Six Musical extends booking period and announces new Queens

The smash hit musical Six  has announced an extension to their  booking period at the Arts Theatre, with performances now scheduled through to 5th July 2020. Tickets go on sale at 12 noon today.


Four new queens have also been announced to join the cast , including Courtney Bowman who will take over the role of Anne Boleyn and Danielle Steers who will take over the role of Catherine Parr from 15th October. From July 2019, Collette Guitart joins the company as a Dance Captain/Understudy. Shekinah Macfarlane will also join as Alternate Catherine of Aragon and Anna of Cleves through to October 2019.

Courtney Bowman is currently playing Fatimah in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the West End and was Horse in Stiles & Drewe’sThe Wind in the Willows at the London Palladium. Danielle Steers was acclaimed for her vocals as Zahara in Bat Out of Hell and she recently played Carmen in Sweet Charity at the Donmar Warehouse. Her other West End shows include Beautiful, The Bodyguard and Legally Blonde. Collette Guitart was in Bat Out of Hell and 27 - Rise of a Falling Star. Shekinah Macfarlane is currently in American Idiot, and her recent shows include Hair, Tommy and Parade.

A UK tour of Six is due to  commence on 24th  October  at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, before  visiting an extensive number of  locations. The cast is due to  be announced soon.

Rita Simons to join Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Rita Simons will join Layton Williams in the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, as teacher Miss Hedge, from August 5th  taking over from Faye Tozer. She will  continue through to November 16th, 2019. The show is currently booking at London's Apollo Theatre until 25th January 2020.

Simons is probably best known as Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders which she played for over 10 years unil her character was killed off.  She recently appeared as hairdresser Paulette Bonafonte in the 2017-18 UK tour of Legally Blonde: the Musical

Noel Sullivan to join School of Rock

Noel Sullivan is set to take over the lead in   the West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's  School of Rock.  

He starts rehearsals on Monday to begin performances as Dewey Finn (currently being played by Craig Gallivan)  on August 19th at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. The show is currently booking until 20th October 2019.

Sullivan said: "It's been a lifelong ambition of mine to perform in a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I have been a huge fan since I was a child and to get the opportunity to work on such an incredible production is absolutely a dream come true. I loved School of Rock the movie and this hilarious musical doesn't disappoint."

Sullivan  was a member of the British pop group Hear'Say winning his part through the talent show Popstars.

After their  split he turned to musical theatre, appearing in productions including Fame, Love Shack,What a Feeling, Danny Zuko in Grease and Flashdance. He also shared the role of Tick/Mitzi with Jason Donovan in the UK tour of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and most recently played Freddy in the UK Tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Sullivan has also starred in Ordinary Lies 2 and Gavin and Stacey. He can currently be seen on the small screen in Years and Years.

Mark Anderson will take over the role of Ned Schneebly from Alan Pearson from 8 October 2019, Rebecca LaChance continues as Patty Di Marco and Laura Tebbutt will also continue to play Rosalie Mullins. Jake Sharp will play Dewey Finn at certain performances.

The remaining cast includes Keisha Amponsa Banson, Ryan Bearpark, Rob Falconer, Kelly Hampson, Suzie McAdams, Richard Morse, Jayde Nelson, Andy Rees, Alex Tomkins, James Wolstenholme and Benjamin Yates with swings Jessica Kirton, Paul Kemble, Billy Mitchell, Catherine Morris, and Andy Prosser.

Full cast announced for Big the Musical

Big the Musical is transferring  to the Dominion Theatre in the West End for a limited 9 week period from 6th September to 2nd November.

Joining the previously announced Jay McGuiness, Wendi Peters, Kimberley Walsh and Matthew Kelly as Josh Baskin, Mrs Baskin, Susan Lawrence and George MacMillan respectively  will be Lori Haley Fox as Mrs Kopecki/Miss Watson and Edward Handoll as Paul Seymour, with Harrison Dadswell, Jamie O’Connor and Jake Simon sharing the role of Young Josh and Jobe Hart, Austen Phelan and Theo Wilkinson sharing the role of Billy.

Also in the cast will be Charlie Bull, Colin Burnicle, Christie-Lee Crosson, Vicki Davids, Alex Fobbester, Leanne Garretty, Stuart Hickey, Matt Holland, Tash Holway, Ross McLaren, Richard Murphy, Eddie Myles, Katharine Pearson, Anton Fosh, Gemma Fuller, Gary Murphy and Katy Osborne. There will be two teams of children in the musical, made up from Olufemi Alaka, Coco Cousin-Brown, Asher Ezeguiel, Ellis Griffiths, Imogen Law Hing Choy, Noah Leggott, Amaya Lucas, Cassia McCarthy, Ophelia Parsons, Bailey Razdan, Lucinda Wicks and Chanel Zinyemba.

Bonnie Langford, Louise Dearman, Celinde Schoenmaker, Ben Forster and Alex Gaumond in The Music of the Night at RAH

Bonnie Langford is presenting  The Music of the Night at 7:30 pm on Wednesday 6th November at the Royal Albert Hall featuring highlights from some of the most popular  shows of our time
including  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CHICAGO, LES MISÉRABLES, WE WILL ROCK YOU, CATS, MAMMA MIA!, STRICTLY BALLROOM, THE LION KING, WICKED, MARY POPPINS, DREAMGIRLS, EVITA, JERSEY BOYS…and many more!

The numbers will be performed by leading West End actors including Louise Dearman (Wicked), Celinde Schoenmaker (Les Misérables), Ben Forster (The Phantom of the Opera) and Alex Gaumond (We Will Rock You) accopanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe

Tickets for The Music of the Night

Ben Forster, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Ramin Karimloo and Celinde Schoenmaker form supergroup The Cardinals

West End and Broadway performers Ben Forster, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Ramin Karimloo and Celinde Schoenmaker have launched a new musical theatre supergroup, called The Cardinals this weekend in London.

The quartet  performed together at Ben Forster's concert on Sunday and  Forster  then tweeted to say that the group will perform versions of 'songs we love'.

More news on forfthcoming performances to follow ...

West End singers performing in Sunday at the Musicals charity concert

Paul Burton Productions are returning to the  Phoenix Arts Club (underneath the Phoenix Theatre) with a new monthly slot for their  Sunday at the Musicals charity concerts. The next concert will take place on Sunday 30th June 2019 in aid of Marie Curie UK. The doors will open at 2.20pm for the 3.00pm performance, which will end at 5.00pm. Gerry Tebbutt will introduce west end singers, who will perform songs from West End and Broadway musicals directed by Charlotte Peters and accompanied by pianist James Church.

The performers appearing include (subject to availability):  Sophie Adams (Crazy For You), Tsemaye Bob-Egbe (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical), Nicola Brown (Fiddler on the Roof), Chloe-Jo Byrnes (Mamma Mia!), Ross Carpenter (Saturday Night Fever), Elissa Churchill (Amour), Aoife Clesham (Fiver), Laura Darton (Dreamboats and Petticoats), Grace Farrell (Les Misérables), Jennifer Hepburn (Mamma Mia!), Rebecca Lafferty (Les Misérables), Lauren Lockley (Honeymoon in Vegas), Sinead Long (Hamilton), Leah St. Luce (Mamma Mia!), Maggie Lynne (Wicked), Mira Ormala (Love Never Dies), Blake Patrick-Anderson (Starlight Express), Andrew Patrick-Walker (Bat Out of Hell), Shakira Rattray (Merrily We Roll Along), Lydia Shaw (Mack and Mabel), Charlotte Anne Steen (Bat Out of Hell), Alexandra Waite-Roberts (Top Hat), Tristan Ward (Twist and Shout!) and Monique Young (White Christmas).

Buy tickets for Sunday at the Musicals

Full cast announced for Evita at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Full casting has been announced for Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita at the Open Air Theatre at Regents Park which  being presented over the summer from 2nd August - 21st September 2019 .

Joining the already announced  Samantha Pauly a Puerto Rican-Native American from Chicago, who will portray Argentinian first lady Eva Peron (her most recent musical theatre credits include playing Eva in Evita in the US, Raven in the US tour of Bat Out of Hell and Catherine Howard on Six the Musical for the Chicago Theatre Company) are Trent Saunders as Che, Ektor Rivera as Peron with Mayli McCann as The Mistress and Adam Pearce who plays the role of Agustín Magaldi with Alexander Barria, Felipe Bejarano, Alex Cardall, Russell Dickson, Lauren Drew, Hannah Fairclough, Chris Fung, Chlöe Hart, Travis Kerry, Jessica Lee, Dale Mathurin, Peter Nash, Sarah Naudi, Mireia Mambo, Marsha Songcome, Bree Smith, Monica Swayne, Oliver Tester, Amy Thornton, Jon Tsouras and Rodney Vubya. Four children alternate at each performance: Saffia Layla, Ava Masters, Chanai Owusu-Ansah and Ellicia Simondwood.

Evita is the Open Air Theatre's fastest selling production ever, and two additional matinee performances have now been added on Wednesday 21 August and Wednesday 28 August

Kara Lily Haworth playing Sally Bowles in tour of Cabaret the musical

Bill Kenwright is presenting Rufus Norris' multi award-winning production of Kander and Ebb's landmark musical Cabaret, which embarks on an extensive  tour, opening at Bromley's Churchill Theatre on  28th August 2019.

Kara Lily Hayworth is joining the cast in the role of Sally Bowles is. She  recently won rave reviews across the country for her portrayal of Cilla Black in Cilla the Musical, after she was discovered by Bill Kenwright during the show's nationwide TV auditions.

Kara says, "I owe a huge amount to Bill Kenwright! Back in 2017 when I first decided to go to the open auditions for Cilla, I had no idea how much my life would change. I had been working professionally for a long time, but this was a real turning point in my career, and I am so grateful to Bill for taking a chance on me. And now for him to trust me to take on another leading role (my absolute dream role) I feel so unbelievably lucky!"

Starring as the enigmatic Emcee is John Partridge, winner of Celebrity MasterChef in 2018, who is well known to TV audiences as EastEnders' charismatic Christian Clarke, and one of West End theatre's most prolific leading men (A Chorus Line, Chicago, and La Cage Aux Folles).

Bob Dylan's Girl From the North Country heading for Gielgud Theatre in December

Bob Dylan's Girl From The North Country acclaimed drama featuring songs written by him, is heading for a West End run. Written and directed by playwright Conor McPherson, it will begin previews at the Gielgud Theatre from December 10th-1st February 2020 following a run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto and prior to the Broadway production opening in March 2020. It will feature a new cast with the exception of David Ganly and Finbar Lynch, who were in previous London productions.

The new cast is Colin Bates (Gene Laine), Katie Brayben (Elizabeth Laine), Anna Jane Casey (Mrs Burke), Nicholle Cherrie (ensemble), David Ganly (Mr Burke), Steffan Harri (Elias Burke), David Haydn (ensemble), Rachel John (Mrs Neilsen), Sidney Kean (Mr Perry), Finbar Lynch (Reverend Marlowe), Donald Sage Mackay (Nick Laine), Gloria Obianyo (Marianne), Ferdy Roberts (Dr Walker), Wendy Somerville (ensemble), Gemma Sutton (Katherine Draper), Shaq Taylor (Joe Scott) and Alan Vicary, Simon Gordon, Daniel Bailey (ensemble).

This show will differ from the one that opened at the Old Vic two years ago as it is  more in keeping with the Public Theatre version transferring to Broadway in March. There might be some different Dylan numbers at the Gielgud. ‘I can never resist with so many good songs,’ McPherson said.

Tickets for Girl from the North Country

Casting announced for European premiere of Broadway's Brooklyn the Musical

Casting is announced for the  European premiere of Broadway's Brooklyn the Musical who will perform together in public for the first time at 3:00 pm this Sunday at West End Live in Trafalgar Square.

Brooklyn the Musical, with a book, lyrics, and music by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson, will run at Greenwich Theatre from Friday 27 September - Saturday 19 October, 2019. Press night is Monday 30 September at 7,30pm. Director/choreographer: Adam Haigh.

With book, lyrics, and music by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson, Brooklyn the Musical is a story within a story. On the outside, a band of soulful street singers and storytellers sharing a story from their lives. And their story: a young Parisian coming to America to search for fame and the Father she never knew. Her only clue, her name.... Brooklyn. With a brilliant mix of pop, rock and soul, including the famous song, ‘Once Upon A Time’, these stories interweave to create a musical that is a touching and inspiring sidewalk-fairy tale. 

• Emily-Mae (Paradice) was Ulla in The Producers (The Royal Exchange, Manchester).

• Sabrina Aloueche (Faith) was Scaramouche for four years in the West End production of We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), and Eponine, in Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre).

• John Addison (Taylor) is currently playing Theo in School of Rock in the West End. His other leading roles include Sam Wheat in Ghost, Henry in The Go-Between (West End) and Jojo in The Life (Southwark Playhouse).

• Andrew Patrick-Walker (Streetsinger) will next be seen in Jerry Springer - The Opera at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre, where he also appeared in Hair. He was 1st cover Blake in Bat Out of Hell - The Musical (London Coliseum/Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto).

• Jodie Beth Meyer (Alternate Brooklyn) was in Tell me on a Sunday at The Watermill and UK Tour and Les Miserables in Concert. 

Tickets for Brooklyn the Musical

 

Full cast announced for Mame revival

The full cast joining Tracie Bennett in the revival of hit musical Mame has been revealed.The show will open at the Hope Mill Theatre Manchester on 28th September 2019 and run until 9th November, before touring to Northampton's Royal and Derngate (7th-11th January 2020) and Salisbury Playhouse (21st -25th January 2020).

Harriet Thorpe will play Vera both in Manchester and on tour, and in Manchester will be joined by Olivier Award-winner Tim Flavin (On Your Toes) for the Hope Mill run of the show. Also cast in the piece are Chase Brown as Older Patrick, Grace Chapman as Gloria Upson, Lauren Chia as Pegeen Ryan, Soo Drouet as Mother Burnside/Madame Branislowski, Jessie May as Agnes Gooch, Hugh Osborne as Dwight Babcock, Lewis Rae as M Lindsay Woolsey, Pippa Winslow as Mrs Upson/Sally Cato, Benjamin Wong as Ito and Liam Wrate as Junior Babcock. Harry Cross, Issac Lancel and Lachlan White will alternate the role of Young Patrick. Completing the cast are Jabari Braham, Aston Newman Hannington and India Thornton.

The 1960s musical has book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E Lee with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. It follows the life of the eccentric Mame Dennis as she has to take in her young nephew following the death of her brother. It has direction and choreography by Nick Winston, with musical direction by Alex Parker, set design by Philip Whitcomb, lighting design by Tim Mitchell and sound design by Ben Harrison.




Mame has

Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford to star in Sunday in the Park with George in London next June

Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and Tony Award® winner Annaleigh Ashford are to reprise their Broadway roles  in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece Sunday in the Park with George at the Savoy Theatre in London for a strictly limited 16 week run  from 11h June  - 5th September 2020.

They originally starred in a concert version of the show as part of the 2016 gala for New York City Center. The following year, they returned to the roles under the direction of Sarna Lapine to reopen the historic Hudson Theatre on Broadway.

Sondheim and Lapine's masterpiece follows painter Georges Seurat (Jake Gyllenhaal) in the months leading up to the completion of his most famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Consumed by his need to 'finish the hat,' Seurat alienates the French bourgeoisie, spurns his fellow artists, and neglects his lover Dot (Annaleigh Ashford), not realizing that his actions will reverberate over the next 100 years.

Originating at New York City Centre in 2017 , the subsequent transfer of this musical was one of the fastest selling musicals on Broadway.

Buy tickets for Sunday in  the Park with George

Louise Dearman, Matt Ford, Mikaela Bennett and Kate Lindsey performing with John Wilson Orchestra in The Warner Brothers Story BBC Prom

Musical theatre stars including  Louise Dearman, Matt Ford, Mikaela Bennett and Kate Lindsey with the Maida Vale Singers will feature as part of this year's BBC Proms in The Warner Brothers Story  at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday 9th August at 3:00pm  and 7.30pm: it will be  broadcast live on BBC Four and BBC Radio 3. The concert will be conducted by John Wilson and will feature his  orchestra presenting an evening of scores from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema with music from films including The Sea Hawk, The Constant Nymph, Calamity Jane, A Streetcar Named Desire and Harry Potter. 

On the night, there will be a tribute to Doris Day, with "Deadwood Stage" from Calamity Jane being performed, while the 50th anniversary of the death of Judy Garland will be marked with a complete performance of "Born in a Trunk" from the original A Star is Born film.

Tickets for The Warner Brothers Story

Tour of Once the Musical

The award-winning musical Once is to head out on a UK tour opening at Fairfield Halls in Croydon on 19 December.

The show, which opened in the West End in 2013 and won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music, is based on on the film of the same name, the musical tells the story of two lost souls – a Dublin street busker and Czech musician who fall in love unexpectedly.

The cast will be led by Daniel Healy as Guy and Emma Lucia as Girl, who return to the roles following the production's 2018 run at the New Wolsey Theatre. Further casting is yet to be announced.

Once is directed by Peter Rowe with set and costume design by Libby Watson, musical supervision by Ben Goddard, choreography by Francesca Jaynes, lighting design by Mark Dymock, sound design by James Cook, projection design by Peter Hazelwood and orchestrations by Martin Lowe. Casting is by Debbie O'Brien.

The show has a book by Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh, and music and lyrics by Academy Award winning Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. The original production concept is by John Tiffany.

John Partridge to play Emcee in new tour of Cabaret

John Partridge will take on the role of the Emcee in the upcoming tour of Cabaret when it embarks on a new tour from 28yj August. with further casting to be announced.

Partridge was the winner of Celebrity MasterChef in 2018, is well known to TV audiences as EastEnders' Christian Clarke, and one of West End theatre's most prolific leading men (A Chorus Line, Chicago, and La Cage Aux Folles),  and the upcoming The View Upstairs at Soho Theatre

Casting news for movie of Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Initial casting has been announced for the film of Everybody's Talking About Jamie which tells the story of a 16-year-old Sheffield schoolboy who dreams of wearing a frock to his school prom and which starts shooting on on June 24th.

Richard E. Grant will play dress shop owner Hugo and his glamorous alter ego Loco Chanelle. Max Harwood, 21, a drama student from London’s Urdang Academy who has won the lead role after a 12-month search involving 3,500 applicants.

John McCrea, who originated the role of Jamie New in the hit West End musical, will join the cast playing the part of Young Loco. The  company also includes award-winning Sarah Lancashire as Margaret, Jamie’s mother; and Sharon Horgan as Miss Hedge, the careers teacher at fictional Mayfield Comprehensive who clashes with Jamie over his personal choices. Shobna Gulati will reprise her role from the theatre production as Ray, Jamie’s mum’s best friend. Lauren Patel and Sam Bottomley will play key student roles.

The story has been opened out extensively in preparation for cameras rolling:  at the Apollo, where theatre owner Nica Burns transferred it from the Crucible, there are 12 actors playing students. In the film, there will be 1,000 for big production numbers.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie is currently booking at London's  Apollo Theatre until 5th January and is also due to head out on tour opening in Sheffield on 8th February next year, 

Adam Cooper to star in Singin' in the Rain in London and on tour

Adam Cooper is reprising his role as Don Lockwood in Jonathan Church’s production of Singin’ In The Rain at Sadler’s Wells before heading off on a tour. Performances begin on Friday 24th July 2020 with a Press Night on Thursday 30 July. Tickets go on General Sale on Monday 8th July 2019.  Singin' in the Rain will also reunite the original director Jonathan Church with choreographer Andrew Wright.

Cooper played Lockwood (the Gene Kelly role in the film) for director Paul Kerryson in 2004; and in the Church version at the Palace Theatre in 2011.

He also  performed in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake there 25 years ago and is working with Bourne again in The Red Shoes playing grand impresario Boris Lermontov opposite Ashley Shaw  at the Theatre Royal Plymouth and Salford Lowry plus the Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells from December 3rd.

Priority booking for Singin' in the Rain is open to Sadler's Wells members from Monday 1st July. It goes on general sale on 8th July. 

Running order and presenters announced for West End Live 2019

West End LIVE returns to London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June. The full line-up of award-winning shows and acts has been released and is now available to view on the West End LIVE website.
 

Joining a host of previously announced musicals including  Come From Away, On Your Feet!, Six, Only Fools And Horses The Musical, 9 To 5 The Musical, Wicked and The Phantom Of The Opera, are new shows and acts including Brooklyn The Musical, Falsettos, The Illusionists, The Barricade Boys and Nadine Benjamin.
 

Faye Tozer and Layton Williams from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will be sharing a stage with  Amber Davies from 9 To 5 The Musical and Lucie Jones from Waitress, who will also be performing her own songs on the Sunday with Nathan Amzi.

Producer will curate an exclusive segment celebrating new musical writing, featuring excerpts from musicals first workshopped at MT Fest UK earlier this year.

Presenters sharing hosting duties on the West End LIVE stage, includes comedian, actor and musical theatre performer Jason Manford, who hosted the Olivier Awards in April.West End LIVE continues its partnership with Magic Radio, with presenters Emma B, Tom Chambers, Tom Price and Harriet Scott all co-hosting the stage across the weekend.

Louise Dearman and John Owen Jones, who are both performing this year, will also be hosting.
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First casting news for tour of Dolly Parton`s 9 to 5 Musical

The producers of the tour of 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL today announced casting for the second production of the show when it embarks on an 11 city tour of the UK and Ireland from 6th September 2019. Full casting for each venue will be announced soon.

Louise Redknapp and Amber Davies will appear in the UK and Ireland tour:  Redknapp will appear as Violet Newstead in Manchester, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin. Davies will play Judy Bernly in Birmingham, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Glasgow, Woking, Aberdeen, Cardiff, Sunderland, Edinburgh and Dublin. Caroline Sheen will play Violet Newstead in Cardiff, and Brian Conley has been confirmed to play Franklin Hart in Milton Keynes.

The London production at the Savoy Theatre currently stars Louise Redknapp as ‘Violet Newstead’ (until 29 June 2019) and Caroline Sheen as ‘Violet Newstead’ (from 4 July 2019), alongside 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 for the London production from 2nd September 2019 onwards will be announced in due course. The production at the Savoy Theatre is currently booking until April 2020.

 

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL opened in the West End in February, where Dolly Parton attended the premiere and joined the cast on stage at the finale. The musical features a book by Patricia Resnick, the legendary film’s original screenwriter, and an original Oscar, Grammy and Tony award-nominated score by multi Grammy Award winner, country legend and pop icon Dolly Parton.

Samantha Mumba to share the role of Teen Angel with Peter Andre and Ore Oduba in the new tour of Grease

It has just been announced that Samantha Mumba is to share the role of Teen Angel with Peter Andre and Ore Oduba in the upcoming tour of Grease, it has been announced. Her  previous work includes a pop career and a Grammy nomination for her track "Baby, Come on Over". Her debut album Gotta Tell You was released in 2000 and reached number nine on the UK and US charts.

Samantha Mumba will play Teen Angel from 17 to 23 September in Dublin, alongside Ore Oduba who stars in the role on 24 and 25 June and from 29 June-16 July at Leeds Grand. , Oduba will also perform at Birmingham Hippodrome on 19, 20 23 and 24 August and King's Theatre, Glasgow from 27 -31 August.

Peter Andre's dates are 19 to 22 June, 26 to 28 June and 17 to 20 July at Leeds Grand Theatre, 24 to 26 July at Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, 30 July to 3 August at Sunderland Empire, 13 to 17 August and 21 and 22 August at Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 to 14 September at Curve, Leicester, 24 to 28 September at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, 2 to 5 October at New Theatre, Oxford and 8 to 12 October at Churchill Theatre, Bromley.

Full cast for The Bridges of Madison County at the Menier Chocolate Factory

With rehearsals starting today, the full cast has been announced for The Bridges of Madison County which runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 13th July-14th September 2019 (press night Tuesday 23rd July).  Joining the previously announced Jenna Russell is Edward Baker-Duly/Robert who last appeared at the Chocolate Factory in Rookery Nook.  His other theatre credits include The King and I (Broadway and Palladium), South Pacific (National Theatre), Kiss Me Kate (Sheffield Crucible), Peter and the Starcatcher (Off-Broadway), The Wizard of Oz (Palladium), Gone With the Wind (New London) and West Side Story (Prince of Wales) with Shanay Holmes /Marian (theatre credits include Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard (Adelphi), Jesus Christ Superstar (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park), Thriller (Lyric), Close to You- Bacharach Re-imagined (Criterion) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Kilworth House) and Gillian Kirkpatrick/Marge (theatre credits include Sweeney Todd (Chichester and Adelphi), Blood Brothers (Phoenix), Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace), Spring Awakening (Hope Mill), Sunny Afternoon (Pinter), American Psycho (Almeida), Into the Woods (Royal Opera House), The Rink (Orange Tree) and for Opera North: Paradise Moscow and Sweeney Todd) and Paul Monaghan/Charlie who has just appeared in Man of La Mancha at the Coliseum.  Other credits include: Cats (Palladium and UK tour), Les Misérables (Palace and 10th Anniversary Concert), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s), La Cage aux Folles (UK tour) and A Man of No Importance (Arts) and Dale Rapley/Bud whose theatre credits include: Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward), Richard III and Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Rose, York), The Addams Family (UK tour), Wicked (UK tour), The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse), King John (Rose Theatre, Kingston) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and High Society (both at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park).

Jenna Russell has appeared in the Menier Chocolate Factory productions of Sunday in the Park with George (West End and Broadway; Olivier Award for Best Actress and Tony nomination) and Merrily We Roll Along (Olivier nomination); most recent theatre credits include Fun Home (Young Vic); Di and Viv and Rose (Vaudeville), Grey Gardens (Southwark Playhouse), Season’s Greetings (National), Into the Woods (Regent’s Park) and Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly; Olivier nomination).  On television she has been a regular on EastEnders, Minder, Born and Bred and Picking Up the Pieces.

They are joined by Georgia Brown/Chiara/Ginny/State Fair Singer, Maddison Bulleyment/Carolyn and David Perkins/Michael.

Bernadette Peters UK Concert Tour Dates cancelled

Broadway star Bernadette Peters  UK tour dates due to take place later this month have been cancelled.

A statement released by the promoter said:"We regret to announce that we are unable to present our planned UK Tour with multi award-winning actress Bernadette Peters, as a result of Speckulation Entertainment Ltd's unforeseen inability to fulfil our contractual obligation.We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause. Online bookings will be refunded automatically. Patrons who booked via others methods should contact their point of purchase for a full refund."

Bill Ward To Join The Cast of EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE

Bill Ward, who is best known for his roles Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street and James Barton in Emmerdale with musical theatre credits including Million Dollar Quartet, Legally Blonde and Viva Forever!   is to join the company of Everybody's Talking About Jamie for a limited run from  1st July.

Ward will  portray the character Hugo and his drag alter ago, Loco Chanelle replacing RuPaul's Drag Race Winner,  Bianca Del Rio, in the role, who leaves the show at the end of June.

He will join current cast members: Layton Williams (Jamie New), Faye Tozer (Miss Hedge), Alex Anstey (Laika Virgin), Luke Baker (Dean Paxton), Courtney Bowman (Fatimah), Marvyn Charles (Swing), Marlon G Day (Dad), Momar Diagne, Zahra Jones (Becca), James Gillan (Tray Sophisticay), Ryan Hughes (Mickey), Daniel Jacob (Sandra Bollock), Melissa Jacques, Emily Kenwright (Vicki), Sejal Keshwala (Ray), Luke Latchman (Sayid), Jordan Laviniere (Cy), Rebecca McKinnis (Margaret New), Harriet Payne (Bex), Rachel Price (Swing), Sabrina Sandhu (Pritti Pasha), Biancha Szynal (Swing), Adam Taylor (Swing) and Ziggy Tyler Taylor (Levi).

Drew McOnie to choreograph Northern Ballet première of Merlin

In autumn 2020, Northern Ballet will première Merlin choreographed by Drew McOnie (Broadway’s King Kong and Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom). Inspired by the story of the mythical wizard it will be  a magical spectacle as the fabled Arthurian legends are brought to the stage.

The creative team are: choreography Drew McOnie, Music Grant Olding, Scenario Gwyneth Hughes. Set and costume design Colin Richmond, Lighting Anna Watson and Illusionist Chris Fisher
 

The dates we have so far which go on sale soon are:

• Bradford Alhambra Theatre Fri 16 – Sat 17 Oct 2020
• Norwich Theatre Royal Tue 20 – Sat 24 Oct
•  Newcastle Theatre Royal Tue 10 – Sat 14 Nov
•  Southampton Mayflower Thu 19 – Sat 21 Nov
•  Woking New Victoria Theatre Tue 24 – Sat 28 Nov
•  Leeds Grand Theatre Tue 8 – Sun 20 Dec 

More Information to follow shortly..

   
   

Cast announced for tour of Curtains whodunnit musical starring Jason Manford

Full casting has been announced  for the UK tour of the Tony award winning musical CURTAINS which stars the previously announced Jason Manford as as Detective Frank Cioffi. He will be joined by television presenter and 'Strictly Come Dancing' star Ore Oduba who will play Aaron Fox in selected venues and musical theatre actress Carley Stenson as Georgia Hendriks,

Ore is best known for winning the 14th series of BBC One's 'Strictly Come Dancing' and has now become a familiar face on primetime and daytime television. His presenting credits include BBC One's, 'The One Show' and ITV's 'This Morning'. Ore previously appeared as a host on stage for the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour and will be making his theatrical debut as 'Teen Angel' in the UK Tour of Grease later this month.

Carley is currently starring as 'Fantine' in Les Miserables , at the Queens Theatre in London's West End. Her other West End credits include 'Elle Woods' in Legally Blonde at The Savoy Theatre, 'Princess Fiona' in Shrek the Musical at Theatre Royal Dury Lane and 'Lady of the Lake' in Spamalot at The Playhouse Theatre. She has also played 'Christine Colgate' in the UK Tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels . Carley is probably best known for her television work and playing 'Steph Cunningham' in Channel Four's Hollyoaks .

Rebecca Lock most recently starred in Heathers The Musical at the Haymarket Theatre in London. Her other West End credits include MAMMA MIA! at The Novello Theatre, The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, and Cats at New London Theatre. Rebecca also starred as 'Mrs Banks' in the national tour of Mary Poppins .

Samuel Holmes most recently starred in the UK tour of The Wedding Singer . Samuel's West End credits include Mrs Henderson Presents at No l Coward Theatre and Spamalot at Playhouse Theatre.

Leah West previously starred in Disney's Film 'Beauty and the Beast' and ITV drama 'Unforgotten'. Her previous theatre credits include Grand Hotel and Allegro both at Southwark Playhouse and the UK Tour of The Smallest Show On Earth .

Alan Burkitt was in the original West End Cast of Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre and then went on to play the lead role of 'Jerry' in the UK national tour. Alan's other theatre credits include, We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre Singin' in the Rain and 42nd Street both at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Rip It Up the 70s tour announced starring Louis Smith, Rachel Stevens and Melody Thornton

Following on from  the success of Rip It Up the 50s and 60s,  starring Harry Judd, Jay McGuiness, Aston Merrygold and Louis Smith, which sold over 100,000 tickets across the UK and enjoyed a four month sell-out run at the Garrick Theatre, London Rip It Up the 70s to tour the UK later this year to take on the iconic decade that spawned disco, glam rock and so much more.

The brand new show will star Strictly Come Dancing champion Louis Smith MBE, Strictly finalist Rachel Stevens and The Pussycat Dolls star Melody Thornton singing and dancing to some of the biggest classics from the decade. It will tour the UK this September, October and into November where it ends its run at the London Palladium.

From David Bowie to Marc Bolan, through disco, soul and huge pop anthems, the 1970s saw the likes of Eagles release Hotel California, the Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever and  Bruce Springsteen with Born to Run. The hugely influential songwriter and performer Carole King released Tapestry, Fleetwood Mac unleashed Rumours into the world, while the The Beatles dropped Let It Be as their frontman John Lennon revealed the stunning Imagine. The 1970s were responsible for the rise of Queen, Elton John, The Carpenters, Mavin Gaye, and Barry White, as Led Zeppelin climbed their Stairway to Heaven and Pink Floyd explored The Dark Side of the Moon.

Titanic the Musical new UK and International tour

Titanic The Musical is making a stop at Woking New Victoria Theatre from  11th - 13th July  for the only  UK date this year before embarking on an international tour to MUNICH Deutsches Theater (16 –21 July ): COLOGNE Philharmonie Köln (23 –28 July):  MANNHEIM Nationaltheater (30 Jul –  4 August) and Tue  MOSCOW Palace of Youth (27 – 31 August).

The tour will be directed by Thom Southerland with a  cast including Kieran Brown as Murdoch (The Phantom Of The Opera, Chess), Greg Castiglioni as Andrews (Cabaret, Fiddler On The Roof), Alexander Evans as Boxall (Eugenius, The Sound Of Music), James Gant as Pitman/Etches (Violet, Wind In The Willows), Simon Green as Ismay (Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, The Phantom Of The Opera), Emma Harrold as Lady Caroline Neville (The Sound Of Music, Happy Days), Devon-Elise Johnson as Kate Murphy (Half A Sixpence, Mamma Mia!), Shane McDaid as Jim Farrell (Madagascar, Spamalot), Gemma McMeel as Kate Mullins (Big Fish, Royal Variety Performance), Janet Mooney as Maid (The Woman In White, The Braille Legacy), Joel Parnis as Fleet (My Fair Lady, Les Mis rables), Timothy Quinlan as Edgar Beane (Jersey Boys, Mack & Mabel), Philip Rham as Captain Smith (Scrooge!, The Smallest Show On Earth), Dudley Rogers as Isidor Straus (Parade, Curtains), Niall Sheehy as Barrett (Ghost The Musical, Miss Saigon) and Judith Street as Ida Straus (The Girls, A Catered Affair).

They are joined by Ronan Burns as Bride (Kiss Me Kate, Annie Get Your Gun), Wendy Ferguson as Alice Beane (Mary Poppins, Les Mis rables), Luke Harley as Latimer (Cinderella, The Producers), Ryan Heenan as Bellboy/Hartley (Billionaire Boy, Grease), Benjamin Karran as Bell (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Luke McCall as Lightoller (Man Of La Mancha, The Phantom Of The Opera), Ashley Stillburn as Charles Clarke (The Woman In White, Death Takes A Holiday), Lucie-Mae Sumner as Kate McGowan (Chicago, Barnum) and Eleanor Walsh as Maid (Aspects Of Love, A Little Princess).

West End cast announced for The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch will open at the Vaudeville Theatre in London on 24th July and  run until 8th  September.

The cast has just been announced as Rosie Abraham (Peter Pan Goes Wrong) as Ethel, Danielle Bird (Alice's Adventures Underground) as Mildred, Molly-Grace Cutler (We'll Live and Die in These Towns) as Miss Bat, Meg Forgan (We'll Live and Die in These Towns) as Fenella, Rachel Heaton (The Odd Couple) as Miss Hardbroom, Rebecca Killick (Pink Mist) as Maud, Emma Lau (Table) as Drusilla, Megan Leigh Mason (Sunny Afternoon) as Miss Drill, Polly Lister (Table) as Agatha/Miss Cackle, Consuela Rolle (Remember, Remember) as Enid and Lauryn Redding (Educating Rita) as Griselda.

Directed by Theresa Heskins (The Snow Queen), the show is based on Jill Murphy's classic series of books and is adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves. The piece follows the accident-prone Mildred Hubble, an ordinary girl who found herself in an extraordinary place: a school for witches. Now in her final year, accident prone Mildred and her fellow pupils are about to embark on their biggest and most important adventure yet... but jealous Ethel Hallow is always out to spoil Mildred’s fun. Miss Hardbroom is opposed to all fun in general. And just as Mildred sparks some inevitable mayhem certain to upset them both, an old enemy returns with a plan for revenge that could threaten not just the academy, but the whole world.

Presented by Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, Novel Theatre and Nica Burns the Northampton  Royal & Derngate production  is designed by Simon Daw (Humble Boy), music by Luke Potter (Hetty Feather) with aerial consultancy by Vicki Amedume. Beverley Norris-Edmunds choreographs, illusions are by John Bulleid, lighting design is by Aideen Malone and sound design is by Leigh Davies, puppetry direction and design is by Paschale Straiton and casting is by Anjo Carroll.

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Stadium Tour announced for David Walliams' best-selling novel Grandpa's Great Escape

David Walliams' best-selling novel Grandpa's Great Escape will be adapted for the stage and embark on a stadium tour in December opening in Birmingham on 23rd December before visiting  London, Sheffield, Nottingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool, where it ends  on 4th January.

The original 2015 book, which was adapted for TV in 2018, follows a retired World War Two flying ace, who is forced to live in an old folk's home run by a wicked matron. Casting for the production is to be announced.

Directed by Sean Foley (The Painkiller) and penned by Kevin Cecil (Little Britain), the arena tour  sees a variety of London landmarks brought to the stage, as well as a life-size Spitfire, created by Stufish Productions.

Walliams said: "We're not just turning it into a live show, but into a spectacular live arena show for all the family this Christmas. Being in arenas means we can have a life-size Spitfire, a tank, the London landscape and a dramatic escape from the Imperial War Museum. It's great because we can really go to town with all of those elements and this story demands that scale."

Tickets now on presale fo Grandpa's Great Escape

Jeremy Jordan London Concerts

Broadway and TV star Jeremy Jordan is returning  to London for just four shows at the Cadogan Hall on 26th, 27th and 28th October 2019 with extra date already added due to overwhelming demand.

Jeremy Jordan is a Tony and Grammy-nominated actor and singer who most recently starred opposite Kerry Washington in the  Broadway play, An American Son, directed by Kenny Leon. He also starred for three years on the CBS and CW hit, Supergirl after being a series regular on Smash, NBC's musical drama . He  starred opposite Anna Kendrick in the film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's beloved musical, The Last 5 Years.

He earned Tony, Grammy and Drama Desk nominations for starring as Jack Kelly in the hit Broadway musical, Newsies, reprising the role in Disney's 2016 film release of the show. Also on Broadway, he starred as Tony in the most recently Broadway revival of West Side Story, originated the role of Clyde Barro' in Bonnie & Clyde.

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Casting announced for tour of The Lion King

Casting has been announced for the UK and Ireland tour of Disney's The Lion King which opens in Bristol in September 2019 before heading to Edinburgh, with further cities still to be announced.

Cast members include Dashaun Young, Josslynn Hlenti and Thandazile Soni, in the roles of Simba, Nala and Rafiki respectively. The company will also include Steve Beirnaert (Timon), Matthew Forbes (Zazu), Jean-Luc Guizonne (Mufasa), Richard Hurst (Scar), Alan McHale (Ed), Rebecca Omogbehin (Shenzi), Carl Sanderson (Pumba) and Simon Trinder (Banzai).

Also joining the show will be Lwandolwethu Dennis Bam, Khanyisani Beato, Nigel Brown, Rushand Chambers, Tau-En Chien, Javier Cid, Jorrell Coiffic-Kamall, Tevin Daniel, Tim Driesen, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Oraine Frater, Brian Gilligan, Daniel Griffith, Alicia Hayward, Zalika Henry, Caleaf Hensen, Olivia Jones, Melvin La Blanc, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy, Zanele Mazibuko, Daniel De Jesus Mejia Garcia, Zanele Ndlovu, Buhle Nkomo, Brianna Ogunbawo, Paige Peddie, Tara Price, Charlotte Samaroo, Cristiane Santos De Jesus, Mamido Bomboko Souchu, Sherry Tay, Francesca Thompson, Connor Pele Williams, Maria Yim and Bukiwe Zinganto.

The new cast come from countries which include Belgium, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Nigeria, Saint Martin, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Laura Benanti London debut concert

Stage and screen actress, Tony Award-winner and five-time Tony Award nominee Laura Benanti is making  her London debut with her  concert  performance at Cadogan Hall on 30th June 2019.

Benanti returned to Broadway this autumn as Eliza Doolittle in Lincoln Center's acclaimed revival of My Fair Lady. She was recently seen onstage opposite Amy Schumer in Steve Martin's hit Broadway play, Meteor Shower.

Her other Broadway roles include Amalia Balash in She Loves Me (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee), Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy opposite Patti LuPone (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominee), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Tony nomination, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle winner), Into the Woods (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards nominations), In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play, The Wedding Singer, Nine (starring Antonio Banderas).

Other  theatre performances include Perdita in the Winter's Tale at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Anee in A Little Night Music at the L.A Opera, Eileen in Wonderful Town, and Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella, both for City Centre Encores!

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Ashley Park to join Frozen star Caissie Levy in her September London Concert

Updated 20th August; Grammy and Tony-nominated actress Ashley Park, who originated the role of Gretchen Weiners in the Broadway production of Mean Girls, will appear alongside the Frozen star at the west London concert on 15 September at 6.30pm.

Park is currently filming Emily in Paris in the French capital, and will appear in Grand Horizons in Williamstown and on Broadway later this year.

Frozen star Caissie Levy to perform a solo concert at the Cadogan Hall on 15th  September.

She  originated the role of Elsa in the Broadway production of Frozen, directed by Michael Grandage. Her previous credits include Fantine in Les Misérables, Molly in Ghost and Sheila in Hair. She has also played Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway and Maureen in the national tour of Rent.

She commented: "UK audiences have always been so good to me! I'm incredibly excited to be coming back with a brand new solo show. I've lived a lot of life since I last did a concert in London (back in 2013!) so I'm eager to share some songs and stories, and reconnect with my friends and fans across the pond."

Frozen is currently running on Broadway and will open in London at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2020.

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