More presenters announced for Olivier Awards

The Society of London Theatre has released more details of the presenters at this year’s revamped Olivier Awards, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 13 March 2011.

Showbiz stars who will be presenting awards include:

• Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, current stars on Frankenstein
• Anne-Marie Duff, star of the Old Vic’s Cause Celebre
• Elisabeth Moss (Peggy from Mad Men), currently appearing in The Children’s Hour at the Comedy Theatre
• Actor Rupert Everett
• The League of Gentlemen and the National’s Season’s Greetings star Mark Gatiss
• Amanda Holden from Shrek The Musical
• Elaine Paige
• Tamara Rojo, Royal Ballet star
• Star of The Wizard of Oz, Danielle Hope
• Wicked’s Rachel Tucker
• Actor Patrick Stewart

They will join already announced stars that include Lost star Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams, the star of In A Forest, Dark and Deep at the Vaudeville Theatre, and Alfie Boe, opera and musicals leading man, who will play Jean Valjean in the West End production of Les Miserables this summer.

Also the first musical number presenters have been confirmed as legendary singer / songwriter Barry Manilow, who will be performing a number alongside West End star Kerry Ellis (Wicked, Oliver!).

Shrek The Musical announces full cast

Shrek The Musical, which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 6 May 2011, has announced the full cast of the show.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden will star as Princess Fiona, with stage actor Nigel Lindsay (Four Lions) as Shrek, comedian Richard Blackwood as Donkey and TV actor Nigel Harman (EastEnders) as Lord Farquaad.

Produced by DreamWorks Theatricals and Sam Mendes’ Neal Street Productions, the show will begin previews at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 6 May 2011, with its opening night on 7 June.

Other members of the cast will include Delroy Atkinson, Amy Beadel, Stephanie Bron, Dean Chisnall, Jon-Scott Clark, Ste Clough, Lee William-Davis, Ross Dawes, Lucie Downer, Alice Fearn, Michelle Francis, Ashley E Hale, Rosanna Hyland, Bradley Jaden, Aaron Lee Lambert, Emma Lindars, Grant Murphy, Spencer O’Brien, Landi Oshinowo, Damien Poole, Stuart Matthew Price, Jacqui Sanchez, Jonathan Stewart, Leigh-Anne Stone, Lucy Tapp, Karli Vale and Michael Watson.

The London stage musical is based on the irreverent fairy tale from William Steig’s book Shrek and the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animation film, and tells the story of the swamp-dwelling ogre who embarks on a life-changing adventure in order to reclaim the deed to his land.

The creative team behind the show includes directors Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Rob Ashford (Promises, Promises), with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Olivier Award winner Jeanine Tesori, scenic, costume and puppet design by Tim Hatley, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Peter Hylenski and choreography by Josh Prince.

Book tickets to Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Shrek The Musical – Full Casting Announcement

NIGEL LINDSAY, RICHARD BLACKWOOD, NIGEL HARMAN AND AMANDA HOLDEN ARE JOINED BY A COMPANY OF 33

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions are delighted to announce full casting for the West End production of SHREK THE MUSICAL®.

Opening at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on May 6, 2011, SHREK THE MUSICAL® will star Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Richard Blackwood as Donkey, Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad and Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona. The company will also include: Delroy Atkinson, Amy Beadel, Stephanie Bron, Dean Chisnall, Jon-Scott Clark, Ste Clough, Lee William-Davis, Ross Dawes, Lucie Downer, Alice Fearn, Michelle Francis, Ashley E Hale, Rosanna Hyland, Bradley Jaden, Aaron Lee Lambert, Emma Lindars, Grant Murphy, Spencer O’Brien, Landi Oshinowo, Damien Poole, Stuart Matthew Price, Jacqui Sanchez, Jonathan Stewart, Leigh-Anne Stone, Lucy Tapp, Karli Vale and Michael Watson.

The roles of Young Shrek and Young Fiona will be shared by actors Samantha Allison, Chorlène Biron-Monnier, Lauren Dawes, Madeleine Hill, Emilia Jones and Sophie Wythe.

Produced by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, SHREK THE MUSICAL® is based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek! and the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks Animation feature film Shrek, the first chapter in the series of irreverent fairy tales.

Tickets for the new stage musical are now on sale for performances until February 19, 2012.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® tells the story of the swamp-dwelling ogre who embarks on a life-changing adventure in order to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey who won’t shut up, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues the feisty Princess Fiona and learns that real friendship and true love aren’t only found in fairy tales. With all-new songs, and an old favourite in I’m a Believer, this spectacular stage musical brings to life the original film’s cast of dysfunctional characters and the accompanying subversive fun.

The Anglo-American creative team is led by directors Jason Moore and Rob Ashford and includes David Lindsay-Abaire (Book and Lyrics), Jeanine Tesori (Music), Tim Hatley (Scenic, Costume and Puppet Design), Hugh Vanstone (Lighting Design), Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), and Josh Prince (Choreography).

SHREK THE MUSICAL® played on Broadway from December 2008 to January 2010 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards®, winning Tim Hatley the Tony for Best Costume Design of a Musical. A production opened in Chicago on July 25, 2010 and is touring 60 cities in the United States.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:
SHREK THE MUSICAL®
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5JF
May 6, 2011 – February 19, 2012
Press Night: June 14, 2011
Box Office: 0844 871 8810
To Book online visit: www.shrekthemusical.co.uk
Performance Times:
Monday, Wednesday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday 3pm
Sunday 3pm

Ticket Prices:
Stalls £65, £55, £25
Grand Circle £65
Upper Circle £55, £45, £20
Balcony £25, £20

Reduced price preview tickets available.

Owing to her commitment to ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent Amanda Holden will not appear in performances between Monday 30 May and Sunday 5 June inclusive.

Group Rates:
6+ Group Rate £45 (excludes Saturday Performances)
12+ Group Rate £39.50 (excludes Saturday Performances)
Group Bookings: 0844 412 4650
Education Rates:
12+ School Group Rate £22.50 & Free Teacher Place (valid Monday- Thursday)
Education Bookings: 0844 412 4649
Press night is on June 14, 2011.

Release issued by: The Corner Shop

LINKS

Book tickets to Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Shrek The Musical tickets at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane starring Kimberley Walsh

Everyone’s favourite ogre is brought to life when Shrek The Musical®, based on the Oscar-winning film, hits the London stage starring Kimberley Walsh, Richard Blackwood, Nigel Lindsay and Nigel Harman.

Produced by DreamWorks Theatricals and Sam Mendes’ Neal Street Productions, the show will open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in May 2011, with its opening night on 7 June.

An all-star cast includes Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh as Princess Fiona, Richard Blackwood as the Donkey and Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad.

Shrek The Musical is part romance, part twisted fairy tale and all irreverent fun for everyone! In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre — not a handsome prince — shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a bad guy with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand…and his name is Shrek.

Shrek The Musical originally opened on Broadway in December 2008 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards. Now a brand new production is coming to London full of all-new songs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery.

The London stage musical is based on the irreverent fairy tale from William Steig’s book Shrek and the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animation film. The creative team includes directors Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Rob Ashford (Promises, Promises), with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Olivier Award winner Jeanine Tesori, scenic, costume and puppet design by Tim Hatley, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Peter Hylenski and choreography by Josh Prince.

The musical will be produced in London by DreamWorks Theatricals’ Bill Damaschke and Mendes’ Neal Street Productions under Caro Newling.

Book tickets to Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

NIGEL HARMAN in Shrek The Musical

EastEnders hunk Nigel Harman joins Shrek

2011 is going to be a big year for big musicals, with The Wizard of Oz opening in March, and the UK premiere of Shrek The Musical making its way to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in May.

Lucky then for Nigel Harman, who has been cast as Lord Farquaad in the mega-musical that is sure to be a huge hit with West End audiences.

Best known for playing heart-throb Dennis Rickman in BBC1’s EastEnders, Nigel has also worked extensively in theatre, with roles including Three Days of Rain at the Apollo, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre and on tour, True West at the Sheffield Crucible and Privates on Parade at the Donmar Warehouse.

In addition to EastEnders, TV and film roles include BBC1’s Hotel Babylon and Blood Diamond.

In Shrek The Musical he will be joined by Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona and Richard Blackwood as the Donkey.

The forthcoming DreamWorks production of Shrek The Musical®, based on the Oscar-winning film, opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London on 7 June 2011.

Book tickets to SHREK THE MUSICAL at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

AMANDA HOLDEN in Shrek The Musical

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden gets regal in Shrek

Amanda Holden, the TV and stage actress and judge on ITV’s variety show Britain’s Got Talent, will star in the forthcoming DreamWorks production of Shrek The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning film.

Playing Princess Fiona, the down-to-earth and independent heroine of the show, Shrek The Musical opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London on 7 June 2011, with previews from May 2011.

Holden has a theatrical background, having trained at Mountview Theatre School and appeared in stage roles including Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Mille at the Shaftsbury Theatre and Liesl Von Trapp in a touring production of The Sound of Music. Her numerous TV credits include Suspicious Circumstances opposite Edward Woodward, Eastenders, Mel in Kiss Me Kate, The Grimleys, Wild At Heart, Cutting It  and Big Top.

In Shrek The Musical, Amanda will be joined by Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Richard Blackwood as the Donkey and Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad.

Book tickets to SHREK THE MUSICAL at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Nigels Lindsay and Harman join Shrek

Producers of the big-budget new production of Shrek The Musical, which is in pre-production for its West End launch in June 2011, have announced two further additions to the cast.

Nigel Lindsay will play the title role of Shrek in the much-anticipated West End stage production of the hit DreamWorks movie. Lindsay’s credits include movie Four Lions , the original National Theatre production of Dealer’s Choice and Nathan Detroit in Michael Grandage’s 1995 production of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Another Nigel, TV and stage star Nigel Harman, has been cast as Lord Farquaad. Best known for playing Dennis in EastEnders, his numerous stage credits include Sky Masterson alongside Nigel Lindsay in Guys and Dolls, Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker, Three Days of Rain at the Apollo Theatre and True West at the Sheffield Crucible.

They will join Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona and Richard Blackwood as the Donkey.

The forthcoming DreamWorks production of Shrek The Musical®, based on the Oscar-winning film, opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London on 7 June 2011.

Shrek The Musical originally opened on Broadway in December 2008 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards. It closed in January this year after a relatively short run, although is now on a major tour of the USA. A number of changes have been made to the touring – and forthcoming London version – of the show, including a new opening, new songs, improved magic and illusions, a newly styled dragon and more emphasis on giving the show “heart”.

The London stage musical is based on the irreverent fairy tale from William Steig’s book Shrek and the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film. The creative team includes directors Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Rob Ashford (Promises, Promises), with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Olivier Award winner Jeanine Tesori, scenic, costume and puppet design by Tim Hatley, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Peter Hylenski and choreography by Josh Prince.

The show is the first stage venture for DreamWorks Animation’s theatrical arm and was originally initiated as a project by award-winning director Sam Mendes. The musical will be produced in London by DreamWorks Theatricals’ Bill Damaschke and Mendes’ Neal Street Productions under Caro Newling.

Drury Lane is currently home to Oliver!, which will close at the theatre on 8 January 2011.

Book tickets to SHREK THE MUSICAL at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Amanda Holden to star in Shrek

Britain’s Got Talent judge to star as Princess Fiona in new stage adaptation of Shrek

Amanda Holden, the TV and stage actress and judge on ITV’s variety show Britain’s Got Talent, has secured a lead role in the forthcoming DreamWorks production of Shrek The Musical®, based on the Oscar-winning film.

Playing Princess Fiona, the down-to-earth and independent heroine of the show, Shrek The Musical opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London on 7 June 2011.

Holden has a theatrical background, having trained at Mountview Theatre School and appeared in stage roles including Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Mille at the Shaftsbury Theatre and Liesl Von Trapp in a touring production of The Sound of Music. Her numerous TV credits include Suspicious Circumstances opposite Edward Woodward, Eastenders, Mel in Kiss Me Kate, The Grimleys, Wild At Heart, Cutting It  and Big Top.

Shrek The Musical originally opened on Broadway in December 2008 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards. It closed in January this year after a relatively short run, although is now on a major tour of the USA. A number of changes have been made to the touring – and forthcoming London version – of the show, including a new opening, new songs, improved magic and illusions, a newly styled dragon and more emphasis on giving the show “heart”.

This has been confirmed by reviews of the US touring show, which opened this month at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago starring Eric Petersen. The Chicago Tribune’s Chris Jones said that the show had, “finally discovered a human scale. Or, to put it another way, “Shrek the Musical” has belatedly found more of a heart”.

Other casting confirmed for the London production includes Richard Blackwood, who will play the Donkey. Blackwood is a comedian, singer and TV and radio presenter and is also step-brother to model Naomi Campbell. Recent stage appearances include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre alongside James Earl Jones and Adrian Lester.

The London stage musical is based on the irreverent fairy tale from William Steig’s book Shrek and the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animation film. The creative team includes directors Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Rob Ashford (Promises, Promises), with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Olivier Award winner Jeanine Tesori, scenic, costume and puppet design by Tim Hatley, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Peter Hylenski and choreography by Josh Prince.

The show is the first stage venture for DreamWorks Animation’s theatrical arm and was originally initiated as a project by award-winning director Sam Mendes. The musical will be produced in London by DreamWorks Theatricals’ Bill Damaschke and Mendes’ Neal Street Productions under Caro Newling.

Neal Street Productions is also behind a number of high-profile new London theatre projects including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Official casting information will be released soon. Drury Lane is currently home to Oliver!, which will close at the theatre on 8 January 2011.

Book tickets to SHREK THE MUSICAL at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Shrek The Musical – London

COMING SOON

Everyone’s favourite ogre will be brought to life next year when SHREK THE MUSICAL®, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, hits the London stage.

Produced by DreamWorks Theatricals and Sam Mendes’ Neal Street Productions, the show will open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in May 2011, with its opening night on 7 June.

An all-star cast includes Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona, Richard Blackwood as the Donkey and Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad.

Shrek The Musical is part romance, part twisted fairy tale and all irreverent fun for everyone! In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre — not a handsome prince — shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a bad guy with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand…and his name is Shrek.

Shrek The Musical originally opened on Broadway in December 2008 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards. Now a brand new production is coming to London full of all-new songs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery.

The London stage musical is based on the irreverent fairy tale from William Steig’s book Shrek and the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animation film. The creative team includes directors Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Rob Ashford (Promises, Promises), with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Olivier Award winner Jeanine Tesori, scenic, costume and puppet design by Tim Hatley, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Peter Hylenski and choreography by Josh Prince.

The musical will be produced in London by DreamWorks Theatricals’ Bill Damaschke and Mendes’ Neal Street Productions under Caro Newling.

Book tickets to Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

SHOW INFO

OLIVIER AWARDS – Best Opera Winners

OLIVIER AWARDS – Best Opera Winners

Best New Opera Production

2012 English National Opera’s Castor And Pollux at the London Coliseum
2011 OperaUpClose and Soho Theatre’s La Boheme at the Soho Theatre
2010 The Royal Opera’s Tristan und Isolde
2009 English National Opera’s Partenope
2008 Pelleas Et Melisande
2007 English National Opera’s Jenufa
2006 English National Opera’s Madam Butterfly
2005 The Royal Opera’s Lady Macbeth Of Mtsensk
2004 English National Opera’s The Trojans (Parts I and II)
2003 The Royal Opera’s Wozzeck
2002 The Royal Opera’s Boulevard Solitude
2001 The Royal Opera’s The Greek Passion
2000 Welsh National Opera’s Hansel And Gretel
1999 Welsh National Opera’s La Clemenza Di Tito
1998 The Royal Opera’s Paul Bunyan
1997 English National Opera’s Tristan And Isolde
1996 The Royal Opera’s Billy Budd
1995 English National Opera’s Khovanshchina
1994 The Royal Opera’s La Damnation De Faust
1993 The Royal Opera’s Stiffelio

Outstanding Achievement in Opera

2012 ENO for the breadth and diversity of its artistic programme
2011 Christian Gerhaher for his performance in the Royal Opera’s Tannhauser at the Royal Opera House
2010 Nina Stemme for her performance in the Royal Opera’s Tristan und Isolde
2009 Edward Gardner for conducting English National Opera’s Boris Godunov, Cavalliera Rusticana, Der Rosenkavalier, I Pagliacci, Riders To The Sea, and Punch And Judy At The Young Vic
2008 Natalie Dessay for her performance in La Fille Du Regiment
2007 Amanda Roocroft for her performance in English National Opera’s Jenufa
2006 Simon Keenlyside for his performances in the Royal Opera’s 1984 at the Royal Opera House and English National Opera’s Billy Budd
2005 Thomas Adès and the Royal Opera House for the world premiere of The Tempest
2004 Cristina Gallardo-Domas for The Royal Opera’s Madama Butterfly
2003 Antonio Pappano for a distinguished opening to his tenure as Music Director of The Royal Opera with Ariadne Auf Naxos and Wozzeck
2002 Bernard Haitink for his contribution to The Royal Opera’s Jenufa and The Queen of Spades and the musical directorship of a season of great distinction by the Royal Opera
2001 Mark-Anthony Turnage (composer) and Amanda Holden (librettist) for creating English National Opera’s The Silver Tassie
2000 English National Opera for its high standard of production and for championing the works of Handel
1999 The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House for its consistently outstanding musicianship in The Royal Opera’s Le Nozze Di Figaro, The Bartered Bride and The Golden Cockerel
1998 Paul Daniel for conducting English National Opera’s From The House Of The Dead and for his contribution to English National Opera
1997 Elgar Howarth for conducting English National Opera’s Die Soldaten and The Prince of Homburg
1996 Bernard Haitink for conducting The Royal Opera’s Siegfried and Gotterdämmerung
1995 Roberto Alagna for his performance in The Royal Opera’s Roméo Et Juliette
1994 The Orchestra of English National Opera for Lohengrin and Inquest Of Love
1993 Sir Edward Downes for conducting The Royal Opera’s The Fiery Angel and Stiffelio
1992 The Royal Opera’s Mitridate, Rè Di Ponto
1991 Mark Elder for conducting English National Opera’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, Macbeth, Pelléas Et Méllisande, and Wozzeck
1989/90 The Komische Oper’s Orpheus and Eurydice
1988 Leontina Vaduva for her performance in The Royal Opera’s Manon
1987 English National Opera’s Lady Macbeth Of Mtsensk
1986 English National Opera’s Doctor Faust, Graham Clark and Thomas Allen specially commended
1982 English National Opera’s Rigoletto
1981 The Royal Opera’s Les Contes D’Hoffman
1980 English National Opera’s Così Fan Tutte
1979 The Royal Opera’s The Rake’s Progress
1978 English National Opera for their enterprising repertoire
1977 Glyndebourne Festival Opera’s Don Giovanni

Additional Opera Awards

1985 Kathleen Battle for Ariadne Auf Naxos (The Royal Opera)
1985 English National Opera’s Xerxes
1984 Welsh National Opera’s From The House Of The Dead
1984 Philip Langridge for Osud (English National Opera)
1983 The Cologne Opera’s Il Matrimonio Segreto
1983 Valerie Masterson for Semele (The Royal Opera)
1982 Jeffrey Tate for La Clemenza Di Tito (The Royal Opera)
1981 Anne Mackay for The Gypsy Princess (Sadler’s Wells Theatre production)
1980 Rosalind Plowright for The Turn Of The Screw (English National Opera)
1978 The Royal Opera’s Lohengrin

« Previous Page