Urinetown Cast Changes

Comedian Phill Jupitus is  joining  the cast of Urinetown The Musical next month taking over the role of Caldwell B Cladwell from Simon Paisley Day from 1st  December to 24th January at the Apollo Theatre. In October 2009, he joined the West End cast of Hairspray, playing the role of Edna Turnblad at the Shaftesbury Theatre. He also joined the 2011 tour of Spamalot, playing the role of King Arthur.

Also joining the cast on 1st  December are Julie Jupp who is taking over from Jenna Russell as Penelope Pennywise, and Alasdair Buchan is  taking over from Marc Elliott as Mr McQueen.

Jupitus told the Evening Standard his break in musical theatre came when top West End casting director David Grindrod watched him on Never Mind the Buzzcocks."I've always quite liked musicals as a punter but I don't think I even thought about being one until David Grindrod got me in to read a part for The Woman in White. I said to him 'why did you call me in?' and he said 'you can hold a tune'. I said 'how do you know?' and he said 'I watch Buzzcocks.'"
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Casting for Urinetown the Musical

Jamie Lloyd's production of the musical Urinetown which played at the St James' Theatre earlier this year is to transfer into the West End Apollo Theatre from Monday 29th September.with Jenna Russell reprising her performance as Ms Pennywise, with a number of the original St James' Theatre cast returning.   Richard Fleeshman will not be there as Bobby Strong due to other commitments but the part will be played by Matthew Seadon Young  and  Simon Paisley Day will play  Caldwell B. Cladwell.

They will be joined by Jonathan Slinger who will again play Officer Lockstock. Marc Elliott, Rosanna Hyland and Karis Jack will also reprise their performances as Mr. McQueen, Hope Cladwell and Little Sally. Further confirmed casting includes Chris Bennett (Swing& Dance Captain), Katie Bernstein (Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs. Millennium), Cory English (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry), Madeleine Harland (Soupy Sue/Cladwell's Secretary), Kane Oliver Parry (Robbie The Stockfish / UGC Executive),

Aaron Lee Lambert (Billy Boy Bill/ UGC Executive), Nathan Amzi (Officer Barrel), Mark Meadows (Senator Fipp), Joel Montague (Swing),  Julie Jupp(Old Woman / Josephine Strong), Jeff Nicholson (Tiny Tom/ Dr. Billeaux) and Alasdair Buchan, Christina Modestou and Vicky Lee Taylor as Swings.

Jenna Russell & Jonathan Slinger but no Richard Fleeshman in Urinetown at Apollo

According to today's  Mail, Jenna Russell will star in the West End transfer of Urinetown, reprising her performance as Ms Pennywise, with a number of the original St James' Theatre cast reportedly returning (including Jonathan Slinger as Officer Lockstock). Unfortunately  Richard Fleeshman will not be there as Bobby Strong explaining on Twitter that he could not commit to the transfer due to other commitments. saying "I wish the show every success and I know it's going to be amazing."

Marc Elliott, Rosanna Hyland and Karis Jack will also reprise their performances as Mr. McQueen, Hope Cladwell and Little Sally. Further confirmed casting includes Chris Bennett (Swing), Katie Bernstein (Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs. Millennium), Cory English (Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry), Madeleine Harland (Soupy Sue), Julie Jupp (Old Woman/ Josephine Strong), Aaron Lee Lambert (Billy Boy Bill/ UGC Executive), Mark Meadows (Senator Fipp), Joel Montague (Swing) and Jeff Nicholson (Tiny Tom/ Dr. Billeaux).

Further casting will be announced shortly, including the roles of Caldwell B. Cladwell and Bobby Strong.

Jamie Lloyd's production transfers to the Apollo Theatre from Monday 29th September 2014. The production is currently booking to  24th January 2015.

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Urinetown into Apollo Theatre

The long awaited transfer of  Urinetown the Musical which played at the St James' Theatre and closed in May of this year has just been announced.

The show is going into the Apollo Theatre from 29th September until 30th August 2015

is timed to end its run on 30 August 2014.

is timed to end its run on 30 August 2014.

is timed to end its run on 30 August 2014.

Marc Elliot joins cast of Urinetown

Marc Elliot (Syed Masood from BBC's EastEnders) has joined the cast of the musical Urinetown, which opens at St James Theatre on 11th March (previews from 22nd February) for a limited run to 3rd May 2014.

He will be playing Mr McQueen, underhand assistant to tycoon Caldwell B Cladwell.

Elliot's stage credits includes work with the RSC and The History Boys and The Lord of the Flies in the West End.

More cast just announced includes Chris Bennett, Alasdair Buchan (The Pride), Karis Jack, Aaron Lee Lambert (Shrek), Jeff Nicholson, Adam Pearce (The Light Princess) and Charlotte Scott (Singin' in the Rain).

Richard Fleeshman to Star in Urinetown

Richard Fleeshman was last seen in the West End starring as the ghostly Sam Wheat in Ghost which he subsequently took to Broadway.  He is now about to return to London in the cult Broadway musical Urinetown which runs at St James' Theatre from February 22nd-3rd May next year.  The show has music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis.

Fleeshman plays downtrodden Bobby Strong who is an assistant toilet attendant in a city that has a terrible drought where tycoon Caldwell B Cladwell has made his fortune through bribery and monopolisation of public toilets. With a brutal police force the corrupt city needs a revolution and every revolution needs a hero ...

Fleeshman's acting career began at the age of 12 when he played Craig Harris for four years in Coronation Street. He appeared in “All The Small Things" opposite Sarah Lancashire and Neil Pearson and was the youngest contestant to win a Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes at the age of 13. He also won Soapstar Superstar in 2006, signed a major record deal with Universal Records in 2007, wrote his debut album and toured with Sir Elton John on his Summer Stadium, Red Piano and European Tours. West End credits include  Legally Blonde  at the Savoy Theatre and Ghost at the Piccadilly.

Other cast members include Jenna Russell/Penelope Pennywise, Cory English/Hot Blades Harry/Old Man Strong , Jonathan Slinger/Officer Lockstock (who narrates the piece) with Matthew Seadon-Young/Robbie The Stockfish/Business Man #1, Madeleine Harland/Soupy Sue/Cladwell's Secretary, Katie Bernstein/Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs Millennium, Rosanna Hyland/Hope Cladwell,  Julie Jupp/Old Woman/Josephine Strong, Mark Meadows/Senator Fipp and swings Joel Montague and Jo Napthine. They will be directed by Jamie Lloyd who has just opened The Commitments at the Palace Theatre.

Listen to the creative team telling you all about the show at the launch of Urinetown here.

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Urinetown Musical to Premiere at St James Theatre

St James Theatre has confirmed it will be hosting the UK premiere of Tony Award-winning musical Urinetown  from 11th March to 3rd  May 2014 (previews from 22 February).

Directed by Jamie Lloyd Urinetown's writers are Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis (who the idea came to as he was backpacking across Europe, ran out of money and was locked out of where he was staying most days. He spent a lot of the time trying to use the bathroom, but everywhere he went he  had to pay for it. So he thought "what if everyone was in the same condition I was, what kind of world would that be?"

Urinetown is set in a Gotham-like city of the future which has been inflicted with a terrible drought and business tycoon Caldwell B Cladwell has made his fortune through bribery and the monopolization of all public toilets. With a brutal police force maintaining law and order, it’s not a place to get caught short! Risk it and you will be sent off to a place no one returns from the infamous Urinetown. The city needs a revolution and every revolution needs a hero to leading the people in an uprising against private toilets.

Casting is still to be announced with Lloyd saying  it will comprise a mix of "established musical theatre stars and newcomers to the genre". He also revealed that he hopes the St James run can provide a "springboard" to a more permanent West End home.

Urinetown is designed by Soutra Gilmour, with choreography by Ann Yee, lighting by Adam Silverman, sound by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster and musical supervision by Alan Williams. It is produced by Julian Stoneman Associates and The Araca Group.

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