CAISSIE LEVY in Ghost The Musical

Broadway’s Caissie Levy returns to the London stage in Ghost The Musical

Caissie Levy must love London.

She was here only a few months ago playing Sheila in the London transfer of Broadway hit HAIR at the Gielgud Theatre. And now Matthew Warchus has cast her in new movie-to-musical Ghost, based on the Oscar-winning film.

Caissie, who hails from Canada and trained at New York’s prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy, got her big break playing Penny Pingleton in the Broadway and US tour of Hairspray. She hasn’t stopped since, having played Maureen Johnson in the US tour of Rent, Elphaba in the LA production of Wicked, and then HAIR on Broadway and in London.

In Ghost The Musical Caissie takes on the lead role of Molly, played in the movie by Demi Moore. When her boyfriend Sam, played in the show by Richard Fleeshman, is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next, he tries to communicate to her through a phoney psychic (Sharon D Clarke), in the hope of saving her from his murderer.

Ghost the Musical, which starts off at the Opera House in Manchester before opening at the Piccadilly Theatre in London in June, will be directed by Matthew Warchus (Deathtrap, La Bete), with music and lyrics by legendary pop and rock writers Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (writer of Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror). The show will also feature the classic song from the movie, Unchained Melody. Ghost The Musical will be designed by Rob Howell, with illusions and stage effects by Paul Kieve (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and a script by the original Oscar-winning screenplay writer Bruce Joel Rubin.

Book tickets to Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre in London

Richard Fleeshman to star in Ghost

Casting announced for Ghost the Musical: Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy to join Sharon D Clarke at the Piccadilly Theatre

Major new West End show Ghost the Musical, based on the Oscar-winning movie, has announced its full cast line-up.

Fresh from playing Warner in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, Richard Fleeshman (Coronation Street) is to take the lead as Sam in the musical, originally played on screen in the Oscar-winning  movie by the late Patrick Swayze.

Playing the Demi Moore role of Molly will be hot Broadway starlet Caissie Levy, who recently appeared in Hair in London and in New York and has also featured in Hairspray, Rent and Wicked.

The show, which opens at the Piccadilly Theatre from 22 June 2011, will be directed by Matthew Warchus, who is enjoying current success in London with his new production of Deathtrap, and on Broadway with La Bete.

Joining Fleeshman and Levy will be West End star Sharon D Clarke as Oda Mae Brown, played in the movie by Whoopi Goldberg, and Andrew Langtree as Carl.

Music and lyrics for the show have been composed by legendary pop and rock writers Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (writer of Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror). The show will also feature the classic song from the movie, Unchained Melody. Ghost The Musical will be designed by Rob Howell, with illusions and stage effects by Paul Kieve (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and a script by the original Oscar-winning screenplay writer Bruce Joel Rubin.

Ghost is about Sam, who is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next trying to communicate with girlfriend Molly through a phoney psychic, in the hope of saving her from his murderer.

The opening night for the show is set for Tuesday 19 July. The show will try out first at the Opera House, Manchester from 28 March to 14 May 2011. Other cast members include Ivan de Freitas, Adebayo Bolaji, Mark Pearce, Lisa Davina Phillip and Jenny Fitzpatrick.

Grease is currently playing at the Piccadilly Theatre, closing on 30 April 2011 to make way for Ghost The Musical.

VIDEO: Watch a trailer for Ghost The Musical

BOOK TICKETS to see Ghost The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre in London

MORE ABOUT THE CAST

Richard Fleeshman
Richard has most recently been seen on stage playing Warner Huntington III opposite Sheridan Smith in Legally Blonde The Musical. He is best known on television for his roles in Coronation Street in which he played Craig Harris for four years and, more recently, Debbie Horsfield’s All the Small Things for the BBC. As a musician Fleeshman was the youngest contestant to win ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes Celebrity Special. Later, in 2006, he won ITV’s Soapstar Superstar. In 2008 he accompanied Elton John on his Summer Stadium and Red Piano tours. His album Neon was released in 2007 followed by singles Coming Down, Hold Me Close, Back Here and Can You Hear Me?

Caissie Levy
Caissie has most recently been seen on stage on Broadway and in the West End in the leading role of Sheila in the New York Public Theatre Cameron Mackintosh production of Hair. Levy made her Broadway debut as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, a role she recreated on tour in the US. She went on to play Maureen Johnson in the US tour of Rent and in 2008 starred as Elphaba in the Los Angeles production of Wicked.

Sharon D Clarke
Sharon has most recently been seen on stage in the West End as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre. She has played Charity in Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire, Mama Morton in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre, Killer Queen in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre and Rafiki in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre as well as roles in The Vagina Monologues at the Hackney Empire and Once on This Island for Nottingham Playhouse, Birmingham Rep and the Hackney Empire. Clarke was a judge on the BBC’s The Last Choir Standing and has performed regularly as Lola Griffin on Holby City also for the BBC.

Andrew Langtree
Andrew has previously been seen on stage in the leading role of Sky in the original London production of Mamma Mia! He has worked extensively at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre in productions including The Glass Menagerie, London Assurance and Six Degrees of Separation. At the National Theatre he has been seen in The Rose Tattoo, at Glasgow Citizens Theatre in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and in the West End in Blood Brothers and Fame. On television his credits include Doctors, Heartbeat, Cutting It and Coronation Street and he has most recently been seen playing Justin Gallagher on Emmerdale. On film he has been seen in De Lovely.

BOOK TICKETS to see Ghost The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre in London

Simon Thomas to star in Legally Blonde

Up and coming musicals star Simon Thomas is to join the cast of Legally Blonde the Musical at the Savoy Theatre in London.

The actor will take over from Richard Fleeshman in the show from 25 October 2010, playing Warner Huntington III. Richard’s last performance will be on 23 October.

Simon Thomas’s recent theatre credits include playing Rapunzel’s Prince in Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Open Air Theatre, the lead in Disney’s Tarzan at the Neue Flora in Hamburg, plus roles in Marguerite, Make Me A Song and Merry Wives Of Windsor for the RSC.

Also joining the show on the 25th is Denise Van Outen, who takes over from Jill Halfpenny as hairdresser Paulette, Siobhan Dillon and Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson, alongside the current cast that includes the star of the show Sheridan Smith, Alex Gaumond and Peter Davison.

Legally Blonde The Musical  is currently booking until 22 October 2011 at the Savoy Theatre.

The comedy musical, which opened in January this year, is based on the movie starring Reese Witherspoon about college sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods (Sheridan Smith), who goes all out to prove to her ex-boyfriend Warner (Simon Thomas) that she’s more than just a dumb blonde – by joining him at Harvard Law School.

Special Offer: Enjoy discount tickets to Legally Blonde The Musical at the Savoy Theatre in London

MORE IMAGES

Sheridan Stays Blonde, Van Outen joins

Legally Blonde star Sheridan Smith to stay with the hit show, plus a new cast joins from 25 October including Denise Van Outen, Siobhan Dillon and Carley Stenson.

The gorgeous, multi-talented star of Legally Blonde, has decided to extend her run in the show at the Savoy Theatre in London.

Sheridan Smith had originally announced her departure from the Broadway musical on Twitter and was scheduled to leave on 23 October 2010, but will now continue in the lead role until 9 January 2011.

Sheridan Smith said in a statement that, “I absolutely love playing Elle Woods, it’s been one of the highlights of my career so far, and I’m thrilled that the audiences love the show as much as I do.  When (producer) Sonia Friedman asked me to stay for a little bit longer, I couldn’t resist the thought of a pink, chihuahua filled Christmas!”

A new cast will also join the show from 25 October, including Denise Van Outen taking over from Jill Halfpenny as hairdresser Paulette, and Siobhan Dillon and Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson.

Van Outen, who is married to Lee Mead (Wicked), has appeared in numerous musicals including Tell Me on a Sunday, Rent: Remixed, Chicago and Les Miserables.

Siobhan Dillon, who will play Vivienne, came to prominence after appearing in TV talent show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, and has performed in Grease in the West End. Carley Stenson will star as Margot, and is best known for playing Steph Cunningham in Hollyoaks. This will be her West End stage debut.

The comedy musical, which opened in January this year, is based on the movie starring Reese Witherspoon about college sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods (Sheridan Smith), who goes all out to prove to her ex-boyfriend Warner (Richard Fleeshman) that she’s more than just a dumb blonde – by joining him at Harvard Law School.

Sheridan Smith is best known for her award-winning TV roles including Two Pints of Lager & A Packet of Crisps, Grown Ups, Love Soup, Benidorm and Gavin and Stacey. Stage roles include Into the Woods at the Donmar Warehouse, Audrey in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Little Shop of Horrors and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew at the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park.

Sheridan recently performed in a workshop version of a new musical based on Helen Fielding’s book Bridget Jones’s Diary, with music by Lily Allen, fuelling rumours that she may be up for a role in the show. Stephen Daldry, director of the film and stage version of  Billy Elliot, will helm the project if it goes ahead. The show would also reunite Daldry with producers of the Bridget Jones and Billy Elliot films and stage shows Working Title Films, plus choreographer Peter Darling.

Other cast starting in the show from 25 October include Stephane Anelli (Padamadan, Nikos), Emma Bateman (Stenographer), Thomas Camilleri (Carlos), Chris Ellis-Stanton (Grandmaster Chad, Dewey, Kyle), Kimmy Edwards (Judge, Saleswoman), Ibinabo Jack (Pilar), Suzie McAdam (Enid), Andy Mace (Dad, Winthrop, Reporter), Susan McFadden (Serena), Sorelle Marsh (Courtney, Mom, Whitney), Aoife Mulholland (Brooke), Sean Mulligan (Pforzheimer), Dawn Sievewright (Kate, Chutney), Robbie Towns (Aaron), Dominic Tribuzio (Kiki), Tamara Wall (District Attorney) and Stephen Webb (Lowell), as well as Jonathan Mawson, Jane McMurtrie, Lucy Miller, Ruthie Stephenson and Gregor Stewart as swings.

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £14 on tickets to Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre in London

LEGALLY BLONDE CAST RECORDING

The London cast recording of Legally Blonde The Musical, which was recorded live at the Savoy Theatre, was released last week by First Night Records and is doing brisk business.

Buy the London cast recording of Legally Blonde

Catch Sheridan Smith in Legally Blonde

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £14 on tickets to Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre

Valid Sunday to Fridays from 1st September – 15th October

See Sheridan Smith, the acclaimed star of hit musical Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, and save.

To celebrate her stunning performance as Elle Woods, we present a special ticket offer to save £14 on top price seats to the show, valid Sunday to Fridays from 1 September to 15 October.

This fabulous, fun-filled musical also stars Richard Fleeshman (Coronation Street) and Jill Halfpenny (Chicago, Eastenders).

College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods doesn’t take no for an answer. So when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her for someone serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and heads for Harvard Law School!

Based on the hit movie of the same name, Legally Blonde the Musical is the Broadway sensation created by a top-of-their-class creative team, led by Tony Award-winning director and Olivier nominated choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray).

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £14 on tickets to Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre

Valid Sunday to Fridays from 1st September – 15th October

Legally Blonde – Free Dinner

Legally Blonde – Enjoy a free Dinner when booking tickets to the show

BOOK THIS THEATRE DINNER PACKAGE >

Pre or post theatre dinner at Thai Square and ticket to the show only £47.50 (ticket usually £50).

Westendtheatre.com presents a great theatre dinner package to see Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre in London.

Catch Sheridan Smith (Gavin and Stacey) in her break-out performance in the lead role of Elle Woods only until 23 October (note: Sheridan is on holiday 8 – 14 September).

This fabulous, fun-filled musical also stars Richard Fleeshman (Coronation Street) and Jill Halfpenny (Chicago, Eastenders).

College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods doesn’t take no for an answer. So when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her for someone serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and heads for Harvard Law School!

Based on the hit movie of the same name, Legally Blonde the Musical is the Broadway sensation created by a top-of-their-class creative team, led by Tony Award-winning director and Olivier nominated choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray).

Legally Blonde the Musical will take you from the social whirl of California Campus life to Harvard’s Halls of Justice with the West End’s brightest new heroine (and of course, her Chihuahua, Bruiser).

SPECIAL OFFER: Legally Blonde – Enjoy a free Dinner when booking tickets to the show

BOOK THIS THEATRE DINNER PACKAGE >

CASTING: Sister Act and Legally Blonde

It’s the great boy-band takeover of the West End as ex-Blue singer Simon Webbe and actor and pop singer Richard Fleeshman head to Theatreland.

SISTER ACT

Duncan James may be currently wowing them in Legally Blonde, but fellow Blue band mate Simon Webbe will be following in his footsteps later this year, by joining the cast of Sister Act at the London Palladium.

Webbe, who has appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and is also a singer-songwriter, manager and recording artist, has had a few acting parts over the last few years but nothing as big as a major role in a West End show. Previous acting credits include romantic-comedy The Truth About Love and British gangster movie Rollin’ With The Nines.

Also starring in Sister Act is Patina Miller and Over The Rainbow judge Sheila Hancock .

LEGALLY BLONDE

Talking of Duncan James, he’s off! James, who has starred in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre since its opening in January, will leave the show at the end of June.

His replacement in the role of Warner will be ex-Coronation Street star Richard Fleeshman. Most recently in BBC drama All The Small Things, Fleeshman also has a singing career and has released a an album, won ITV show Soapstar Superstar and supported Elton John on his 2008 stadium tour.

Sheridan Smith will continue in the lead role of Elle Woods in the feel-good hit that is based on the successful film.

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