Lin-Manuel Miranda to join James McAvoy, Clarke Peters and Ruth Wilson in new BBC Series His Dark Materials

Breaking news in Variety is that Lin-Manuel Miranda will join  James McAvoy, Clarke Peters  and Ruth Wilson  in the BBC 8 part Series His Dark Materials based on the fantasy novels written by Philip Pullman.  The cast will also include Dafne Keen,Anne-Marie Duff, Ariyon Bakare, Ian Gelder, Georgina Campbell, and Will Keen.

The screen adaptation has been written  by Harry Potter playwright Jack Thorne with Tom Hooper directing the first two episodes.

The series follows a young girl Lyra, played by Dafne Keen who encounters the alethiometer truth-telling device. Her adventures lead her to her uncle (James McAvoy), Mrs Coulter (Ruth Wilson), and the mysterious Dust. Miranda plays the role of aeronaut and adventurer Lee Scoresby who befriends Lyra.

Bad Wolf and New Line Cinema are producing for the BBC; principal photography is currently underway in Cardiff.

Full cast joining Richard Winsor as Tony Manero in tour of Saturday Night Fever

Acclaimed actor and dancer Richard Winsor is to make his musical theatre debut playing Tony Manero in Bill Kenwright's new tour of Saturday Night Fever which opens in Wimbledon at the end of August.   He is best  known as a dancer from Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and as Caleb Knight in the long-running BBC television medical drama series Casualty from January 2014 until April 2017, when his character was killed off after being stabbed by a patient's relative. In 2010 he played the lead rold of Tomas in the  successful British cult film StreetDance 3D and also appeared as the character Father Francis in Hollyoaks in 2011.

Winsor is a trained dancer and has starred in several Matthew Bourne productions including the  US tour of Car Man continuing in the role until early 2002 with tours in France and Japan, he  then played 'Dorian' in the sell-out Edinburgh festival and London runs of Dorian Gray, and 'Edward' in Bourne's Edward Scissorhands. Recently  Richard collaborated with a Japanese dance company on a revival production of Dorian in Tokyo. In 2011 he starred as The Swan/The Stranger in Bourne's  Swan Lake in the UK and on world tours including New York and Tokyo.  

He will be joined by Kate Parr (Follies) as Stephanie, Owen Broughton (Gus), Michael Cortez (Joey), Raphael Pace (Bobbie C) and Jared Thompson (Double Jay).

The cast is completed by: Philip Aiden (Frank Senior); Anna Campkin (Annette); Faizal Jaye (DJ Monty); Melody Jones (Flo Manero); Marios Nicolaides (Frank Junior) with ensemble members Rhianne Alleyne, Javier Cid, Jess Ellen, Andrew Gordon Watkins, Olivia Kate Holding, Carly Miles, Aimee Moore, Nathan Ryles and Brett Shiels.

For the first time they are joined by the "Bee Gees" with Ed Handoll (Barry Gibb), Alastair Hill (Maurice Gibb) and Matt Faull (Robin Gibb) singing the hit soundtrack of the disco classics.

Les Miserables to move from Queens Theatre to allow for structural improvements

Les Misérables is to move from its current home at the Queens' Theatre  to make way for  renovations as part of a range of structural improvements and restoration work in several Cameron Mackintosh's theatres

Following the restoration of the Victoria Palace Theatre for the opening of Hamilton, Wyndham's, Noël Coward, Gielgud, the Novello and the Queen's Theatre will all undergo improvement works.

Work to Wyndham's, Noël Coward and the Gielgud will take place during breaks of the shows already running at the theatres.

The Queen's Theatre will also close without LesMis breaking its run. The works come after historic plaster and paintwork conservationist Richard Ireland and structural engineer Chris Boydell of Connisbee inspected the buildings: it requires major renovation backstage and the closure will allow the restoration of   Edwardian architect William Sprague's  original boxes and loges.

In a statement, the company said: "Plans are being finalised to ensure that this legendary musical success will continue its run in the West End during the Queen's Theatre closure and announcement with these arrangements will be made in the autumn."

The first of the theatres to undergo improvements will be Wyndham's, starting early next month. Then the Noël Coward and Gielgud will follow in 2019, with works to the Queen's taking  a period of two to four months in 2019-20.

The Novello Theatre has already had over 50% of the required work completed and the remainder will be carried out without any loss of performance.

Mackintosh said: "Having just completed the hugely rewarding but very expensive restoration of the Victoria Palace, news of the timing of these works which are necessary to ensure that my other theatres will be in tip top condition for actors, producers and audiences, long after the final curtain has dropped on me, was not the most welcome.There are major financial consequences, not just the considerable cost of the capital works, but the knock on costs of closing these theatres for several months will run into many millions of pounds. However, I love these buildings and luckily my success as a producer has given me the resources to preserve their life for another 100 years - so that the show can go on and on and on!"

Andrew Lloyd Webber renames Really Useful Theatres

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatres  is to be renamed LW Theatres (Lloyd Webber Theatres) from today in an effort to end any confusion between the theatre division and the Really Useful Group which handles Lord Lloyd Webber's creative output.

Lloyd Webber's six West End theatres which include the London Palladium, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Cambridge Theatre and the newly renamed Gillian Lynne Theatre  will all keep their titles.

Rebecca Kane Burton, the managing director of LW Theatres said: "The change will help the theatre company communicate directly and more effectively with a wider public and the business world."

Casting announced for return of Eugenius! to The Other Palace

Casting has been announced for the return of Eugenius!, which returns to  The Other Palace on 1st September and runs until 7th October.

Joining the production are Rob Houchen (Les Misérables) who will play the lead role of Eugene, Neil McDermott (Shrek the Musical) as Evil Lord Hector, Emily Tierney (Wicked) as Carrie / Super Hot Lady, Alex Bourne (Annie) as Lex, Simon Thomas (The Phantom of the Opera) as Gerhard / Toughman, Christopher Ragland (Little Shop of Horrors) as Eugene's Dad/Lord Tough Man, and Tom Senior (Grease) as Stock Jock/Flock of Eagles Singer.

Laura Baldwin (Big Fish), Dan Buckley (Loserville), Scott Paige (Addams Family) and Alison Arnopp (Dusty) will all return to the show, with the cast being completed by Titus Rowe, Alex Tranter, Ben Darcy, Dilllon Scott-Lewis, Lauren Cancannon, Amy West, and Sasha Wareham. Brian Blessed will once more lend his voice to the show.

After a concert performance at London's Palladium, Eugenius! had a full-length run at The Other Palace earlier this year. Written by Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins, the coming-of-age musical tells the story of Eugene, a teenage boy obsessed with sci-fi and fantasy who decides to create his own comic book movie. Ian Talbot directs the piece, which has choreography from Aaron Renfree, musical supervision by Stuart Morley, musical direction by Darren Lord, sound design from Dan Samson with original sound design by Gareth Owen, lighting from Andrew Ellis, casting by Jim Arnold. The show runs from 5 September to 7 October with previews from 1 September.

Producer Warwick Davis said: "We've been busy tweaking, tickling, tightening and super-charging the show. So if you missed Eugenius! last time this is your chance to finally see what the buzz is all about. And if you were one of the wonderful, crazy fans who saw it many times, we look forward to welcoming you back again - especially as we have added a new song to the 80s-inspired soundtrack that had audiences on their feet at every performance punching the air and shouting in unison, ‘Go Eugenius!'."

Tickets for Eugenius!

Cast announced for Lin-Manuel Miranda's 21 Chump Street

Casting has been announced for a new production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's 15-minute musical, 21 Chump Street, which runs at The Courtyard Theatre in Shoreditch, for just three nights from 14th-16th September. It premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2014 and  is based on an episode of  the radio programme This American Life about  Justin – a high school senior who falls madly in love with new girl Naomi Rodriguez. He won't give up until she goes to prom with him, and he'll try anything to impress her, including buying drugs from the cool kids. But Naomi has a secret. She's an undercover cop. . .

Cedric Neal (Chess, Motown) will play the Narrator with  Tyrone Huntley (Dreamgirls, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Justin, a high school senior who falls in love with new girl Naomi Rodriguez – played by Melissa James (Eugenius!, The Bodyguard).  They will be joined by Matthew Caputo, Shiv Rabheru and Miles Barrow.

Directed by Lizzy Connolly (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), the performance  has musical direction by Ed Bussey and choreography by Simon Hardwick and will be followed by a 'prom' with a live band and vocals from Cedric Neal.

Tickets are priced at £25 and are available from The Courtyard Theatre.

Alexandra Burke to join Chicago as Roxie Hart

Alexandra Burke is to join the West End cast of Chicago the Musical at The Phoenix Theatre, playing the role of Roxie Hart taking over from Sarah Soetaert from Monday 13th August  to Saturday 14th October 2018. She will join Martin Kemp as Billy Flynn, Josefina Gabrielle as Velma Kelly and Paul Rider as Amos Hart. Martin Kemp will be staying in the London production of Chicago until 1 September 2018.

Burke's recent musical theatre roles include Svetlana in the London Coliseum revival of Chess, and  Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard and Deloris Van Cartier in the Sister Act UK tour.

The show is currently running at the Phoenix Theatre until 5 January when it closes and Come from Away the Musical  starts previews there on 30th January

Jennifer Hudson cast as Grizabella in Cats the Movie

According to  this morning's  Mail , Dreamgirls  Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson will  play the iconic role of Grizabella in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS! which Tom Hooper will direct Working Title pictures to  begin shooting in November in London. Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed a new song for the adaptation, for the white kitten Victoria and is also considering adding more new numbers to the score.

Baz has also reported that other stars including Sir Ian McKellen, James Corden, and  Taylor Swift are currently in talks to join the film, with deals yet  confirmed.

Spielberg wanted to turn Cats into a Hollywood blockbuster thirty years ago, but couldn’t figure out how to make it work.Now he’s billed as an executive producer (not with a hands-on role), which will see the actors wearing feline costumes - different from the ones worn on stage.

Director Hooper has spent almost two years working with a team of designers and technical wizards on closely guarded methods to come up with an innovative form of computer-generated imagery (CGI) that he will mix with live footage. His  innovations have won the approval of film moguls Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, who run  London-based  Working Title, and their colleague, producer Debra Hayward, who oversaw the day-to-day production of the Les Miserables movie.

Dancers and singers are being auditioned and begin rehearsing the huge production numbers with choreographer Wayne McGregor next month. Production designer Eve Stewart, director of photography Danny Cohen and costume designer Paco Delgado have already been busy on various test shoots to see how Cats will move.

Suzie Mathers, Lucas Rush, Madalena Alberto and Cedric Neal appearing in I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical

Casting has been announced for the return of Alexander S Bermange's musical revue, I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical, show about being a musical theatre performer, from eager drama school graduate to brattish diva with anecdotes, revelations and confessions - in song - that lift the lid on awful auditions, debilitating dance routines, mid-performance mishaps, and backstage backstabbing - alongside celebrations of those magical moments that make it all seem worthwhile. It  runs at Crazy Coqs from 13th-19th August and 21st -26th  August.


Bermange's credits include The 24 Hour Musicals at the Old Vic, Plague Over England at the Duchess Theatre, and Murder on Air.

Directed by Derek Bond, Suzie Mathers (Wicked, Mamma Mia!) reprises her role and is joined by a sensational new all-star cast comprising Madalena Alberto (Evita, War of the Worlds), Cedric Neal (Motown The Musical, Chess) and Lucas Rush (American Idiot, Thoroughly Modern Millie).


Tickets for I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical

Cast announced for new tour of Dirty Dancing

Casting has just been announced for the new 2018/19 tour of Dirty Dancing along with new dates in  Ipswich, Halifax, Manchester, Guildford, Grimsby, Glasgow and  Bristol.

Michael O'Reilly, making his professional debut, will star as Johnny Castle alongside Kira Malou who returns to the role of Frances 'Baby' Houseman' after regularly playing the role during the 2016-17 UK tour. Simone Covele is Penny Johnson, Colin Charles is Tito Suarez with Lynden Edwards as Dr. Jake. Mark Faith/Mr Schumacher, Greg Fossard/Neil Kellerman, Sian Gentle-Green/Elizabeth, Lori Haley Fox/Marjorie Houseman, Jack McKenzie/Max Kellerman, Lizzie Ottley/Lisa Houseman and Alex Wheeler/ Billy Kostecki. 

With ensemble members Amelia Armstrong/Vivian Pressman, Tom Bowen / Robbie, Millie Hood, Kieran Kuypers/Kellerman's Band / Sax & Clarinet, BenMabberley/Kellerman's Band / Guitar & Bass, Miles Russell/Kellerman's Band / Trumpet & Piano, Alessia McDermott, Oliver Ramsdale, Ashley Rumble / Moe Pressman  plus  swings Shaquille Brush, Stan Doughty, Katie Eccles, Sophia McAvoy, Carlie Milner/ Assistant Dance Captain and Austin Wilks Dance Captain

Austin Wilks

Casting news for tour of Dr Dolittle

Brian Capron, Vicky Entwistle (probably best known as Richard Hillman and Janice Bateersby from Corrie) Mollie Melia-Redgrave and Patrick Sullivan are confirmed to join Mark Williams, who plays the title role in the UK & Ireland Tour of Doctor Dolittle. 

Brian  will play Albert Blossom/Straight Arrow, Vicky is  Polynesia, Mollie is Emma Fairfax and Patrick is Matthew Mugg. Brian Capron and Mark Williams will appear from 9 November – 4 May at Bromley, Salford, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Hull, Aberdeen, Northampton, Nottingham and  Sheffield only. Vicky Entwistle will play the full tour dates.

They will be joined by Harry Cross, Elliot Morris, Quillan O’Meara McDonald, Louis Parker, Thomas Ryan and Elliott Rose who alternate as  Tommy Stubbins (the boy who takes an injured squirrel to Doctor Dolittle and becomes his friend) with ensemble members Femi Akinfolarin, Erica Jayne Alden, Lydia Bannister, Joel Bayliss, Evonnee Bentley-Holder, Jane Crawshaw, Emily Essery, Jacob Fisher,  George Hankers, Catherine Hannay, Evan James, Leon Kay, Emma Lloyd, Ross Meagrow, Owen McHugh, Tom Norman, Emily Ann Potter, Ellie Seaton and Richard Vorster.

Simon Lipkin and Daniel Boys appearing in Nativity Rocks! Movie

Following three hit films and a very successful musical version touring the UK at the end of last year,  there is more to come in the Nativity series with  a fourth film called  Nativity Rocks! heading into UK cinemas from November 23rd this year.  There is also a new tour of Nativity the Musical! which opens in Coventry in October.

Debbie Isitt will be writing and directing again, with Nicky Ager as composer .Names in the cast so far include Celia Imrie, Helen George, Anna Chancellor, Meera Syal, Ruth Jones, Hugh Dennis, Gabriel Vick, Craig Revel Horwood and  Simon Lipkin and Daniel Boys  (who played Mr Maddens and Mr Poppy in the musical tour)

 You can view a trailer on Nativity Rocks! here

Tickets for Collabro album launch in August

Collabro have just announced a special night to celebrate the release of their fourth studio album, Road to the Royal Albert Hall at The Other Palace on Monday 27th August at 7:00 pm. This is prior to their extensive new tour of the same name which kicks off next February.

Four days before its release they  will perform the entire album which features  songs from favourite musicals, including Les Miserables, Wicked, The Greatest Showman, Miss Saigon and  West Side Story  plus you will have the chance to ask them questions about their four years together as a band in a special Q&A session during the performance!

VIP packages are available where you can meet the boys, hear a special ‘a capella’ preview of one of the songs and have a glass of bubbly before the show, plus get some exclusive gifts - including an album four days before it’s released Albums will be on sale  after the show.

Tickets for Collabro album launch

Craig Gallivan to take over as Dewey as new School of Rock cast announced

Welsh actor Craig Gallivan is to take over the role of substitute teacher and wannabe rocker Dewey Finn from Stephen  Leask  in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical School of Rock at the newly renamed Gillian Lynne Theatre from 22nd August.

Gallivan was first cover for Dewey and has appeared with Ruth Jones in her Rhondda Valley-set comedy Stella, and before that he was in TV series Footballers’ Wives and Torchwood.

He joins the show with Laura Tebbutt as Rosalie Mullins, Alan Pearson as Ned Schneebly, Michelle Francis as Patty DiMarco and Jake Sharp who will play Dewey Finn at certain performances.

The remaining adult cast will be composed of John Addison, Nick Butcher, Rob Falconer, Martina Isibor, Claudia Kariuki, Jessica Louise Parkinson, Richard Morse, Andy Rees, Hannah Stratton, Alex Tomkins and James Wolstenholme with swings Paul Kemble, Jessica Kirton, Billy Mitchell, Catherine Morris and Andy Prosser.

  

42nd Street to close but Bonnie Langford to join cast

With the sad news this morning that 42nd Street is to close at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 5th January 2019 when the theatre will undergo extensive refurbishment, comes the good news that the production is due to tour the UK , Australia and possibly head for Broadway: and the even better news that West End star BONNIE LANGFORD is to return to her roots from 5th September to play the lead role of Dorothy Brock - the tough Broadway star who fractures her ankle on the eve of the opening night.

Bonnie has had one of the most amazing careers in showbusiness and last played Drury Lane in 1972. ‘I was seven years old. I was playing the role of Bonnie in a musical of Gone With The Wind,’ she recalled, adding that she can still remember standing in the wings, waiting to go on. Since then she has worked with Broadway giants Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents and Angela Lansbury on a Seventies revival of Gypsy that transferred from London to Broadway and was in the original company of Cats.

She  is looking forward to treading  the boards again saying ‘The thing about Dorothy Brock is that she’s a bit of a diva — which I’m not,But I will find the Dorothy diva in me.

The spectacular show has far exceeded initial expectations and  extended its booking period several times.

It is good to see Bonnie back in the West End.  She has been playing over-protective Carmel Kazemi in BBC's Eastenders for more than three years and will leave Albert Square in the autumn as her character tries to cope with son Shakil’s stab death.

Bonnie said: “I’ve had a wonderful three-and-a-half years at EastEnders and it’s been a privilege to be part of such an iconic show. My storyline has been such an incredible experience and I’m honoured to be part of something so powerful and poignant. However, I’ve known since the beginning of this storyline it would always lead to Carmel having to take a break from Walford.” 

She was due to stay for six months but proved so popular she stayed on and in 2016 won Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards. Her  character leaves Walford alone and will not be killed off so the door is open.

Alex Gaumond & Jonathan Bailey join cast of Company

Final casting news  for Marianne Elliott's new production of Stephen Sondheim's Company, which opens at the Gielgud Theatre in September is that the composer has given his blessing for another twist   -  the musical's first same-sex couple. Joining the previously announced Rosalie Craig and Patti LuPone will be Broadchurch star Jonathan Bailey (The York Realist) as Jamie, (who was originally Amy - the character created for an actress ) and Alex Gaumond (Matilda) takes the role of Jamie’s partner, Paul. Also announced today is Daisy Maywood (Promises, Promises) who who will play Susan.

The complete Company company is now: Rosalie Craig as Bobbie, Patti LuPone as Joanne, Mel Giedroyc as Sarah, Jonathan Bailey as Jamie, George Blagden as PJ, Ashley Campbell as Peter, Richard Fleeshman as Andy, Alex Gaumond as Paul, Richard Henders as David, Ben Lewis as Larry, Daisy Maywood as Susan, Jennifer Saayeng as Jenny, Matthew Seadon-Young as Theo, Gavin Spokes as Harry, Michael Colbourne, Francesca Ellis, Ewan Gillies, Grant Neal and Jaimie Pruden.

Hayley Tamaddon to take over from Natasha Hamilton in new Closets Musical

Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton has dropped out of new musical Closets, which opens on 14th August  at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. She will be replaced by Hayley Tamaddon (who recently finished a tour playing the lead in Thoroughly Modern Millie).

According to a tweet earlier today, Hamilton is leaving for personal reasons. She said: due to personal reasons, I will sadly no longer be able to take part in @ClosetsMusical Apologies to those who booked tickets but I know the role of Susan will be in very capable hands. I’d like to wish the cast & crew all the best for an amazing show

A spokesperson for Closets the Musical said: "Natasha Hamilton is sadly no longer able to perform in Closets the Musical next month due to personal reasons. However, producers are delighted to welcome the incredibly talented Hayley Tamaddon, who will takeover the role of Susan at the forthcoming run of Closets at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester."

Based on the award-winning short film of the same name, Closets  musical is about the history of LGBTQ rights told with a time-travelling closet featuring  a mix of pop music numbers and contemporary ballads. The show also features The X Factor finalist Lloyd Daniels, Sam Retford, Kim Tatum, Sophie Anne-Ellicott and Georgia Conlan

The production has lyrics and book by Lloyd Eyre-Morgan and Neil Ely, with music by Ashley M A Walsh and choreography by William Whelton (Yank!, Pippin). .

Buy tickets for Closets which runs at the Hope Mill Theatre from 14 to 23 August.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story announces more dates at Lyric

As 76 year old Paul Simon plays his final London concert in Hyde Park this Sunday, The Simon & Garfunkel Story, has announced it is extending its residency at the Lyric Theatre to December 2018.

New dates on sale today are October 1, October 29 and December 10. It had previously been booking to Monday 23 July.

 The Simon & Garfunkel Story - the critically acclaimed concert style theatre show about how two young boys from the same neighbourhood in Queens, New York went on to become the world's most successful music duo of all time continues to thrill and entertain its army of fans.

Cast and booking details for new tour of Evita

The cast for the new tour of Evita which starts in Woking on 18th July will be Lucy O'Byrne as Evita. She  rose to fame after reaching the finals of The Voice UK in 2015, then  took up the role of Fantine in the West End production of Les Miserables as well as playing Maria in two UK tours of The Sound of Music. Joining her as the Argentine dictator Juan Péron is Mike Sterling (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables), alongside Oscar Balmaseda as Magaldi and Cristina Hoey as the Mistress. Known for his roles in the stage and screen productions of Jesus Christ Superstar as well as Les Misérables, Glenn Carter also takes on the role of the revolutionary Ché.

Completing the cast in ensemble roles will be Emmanuel Alba, Verity Burgess, Callum Fitzgerald, Riva Grant, Samuel John Humphreys, Bethan Jacks, Joe McCourt, Benjamin McMillan, Chrissie Perkins, Oliver Slade, Chris Stoddart, Mike Ward, Kirsty Whelan, and Yuval Zoref.

Ramin Karimloo & Seth Rudetsky Concerts in London

London and Broadway leading man Ramin Karimloo is returning to London for Seth Rudetsky's Broadway at  Leicester Square Theatre concert series for three intimate performances on Friday 5th & Saturday 6th October, 2018 produced by Mark Cortale.

Karimloo is best known for his Olivier nominated performance in Love Never Dies and The Phantom of The Opera on the West End and the Broadway revival of Les Miserables (Valjean) for which he received a Tony nomination.

Seth Rudetsky recently starred in a charity gala of his Broadway musical Disaster! in 2016 at Charing Cross Theatre.

Broadway @ Leicester Square Theatre began in 2013 with Patti LuPone, then featured Audra McDonald in 2017 and most recently John Barrowman this April. What differentiates this concert series from any other perhaps, is the seamless mix of intimate behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway's biggest stars - prompted by Rudetsky's probing, funny, revealing questions - and their stellar singing of musical theatre repertoire.This is a spontaneous evening of hilarity and show-stopping song.

Tickets for Ramin Karimloo and Seth Rudetsky

An Evening with Sophia Loren just announced

Producer Rocco Buonvino has just announce An Intimate Evening with Sophia Loren, hosted by Jonathan Ross,  on Sunday 28th October at London's Aldwych Theatre. This one off event with Loren who is one of Hollywood's last goddesses of the silver screen and reluctant to give interviews,  is a unique experience is not to be missed. 

Sophia Loren began her film career in 1951 winning the Best Actress Academy Award in 1961 and an Academy Honorary Award in 1991. She starred in her first Hollywood film in 1957, The Pride and the Passion, co-starring Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. In 1960 the most acclaimed performance of her career was in the film Two Women winning her the 1961 Academy Award for Best Lead Actress. She was the first actress ever to win the award for a non- English-language film.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Marriage, Italian Style Throughout the 1960s, Sophia Loren continued to star in films, cementing her status as one of the great international movie stars of her generation. Her most notable 1960s performances include (1963), which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, (1964), for which she earned another Oscar nomination for Best Actress, and (1967), co-starring Marlon Brando.

She continues to act and appear frequently in public as one of the film industry's greatest living legends. Some of her more popular and acclaimed later films include Porter, A Countess from Hong Kong, Grumpier Old Men, and Nine.

Tickets go on sale Friday 13th July at 9:00 am

Tour of This is the Greatest Show

Inspired by  PT Barnum and The Greatest Showman movie, This Is The Greatest Show is to tour the UK from 18th September to 4th November 2018 presenting songs from some of the most loved musicals and movies of all time. 

The live Greatest Show Band will accompany a  cast of West End performers with brilliant vocals, stunning costumes and a dazzling light show singing songs from musical classics from The Greatest Showman, Moulin Rouge, Smash, The Music Man and Barnum  including This Is Me, Never Enough, The Show Must Go On, Your Song, The Greatest Show and many more! As PT Barnum himself said “The Noblest Art is that of Making Others Happy”,

Presented by Michael Courtney and Chris Moreno for Story Book Productions (Mad About The Musicals, Buddy and Hello Dolly) For more information and full tour dates visit www.thisisthegreatestshow.com

The King and I to tour next year

According to Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail, the Tony Award-winning revival of The King and I, which has  just opened to rave reviews in London's  West End for a limited run featuring original stars Kelli O'Hara and Ken Watanabe, is to  head out on an international tour in 2019.

According to The Mail,  it will go on a UK tour in 2019, with stops at several other cities in Europe as well as Tokyo, Osaka, Taiwan, Korea and Australia There is no news yet on the likely start date, but Miss O'Hara has Broadway commitments which include starring in a revival of Kiss Me Kate in February next year.

More casting news for Chichester Festival Theatre's revival of Flowers For Mrs Harris

More casting has just been announced for Chichester Festival Theatre's revival of Flowers For Mrs Harris which runs from September 8th-29th with press night on September 14th.

It is an uplifting musical which celebrates the extraordinary power of friendship based on the Paul Gallico novella,  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.

Joining them will be Laura Pitt-Pulford/Pamela / Natasha, Louis Maskell/ Bob / Andre, Mark Meadows/Mr Harris / Marquis and Nicola Sloane/ Countess / Sybil Sullivan, who will recreate their parts when the show when it played in Sheffield with Luke Latchman/Terry / Wireless commentator, Claire Machin/Violet / French charlady and Rhona McGregor/ Flower Girl / Dressmaker
 

Directed by Artistic Director Daniel Evans, t he show has a book by Rachel Wagstaff (Birdsong) and music and lyrics by Richard Taylor (The Go-Between). It premiered in Sheffield Crucible 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?

   

  

Casting for new tour of Kinky Boots

Breaking news this morning is that Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail has announced initial casting for the  UK tour of the hit musical, Kinky Boots which kicks off in Northampton on 19th September.

Joel Harper-Jackson (Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent's Park) will take on the role of shoemaker Charlie Pricee opposite Paula Lane (best known as Kylie Platt from Coronation Street) as Lauren and Callum Francis as drag queen Lola (he understudied the role in London and played the lead in the Australian production ) who will launch the tour in September and continue on the road to December 15th when Kayi Ushe (The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q) will step into his fabulous shoes. Demitri Lampra (The Wind in the Willows) will play Don, Adam Price (Hairspray) will play George and Helen Ternent (Jersey Boys) will play Nicola.

Completing the cast is Charlie Allen, Nicola Avino, Lizzie Bea, Joshua St Clair, Connor Collins, Daniel Conway, Shaun Dalton, John Dempsey, Niki Evans, Mary Fox, Scarlet Gabriel, Damon Gould, George Grayson, Portia Harry, Joshua Lovell, Jacob McIntosh, Chileshe Mondelle, Alfie Parker, Fred Smiley, Toyan Thomas-Browne, Andy Watkins and Jason Winter.

Heathers the Musical to transfer to London's Theatre Royal Haymarket

Heathers the Musical, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher, will transfer to Theatre Royal Haymarket after ending is sold out  run at The Other Palace on 3rd August.

Tickes are on sale now at the Haymarket for a limited period of 12 weeks from 3rd September to 24th November.

The musical is is based on the 1988 cult movie that starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. Starring Carrie Hope Fletcher as Veronica Sawyer, Jamie Muscato as Jason Dean and Jodie Steele, Sophie Isaacs and T'Shan Williams, the musical is about a teenage misfit who gets taken under the wings of three beautiful people called the Heathers. It  The full cast for the West End production will be announced in due course.

The new production has direction from Andy Flickman, choreography by Gary Lloyd, design by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Dan Samson and casting by Will Burton.

Buy tickets for Heathers the Musical at Theatre Royal Haymarket

RIP Dame Gillian Lynne - a true inspiration

Such sad news today that Dame Gillian Lynne has passed away at the age of 92. She was the lady that inspired me to work in this crazy business after I sat through the second preview of her groundbreaking  production of Cats at the New London Theatre (just  renamed the Gillian Lynne Theatre ) over 37 years ago in 1981. 

Her devoted husband of 40 years Peter Land,  tweeted yesterday evening to announce the news of her death at 6.20pm  at the Princess Grace Hospital.

Lynne began her career as a dancer with Sadler's Wells Ballet with roles created for her by Frederick Ashton and Robert Helpmann. She had an extraordinary career of over 50 years  behind some of the most and iconic musical theatre including the movement in Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and Aspects of Love. She worked for companies and organisations including the Royal Opera House, the RSC and The Australian Ballet as well as directing for The Muppet Show.

She was made a dame in 2014 with one of her final appearances (when she looked frail) at the New London Theatre on 22nd June when Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh paid tribute to the dancer and choreographer. It  has become the first West End venue named after a non-royal woman. with Mackintosh saying: The two things I learnt on the first day of rehearsals [with you] was that you had the wickedest sense of humour ever and you liked to get your own way.You've made many stars look wonderful over your career, but today you are the star of this theatre. Lord Lloyd Webber paid tribute on Twitter saying : Farewell dearest Gillie, three generations of the British musical owe so much to you.

Other awards received by Lynne include a Special Olivier Award in 2013, an Olivier Award for Cats, a CBE and two Tony nominations, for the choreography on Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

I know I will be one of many people who knew or worked with her raising a glass to drink to her memory with a tear in my eye ....