Friday, July 13

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.

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