Lauren Samuels in Grease TONIGHT
Over The Rainbow finalist Lauren Samuels starts run in Grease
Lauren Samuels as Sandy in Grease
Good luck to Lauren Samuels tonight, who starts her run as Sandy in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in London.
Lauren came third in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s recent BBC One talent search Over The Rainbow to find a Dorothy for his new production of The Wizard of Oz – starting next year at the London Palladium.
She makes her West End debut in Grease tonight, 26 July, alongside Noel Sullivan as Danny and Siubhan Harrison as Rizzo.
A number of Lauren’s fellow Over The Rainbow Dorothys are expected to attend the show.
Grease is now in its third year in the West End and has been seen by over 1 million people. The show is now booking to September 2011.
Lauren takes over from Siobhan Dillon, who was also discovered through an Andrew Lloyd Webber TV talent searched – How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
Other cast in the show include Matthew Goodgame, Lucas Rush, Hayley Gallivan, Benjamin Ibbott, Faye Brookes, Bennett Andrews, Robyn Mellor, Michael Vinsen, Susannah Allman, Kerry Winter, Stephanie Powell and Jason Capewell.
SPECIAL OFFER: Save £21 on tickets to Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in London
LAUREN SAMUELS in Grease
June 29, 2010 by admin
Filed under People To Watch, Star Watch, Star watch - New stars on the rise
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s loss is David Ian’s gain
TV talent shows have not only boosted the fortunes of the music industry. West End theatre has become increasingly reliant on TV talent and casting shows to generate a new generation of recognisable faces to join the casts of long-running shows.
David Ian’s Grease The Musical - which was itself cast through 2007 ITV talent show Grease Is The Word – has seen Ray Quinn (discovered on The X-Factor, winner of Dancing on Ice) play Danny, and has now cast Over The Rainbow runner-up Lauren Samuels in the part of Sandy in the long-running show.
Lauren trained at the Guildford School of Acting where her roles included Esta in Moby Dick! The Musical, Grace in Anyone Can Whistle, Sarah in Bitter Sweet and Frances in The Matchgirls.
Earlier this year she auditioned for Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s BBC One talent search Over The Rainbow to find a Dorothy for his new production of The Wizard of Oz – starting next year at the London Palladium. She rose up through the weeks of auditions and live shows to get to third place in the contest, attracting many millions of followers on the way.
Last year she made her professional stage debut as Wendy in the Christmas production of Peter Pan at the Curve in Leicester.
Lauren will join the cast of Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre from 26 July.
SPECIAL OFFER: Save £21 on tickets to Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in London
Lauren Samuels to star in Grease
June 29, 2010 by admin
Filed under Casting, News, News - Featured
Over The Rainbow finalist Lauren Samuels to play Sandy in Grease
Lauren Samuels to star in Grease
A new leading lady will join the cast of long-running musical Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre from 26 July, as rising young star Lauren Samuels takes the role of Sandy.
Lauren came third in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s recent BBC One talent search Over The Rainbow to find a Dorothy for his new production of The Wizard of Oz – starting next year at the London Palladium.
She will make her West End debut in the show alongside Noel Sullivan as Danny and Siubhan Harrison as Rizzo.
Lauren trained at the Guildford School of Acting and last year made her professional stage debut as Wendy in the Christmas production of Peter Pan at the Curve in Leicester. She said today: “I am so unbelievably excited to be joining the wonderful cast of Grease. It was one of the first musicals I was taken to see as a young child and so to be given the opportunity to recreate the iconic role of Sandy and to make my West End debut in the show, is a dream come true. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!”
The longest ever run of a show at the Piccadilly Theatre in London, Grease is now in its third year and has been seen by over 1 million people.
Other cast in the show include Matthew Goodgame, Lucas Rush, Hayley Gallivan, Benjamin Ibbott, Faye Brookes, Bennett Andrews, Robyn Mellor, Michael Vinsen, Susannah Allman, Kerry Winter, Stephanie Powell and Jason Capewell.
SPECIAL OFFER: Save £21 on tickets to Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in London
Big crowds for West End Live 2010
Over 250,000 people gather in Leicester Square for free West End theatre event.
View VIDEOS of West End Live 2010
West End Live, a free event held in the West End this weekend, showcased the best of London theatre and attracted over a quarter of a million people.
Now in its sixth year and the largest free theatre festival in the world, the event featured the casts of some of London’s biggest shows including Thriller Live, Disney’s The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys.
An array of West End stars performed at the event including Ramin Karimloo (Love Never Dies), Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Patina Miller (Sister Act), Daniel Boys (Wolfboy) and Ryan Molloy (Jersey Boys).
Councillor Robert Davis of Westminster City Council, who organised the event, said: “Without doubt, this has been our biggest and best West End LIVE. We’ve seen spectacular performances from some of the nation’s favourite shows.”
Nica Burns, President of the Society of London Theatre said: “London has the best theatre in the world and West End LIVE is a fantastic opportunity for people to sample some of the West End’s most popular shows for free.” The success of the past weekend suggests that a quarter of a million satisfied theatre fans agree.
View VIDEOS of West End Live 2010
West End Live this weekend
June 17, 2010 by admin
Filed under News, News - Featured
A free event will be held in London this weekend, showcasing the best of West End theatre.
West End Live will feature the casts of some of London’s biggest shows, performing at a free event this weekend in Leicester Square. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June 2010, hundreds of West End performers will gather to showcase the best of London theatre. Careful juggling by the organisers has enabled the casts of over 25 shows to appear live on a stage in Leicester Square in between performing their matinee and evening performances.
Download and print the West End Live timetable of events.
The line-up for the celebration has now been confirmed, with Brazil! Brazil! launching the weekend at 11am on Saturday.
Shows which have agreed to participate in the family event include Thriller Live, Disney’s The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys.
West End stars will be out in force to entertain audiences at the event, including Daniel Boys (Wolfboy), who will be hosting proceedings from 12 noon to 6pm on Sunday 20 June, Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Kerry Ellis (Oliver!), Patina Miller (Sister Act) and Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods).
Saturday’s full line up* is as follows: 11.00am Brazil! Brazil!; 11.15am Dirty Dancing; 11.25am Burn the Floor; 11.35am Wicked; 11.45am We Will Rock You; 12.05pm Billy Elliot; 12.15pm Love Never Dies; 12.30pm Chicago; 12.45pm HAIR; 13.05pm Jersey Boys; 13.25pm Sweet Charity; 13.35pm Grease; 13.50pm Mamma Mia!; 14.00pm Sister Act; 14.10pm Thriller Live; 14.30pm Julie Atherton; 14.40pm Avenue Q; 15.00pm Into the Woods; 15.20pm Fireman Sam; 15.30pm Sylvia Young Theatre School; 15.50pm Burn the Floor; 16:00pm The Big Dance; 16:20pm London Gay Men’s Chorus; 16:35pm Burn The Floor; 16.45pm The Gleeks; 17.10pm Royal Albert Hall; 17.35pm All the Fun of the Fair; 17.45pm STOMP.
On Sunday* there’s more theatrical thrills and spills with: 12.00pm Tap Dogs; 12.15pm Stomp; 12.30pm Thriller Live; 12.55pm Jersey Boys; 13.10pm Priscilla Queen of the Deasert; 13.25pm Legally Blonde; 13.35pm Disney’s The Lion King; 13.50pm Mamma Mia!; 14.00pm West End Kids; 14.15pm Daniel Boys; 14.30pm National Youth Music Theatre; 14.45pm Into the Woods; 15.10pm Mark Jermin Stage School; 15.30pm Fireman Sam; 15.45pm Jack Day; 16.00pm T Mobile Big Dance; 16.20pm West End Gospel Choir; 16.40pm Burn the Floor; 16.50pm SOLT competition; 17.00pm 1916 the Musical; 17.15pm Burn the Floor; 17.25pm Dover Street.
* Timetable and acts subject to change – check West End Live site for details.
To get the party started early, the cast of Wicked will also be performing on Friday 18 June 2010 at Cardinal Place, Victoria between 12.30 and 1pm for a pre West End LIVE performance.
The weekend event will feature exhibits and activities including the London Film Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum, Little Angel Puppet theatre and Forbidden Planet.
Over a quarter of a million people attended last year’s event in Leicester Square. Running in a variety of formats for a number of years, including the Society of London Theatre’s Fair in the Square events in the 1990s, this year’s two-day event is organised by Westminster City Council.
Saturday 19 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 20 June, 12noon to 6pm in Leicester Square.
Download and print the West End Live timetable of events.
LINKS: West End Live website
NOEL SULLIVAN in Grease
May 13, 2010 by admin
Filed under People To Watch, Star Watch, Star watch - New stars on the rise
TV talent show winner Noel Sullivan plays Grease
Noel Sullivan
Actor and former pop star Noel Sullivan is doing rather well out of mega-producer David Ian. Star of Ian’s current production of Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in London – and previously star of David Ian’s UK tour of Flashdance the Musical, he may have risen to fame as a member of Hear’say in ITV1′s Popstars, but Sullivan has quickly forged a successful stage career all of his own.
His credits include Nick Piazza in Fame the Musical, Love Shack, What A Feeling, and Nick Hurley in Flashdance the Musical.
Cardiff-born Noel Sullivan started as a choral singer, touring in the US as a soloist with the Black Mountain Male Chorus of Wales. He is best known for his part in the record-breaking pop band Hear’say, formed through the nationwide TV talent search Popstars. After winning the prime time ITV show, Noel had huge success with Hear’say- the group became overnight celebrities and sold millions of records, performed a 36 date sold-out nationwide arena tour, starred at The Royal Variety Performance, achieved four Top 10 hits, and more (before their split in 2002). Noel has since returned to his first love, the stage and musical theatre, and has appeared in several successful productions including Fame (Edinburgh Playhouse), Love Shack, What A Feeling and Flashdance: The Musical (UK Tours), to acclaim. More recently, he appeared in the brand new show Simply Ballroom (Golden Nugget, Las Vegas) and featured on our screens in the reality show ‘Trust Me I’m a Holiday Rep’ for Channel 5. He also has numerous television and recording credits.
Book tickets to Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in London
Free West End event scheduled
May 13, 2010 by admin
Filed under News, News - Featured
The casts of London’s biggest shows are being allowed out of their theatres again this year to perform at the West End’s annual live event in Leicester Square.
West End Live is a weekend of free entertainment on 19 and 20 June that promises to showcase the best of London’s Theatreland.
Running in a variety of formats for a number of years, including the Society of London Theatre’s Fair in the Square events in the 1990s, this year’s two-day event initiated by Westminster City Council will see 23 shows perform on a stage in Leicester Square.
Shows which have agreed to participate in the family event include Thriller Live, The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing, The Fantasticks and Jersey Boys.
West End stars will be out in force to entertain audiences at the event, including Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Kerry Ellis (Oliver!), Patina Miller (Sister Act) and Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods). More stars are expected to be announced shortly.
Last year’s event attracted around 250,000 people.
Saturday 19 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 20 June, 12noon to 6pm in Leicester Square.
LINKS: West End Live website
Fantastic Fridays Hotel & Theatre Breaks
April 12, 2010 by admin
Filed under Offers, Offers - Featured
Westendtheatre.com presents a brand new promotion offering special deals on West End hotels and theatres when staying on a Friday evening in London.
Our “Fantastic Fridays” promotion runs until the end of October 2010 and offers a Top Price Seat to a hit show and a Friday night stay in a central London 4 Star hotel for only £79* per person.
Shows included in the special theatre and hotel package range from smash-hit musicals such as Wicked, Chicago, Grease, Blood Brothers, Dreamboats and Petticoats and Stomp, to hilarious comedy The 39 Steps and thriller The Woman in Black.
More information and booking > > >
SHOWS INCLUDED IN THE PROMOTION
WICKED
Friday Night 4* Theatre Break OfferMUSICAL: Winner of this years audience award at the Olivier awards, Wicked is one of the biggest and most successful shows in London (Apollo Victoria Theatre)
CHICAGO
Friday Night 4* Theatre Break OfferMUSICAL: The sexy tale of murderous showgirls, featuring hit songs and plenty of razzle dazzle (Cambridge Theatre)
THE 39 STEPS
Friday Night 4* Theatre Break OfferCOMEDY: A fast-paced, high-energy and hilarious adaptation of Hitchcocks classic movie (Criterion Theatre)
BLOOD BROTHERS
Friday Night 4* Theatre Break OfferMUSICAL: Willy Russells award-winning musical about twins separated at birth, currently starring The Spice Girls Melanie C (Phoenix Theatre)
GREASE
Friday Night 4* Theatre Break OfferMUSICAL: Fun and fabulous high school musical now starring Robin Cousins (Piccadilly Theatre)
STOMP
Friday Night 4* Theatre Break OfferENTERTAINMENT: Theatre, dance, comedy and percussion all combine in this infectious and ingenious show (Ambassadors Theatre)
THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Friday Night 4* Theatre Break OfferTHRILLER: Terrifying ghost story now in its 21st year in the West End, starring Orlando Wells (Fortune Theatre).
DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS
Friday Night 4* Theatre Break OfferMUSICAL: A love story set in 1961 against a backdrop of fabulous Sixties songs (Playhouse Theatre)
More information and booking > > >
Terms and conditions of the Hotel and Theatre promotion:
• Exact Shows and hotels offered may be subject to change and vary according to availability
• Package Price based on 2 persons sharing standard Twin / Double room
• Package Valid for Friday Arrivals only between 17/03/2010 – 29/10/2010
Ray Quinn back to Grease
BOOK TICKETS FOR GREASE AND SAVE £21
Former UK talent content finalist Ray Quinn is to rejoin the cast of Grease to play the lead role of Danny Zuko.
Currently a finalist in celebrity ice dance contest Dancing on Ice, Ray Quinn shot to fame in UK talent show the X-Factor.
Playing the lead from 11 May at the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End, Ray said that he was “thrilled to be playing Danny in the West End… I can’t believe my luck, it’s a dream come true!”
Ray Quinn first started professional performing at the age of 12 in soap opera Brookside, going on to win the award for Best Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards 2002.
BOOK TICKETS FOR GREASE AND SAVE £21
Free hotels offer
Free London hotel rooms on offerin major new West End theatre promotion
Thousands of free rooms included in the price of a ticket to 13 major West End shows
Westendtheatre.com has announced a major new promotion offering free hotel rooms in London when buying a theatre ticket.Shows included in the promotion include successful musicals Hairspray, Joseph, Grease, Sunset Boulevard, Chicago, Billy Elliot, Wicked, The Sound of Music and Zorro.
Running until 31st March 2009, the promotion features a range of hotels across London. A 3* hotel is offered free when booking one of the 13 shows available, with also the opportunity to upgrade to a 4* or 5* hotel for a small additional fee. Prices start at only £44.75 per person for a twin room and tickets to a show, based on two people sharing.
