Exclusive photos of the West End transfer of Crazy For You

Exclusive production photos of Crazy For You at the Novello Theatre in London

The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s acclaimed production of Crazy For You has transferred to the West End’s Novello Theatre.

The show reunites director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Stephen Mear, who brought the multi-award winning production of Hello, Dolly! to the Open Air in 2009.

The show features a score that is packed with familiar Gershwin tunes including I Got Rhythm, Someone to Watch Over Me, Embraceable You, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Shall We Dance, But Not For Me, and Nice Work If You Can Get It.

The entire company of the Regent’s Park production stars in the West End run, led by theatre veterans Harriet Thorpe and David Burt, and introducing to the British stage the highly respected Broadway performer, Sean Palmer as Bobby Child, alongside Clare Foster as Polly Baker, Kim Medcalf as Irene Roth and Michael McKell as Lank.

Photos by Roy Tan.

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Production photos of Crazy For You at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Production photos of Crazy For You at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent’s joyous musical Crazy For You, featuring the songs of George & Ira Gershwin, has returned to London at long last.

Playing until 10 September at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, the hit musical comedy features classic tunes such as “I Got Rhythm”, “Someone To Watch Over Me”, “Embraceable You” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It”.

The creative team from the Olivier Award winning production of the Open Air’s Hello, Dolly! have reunited for the show, including director Timothy Sheader, assisted by Paul Foster, choreographer Stephen Mear and designer Peter McKintosh.

The talented cast includes Sean Palmer as Bobby Child, Clare Foster as Polly Baker, Kim Medcalf as Irene Roth, Michael McKell as Lank Hawkins and David Burt as Bela Zangler.

Photos by Roy Tan.

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Lend Me A Tenor to close early at the Gielgud

Lend Me A Tenor, the musical comedy by Peter Sham and Brad Carroll, is to close early at the Gielgud Theatre in London.

Based on Ken Ludwig’s award-winning play, the show opened on 15 June but has failed to find an audience and will now close on Saturday 6 August 2011.

The producers, Martin Platt and David Elliott, said in a statement that, “Despite mostly wonderful notices from the press, great feedback from our audiences and nightly standing ovations, this has not translated into growing sales and we feel it is in everyone’s best interests to close the production on August 6th.”

The show stars Matthew Kelly, last seen in the West End in the short-lived production of Sign of the Times at the Duchess Theatre, and Joanna Riding, who previously starred in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, also at the Gielgud, and which also closed early.

Other cast include Damian Humbley, Michael Matus, Sophie-Louise Dann and Cassidy Janson, with direction by Ian Talbot.

Critics largely enjoyed the show, with Michael Coveney in the Independent saying that, ““Sure, the whole shebang’s a bit of a throwback, but it’s fun and finished to a very high standard”, but others, including Nick Curtis in the Standard, found that there was, “a disjunction here between retrogressive comedy and modern musical sentiment, and the result is blandness.”

The next confirmed production at the Gielgud is not until November, with a stage adaptation of movie classic The Ladykillers.

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Lend Me A Tenor – Reviews Round-up

Lend Me A Tenor The Musical To Close On Saturday 6 August

LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL, the uproarious new musical comedy by Peter Sham and Brad Carroll, based on Ken Ludwig’s award-winning play, which opened at the Gielgud Theatre earlier this summer to some rave reviews, is to close. Despite receiving a series of 4-star reviews and standing ovations, the production’s last performance will be Saturday 6 August.

Producers Martin Platt and David Elliott said, “We wish to thank the extremely dedicated cast of LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL, author Peter Sham and composer Brad Carroll and everyone who has taken part in the project.

Despite mostly wonderful notices from the press, great feedback from our audiences and nightly standing ovations, this has not translated into growing sales and we feel it is in everyone’s best interests to close the production on August 6th.”

Lend Me A Tenor The Musical stars Matthew Kelly as ‘Henry Saunders’, Joanna Riding as ‘Maria Merelli’, Damian Humbley as ‘Max’, Michael Matus as ‘Tito Merelli, Sophie-Louise Dann as ‘Diana Divane’, Cassidy Janson as ‘Maggie Saunders’, and Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop as the ‘Ladies of the Opera Guild’. The production is directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner. The production is designed by Paul Farnsworth, with lighting by Tim Mitchell, and sound by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster. The Musical Supervisor is Tony Award Winner Paul Gemignani, the Musical Director is Colin Billing, and orchestrations are by Chris Walker.

LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL is produced by Martin Platt and David Elliott and Eileen & Allen Anes with Jason E. Grossman and M. Kilburg Reedy.

Release issued by: Target Live

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Lend Me A Tenor – Reviews Round-up

Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre – Round-up of Reviews

A round-up of reviews of Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre starring Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding.

Lend Me A Tenor is the new musical comedy directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, White Christmas).

The show features mistaken identities and unexpected romance and is based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig.

Lend Me A Tenor stars Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding alongside Damian Humbley, Michael Matus, Sophie-Louise Dann, Cassidy Janson, Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop.

See a round-up of Lend Me A Tenor reviews, below.

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Production photos of Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre starring Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding

Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding star in Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre in London.

Lend Me A Tenor is the uproarious new musical comedy which is currently running at the Gielgud Theatre.

The hilarious show features mistaken identities and unexpected romance and is based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig.

The multi-talented cast stars award-winning actors Matthew Kelly and Joanna Riding alongside Damian Humbley, Michael Matus, Sophie-Louise Dann, Cassidy Janson, Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop.

It’s 1934, and the world’s greatest tenor Tito Merelli has come to Cleveland, Ohio, to save its Grand Opera Company by singing Verdi’s Otello. When he is unexpectedly incapacitated, Max, the opera director’s meek assistant, is given the daunting task of finding a last-minute replacement. Chaos ensues – including a scheming soprano, a tenor-struck ingénue, a jealous wife, shrimp gone bad and the Cleveland Police department.

The company also features Jemma Alexander, Karen Aspinall, Natasha J. Barnes, Nick Butcher, Kelly Chinery, Sharon Eckman, Daniel Farrow, Andrew Keelan, Kara Lane, Connor McAllister, Haydn Oakley, Stephen Oliver-Webb, Ryan Pidgen, Jeremy Secomb, Emma Sewell, John Stacey, Robert Traynor, and Michelle White.

This brand-new production is directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, White Christmas).

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More News on Lend Me A Tenor

Full Casting Announced For Lend Me A Tenor The Musical Opening At The Gielgud Theatre On 15 June

The full cast has been announced for the West End production of LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL, the uproarious new musical comedy by Peter Sham (book and lyrics) and Brad Carroll (music), which opens at the Gielgud Theatre on 15 June, with previews from 2 June.

Matthew Kelly will star as ‘Henry Saunders’ (Executive Director of the Cleveland Grand Opera), Joanna Riding will star as ‘Maria Marelli’, Damian Humbley will star as ‘Max’ (Henry Saunders’ assistant, and the opera prompter), Michael Matus will star as ‘Tito Merelli, (the Great Italian tenor known as ‘Il Stupendo’), Sophie-Louise Dann will star as ‘Diana Divane’ (Prima Donna of the Cleveland Grand Opera), Cassidy Janson will star as ‘Maggie Saunders’ (Henry Saunders’ daughter), and Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop will star as the ‘Ladies of the Opera Guild’.

It’s 1934, and the world’s greatest tenor Tito Merelli has come to Cleveland, Ohio, to save its Grand Opera Company by singing Verdi’s Otello. When he is unexpectedly incapacitated, Max, the opera director’s meek assistant, is given the daunting task of finding a last-minute replacement. Chaos ensues – including a scheming soprano, a tenor-struck ingénue, a jealous wife, shrimp gone bad and the Cleveland Police department.

LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL is a riotous, unpredictable explosion of mistaken identities and unexpected romance – based on the award-winning West End and Broadway hit comedy by Ken Ludwig.

The company also features Jemma Alexander, Karen Aspinall, Natasha J. Barnes, Nick Butcher, Kelly Chinery, Sharon Eckman, Daniel Farrow, Andrew Keelan, Kara Lane, Connor McAllister, Haydn Oakley, Stephen Oliver-Webb, Ryan Pidgen, Jeremy Secomb, Emma Sewell, John Stacey, Robert Traynor, and Michelle White.

This brand-new production is directed by Olivier award-winning director Ian Talbot (High Society, Anything Goes) and choreographed by Tony-nominated choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, White Christmas). The production is designed by Paul Farnsworth, with lighting by Tim Mitchell, and sound by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster. The Musical Supervisor is Tony Award Winner Paul Gemignani, the Musical Director is Colin Billing, and orchestrations are by Chris Walker.

LEND ME A TENOR THE MUSICAL is produced by Martin Platt and David Elliott and Eileen & Allen Anes.

Release issued by: Target Live

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More news on Lend Me A Tenor

OLIVIER AWARDS – Best Musicals Winners

OLIVIER AWARDS – Best Musicals Winners

Best New Musical

2011 Legally Blonde – The Musical book by Heather Hach, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin at the Savoy
2010 Spring Awakening, music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, based on the play by Frank Wedekind, at the Novello theatre
2009 Jersey Boys, book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe at the Prince Edward theatre
2008 Hairspray, book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, based on the John Waters film,
2007 Caroline, Or Change, book and lyrics by Tony Kushner, music by Jeanine Tesori
2006 Billy Elliot – The Musical, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, music by Elton John
2005 The Producers book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan; music and lyrics by Mel Brooks and by special arrangement with StudioCanal
2004 Jerry Springer – The Opera music by Richard Thomas, book and lyrics by Stewart Lee & Richard Thomas
2003 Our House by Tim Firth, music and lyrics by Madness
2001 Merrily We Roll Along — music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth, suggested by a play by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart
2000 Honk! The Ugly Duckling – music by George Stiles, book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen
1999 Kat And The Kings by David Kramer and Taliep Petersen
1998 Beauty And The Beast – music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton
1997 Martin Guerre – book by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Edward Hardy and Stephen Clark, original French text by Alain Boublil, additional lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil
1996 Jolson The Musical – written by Francis Essex and Rob Bettinson
1995 Once On This Island – book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, based upon the novel My Love My Love by Rosa Guy
1994 City Of Angels – book by Larry Gelbart, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel
1993 Crazy For You – music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, book by Ken Ludwig
1992 Carmen Jones by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on Meilhac and Halévy’s adaptation of Prosper Merimée’s Carmen with original music by Bizet
1991 Sunday In The Park with George – music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine
1989/90 Return To The Forbidden Planet by Bob Carlton
1988 Candide – book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Richard Wilbur
1987 Follies – music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Goldman
1986 The Phantom Of The Opera – music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
1985 Me And My Girl – book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber, music by Noel Gay
1984 42nd Street – music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, based on a novel by Bradford Ropes
1983 Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
1982 Poppy – book and lyrics by Peter Nichols, music by Monty Norman
1981 Cats – music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
1980 Sweeney Todd – music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, based on the play by Christopher Bond
1979 Songbook – music by Monty Norman, lyrics by Julian More, book by Monty Norman and Julian More
1978 Evita – lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
1977 The Comedy Of Errors by William Shakespeare, music by Guy Woolfenden
1976 A Chorus Line – book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban

Outstanding Musical Production

2007 Sunday In The Park With George, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine
2006 Guys And Dolls, based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
2005 Grand Hotel book by Luther Davis; music & lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest; additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston; based on Vicki Baum’s Grand Hotel
2004 Pacific Overtures music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman, additional material by Hugh Wheeler
2003 Anything Goes music and lyrics by Cole Porter, original book by PG Wodehouse and Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse, new book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman
2002 My Fair Lady book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Loewe, adapted from Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture
2001 Singin’ In The Rain — based on the MGM film, original choreography by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, screenplay and adaptation by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed
2000 Candide – music by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, in a new version by John Caird, lyrics by Richard Wilbur, additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein
1999 Oklahoma! music by Richard Rodgers, book & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
1998 Chicago – lyrics by Fred Ebb, music by John Kander, book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse
1997 Tommy – music and lyrics by Pete Townshend, book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff

Best Musical Revival

2011 Into the Woods at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
2010 Hello Dolly!, book by Michael Stewart, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, at the Open Air theatre
2009 La Cage aux Folles, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play “La Cage Aux Folles” by Jean Poiret, at the Playhouse theatre
2008 The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo
1995 She Loves Me – book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and based on a play by Miklos Laszlo
1994 Sweeney Todd – music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, from an adaptation by Christopher Bond
1993 Carousel – music by Richard Rodgers, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the play Liliom by Ferenc Molnár as adapted by Benjamin F Glazer
1992 The Boys From Syracuse – music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, book by George Abbott
1991 Show Boat – book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern

Performance of the Year in a Musical

1978 Elaine Paige for Evita
1977 Ann Sharkey for Maggie

Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Musicals

1984 Ned Sherrin for the conception of The Ratepayers’ Iolanthe
1982 Guys And Dolls
1981 Gillian Lynne, choreographer of Cats

CASTING: Wolfboy, Dirty Dancing, Oliver!

Emma Rigby and Daniel Boys in Wolfboy; Ray Quinn to strut his stuff in Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre; Russ Abbot takes over from Griff Rhys Jones in Oliver!

WOLFBOY

Former Hollyoaks star Emma Rigby and recent Avenue Q lead Daniel Boys will appear at the Trafalgar Studios this summer to star in the psycho-sexual musical thriller Wolfboy (6 – 31 July).

The new musical premiered at the Edinburgh Festival fringe last year and has a book by Russell Labey, music and lyrics by Leon Parris and is based on a play by Brad Fraser.

The musical is a dark and disturbing tale of two troubled teenage boys locked in an asylum for their own good. Bernie has attempted suicide; David may or may not have the powers of a wolf. For them the outside world is a frightening place of abuse and violence. Bernie’s brother Christian and Cherry the young nurse on the unit, also hide secrets that surface in the night, when the moon is full.

Emma Rigby won a Best Actress British Soap Award in 2008 for her role on TV’s Hollyoaks playing Hannah Ashworth.

Daniel Boys appeared on BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do in 2007  and has since performed in a number of concerts and events including a special guest artist on John Barowman’s UK tour, and is a regular on BBC Radio 2′s Friday Night is Music Night.

The cast also includes Paul Holowaty and Gregg Lowe.

Book tickets to see Wolfboy at the Trafalgar Studios in London

DIRTY DANCING

X Factor and Dancing on Ice star Ray Quinn is to join the cast of Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre this summer, from 26 July to 27 November 2010.

Quinn, who recently appeared as Danny in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, will play the role of Billy Kostecki, Johnny Castle’s cousin, in the show for a limited season from 26 July. He will sing two iconic songs from the show – “Do You Love Me?” and “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life”.

Other cast includes Martin Harvey as Johnny Castle and Hannah Vassallo as Baby.

Dirty Dancing is now in its fourth year at the Aldwych Theatre and brings the action and music of the iconic film to the stage.

Special offer: Save £22.50 on tickets to Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre in London

OLIVER!

He stepped in for Rowan Atkinson last year and proved such a hit that Russ Abbot is to make his return to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June, starring as Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh’s big-budget production of Oliver!

Taking over the role from Griff Rhys Jones from 14 June, Abbot will join Kerry Ellis as Nancy, Steven Hartley as Bill Sikes and Stephen Moore as Mr Brownlow.

No stranger to the role of Fagin, Abbot played the part in Mackintosh’s 1997 revival of the show at the London Palladium and then on tour.  The comedian and actor best known for his TV appearance including “The Russ Abbot Show” has also appeared in numerous musicals including My Fair Lady and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Doctor Dolittle and The Producers.

Special offer: Save £21 on tickets to see Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London

LEND ME A TENOR

Sally Ann Triplett and Matthew Kelly are to star in a new production of Lend Me a Tenor the Musical this autumn. The show will run at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 24 September and then transfer to the West End (theatre to be announced).

Peter Sham and Brad Carroll’s musical, based on Ken Ludwig’s comedy, will be directed by Ian Talbot.

Other cast members include Damian Humbley and Michael Matus.

Links: Theatre Royal Plymouth