca Herszenhorn, Bethany Huckle, Sarah Kacey, Annie Kitchen, Jenny Legg, Hannah Faith Marram, Billie Kay, Katy Riches, Zoe  Rogers,  Jessica  Stent,  Josephina Camble, Gabrielle  Cocca,  Emma  Johnson,   Jasmine  Kerr, Lucy  Renouf, Christina  Shard,  Freddie  Clements,  Martin McCarthy, Zac Watts, Steph Parry,  Thomas Audibert, George Beet, Philip Bertioli, Joel Cooper, Matt Cox, Adam Denman,  Luke  George,  Ryan  Gover,  Alyn  Hawke,  Tom  Partridge,  James Royden-Lyley and Liam Wrate.

Full cast announced for tour of An Officer And A Gentleman

The full cast for the World Premiere of AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN - THE MUSICAL is officially announced with  leads Emma Williams/Paula Pokrifiki, Jonny Fines/Zack Mayo, Ray Shell /Foley, Ian Macintosh/Sid Worley and Jessica Daley as Lynette Pomeroy. The production will open at Curve on Friday 6 April 2018 with a national press night on Thursday 19 April before playing at theatres across the UK and Ireland until 15 September 2018. 

The cast also includes Keisha Atwell (“Legally Blonde” and “Grease” at Curve, “Annie”) who will play ‘Casey Seegar’, Andy Barke (“Nativity! The Musical” and “Legally Blonde” at Curve) in the role of ‘Louis Perryman’, Darren Bennett (“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Grease” and the title role in “Scrooge the Musical” at Curve) in the role of ‘Bryon Mayo’, James Darch in the role of ‘Troy’, Nathaniel Landskroner (“Grease”, “Legally Blonde” and “Scrooge the Musical” at Curve) in the role of ‘Craig’, George Loannides (“Grease” at Curve and “Annie” and “Mamma Mia!”) in the role of  ‘Eduardo Cortez’, Joe Maxwell (“Jersey Boys” and “Scrooge the Musical” at Curve) in the role of ‘Fin Hooper’, Corinna Powlesland in the role of ‘Aunt Bunny’ and  Rachel Stanley  (“Legally Blonde” and “Scrooge the Musical” at Curve, White Christmas”) will play ‘Esther Pokrifki’.Joining them will be David Burrows, Vanessa Fisher, Aimee Hodnett, Keiran McGinn and Rhys Whitfield.

Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director of Curve and Director of ‘An Officer and Gentleman – The Musical’ said today “Douglas Day Stewart wrote An Officer and a Gentleman in response to his time serving in the American Air Force and the challenges he faced during training. It is a visceral, uncompromising and ultimately tender portrait of the these personal experiences and the lives of folk living near the training facility in the early 1980s.We are proud to have assembled such an accomplished company of actors, led by Emma, Ray, Jonny, Ian and Jess to create our production and realise this beautiful portrait of working class lives. All of us at Curve are excited to tell this story - set to a fantastic 80s playlist - and to be working with the talented team at Jamie Wilson Productions. Productions like this couldn’t be made without the support of our collaborators and we are thrilled to be working with Jamie and his team. Officer will certainly be a memorable moment in our theatre's 10th birthday year."

Four-time Laurence Olivier Award nominated actress Emma Williams will play ‘Paula Pokrifki’. Emma’s previous credits include ‘Truly Scrumptious’ in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “Mrs Henderson Presents” and “Love Story”, all in the West End. This year Emma won the What's On Stage Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for playing ‘Helen’ in Cameron Mackintosh's revival of “Half A Sixpence” at the Noel Coward Theatre.

Jonny Fines will play the iconic role of ‘Zack Mayo’ – the role made famous by Richard Gere in the beloved 80s film. Jonny most recently played the role of ‘Rooster’ in the West End production of “Annie” at The Piccadilly Theatre.  Other theatre credits include the UK Tours of “The Sound of Music” and “Avenue Q”.

Ray Shell will play ‘Foley’. Ray is probably most famous for creating the roles of ‘Rusty’ in “Starlight Express” and ‘Nomax’ in “Five Guys Named Moe”, both in the West End.  His other theatre credits include the iconic productions of “Miss Saigon” and “Jesus Christ Superstar”.

Ian Macintosh will play ‘Sid Worley’. Ian is an Olivier nominated actor for his role in the West End production of “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical”, his other credits include “The Commitments” and “Rock of Ages”.

Jessica Daley will play ‘Lynette Pomeroy’. Jessica was a finalist on the BBC 1’s “Over The Rainbow” and previous theatre credits include “Mamma Mia!” In the West End and the UK Tour of “The Sound of Music”.

 

Magic at the Musicals with Louise Dearman and John Owen-Jones hosted by Ruthie Henshall

Magic Radio have announced  the return for the third year  of ‘Magic at the Musicals’ at the Royal Albert Hall on 21st May 2018.

This brand new show, complete with 60 piece orchestra, hosted Olivier Award-winning Ruthie Henshall brings together performers from  hit musicals including  Dreamgirls, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, MAMMA MIA!, Disney’s The Lion King and Disney’s Aladdin, with  cast members from the new  production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company – which sees the lead male role of Bobby re-imagined as woman named Bobbi, played by Rosalie Craig – and stars of the new production of Chicago which returns to the West End this year  as well as performances from West End favourites Louise Dearman & John Owen-Jones.

Tickets go on sale on Friday 23rd February at 09:00

Alfie Boe, Beverley Knight, Madalena Alberto, Jodie Prenger, Michael Xavier, Ben Lewis and Myleene Klass join line up for for Andrew Lloyd Webber – A Musical Celebration

Updated 16th May: More performers have just been announced to join the line up:  newly announced acts include Alfie Boe, Beverley Knight, Madalena Alberto, Jodie Prenger, Michael Xavier and Ben Lewis. Myleene Klass will compere the event.

Tyrone Huntley (Deamgirls and Jesus Christ Superstar) and  Ben Forster (Elf, Phantom of the Opera) are to perform in a  concert  in  celebration of  the composer's 70th birthday,:  Andrew Lloyd Webber – A Musical Celebration  at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Sunday 17 June 2018

The line-up also includes  Joe McElderry (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Imelda May and Mica Paris will feature alongside the West End casts of School of Rock and The Phantom of the Opera accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

 and  will feature songs from Lloyd Webber's repertoire including Cats, Aspects of Love, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Starlight Express and Love Never Dies, culminating in a firework display.

Tickets for Andrew LLoyf Webber-A Musical Celbration.. (A portion of the ticket sale proceeds will go towards funding the care of Chelsea Pensioners, as well as the ongoing maintenance of the Grade I listed site.)

More West End stars join Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser in concert performance of The Light Princess

Rosalie Craig is to reprise her role of Althea in a one off concert performance of The Light Princess with her husband Hadley Fraser playing  Digby  at the Cadogan Hall on 1st July at 6:30 pm.They will be joined by Norman Bowman, Gabrielle Brooks, Anna-Jane Casey, David Langham, Louis Maskell, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Trevor Dion-Nicholas - who plays the Genie in Disney's Aladdin -will play King Darius.

Directed by Paul Foster (A Little Night Music, Annie Get Your Gun), the musical is created by Tori Amos and Sam Adamson, based on George MacDonald's 1864 fairytale about a princess and a prince who had both lost their mothers and lived in opposing kingdoms. Althea was unable to cry and became light with grief and floated, and so was locked away. Digby became so heavy-hearted that he could never smile and so was trained as a warrior. One day he declares war. Althea is forced out of hiding and down to ground but, in defiance of her father, she escapes, only to encounter the solemn prince on contested land. Beside a lake the warring heirs begin a passionate and illicit affair. But for Althea to find real love, she must first confront the world’s darkness and face her own deepest fears. The show premiered at the National in October 2013.

Craig is currently appearing as in the West End production of The Ferryman and in September will star in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company, playing the lead role of Bobbi, alongside Patti LuPone and Mel Giedroyc. Her other credits include The Threepenny Opera and As You Like It at the National Theatre, .

Fraser  is currently playing the doctor  in the  revival of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein comedy musical at the Garrick Theatre. His previous credits include Saint Joan, The Winter's Tale, Les Misérables and Coriolanus.

Craig said: "It's so wonderful to have the opportunity to revisit this incredible piece five years on. It is hugely special to me and it will be a joy to hear it and sing it again after all this time."

Buy tickets for The Light Princess

BREAKING NEWS: Ruthie Henshall returning to Chicago the Musical

Baz in the Mail has just announced that West End and Broadway star RUTHIE HENSHALL is to return to Chicago the Musical at London's Phoenix Theatre  to play the role of Matron Mama Morton who performs  the show-stopping Act I number  When You're Good to Mama.  Joining her and the previously announced Cuba Gooding Jr as  lawyer  Billy Flynn will be Sarah Soetaert as Roxie Hart  and Josefina Gabrielle as Velma Kelly.

The show is currently scheduled for a one year run beginning on March 26th.

Four time Olivier-nominated Ruthie Henshall has played the lead role in many of the most  successful award-winning musicals in the West End and on Broadway over the last 30 years, including Chicago, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Cats and Crazy For You and Billy Elliott. She was the original London Roxie in the  revival  at the Adelphi in 1997 and has also played Velma.  Henshall said that she will be only the second actor to perform the three main female roles: Roxie, Velma and Mama with Bebe Neuwirth perfroming all three on Broadway.

Josefina Gabrielle starred as Gussie Carnegie in  Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along at The Menier Chocolate Factory and Harold Pinter Theatre. She received an Oliver Award for her duel performance as  Nickie and Ursula in Sweet Charity.  Her other musical theatre credits include Dot/Maria in Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, Roxie Hart in Chicago, Alexandra Spofford in The Witches of Eastwick and her c Olivier nominated role of Laurey Wlliams in the Trevor Nunn production of Oklahoma! West End and Broadway.

Sarah Soetaert has been in the West End  in Cats, Fame, and Kiss Me Kate. She made her debut as Roxie Hart in the first West End production in 2007 and  went on to become the longest running Roxie Hart in the West End returning to the role numerous times over the course of six years.

Flowers for Mrs Harris and Me and My Girl musicals announced as part of Chichester Festival Theatre's 2018 Season

Chichester Festival Theatre has just unveiled its 2018 season.  Musical theatre offerings feature a revival of Flowers For Mrs Harris: an uplifting musical which celebrates the extraordinary power of friendship,  starring Clare Burt (Big Fish, London Road), who reprises her role as Mrs Ada Harris with Joanna Riding (The Girls, Romantics Anonymous) as Lady Dant / Madame Colbert and Gary Wilmot as Major / Monsieur Armand

Directed by Artistic Director Daniel Evans, it will run at the Festival Theatre from September 8th-29th with press night on September 14th and  is based on the novel of the same name by Paul Gallico. The show has a book by Rachel Wagstaff (Birdsong) and music and lyrics by Richard Taylor (The Go-Between). It premiered in Sheffield Crucible (directed by Evans) in 2016 winning three UK Theatre Awards including Best Musical. Following  the story of Ada Harris whose  day-to-day life is spent cleaning houses. But fixated on a Christian Dior dress she sets off on a journey that will change her life... from the cobbled streets of post-war London to the avenues of Paris and beyond, Ada transforms the lives of everyone she meets along the way, but can she let go of her past and finally let her own life blossom?

Daniel Evans will also direct a new revival of L Arthur Rose, Douglas Furber and Noel Gay's Me and My Girl starring  Caroline Quentin as the Duchess of Dene at  the Festival Theatre from from July 2nd-August 25th, with press night on 9th July.  Reworked in 1985 by Stephen Fry and Michael Ockrent. 

The musical is set in Hampshire, Mayfair, and Lambeth in the late 1930s and tells the story of an unrefined cockney gentleman named Bill Snibson, who inherits a fortune when he learns that he is the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford. It won an Olivier Award and features numbers including "Leaning on a Lamppost", "The Sun Has Got His Hat On", "The Lambeth Walk" and "Me and My Girl".

 

•  Friends priority booking opens Saturday 24th February at 9am (online) and Wednesday 28TH February at 10:00am (by phone and in person)
•  Groups and Schools booking opens Thursday 1st  March
•  General booking opens Saturday 3rd March (online only) and Tuesday 6th March (by phone and in person)

CONFIRMED: Alexandra Burke, Michael Ball, Tim Howar and Cassidy Janson to star in ENO's Chess at the Coliseum

Initial casting has now  been confirmed for  ENO's production of Chess which is due to run in London for the first time in 30 years for five weeks only at the Coliseum from 1st May until 2nd June 2018, with previews scheduled to begin on April 26th. 

Michael Ball is to star as the Russian  Anatoly Sergievsky with X Factor winner Alexandra Burke as Svetlana Sergievsky. Joining them is Tim Howar (Rock of Ages, co lead singer of Mike and the Mechanics) as Frederick Trumper, Cassidy Janson (Beautiful & Leading Ladies) as Florence Vassy and Murray Head as the Arbiter (having originated the role of Frederick in the show's 1986 West End premiere).

The production will feature a 48 piece orchestra and  tells the story of a romantic triangle between two players in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer and the oddity of the Merano championship in the musical is based on the similar oddities which occurred during the 1978 World Championship between Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov. The musical contains some powerful classic numbers including I Know Him So Well, One Night In Bangkok, Anthem and Heaven Help My Heart.

Sam Bailey to join the cast of Vampires Rock

X Factor winner Sam Bailey is touring in the hugely successful Fat Friends Musical until June , but next year  is due to take the role of the vampire queen in the touring musical extravaganza Vampires Rock Ghost Train.

She  will be stepping into the shoes of  singer and actress Toyah Willcox who played the part for two years performing over 200 shows.

Sam will be joined on stage by creator and star of Vampires Rock Steve Steinman, plus a full cast of dancers, singers and musicians. For the past fifteen years Vampires Rock has played to more than a million people and has a growing army of fans who follow the show year after year as it tours in all the major theatres and concert halls country wide.

Sam explains “When I was approached to play in Vampires Rock I jumped at the chance, I am a fan of the show and to get to cover some of the greatest Classic rock songs that are featured in the show, a chance I couldn’t miss Steve Steinman has created something very special and unique and to share the stage with Steve will be fantastic”.

Cory English to play Igor in Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein in London

CORY ENGLISH  will join the cast of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein at the Garrick Theatre on 12th February as Igor, trusted assistant to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein. He will replace Ross Noble , who is set to complete his run on 10th February to go on his El Hablador stand up comedy tour.

English  has played the part before replacing Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald at Broadway's Hilton Theatre and also on the US tour.  

Based on the Oscar-nominated 1974 film, Young Frankenstein is Brooks’ comic re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic. English will join current cast members HADLEY FRASER/Dr Frederick Frankenstein, LESLEY JOSEPH /Frau Blucher, DIANNE PILKINGTON /Elizabeth, SUMMER STRALLEN /Inga with PATRICK CLANCY as Inspector Kemp and NIC GREENSHIELDS as the Monster.

English began his career in New York, where his Broadway credits include Barnaby in Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing, Damn Yankees, Guys and Dolls and Gypsy with Tyne Daly. He moved to London to study acting at the Drama Studio London. While in the UK, he performed in plays Corpus Christi at the Edinburgh Festival, Our Father and Comedy of Errors as both Dromios. In the West End, he played Mary Sunshine in Chicago, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls with Ewan McGregor and Jane Krakowski, and was in The Producers in London and on tour.

Cast change at Motown the Musical

New casting has been announced for the West End production of Berry Gordy's Motown The Musical, which celebrates its second birthday at the Shaftesbury Theatreis where it is currently booking until 5th January 2019.
 

Jay Perry will join the cast as Berry Gordy. He is joined by Natalie Kassanga as Diana Ross and Carl Spencer as Marvin Gaye. 11 year-old Cruz Lee-Ojo also joins the company to share the role of Young Michael Jackson, Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder with 12 year-old Tumo Reetsang. David Albury continues in the role of Smokey Robinson.

They are joined by ensemble members  Chanice Alexandra-Burnett, KM Drew Boateng, Timothy Benjamin, Ryan Carter, Ricardo Castro, Amandla Elynah, Livvy Evans, Segun Fawole, Angela Marie Hurst, Cameron Bernard Jones, Cleopatra Joseph, Duane Lamonte, Nathan Lorainey-Dineen, Mireia Mambo, Matt Overfield, Adam Philpott, Ainsley Hall Ricketts, Lawrence Rowe, Nate Simpson, Jaime Tait, Kyle Turner, Anna Van Ruiten, Cherelle Williams, Lashane Williams, Michael Woolston-Thomas, Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli and Mitchell Zhangazha.
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The production also recently announced a UK tour beginning in Birmingham in October.
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CARLOS ACOSTA - A CELEBRATION at Royal Albert Hall

Internationally acclaimed dancer Carlos Acosta returns to the Royal Albert Hall for four performances only from 2nd - 5th October

Acclaimed as one of the most extraordinary dancers of his generation, following his retirement from classical ballet Carlos Acosta will perform a selection of other favourite and specially commissioned pieces in a wonderful programme marking his thirty years as a dancer. During a remarkable career, Carlos has been hailed by the critics, won countless awards and thrilled audiences the world over.

The programme will feature a full company of dancers and is accompanied by a live orchestra.

Buy tickets for Carlos Acosta - A Celebration

Carrie Hope Fletcher, Adam Garcia, Newton Faulkner and Jason Donovan to star in Jeff Wayne's latest musical version of The War of the Worlds

Casting has been announced for Jeff Wayne's latest musical version of The War of the Worlds Alive on Stage, which will embark on a UK tour next year opening at the Glasgow SSE Hydro Arena on 30th November  before before embarking on a UK tour across the month of December to  Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bournemouth, London's O2 and Brighton.

Liam Neeson again appears in 3D holography as the story's narrator journalist George Herbert. He w ill be joined by Jason Donovan as Parson Nathaniel, wih Carrie Hope Fletcher as his wife Beth.

Adam Garcia will debut as The Artilleryman, Newton Faulkner will perform The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist, Nathan James will play The Voice of Humanity and Anna-Marie Wayne reprises her role as Carrie, The Journalist's Fiancée.

It is now forty years since Wayne debuted the original concept album (which went on to win two Novello Awards).  He will conduct the piece, which features the Black Smoke Band as well as the 36-piece ULLAdubULLA strings ensemble. The experience will also feature a giant 35-foot tall martian robot, armed with dual fire cannons, alongside a giant 100-foot wide CGI wall.

The show last toured the UK at the end of  2014 before playing the Dominion Theatre in February 2016.

Buy tickets  for the 2018 tour of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds Alive on Stage 

John Barrowman and Seth Rudestsky Broadway @ Leicester Square Concerts

John Barrowman is doing  three special concert performances as part of Seth Rudetsky’s Broadway @ Leicester Square Theatre with one show on Friday 13th April and two shows on Saturday 14th  April.

Star of Doctor Who and Torchwood, with musical theatre credits including La Cage aux Folles, Sunset Boulevard and Miss Saigon, Barrowman is the latest big-name star to appear at Broadway@ Leicester Square which began in 2013 with Patti LuPone and returned last year starring Audra McDonald.

Seth Rudetsky will act as host and accompany Barrowman on the piano, performing Broadway hits and offering a behind the scenes glimpse of life.
 Buy tickets for the shows  

Rob Brydon, Bertie Carvel, Patricia Hodge, Miles Jupp, Jim Carter and Jane Asher in Richard Stilgoe's Orpheus-the Mythical

Richard Stilgoe's Orpheus - The Musical will be performed by students and alumni from the Arts Educational School at The Other Palace Theatre from 26th-31st March with special guests including Rob Brydon, Bertie Carvel, Patricia Hodge, Miles Jupp, Jim Carter and Jane Asher  making  one-off cameo appearances playing the role of the Greek Chorus on different nights.

Directed by Katie Beard, Richard Stilgoe's musical is a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus (whose voice was able to charm anything and anyone that heard it). To celebrate the Orpheus Trust’s 20th birthday, they are presenting Orpheus’ voyage to find the golden fleece and his doomed journey down to Hades to rescue his wife Euridice, while battling the efforts of the bored and wilful gods and an unreliable satnav. 

Stilgoe founded the Orpheus Trust in 1998 in order to inspire young disabled people to have greater independence through performing arts experiences. The Orpheus Centre offers students the chance to stay for up to three years, with the students being aged between 18 and 25 and having learning and/or physical disabilities. He said: "The whole purpose of Orpheus is to mix young disabled people with the real world and not separate them. These are terrific and confident performers who concentrate on what they can do rather than what they can't. "

Tickets for Orpheus-the Mythical

Cast for new revival of Sondheim's Assassins

The cast has been announced for the new revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, which runs  at Pleasance Theatre from 20th  March - 8th April

The company includes Jason Kajdi (Our House UK tour)/Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald, Andrew Pepper (Mary Poppins)/Charles Guiteau, Alexander McMorran (A Little Night Music)/John Wilkes Booth, Abigail Williams (Elegies for Angels Punks & Raging Queens)/Sara Jane Moore, Alfie Parker (School of Rock)/Samuel Byck, Conor McFarlane (The Mikado)/Leon Czolgosz, Jack Reitman (Love's Labour's Lost)/Giuseppe Zangara, Peter Watts (Rubber) as Propietor and Toby Hine (The Kissing Dance)/John Hinckley.

Directed by Louise Bakker with Jordan Clarke as MD, this new version of the musical will also reflect the current political climate in the US. Over the last 152 years, 9 Americans have tried to kill – no, assassinate - 8 American presidents, only 4 of them have been successful . Sondheim's Assassins tells  the story of ambitious, deluded, passionate, desperate people who believed that the solution to their problems was to shoot the guy in charge and  follows the attempts by assassins to murder US presidents throughout history. It includes classic numbers  "Everybody's Got The Right" and "The Ballad of Booth". .

The musical is based on an idea by Charles Gilbert Jr, with original orchestration by Michael Starobin and libretto by John Weidman.

Buy tickets for Assassins

Bat Out of Hell casting announced.

The cast for Bat Out Of Hell which opens at the Dominion Theatre in April has just been revealed:  Andrew Polec and Christina Bennington will return to lead the cast as Strat and Raven, alongside Rob Fowler as Falco, Danielle Steers as Zahara with Sharon Sexton as Sloane, Giovanni Spanó as Ledoux and Patrick Sullivan as Blake. Also returning are Emily Benjamin, Georgia Carling, Natalie Chua, Jonathan Cordin, Hannah Ducharme, Isaac Edwards, Aston Newman Hannington, Eve Norris and Courtney Stapleton. (At certain performances, the role of Strat will be played by Simon Gordon or Jordon Gage).

 

New cast members include Alex Thomas-Smith (Tink), Wayne Robinson (Jagwire), Kyle Anthony, Christopher Cameron, Rob Copeland, Collette Guitart, Eric Hallengren, Vicki Manser, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, Joseph Peacock, Kyle Roberts, Craig Ryder, Dawnita Smith, Julie Stark, Charlotte Anne Steen and Sam Toland.

Full casting announced for Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus Rock Musical

Rock musical Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus (previously called 27) returns to London with a new title, a revised book and new songs). Again directed by Arlene Phillips and written by Sam Cassidy, it will have 9 concert-style workshop performances at The Other Palace from Saturday 10th – Saturday 17th March 2018. The production will be semi-staged and performed by a live 6-piece band.

Final casting includes Jaymi Hensley (trained at the Brit School before joining Union J), Zoe Birkett (Rachael Marron in The Bodyguard, Thriller Live & Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert original cast in the West End), Joe Burman (Hair, Hope Mill Theatre, Xanandu, Southwark Playhouse), Richard Carson (Sky, Mamma Mia!, West End, 1st Cover Chris, Miss Saigon, West End), Eloise Davies (27, Cockpit Theatre), Amy Di Bartolomeo (Bat Out Of Hell, London Coliseum, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, UK tour), Lauren Ellis-Steele (Wicked, UK tour), Joel Harper-Jackson (Simon Zealot, Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Beautiful, West End, Mr Thompson, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time UK tour),  Jodie Jacobs (27, Cockpit, Crow, Bananaman the Musical and Miss Gardner, Carrie, Southwark Playhouse), Laura Johnson (Hair, Hope Mill Theatre & The Vaults), Shekinah McFarlane (Tommy, UK tour, Hair and Parade, Hope Mill Theatre), Matthew McKenna ( Bananaman The Musical, Legally Blonde, We Will Rock You, The Phantom of the Opera, West End), Alice Martin (27, Cockpit Theatre), Jodie Steele (Alternate Elphaba, Wicked, UK and International tour), Jessamy Stoddard (1st Cover Fantine, Les Miserables), Damien Walsh (Mick Avory, Sunny Afternoon, West End, Barry, Dreamboats and Petticoats, UK tour). Full creative team still to be announced.

Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus is a modern retelling of the Ancient Greek tale of Orpheus and the underworld, looking at mental illness and addiction in society and more specifically the rock music business, with a storyline with echoes of the tragically short lives of some of music’s brightest stars, including Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.

Arlene Phillips said: “We were inspired by the recent workshop performances of Andrew Lloyd Webbers Starlight Express and believed this method of presentation would be invaluable to the development of Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus.”

Sam Cassidy added: It’s true that musicals are not written, but rather rewritten, and this is a fantastic opportunity. In 2016, we opened a completely new British rock musical and enjoyed a very successful 6-week season at the 170-seat Cockpit Theatre. We had great audiences, with many people seeing it more than once, but we were not completely happy with elements of the production. I’ve since looked at the book, revised the storyline, dropped some songs and added new ones. This latest run will give us the chance to see how this new version works with the chance for audiences to give us feedback.”

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Mel Giedroyc joins Rosalie Craig and Patti LuPone in Sondheim's Company

Former Great British Bake Off host  Mel Giedroyc is joining Rosalie Craig and Patti LuPone in Stephen Sondheim's  musical, Company, which Marianne Elliott will direct at the Gielgud where it runs from September 26th.

Giedroyc will play Sarah, who is married  to Harry (one of the five couples who are friends with unmarried Bobbi played by Ms Craig). Sarah and Harry are what Sondheim describes as a fondly competitive couple’ both battling psychological problems.

Director Elliott said she was drawn to Giedroyc’s ‘warmth, humour and charm’ when they met to talk about her being in Company and ‘she has all the qualities I was looking for. She is another amazing and talented woman to add to the cast,I can’t believe my luck, we’re going to have so much fun.

Full cast announced for revival of The Rink starring Gemma Sutton and Caroline O'Connor

Updated 24th April: Joining Gemma and Caroline will be Stewart Clarke, Ross Dawes, Michael Lin, Elander Moore, Ben Redfern and Jason Winter playing Dino, Lino, Lucky, Benny, Lenny and Tony respectively in the first London revival in 20 years of Kander and Ebb’s THE RINK.


Updated 13th April:  Gemma Sutton  has joined the cast playing  the role of Angel, an estranged daughter who returns home to mend her relationship with her mother and help save their roller-skating rink.

Gemma most recently played Fran in Strictly Ballroom (West Yorkshire Playhouse & Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto) and Marian in The Go Between (Apollo Theatre, London). She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of both June and Louise in the West End production of Gypsy opposite Imelda Staunton (also June in the Chichester Festival Theatre production). Her other theatre credits include Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray (UK tour), Roxie Hart in Chicago (Curve Theatre, Leicester), Drunk (Leicester Curve Theatre and The Bridewell Theatre, London) and Enid/first cover Elle in Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre, West End).

Caroline O’Connor is  to star as Anna Antonelli -  the owner of a fading Coney Island seaside roller rink - in  The Rink musical at Southwark Playhouse from May 25th-23rd June.

This is the  first London revival of The Rink  in almost 30 years.It  has music and lyrics by Tony and Olivier Award-Winning John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret) and book by Tony Award-winning Terrence McNally (Ragtime, Kiss of the Spiderwoman), and. It originally premiered on Broadway in 1984 starring Chita Rivera and Liza Minelli with Anna, an Italian housewife who runs a roller-skating rink on the Eastern coast of America who  is about to sell it to developers until her estranged daughter, Angel, returns after a long absence, hoping to save the rink and patch things up with her mother. Chita Rivera created the role Anna in New York and Josephine Blake played her in London back in 1987.

The Rink is directed by Adam Lenson (Songs For a New World & Superhero) and choreographed by Fabian Aloise (Working & Our House, UK Tour)  It has showstopping songs, including Colored Lights and Don’t “Ah Ma” Me,

O'Connor is currently appearing as Countess Lily in Anastasia on Broadway.which also has a script by McNally. She understudied Diane Langton who played Angel in London saying I was so young then. For me it was so exciting to be part of it. It’ll be very interesting to understand Anna from the get go. Having listened so often to The Rink soundtrack, she feels she understands the show very well.

 

Tickets for The Rink

First reports of Charlie Stemp in Hello Dolly on Broadway

Charlie Stemp who made his name in Half A Sixpence at Chichester and the Noel Coward in London has made his Broadway debut in Hello Dolly at the Shubert Theatre  replacing actor Taylor Trensch on January 20th  as innocent young store assistant Barnaby Tucker.

He has just finished playing Dick Whittington in  panto at the Palladium but as soon as it ended headed to a rehearsal room in Manhattan with Bernadette Peters (replacing Bette Midler), Victor Garber and Gavin Creel to get ready for Jerry Zaks’s  revival of the Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart musical.

Director Zaks, choreographer Warren Carlyle and producer Scott Rudin had an idea to shake things up. Stemp told the Mail's Baz Bamigboye everyone from the team said: Let’s try out new things What do you want to do? I’m about a foot taller than Taylor and there are a lot of new dance steps. The leap shown in the photograph is in  first act number Dancing he performs with Peters, Creel and Kate Baldwin.
 

Stemp has a 12-month contract with director Zaks saying that Stemp lights up the stage

Full cast announced for Sting's The Last Ship Musical

Northern Stage in association with Karl Sydow & Kathryn Schenker are presenting a tour of the UK premiere of Sting’s  musical  The Last Ship which features an original score with music and lyrics by Sting. 

Joining the previously announced Joe McGann starring as Jackie White alongside Charlie Hardwick (Peggy White), Richard Fleeshman (Gideon Fletcher) and Frances McNamee (Meg Dawson) are Michael Blair (Yard Worker), Joe Caffrey (Billy Thompson), Matt Corner (Young Gideon & Yard Worker), Marvin Ford (Ferryman & Yard Worker), Orla Gormley (Cathleen & Yard Worker), Annie Grace (Mrs Dees), Sean Kearns (Freddy Newland & Old Joe), Katie Moore (Ellen Dawson), Charlie Richmond (Adrian Sanderson), Parisa Shahmir (Young Meg), Kevin Wathen (Davey Harrison) and Penelope Woodman (Baroness Tynedale).