Blake Harrison to join cast of Waitress Musical

It has just been announced that  that British TV star Blake Harrison, (Neil Sutherland in the E4 comedy The Inbetweeners), will join the cast of Waitress Musical at the Adelphi Theatre playing Ogie from 17 June taking over the role from quirky American Jack McBrayer, who has his final performance on Saturday 15th June.

Other cast changes  previously announced are that Lucie Jones will take over the role of Jenna following Katharine McPhee's last performance on 15 June, and Ashley Roberts will step into the role of Dawn from 17 June for a strictly limited summer season. The next Waitress London Cast Album Karaoke Night has also been confirmed for Wednesday 26 June - in partnership with Gay Times.

Blake Harrison recently appeared in the highly acclaimed BBC Drama A Very English Scandal, alongside Hugh Grant, Ben Whishaw and Alex Jennings. He is well known for his role as Neil Sutherland in the multi award-winning E4 series The Inbetweeners, the success of which led to The Inbetweeners Movie and sequel The Inbetweeners 2. His other recent screen credits include Prime Suspect 1973, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, E4 series' Tripped and the feature film Dad's Army. Upcoming screen credits include the comedy-crime film Madness In The Method, due for release later this year and the BBC's new World War II drama World On Fire this September. Theatre credits include STEP 9 (Of 12) in the West End at London's Trafalgar Studios and, most recently, the lead role of Michael in The End Of The Pier at The Park Theatre, London.

Laura Baldwin, Luke Bayer, Max Bowden, Rachel John & Ramin Karimloo star in semi-staged concert version of Godspell

Some major West End guest stars are  appearing alongside students from the British Theatre Academy in a  semi-staged concert version of 'Godspell' at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 29th June. The guest stars are: Laura Baldwin (currently playing Dawn in Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre, Eugenius!), Luke Bayer (Jamie New in Everybody's Talking About Jamie), Max Bowden (EastEnders' bad boy Ben Mitchell) Rachel John (Olivier award-nominated as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton), Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and in the West End, Tony nominated as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway and currently in BBC1's Holby City).
 

They are joiing a cast of talented new young performers of The British Theatre Academy, the award winning youth theatre which has been set up to give young people who can not afford to access theatre training the opportunity to work with top creatives in venues around the country. Director Dean Johnson. Musical Director James Taylor. Choreographer Thea Butler.

Buy tickets for Godspell at Cadogan Hall

New cast announced for Wicked! London

Nikki Bentley and Helen Woolf take on the lead roles of Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked! at the Apollo Victoria Theatre from 22nd July. Both appeared in the recent UK and Ireland tour of the hit show, with Woolf previously understudying Glinda and Nessarose in the West End. They join the previously announced Alistair Brammer, who will play Fiyero.

The current lead cast members – Alice Fearn, Sophie Evans, David Witts, Melanie La Barrie, Chris Jarman, Rosa O'Reilly and Jack Lansbury will all play their final performances on Saturday 20 July.

 

The rest of the cast will be  Kim Ismay (Mamma Mia!) as Madame Morrible  after also playing the role on tour. Idriss Kargbo (Five Guys Named Moe) rejoins the show as Boq until 10th November, while Simeon Truby (Sweeney Todd) will play Doctor Dillamond. Andy Hockley will continue as the Wizard, while Carina Gillespie will return to play Nessarose after taking on the role during the 2013-15 tour.

Lisa-Anne Wood (The Phantom of the Opera) joins as the standby Glinda, with Laura Pick continuing as standby Elphaba. Natasha Ferguson (42nd Street) will be maternity cover for Nessarose.

The rest of the company will be  Chanelle Anthony, Meg Astin, Rebecca Botterill, Michael Colbourne, Lewis Easter, Nolan Edwards, Kerry Enright, Chris George, Rebecca Gilliland, Lucie Horsfall, Nicole Lupino, Maggie Lynne, Stuart Maciver, Carl Man, Rhidian Marc, Joanna Sawyer, Scott Sutcliffe, Genevieve Taylor, Grant Thresh, James Titchener, Libby Watts, Bryony Whitfield, Chad Wilder, Dickie Wood, Chiarina Woodall and Tom Woollaston.

Beverley Knight to tour celebrating the songs of Stevie Wonder

Soul queen  Beverley Knight is to tour  the UK this October for 10 dates only with the Leo Green Orchestra celebrating the songs of the legendary Stevie Wonder. At the end of last year performed a special concert at The London Palladium recorded for BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night    which was broadcast last week.

Multi award-winning Knight, who this year celebrates 25 years in music, is widely regarded as one of the greatest soul singers of her generation and one of few vocalists with the ability to do justice to the genius of Stevie Wonder’s rich and varied catalogue. 

Beverley Knight says of her forthcoming tour: the London Palladium show in November was such a wonderful, thrilling experience for me that I didn’t need to think twice when offered the opportunity to tour it across the U.K. later on this year.  I look forward to once again teaming up with the Leo Green Orchestra to perform these beautiful arrangements of Stevie’s timeless, inimitable music.
 

Buy tickets for the tour which visits the following venues:

1st October 2019 – Brighton Centre, Brighton
2nd October 2019 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
5th October 2019 – City Hall, Sheffield
6th October 2019 – New Theatre, Oxford
8th October 2019 – Palladium, London
9th October 2019 – Sage, Gateshead
10th October 2019 – 02 Apollo, Manchester
12th October 2019 – The Forum, Bath
13th October 2019 – BIC, Bournemouth
14th October 2019 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Richard Winsor to lead tour of Saturday Night Fever

Richard Winsor will again be leading the Autumn 2019 tour of Bill Kenwright's  production of Saturday Night Fever, as the iconic Tony Manero.

Winsor has performed around the world, starring as the principal dancer with Matthew Bourne for ten years. He then landed the lead role in the cult dance film, StreetDance 3D and then went on to play Caleb Knight in the BBC flagship medical drama, Casualty.
 

The tour restarts at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking on 6th August 2019, and currently tours  to Malvern, Southampton, Leeds, Nottingham, Chester, Coventry, Cheltenham, Belfast, Aberdeen and Milton Keynes. 

Broadway musical Brooklyn European premiere in London this September

The Broadway musical Brooklyn will make its European premiere in September this year running  at Greenwich Theatre from 27th September -19th October.
 

Brooklyn The Musical is a story within a story. On the outside, a band of soulful street singers and storytellers are sharing a story from their lives of a young Parisian coming to America to search for fame and the Father she never knew. Her only clue, her name.... Brooklyn.

The show originally opened in Denver in 2003 before transferring to New York in 2004. It has a book, lyrics and music by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson who wrote the musical after Schoenfeld fell on hard times and McPherson, a friend from his past, heard him singing on the street one day and invited him to live in her home where the two of them subsequently wrote Brooklyn.

Adam Haigh will direct and choreograph the show, with the cast  yet to be announced.

Buy tickets for Brooklyn the Musical

Cast Update for Rocky Horror Tour

The Rocky Horror Show tour has announced a cast update  with James Darch (Maggie May, An Officer and a Gentleman) taking  over from Ben Adams who tomorrow ends his run in the role of Brad from 27 May. Strictly's Joanne Clifton will continue  in the role of Janet until the end of 2019 tour.

Duncan James is playing the role of Frank n Furter in Birmingham, Bristol, Blackpool, Dublin, Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Hull and Edinburgh, alternating the role with  Stephen Webb during the other dates.

Kristian Lavercombe, who has played the role of Riff Raff over 1500 times, will take on the role of the Narrator for two performances on 24 June in Blackpool and 22 August at the Leeds Grand Theatre.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears announced as this year's Palladium Panto

Breaking news from Baz in today's Mail is that Goldilocks and the Three Bears will be the panto at the  Palladium this year opening on 7th December for a five week run until  Sunday 12 January 2020.

The show will again be directed by  Michael Harrison (who also  produces with Qdos Entertainment boss Nick Thomas).  Unusually it will take place in a circus setting following Dame Betty Barnum and her daughter Goldilocks, whose circus is under threat from an evil rival circus owner.

Casting news so far that Matt Baker, The One Show and Countryfile host, will play Joey the Clown  joining Paul O'Grady and Julian Clary who  take on the parts of the bad  and  good ringmasters respectively. Palladium regulars Gary Wilmot, Paul Zerdin and Nigel Havers are also returning as Dame Betty Barnum,  Silly Billy and  Daddy Bear respectively.

Several real circus acts have also been contracted,  including Denise Garcia-Sorta and Massimiliano Medini as the Skating Medinis, magician Phil Hitchcock, Sascha Williams' Rola Bola act (he was a hit on Britain's Got Talent) and Peter Pavlov's Globe of Death act.  Matt Baker was a Junior British gymnast and sports acrobatics champion so he may well be putting some of these skills into use.

The creative team will comprise choreography by Karen Bruce, set design by Ian Westbrook, costume design from a team including Hugh Durrant, visual special effects by The Twins FX, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Gareth Owen and original music by Gary Hind

Public booking opens on Friday 31st May with final casting to be announced at a later date.

Ore Oduba to play Teen Angel on some Grease Tour dates

Ore Oduba will play Teen Angel at certain performances of the new Grease UK and Ireland tour which opens at Leeds Grand on 19th June when he will play the role on 24th and 25th June and from 29th June-16th July. The previously announced Peter André will play the role during the other performances.

Strictly Come Dancing winner Oduba said: "Grease is one of the most iconic musicals of all time, so to be making my stage debut in such a well-loved piece is a dream come true. I can't wait to start rehearsals with our talented young cast and creative team; I just know this show is going to be truly electrifyin'!"

The production will star Dan Partridge, Martha Kirby, Louis Gaunt and Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Danny, Sandy, Kenickie and Rizzo respectively.

Caroline Sheen to return to 9 to 5 Musical

Caroline Sheen will return to the role of Violet Newstead in 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at the Savoy Theatre, London from 4 July 2019 taking over from Louise Redknapp who leaves the show on 29th June.
 

Caroline starred as Violet Newstead when the production first opened at the Savoy Theatre in February standing in for  Louise Redknapp who was injured during rehearsals.  

Her many leading roles in the West End, US and on tour  include the West End productions of “Les Misérables” at the Palace and Queen’s theatres, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at the London Palladium, the original cast of “The Witches of Eastwick” at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, ‘Once in a Lifetime’ and ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ at the National Theatre and the title role in “Mary Poppins” on tour throughout the US and the UK. She was most recently seen as ‘Carys’ in the new BBC series ‘Pitching In.’


Caroline will star opposite Amber Davies as ‘Judy Bernly’, Natalie McQueen as ‘Doralee Rhodes’, Bonnie Langford as ‘Roz Keith’ and Brian Conley as ‘Franklin Hart until 31 August 2019.

Casting announced for Mamma Mia! tour

The cast for the  tour of Mamma Mia! has just been revealed as Sharon Sexton (Donna Sheridan), Sarah Harlington (Alternate Donna), Nicky Swift (Rosie), Helen Anker (Tanya), Rob Fowler (Sam Carmichael), Daniel Crowder (Harry Bright), Jamie Kenna (Bill Austin), Emma Mullen (Sophie Sheridan), Toby Miles (Sky), Marie Finlayson (Ali), Mariella Mazzilli (Lisa), James Willoughby Moore (Pepper), Eamonn Cox (Eddie) and Matthew Ronchetti (Father Alexander).

Completing the cast are Taylor Bridges, Ambra Caserotti, Martin Dickinson, Billy Downes, Katie Dunsden, Matt Kennedy, Lewis Kidd, Emma Odell, Blair Robertson, Kaine Ruddach, Ellie Rutherford, Chiara Sparkes, Amy Thiroff, Cameron Vear, Sarah Wilkie and Robert Knight.

Sharon Sexton who plays Donna originated the role of Sloane in Bat Out Of Hell The Musical (The Manchester Opera House, The London Coliseum, The Ed Mirvish Theatre Toronto & Dominion Theatre) for which she won a West End Wilma Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Further theatre credits include The Commitments (The Palace Theatre), Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace) and Somewhere Under the Rainbow (UK Tour and Edinburgh Fringe Festival), for which she won best actress award in the IDGTF.

Alternate Donna, Sarah Harlington has been seen in numerous musicals including Spamalot (Mercury Theatre and UK Tour), Avenue Q (UK Tour), Fame (UK Tour), and Sister Act (UK Tour).

Lucie Jones and Ashley Roberts will take over roles of Jenna and Dawn in the Waitress Musical

Lucie Jones and Ashley Roberts are taking over the roles of Jenna and Dawn in the West End production  of Waitress the Musical from 17th June.

Jones will play the lead part of Jenna when Katharine McPhee leaves the show in June. She has already stood in for McPhee several times this month while she has been back in the States. Her credits include Legally Blonde, Rent, The Wedding Singer and We Will Rock You .

Roberts makes her West End debut for a strictly limited summer season..  She  reached the final of Strictly Coming Dancing in 2018 and is formerly a member of the Pussycat Dolls. She  takes over from Laura Baldwin who will return to the role at the end of the summer.

Waitress is currently booking at the Adelphi Theatre until 19 October. 

Casting for London workshop of Andrew Lloyd Webber's modern remake of Cinderella.

Casting has been revealed for the recent London workshop of Andrew Lloyd Webber's modern musical remake of Cinderella.

As previously reported, the musical had an industry preview at The Other Palace in London last week. The  cast for the preview has been revealed by theatre critic Mark Shenton.

The cast includes Carrie Hope Fletcher as Cinderella, Tyrone Huntley as Sebastian, Gary Wilmot as Jean, Ruthie Henshall as Queen, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Stepmother, Sophie Isaacs as Adele, and Rebecca Trehearn as Marie.

The ensemble included Lucy Anderson, Dan Buckley, Charlie Burn, Ronan Burns (Duke), Darragh Cowley, Daniel Crowder, Jonny Fines (Prince Charming), Ahmed Hamad, Danny Michaels, Jo Napthine, Oliver Ormson (Dorian), Jemma Revell, and Gabriella Williams.

Children cast for The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾ - The Musical

The producers of Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾ - The Musical, have  just announced the childrens cast taking on the lead roles of Adrian, Pandora, Barry and Nigel.The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾ - The Musical will open at the Ambassadors Theatre for a limited season from 15 June until 12 October 2019, with a Gala Night on Tuesday 2 July.

All children in the cast are between the ages of 12 - 14 years old. Nicholas Antoniou-Tibbitts from Westminster, Aaron Gelkoff from Redbridge, Michael Hawkins from Haringey and Rufus Kampa from Buckinghamshire will alternate the role of Adrian. Molly May Gibson from Kent, Matilda Hopkins from Buckinghamshire, Rebecca Nardin from Surrey and Riya Vyas from Richmond will alternate the role of Pandora. Jack Gale from Hertfordshire, Aaron Shaw from Hertfordshire, Charlie Stripp from West Sussex and Kobi Watson from Croydon will alternate the role of Barry. Regan Garcia from Bexley, Albert Green from Buckinghamshire, Cuba Kamanu from Cambridge and Jeremiah Davan Waysome from Newham will alternate the role of Nigel.

Tootsie the musical heading for London in 2021

Producers Scott Sanders and Carol Fineman have announced that the  11-Time Tony Award-nominated musical, Tootsie, will launch a North American Tour in 2020.  Casting, exact dates and additional cities will be announced at a later date. The producers have also confirmed several international productions. partnering with Michael Harrison and David Ian to bring the  musical London's West End in 2021.

An Australian production of Tootsie, in partnership with Benjamin Lowy Productions, is confirmed. The production will also play in New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

A Japanese-language production of he comedy musical, produced by TOHO, will premiere in Tokyo and  subsequently tour to several other major cities across Japan. Exact timing will be announced in the coming months.

Andrew Lloyd Webber working on new contemporary musical version of Cinderella

Updated 17th July: the composer has just revealed in an interview with Good Morning Britain that the musical will open on Broadway next year.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Andrew Lloyd Webber has been in Los Angeles  working  on his next major project, an all-new stage version of Cinderella with a contemporary twist.

He said ; "I'm working with young writers whose combined ages add up to less than mine,It's delightful to have such young collaborators and I'm completely captivated by what they've done with the story. Now that I've said I'm going to do it, I have to get to my piano" Those collaborators are LA based British writers Tom MacRae (screenwriter, author and playwright who wrote the book and lyrics for the hit musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie,)  David Zippel  and writer Emerald Fennel.

Lloyd Webber said of the creative team's non-traditional approach to the material."They have remade Cinderella into a completely modern, feisty girl," said  "Every piece of the story is followed, but it will be turned around so it's not at all what you expect it to be. It just turns the whole thing around on itself." The classic fairy tale gets a makeover that includes a feisty, fiery version of the titular princess who falls in love with an awkward oddball named Sebastian, and a gay love story involving Prince Charming and a duke. He explained"It takes it away from the world of magic and fairy godmothers, but it's not going to be anywhere nearly as modern as, say, Los Angeles in 2023,I can't really say more about it at this point."

The musical had an industry preview at The Other Palace in London this week with some of Broadway's most notable producers and theatre attending the presentation.

The London workshop cast included Carrie Hope Fletcher as Cinderella, Tyrone Huntley as Sebastian, Gary Wilmot as Jean, Ruthie Henshall as Queen, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Stepmother, Sophie Isaacs as Adele, Jonny Fines (Prince Charming) and Rebecca Trehearn as Marie. The ensemble included Lucy Anderson, Dan Buckley, Charlie Burn, Ronan Burns (Duke), Darragh Cowley, Daniel Crowder,  Ahmed Hamad, Danny Michaels, Jo Napthine, Oliver Ormson (Dorian), Jemma Revell, and Gabriella Williams.

Lloyd Webber says the writing process is moving swiftly as the three collaborators work together to storyboard the musical and figure out where songs will go. The composer will be fitting in work on the project around the start of shooting on the film version of his blockbuster musical Cats in November, and  expects to have a Cinderella score completed by the end of the year.

While no timeline has yet been set, he expects the show, which will be produced by his Really Useful Group, to follow the usual development period for a musical of 18 months-two years minimum. He added that while it's at too early a stage to go into greater detail, the setting will be neither a traditional fairy tale kingdom nor a recognizable contemporary location.

First News of Shows Performing at West End Live

The initial line-up for 2019 West End Live has been announced.

The two-day free celebration of West End musicals will return for its 15th year on June 22nd and 23rd June, with shows performing live in Trafalgar Square in front of thousands of people.

Shows featured including the Olivier Award-winning Come From Away and & Juliet, which will run in the West End at the end of the year.

The event offers leading West End productions perform classic numbers live in front of audiences, all for free with audiences  actively encouraged to sing along. Further acts, presenters and performance schedules will be announced soon. Shows participating in the weekend are:

Disney's Aladdin
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ - The Musical
Avenue Q
BalletBoyz Brainiac Live
Come From Away
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Fiddler On The Roof
Heartbeat Of Home
Jesus Christ Superstar
& Juliet
Disney's The Lion King
Magic Mike Live
Mamma Mia!
Matilda The Musical
Les Misérables
On Your Feet!
Only Fools And Horses The Musical
The Phantom Of The Opera
Six
Thriller Live
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
The View UpStairs
Waitress
Wicked
The Worst Witch
Yummy
9 To 5 The Musical

Back to the Future - The Musical opening in Manchester February 2020

Back to The Future - The Musical will open at the Manchester Opera House on 20th February  running until 17th May  2020 for a strictly limited 12-week season, ahead of a planned transfer to the West End.

The 1985 movie and pop culture phenomenon is transported to the stage by creators of the original film:  Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis.

The combined eight-time Grammy Award-winning pairing of Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard have written a  new score alongside the movie’s iconic hits, including The Power of Love, Johnny B Goode, Earth Angel and Back in Time. 

Directed by Tony Award-winning John Rando (Uinetown) alongside the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning team of Tim Hatley (design), Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Finn Ross (video) with choreography by Chris Bailey and illusions by Paul Kieve (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).

Producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) said: "This show has been six years in the making and we are delighted to be showing it to the people of Manchester first before the rest of the world gets to see it. As I did with Ghost, Manchester gets it first."

The role of Marty will be played by Olly Dobson (Bat Out of Hell), with further casting to be announced . Tickets on sale to Theatre Card holders – Wednesday 22nd May at 10:00am 
General sale – Friday 24th May at 10:00am

First dates for tour of Six the Musical later this year

Initial venues and dates have been announced for a nine month UK tour of Six, the hit musical about the six wives of Henry VIII, which is currently running at the Arts Theatre in London's West End.

Opening at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford on 24th October, Six will visit  over 33 venues nationwide, including a Christmas season at The Lowry Quays with more  dates for 2020 to be announced.

Tickets for the tour venues without a booking link will go on sale shortly. The cast, yet to be announced, are backed by the show's all-female band, The Ladies in Waiting.

Jenna Russell to lead cast in The Bridges of Madison County at the Menier

Jenna Russell is to star in Trevor Nunn's upcoming production of The Bridges of Madison County at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Russell will play Francesca, an Italian immigrant housewife living a happy existence on a farm in the American Midwest who meets Robert Kincaid, a National Geographic photographer on assignment filming bridges in the area.   Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep starred in the 1995 film which was also directed by Eastwood.

Jenna Russell’s extensive theatre credits includes: Merrily We Roll Along (Menier Chocolate Factory & Harold Pinter Theatre; Olivier nomination), Sunday in the Park with George (Wyndham’s and Broadway; Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical & Tony nomination), Fun Home (Young Vic); Di and Viv and Rose (Vaudeville), Grey Gardens (Southwark Playhouse), That Day We Sang (Manchester International Festival), Season’s Greetings (National), Into the Woods (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Amy’s View (Garrick), Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly; Olivier nomination), As You Like It, Anthony and Cleopatra, The Winter’s Tale, Misha’s Party, The Beggars Opera and Wildest Dreams (all RSC), Follies (Shaftesbury), Just So (Tricycle) and Girlfriends (Playhouse).  TV includes: EastEnders, Minder, Born and Bred, Men Only, Peak Practice, Picking Up the Pieces and The Bill.

 

Russell said: "David Babani [the Menier's artistic director] mentioned the musical to me a couple of years ago, and when we met up in New York last year I told him I couldn't stop thinking about it. So he said 'okay, let's do it. I'm really excited, I love Jason Robert Brown's music and have loved singing it for many years. It's a different kind of singing to what I'm used to but I'm really looking forward to it. This is my third time back at the Menier too – the place is like a home from home. The beauty of the space is the intimacy and with a story like this it puts the spotlight on something really delicate."

Tickets for The Bridges of Madison County are now on general sale

Full cast announced for Joseph starring Sheridan Smith at the Palladium

Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group have just  confirmed full casting for the 50th Anniversary production of  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, following the previous announcements that Sheridan Smith will star as The Narrator, Jason Donovan will return to the show as Pharaoh, and Jac Yarrow will mark his professional debut as Joseph.

Michael Pickering will play Simeon and Richard Carson will be Reuben. Joining them will be Femi Akinfolarin/brother, Casey Al-Shaqsy/wife, JR Ballantyne/brother, Lydia Bannister/Swing & Dance Captain, Thalia Burt/wife, Michael Cortez/guard, Vanessa Fisher/wife, Ahmed Hamad/swing, Blythe Jandoo/swing, Matt Krzan/guard, Kelsie-Rae Marshall/wife, Billy Mitchell, Georgina Parkinson/wife, Emily Ann Potter/wife, Matthew Rowland/swing, Harriet Samuel-Grey/wife, Carl Spencer/brother, Joshua Steel/brother, Hannah Taylor/swing and Jack Wilcox/brother.

The cast will also include a rotating children’s ensemble, featuring Rihana Akhtar, Mia Byers, Angel Clark, Aoife Connelly, Oliver Crouch, Jacob Dennison, Anna De Oliviera, Tilly Doherty, Nessa Eriksson, Dara Gleeson, Sean Gordon, Maci Hughes, Isabelle Jones, Dino Karakostas, Jamie Kenly, Jaxon Knopf, Olivia Leask, Olivia McNulty, Indiphile Mbonzongwana, Jack Meredith, Chloe Muldowny, Keanna-Skye O’Quinn, Regan Parker, Devon Pomeroy, Etienne Ragoo, Olivia Seagrove, Tom Skoines, Nina Stevenson, Jandice Stewart, Mia Walsh, Luca Willemburg and Sacha Yarwood.

Frozen West End announces open casting call

The West End production of Frozen has announced an open casting call for  UK and Ireland.

The show, based on the hit Disney film , is due to open at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in autumn 2020 and will be holding auditions this summer at six different locations in .

The production is looking for performers to take on six lead roles – Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, Hans and Weselton as well as covers for each part. Performers of all cultural backgrounds are sought for the  roles.

Auditionees should bring 16 bars of sheet music from a contemporary musical theatre song as well as a CV including photo.

The first round of auditions will be in Glasgow on 24th May, with further rounds in Manchester on 3rd June, London on 6th and 7th June at the Old Diorama Arts Centre near Warren Street station, Birmingham on 10th June, Cardiff on 13th June and Dublin on 14 June.

More information at https://www.frozenthemusical.co.uk/auditions/

The new production is directed by Michael Grandage with set and costume designs by Christopher Oram, lighting design by Natasha Katz, and choreography by Rob Ashford. Sound design is by Peter Hylenski, video design by Finn Ross, puppet design by Michael Curry, and musical supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus.

Riverdance Heartbeat of Home heading to London this September

Riverdream Productions, the producers of Riverdance, have  announce that Heartbeat of Home, their new  dance and music extravaganza, will open in the West End at the Piccadilly Theatre  on 4th September with opening night on 11th September and running until 13th October.

Following sold out performances at the London Palladium earlier this year and having thrilled audiences in Dublin, North America, China and Germany, the show is heading to the Piccadilly Theatre for an extended West End run due to popular demand. 
  

 Tickets go on general sale today a 09:00

 Heartbeat of Home is a spine-tingling, high octane, sexy, dance and music extravaganza. It is a  tour de force that features the dynamic, vibrant components of traditional Irish, Latin, Hip-Hop, Afro-Cuban and Contemporary music and dance, uniting performers and audiences on journeys to find a home, wherever that may be.Heartbeat of Home showcases 33 world-class dancers and live musicians from Ireland, U.S.A, Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, Argentina and Spain. Produced by Moya Doherty, conceived and directed by John McColgan with award-winning Irish composer, Brian Byrne (who has worked with Katy Perry and Barbara Streisand), concept development and lyrics by award-winning Irish writer Joseph O’Connor and choreography by David Bolger.

 The Heartbeat of Home creative team also includes John Carey (Irish Dance Choreography), Alan Farquharson (Set Design), David Torpey/Image Now and David Mattias/COSMO (Set Projection Design), Peter Canning (Lighting Design), Ciarán Byrne (Sound Design), Monica Ennis and Niamh O’Connor (Costumes Styling) and Padraic Moyles (Associate Director).

Lyn Paul returning to Blood Brothers as Mrs Johnstone for final time

Lyn Paul will return to Blood Brothers as Mrs Johnstone for the final time in a new tour which opens at Cork Opera House on 5th August 2019 and is currently due to end at the end of November. Further casting for the tour will be announced in due course.

She  first appeared in the show in 1997 and performed as Mrs Johnstone in the final West End performance of the musical at Phoenix Theatre in 2012. Paul said: "I am beyond thrilled to be returning to Blood Brothers in this iconic role. I'm honoured to have been given the opportunity to undertake this 'farewell tour' by my good friend, Bill Kenwright. It's such a privilege to be able to play Mrs Johnstone one final time".

The tour will be directed by Kenwright and Bob Tomson, with design by Andy Walmsley, sound design by Dan Samson, musical direction by Kelvin Towse and lighting by Nick Richings.

9 to 5 Musical announces extension to booking period in London

An extension to the booking period has been announced for Dolly Parton's show 9 to 5 the Musical which is currently running at the Savoy Theatre.

300,000 more tickets have just been released with the show extending until 4th April 2020. Parton said: "I couldn't think of a better date to announce that the West End run of the show will be extending in to 2020 with a further 300,000 tickets now on sale, that's almost more tickets than I have rhinestones on my outfits!"

A touring  production of the hit musical is to  play 11 cities throughout the UK and Ireland, kicking off  at the Alexandra Theatre Birmingham on 6th September 2019.

Cast announced for The Book of Mormon tour

The cast has been announced for the first UK and international tour of The Book of Mormon  which will open in Manchester in June. The company  will be led by Kevin Clay as Elder Price and Conner Peirson as Elder Cunningham, who both played their respective roles in the Broadway and US touring productions of the musical.Joining them will be Nicole-Lily Baisden as Nabulungi, William Hawksworth as Elder McKinley, Ewen Cummins as Mafala Hatimbi, Johnathan Tweedie as Joseph Smith and Thomas Vernal as the General.

The company will include Sanchia Amber Clarke, Jed Berry, David Brewis, Melissa Brown-Taylor, Chinasa, Tre Copeland-Williams, George Crawford, Jordan Lee Davies, Jemal Felix, Patrick George, Isaac Hesketh, M-Jae Cleopatra Isaac, Evan James, Alex James-Hatton, Nicole Louise, Fergal McGoff, Jesus Reyes Ortiz, Lawrence Rowe, Lukin Simmonds, Chomba S Taulo, Brad Veitch, Tommy Wade-Smith, Sharon Wattis and Jacob Yarlett.

West End Flea Market to be held on 18th May

The  first West End Flea Market is taking place in London, on 18th  May at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden. The event is free and takes place from 10.45am to 1:00pm

It is being organised Acting for Others (the charity behind West End Bake Off) with  a variety of stalls, hosted by different West End shows, which feature memorabilia including signed posters, props and photos of performers. Participants so far  include Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Only Fools and Horses, The Royal Opera House, The Phantom of the Opera, The Mousetrap and Les Miserables with more to be announced.

Each stall will compete to win Best Dressed Stall, with judges including Christopher Biggins, Celia Imrie and Bill Paterson presiding over the winning choices. The winner will be announced at 10.45 and there will be an auction, with memorabilia being offered as well as the chance to meet stars.

The Theatre Café will host a refreshments stall, Su Pollard will be telling fortunes and Acting for Others will have a signing and selfie area where guests will have the opportunity to mingle with the stars including Annette Badland, Hayley Mills, Wendi Peters, Harriet Thorpe, Layton Williams and Tom Read Wilson with more to be announced

You can donate to Acting for Others here

Kimberley Walsh, Wendi Peters and Matthew Kelly join Jay McGuiness in Big the Musical

Further casting has been announced for the London run of Big the Musical which opens at  the Dominion Theatre in the West End for a limited 9 week period from 6th  September to 2nd November

Joining Jay McGuiness who plays Josh Baskin, the 12 year-old who wants to be big will be Wendi Peters as Mrs Baskin (Josh's mother), Kimberley Walsh as Susan Lawrence (who Josh falls for) and Matthew Kelly as George MacMillan the owner of the toy company where Josh gets a job.

Matthew Kelly  is perhaps best known for presenting both Stars in their Eyes and You Bet!. Other TV credits of his include Benidorm, Bleak House, Cold Blood, and Moving On. His  most notable stage credits include his Olivier Award-winning performance as Lennie in Of Mice and Men at the Savoy Theatre, the original Stanley in Funny Peculiar, Lend Me A Tenor! the musical, Tim Firth’s Sign of the Times play, and starring alongside Ian McKellan and Roger Rees in Waiting For Godot. Other notable theatre credits of his include The Habit of Art, Pride & Prejudice, The Jew Of Malta, Volpone, Love’s Sacrifice, TOAST, Spamalot, Legally Blonde, Troilus and Cressida, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Trafalgar Studios).

Kimberley Walsh  became a household name as a member of the all-girl band, Girls Aloud. During the group's 10-year career, they enjoyed twenty consecutive Top 10 singles on the UK charts, including four #1 hits. At the time the girl group disbanded, they had sold 4.3 million singles and 4 million albums in the UK. The popstar returned to the public eye later when she became a runner up in the 2012 season of Strictly Come Dancing. Before crossing over into singing, Walsh was already an established actress. Her TV credits include the roles of Claire Butterworth in the second series of Ackley Bridge on Channel 4 and Rebecca in Disney’s The Lodge while notable film credits of hers include All Stars and Horrid Henry. No stranger to the West End either, Walsh's most notable stage credits include Jovie in Elf the Musical, Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical, and a role alongside Denise Van Outen in Sweet Charity.

Wendi Peters is perhaps best known for appearing in Coronation Street as Cilla Battersby Brown, a character she portrayed for more than four years, including for a brief reappearance in 2014. She now currently portrays Cook Jenkins in BBC's Hetty Feather. Other TV credits of hers include 'Podger' Pam Jolly in Bad Girls (ITV), Kelly in Sadie J (BBC), Marion in Crime Stories (ITV), and Queen Shania in Hacker Time (BBC). Peters' most notable stage credits include Grumpy Old Women Live 2 - Chin up Britain (National Tour and Novello Theatre), Martha Watson in White Christmas (Dominion Theatre), Princess Puffer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Arts Theatre), and Vagina Monologues (National Tour).

European première of The Bridges of Madison County musical at the Menier

The Menier Chocolate Factory has just announced that Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman's hit musical The Bridges of Madison County will have its UK premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory in July.

Based on Robert James Waller's bestselling novel The Bridges of Madison County  will have  new staging by Trevor Nunn with  design by Jon Bausor, lighting by Tim Lutkin, sound by Gregory Clarke and musical supervision and direction by Tom Murray. The production opens on 23rd July, with previews from 12th July, and runs until 14th September. 

This is one of Jason Robert Brown's most ravishing and unforgettable shows winning two Tony Awards, Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations, when it first premiered on Broadway in 2014  directed by Bartlett Sher, starring Kelli O'Hara and Steven Pasquale. 

In the musical, Francesca is an Italian immigrant housewife living a happy existence on a farm in the American Midwest. When her family heads to the Iowa State Fair, she meets Robert Kincaid, a National Geographic photographer on assignment filming bridges in the area. Their initial friendship develops into a brief but passionate affair which has consequences on all of their lives.

Casting will be announced at a later date.

Booking opens for supporters of the Menier today - 7th  May, with public booking open on 13th May at 9:00am

Fiddler on the Roof Cast Changes

Some cast changes have just been announced for the Menier Chocolate Factory production of Fiddler on the Roof which is booking  at the Playhouse Theatre until 28th September 2019.

Joining Andy Nyman as Tevye will be Maria Friedman who takes over  as Tevye's sharp-tongued wife Golde from Judy Kuhn  and  Anita Dobson replaces Louise Gold as gossipy village matchmaker Yente.

Michael Ball returns to London as Edna in Hairspray next April

Breaking news from Baz in the Mail this morning is that the hit musical Hairspray will return to the West End with Michael Ball set to reprise his role as Edna Turnblad.

The production will  have an initial 12 week run at the London Coliseum starting April 23rd, 2020 .

The show's original creative team, including director Jack O'Brien, choreographer Jerry Mitchell and producer Adam Spiegel will reunite for the production.

Hairspray originally opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2002 winning eight Tony Awards. It subsequently opened in London at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2007 starring  Michael Ball and and won four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical.

Hairspray  is also embarking on a new UK tour starting in September 2020.

Tickets for Hairspray London are now on sale

Dreamworks The Prince of Egypt musical to open at the Dominion Theatre next year

The musical stage adaptation of the Dreamworks 1998 animated iconic film The Prince of Egypt will open at the Dominion Theatre in the West End next year for  a 32-week run from 5th February-12th September 2020, with tickets on sale on Monday 3rd June.

It  is an adaptation of  the Old Testament Book of Exodus and follows the life of Moses from being a prince of Egypt to his ultimate destiny to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt The film originally starred Val Kilmer as Moses with  Ralph Fiennes as Rameses.

The musical will be directed by Scott Schwartz (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and choreographed by Sean Cheesman (So You Think You Can Dance). It is to feature 10 new numbers written by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), together with 5 of his acclaimed songs from the DreamWorks Animation film, including Deliver Us, All I Ever Wanted, Through Heaven's Eyes and the Academy Award®-winning When You Believe. It has music and lyrics by Schwartz and a book by Philip LaZebnik (Mulan and Pocahontas).

The Prince of Egypt previously ran at TheatreWorks in California, where it won the 2019 Regional Theatre Tony Award, and ran in Denmark last year.

Hairspray the Musical to tour again next year

Hairspray the Musical is heading out on a UK tour next year kicking off in Manchester in September,  with further details of venues, dates and casting to follow shortly. The tour will extend into 2021 and follows two extremely successful tours in 2015/16 and 2017/18.

The musical is based on the 1988 film of the same name which starred Divine and Ricki Lake. It originally opened in 2002 on Broadway and won eight Tony Awards. It is directed by Paul Kerryson, choreographed by Drew McOnie, with lighting from Philip Gladwell and sound from Ben Harrison. 

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's piece is set in Baltimore in 1962, where Tracy Turnblad wants to dance her way onto national TV.

   
 

Jodie Prenger to play Miss Hannigan in ANNIE at Birmingham and Dublin

Jodie Prenger will star as Miss Hannigan in the tour of the musical ANNIE ae Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre from 9th-20 July and at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 23rd July - Sunday 11th  August.Craig Revel Horwood is currently playing Hannigan with Lesley Joseph joining the tour  in Aberdeen on 24th September. 

Jodie  is probably best known for winning the role of ‘Nancy’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of “Oliver!” through the BBC television series “I’d Do Anything”. She most recently played the lead role in the national tour of “Abigail’s Party” and  has also played the title role in the national tour of the musical “Calamity Jane” and starred in the National Theatre’s hit production of “One Man, Two Guvnors” both in the West End and on tour as well as ‘Lady of the Lake’ in “Spamalot”. Jodie is also a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2.

Joining Jodie in the show will be Alex Bourne as ‘Oliver Warbucks’, Richard Meek as ‘Rooster’, Jenny Gayner as ‘Lily’ and Carolyn Maitland as ‘Grace Farrell’. The title role of ‘Annie’ is shared by Faye Katsande, Ava Smith and Freya Yates. They are joined by three teams of young performers who play the girls in Miss Hannigan’s orphanage.

Completing the cast will be Michael Anderson, Thomas Audibert, Andy Barke, Caroline Bateson, Daisy Boyles, Blaise Colangelo, Gary Davis, Ashleigh Graham, George Rae, Anne Smith, India Thornton, Matt Trevorrow, Amy West and Samuel Wilson Freeman. 

Bradley Jaden and Rob Houchen join all-star West End Les Misérables Concert

This summer two former Les Misérables stars Bradley Jaden and Rob Houchen join the West End Les Misérables concert which stars Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, John Owen-Jones, Matt Lucas, Katy Secombe and Carrie Hope Fletcher.  at the Gielgud Theatre later this year.

Houchen Will play Marius.  He  was most recently seen in Eugenius! and is due to appear in The Light at the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall from June 14th until July 5th.  Jaden, who is currently playing Javert in the West End production of Les Misérables, has previously appeared in Wicked and returns to the role of Enjolras, having played the part in the 30th anniversary cast.

The current production at the Queen's Theatre is due to close on 13th July.

Mazz Murray to lead Mamma Mia London cast change

Mazz Murray is to return to Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre from Monday 10th June 2019 with a new West End cast.

The show has now been in the West End for over 20 years and Mazz Murray, who previously played the role of Tanya, will now take on the lead role of Donna Sheridan.  She will be joined by Kirsty Hoiles as Tanya, as well as Cameron Burt as Sky, Melissa Nettleford as Ali, Sophie Matthew as Lisa, Taylor Bradshaw as Eddie and Danny Nattrass as Pepper.

Continuing in the show will be Ricky Butt as Rosie, Richard Trinder as Sam, Neil Moors as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill and Lucy May Barker as Sophie. Caroline Deverill continues to play the role of Donna at certain performances.

Also new to the cast will be Natasha Agnew, Daniel Clift, Jonathan Cordin, Amelia-Rose Fielding, Shailan Gohil, Callum Heinrich, Frankie Jones, Grace Moorhouse, Jodie Nolan, Dan O'Brien, David O'Mahony, Rochelle Sherona, Megan Speirs, Garrett Tennant, Michael Tyler, Harrison Wilde and Simon Willmont, who will be joining Chloe Ames, Lauren Hampton and Jennifer Hepburn.

Mark Moraghan and Lucy O'Byrne to join touring cast for Little Miss Sunshine

The musical adaptation of Little Miss Sunshine comedy drama is currently playing London's Arcola Theatre until 11th May before embarking on a UK tour which kicks off at Ipswich  New Wolsey  on 20th  May.

The musical is created by James Lapine (Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George) and William Finn (Falsettos, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and based on the Academy Award-winning 2006 film , following the Hoover family who have more than a few troubles, plus young daughter Olive who has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest when an invitation to compete comes out of the blue. Determined to get her into the finals of the beauty pageant they  travel from New Mexico to California in their rickety yellow VW camper van. Can it survive the 800-mile trip – and more importantly, can they? This uplifting, modern classic celebrates the quirks of every family, the potholes in every road, and the power of overcoming our differences.

For the UK premere in London it will star  Laura Pitt-Pulford as Sheryl, the matriarch of the eccentric Hoover family (Lucy O'Byrne for the tour), Gary Wilmot  as Grandpa (the role that won Alan Arkin an Academy award) (Mark Moraghan for the tour) with Gabriel Vick as Sheryl's husband Richard, Paul Keating as Sheryl's brother Frank and Sev Keoshgerian as Sheryl's son Dwayne - all  for London and the tour.

The role of Olive will be shared by Sophie Hartley Booth, Evie Gibson and Lily Mae Denman. Ian Carlyle will play Larry/Buddy, Imelda Warren-Green will play Linda/Miss California and Matthew McDonald will play Joshua Rose/Kirby  for London and the tour.