A third cast has been announced for Frozen the Musical in the West End.
From 27 September, Laura Dawkes will make her professional stage debut as Anna with Jammy Kasongo (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) as Kristoff. The duo will play alongside Samantha Barks (Elsa), Craig Gallivan (Olaf), Oliver Ormson (Hans), Richard Frame (Duke of Weselton) and, alternating the role of Sven, Mikayla Jade and Ashley Birchall.
Julian Clary has joined the new touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which kicks off in Manchester in September. He will play King Herod in Manchester, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Liverpool
Clary said today: “I am so thrilled to be a part of this amazing production and look forward to presenting my crazed, queer, imperious King Herod. I’m thinking Putin meets Cleopatra with a hint of Biggins.”
New casting has been announced for the roles of Rachel and Young Rachel in Greatest Days Musical which features the extensive back catalogue of Take That
From 21st August, Jennifer Ellison (Phantom of the Opera, Legally Blonde) will
take on the role of Rachel taking over from Kym Marsh with Olivia Hallett (The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair) joining cast as Young Rachel from 24 July.
The pair join existing cast members Taylor Alman, 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, Charlotte Anne Steen and Alan Stocks.
First casting has been revealed for a new touring production of Calendar Girls The Musical which is set to open in Windsor on 30 August.
Written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, the piece explores the true story of a group of women from a Yorkshire W.I., who decide to raise money for charity by posing for a nude calendar. It began its life as a 2003 film, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, before being adapted into a 2008 stage play and then again into a musical which debuted in 2015.
First casting news is that The cast includes Tanya Franks (Annie Clarke), Maureen Nolan (Ruth), Lyn Paul (Jessie), Amy Robbins (Chris Harper), Paula Tappenden (Marie), Marti Webb (Celia) and, Honeysuckle Weeks (Cora) with additional casting to be announced.
Firth commented: “Pre-pandemic I had been preparing the musical for a foreign production which was, of course, then postponed. When the skies cleared and a new production in the UK was proposed, I looked back and thought, ‘This is the version we ought to stage’. The story and songs, a little like the real world, had been thrown in the air and come back slightly different. What we had in our hands lay somewhere between the original play and the original musical and it seemed right for a time when sunlight, optimism and humour seemed more necessary than ever. Like the calendar itself, it seemed that something dark had created something unexpectedly bright.”
Barlow added: “I am delighted to be working on this new production of Calendar Girls and getting ready for the joy, the laughter, and the nostalgia to take the stage again. It’s been 20 years this year since the film was released, and around 10 years since I first saw Tim’s play with my mum Marjorie. We’ve already had a fantastic time in the rehearsal room workshopping the show and weaving in new music, reworked songs and reimagining the book. We cannot wait to see the way these incredible leading ladies bring the story to bloom as we head out on tour later this year.”
Louis Gaunt returns to play Peter after last year's star turn in Jack and the Beanstalk and his forthcoming summer season playing The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz at The London Palladium and Frances Mayli McCann joins the company as Wendy following a celebrated West End run as Bonnie in Bonnie & Clyde the Musical& Clyde.
The duo join the previously announced Jennifer Saunders, Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot and Rob Madge.
Director and producer Michael Harrison said, “I’m so thrilled Louis is joining our cast for Peter Pan this Christmas… following Jack and the Beanstalk last year, he is a firm favourite of both the audience and the regular Palladium company. Louis is a proper leading man who is also brilliant in the Palladium production of The Wizard of Oz. And following her starring performance in Bonnie and Clyde, we all can’t wait to welcome Frances for her Palladium panto debut.”
An Officer and a Gentleman musical is to embark on a new tour next February kicking off at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham
Based on the film starring Richard Gere, the show is based on writer Douglas Day Stewart’s personal experience as a naval officer candidate. It was first seen at Curve in spring 2018.
The book of the musical is co-written by Stewart and Sharleen Cooper Cohen. Set to a smash-hit soundtrack featuring the songs of Madonna, Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Blondie, and features songs including “Up Where We Belong”, “Alone”, “Don’t Cry Out Loud”, “You’re the Voice” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”.
Director Nikolai Foster said: “Filled with love and quiet profundity, An Officer and a Gentleman sensitively charts the lives of working class, military folk in America in the early 1980s. We are proud to be working alongside the film’s creator Douglas Day Stewart, producer Jamie Wilson, Sharleen Cooper Cohen and an incredible creative team to present this beautiful and inspiring story. We are excited to share some iconic 80s songs and this moving story with audiences across the UK.”
Also on the creative team are choreographer Joanna Goodwin, musical supervisor and orchestrator George Dyer, set and costume designer Michael Taylor, lighting designer Ben Cracknell, sound designer Tom Marshall, wig, hair and make-up designer Sam Cox and casting (which is to be revealed) director Debbie O’Brien.
First casting news is that Ian McIntosh (We Will Rock You, Follies), will play Jesus, alongside Shem Omari James (Dreamgirls UK Tour) as Judas and Hannah Richardson (Sting’s The Last Ship) as Mary.
Set against the backdrop of ancient Judea, the musical chronicles the final days of Jesus of Nazareth as seen through the eyes of his disciple, Judas Iscariot. It follows Jesus and his followers as they arrive in Jerusalem, and the conflict that arises between them and the Roman authorities.Judas, torn between his loyalty to Jesus and his fears about the consequences of his actions, ultimately betrays his friend and sets in motion the events that will lead to the crucifixion.
Timothy Sheader (Crazy for You, Into the Woods) directs this new production with choreography by Drew McOnie
(King Kong, Strictly Ballroom). Originally staged by London's Regent's
Park Open Air Theatre, this reimagined production won the 2017 Olivier
Award for Best Musical Revival..
She previously appeared in the West End production of the musical at the Apollo Theatre and will be appearing with a previously announced cast that includes Ivano Turco (Bad Cinderella) as Jamie New, Rebecca McKinnis as Margaret New, Shobna Gulati as Ray, and Talia Palamathanan as Pritti. John Partridge will portray Hugo/Loco Chanelle during two separate periods of the tour. Further casting announcements are yet to come.
The new tour of Hamilton which begins later this year has cast Jason Arrow in the lead role. He originally portrayed Alexander Hamilton in the Australian cast when the musical premiered in Sydney in March 2021.
The producers expressed enthusiasm for continuing Arrow’s legacy with the production, stating: “Jason’s nuanced, thoughtful and searing rendition of Alexander Hamilton has been beloved by audiences throughout Australia and New Zealand.”
