Theatre Royal Drury Lane to be renamed

It has just been announced today that the Theatre Royal Drury Lane's name will be shortened to The Lane and form part of a complex of buildings known as "The Lane" ahead of the West End premiere of Disney's Frozen The Musical which opens for previews in October 2020.

The venue has been closed for nearly 11 months with a multi-million-pound refurbishment  now underway. Originally reported to cost £45 million, the ambitious 20-month-long renovation project has now been estimated to cost about £60 million.In addition to the new name, the renovation works will mean more comfort for theatregoers.

Originally having a capacity of 2,196 seats, the theatre's seating will now be reduced by about 200 in order to provide wider seats with better visibility and more legroom. Once the project is complete, there will be the option of having an in-the-round or proscenium arch configuration. The Lane will also offer new cafes, restaurants, and bars  accessible for both theatregoers and non-theatre attendees.

New Fagin needed for Oliver!

Russ Abbot is playing Fagin in the West End production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.  He is pictured here playing the part with Ron Moody making a special guest appearance earlier this year. 

He was on the Michael Ball Show yesterday afternoon and confirmed he will be leaving before Christmas with his last performance scheduled for Saturday 4th December.

Oliver is currently booking until 26th February 2011 which means that Cameron Mackintosh will have to find someone else to pick a pocket or two over the Christmas and New Year period until the show closes to make way for Shrek the Musical which is starring Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona and Richard Blackwood as Donkey and is due to open on 7th June.

Oliver! to close on 8th January

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver! has posted its closing notices at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and will now close on 8th January 2011 instead of the advertised booking period which ended on 26th February, 2011.

As previously blogged it is Oliver’s! 50th birthday on 30th June and it will be marked by a special performance from the legendary Ron Moody who first appeared as Fagin in June 1960 at the New Theatre.

The current cast features Kerry Ellis (as Nancy), Russ Abbot (Fagin), Steven Hartley (Bill Sikes), Julian Glover (Mr Brownlow), Julius D'Silva (Mr Bumble), Wendy Ferguson (Widow Corney), Julian Bleach (Mr Sowerberry/Dr Grimwig) and  Louise Gold (Mrs Sowerberry/Mrs Bedwin)

This closure news supports rumours that there is going to be a Broadway transfer of the musical Shrek! which based on the Dreamworks animated films.  It has been tipped to open at Drury Lane in March 2011.

Ron Moody back as Fagin in Oliver! at Drury Lane

But not to take over from  Russ Abbott who has just joined the production playing the part.  It is the 50th anniversary the original opening of Oliver!at the then New Theatre of  in a couple of week’s time on 30th June, and Ron Moody is making a special guest appearance playing the part he created at the end of the show.

Ron Moody was the original Fagin in Oliver! He is now over 80 and has already been in for rehearsals. According to Cameron Mackintosh he is still incredibly sprightly and shows every signs of giving a memorable performance at Drury Lane.

Update on Love Never Dies

This  sequel to Phantom of the Opera has so far taken £8.5 million in advance ticket sales with plenty of time for that figure to almost double with  previews starting on 20th February and the opening night at the  Adelphi Theatre on 9th March.

Rehearsals are under way with the full company due to assemble next week at a rehearsal complex in South London.  In the centre of the largest rehearsal hall is a giant revolve resembling the one that is about to be installed at the Adelphi.

The principals (Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Summer Strallen) already know their roles well because they worked on the show's concept album.  There will be a CD released around the same time as the official first night of Love Never Dies.

The designer Bob Crowley is having the backdrops made in the paint room at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the incredible Coney Island roller-coaster and fairground is being built backstage at the Adelphi