Matilda announces new cast members

The Royal Shakespeare Company has revealed new casting for Matilda The Musical which is now in its 12th year at London’s Cambridge Theatre

From 12th  September, Kieran Hill and Lydia White will join the production, taking on the roles of Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey, respectively, while Rakesh Boury and Amy Ellen Richardson will continue as Mr and Mrs Wormwood.

Newly announced adult cast members include Nolan Edwards, Sean Lopeman, Ruairidh McDonald, Kane Oliver Parry, Deborah Tracey, Esme Bacalla-Hayes, Ronan Burns, Ella Caldwell, Stan Doughty, Karina Hind, Roan Pronk, Gabrielle Davina Smith, Lauren Varnham and Esme Bacalla-Hayes, who will join current members Thea Bunting, Aaron Jenkins and Sam Lathwood.

Estella Evans, Selena Karir and Arabella Stanton will join current cast member Sophia Goodman to share the title role.

 

The other young performers announced today include Sidhant Anand, Charlie Cox, Jack Dennis, Megan Donovan, Rosy Drury, Jake Durant, Phoebe Easom, Jaydon Eastman, Benjamin El Refaie, Jax Fenner, Max Garlick, Lilia Guinoubi, Gina Harris-Sullivan, Coco-Lili Hodder, Elliott Marsden, Sophia McAlister, Charlotte Mellington, Kanon Narumi, Toryn O’Callaghan, Zarian Marcel Obatarhe, Kristiano Ricardo, Harriet Rogers, Azalea-Belle Sharp, Archie Smith, Joshua Wahab.

 

full cast announced for I should Be So Lucky Stock Aitken & Waterman Musical tour

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 laest ten Number One singles and over 30 songs from the Hit Factory, whose music defined an era.

Kylie Minogue will digitally appear with the full cast of the musical which includes Kayla Carter (The Color Purple, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) as Bonnie, Jamie Chapman (Nativity! The Musical, The Mousetrap) as Spencer, Jemma Churchill (Guys and Dolls, Nativity! THe Musical) as Ivy, Matthew Croke (Wicked, Aladdin) as Nadeem, Jessica Daley (Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables) as Britney, Gary Davis (Annie, Oklahoma!) as Big Mike, Melissa Jacques (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Mamma Mia!) as Shelley, Scott Paige (The Great British Bake Off Musical, Made in Dagenham) as Michael, Billy Roberts (Rock of Ages, Titanic The Musical) as Nathan, Giovanni Spanò (Jesus Christ Superstar, Bat Out of Hell) as Ash, Lucie-Mae Sumner (Mary Poppins, Guys and Dolls) as Ella and Anna Unwin (Aspects of Love) as Olivia. The cast is completed by Tegan Bannister, Ralph Bogard, Elliot Broadfoot, Emma Crossley, Kade Ferraiolo, Sydney Isitt-Ager, Joe Kelly, Aidan Nightingale, James Willoughby Moore, Lauren Woolf and Louie Wood.

View the official trailer for the show which  has just  been released 

 

Les Misérables the Arena Spectacular

 

Cameron Mackintosh, in association with Nick Grace Management, has just announced a world tour of Les Misérables the Arena Spectacular, opening with European dates [including limited UK ones] from September 2024.

Mackintosh said , “Since the very first concert performance of Les Misérables in Sydney in January 1989, this remarkable musical has proved to be as powerful and successful in its every manifestation. Whether in its original full theatrical form, a blockbuster musical movie, or any of its numerous spectacularly staged concert performances. Over the show’s nearly 40 years existence, it has also proved to be the launch pad for an extraordinary list of stars around the world, in many different languages and countries.This much anticipated world tour will be a unique opportunity for many of these celebrated performers to play their favourite roles for short periods in different parts of the world, so fans will get the chance to see their favourite stars (and mine!) in their favourite musical. Both the show and the score of Les Mis continues to win poll after poll around the world as the publics favourite musical of all time containing so many of the most memorable and beloved songs ever written for the musical theatre. The euphoria of the cast reunion performances of Miz are legendary and always prove a sell-out so I look forward to this unique event being the ultimate demonstration of Do You Hear The People Sing ever!”

The new production is already scheduled to perform in over 15 countries including the UK, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and beyond. It will run into the musical’s upcoming 40^th anniversary celebrations in 2025.

It will have a new design specifically created for arenas (and large theatres) with audiences of between 3,000 to 5,000. A UK company of over 110 actors, musicians and crew will feature, with guest stars appearing at various stops. 

Exact dates, cities, venues, casting and on sale details will begin to be revealed this autumn.

Back to the Future Cast Change next month

A CAST CHANGE FROM 16TH AUGUST has just been announced for the musical Back to the Future in London: Sarah Goggin (Sister Act) will join the show as Lorraine Baines, with Jay Perry (Hamilton) as Goldie Wilson, Jordan Pearson (Ladhood) as Biff Tannen, Lee Ormsby (Les Misérables) as Strickland, Rhodri Watkins (Carousel) as Dave McFly, Patricia Wilkins (Flashdance) as Linda McFly, Elliott Evans (Eugenius!) as alternate Marty McFly and Stephen Leask (School of Rock) as Alternate Doctor Emmett Brown.

They join current stars Cory English as Doctor Emmett Brown, Ben Joyce as Marty McFly, Oliver Nicholas as George McFly and Sophie Naglik as Jennifer Parker.

New to the ensemble will be Ella Beaumont, Alexander Day, Reece Darlington-Delaire, Helen Gulston, Matthew Ives, Connor Lewis, Louis Quinn, Grace Swaby-Moore and Alexandra Wright, joining Sia Dauda, Dylan Gordon-Jones, Adam Margilewski, Bryan Mottram, Laura Mullowney, Anna Murray, Georgia Tapp and Tavio Wright.

Phantom London Cast Changes

The following new cast. members will join the show from 31st July: Lily Kerhoas (Les Misérables) joins the company as Christine Daaé, with Joe Griffiths-Brown (Hamilton) as Raoul, David Kristopher-Brown (The Play That Goes Wrong) as Ubaldo Piangi and Maiya Hikasa (Billy Elliot) as Meg Giry.

Continuing in the show will be Jon Robyns as The Phantom, Kelly Glyptis as Carlotta Giudicelli, Adam Linstead as Monsieur André, Matt Harrop as Monsieur Firmin and Francesca Ellis as Madame Giry.  At certain performances the role of Christine Daaé will be played by Paige Blankson.

The cast is completed by Hollie Aires, Federica Basile, Corina Clark, Michael Colbourne, Leonard Cook, Colleen Rose Curran, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Connor Ewing, Serina Faull, Florence Fowler, James Gant, Melanie Gowie, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Yukina Hasebe, Samuel Haughton, Thomas Holdsworth, Jacob Hughes, Grace Hume, Tim Morgan, Eve Shanu-Wilson, Tim Southgate, Zoë Soleil Vallée, Jasmine Wallis, Victoria Ward, Ralph Watts, Simon Whitaker, and Andrew York.

Lily Kerhoas made her West End debut as Cosette in Les Misérables: The Staged Concert, continuing with Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre. Originally from Paris, France, Lily trained at the Royal Academy of Music.

Joe Griffiths-Brown has most recently appeared in the West End company of Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre, and previously in Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

David Kristopher-Brown returns to The Phantom of the Opera having first been part of the production between 2007 and 2008. His other West End credits include The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre and The Blues Brothers Xmas Special at the Arts Theatre. His other theatre credits include The Phantom of the Opera: In Concert in Guernsey, Sister Act – The Musical at Kilworth House Theatre, Little Shop of Horrors at Webster’s Theatre, Glasgow, Sweeney Todd at the Union Theatre, and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow.

Maiya Hikasa’s theatrical credits include Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre and the international Tour of Cats.

 

Jersey Boys London Cast Changes

Jersey Boys London has just announced some cast changes and an extended booking period to 28th January 2024.

From 26 July, Peter Nash (Singin’ in the Rain UK tour) will join the show as Tommy De Vito, while Declan Egan will play Bob Gaudio, having previously played the role at the Piccadilly Theatre and on the UK tour. Luke Suri will continue as Frankie Valli, with Karl James Wilson as Nick Massi. 

Joining them will be Joey Cornish as Joe Pesci, Joseph Peters as Bob Crewe, Andy Barke as Gyp De Carlo, Kirsty Whelan as Mary Delgado, Oliver Tester as Norm Waxman/Hank Majewski, Jacob McIntosh as Barry Belson, Gracie Lai as Lorraine, Rosie Needham as Francine with Danny Knott, Bonnie Page, Olly Manley, Daniel Parkinson, Matthew Lawrence and Pearce Barron.

Complete casting for the new tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Complete casting has just been revealed for the new tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which commences this autumn.

As already confirmed, Ivano Turco will lead the tour in the title role, with Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen) as Margaret New,  Shobna Gulati (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice) as Ray and Talia Palamathanan (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie tour and film) as Pritti.

Strictly Come Dancing professional and series 16 winner Kevin Clifton will play Hugo/Loco Chanelle from 25 March to 15 July 2024, while author, podcast host and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here winner Giovanna Fletcher will play Miss Hedge from 8 January  to  23 March 2024 (after Hayley Tamaddon completes her run in the show) with X-Factor winner Sam Bailey taking over the role of Miss Hedge from 25 March to 15 July 2024. John Partridge will take on the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle this autumn.

Completing the cast for the 2023 to 2024 UK tour are KY Kelly, aka Anthony Gyde (Laika Virgin), Garry Lee (Sandra Bollock), David McNair(Tray Sophisticay), Akshay St Clair (Dad), Jordan Ricketts (Dean), Liv Ashman (Vicki), Rhiannon Bacchus (Fatimah), Geoff Berrisford (Sayid), Jessica Daugirda (Bex), Finton Flynn (Young Loco Chanelle / Jamie New cover), Annabelle Laing (Becca), Luca Moscardini (Levi), Joshian Omana (Cy), Thomas Walton (Mickey), Takayiah Bailey (Swing) and Georgina Hagen (Understudy Margaret / Ray / Miss Hedge).

 

initial casting for tour of Pretty Woman the Musical

Lead casting has been revealed for the new tour of Pretty Woman, before it kicks  this autumn.

Amber Davies (9 to 5, Back to the Future) will star as Vivian Ward with  Oliver Savile (Annie Gwt Your Gun, Wicked) as Edward, with Ore Oduba (Curtains, The Rocky Horror Show) playing Happy Man/ Mr Thompson and Natalie Paris (SIX) as Kit De Luca.

They are joined by Becky Anderson, Rebekah Bryant, Josh Damer-Jennings, Ben Darcy, Andrew Davison, Lila Falce-Bass, Noah Harrison, Sydnie Hocknell, Elly Jay, Rachael Kendall Brown, Michael Kholwadia, Joshua Lear, Stuart Maciver, Victoria Rachael McCabe, Eleanor Morrison-Halliday, LJ Neilson, Annell Odartey, Curtis Patrick and Chomba Taulo.

Amber Davies can currently be seen in the West End as Lorraine Baines in Back to the Future: The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre. Her previous theatre credits include the role of Judy in the Original West End Cast of 9 to 5 the Musical at the Savoy Theatre and on tour, and Campbell in Bring It On at London’s Southbank Centre.

Ore Oduba was most recently seen as Brad Majors in the West End and UK tour of the 50^th anniversary production of The Rocky Horror Show. His previous theatre credits include Aaron Fox in Curtains on tour and in the West End, and Teen Angel in Grease on a UK tour. Ore was crowned Strictly Come Dancing champion in 2016 and more recently made it to the final of Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

Oliver Savile’s West End credits include Fiyero in Wicked, Whizzer in Falsettos, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and the UK tour of Cats and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Oliver also starred alongside Sting in the US tour The Last Ship.

Natalie Paris is best known as the original Jane Seymour in the West End production of SIX, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award. She is currently touring North America with the production, having also toured the UK. Natalie’s previous theatre credits include Sunday in the Park with George at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Wyndham’s Theatre, Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace and Les Misérables at the Palace and Queen’s Theatre.