Ben Richards and Friends Concert

Ben Richards has just finished appearing the tour of the Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5 and is now due to appear in Ben Richards and Friends (featuring Portia Emare).

He is returning to the Alexandra Theatre in Bognor Regis for two shows at 3:00 and 7:30 pm on Saturday 26th October.

Tickets for Ben Richards and Friends

Ben Richards in Oliver! at the Crucible

The lovely Ben Richards who is currently appearing in the tour of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 playing the  boss Franklyn J Hart is due to play Bill Sikes in in Lionel Bart’s musical Oliver! at the Sheffield Crucible from November 29th to 25th January next year.

Ben also recently appeared as Tick/Mitzi in the West End production of  Priscilla Queen of the Desert. His TV credits include Footballers’ Wives and The Bill.

Oliver! will be directed by Daniel Evans.

Ben Richards Leaving 9 to 5 the Musical

The Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Musical has been on an extensive UK tour for the last few months with cast changes due after it leaves the Churchill Theatre in Bromley on 2nd February.

Ben Richards who is playing the  boss Franklyn J Hart is leaving then for three months to go to Los Angeles for their "Pilot Season" which is typically the period between January and April when studios film samples of new shows.   A pilot is one episode ordered by the network as a test which they will will cast, produce and test with audiences and studio executives to decide whether to pick it up as a regular series.

Ben  was due to do this over a year ago, but his plans had to be postponed when he was diagnosed with cancer, from which he now thankfully has the all clear.

His part will be played until his return in May by Mark Moraghan who appeared in the West End playing Bob the Mechanic in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Other musical credits include Mr Fair Lady, Our Day Out, You'll Never Walk Alone, Come Fly With Me as well as TV appearances in  Brookside, Holby City, Casualty, The Bill and Doctors.

More 9 to 5 cast changes to be announced shortly.

Ben Richards in Soho Cabaret on Monday

The Soho Freedom Bar at 66 Wardour Street is presenting a Kinky Kabaret on Monday 13th August. 

Their resident divas the Idolls will be joined by West End and Bill star Ben Richards who has recently appeared in London’s West End in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and is due to embark on a UK tour of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 musical on 12th October.

Doors open at 11pm (show starts at midnight) with £5 tickets available on the door

Tim Rice's From Here to Eternity opening at Shaftesbury

Updated 26th October:  Tim Rice's new musical From Here to Eternity will begin previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre from September 30th next year, opening on October 23rd

Ex Bill and Priscilla Queen of the Desert star Ben Richards finishes playing Hook in Peter Pan at Southampton tomorrow and is then taking part in a workshop for the new Tim Rice musical From Here to Eternity next week.

So it looks as if the project is moving forward. and Richards is playing Sergeant Warden which is the part originally played by Burt Lancaster (who I think he bears more than a passing resemblance to).

The 1953 film version was about life in a US military fort on the Hawaiian island of Oahu before Pearl Harbour and deals with the troubles of the soldiers played by Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra and Ernest Borgnine with Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed playing  the women in their lives. It featured that wonderful Lancaster/Kerr beach scene which was considered very risqué in those days.

Rice explained that the stage show is based on the book and not Daniel Taradash’s movie screenplay. He said: “It’s taken several years to secure full stage rights. It’s only really now that we are all gung-ho”. 

Rice is the co-producer with a score by  young British composer Stuart Brayson. He said last year: “I've got a director (Tamara Harvey - Tell Me On A Sunday): I've got a book writer (Bill Oakes ): and I found myself becoming the producer - it took me quite a while to get the rights. We still need some new songs, and Stuart wants me to do the lyrics, so I've already done one new song with him and we've got a few more in the works. I hope to get From Here To Eternity off the ground next year."

Spend An Evening with Ben Richards

Ex-Bill member and West End star Ben Richards was last seen in London appearing in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre and has most recently been playing Hook in a new production of Peter Pan.

You can hear him sing in London again at an Evening With Ben Richards on Sunday 11th September at 8:00 pm at INC Space, 9-13 Grape Street, Covent Garden.  His special guest is Portia Emare (one of Priscilla’s Divas).  Tickets 10GBP from 207 557 6653.

Ben Richards to star with Daniel Boys and Les Dennis in Peter Pan

As already mentioned, Daniel Boys is to play Peter Pan in a new musical of the same name about the boy who never grew up which will play at The Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin from July 15th - August 8th  before a run at The Southampton Mayflower Theatre from December 9th - January 14th.

He is now being joined by Ben Richards (The Bill, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) who is playing Captain Hook, Maureen Nolan as Mrs Darling and Les Dennis (Hairspray) as Smee the pirate.

The show is a new take on J M Barrie's classic play which David Morgan will direct with choreography by Helen Rymer.  Music is by Robert Scott and book and lyrics by Roger Moss.

Priscilla's Ben Richards on the Wright Stuff this Friday

Ben Richards is currently playing Tick in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End.  He will be appearing on the panel on the Wright Stuff on Channel 5 this Friday, 1st October, from 09:15am

The Wright Stuff is a chat show hosted by Matthew Wright. The format is based on the more traditional radio phone-in, featuring well-known guests discussing topical issues and encouraging contributions from the studio and television audiences, text messages, e-mails and a phone vote

Ben Richards in Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Saw Ben Richards the other night playing Tick/Mitzi in Priscilla Queen of the Desert on London's Shaftesbury Avenue.

He took over from Jason Donovan at the beginning of the month and his performance really is a tour de force.  It really is a long way away from his previous television jobs in Fotballers Wives and the Bill.

He first becomes Mitzi in full view of the audience changing into his full drag costume on stage and there really is an audible gasp at the transformation.  He certainly wears it well  - even though when he was first practicing wearing his high heels he described himself as "Bambi on Ice".

And it’s worth going to the Palace Theatre in London's West End to see the show just for the fabulously outrageous costumes.

Ben Richards on British Soap Awards Tonight

Ben Richards from the TV series The Bill is taking over from Jason Donovan in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre on June 1st. 

But he can be seen on ITV1 tonight at 19:30 presenting an award for best newcomer to Marc Elliott (Syed Masood) from EastEnders

Priscillabus Timetable Change When Ben Richards Hops on Board

As mentioned previously, Jason Donovan is leaving Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Ben Richards is taking over the part of Tick/Mitzi.

Jason leaves on Saturday 29th May and Ben appears on Tuesday 1st June.  If you’re wondering why there is a gap on Monday 31st May it’s because there is no performance.

This is because it’s the week when Priscillabus goes on to her summer timetable with performance on Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 19.30 and matinees on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 15.00 at the Palace Theatre.

Ben Richards from the Bill taking over from Jason Donovan in Priscilla

Ben Richards who plays PC Nate Roberts in the Bill is taking over on 1st June from Jason Donovan who is leaving Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre.  Donovan is involved in a huge arena tour of Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds later in the year playing the artilleryman.

Ben Richards is known for his television work also playing bullying Bruno Milligan in Footballers' Wives, but he started his career in musical theatre and has played in Guys And Dolls, Grease, The Full Monty and Saturday Night Fever - to name just a few.

In 2006 he was a judge on Strictly Dance Fever which was hosted by Graham Norton with choreographers Stacey Haynes, Arlene Phillips and Wayne Sleep. He appeared in Holby City in 2006 as physiotherapist Justin Fuller. He also appeared on Celebrity Stars in their Eyes as Ricky Martin.

Don Gallagher and Oliver Thornton will continue to play Bernadette and Adam in the show when Ben arrives to play the part of Tick.