Ugly Betty's America Ferrera to star in Chicago

Chicago The Musical returns to the West End with a bang this Autumn as the star of international hit TV show Ugly Betty makes her West End theatre debut.

From 7 November for eight weeks only, America Ferrera will perform as  Roxie Hart in the show, alongside current star of the Broadway production of Chicago, Amra-Faye Wright, asVelma Kelly.

Chicago’s return to London will herald its record-breaking 15th year in the UK. The show is already the most successful Broadway export ever and notched up the accolade as the West End’s longest running revival ever when it played at the Cambridge Theatre until earlier this year.

America Ferrera is one of the most well known TV actresses in the world and has won Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for her role as Betty in the hit ABC show.

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SPECIAL OFFER: Save on tickets to Chicago at the Garrick Theatre in London

“CHICAGO” TURNS 14 ON 18 NOVEMBER

Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner America Ferrera, known across the world as Ugly Betty from the hit TV series of the same name, swaps her trademark braces for fishnets from 7 November for eight weeks only, when she makes her British stage debut as the alluring publicity-seeker Roxie Hart in the smash hit musical CHICAGO.

Ferrera, who in 2007, was named by Time Magazine as one of “The Most influential People in the World”, makes her West End debut in CHICAGO at its new West End home, the Garrick Theatre. Ferrera will help usher in the show’s record-breaking 15th year in London when it celebrates its birthday
on 18 November.

Now the most successful Broadway export ever, CHICAGO had its final performance at the Cambridge Theatre on 27 August, establishing the record for the longest running American musical. During its 5-year run there, the multi award-winning musical played to over 2 million people, notched up numerous records and became in the process the West End’s longest running revival ever.

Opening at the Garrick Theatre alongside Ferrera, as fellow murderess Velma Kelly, is Amra-Faye Wright, currently starring in the Broadway production.

CHICAGO originally opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’ as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for ‘Best Musical’. CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie. The West End production of CHICAGO is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team. CHICAGO is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.

Further casting for the production at the Garrick Theatre will be announced shortly.

Release issued by Amanda Malpass PR

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Book tickets to Chicago at the Garrick Theatre in London

Last week, CHICAGO took the crown of the world’s longest running American musical from “A Chorus Line”, which had held the record for the past 21 years. Now, the show’s producers, Barry and Fran Weissler, are delighted to announce that CHICAGO has a new home in London. On Monday 7 November, the award-winning musical will open at the Garrick Theatre. Barry Weissler said of the show’s ongoing success and new London home, “Last week, and in spite of nature’s attempts to spoil the party, we were delighted to see CHICAGO become the longest running American musical of all time, finally beating A Chorus Line’s record set way back in 1990. And this week it brings me huge pleasure and personal pride to be able to announce that London’s longest running revival will, thanks to Nica Burns and Nimax Theatres, return to the West End at the Garrick Theatre.” The box office for the Garrick Theatre is now open.

CHICAGO closed at the Cambridge Theatre on 27 August. During its 5-year run there, CHICAGO played to over 2 million people and became the longest running revival ever. The show opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’ as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for ‘Best Musical’. CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie. The West End production of CHICAGO is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team.
Casting for the production at the Garrick Theatre will be announced shortly.

Release issued by: Amanda Malpass PR

LINKS

Book tickets to CHICAGO THE MUSICAL at the Garrick Theatre in London

Dan and Jeff in Potted Panto

Potted Panto features eight classic pantomimes in just eighty minutes, in a dash through the biggest stories and best-loved characters from panto. The kid-friendly double act career through Cinderella in 3D, do Dick Whittington featuring Jeff as the Mayor of London: blond, posh and receiving just the treatment he deserves (with a large mallet and a custard pie), and give panto favourite Aladdin a whole new twist!

The show will run at the Vaudeville Theatre in London from Sunday 18 December 2011 to Sunday 8 January 2012. The show is written by Daniel Clarkson, Jefferson Turner and Richard Hurst and directed by Richard Hurst.

This year the show will also feature an eighth pantomime which will be decided by public vote from a shortlist drawn up by Dan and Jeff.

The boys are also coming to the West End this Summer, bringing their hit Edinburgh Festival show Potted Potter to the Garrick Theatre from 18 August 2011.

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Book tickets to Potted Potter at the Garrick Theatre in London

Vaudeville Theatre, London – Sunday 18 December 2011 to Sunday 8 January 2012
PRESS PERFORMANCE: Tuesday 20 December at 3.30 pm

CBBC’s Dan and Jeff return for a second festive season of Potted Panto, following a Best Entertainment nomination in the Olivier Awards and a West End run of their original show Potted Potter. For Christmas 2011, Potted Panto features eight classic pantomimes in just eighty minutes. That’s one whole panto more than last year, with tickets frozen at 2010 prices.

Like a fine Christmas gravy, Dan and Jeff have seasoned, simmered and reduced the best ingredients of the nation’s favourite festive shows into one neatly gift-wrapped package. In a dash through the biggest stories and best-loved characters from panto, our dastardly double act career through Cinderella in 3D including a cameo from the first ever Fairy-Godchicken to grace a West End stage. They dazzle with a Dick Whittington featuring Jeff as the Mayor of London: blond, posh and receiving just the treatment he deserves (with a large mallet and a custard pie).

An astonishing new take on Jeff’s favourite panto Aladdin gives the story a whole new twist, and Daisy the Cow from Jack and The Beanstalk gives a heart-rending turn as she’s led to market. Not to mention the full-scale versions of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty which see Dan and Jeff trying to work out not only how two people can play seven dwarves, but also which of them will make the prettiest princess. From conventions and costume to heroes and villains, the dastardly double act explore all the elements of the art form we both love and loathe as a nation.

This year the show will also feature an eighth pantomime which will be decided by public vote from a shortlist drawn up by Dan and Jeff. More news on this is coming soon.

Potted Panto premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in summer 2010, proving Christmas could come soon enough with the sell-out crowds and wide-spread acclaim. It played Christmas at the Vaudeville last year and toured nationally. Now best-known as CBBC presenters, Dan and Jeff have been bringing the best in family entertainment to London, the nation and Edinburgh Fringe since 2006 – enjoying seven sell-out runs across five Edinburgh seasons. Their first show Potted Potter saw them win widespread acclaim and a fan base that crossed three generations. It played four sell-out Fringe seasons, three sell-out London seasons and extensive national and international touring. It transfers from Pleasance Grand in Edinburgh to the Garrick Theatre in London on 18 August. In 2008 they premiered their second show, Potted Pirates, which followed a similar stellar path and still tours. The pair have also made storytelling appearances on Blue Peter and Big Brother’s Little Brother.

Here’s what the press thought of the show:
The hordes of children fall around with delight at the mixture of sarcasm and slapstick. The Times
A hoot of a show… Huge fun for five years and upwards. Evening Standard
Potted Panto is zany, naughty and deliciously festive fun for all ages…
If all pantomime was this enjoyable, they’d have a convert here. Whatsonstage ****
For a glorious dose of silliness, you can always rely on CBBC’s Dan and Jeff. The Guardian

Director and co-writer Richard Hurst directed Potted Potter and joined the writing team for Potted Pirates in 2008. His other work as a writer and director includes Bill Hicks: Slight Return and Jan Ravens: A Funny Look At Impressions. Other recent work as a writer for TV includes Secret Diary Of A Call Girl (ITV2, Showtime); and, as a co-writer, Miranda (BBC2).

Join Dan and Jeff for a spectacular, silly and splendid celebration of a truly great British theatre tradition and enjoy eight shows for the price of one this Christmas!

Release issued by: Kate Gambrell

LINKS

Book tickets to Potted Potter at the Garrick Theatre in London

Respect La Diva

Valid 7 – 24 September 2011

From the creator Thriller Live comes this uplifting new musical tribute to divas such as Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Shirley Bassey, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé and more. An all-star cast includes Sheila Ferguson (The Three Degrees), Denise Pearson (Five Star), Katy Setterfield (The One & Only) and Zoe Birkett (Pop Idol), all hosted by X-Factor finalist Andy Abrahams.

Respect La Diva is an entertaining and uplifting musical celebration paying tribute to some of the greatest female singers of all-time.

This 2-hour celebration stars a cast of major UK acts, west end singers, dancers and a live band whom pay homage to the wonderful talents of Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Etta James, Shirley Bassey, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Dusty Springfield and many more great Divas along the way.

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £13.50 on tickets to see Respect La Diva at the Garrick Theatre

Valid 7 – 24 September 2011