New Stiles and Drewe musical Soho Cinders to get West End premiere
July 29, 2011
The writers of Betty Blue Eyes to present their new musical Soho Cinders in a one-off charity concert.
George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Photo: Roy Tan
George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, whose recent work includes Betty Blue Eyes at the Novello Theatre in London, are set to premiere a brand new work at the venue.
Soho Cinders will get its world premiere in a one-off charity concert at the Novello Theatre on Sunday 9 October 2011, in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.
An all-star cast of West End big-hitters has been announced to star in the show including Kerry Ellis, Hannah Waddingham, Beverly Rudd, David Bedella and Sandi Toksvig, and the concert will be directed by Jonathan Butterell.
Soho Cinders, which is billed as “Cinderella remixed”, is a modern musical satirical comedy about the love life of prospective Mayoral candidate James Prince, his fiancée and his law-student lover, Robbie.
LINKS
Book tickets to Betty Blue Eyes at the Novello Theatre
Anthems with Brian May and Kerry Ellis – Save £11
April 27, 2011
Offer valid 1 May 2011
Anthems starring Brian May and Kerry Ellis
ANTHEMS: The Concert is the brand new, specially created, live version of Anthems, the stunning Kerry Ellis hit debut album produced by Brian May. This Gala Concert brings together West End and Broadway singing sensation Kerry Ellis (We Will Rock You, Wicked, Chess in Concert and Oliver!) and legendary Queen star Brian May in their first full-length performance.
For this unique production, Kerry Ellis and Brian May will perform live all of the acclaimed Anthems album, including May’s special rock-orchestral settings of songs which Kerry has made her own, and new material, including songs written especially for Kerry.
Under the Creative Direction of Brian May, the concert will feature the Anthems Ensemble of hand-picked rock musicians, the City of London Philharmonic, and the West End Chorus and Dancers – making this a truly spectacular one-off event on the Sunday of the May Bank Holiday of the Royal Wedding.
Featured as special guests will be Adam Pascal, the original star of Rent, Aida and Chess in Concert, and Escala, the stunning all-girl electric string quartet who have caused a sensation ever since the 2008 final of Britain’s Got Talent.
ANTHEMS: The Concert is to be for the benefit of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.
BOOK NOW: Save £11 on tickets to Anthems starring Brian May and Kerry Ellis at the Royal Albert Hall
Offer valid 1 May 2011
More presenters announced for Olivier Awards
March 4, 2011
The Society of London Theatre has released more details of the presenters at this year’s revamped Olivier Awards, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 13 March 2011.
Benedict Cumberbatch, one of the presenters at this year's Olivier Awards
Showbiz stars who will be presenting awards include:
- Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, current stars on Frankenstein
- Anne-Marie Duff, star of the Old Vic’s Cause Celebre
- Elisabeth Moss (Peggy from Mad Men), currently appearing in The Children’s Hour at the Comedy Theatre
- Actor Rupert Everett
- The League of Gentlemen and the National’s Season’s Greetings star Mark Gatiss
- Amanda Holden from Shrek The Musical
- Elaine Paige
- Tamara Rojo, Royal Ballet star
- Star of The Wizard of Oz, Danielle Hope
- Wicked’s Rachel Tucker
- Actor Patrick Stewart
They will join already announced stars that include Lost star Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams, the star of In A Forest, Dark and Deep at the Vaudeville Theatre, and Alfie Boe, opera and musicals leading man, who will play Jean Valjean in the West End production of Les Miserables this summer.
Also the first musical number presenters have been confirmed as legendary singer / songwriter Barry Manilow, who will be performing a number alongside West End star Kerry Ellis (Wicked, Oliver!).
Oliver!
July 29, 2010
Cameron Mackintosh presents his triumphant new staging of Lionel Bart’s masterpiece Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Oliver! is one of the most beloved British musicals, vividly bringing to life Dickens’ timeless characters with its ever popular story of the boy who asked for more.
This new production at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is even more spectacular than ever before, starring Russ Abbot as Fagin, Kerry Ellis as Nancy and a cast and orchestra of over one hundred. The sensational score is full of Lionel Bart’s irresistible songs including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I’d Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me and many more.
‘Oliver! Sets the West End alight’ Sunday Telegraph.
Book tickets to see Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London
Oliver! sets date to close
June 21, 2010
Cameron Mackintosh’s big-budget production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane will close on 8 January 2011.
Russ Abbot as Fagin in Oliver!
The show, which originally cast Jodie Prenger in the lead role of Nancy through BBC talent show I’d Do Anything, premiered on 14 January 2009 at the venue. This month the show’s fourth Fagin started work, with Russ Abbot stepping into Griff Rhys Jones’s beard and hat to take on the role. Rowan Atkinson originated the part in the current production.
Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic novel Oliver Twist first premiered in London in 1960. The current production is directed by Rupert Goold (Enron), based on Sam Mendes 1994 production.
Other cast include Kerry Ellis (Wicked) as Nancy, Steven Hartley as Bill Sikes and Stephen Moore as Mr Brownlow.
Large-scale shows hovering as possible replacements for Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane include a rumoured Broadway transfer of Disney show Shrek.
Special offer: Save £21 on tickets to see Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London
CASTING: Wolfboy, Dirty Dancing, Oliver!
June 1, 2010
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
- Emma Rigby
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
Ray Quinn
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!
Russ Abbot as Fagin
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
CASTING: Jodie Prenger to join the cast of Spamalot on tour
March 16, 2010
“I’d Do Anything” winner and Oliver! star Jodie Prenger will join the cast of the UK tour of Spamalot playing the Lady of Lake, in Monty Python’s hit musical comedy. She leaves her role as Nancy on 27 March to be replaced by Kerry Ellis (Wicked). The tour starts at the New Wimbledon Theatre on the 29 May.
Chess in Concert to be released; Elaine Paige & Susan Boyle news
April 26, 2009
Exciting news for fans of the musical Chess. Following the cult musical’s brief concert revival at the Royal Albert Hall in London in December 2008, the show will be released on DVD and CD by Warner Music (16 June in USA and Canada, 15 June rest of world).
The concert version of the hit 80s show will also be broadcast by public TV station PBS in the USA from 17 June.
Written by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus, the recording will air as part of PBS’ Great Performances strand. Chess originally played at the Prince of Edward Theatre in London in the late 1980s and also enjoyed a brief run on Broadway.
Chess in Concert was a star-studded two nighter at London’s prestigious venue, starring an acclaimed list of music talent including Idina Menzel as Florence, Adam Pascal as Frederick Trumper, Josh Groban as Anatoly Sergievsky, Kerry Ellis as Svetlana, David Bedella as Molokov, Marti Pellow as The Arbiter and Clarke Peters as Walter.
