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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Avenue Q, Sister Act close tonight
October 30, 2010
The West End bids farewell to long-running shows Avenue Q and Sister Act tonight, 30 October 2010.
Patina Miller and Simon Webbe in Sister Act
Patina Miller, Simon Webbe and Sally Dexter will perform for the last time tonight, Saturday 30 October, at the London Palladium as a packed house will cheer out Sister Act after 17 months in town.
The hit musical, based on the movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, opened on 2 June 2009 with Patina Miller as nightclub singer Deloris van Cartier and Sheila Hancock as Mother Superior. Whoopi Goldberg also played the role of Mother Superior for short stints in August and October this year, alongside regular Superior – Sally Dexter.
The show will vacate the Palladium leaving a three month gap before The Wizard of Oz opens at the theatre in February 2011.
Sister Act will move to Broadway following its London closure, with Broadway veteran Jerry Zaks (The Addams Family) taking the director helm. The show will open at the Broadway Theatre on 20 April 2011.
Kate Monster and Cassidy Janson in Avenue Q
And over at the Wyndham’s Theatre, cult Broadway show Avenue Q will also bow out of London today, after opening on 1 June 2006 at the Noel Coward Theatre.
The musical had been scheduled to close at the Noel Coward in March 2009 but a surprise surge in bookings led producer Cameron Mackintosh to keep it going, transferring the show to the Gielgud Theatre. It made a further move to the Wyndham’s Theatre, its current home, in March this year.
The show won three Tony Awards on Broadway and continues to run off-Broadway in New York. The London cast saying farewell tonight include Delroy Atkinson, Cassidy Janson, Rachel Jerram, Sion Lloyd, Tom Parsons, Paul Spicer, Jacqueline Tate, Irene Alano-Rhodes, Alan Pearson, Amanda Posener, Jaygann Ayeh, Sam Harrison and Maria Lawson.
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Palladium celebrates Centenary year
October 12, 2010
Veteran celebrity Bruce Forsyth unveiled a commemorative plaque at the London Palladium today, 12 October 2010, to celebrate the forthcoming Centenary of the theatre.
London Palladium in 1912, courtesy of The Theatres Trust
Forsyth, 82, who has a long association with the theatre, was joined by showbiz pals and past performers at the theatre including Ken Dodd, Jason Donovan, Lesley Garrett, Michael Ball, Elaine Paige, Jonathan Pryce and Des O’Connor.
The owner of the theatre, Andrew Lloyd Webber, also unveiled plans for a major refurbishment of the venue, including rebuilding the front of house areas. “Today’s celebration is about recognising the rich history of this wonderful theatre and the fantastic performers who have graced its stage”, he said. “It is also about the beginning of the biggest programme of refurbishment and change in the Palladium’s history and I’m delighted to announce the restoration of the iconic revolving stage and plans for the complete refurbishment of the Front of House areas.”
The London Palladium has spent 100 years at the centre of Variety in Britain. Forsythe, who first played the theatre 52 years ago and presented popular TV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium, told the Guardian today that, “I started here 52 years ago as a compere, which was the plum job. You were meeting and welcoming stars from all over the world.”
He also paid tribute to the enormous popularity of the venue: “Anybody that was anybody played the Palladium. It had a worldwide name and if you played the London Palladium you had made it.”
The theatre’s exact birthday is on 26 December 2010. Designed by famous theatre architect Frank Matcham, the theatre’s first production in 1910 was a variety show and one act play called The Conspiracy.
The London Palladium is currently home to Sister Act until 30 October. Early next year Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of The Wizard of Oz will open the theatre.
LINKS
BBC News: Andrew Lloyd Webber discusses the significance of the London Palladium
London Palladium in London – Map
October 11, 2010
A London map highlighting the location of the London Palladium, Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TF
Read more about the theatre, including What’s On, Journey Planner, Seating Plan, Parking and Transport
Back to all London Maps of Theatres
View westendtheatre.com – West End Theatres in a larger map
Sister Act: big changes for Broadway
October 8, 2010
West End musical Sister Act to move to Broadway; Jerry Zaks to make changes to the show.
Current Sister Act stars Patina Miller and Simon Webbe
Sister Act, based on the hit film, is moving to Broadway following its closure at the London Palladium on 30 October.
The Broadway version will get a new director, with Broadway veteran Jerry Zaks (The Addams Family) taking the helm. He is set to make substantial changes to the show and has immediately brought in Douglas Carter van Beane (Xanadu) to write a new book (and new jokes!) for the musical.
Stage Entertainment, owned by Dutch entertainment billionaire Joop van den Ende, will produce the show on the Great White Way, alongside the original star of the film Whoopi Goldberg.
Sister Act will open at the Broadway Theatre on 20 April 2011. Casting is yet to be announced. The New York theatre is currently home to Promises, Promises starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth.
In London the show currently stars Patina Miller, Simon Webbe and Sally Dexter. It will vacate the Palladium in October, leaving a three month gap before The Wizard of Oz opens at the theatre in February 2011.
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MICHAEL CRAWFORD in The Wizard of Oz
October 1, 2010
MICHAEL CRAWFORD FINISHES IN THE WIZARD OF OZ ON 5 FEBRUARY 2012
They don’t come much bigger than Michael “original Phantom” Crawford, star of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz
If you wanted to cast someone with star power, a long heritage of musicals success, a name well-known to American tourists and someone you’ve worked with before, then Andrew Lloyd Webber made the right choice in casting Michael Crawford in his blockbuster new production of The Wizard of Oz – coming to the London Palladium this February.
Crawford,68, has spent over five decades treading the boards, with his first professional stage appearance in 1955 as Sammy the Little Sweep in Benjamin Britten’s Let’s Make an Opera at the Scala Theatre in London.
In February he will return 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, Drama Desk, Olivier, Outer Critic’s Circle, Dramalogue and Drama Critic’s Circle Awards for his performance.
His other numerous stage credits include Billy, Flowers for Algernon, Black Comedy, Dance of the Vampires and a host of concert tours in the UK, United States, Canada and Australia. His last appearance in the West End was seven years ago, as Count Fosco in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman In White at the Palace Theatre.
In Film and TV he is still remembered fondly for his role as Frank Spencer in BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em. Other credits include Hello, Dolly! with Barbra Streisand, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Knack, The Jokers, How I Won the War, Hello and Goodbye and Condorman.
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Michael Crawford to star in Wizard of Oz
September 24, 2010
Theatre veteran Michael Crawford is to reunite with Andrew Lloyd Webber 24 years after playing the original Phantom of the Opera.
Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford, stars of The Wizard of Oz
The actor will take on the role of the Wizard in Lloyd Webber’s multi-million pound production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, starting 7 February 2011.
Crawford, 68, made his last appearance in the West End 7 years ago as Count Fosco in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman In White at the Palace Theatre, although had to leave the show early due to illness. He is most famous for playing Frank Spencer in BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em.
Michael told the Daily Telegraph that, “I’ve been fortunate working with Andrew before so I thought there was no harm in trying again. We’re all very excited about the show. It’s a slightly different interpretation of the story and we are sort of developing our own character of the Wizard. He’s quite a crafty character. He was played by Frank Morgan very successfully in the film so I’ve got a lot to live up to.”
The show will also star Danielle Hope, 18, who won the BBC talent show Over the Rainbow to become Dorothy in the new production. The cast will also include Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans covering the part of Dorothy on Tuesdays and when Ms Hope is on holiday.
The major musical starts rehearsals in December featuring songs from the original Harold Arlen film score plus new songs penned from a reunited Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Rice and Lloyd Webber are arguably the world’s most successful living composer-lyricists with shows including Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph.
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.
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.
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.
