Dexter acts superior in Sister Act
August 24, 2010 by admin
Filed under News, News - Featured
Sally Dexter will join the cast of Sister Act next month at the London Palladium when she becomes the third actress to play Mother Superior in the hit musical.
Sally Dexter in Bad Girls
The multi-talented actress will join the cast of the show following Whoopi Goldberg’s current run in the role.
Dexter, who has appeared in numerous plays and musicals including Billy Elliot and Bad Girls, was last at the Palladium playing Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s 1994 production of Oliver!
The show is slated to end at the London Palladium on 30 October 2010, earlier than its original 1 January closing date. It will make way for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s big-budget new production of The Wizard of Oz. Sister Act is expected to go on to Broadway.
The part of Mother Superior was originated by Sheila Hancock in the musical, which is based on the hit movie.
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Whoopi a smash in Sister Act
August 11, 2010 by admin
Filed under News, News - Featured
Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg was on great form last night, making her West End debut in Sister Act at the London Palladium.
Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act The Musical
Stars were out in force to support the performer, who starred in the original movie and has now taken over from Sheila Hancock as Mother Superior in the show.
Pop singer Mika said: “Sister Act was brilliant. Whoopi was excellent, so humble and at one with the rest of the cast. I could not stop smiling”.
Whoopi told the Daily Mail before the curtain went up last night that she was nervous about performing in the show: “It’s a big deal. It’s The Palladium and it’s London, and it’s my first stage production here that I’m in.”
Fellow co-star Patina Miller who plays Deloris van Cartier, the role that Whoopi originated in the hit movie, said that she was, “blessed to be onstage with her” last night. Simon Webbe, from boyband Blue and who plays Shank in the show called Goldberg a “true star”.
Whoopi stars in the show for only 23 performances from 10 to 31 August at the London Palladium.
Actress, singer-songwriter, political activist and talk show host, Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar in 1990 for her part in Ghost, and has appeared in numerous films including The Color Purple, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Soapdish, as well as her comedy stand-up work and appearance on US TV’s The View.
Book tickets to Sister Act at the London Palladium
PICTURES
Whoopi Goldberg starts tonight
Whoopi Goldberg makes her West End debut tonight, 10 August, in Sister Act at the London Palladium.
Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act The Musical
The Hollywood movie star has co-produced the West End show, based on the 1990s film in which she starred.
The Oscar-winner takes over from Sheila Hancock in the role of Mother Superior for 23 performances only from 10 to 31 August at the London Palladium. The show also stars Patina Miller as Deloris van Cartier, in the role that Whoopi originated in the hit movie.
Sheila Hancock left the show on 31 July, with her co-star Patina Miller paying tribute to the star on Twitter: “I’ve learned so much from her, it’s gonna be tough to see her leave”.
Actress, singer-songwriter, political activist and talk show host, Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar in 1990 for her part in Ghost, and has appeared in numerous films including The Color Purple, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Soapdish, as well as her comedy stand-up work and appearance on US TV’s The View.
Book tickets to Sister Act at the London Palladium
Casting: Sister Act, Priscilla, Les Mis
July 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under Casting, News, News - Featured
Whoopi Goldberg to make her West End debut in Sister Act; Alf from Home and Away joins the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Ramin Karimloo and Samantha Barks to appear in Les Mis at the O2.
Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act The Musical
SISTER ACT
Whoopi Goldberg will join the cast of Sister Act next month. The Hollywood movie star makes her West End debut in the show that she has co-produced, based on the 1990s film in which she starred.
The Oscar-winner will take over from Sheila Hancock in the role of Mother Superior for 23 performances only from 10 to 31 August at the London Palladium. The show also stars Patina Miller as Deloris van Cartier, in the role that Whoopi originated in the hit movie.
The actress, singer-songwriter, political activist and talk show host won an oscar in 1990 for her part in Ghost, and has appeared in numerous films including The Color Purple, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Soapdish, as well as her comedy stand-up work and appearance on US TV’s The View.
Book tickets to Sister Act at the London Palladium
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Ray Meagher
Home and Away’s Alf Stewart, aka Australian actor Ray Meagher, will join the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre from 30 September.
Sadly Ray will not be donning fishnets and stilettos to play one of the three Sydney drag queens who go bush on an epic journey across Australia in the fun show based on the hit movie. Rather Ray will play ocker mechanic Bob, who falls for Les Girls drag queen Bernadette, played in the show by Don Gallagher.
Other cast in the long-running show include The Bill’s Ben Richards as Tick and Oliver Thornton as Adam.
In a West End first, the whole show will take a break in September for essential maintenance work on Priscilla the bus, allowing the cast and crew to enjoy a holiday from 6 to 19 September.
Book tickets to Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre
LES MISERABLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess in Love Never Dies
More casting has been announced for the O2 Arena concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables on 3 October 2010.
Current star of Love Never Dies, Ramin Karimloo, will take on the role of Enjolras in the musical. He will be joined by current Les Mis cast member Samantha Barks as Eponine. Samantha was a finalist on the BBC One talent show I’d Do Anything and is currently playing Eponine in the West End production of Les Miserables alongside Nick Jonas.
The special concert will play on 3 October 2010 at 1.30pm and 7pm.
The concert will see stars from the original London cast come together with current casts and major celebrities to celebrate the birthday, including Nick Jonas, Alfie Boe, Norm Lewis, Matt Lucas, Lea Salonga, Jenny Galloway, Camilla Kerslake and 300 performers and musicians.
Les Miserables will also make theatrical history with three different productions running simultaneously in London: the original production at the Queen’s Theatre, the new 25th anniversary UK tour of Les Miserables which will come to the Barbican for a short season, and the exclusive concert at the O2 Arena.
Book tickets to Les Miserables 25th Anniversary concert at the O2 Arena
WHOOPI GOLDBERG in Sister Act
July 14, 2010 by admin
Filed under Cast - Archive, Star Watch Archive
Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg makes her West End debut in Sister Act
She starred in the original movie, she co-produced the West End show – and now Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg will join the cast of SISTER ACT at the London Palladium.
It may only be for 23 performances, from 10 to 31 August 2010, but Whoopi will make her West End stage debut in the show that has proved a consistent winner for the star.
She won’t, however, be reprising her 1992 movie character Deloris van Cartier, the night club singer who is installed in a convent as part of a witness protection programme. Patina Miller will continue her successful run in that role, and Whoopi will take over from Sheila Hancock to play Mother Superior.
Whoopi ‘s film career includes winning an Oscar in1990 for her part in Ghost – a movie that is also set to be revived as a musical next year, directed by Matthew Warchus (La Bete, Deathtrap) and with a score by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard.
The actress, singer-songwriter, political activist and talk show host is also well known for films The Color Purple, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Soapdish, her comedy stand-up work and her appearance on US TV’s The View.
Book tickets to Sister Act at the London Palladium
Sister Act The Musical – Save £26
Save £26 on tickets to Sister Act at the London Palladium
Valid Monday to Friday performances until the 18th June (Excludes school holidays)
westendtheatre.com presents £26 off tickets to major musical SISTER ACT at the London Palladium.
This hugely enjoyable show stars award-winning actress and Over The Rainbow judge Sheila Hancock as Mother Superior and rising new star Patina Miller as Deloris – plus ex-Blue band member Simon Webbe will be joining the cast from 31 May.
The show has been hailed by critics as “glorious fun!” (The Daily Telegraph),”a divine all singing, all dancing musical comedy!” (Daily Express) and “Sister Act answered all my prayers and more!” (Daily Mail).
SISTER ACT features a score by Alan Menken, eight-time Oscar winner and the genius behind many of the world famous songs from Disney’s movies, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin and Enchanted, with lyrics from his long time collaborator, Glenn Slater. The book is by the award-winning team, Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, whose writing credits include the classic television comedy Cheers, and the production is directed by Peter Schneider.
MORE ABOUT SISTER ACT
When Disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder she is put in protective custody in the one place cops are sure she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an up tight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir Deloris breathes new life into the church and community, but in doing so blows her cover. Soon the gang is giving chase only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her new found Sister Hood.
Sister Act is based on the smash-hit movie, and produced by the movie’s original star Whoopi Goldberg.
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The Telegraph
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Evening Standard
Book tickets to see Sister Act and save £26 on tickets
Valid Monday to Friday performances until the 18th June (Excludes school holidays)
Sister Act – Save £20
Save £20 on tickets to Sister Act at the London Palladium
westendtheatre.com presents £20 off tickets to major new musical SISTER ACT at the London Palladium.
The show, starring award-winning actress Sheila Hancock as Mother Superior and rising new star Patina Miller as Deloris, hsa been hailed by critics as “glorious fun!” (The Daily Telegraph),”a divine all singing, all dancing musical comedy!” (Daily Express) and “Sister Act answered all my prayers and more!” (Daily Mail).
Book tickets to Sister Act at the London Palladium
More about Sister Act
When Disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder she is put in protective custody in the one place cops are sure she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an up tight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir Deloris breaths new life into the church and community, but in doing so blows her cover. Soon the gang is giving chase only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her new found Sister Hood. Based on the smash-hit movie, Sister Act features a brand new score by 8 time Oscar winner Alan Menken whose credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and most recently the hit movie Enchanted. Produced by the movie’s original star Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act stars award-winning actress Sheila Hancock as Mother Superior and rising new star Patina Miller as Deloris.
Book tickets to Sister Act at the London Palladium
Sister Act – round up of reviews
London theatre – summer preview
April 7, 2009 by admin
Filed under News, Shows opening
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London theatre is pulling out all of the stops this summer to ensure that the capital’s theatre scene remains a chief attraction for millions of UK and overseas visitors.
A host of big hitting stars and large scale musicals are lined up to showcase a range of new productions, including performances by Jude Law, Helen Mirren, Ethan Hawke, Gillian Anderson and Ian McKellen.
The death of drama in the West End has been greatly exaggerated given the wide ranging slate of classic and contemporary plays premiering this summer. One of the most high profile will be Jude Law, taking to the stage in Shakespeare’s most famous play, Hamlet, directed by Michael Grandage as part of his Donmar in the West End season. A strong supporting cast includes Penelope Wilton as Gertrude and Kevin McNally as Claudius, from 29 May at the Wyndham’s Theatre.
- Hamlet with Jude Law
From Danes to Dames and Helen Mirren returns to London and the National Theatre from 4 June in Racine’s tragic play Phedre. The play concerns a woman (Mirren) consumed by passion for her stepson, which is highly plausible given that the stepson is played by hot young thing and Mamma Mia! The Movie star Dominic Cooper.
Helen Mirren starred in successful British movie Calendar Girls – which is now coming to the stage in a brand new production starring Patricia Hodge and Sian Phillips. Written by Tim Firth, the story of a group of middle-aged Women’s Institute members who pose for a calendar with a difference is playing at the Noel Coward Theatre.
Stage legends Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are reuniting after their onscreen antics in the X-Men movies to give us Waiting for Godot at the Haymarket Theatre from 20 April, in what promises to be a standout production of Samuel Beckett’s classic.
- Waiting for Godot with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart
Talents from New York and London will converge at The Old Vic from 23 May for The Bridge Project – a three year partnership between The Old Vic, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Neal Street Productions. Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes will direct a new version of The Cherry Orchard plus Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, in a cast that features Ethan Hawke, Simon Russell Beale, Sinead Cusack and recent star of Woody Allen’s Vicky Christina Barcelona, Rebecca Hall.
The Cherry Orchard is a new translation by Tom Stoppard, who will also see his 1993 play Arcadia revived in a new production at the Duke of York’s Theatre starring his son Ed Stoppard and Samantha Bond and Dan Stevens. In its first run at the National Theatre the play won a slew of awards including Critics’ Circle, Evening Standard and Olivier Awards.
Other notable players making their way into town include Prunella Scales (Fawlty Towers) in Carrie’s War at the Apollo Theatre, and Gillian Anderson, who will star in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House at the Donmar Warehouse, joining a stellar cast that includes Christopher Eccleston, Toby Stephens, Tara Fitzgerald and Anton Lesser.
Musical theatre is firmly “based on a film” this year as a blockbuster stage production of Sister Act joins a West End brimming with adaptations of movies, including recent addition Priscilla Queen of the Desert starring Jason Donovan and long-runners Hairspray with Michael Ball, Dirty Dancing, The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Sunset Boulevard – and Grease, which will star Dancing on Ice winner Ray Quinn as Danny from 11 May.
- Sister Act with Sheila Hancock and Patina Miller
Sister Act, which runs from 7 May at the London Palladium, is produced by the film’s original star Whoopi Goldberg and features Sheila Hancock and rising star Patina Miller, with music courtesy of Alan Menken (Disney’s Beauty & The Beast).
Other movie-to-stage shows on the horizon include the Broadway production of Legally Blond opening at the Savoy Theatre at the end of the year and a stage adaptation of Oscar winning film Ghost, directed by Matthew Warchus, set for 2010.
Chief amongst the new musicals opening in London in the later part of 2009 will be Andrew Lloyd Webber’s world premiere of The Phantom of the Opera sequel Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre in early November. The show is set to star current London Phantom Ramin Karimloo and will follow its London opening with productions in Toronto, Shanghai and then Broadway.
A number of shows that have run successfully in other venues are also making their way into the West End including Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply) and Henry Goodman in Duet For One at the Vaudeville Theatre; the acclaimed production of Steven Sondheim’s A Little Night Music starring Maureen Lipman at the Garrick Theatre; the National Theatre’s War Horse, a family drama set during World War I about a boy’s adventures to find his beloved horse, at the New London theatre; and following its smash-hit run on Broadway – a new UK production of uber hip musical Spring Awakening at the Novello Theatre.
- Spring Awakening at the Novello Theatre
Other long running musicals that continue to extend their runs and pack them in include Avenue Q – now at the Gielgud Theatre, Blood Brothers, We Will Rock You, Chicago, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Stomp, Oliver!, Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables, Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Joseph, Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Carousel, Thriller Live featuring the songs of Michael Jackson and an award-winning production of La Cage Aux Folles.
Long-running plays in London include scary thriller The Woman in Black, hilarious comedy The 39 Steps based on Alfred Hitchcock’s film and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.
Finally, the V&A Museum in London has opened its new Theatre and Performance galleries following the closure of the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden in 2007. The new galleries will celebrate the UK’s heritage in culture and performance with hundreds of exhibits including costumes, set models, stage props, original posters and playbills, theatrical prints, paintings and photographs from some of London’s most famous theatrical productions.
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Sister Act casting announced
After a year long global search, 24 year-old US actress Patina Miller has been cast to make her West End debut playing the lead role of ‘Deloris Van Cartier’ in the divine new musical comedy “SISTER ACT”. Born and raised in South Carolina, Patina’s previous credits include the critically acclaimed 2008 production of Hair in New York. The role of Deloris in “SISTER ACT” was made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie of the same name, and Goldberg is a co-producer of the stage version.
Starring alongside Patina will be Sheila Hancock as ‘Mother Superior’. To many, a national treasure and a multi-BAFTA nominee, Sheila’s career spans theatre, television, radio and film and she won a 2007 Olivier Award for her performance in Cabaret. Dad’s Army and EastEnders actor Ian Lavender also stars as ‘Monsignor Howard’. “SISTER ACT” opens at the London Palladium on 2 June, following previews from 7 May.
Whoopi Goldberg says:
“I am proud to announce that we’ve finally found you an amazing girl to play Deloris. It wasn’t easy, but we did it. And boy, can she sing (unlike some people we know – me!). And in order to match her, we went for the best and we got the brilliant… Sheila Hancock is our Mother Superior, a legend and not just in my mind. I think together they will reinvent SISTER ACT and bring it to a whole new level…can you tell I’m excited?”
Also starring in “SISTER ACT” will be Chris Jarman as ‘Shank’, Ako Mitchell as ‘Eddie’, Katie Rowley Jones as ‘Sister Mary Robert’, Claire Greenway as ‘Sister Mary Patrick’ and Julia Sutton as ‘Sister Mary Lazarus’, Thomas Goodridge as ‘TJ’, Nicolas Colicos as ‘Bones’ and Ivan De Freitas as ‘Dinero’. The cast also includes Vanessa Barmby, Amy Booth-Steel, Julian Cannonier, Ben Clare, Helen Colby, Kate Coyston, Jennie Dale, Jaymz Denning, Nia Fisher, Alison Harding, Paul Kemble, Debbie Kurup, George Long, Hugh Maynard, Jo Napthine, Aysa O’Flaherty, Landi Oshinowo, Verity Quade, Helen Walsh and Emma Woods.
“SISTER ACT” features a score by Alan Menken, eight-time Oscar winner and composer of many of the world famous songs from Disney’s movies, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin and Enchanted, with lyrics from his long- time collaborator Glenn Slater. The book is by the award-winning team Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, whose writing credits include the classic television comedy Cheers, and the production is directed by Peter Schneider.
“SISTER ACT” has musical supervision by Michael Kosarin, choreography by Anthony Van Laast, set design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Lez Brotherston, sound design by Mick Potter, lighting design by Natasha Katz and musical direction by Nicholas Skilbeck.
“SISTER ACT” is produced in London by Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment, producers of Hairspray, Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour!, High School Musical and Saturday Night Fever.
London Theatre – 2009 Preview
December 30, 2008 by admin
Filed under News, Shows opening
If theatre mirrors life then you would expect 2009 to be a bad year for the performing arts in London: economic downturns and credit crunches sound like gloomy news for our discretionary entertainment spending. But West End theatre box office figures have kept on going up in recent years, and the huge number of new productions sailing into town during 2009 could mean that Theatreland manages to buck the trend.
THE GREAT REVIVAL
The RSC, National Theatre, Donmar and Old Vic dominated straight drama in the West End in 2008, and they haven’t finished yet. Big hitters coming to town include Judi Dench and Rosamund Pike in the Donmar in the West End’s Madame de Sade at the Wyndhams; Jude Law offering us his, hopefully fighting fit, Hamlet; Gillian Anderson in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Rachel Weisz in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse; Helen Mirren making her return to the London stage in Phaedra at the National Theatre; and a number of crowd-pleasing revivals at the Old Vic, no more so than Dancing at Lughnasa, Brian Friel’s hugely successful play starring Andrea Corr, and Sam Mendes directing Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard and Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale, both featuring Ethan Hawke, Simon Russell Beale and Sinead Cusack.
STAR POWER
Other stars shimmying into town include Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot at the Haymarket, Ken Stott and Hayley Atwell in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge at the Duke of York’s, heavy-hitter Pete Postlethwaite as King Lear at the Young Vic, and Antony Sher giving us his Prospero in the RSC’s The Tempest. The Gavin and Stacey phenomenon continues to roll on, as we see Joe Orton’s delicious romp Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Trafalgar Studios starring Gavin himself, Matthew Horne, alongside Imelda Staunton; whilst Gavin’s onscreen Mum Alison Steadman plays a barking Leeds housewife in Alan Bennett’s Enjoy at the Gielgud Theatre.
NEW PLAYS
The sharp eyed amongst you will notice that all of these plays are revivals rather than new work, keeping audiences firmly in their comfort zones. That said, new plays may be thin on the ground but not absent all together, with the National offering up Richard Bean’s England People Very Nice, following two lovers across four centuries, and Samuel Adamson’s Mrs Affleck set in the 1950s. Jez Butterworth has two new plays in pre-production, with comedy Parlour Song at the Almeida and Jerusalem at the Royal Court. Also at the Royal Court, Mark Ravenhill will bring his new play Over There. Plus Hollywood man of the moment James McAvoy is to star in Richard Greenberg’s acclaimed play Three Days of Rain at the Apollo, and at The Old Vic Richard Dreyfuss headlines the world premiere of American playwright Joe Sutton’s new play Complicit, directed by Kevin Spacey.
“BASED ON A FILM”
In musical theatre, 2009 promises to be a year of great big fabulous and familiar shows, surely enough to see us through the dark times? And it’s no coincidence that many of them are based on hugely successful films.
Oliver! will be well and truly steaming ahead through 2009 at the Drury Lane Theatre Royal with Rowan Atkinson and Jodie Prenger; La Cage Aux Folles will continue camping it up at the Playhouse but with Graham Norton taking over from Douglas Hodge; and at the Adelphi Theatre Lee Mead will bow out of Joseph to be replaced by Gareth Gates.
Jason Donovan will be donning the wigs and lip gloss to take us on an Australian power-mince in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre. And Sister Act at the London Palladium will be doing its best to recreate the fun of the film, helped along by Whoopi Goldberg as co-producer. And not quite a musical but as good as, Calendar Girls the stage play will up the naked flesh quotient in the West End, starring Patricia Hodge and Lynda Bellingham at the Noel Coward Theatre.
Also in musicals-land the power of reality TV continues to wield its power, with Gareth Gates going into Joseph at the Adelphi Theatre, the X-factor’s Niki Evans continuing in Blood Brothers at the Phoenix, Jodie Prenger in Oliver at the Drury Lane, and Ray Quinn and Danny Bayne in Grease – joined for a limited time by the legendary Jimmy Osmond.
KIDS RULE
Kids should also see a good year in 2009 with an enormous live theatrical production of Walking with Dinosaurs coming to a stadium near you, and War Horse transfers from its successful run at the National Theatre to the New London Theatre.
