CANCELLATION OF TOUR OF MY BEST FRIEND`S WEDDING STARRING ALEXANDRA BURKE

Producers have today announced the cancellation of the  tour of My Best Friend's Wedding starring Alexandra Burke.

In a statement they  said: "The UK tour of My Best Friend's Wedding which was scheduled to open at the Palace Theatre, Manchester on 20th September,  is unfortunately, not going ahead. Successfully launching a new musical on tour is never easy, but continuing uncertainty and its hugely damaging effect on consumer confidence has made a difficult task into an impossible one.The producers have full confidence in the show itself, and hope to find a way of re-visiting it at a time and in circumstances that will afford it the best possible chance of enjoying the success it deserves.

Tina the Musical announces full cast for London reopening in July

The full cast has been revealed for Tina – The Tina Turner Musical – which  reopens at the Aldwych Theatre on 28th July 2021

Joining the previously announced  Aisha Jawando and Jammy Kasongo as Tina and Ike will be Chanel Haynes, who plays the role of Tina at some performances, Joe Evans as Phil Spector and Terry Britten, Irene Myrtle Forrester as Tina's Grandmother GG, Francesca Jackson and Alice Bailey Johnson as Rhonda Graam, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Alline Bullock, Matt Mills as Richard Bullock, Posi Morakinyo as Raymond Hill, Garmon Rhys as Roger Davies, Joseph Richardson as Erwin Bach and Madeline Appiah as Zelma.

They will be joined by  Lori Barker, Kelly Hampson, Chris Grahamson (Carpenter), Paul Mukembo who plays Tina's son Craig and Alex Okoampa who plays Tina's son Ronnie. The Ikettes are played by Samara Casteallo, Mia Musak and Anu Ogunmefun with swings Derek Aidoo, Joshua Da Costa, Livvy Evans, Raquel Jones, DeeArna McLean, Michael Thomas, Saran Webb and Samuel J Weir.

Tia Murrell , Rae Ann Quayle, and Poppy Cunningham  share the role of Young Anna Mae; Shai Codrington , Sophia Anne Angiama  and Mia Jones  share the role of Young Alline and Elias Agbodan George , Remi Dabiri-McQuaid  and Romell Barrocks-Bedeau  share the role of Young Craig. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Symphonic Suites to be performed live in London prior to UK tour

Andrew Lloyd Webber's newly recorded Symphonic Suites is to go  on a new concert tour first performing live at the Royal Festival Hall in London on 8th September to accompany the new album, which is to be released on 3rd September.It was  recorded by an 81-piece orchestra at the recently refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which has undergone a major £60 million restoration project.

The concert will  feature three newly orchestrated suites from his hit  shows including Evita, The Phantom of the Opera and Sunset Boulevard. In London the orchestra will be conducted by Simon Lee and presented by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra. 

After the London show  it will tour in 2022 to Manchester Bridgewater Hall (17th September)  Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (18th September), Cardiff St David´s Hall (24th September), Nottingham Royal Concert Hall (30th September) and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (1st October)

Tickets pre-sale for members of the Royal Festival Hall opens tomorrow, June 24th at 10.00am . General sale opens 10.00 am  on Friday June 25th 

Lloyd Webber said today: "As we fight to bring performers back to work and theatres back to life, I hope that this album might now take on a new meaning: the music which represents the triumphant and hopeful return of live music, theatre and entertainment across the world." 

Full casting announced for Matilda Musical when it reopens at The Cambridge on 16th September

Casting has been announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s West End production of MatildaThe Musical which returns to the Cambridge Theatre from 16 September 2021 and is booking through to 13 February 2022.

As previously announced, Carly Thoms will be taking over the role of Miss Honey, joining the adult cast which includes Elliot Harper as Miss Trunchbull, Sebastien Torkia as Mr Wormwood and Annette McLaughlin who will be returning to the company in the role of Mrs Wormwood, taking over from Marianne Benedict.

The full adult cast includes Liberty Buckland, Georgia Carling, Roger Dipper, Katrina Dix, Kate Kenrick, Ben Kerr, Matt Krzan, Connor Lewis, Tom Mather, Bryan Mottram, Kane Oliver Parry, Landi Oshinowo, Ryan Pidgen, James Revell, Gemma Scholes and Dawn Williams.

The  four performers in the title role of Matilda will be Imogen Cole, Alyssa D’Souza, Alex Munden and Zoe Simon.

Kaspar Cahill-Ritter, Sienna Clarke, Rosie Gell-Marquez, Beth Gilmour, Louie Gray, and Gracie Hodson-Prior will continue in the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the pupils at Crunchem Hall.

The other young performers announced today who join the London company in the roles of Bruce, Lavender, Amanda and the rest of the pupils at Crunchem Hall are  Hari Aggarwal, Thommy Bailey Vine, Kieron Bell, Tom Bonomini, Drew Edwards, Robyn Elwell, Rory Finnegan, Darcy Kelly, Ben Lee, Keanna-Skye O’Quinn, Nicholas Parris, Bella Perdoni, Chancé Quaye, Scarlett Jayne Rackham, Bren Reilly, Niamh Ritchie, Jacob Savva, Jayden Seder and Alex Stockton.

Tim Minchin said: “I’m SO excited that the West End will be reopening soon, and that Matilda will be back on stage in time for its 10th birthday. And that I’ll be able to be in my favourite city for the first time in two years! I’ve so keenly missed Matilda, my London family, and live theatre in general.”

Bat Out of Hell New Tour Dates Announced

New tour dates have been revealed for hit musical Bat Out of Hell featuring  the music of Jim Steinman about  an immortal vagabond who falls in love with a local warlord's daughter.

Producer Michael Cohl said today, "We've all been through a lot these past 15 months and we now need a really good night out with friends and family. Bat Out Of Hell will give you the most fun night you can have in the UK and Ireland this year (with your clothes on)! People will once again be able to dance and sing along to these great Steinman songs. This musical was Jim Steinman's life-long dream and he was incredibly proud of the love the show received from critics and audiences alike. This tour will be in memory of Jim.

The tour will open on 11 September 2021 at Manchester Opera House, before visiting Oxford, Glasgow, Birmingham, Wimbledon, Stockton, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Stoke, Sheffield, Eastbourne, Milton Keynes, Southampton, Plymouth, Newcastle, Bristol, Belfast, Dublin, Hull, Cardiff, Liverpool and Woking with tickets now on sale.  Further dates  and UK casting to be revealed.

Cast announced for Mamma Mia Musical when it reopens at Novello Theatre on 25th August

The cast has been announced for Mamma Mia when it reopens at the Novello Theatre  on 25th August 2021. 

Returning to the cast will be Mazz Murray as Donna, Richard Trinder as Sam, Neil Moors as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill, and Sophie Matthew as Lisa. They will be joined by Josie Benson ( In The Heights) as Tanya, Gemma Goggin (Doctor Faustus ) as Rosie, Emma Mullen (Shetland) as Sophie, Jack Danson (2020 graduate) as Sky, Tegan Bannister (Les Misérables) as Ali, Michael Nelson (Mamma Mia!) as Eddie and Alexandros Beshonges (2020 graduate) as Pepper, with Natalie Langston (Evita) playing the role of Donna at certain performances.

Also new to the cast will be Gemma Atkins, Chloe-Jo Byrnes, Nicole Carlisle, Angus Good, Natalie Jayne Hall, James Humpleman, Morgan Jackson, George Olney, Kyle Turner and Alex Woodward, who will be joining Natasha Agnew, Chloe Ames, Frankie Jones, Lauren Hampton, Grace Moorhouse, Jodie Nolan, Dan O'Brien, Michael Storrs, Michael Tyler and Simon Willmont.

Full casting for The Jersey Boys London

Tony Award-winning Musical, The Jersey Boys  begins performances on 28  July 2021 at the newly refurbished Trafalgar Theatre.

Four boys from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey form a group and invent their own unique sound to eventually find a place in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame selling 100 million records worldwide.

This show features many of the band's worldwide hits  including: “Beggin’”, “Can’t Take my Eyes Off You”, “Oh What a Night”, “Walk Lie a Man”, “Bye, Bye Baby – Baby Goodbye”, "Sherry" and “Big Girl’s Don’t Cry” – to name but a few!

Full  casting is Mountview graduate Ben Joyce will make his West End debut leading the cast as Frankie Valli. with the Four Seasons being played by Benjamin Yates as Tommy DeVito, Karl James Wilson as Nick Massi, and Adam David Bailey with Ben Irish (Bob Crewe), Mark Isherwood (Gyp de Carlo), Elliot Allinson (Swing), Koko Basigara (Lorraine), Melanie Bright (Mary Delgado), Jack Campbell (Swing), Carl Douglas (Norm/Hank), Matteo Johnson (Joe Pesci), Huon Mackley (Swing), Jacob McIntosh (Barry Belson), Bonnie Page (Swing), Andy Smith (Swing) and Helen Ternent (Francine).

Full cast announced for return of Pretty Woman Musical

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL returns to the West End this Summer in its new home at the Savoy Theatre, with performances from 8th July 2021. 

London casting news is that Aimie Atkinson and Danny Mac will take the two lead roles as Vivian Ward – the role originated in the film by Julia Roberts – and Edward Lewis - the Richard Gere role. Joining them again will be Rachael Wooding as ‘Kit De Luca’ (Vivian's best friend), Bob Harms as ‘Happy Man/Mr Thompson’, Neil McDermott as ‘Philip Stuckey’ and Mark Holden as ‘James Morse’.

Also appearing in the show will be Jemma Alexander, Andy Barke, Kimberly Blake, Katie Bradley, Oliver Brenin, Olivia Brookes (joining as first cover Vivian), Alex Charles, Olly Christopher, Ben Darcy, Hannah Ducharme, Nicholas Duncan, Paige Fenlon, Damon Gould, Alex Hammond, Tom Andrew Hargreaves (joining as ensemble / 1st cover Stuckey / 2nd cover Edward), Antony Hewitt, Matt Jones, Serina Mathew, Katie Monks, Joanna Woodward and Charlotte Yorke

It has original music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Bryan Adams and his longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance, a book by Garry Marshall and the film's screenwriter J F Lawton, with direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray), with set by David Rockwell, costume by Gregg Barnes, lighting by Kenneth Posner and Philip S Rosenberg, orchestration by Will Van Dyke and sound by John Shivers.

Kevin Clifton to lead cast in Rock of Ages tour as Stacee Jaxx

It has just been announced that Strictly Come Dancing's Kevin Clifton will return to the tour of Rock of Ages in the role of Stacee Jaxx at selected performances. The tour will open at The Alexandra Birmingham from the 19th August with Kevin first appearing at the Liverpool Empire on 13 September 2021. 

The full cast for the  tour includes Luke Walsh who first played the lead role of Drew in the 2018/2019 tour and is back to reprise the role in 2021. He is a singer/songwriter with theatre credits including ‘Chess’ (Umeda Arts Theatre, Osaka) and ‘Boybands Forever’ (Germany Tour).

Rhiannon Chesterman played Regina on the previous tour and is returning in the role of Sherrie. Her   previous theatre credits include UK and Ireland tour of ‘Grease’ and ‘Mrs Henderson Presents’ at Noel Coward Theatre, West End. Joe Gash will play the iconic role of Lonny making his theatre debut in the role. Ross Dawes (Phantom of the Opera, Girl from the North Country, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and Shrek the Musical) will play Dennis Dupree with Gabriella Williams (Sophie in ‘Mamma Mia!’ and ‘Carrie; The Musical’ at Southwark Playhouse) will play Regina and Jenny Fitzpatrick (alternate Tina Turner in The Tina Musical) will play Justice. 

Vas Constanti, Andrew Carthy and Erin Bell will also be returning in their roles from the 2018/2019 tour as Hertz Klinemann, Franz Klinenmann and Constance. They are also joined by returning cast members Adam Strong and Joshua Dever with Scott Hayward, Sam Turrell, Phoebe Samuel-Gray, Siobhan James, Morgan Scott and Janine Somcio.

Full casting announced for Anything Goes at the Barbican

Anything Goes the Musical begins performances at London`s Barbican on 23rd July (rescheduled from 5th June) for a strictly limited run until 17th October. 

As previously revealed, it stars Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal, Gary Wilmot and Sutton Foster (who replaces injured Megan Mullally) with  Samuel Edwards as Billy Crocker,  Nicole-Lily Baisden as Hope Harcourt, Carly Mercedes Dyer as Erma and Haydn Oakley as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.

They will be joined by: Martin Callaghan (Ship's Purser), Jon Chew (John), Clive Hayward (Ship's Captain), Alistair So (Luke), Marc Akinfolarin, Simon Anthony, Georgie Ashford, Vivien Carter, Natalie Chua, Eamonn Cox, Jordan Crouch, Frances Dee, Charlene Ford, Selina Hamilton, Maddie Harper, Michael Lin, Robbie McMillan, Tom Partridge, Jack Wilcox, Alexandra Wright, George Beet, Gabrielle Cocca, Emily Ormiston and Liam Wrate.

Disney's Broadway Hits concert filmed at the Royal Albert Hall added to Disney Plus

Disney's Broadway Hits concert  filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2016, is to be added to Disney Plus on 2nd July 2021 

The line up for the event includes Trevor Dion Nicholas with the West End cast of Aladdin, as well as the show's composer and Oscar winner Alan Menken. It will  feature songs from shows including The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Mary Poppins. Cast appearing include Scarlett Strallen, Ashley Brown and Merle Dandridge. Keith Lockhart conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra

Sign up here to see the show on Disney Plus

Initial casting news for Disney's tour of Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The new UK & Ireland tour of Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks is due to open at the Theatre Royal Newcastle in August 2021.

With rehearsals already underway first casting news is that Dianne Pilkington will lead the cast as Miss Eglantine Price (an apprentice witch who must take in three refugee children escaping the Blitz of WWII), with Charles Brunton as fraudulent magician Professor Browne, Conor O'Hara as Charlie Rawlins (orphaned Carrie and Paul's older brother) and Jacqui DuBois as Mrs Jessica "Jessie" Hobday, the local postmistress of Pepperinge Eye and chairwoman of the War Activities Committee.

Joining them will be Matthew Elliot Campbell, Rob Madge, Mark Anderson, Emma Thornett, Sadie- Jean Shirley, Kayla Carter, Sam Lupton, Nathanial Morrison, Robin Simoes da Silva, Georgie Buckland, Vinnie Monachello, Susannah ven den Berg, and Jonathan Cobb. 

The Rawlins children will be played by Dexter Barry, Izabella Bucknell, Haydn Court, Poppy Houghton, Evie Lightman and Aidan Oti.

 

Lee Mead to star in new tour of Fat Friends - The Musical

Fat Friends - The Musical will return next year for a UK and Ireland tour starring Lee Mead as lovelorn vicar Paul, with further casting to be announced soon.

Based on the ITV hit comedy show Fat Friends, that starred James Corden and Ruth Jones, the show is written by original creator Kay Mellor and features original music by Nicholas Lloyd Webber.

Produced by Joshua Andrews, the tour kicks off at Dartford Orchard Theatre on 14 January 2022.

Lee Mead's West End credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Legally Blonde and Wicked. He has also been a regular on Casualty and then Holby City in the role of Lofty. He said: "I saw the show when it first ran and absolutely loved it, so I can't wait to now play the lovelorn vicar, Paul. I'm so looking forward to performing live again to wonderful audiences around the country and working with the incredible and iconic Kay Mellor."