Musicality star gets lead in Grease

The winner of a TV talent show is to take the lead in a West End musical.

Matthew Goodgame, a winner of Channel 4 show Musicality, will take the lead as Danny in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre from 27 September.

In 2004 Goodgame beat over 2000 musical hopefuls on Musicality, a talent show that aimed to find a new generation of musicals stars. Alongside four other winners, Goodgame won the chance to star in a special one-off performance of Chicago in the West End.

The former primary school teacher has gone on to forge a professional career in musical theatre, with recent roles including Father Ralph de Bricassart in a new musical based on The Thorn Birds, Munkustrap in the German tour of Cats and currently playing Kennickie in Grease.

He will star in Grease opposite Over the Rainbow finalist Lauren Samuels, who joined the cast in July playing Sandy. Noel Sullivan continues in the role of Danny until 25 September 2010.

The hit show will end its run at the Piccadilly Theatre next Spring, on 30 April 2011, before embarking on a UK tour. The show first opened at the Piccadilly Theatre on 25 July 2007 and is the longest running show in the venue’s history, having played over 1,300 performances and been seen by over 1.25 million people.

The cast of Grease also includes Siubhan Harrison, Lucas Rush, Hayley Gallivan, Faye Brookes, Bennett Andrews, Robyn Mellor,   Michael Vinsen, Susannah Allman, Kerry Winter, Stephanie Powell, Jason Capewell, Jamie Capewell  and Giovanni Spano.

Following the closure of Grease, new show Ghost The Musical will open at the Piccadilly Theatre directed by Matthew Warchus and with music and lyrics by the Eurythmics Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard.

Special Offer: Save £23.50 on tickets to see Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in London

Lauren Samuels in Grease TONIGHT

Over The Rainbow finalist Lauren Samuels starts run 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 to star in Grease

Over The Rainbow finalist Lauren Samuels to play Sandy 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