Cast Highlights for Putting It Together is a sparkling Stephen Sondheim revue at the St James Theatre starring David Bedella, Daniel Crossley, Janie Dee, Damian Humbley and Caroline Sheen.
DAVID BEDELLA
As Man 1
David has worked in theatre for over thirty years. He spent 10 years in Chicago, then 11 in New York, performing on Broadway and in U.S. National Tours before making his London debut in 2003 creating the role of Satan in the legendary Jerry Springer-The Opera at the National Theatre then the Cambridge Theatre in the West End, where it was filmed for the BBC and released on DVD. He won the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. In 2008 he recreated the role in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York opposite Harvey Keitel, and again in 2010 at the Sydney Opera House opposite David Wenham.
David played the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch then went on to redefine the role of Frank-N-Furter in the West End production of The Rocky Horror Show, which toured the UK 2006-07 and 2009 and 10.
2008 saw David take on the roles of Molokov in Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, opposite Josh Groban and Idina Menzel; and Billy Flynn in CHICAGO, first at the Cambridge Theatre then again later that year at the Garrick. 2011- Willie Misner in Stephen Sondheim’s Roadshow and 2012- Arnold in Torch Song Trilogy, both at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Film credits include Alexander, Batman Begins, Red Light Runners, once again opposite Harvey Keitel; and Punk Strut.
Television credits, all BBC, include Ben Elton’s Blessed; Dr. Carlos in Holby City; and later this year, Franky, opposite Tamsin Greig in Inside No.9, and the new BBC police drama- By Any Means. He is the voice of Victor and the Mayor of Sodor in Thomas and Friends and is the voice of Coor’s Light throughout the UK. He is the host of the late night celebrity chat show, David Bedella And Friends and has appeared ‘In Concert’ at Leicester Square and London’s new “Hippodrome.” David will be playing the baddie opposite Jo Brand this Christmas in Aladin at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
DANIEL CROSSLEY
As Man 3
Theatre credits include: Cosmo Brown in Singin In The Rain (Chichester Festival Theatre, Palace Theatre), Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl and Paul in A Chorus Line (Sheffield Crucible), Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman (Hull Truck), Bert in Mary Poppins (National Tour), Cornelius Hackl in Hello Dolly! Jacques de Boys in As You Like it, Abram in Romeo and Juliet, Darren in Desires of Frankenstein, various roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Love’s Labours Lost, Oh What a Lovely War and Where’s Charlie (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Anything Goes and Love’s Labours Lost (National Theatre), Sebastian in Twelfth Night (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Tony in Abigail’s Party (Northcott Theatre Exeter), HC in The Snow Queen (Derby Theatre), Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sprite Productions), Andrew in I Really Must Be Getting Off (White Bear), Oliver in Roast Chicken (Hen and Chickens), Owen/Kieran/Russell/Skinner in Modern Dance for Beginners (Etcetera theatre), Danny in Boyband (Derby Playhouse and Gielgud Theatre), Fosse (Prince of Wales Theatre), Chicago (Adelphi Theatre), Fame (Cambridge Theatre), Cats (New London Theatre)
Television credits include: Doctors (BBC), The Last Enemy (BBC), Coronation Street (ITV), Heartbeat (ITV).
Film credits include: The Borghilde Project, Working Lunge.
JANIE DEE
As Woman 1
‘Is there a more enchanting actress on the British stage than Janie Dee? She combines good nature, good humour, an unforced charm and unself-conscious sensuality with a sense of mischief.’ (Benedict Nightingale, The Times)
The twin themes of charm and versatility have followed Janie throughout her extraordinarily varied career. A career which encompasses work on stage, film, television and radio, and embraces everything from Shakespeare at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the Globe (including ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’, which was filmed by Opus Arte), to revivals of classic plays at Bath and Chichester (‘Design for Living’, ‘A Month in the Country’), acclaimed performances in modern dramas and comedies by Harold Pinter (‘Old Times’, ‘Betrayal’), Alan Ayckbourn (‘Comic Potential’, ‘A Woman in Mind’) and Michael Frayn (‘Skios’, ‘Noises Off’, ‘Donkeys Years’). In addition Janie has performed in many intimate cabarets and taken starring roles in musicals (‘Carousel’, ‘Cabaret’, ‘Cats’, ‘Can Can’, ‘My One and Only’, ‘Mack and Mabel’ and the classics of Rodgers and Hammerstein).
In the past year alone, Janie has performed in Michael Frayn’s riotous farce ‘Noises Off’ at the Old Vic and in the West End, created a lethal new role, Miranda, the glossy magazine editor, in Lucy Kirkwood’s acclaimed new play ‘NSFW’ at the Royal Court, for which she won her fifth Olivier award nomination, as Best Supporting Actress in a Play, and the irresistible matchmaker Dolly Levi in ‘Hello, Dolly!’. In addition, in January she created a brand new cabaret, ‘Satin Doll’ at the Crazy Coqs, Brasserie Zedel to great acclaim.
Janie has just completed a short film, ‘The Bathroom’ written and directed by Sam Peter Jackson, directed a new musical version of ‘The Kitchen’ by Derek Barnes, based on the play by Arnold Wesker for Central School of Speech & Drama and performed with Kurt Elling in a new symphonic piece, ‘That Obscure Hurt’ written by Musician of the Year 2013 Guy Barker, and Robert Ryan, which was premiered at the Aldeburgh Festival earlier this month and broadcast live on Radio 3, as part of the Britten anniversary celebrations.
Janie is winner of the Olivier, London Evening Standard & Critics Circle Awards for Best Actress for her performance in Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘Comic Potential’ and the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for ‘Carousel’ at the National Theatre, directed by Nicholas Hytner.
DAMIAN HUMBLEY
As Man 2
Training: Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
Theatre: Charley Kringas in Merrily We Roll Along (West End/Menier Chocolate Factory); Harry in Company (Sheffield Crucible); Max in Lend Me a Tenor, The Musical (Plymouth Theatre Royal/West End); Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Menier Chocolate Factory – UK Tour); Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof (Sheffield Crucible and Savoy Theatre); Jamie Wellerstein in The Last 5 Years (Menier Chocolate Factory); Walter Hartright in The Woman In White (Palace Theatre); Urinetown (Melbourne Theatre Company).
Concerts: The Symphony of Australia (SOA); Masterpiece: The Music of
Andrew Lloyd Webber (Really Useful Group)
Recordings: Merrily We Roll Along (DigitalTheatre.com); Lend Me A Tenor
(Original Cast Recording); The Symphony of Australia (Sydney Symphony
Orchestra); Fiddler on the Roof (2007 London Cast Recording); Masterpiece:
The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (2001 Live Cast Recording)
CAROLINE SHEEN
As Woman 2
Caroline has starred in premiere musicals in the West End and across the world, most recently playing the role of Fantine in Les Miserables opposite Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean. During her time in the show Caroline was given leave to appear in Tom Hooper’s Academy Award winning film adaptation of the show.
In 2010, Caroline was asked by Disney Theatrical and Cameron Mackintosh to tour America playing Mary Poppins, a role she originated on the UK Tour in 2008. Whilst in America, Caroline won the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a touring production, she performed with the cast on Dancing with the Stars, and she was welcomed by Michelle Obama on her Opening Night in Washington DC. The same year Caroline released her debut album “Raise the Curtain” to critical acclaim. Other recordings Caroline can be heard include “The Witches of Eastwick”, “Mamma Mia”, “A Spoonful of Stiles and Drewe”, “Serious Cabaret” and the charity single “A Miner’s Song” with other welsh celebrities raising money for the National Mining Memorial.
2009 saw Caroline creating the role of Clara Johnson in the European Premiere of The Light in the Piazza, Adam Guettel’s Tony winning masterpiece. Adam then invited Caroline to sing with him in his Cabaret debut in 2012 at London’s Hippodrome Casino.
Other West End leading roles include Sandy in Grease, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Eponine in Les Miserables, Jennifer Gabriel in the original cast of The Witches of Eastwick, Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Sophie in Mamma Mia. Other theatre work includes leading roles in prestigious venues including the National Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse.
On television she has appeared in Torchwood, Hotel Babylon, Doctors and Henry VIII – Portrait of a Tyrant. Other TV appearances include the Royal Variety Show, Aled Jones and Co, the Mike Doyle Show, Art Talks with Mal Pope, and Blue Peter. Whilst appearing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2002, HTV Wales made a documentary about Caroline, her career and her upbringing in Wales.
Caroline’s extensive concert work includes guest soloist appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Opera House, the London Palladium, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St David’s Hall, and at the Opening performance of the Wales Millennium Centre. She has appeared alongside Michael Ball, Cliff Richard, Bryn Terfel, Dennis O’Neill, Catrin Finch, Aled Jones, Barbara Cook and John Owen Jones. Caroline also performed her own one woman show to a sell out audience at the Battersea Barge. Most recently Caroline was lead soloist at the Welsh Proms in the Best of the West End.
In 2012 Caroline was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the University of Wales, Newport.
CREATIVE TEAM
ALEX PARKER- Producer/Musical Director
Theatre credits as Musical Director include Once Upon a Matress (Union Theatre) and A Little Night Music (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre), as Producer/Musical Director Marguerite (Tabard Theatre), as Associate Musical Director Mrs Henderson Presents (Workshop) The Pajama Game (Chichester Festival Theatre) Soho Cinders (Soho Theatre) and as Assistant Musical Director Soho Cinders in Concert (Queen’s Theatre).
He has conducted in concert artists including Maria Friedman, Matt Lucas and Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Joanna Riding, Anna O’Byrne, David Birrell and more.
Studied Music (BMus) at the University of Birmingham (graduated 2012).
In October, Alex will begin work as the Assistant Musical Director on the premiere of a brand new musical in the West End.
Alastair Knights – Director
Alastair read English at University of Birmingham before gaining an MA at Guildford School of Acting, where he graduated in 2012.
As director/choreographer his credits include Anything Goes (University of Birmingham), Company (Electric Theatre) and Something Wonderful: An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre). He conceived and directed the original Jule Styne revue ‘Everything’s Coming Roses’ which premiered in Guildford in April and most recently staged a 40th Anniversary concert of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘A Little Night Music’ starring Janie Dee, Joanna Riding and David Birrell.
BOOK
Book tickets to Putting It Together at the St James Theatre in London
