In the West End This Week: Wicked, Oliviers
February 7, 2011
What’s coming up in the West End this week, including The Wizard of Oz, Wicked, Shoes, the Olivier Awards and The Children’s Hour.
Monday 7 February 2011
Mark Evans in Wicked
A new cast joins Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Lee Mead said farewell to the company on Saturday night, and a number of new cast members join the show tonight including Mark Evans as Fiyero, Zoë Rainey as Nessarose and Ben Stott as Boq, alongside current stars Rachel Tucker as Elphaba and Louise Dearman as Glinda.
The Olivier Award nominations will be announced today at 11am at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. This year’s awards – which will be presented on 13 March at Drury Lane – promise to have upped the star and glamour quotient and will be televised by the BBC.
The Wizard of Oz starts previews tonight. This mega new production at the London Palladium, rebooted by Jeremy Sams and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright, sees Over The Rainbow star Danielle Hope join Michael Crawford and Hannah Waddingham.
Tuesday 8 February 2011
A big theatre day! Shoes – the hugely successful Sadler’s Wells show – opens tonight at the Peacock Theatre to give the show a much deserved West End airing.
Million Dollar Quartet, the musical that recreates the historic day when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis all made music together, starts previews at the Noel Coward Theatre on Tuesday.
Also much deserving is Clybourne Park, which gets its official opening at the Wyndhams Theatre starring Sophie Thompson and Stephen Campbell Moore. Bruce Norris’ satirical comedy, directed by Dominic Cooke for the Royal Court, has been sweeping the boards at various awards including the recent South Bank Sky Arts Awards and the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.
Also on Tuesday, Showstopper the Improvised Musical begins at the Ambassadors Theatre in London with the the all-singing, all-dancing cast creating a brand new musical from scratch every night in this award-winning production. Plus, the Southwark Playhouse opens its new production of Sondheim’s Company directed by Joe Fredericks.
Wednesday 9 February 2011
Elisabeth Moss in The Children's Hour
The Children’s Hour gets its official opening night at the Comedy Theatre tonight, starring Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Keira Knightley and Ellen Burstyn in Lillian Hellman’s controversial play.
Friday 11 February 2011
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee starts previews as the Donmar Warehouse.
And coming up
Next week sees The Woman in Black celebrate its 23rd birthday, having opened in the West End on 15 February 1989. 2011 promises to be a big year for the show, with a brand new movie version of Susan Hill’s classic horror story opening in cinemas starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Photos: The Wizard of Oz cast rehearsals
February 6, 2011
Behind-the-scenes cast photos of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s The Wizard of Oz, previewing from 7 February 2011 at the London Palladium.
Pictures include Danielle Hope, Michael Crawford, Hannah Waddingham and Sophie Evans.
LINKS
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
HANNAH WADDINGHAM in The Wizard of Oz
December 8, 2010
Hannah Waddingham to play the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.
West End star Hannah Waddingham is not through with playing evil witches.
After wowing audiences in Regent’s Park this summer playing the Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Open Air Theatre, she will return to fairytale nastiness this winter playing the Wicked Witch of the West in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s blockbuster new production of The Wizard of Oz, which opens at the London Palladium this February.
Hannah has enjoyed a successful stage career, including Olivier Award nominations for the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot and Desiree Armfelt in Trevor Nunn’s production of A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory and the Garrick Theatre.
Her other roles include Suzanne Valadon in Lautrec at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Christine Warner in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game at the Cambridge Theatre) Satan in Rod Stewart’s Tonight’s The Night, Bad Girls The Musical at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, A Chorus of Disapproval for Theatr Clywd and Rizzo in Grease at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
The Wizard of Oz previews from 7 February 2011 at the London Palladium starring Over the Rainbow winner Danielle Hope as Dorothy, Michael Crawford as the Wizard, Paul Keating as Scarecrow, Edward Baker-Duly as Tin Man, David Ganly as the Cowardly Lion and Emily Tierney as Glinda, The Good Witch.
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
PAUL KEATING in The Wizard of Oz
December 6, 2010
Andrew Lloyd Webber casts Paul Keating as Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.
Paul has been twice nominated for Olivier Awards – and we think this next project could be the one.
The multi-talented actor has been cast as the Scarecrow in Lord Lloyd Webber’s great big revival of musicals classic The Wizard of Oz – to open at the London Palladium in February.
Paul’s impressive list of stage credits includes the lead role in Tommy at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Tick… Tick… BOOM! at the Duchess Theatre, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors with Sheridan Smith at Menier Chocolate Factory and in the West End, the Pet Shop Boys musical Closer to Heaven, the Balladeer in Assassins, La Cava at the Piccadilly Theatre and Victoria Palace, the Full Monty at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Prince of Palma in Don Carlos directed by Michael Grandage, Buttons in Cinderella at the Old Vic Theatre and Blowing Whistles at the Leicester Square Theatre.
On-screen appearances include Metrosexuality and Bring Me The Head Of Mavis Davis.
The Wizard of Oz previews from 7 February 2011 at the London Palladium starring Over the Rainbow winner Danielle Hope as Dorothy, Michael Crawford as the Wizard, Paul Keating as Scarecrow, Edward Baker-Duly as Tin Man, David Ganly as the Cowardly Lion and Emily Tierney as Glinda, The Good Witch.
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
The Wizard of Oz: Further casting
November 29, 2010
Andrew Lloyd Webber announces further casting for The Wizard of Oz
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s blockbuster new production of The Wizard of Oz, which opens at the London Palladium this February, has announced further casting details.
A Little Night Music star Hannah Waddingham to play the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz
After wowing audiences in Regent’s Park this summer playing the Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Wood, Hannah Waddingham is to play the Wicked Witch of the West in the blockbuster new production, alongside Over the Rainbow winner Danielle Hope as Dorothy and Michael Crawford as the Wizard.
Dorothy’s companions on the yellow brick road to Oz will feature Paul Keating as the Scarecrow, Edward Baker-Duly as Tin Man and David Ganly as the Cowardly Lion. Glinda, The Good Witch, will be played by Emily Tierney.
Hannah Waddingham’s credits include Olivier Award nominations for the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot and Desiree Armfelt in Trevor Nunn’s production of A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory and the Garrick Theatre.
Paul Keating has appeared in a number of stage roles including the lead role in Tommy at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Tick… Tick… BOOM! at the Duchess Theatre and The Little Shop of Horrors with Sheridan Smith at Menier Chocolate Factory and in the West End.
Edward Baker-Duly’s credits include Gone With The Wind and West Side Story in the West End and Rookery Nook at the Menier; David Ganly has featured in the Young Vic’s recent production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre and The Full Monty at the Prince of Wales Theatre; Emily Tierney recently appeared in David Essex musical All The Fun Of The Fair at the Garrick Theatre.
Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford, stars of The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz will star Danielle Hope, 18, who won the BBC talent show Over the Rainbow to become Dorothy in the new production. Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans will cover the part of Dorothy on Tuesdays and when Ms Hope is on holiday. The show will also star Michael Crawford as the Wizard, who returns to the London Palladium after his triumphant run there in the 1980s in Barnum, for which he won an Olivier award. Michael is also well known for originating the role of the Phantom in Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera in both London and New York, winning Tony and Olivier Awards for his performance.
The major musical starts rehearsals in December featuring songs from the original Harold Arlen film score plus new songs penned by a reunited Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group will produce the show, with performances starting from 7 February 2011 at the London Palladium. The creative team behind the 2006 revival of The Sound of Music, including director Jeremy Sams, designer Robert Jones and choreographer Arlene Phillips, will work on the show.
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
MORE OZ NEWS
Danielle Hope will perform at this year’s Royal Variety Performance in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
The annual show, which will take place on 9 December 2010, is to be held at the London Palladium – home of forthcoming musical The Wizard of Oz – to help the venue celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Goodbye Into The Woods, hello Passion
September 9, 2010
As one Sondheim door closes…
"Passionate" Elena Roger
This Saturday we bid farewell to the Open Air Theatre’s excellent production of Into The Woods starring Hannah Waddingham and Jenna Russell (see reviews).
But all is not lost, as tomorrow, Friday 10 September, sees the start of Passion at the Donmar Warehouse starring the sexy, stellar Elena Roger (Evita, Piaf).
Given that the whole run (until 27 November) is largely sold out at the theatre, here’s hoping that the critics are kind and it gets a swift West End transfer. Time will be of the essence given that Elena has to pop to Broadway in 2011 and shake it about with Ricky Martin in the West End transfer of Donmar supremo Michael Grandage’s production of Evita.
LINKS
The Telegraph’s recent interview with Elena Roger, “I don’t play normal women”
Into The Woods – Reviews Round-up
August 18, 2010
Into The Woods at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park
Hannah Waddingham in Into the Woods
It seems that the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park has delivered again. After last summer’s enormously popular revival of Hello Dolly!, this year they have taken on Stephen Sondheim in tribute to his 80th year.
As the critics almost unanimously agree, a staging of Sondheim’s Into the Woods in the middle of Regent’s Park is an inspired setting, with Soutra Gilmour’s set winning much praise from the critics.
As does Timothy Sheader’s direction, with some light adapting of the original (making the narrator a young boy) to ensure that awards should follow.
And to seal its success – a cast to die for, including Michael Xavier having fun as the Prince and the Wolf before moving on to Love Story at the Duchess, the mischievous and hilarious Beverly Rudd as Little Red Riding Hood, and the Sondheim Babes – Hannah Waddingham and Jenna Russell – working their magic.
Book tickets to Into the Woods at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park.
JENNA RUSSELL in Into The Woods
August 16, 2010
Jenna Russell stars in the Open Air Theatre’s Into the Woods
This summer Jenna Russell will play the Baker’s Wife in a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, timed to celebrate Sondheim’s 80th birthday year.
Directed by Timothy Sheader, the show adds a dark twist to famous fairytales such as Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel.
Jenna is no stranger to working outdoors having played the Open Air Theatre on a number of occasions, namely as Hermia in A Midsummer Nights Dream and Nellie in The Card.
She has also appeared in Into the Woods before – playing Cinderella in the Donmar’s 1998 production directed by John Crowley and Jonathan Butterell.
Jenna’s talent and versatility is demonstrated by her numerous stage roles, crossing both drama and musicals, and both classic and modern work.
Her credits include Amy in Amy’s View for Sir Peter Hall; Dot/Marie in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical; Sarah in Guys and Dolls at the Donmar Warehouse directed by Michael Grandage; a number of RSC productions for directors including David Thacker, John Caird, Adrian Noble and Alan Ayckbourn; and West End roles in Les Miserables, Follies and Martin Guerre.
Jenna recently performed at Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday Prom at the Royal Albert Hall alongside Dame Judi Dench and Simon Russell Beale.
Other cast in Into The Woods include Hannah Waddingham, Valda Aviks, Billy Boyle, Gaye Brown, Helen Dallimore, Alice Fearn, Amy Griffiths, Mark Hadfield, Amy Ellen Richardson, Beverly Rudd, Ben Stott, Simon Thomas, Gemma Wardle and Michael Xavier.
Into the Woods will run from 5 August until 11 September at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park.
Book tickets to Into The Woods at the Open Air Theatre in London
Into The Woods opens tonight
August 16, 2010
The Open Air Theatre’s new production of Into The Woods officially opens tonight, 16 August, at its Regent’s Park venue.
Jenna Russell in Into The Woods. Photo: Catherine Ashmore
Timed to celebrate Stephen Sondheim 80th birthday year, the musical features West End stars – and Sondheim aficionados – Hannah Waddingham (A Little Night Music) and Jenna Russell (Sunday in the Park with George).
Directed by Timothy Sheader, Into The Woods adds a dark twist to famous fairytales such as Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel.
Other cast in the show include Valda Aviks, Billy Boyle, Gaye Brown, Helen Dallimore, Alice Fearn, Amy Griffiths, Mark Hadfield, Amy Ellen Richardson, Beverly Rudd, Ben Stott, Simon Thomas, Gemma Wardle and Michael Xavier.
Into the Woods will run from 5 August until 11 September at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park.
Book tickets to Into The Woods at the Open Air Theatre in London
OTHER SHOWS STARTING IN AUGUST
Deathtrap, starring Simon Russell Beale and Jonathan Groff, starts previews at the Noel Coward Theatre on 21 August.
AND CLOSING:
As You Like It and The Tempest at the Old Vic Theatre, directed by Sam Mendes and starring Stephen Dillane and Juliet Rylance, closes 21 August.
La Bete at the Comedy Theatre, closes 28 August.
STARTING IN SEPTEMBER
Noel Coward’s Design for Living at the Old Vic Theatre, from3 September.
Passion at the Donmar Warehouse starring Elena Roger, from 10 September.
Complicite’s A Disappearing Number at the Novello Theatre, from 10 September.
Les Miserables 25th anniversary production at the Barbican Theatre, from 14 September.
Krapp’s Last Tape starring Michael Gambon at the Duchess Theatre, from 15 September.
Yes, Prime Minister at the Gielgud Theatre starring David Haig and Henry Goodman, from 17 September.
Birdsong starring Ben Barnes and directed by Trevor Nunn, at the Comedy Theatre from 18 September.
Flashdance The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre, from 24 September.
Onassis at the Novello Theatre starring Robert Lindsay, from 30 September.
AND CLOSING:
HAIR at the Gielgud Theatre, closes on 4 September.
All The Fun of the Fair at the Garrick Theatre, closes on 4 September.
Burn The Floor at the Shaftesbury Theatre, closes 4 September.
Tap Dogs at the Novello Theatre, closes 5 September.
The Secret of Sherlock Holmes at the Duchess Theatre, closes on 11 September.
The Prisoner of Second Avenue at the Vaudeville Theatre, closes 25 September.
VIDEO: Into The Woods – Rehearsals
August 3, 2010
The Open Air Theatre’s new production of Into The Woods opens this Thursday, 5 August, at their Regent’s Park venue.
Nicely timed for this year’s Stephen Sondheim 80th anniversary celebrations, the musical stars Sondheim women of the moment Hannah Waddingham (A Little Night Music) and Jenna Russell (Sunday in the Park with George).
The Open Air Theatre has posted a video of the sitzprobe for the show where the singers rehearse with the orchestra, often for the first time.
Looks like it’s going to be quite a show.
