Tour cast for 42nd Street

A new UK production of the tour of  musical 42nd Street will feature  Samantha Womack, Michael Praed, Faye Tozer, Les Dennis and Nicole-Lily Baisden.

The production, which is also being staged by Curve and Sadler’s Wells with a slightly different line up  opens at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury on 13th July 2023. .

Samantha Womack, who most  recently starred as the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, will play the role of Dorothy Brock, while Michael Praed will play Julian Marsh. Faye Tozer, a member of pop group Steps, will play Maggie Jones, with Les Dennis playing Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden playing Peggy Sawyer.

The cast will be completed by Sam Lips as Billy Lawlor, with Erica-Jayne Alden, George Beet, Charlie Bishop, Kevin Brewis, Olly Christopher, Briana Craig, Jordan Crouch, Rhianna Dorris, Ashleigh Graham, Alyn Hawke, Aimee Hodnett, Connor Hughes, Deja Linton, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Greta McKinnon, Ben Middleton, Benjamin Mundy, Anthony Ofoegbu and Jessica Wright.

 

Full casting for Aspects of Love

As already announced, Moulin Rouge! West End star Jamie Bogyo will play the role of Alex, joining Michael Ball in the new production of Aspects of Love at the Lyric Theatre  which runs from 12 May to 11 November 2023

Moulin Rouge! West End star Jamie Bogyo is to  play the role of the young romantic Alex - the role which Ball originated in 1989. He will now take on the role of Alex´s uncle George and will once more belt out the hit song, "Love Changes Everything," in the new production which will be restructured so that Ball can reprise his performance of the iconic song and could also feature a new song from composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

 Joining him will be Laura Pitt-Pulford (Falsettos, The Other Palace; Sound of Music, Leicester Curve) as Rose, Jamie Bogyo (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as Alex and Danielle de Niese (Man of La Mancha and It’s a Wonderful Life English National Opera) as Giulietta, Anna Unwin will make her West End debut in the role of Jenny. They will be joined by Rosemary Ashe, Anthony Cable, Vinny Coyle, Chumisa Dornford-May, Sophia Foroughi, Dickon Gough, Ben Heathcote, Eu Jin Hwang, Daniel Jagusz-Holley, Linda Jarvis, Natasha O’Brien, Joanna O’Hare and Michael Matus who will all feature in the revival. Additionally, the role of Young Jenny will be shared by Indiana Ashworth, Millie Gubby, and Katie Mitton.

De Niese said today: "I fell in love with Andrew Lloyd Webber's beautiful score and melodies as a child and now even more so with these gorgeous new orchestrations which are so rich and romantic. I am so excited about playing and exploring my fantastic character, Giulietta and returning to the West End. Working with Laura Pitt-Pulford and Jamie Bogyo will be great fun and sharing the stage with the inimitable Michael Ball will be beyond amazing!"

Ball added: "I feel privileged and very lucky to introduce our fabulous leading ladies joining me in Aspects of Love. The incredible Laura Pitt-Pulford who is no stranger to the West End as Rose and the divine Danielle de Niese, the renowned opera singer, as Giulietta. Making her West End debut as my daughter Jenny, a wonderful new talent, Anna Unwin. I couldn't be happier. First day of school, Monday!"

Full cast for Greatest Days Take That musical tour

 

 

The full cast for the tour of the official Take That musical Greatest Days has been announced. It features a book by award-winning playwright Tim Firth, is set to embark on a major UK and Ireland tour from 6 May 2023, and will coincide with the release of the official movie version during the summer.

Joining  the previously announced Kym Marsh as Rachel and her daughter Emilie Cunliffe as Young Rachel will be  Taylor Alman, Charlotte Anne Steen, Holly Ashton, Hannah Brown, Kalifa Burton, Benjamin Cameron, Jamie Corner, Archie Durrant, Regan Gascoigne, Kitty Harris, Bayley Hart, Keith Henderson, Karen Holmes, Christopher D. Hunt, Evangeline Jarvis-Jones, Rachel Marwood, Mari McGinlay, Jamie-Rose Monk, Mary Moore, Alexanda O'Reilly, and Alan Stocks.

Greatest Days celebrates the 30th anniversary of Take That's first-ever UK number 1 single, "Pray", and features over 15 record-breaking Take That songs alongside a story of five best friends in the 1990s who are obsessed with their favourite boy band. The girls reunite more than 20 years later with a plan to see their heartthrobs one last time. 

 Originally produced as The Band by David Pugh, Dafydd Rogers and Take That, the show first opened at Manchester Opera House in September 2017, breaking box office records along the way.

The show has co-direction by Stacey Haynes and Firth, choreography by Aaron Renfree, set and costume design by Lucy Osborne, lighting design by Rob Casey, sound design by Tony Gayle, casting by David Grindrod Burton, musical supervision by John Donovan, and costume supervision by Martin Rodges.

World premiere of the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical, I Should Be So Lucky to go on tour later this year

The world premiere of the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical, I Should Be So Lucky, will open at the Manchester Opera House on 1 November, 2023.

The musical is based on the soundtrack of a generation, with tunes from artists including Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Jason Donovan, and Bananarama. I Should Be So Lucky will feature at least ten Number One singles and over 30 songs from the Hit Factory, whose music defined an era.

It follows Ella and Nathan, a young couple hopelessly in love and about to take the biggest step of their lives – marriage. Until it doesn't go quite to plan. Tunes set to appear include "Never Gonna Give You Up", "I Should Be So Lucky", "Love In The First Degree" and "Especially For You".

The musical is written and directed by Debbie Isitt (best known for the hit Nativity! franchise), and choreographed by Jason Gilkison (creative director of Strictly Come Dancing and Eurovision 2023)

Tom Read Wilson will star as Squidward in the THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Tom Read Wilson will star as Squidward in the UK Premiere of THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, joining the previously announced Divina de Campo as Plankton. Tom will play the role in Bradford, Manchester, Sheffield, Peterborough, Wolverhampton, Leicester and Aberdeen.

Tom Read Wilson (Squidward) is probably best known as the receptionist on Channel 4’s Celebs Go Dating. He studied at Rose Bruford College and the Royal Academy of Music before performing in Sleeping Beauty at Wellingborough Castle Theatre, Alice in Wonderland at Madinat Theatre, Dubai, the UK Tour of Cat in the Hat and in Sweet Revenge at Theatre Royal Windsor.

As previously announced, Gareth Gates will play the role of Squidward in Southampton, Birmingham, Oxford, Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Blackpool and Norwich.

 Further casting for the production’s run at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, in Plymouth and Newcastle to be announced. 

BBC Broadcast details for Big Night of Musicals

The major arena event Big Night of Musicals hosted by Jason Manford took place last month, and  the  BBC TV broadcast is scheduled for 7.50pm on  Saturday 25th March. The 90-minute show featured the full cast of the hit musical Hamilton, while Helen George from Call The Midwife will feature in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I. Michael Ball's performance from Aspects of Love will be shown, ahead of the West End revival. The casts of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda, We Will Rock You, Disney’s Newsies, Six, Ain’t Too Proud, Shrek and Mamma Mia! will also be broadcast, while completing the line-up will be Les Misérables, The Bodyguard, and Wicked. 

 

In addition to the TV broadcast,  on Sunday 26 March stage stars Layton Williams and Samantha Barks will present a two-hour radio show with  more content from the night.

Everybody`s Talking About Jamie London and tour cast announced

The  musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has announced the initial casting for its second UK and Ireland tour as well as an extended London season. 

After a successful three-year residency in London's West End and a sold-out UK and Ireland tour, the show will now open at The Lowry on 7 September 2023 before traveling to other cities across the UK.

Ivano Turco, who has starred in productions such as Get Up, Stand Up! and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, will take on the lead role of Jamie New, with Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen) returning as Margaret New, alongside Shobna Gulati (who also starred in the film adaptation of the show)  as Ray, with Talia Palamathanan (who also appeared in the ensemble for the film) as Pritti.

John Partridge ( Eastenders, La Cage Aux Folles, and A Chorus Line) will play the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle from 7 September until 11 November 2023 and from 16 January until 16 March. Further casting will be announced at a later date.

Gary Wilmot to play the Wizard in the Wizard Of Oz

West End star Gary Wilmot is  to take on the title role in Leicester Curve’s production of The Wizard of Oz this summer at The London Palladium beginning performances on Friday 23rd June with the  previously announced stars Jason Manford as the Cowardly Lion and Ashley Banjo as the Tin Man. 

He has an extensive background in musical theatre, with previous roles including The Wizard in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, Jethro in The Prince of Egypt at the Dominion, and Badger in The Wind in the Willows at The London Palladium,  Christmas Palladium Pantomimes, including roles as Queen Nigella in Jack and the Beanstalk, Dame Gary in Pantoland at The Palladium, Mrs Crumble in Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs and Sarah The Cook in Dick Whittington. He will be playing both The Wizard and Professor Marvel, with further casting for the production to be revealed.

New cast for tour of Six the Musical

New tour casting has been unveiled for Six the Musical, with the current company playing  their final performance on Sunday 23rd April in High Wycombe with the new company taking over from Tuesday 25th April 2023 in Tunbridge Wells.

Joining the show will be Nicole Louise Lewis (Catherine of Aragon), Laura Dawn Pyatt (Anne Boleyn), Erin Caldwell (Jane Seymour), Kenedy Small (Anna of Cleves), Lou Henry (Katherine Howard) and Aoife Haakenson (Catherine Parr). Izi Maxwell, Tamara Morgan and Ellie Jane Grant will be joining the cast as alternates, with super swing / dance captain Shakira Simpson.

Lead casting for 42nd Street Ïn Leicester and Sadler's Wells

Lead casting has just been announced for the new production of 42nd STREET at Curve, Leicester and Sadler’s Wells when Ruthie Henshall will star as Dorothy Brock, alongside Olivier-nominee Adam Garcia as Julian Marsh, stage and TV personality Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer . Further casting for the tour will be announced in due course.

They will be joined by Sam Lips as Billy Lawlor, with Erica-Jayne Alden, George Beet, Charlie Bishop, Briana Craig, Ashleigh Graham, Alyn Hawke, Aimee Hodnett, Connor Hughes, Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Ben Middleton, Benjamin Mundy, Anthony Ofoegbu and Jessica Wright. 

Ruthie Henshall recently appeared as Tosca in a reimagining of Sondheim’s Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre. Her extensive theatrical credits include Grizabella in Cats, Fantine in Les Miserables, Nancy in Oliver!, Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly and Mama Morton in Chicago, Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot and Amalia Balash in She Loves Me, for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Throughout her career she has also appeared in the original London productions of Miss Saigon, Children of Eden, Crazy for You, The Woman in White, Peggy Sue Got Married and Marguerite. Henshall also tours across the UK, USA and Australia as a concert performer, and previously appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! In 2020.

Adam Garcia’s theatre credits include The Artilleryman in The War of the Worlds, Damien Karras in The Exorcist, Fiyero in Wicked, and Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me, Kate and Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, both of which received Olivier Award nominations for his roles. His film credits include Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Coyote Ugly and Riding in Cars with Boys. Adam recently appeared as a finalist in the UK series of The Masked Dancer, finishing in second place.

Les Dennis most recently starred as Grandad Trotter in Only Fools and Horses The Musical. His other West End credits include Wilbur in Hairspray opposite Michael Ball at the London Coliseum, Amos Hart in Chicago and Bill in Me and My Girl. His touring theatre credits include Art, Legally Blonde, High School Musical 2 and Uncle Fester in the musical comedy The Addams Family. His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street and a fictional version of himself in Extras.

Nicole-Lily Baisden’s theatre credits include the role of Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, both in the West End and on tour, and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre and on tour.

 Sam Lips’ theatre credits include the role of Don Lockwood in Singin’ In The Rain and Scott Hastings in Strictly Ballroom, both in the UK and Canada. His Broadway credits Cats, Chicago, Pippin, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and The Cher Show.