When Piers Met Andrew Lloyd Webber: TMI
April 5, 2011
Producers of the Michael Ball Show, Spun Gold Productions, have kept the theatrical theme going by bringing us the forthcoming ALW scoop When Piers Met… Andrew Lloyd Webber (this Sunday 9 April 2011, 9.10pm on ITV1).
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Piers Morgan
We are slightly scared that it’s going to all be TOO MUCH INFORMATION. We love Lord Lloyd-Webber, and we know that he’s had a tough time of late what with Love Never Dies troubles and his battle with prostate cancer, but do we need to know that he is impotent and toyed with using a penis pump? NO WE DON’T!
That said there is much to commend Morgan’s spotlight on Lloyd Webber, asking the billion-dollar question of why he is not a national treasure given his extraordinary track-record in British entertainment and his literal reshaping of world theatre.
Morgan interviews Lloyd Webber along with his wife, daughter, brother, ex-wife Sarah Brightman and friends Graham Norton, Arlene Phillips and Michael Ball, to dig deeper and try to find out why.
It’s hard to see how Andrew Lloyd Webber could be more successful in his field, but a tough year has clearly led to some introspection and a desire to open up. Sounds like it will a fascinating show.
When Piers Met… Andrew Lloyd Webber: Sunday 9 April 2011, 9.10pm on ITV1
West End Eurovision 2011
February 18, 2011
The organisation behind West End Bares brings its West End Eurovision fundraiser back for its fourth year
The Make A Difference Trust, which brings together the British Entertainment industry to raise funds to support people living with HIV and AIDS, is holding its annual West End Eurovision night on Thursday 21 April 2011.
The fun late night fundraiser, which starts at 11.30pm at the Piccadilly Theatre, will see West End Shows competing against each other by singing original Eurovision Song Contest songs.
The theatre audience, and a panel of celebrity judges, will choose the winners. Previous winners of the event have included Wicked in 2008, Mamma Mia! in 2009 and Dirty Dancing in 2010. Last year’s judges were Graham Norton, host of the BBC’s Eurovision coverage, Sally Ann Triplett and Toby Anstis.
The show also features a special guest appearance by a past original Eurovision Song Contest entrant and promises a night of glitz and glamour.
David Pendlebury, Chairman of TheatreMAD, said: “Eurovision is such a camp and fun event, so it’s perfectly suited to a late night West End show and we are grateful to everyone for helping us to make it happen. It has the potential to raise such a lot of money for the projects we support and we are thrilled to present WEST END EUROVISION for the fourth year.”
LINKS
Book tickets to West End Eurovision 2011
Video: Dirty Dancing, 2010 winners
Wizard of Oz West End
May 24, 2010
The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
The show will start performances on 7 February 2011 at the London Palladium (CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS).
Sign up here for news, casting and ticketing information on The Wizard Of Oz.
Lord Webber is producing the show, following his search for a Dorothy in BBC One’s Over The Rainbow.
The first stage version of L Frank Baum’s classic book was in 1902 starring Anna Laughlin. The 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland is the most famous version of the show, and was adapted into a stage musical in 1945 by Frank Gabrielson for the St. Louis Municipal Opera. In 1987 the RSC produced a new stage musical version which was much closer to the film, and starred Imelda Staunton as Dorothy, who was nominated for an Olivier award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical.
Andrew Lloyd Webber will look to add some new songs to the stage show: “The film worked fantastically but we need some new songs for the stage show”, said Lloyd Webber.
BOOK TICKETS TO THE WIZARD OF OZ AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE WIZARD OF OZ:
Advice on staging productions of The Wizard of Oz
About the first (1902) stage play of The Wizard of Oz
History of stage productions of The Wizard of Oz
Wizard of Oz – Stage adaptations
The screenplay of the classic MGM film
Website celebrating The Wizard of Oz – including a FAQs section
Over The Rainbow – Tickets
May 24, 2010
The show will start performances on 29 March 2011 at the London Palladium (CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS). Sister Act is currently playing at the theatre.
Sign up here for further news, casting and ticketing information on The Wizard Of Oz.
Lord Webber has been searching for a lucky newcomer to star in the show in BBC One’s Over The Rainbow, and the winner has now been announced as DANIELLE HOPE, 18 years old from Greater Manchester. She will pop on the ruby slippers and star as Dorothy at the London Palladium for a magical new production of the show.
The first stage version of L Frank Baum’s classic book was in 1902 starring Anna Laughlin. The 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland is the most famous version of the show, and was adapted into a stage musical in 1945 by Frank Gabrielson for the St. Louis Municipal Opera. In 1987 the RSC produced a new stage musical version which was much closer to the film, and starred Imelda Staunton as Dorothy, who was nominated for an Olivier award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical.
Andrew Lloyd Webber will look to add some new songs to the stage show: “The film worked fantastically but we need some new songs for the stage show”, said Lloyd Webber.
BOOK TICKETS TO THE WIZARD OF OZ AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE WIZARD OF OZ:
Advice on staging productions of The Wizard of Oz
About the first (1902) stage play of The Wizard of Oz
History of stage productions of The Wizard of Oz
Wizard of Oz – Stage adaptations
The screenplay of the classic MGM film
Website celebrating The Wizard of Oz – including a FAQs section
The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
May 1, 2010
The show will start performances on 29 March 2011 at the London Palladium (CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS). Sister Act is currently playing at the theatre.
Sign up here for news, casting and ticketing information on The Wizard Of Oz.
Lord Webber has been searching for a lucky newcomer to star in the show in BBC One’s Over The Rainbow, and the winner has now been announced as DANIELLE HOPE, 18 years old from Greater Manchester. She will pop on the ruby slippers and star as Dorothy at the London Palladium for a magical new production of the show.
The first stage version of L Frank Baum’s classic book was in 1902 starring Anna Laughlin. The 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland is the most famous version of the show, and was adapted into a stage musical in 1945 by Frank Gabrielson for the St. Louis Municipal Opera. In 1987 the RSC produced a new stage musical version which was much closer to the film, and starred Imelda Staunton as Dorothy, who was nominated for an Olivier award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical.
Andrew Lloyd Webber will look to add some new songs to the stage show: “The film worked fantastically but we need some new songs for the stage show”, said Lloyd Webber.
BOOK TICKETS TO THE WIZARD OF OZ AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE WIZARD OF OZ:
Advice on staging productions of The Wizard of Oz
About the first (1902) stage play of The Wizard of Oz
History of stage productions of The Wizard of Oz
Wizard of Oz – Stage adaptations
The screenplay of the classic MGM film
Website celebrating The Wizard of Oz – including a FAQs section
Over The Rainbow – Interviews
March 25, 2010
JUDGE: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
Following the success of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, I’d Do Anything and Any Dream Will Do, Andrew Lloyd Webber is back to trawl the length and breadth of the UK for performers with extraordinary talent.
One of the richest men in the UK, the 61-year-old composer has written some of the greatest musicals of all time including The Phantom Of The Opera, Cats, Evita, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard, The Woman In White and Aspects Of Love – and recently launched his new musical Love Never Dies.
What are you looking for in a Dorothy?
“I think this is our toughest challenge yet. Our Dorothy has to be young and rebellious and funny. She has to be a great actress with a great sense of humour and be able to sing brilliantly. She also has to be capable of holding centre-stage – she’s virtually never off-stage during the whole show. And that’s before I even get to the real list of qualities I’m looking for! She doesn’t have to be conventionally beautiful. The main thing she has to do is break your heart. The show is about a bored teenager from Kansas who wants to get away from home, but ends up discovering that home is where the heart is. Our Dorothy has to take us on that journey. It would be fabulous if we found a modern version of Judy Garland.”
Why are these programmes so successful?
“These shows have genuinely struck a chord with people. It really works when TV audiences can identify with the role you’re casting. People also love the fact that they feel part of the process of choosing a performer for something they can actually go and see. People know that the girl who wins Over The Rainbow will be on stage and they’ll be able to see her for the next 18 months, or whatever. Because of that, people invest more and take the voting far more seriously.”
And have they had much impact on the West End?
“There was one moment last year when all five finalists from I’d Do Anything had lead roles in West End musicals. They were in five different shows that I had nothing to do with! That was an extraordinary moment. There has been a complete sea change over the past four years. That struck me with a vengeance when I was at the auditions for Over The Rainbow. When we did How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? four years ago, very few young people aspired to do musical theatre, but now 16-year-old kids are desperate to be in these shows. There are now at least 10,000 kids who aspire to be on the musical theatre stage. They’ve also acquired a lot of great skills. Watching them audition now, that immediately hits one in the gut. The fact is, these programmes have turned a whole generation on to musical theatre. And it’s not just musical theatre that has benefited. The West End overall has had its best ever season three years in a row since we started doing these programmes. I’m on the ground floor, and I’ve seen it happen. It’s a whole new ball game now – and I couldn’t be happier about it!”
Do you get on with Graham Norton?
“Graham and I both want the same thing – which is the best for the artists. He gets even more upset than I do when one has to leave the show. Graham is one of the wittiest people I know, but he’s also prepared to play a lead in a West End show, La Cage Aux Folles. Certain presenters are unlikely to be cast as West End leads. But it shows Graham’s love of performing. He understands things from the performers’ point of view.”
You are a famous cat lover? Are you enjoying searching for a Toto for your new show?
“All these Totos have been thrust in my direction. As a cat man, it’s been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do!”
Finally, this is your fourth show for the BBC. Are you still enjoying the experience?
“I don’t sit there in the TV studio with some grand strategy, I’m there because I love it. I’m delighted to be there because I think we’ve helped make musical theatre cool again.”
PRESENTER: GRAHAM NORTON
46-year old presenter Graham Norton is presiding over the fourth in a successful run of searches for new musical theatre stars – having already presented How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything. He presents a chat show for the BBC and in January last year made his West End debut as Albin in the musical La Cage Aux Folles.
How does this search differ from the others?
“It’s the biggest challenge we’ve ever set the public. Dorothy is such an iconic role, and it’s so difficult to get beyond the associations with Judy Garland – no one has ever come close.”
How do people auditioning compare to previous years?
“The standard is phenomenally high, I’m really impressed by the overall level. Everyone who’s gone through can really sing – it’s quite extraordinary. We’re now down to the last 50, and there is not a single dud among them. No one out of the final 110 was bad – they could all do it. Finding the best 50 was really hard. As we told some of them, ‘I’m afraid you’re not going to Dorothy Farm,’ they would sob. We had to remind them: ‘Look, you’re really good. Thousands of people went for this and you got down to the last 100 or so!’”
We hear a lot of young people have auditioned this year.
“We had a lot of 16-year-olds. I worried beforehand that they might not be able to handle it – I remember what I was like at 16 and I would never have been able to cope at that age. But I needn’t have worried. We had call-backs at the Hackney Empire, which is a massive 2,000-seat theatre. These tiny girls were walking out on stage in this big, gaping cavern and saying, ‘this is my dream,’ before performing brilliantly. They were so self-possessed. They were just 12 when these shows started back in 2006, and now they’re starring in them!”.
Has that changed the tone of this year’s show?
“The vibe on this show has been much nicer. Because a lot of older women auditioned to play Nancy, there was a much stronger whiff of despair on I’d Do Anything. If someone is 40, they may not have many more opportunities left to make it in musical theatre. But if someone is 17, it’s much easier to say goodbye to them because you know they’ll have hundreds more opportunities.”
What kind of Dorothy would you cast?
“The winner will require a great range of characteristics. She will have to be innocent and vulnerable, as well as tough as old boots! If you cast someone who is too much of a little girl, she’ll get lost in Oz. Dorothy is competing in Oz with an awful lot of scenery, as well as men in lion, tin and scarecrow suits. You have to be quite a performer to compete with that!”
And how do you get on with ALW?!
“What I love about him most is that he’s such a relentless enthusiast. He retains such a passion for what he does. Also, he and I tend to have similar opinions about the contestants.”
PANELIST: SHEILA HANCOCK
Sheila Hancock is an award-winning actress and best-selling author, and is currently appearing in big West End musical Sister Act as Mother Superior.
Why did you decide to join the panel for Over The Rainbow?
I thought long and hard about doing this show. Having talked to people involved in previous series, and learning that there is a proper ‘process’ to the show, a proper ‘training’ if you will, and hearing how well the contestants are looked after, coached and advised, it felt like something I’d like to be involved in.
Of course it’s a TV show, and family entertainment, but its roots are in the casting process and an acknowledgment of how hard a career in musical theatre is going to be. It’s also one of the only shows on television that show off live musical theatre and how great it can be.
Are you looking forward to working with Andrew Lloyd Webber?
Of course, in this field he is a world leader, so it’s lovely to be working with him.
What are you looking forward to most about working on the show?
Watching the contestants evolve, being there for them and the possibility that Dorothy and some of the other girls will have successful careers I can follow.
What kind of qualities are you looking for in the contestants?
You have to believe her. That’s it at the end of the day. It’s difficult for someone like me who remembers seeing the film originally to erase the image of Judy Garland so I will be looking for someone who can bring a believable new characterisation to the role. Technically there’s a long list of things she has to be able to do but what I want to see is someone who makes every audience member, night after night, care about Dorothy and her journey.
What is your role on the panel? What kind of panellist are you?
I hope I’ll be fair and honest, and be able to detect potential.
How do you know when you’ve found your ‘Dorothy’ – who is your ideal Dorothy? And Toto?
The thing with Dorothy, and I think one of the essential reasons both the character and film have become so iconic, is that she is a good person. She loves her family, she cares about the people around her, she’s open to the world despite being naive to it and she is almost entirely positive, all wonderful qualities.
To find an actress who can convey that, combined of course with talent that’s required of a huge part like this, is the ultimate aim.
Toto is a sticking point for me, I’m not a great fan of dogs, they tend to bite me! I’ve suggested my cat Stanley does the role, in a dog coat!
You’ve had a hugely successful theatre and musical theatre career. Which was your favourite role to play?
To play Mrs Lovett in one of the best musicals ever written, Sweeny Todd, at Drury Lane was hugely fulfilling but on the whole my favourite roles are the ones I’m currently playing so at the moment it’s the Mother Superior in Sister Act at the London Palladium.
How do you think your experiences of musical theatre will help budding performers on Over The Rainbow?
I always approach musicals as an actor who sings so I hope that I’ll be able to help with really interpreting the lyrics. The other two judges have different experiences so I hope we can all complement each other to guide, support and be honest with the girls.
What character out of the Wizard of Oz would you like to be?
The Wizard-ess of Oz!
PANELIST: CHARLOTTE CHURCH
Charlotte Church is one of the UK’s most successful performers, having achieved national success at only 11 years old. She has gone on to record a number of multi-million selling albums, star in TV and films and present a successful chat show for Channel 4.
Why did you decide to join the panel for Over The Rainbow?
I’m a big fan of the previous shows Andrew has made and a big fan of Andrew’s work in general.
Are you looking forward to working with Andrew Lloyd Webber?
Very much so. He’s an icon of the music business and Pie Jesu, which Andrew wrote, started my career off.
What are you looking forward to most about working on the show?
Getting dressed up each week and hearing some terrific voices.
What kind of qualities are you looking for in the contestants?
A beautiful voice and all the right emotions to suit the part.
What is your role on the panel? What kind of panellist are you?
We will have to see. I’ve never been a judge before.
How do you know when you’ve found your ‘Dorothy’ – who is your ideal Dorothy? And Toto?
In an ideal world, someone who could give Garland a run for her money. Not so sure about who could play Toto.
How does it feel returning to work following a break?
I’m looking forward to it. I’m very lucky in that I can bring the children to work with me.
You’ve had a hugely successful performing career. How do you think your experiences will help budding performers on Over The Rainbow?
Well, I certainly know what pressure and nerves feel like.
What character out of the Wizard Of Oz would you like to be and why?
The Wizard of course! He helps to solve Dorothy’s problems by using common sense.
PANELIST: JOHN PARTRIDGE
John Partridge is an actor who is currently starring as Christian Clarke in BBC One’s EastEnders. He has performed in numerous plays and musicals including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats and Starlight Express and the national tour of Miss Saigon.
Why did you decide to join the panel for Over The Rainbow?
The obvious answer is as a friend of Dorothy I should have some insight, but in reality, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse!
Are you looking forward to working with Andrew Lloyd Webber?
Of course – Andrew is a legend. The ‘Don’ of musical theatre.
What are you looking forward to most about working on the show?
The chance of finding new musical talent.
What kind of qualities are you looking for in the contestants?
I’m looking for a triple threat – someone who can sing, dance and act equally!
What is your role on the panel? What kind of panellist are you?
I will try to be as honest and truthful as I can – sometimes the truth hurts!
You’ve had a successful musical theatre career. What roles have you played, and which was your favourite?
I’ve played many roles over 20 years, and have loved them all for so many different reasons.
How do you think your experiences of musical theatre will help budding performers on Over The Rainbow?
I went into Cats at 16, so I know the pressure that a young performer is under.
What character out of the Wizard Of Oz would you like to be?
I would love to be the King of the Flying Monkeys!
All interviews courtesy of the BBC
Over The Rainbow
March 25, 2010
Welcome to our special westendtheatre.com celebration of all things Over The Rainbow. Over The Rainbow, which finished on 22 May on BBC One, saw 20 contestants battle it out to play the role of Dorothy in a multi-million pound new production of The Wizard of Oz. The lucky winner was Danielle Hope, 18 from Greater Manchester, who won the show in a closely fought final with runner-up Sophie Evans, 17 from Wales.
“Henry! Henry! I can’t find Dorothy! She’s somewhere out in the storm! Dorrrrrrotheeeeeee!”
Andrew Lloyd Webber is bringing the classic musical The Wizard of Oz to the London Palladium in March 2011. The role of Dorothy was made famous by Judy Garland in the hit 1939 MGM film, and has remained a dream role ever since.
The yellow brick road, munchkins, wicked witches and little dogs called Toto are all part of the musical legend of Oz, with the film remaining one of the best-loved movie musicals of all time.
We have followed the ups and downs of the stage-struck girls, as they battled it out to win the part of a lifetime and become the star of a hit West End show (see our Over The Rainbow TV section).
“Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?”
Over The Rainbow, hosted by Graham Norton, started at 9pm on Friday 26 March on BBC One, followed by a live feature-length studio show on Saturday 27 March at 6.30pm.
Following the success of BBC musical talent shows How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything, Over The Rainbow saw Andrew Lloyd Webber search for a new Dorothy to lead the cast in his 2011 revival of The Wizard of Oz. He was joined by a new panel of experts – actress Sheila Hancock, who is currently starring in Sister Act at the London Palladium, singer and TV presenter Charlotte Church and EastEnders actor John Partridge.
“I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!”
Check out the menu above for news and information as the series progresses, including the Over The Rainbow TV show, interviews with the contestants and panelists and information about The Wizard of Oz West End show.
La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre
January 2, 2010
La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre in London
SORRY THIS SHOW HAS NOW CLOSED
Other shows you might enjoy:
Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre – BOOK TICKETS
Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre – BOOK TICKETS
Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre – BOOK TICKETS
Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre – BOOK TICKETS
Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre – BOOK TICKETS
Sister Act at the London Palladium – BOOK TICKETS
The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium – BOOK TICKETS
MORE ABOUT LA CAGE AUX FOLLES IN LONDON
Playhouse Theatre, London
Opened: 30 October 2008
Closed: 2 January 2010
The Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Jerry Herman’s La Cage Aux Folles has garnered multiple Tony award nominations for its Broadway transfer. La Cage Aux Folles premiered at the Chocolate Factory in 2008 before transferring to the Playhouse Theatre in London, and opened at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway to enormous critical acclaim.
The show features original London star Douglas Hodge and US actor Kelsey Grammer, both of whom have been nominated in the best actor in a musical category. In total the show has picked up 11 nominations, including best revival of a musical, scenic design (Tim Shortall), costume design (Matthew Wright), lighting design (Nick Richings), sound design (Jonathan Deans), direction (Terry Johnson), choreography (Lynne Page), orchestrations (Jason Carr) and best supporting actor (Robin De Jesus).
Other actors who played the part of Albin in London, currently starring Douglas Hodge, include TV stars Graham Norton and John Barrowman.
London Theatre – 2009 Preview
December 30, 2008
If theatre mirrors life then you would expect 2009 to be a bad year for the performing arts in London: economic downturns and credit crunches sound like gloomy news for our discretionary entertainment spending. But West End theatre box office figures have kept on going up in recent years, and the huge number of new productions sailing into town during 2009 could mean that Theatreland manages to buck the trend.
THE GREAT REVIVAL
The RSC, National Theatre, Donmar and Old Vic dominated straight drama in the West End in 2008, and they haven’t finished yet. Big hitters coming to town include Judi Dench and Rosamund Pike in the Donmar in the West End’s Madame de Sade at the Wyndhams; Jude Law offering us his, hopefully fighting fit, Hamlet; Gillian Anderson in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Rachel Weisz in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse; Helen Mirren making her return to the London stage in Phaedra at the National Theatre; and a number of crowd-pleasing revivals at the Old Vic, no more so than Dancing at Lughnasa, Brian Friel’s hugely successful play starring Andrea Corr, and Sam Mendes directing Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard and Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale, both featuring Ethan Hawke, Simon Russell Beale and Sinead Cusack.
STAR POWER
Other stars shimmying into town include Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot at the Haymarket, Ken Stott and Hayley Atwell in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge at the Duke of York’s, heavy-hitter Pete Postlethwaite as King Lear at the Young Vic, and Antony Sher giving us his Prospero in the RSC’s The Tempest. The Gavin and Stacey phenomenon continues to roll on, as we see Joe Orton’s delicious romp Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Trafalgar Studios starring Gavin himself, Matthew Horne, alongside Imelda Staunton; whilst Gavin’s onscreen Mum Alison Steadman plays a barking Leeds housewife in Alan Bennett’s Enjoy at the Gielgud Theatre.
NEW PLAYS
The sharp eyed amongst you will notice that all of these plays are revivals rather than new work, keeping audiences firmly in their comfort zones. That said, new plays may be thin on the ground but not absent all together, with the National offering up Richard Bean’s England People Very Nice, following two lovers across four centuries, and Samuel Adamson’s Mrs Affleck set in the 1950s. Jez Butterworth has two new plays in pre-production, with comedy Parlour Song at the Almeida and Jerusalem at the Royal Court. Also at the Royal Court, Mark Ravenhill will bring his new play Over There. Plus Hollywood man of the moment James McAvoy is to star in Richard Greenberg’s acclaimed play Three Days of Rain at the Apollo, and at The Old Vic Richard Dreyfuss headlines the world premiere of American playwright Joe Sutton’s new play Complicit, directed by Kevin Spacey.
“BASED ON A FILM”
In musical theatre, 2009 promises to be a year of great big fabulous and familiar shows, surely enough to see us through the dark times? And it’s no coincidence that many of them are based on hugely successful films.
Oliver! will be well and truly steaming ahead through 2009 at the Drury Lane Theatre Royal with Rowan Atkinson and Jodie Prenger; La Cage Aux Folles will continue camping it up at the Playhouse but with Graham Norton taking over from Douglas Hodge; and at the Adelphi Theatre Lee Mead will bow out of Joseph to be replaced by Gareth Gates.
Jason Donovan will be donning the wigs and lip gloss to take us on an Australian power-mince in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre. And Sister Act at the London Palladium will be doing its best to recreate the fun of the film, helped along by Whoopi Goldberg as co-producer. And not quite a musical but as good as, Calendar Girls the stage play will up the naked flesh quotient in the West End, starring Patricia Hodge and Lynda Bellingham at the Noel Coward Theatre.
Also in musicals-land the power of reality TV continues to wield its power, with Gareth Gates going into Joseph at the Adelphi Theatre, the X-factor’s Niki Evans continuing in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix, Jodie Prenger in Oliver at the Drury Lane, and Ray Quinn and Danny Bayne in Grease – joined for a limited time by the legendary Jimmy Osmond.
KIDS RULE
Kids should also see a good year in 2009 with an enormous live theatrical production of Walking with Dinosaurs coming to a stadium near you, and War Horse transfers from its successful run at the National Theatre to the New London Theatre.
