Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp to appear in Million Dollar Quartet at South Bank Centre

Martin Kemp the Spandau Ballet rocker-turned-actor, who appeared in EastEnders and recently played the Childcatcher in the tour of Chitty Chity Bang Bang  has been cast as Sam Phillips, who discovered Elvis Presley in Memphis, in the tour of Million Dollar Quartet when it plays the in London at the Royal Festival Hall over the Christmas season, from December 17th until January 2nd. /(Jason Donovan is currently playing the role until 3rd December)

Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp to appear in Million Dollar Quartet at South Bank Centre

Martin Kemp the Spandau Ballet rocker-turned-actor, who appeared in EastEnders and recently played the Childcatcher in the tour of Chitty Chity Bang Bang  has been cast as Sam Phillips, who discovered Elvis Presley in Memphis, in the tour of Million Dollar Quartet when it plays the in London at the Royal Festival Hall over the Christmas season, from December 17th until January 2nd. /(Jason Donovan is currently playing the role until 3rd December)

Jason Donovan to lead cast in tour of Million Dollar Quartet

It has just been announced that Jason Donovan is to star in the tour of Million Dollar Quartet which kicks off at the Leicester Curve in September.

Jason Donovan is playing  legendary record producer Sam Phillips - the man who brought the four recording stars together to create music history. Jason's  musical theatre credits  include leading roles in The Rocky Horror Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sweeney Todd and most recently,  Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Joining Donovan in the cast is Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis. He played the role on the first North American tour of of the show and the Las Vegas Production.

Robbie Durham plays Johnny Cash Ross, William Wild is cast as Elvis Presley, Matt Wycliffe appears as Carl Perkins and Katie Ray is Dyanne.

Million Dollar Quartet closure leaves room for Sweeney Todd?

As I tweeted last night,  Million Dollar Quartet had its notices yesterday  and will close ten months earlier than planned on 14th January instead of 27th October 2012.

The show's producers said: "We've enjoyed a fantastic year in the West End and audiences have been amazing. The musical has been seen by over 200,000 people, played over 250 performances and grossed in excess of £5 million at the box office. We’d like to thank our cast of extraordinarily talented actors and musicians as well as the great company and crew who have all helped raise the roof of the Noël Coward Theatre night after night."

Good theatre and perfect timing for Sweeney Todd with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton which is receiving rave notices at Chichester to move into the West End?

Million Dollar Quartet Live London Cast Recording

The London cast of  Million Dollar Quartet have released their live album today which also happens to be Jerry Lee Lewis' 76th birthday.

The official cast album was recorded live at the Noël Coward Theatre and has tracks including Blue Suede Shoes, Folsom Prison Blues, Fever, Down By The Riverside, Sixteen Tons, I Walk The Line, Let's Have a Party, I Hear You Knocking, Great Balls Of Fire, Hound Dog and Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On.

Buy Million Dollar Quartet from Amazon for £8.99

Million Dollar Quartet on Friday Night is Music Night tonight

Updated 25th October:  This concert is being broadcast again on BBC Radio 2 on Friday 26th October at 8:00 pm

Million Dollar Quartet is currently playing at the Noel Coward Theatre in London’s West End. It tells the story of the night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions in music history.

You can hear them on BBC Radio 2 tonight at 20:00 on Friday Night is Music Night when they perform live on stage at London's Mermaid Theatre with Keith Lockhart conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Cast Change in Million Dollar Quartet

Oliver Seymour-Marsh will take over the role of  Carl Perkins in the West End musical Million Dollar Quartet at the Noel Coward Theatre from 28th March 2011. He replaces Robert Britton Lyons who leaves the show on 26th March to return to the show on  Broadway.

Oliver Seymour-Marsh has already been playing Carl Perkins at certain performances. His musical theatre credits include starring as Buddy in  Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story and Richard in Dreamboats and Petticoats – both on UK tours.

Seymour-Marsh joins the West End cast of Bill Ward (Sam Phillips), Ben Goddard (Jerry Lee Lewis), Derek Hagen (Johnny Cash), Francesca Jackson (Dyanne) and Michael Malarkey (Elvis Presley).

Cast Announced for Million Dollar Quartet

The new West End musical Million Dollar Quartet which starts previewing at the Noel Coward Theatre on 8th February tells the story of the night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together to make music and ended up making history.

As previously mentioned Bill Ward will play Sam Phillips.  The rest of the cast includes  Ben Goddard (Jerry Lee Lewis), Derek Hagen (Johnny Cash), Francesca Jackson (Dyanne), Robert Britton Lyons from the original Broadway cast (Carl Perkins) and Michael Malarkey as (Elvis Presley.

They will be joined by Steven Bor, Justin Brett (Alternate Johnny Cash), Sharon Clancy, Matthew Empson (Jerry Lee Lewis at certain performances), Gez Gerrard (Jay Perkins), Kevin Mains (Elvis Presley at certain performances), Adam Riley (Fluke) and  Oliver Seymour-Marsh (Carl Perkins at certain performances).

Ex Corrie Star Bill Ward to appear in Million Dollar Quartet

Former Coronation Street star Bill Ward who played Charlie Stubbs is to take on the role of influential music producer and record label founder Sam Phillips, who was the Sun Records boss who brought together the “million dollar quartet” of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis

Ward's previous West End musical theatre credits include Sir Lancelot in Spamalot and Scar in the Lion King.

Million Dollar Quartet is currently playing on Broadway and in Chicago and is now heading for London’s West End opening at the Noel Coward Theatre on 28th February 2011 with previews from 8th February 2011.

The show which features some of the greatest rock numbers including Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, That's All Right, Sixteen Tons, Great Balls of Fire, Walk the Line, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Who Do You Love? And Hound Dog.

Nationwide search for actor-musicians to play Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet

As previously mentioned Million Dollar Quartet is heading to the UK from Broadway and due to open in 2011 with dates and theatre still to be announced.

The producers are looking for actor-musicians to play 1950s rock ‘n’ roll stars Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis in the musical and are launching a nationwide search with the first open audition on Monday 13th September at the Arts Theatre in London, followed by auditions in Glasgow (20th September), Liverpool (21st September), Bristol (22nd September) and Dublin (23rd September).

Full audition details can be found at: www.milliondollarquartetlive.co.uk

Million Dollar Quartet opening at Noel Coward Theatre next February

Million Dollar Quartet is currently playing on Broadway and in Chicago and is now heading for London’s West End opening at the Noel Coward Theatre on 28th February 2011 with previews from 8th February 2011. Tickets will go on public sale at 10.00am on 4th December 2010.

It tells the story of the night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions in music history.

I’ve heard some great things about this show which features some of the greatest rock numbers including Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, That's All Right, Sixteen Tons, Great Balls of Fire, Walk the Line, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Who Do You Love? And Hound Dog.

The full cast will be announced shortly.