Month: May 2017

When did you first start to sing?

I was eight years old when I first realised I could sing. It was at my first school where they were putting on a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. I was fairly young so I can’t remember too much about it, but I remember it being liberating. Years later I was asked by Andrew Lloyd Webber to play Joseph in the West End and I jumped at the chance. It just hasn’t stopped since!

Did you know Footloose before joining this production?

I am a big fan of the film. It was released the year I was born in 1984 and I remember watching it quite a bit growing up. It’s a classic. I actively went after this job; the role really appealed to me. I’m playing the comedy role which is a type of character that I’ve never played before, and it’s great.

Tell us about the role of Willard.

I’m playing Willard, who is the character who can’t dance. To be honest, that suits me down to the ground! He’s a cowboy from Beaumont. It’s a really small town in the United Stated where everybody knows everybody’s business, and dancing is banned. Ren arrives in Beaumont and shakes everything up; he teaches Willard how to dance. Willard is a goofy character, and this is brand new for me. I am really enjoying playing someone completely different. I like to challenge myself.

What can audiences expect from the show?

It is quite true to the film and features all the hits from that time and from the film itself, songs like Let’s Hear it for the Boy, Holding out for a Hero and the title track Footloose. It is a great show with some really special moments. We do a mega mix of all the songs at the end and everyone is on their feet and having a good time, so it is a feel-good show. With this cast, everybody sings, acts, dances and plays instruments live too. I really have the greatest respect for this cast, they are a really talented bunch.

What is your favourite musical?

That’s a really tough one. I absolutely loved the 25th Anniversary production of Les Miserables which toured a few years back. It was stunning. The cast were incredible and the venues just huge. I learnt my craft on that job, from the best. We even got to take the show to Paris, which was obviously incredible.

Have you always been able to dance? Did you have lessons?

I’m fortunate that I play a cowboy who can’t dance! At the end of the show he’s had to learn how to dance though. I have done parts before where I’ve had to dance and, of course there was Dancing on Ice, so I picked up the steps OK and I think I manage to pull it off at the end.

You’ve now done a lot of musical theatre, do you still want to pursue your pop career?

I want to release another album – but one that I’ve written. As I can write music as well as lyrics, I have been doing so. I like coming up with melodies. I have written some already – 3 acoustic versions were on my greatest hits album. But I really want to finish it. As I want to do it myself, it’s mostly going to be down to me finding or making the time!

Much has been written and televised about your stammer and the public have seen how much you have improved through the McGuire Programme. How do you cope on stage having lines to speak?

I have found a technique that works for me. It involves having a lot of control and willpower. This can be really hard for me when I am busy or stressed. I lost my singing voice in 2015 and was put on voice rest. This meant no speaking so it set me back a lot so it’s something I am now working on again. Everyone involved in the programme is so supportive – we all support each other and don’t judge. No one understands a stammerer other than another one. Everyone involved in the programme has a stammer but everyone is at different stages of recovery. We don’t use the word cured – as you take your eye off the ball and it can return.

Would you like to do more acting?

I’ve always been a fan of musical theatre – and I love being part of a production. It’s like a family – which is so totally different to being a solo star. Musically, performing is what I love to do and we get to do it every day to different audiences and creating something new.

Footloose the Musical, starring Gareth Gates and Maureen Nolan, will be at Richmond Theatre from Monday 15^th to Saturday 20^th May

Sheffield Theatres are giving an up-and-coming director the opportunity to spend 18 months working in their venues, as part of the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme. 

Starting this autumn, the successful applicant will work across the Crucible, Lyceum and Studio Theatres, gaining an insight into both producing and presenting work of varying scale,  including new writing, classics and musicals.

Additionally, they will shadow and assist a range of departments within the organisation, gaining an insight into the operational running of a building, cultural leadership and the wider role of the artistic director

The paid residency is open to talented directors of any age, with at least 18 months professional experience and demonstrable commitment to a career as a director.

For further information and application details go to www.rtyds.co.uk

The deadline for applications is 12.00 noon on Monday 8 May 2017.

EVITA AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

 

STARRING

 

WEST END LEADING LADY EMMA HATTON AS EVA PERÓN 

LEADING ITALIAN ACTOR GIAN MARCO SCHIARETTI AS CHE

Telling the story of Eva Perón, the wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, the classic musical Evita returns to Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 16^th May for one week only.

Evita follows Eva’s journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary wealth, power and iconic status which ultimately lead her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine people.

Taking on the iconic role of Eva Perón is one of musical theatre’s most exciting leading ladies today, Emma Hatton. She recently finished wowing audiences in the lead role of Elphaba in the West End’s production of Wicked. Prior to this she performed the principle roles of Scaramouche and Meatloaf in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, and Donna in the West End production of Dreamboats and Petticoats.

 

Making his UK debut is leading Italian performer Gian Marco Schiaretti taking the role of Che, a character who reflects the voice of the Argentine people – linked to Eva by destiny; he brings conflict to the story of Eva’s rise to fame. Gian Marco Schiaretti most recently played the title role of Tarzan in Disney’s Musical Tarzan, in Stuttgart. Prior to this he played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet across Italy.

Joining them is Kevin Stephen-Jones as Argentine President Juan Perón. He has performed extensively across the UK and Europe in over 20 different operas. His musical theatre credits include Cats, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Love Beyond.

Featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, On This Night of a Thousand Stars, You Must Love Me, and Another Suitcase in Another Hall Evita continues to entertain audiences 40 years on.

Evita is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday 16^th to Saturday 20^th May

 

Tickets are priced from £20.50 to £41.50

 

Book online at leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700

 

NEW BRITISH PLAY“GATE”

BY ARTEMIS FITZALAN HOWARD

TO PREMIERE AT

THE COCKPIT THEATRE, LONDON

FROM 13 TO 24 SEPTEMBER 2017

  

Following on from the acclaimed success of Pre-drinks/Afterparty at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Deadpan Theatre is now presenting new play GATE, a poignant and witty story of love and loss that asks what really happens to us after we die, what we leave behind and what we will become.  GATE is written by Artemis Fitzalan Howard, co-founder, with Eliot Salt, of Deadpan Theatre.  The production will have a limited run at the Cockpit Theatre in London from 13 to 24 September, with a press night on Friday 15 September 2017.

 

It is an average Thursday morning at ‘The Gate’ in Wapping, East London, and, like every first-born child in her family for generations, Eve is guarding it carefully.  It’s going to be a busy day – there are four new appointments booked in.  The trouble is none of the clients knew they were coming… because nobody knows the gate exists until they reach it, and to reach the gate you have to be dead.

 

“I mean… I sort of hoped the pearly gates story was true-ish where I could finally have curly hair and be into fitness and classical music and eat Philadelphia toast in the clouds with my other angel pals.  But now I’m here and this is – I’m questioning everything I ever believed in.”

 

In GATE, Fitzalan Howard challenges the theories of the great ‘thinkers’:  when evolutionists tell us that we’re just trying to spread our genes, economists tell us that all we do is maximize our self-interest, and psychologists tell us that we just want to get laid, is it true that we only act on narrow material desires or do our wider spiritual beliefs still count for something?

 

GATE will be directed by Sadie Spencer and designed by Alex Berry.  It is produced at the Cockpit Theatre by Artemis Fitzalan Howard for Deadpan Theatre.

 

Listings Information

The Cockpit Theatre

Gateforth Street

Marylebone

London NW8 8EH

 

Tickets:  £20 (£18 concession)

 

Box Office:  020 7258 2925

Performances:  13-15 & 19-23 September, 7.30pm only; 16 September, 3pm & 7.30pm; 24 September, 3pm only

 

Website: http://thecockpit.org.uk/ / www.deadpantheatreco.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/457901971217879/?notif_t=plan_user_joined&notif_id=1493721101102274

Twitter: @deadpan_theatre

Instagram: @deadpan_theatre

 

Running Time:  90 minutes

Following a highly successful 2016/2017 UK tour and Christmas engagement at London’s Royal Festival Hall, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET – the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and West End smash hit today announces a second UK tour this autumn when it opens at York’s Theatre Royal on September 18^th.

 

Martin Kemp and Peter Duncan share the role of legendary record producer Sam Phillips – the man who brought the 4 recording stars together to create music history – having  both previously taken on the role in celebrated performances at the Southbank Centre, and on tour, respectively.

The tour is set to visit: York Theatre Royal, Hornchurch The Queens, Cheltenham Everyman, Wycombe Swan, Inverness Eden Court, Edinburgh Playhouse, Eastbourne Devonshire Park, Poole Lighthouse and Ipswich Regent. Please see below listings for dates and performance listings.

Martin Kemp rose to fame as the bassist in one of Britain’s best-loved bands, Spandau Ballet, with over 25 million records sold worldwide, and a string of no.1 hits. No stranger to the screen Martin became a household favourite playing lovable rogue Steve Owen in Eastenders, for which he won a number of awards. Martin’s numerous TV and film credits include, The Krays, Sugar Town, Back in Business, and Love Lies Bleeding, as well as many series of one off dramas for ITV. His book ‘True – An Autobiography of Martin Kemp’ was published in 2000 and spent several months in the Sunday Times best sellers list. In 2017 he joined the judging panel for Let It Shine, the new reality TV series with Gary Barlow.

Peter Duncan is an Olivier Award nominated actor who first came to attention as a presenter on the iconic television show Blue Peter. Peter began his career on stage with Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre company at the Old Vic and subsequently went on to be Olivier Award nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in The Card and starred as Barnum in Barnum. In addition to his roles on stage, Peter has also created original pantomimes at Hackney Empire and Broadway Theatre as well as writing and directing Oxford Playhouse’s annual Christmas production. As well as his illustrious career on stage, Peter has had roles on television in Demolition Dad, Doctors and fronted the BBC series Duncan Dares.

Inspired by the true story of the famed recording session where Sam Phillips, brought together icons Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will play York Theatre Royal, Hornchurch The Queens, Cheltenham Everyman, Wycombe Swan, Inverness Eden Court, Edinburgh Playhouse, Eastbourne Devonshire Park, Poole Lighthouse and Ipswich Regent.

 

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET includes more than 20 legendary rock ‘n’ roll hits, including Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, I Walk The Line and Great Balls of Fire.

 

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life, featuring a score of rock hits which bring you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll band for one unforgettable night.

 

Million Dollar Quartet is written by Tony Award nominees Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux and produced by Simon Friend, Mark Goucher, Tom O’Connell, Laurence Myers and Gavin Kalin. Olivier nominated Ian Talbot OBE, renowned for his tenure as both Artistic and Managing director at The Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park directs.

 

Don’t miss your chance to be a fly on the wall of fame and history, and join in the celebration… at MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET!

 

For more information, please visit the official website:

www.milliondollarquartetlive.co.uk

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillionDollarUK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MillionDollarUK/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPaSeypuOM-pHAH3AfoqLA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milliondollaruk/

 

 

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET – AUTUMN TOUR DATES 2017

 

Peter Duncan will perform as Sam Phillips in those dates in bold; Martin Kemp performs in the role in the other dates.

 

Tuesday 19^th – Saturday 23^rd September                Box Office: 01904 623 568

York Theatre Royal, York                                

Website: www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

 

Monday 25th – Saturday 30th September             Box Office: 01708 443333

The Queen’s, Hornchurch                                             

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

 

Monday 2^nd – Saturday 7^th October                            Box Office: 01242 572 573

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham                                

Website: www.everymantheatre.org.uk

Monday 9^th – Saturday 14^th October                          Box Office: 01494 512 000

Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe

Website: wycombeswan.co.uk

Monday 16^th – Saturday 21^st October                        Box Office: 01463 234 234

Eden Court, Inverness

Website: www.eden-court.co.uk

Tuesday 24^th – Saturday 28^th October                       Box Office: 0844 871 3014

Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh                              

Website: www.atgtickets.com

 

Monday 30^th October – Saturday 4^th November  Box Office: 01323 412 000

Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne                     

Website: www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk 

 

Monday 13^th – Saturday 18^th November                   Box Office: 01202 280000

Lighthouse, Poole                                                            

Website: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

Monday 20^{th –} Saturday 25^th November                  Box Office: 01473 433 100

Regent, Ipswich

Website: ipswich.gov.uk

REVIEW: Grease The Musical (Sunderland Empire) ★★★

May 3, 2017 

For: West End Wilma 

https://www.westendwilma.com/review-grease-the-musical-sunderland-empire/

Grease was the word at Sunderland Empire for this new tour of the classic Grease The Musical.

Unfortunately it wasn’t the one that I wanted. I’m not sure if it was the grey Bank Holiday weather, touring tiredness or just a general lethargy but this show, apart from some stand out moments, felt a bit flat. Maybe it was the addition of star names who weren’t up for the challenge that didn’t help but they seemed to be going through the motions of performing rather than giving the show the energy and passion it needed.

Tom Parker, formerly of The Wanted, tries to impress in his first theatrical role as heart-throb Danny Zuko. Clearly he can sing and handles the complex dance routines very well but at times, there is a lack of power behind his vocals. Ex-Eastenders star Louisa Lytton is wise-cracking Queen of the Pink Ladies, Rizzo. In the second act she really unleashes Rizzo’s fierceness, but character’s big song, There Are Worse Things I Could Do, lacked passion. Compare this to the flawless performance of Danielle Hope as Sandy – her rendition of Hopelessly Devoted to You was nothing less than phenomenal. Mentions must also go to the terrific T-Birds Michael Cortez (Kenickie), Ryan Keenan (Doody), Oliver Jacobson (Roger), Grant Thresh (Sonny) and the incredible Pink Ladies Rhiannon Chesterman (Frenchy), and Marty (Lauren Atkins), and Jan (Rosanna Harris), who carried their struggling main counterparts through the show. The young ensemble are the definite stars.

Yet while some elements don’t come together as well as expected, there is plenty to like about this particular production, most notably the Jacobs-Casey songs including Summer Nights, You’re The One That I Want, Sandy and Greased Lightnin’, which greet the audience like old friends. And although the show got off to a slow start, Doody thrust the show into high Rock ‘n’ Roll gear with his spectacular performance of ‘Those Magic Changes’. The surprise hit of the night

Some things were good. Terry Parsons flashing, stylized sets and Andreane Neofitou’s colourful costumes were excellent, Arlene Phillips vigorous choreography was incredible and the band – positioned above at the rear of the stage under Griff Johnson’s musical direction – were truly fabulous

Ultimately though, even the faultless set, music, and choreography were eclipsed by Parker and Lytton’s painstakingly obvious inexperience on the stage. Despite the sheer talent of the insatiable Danielle Hope and supporting cast. However it is still relatively early on in the tour

and given time I’m hopeful all the pieces will come together – and with some on the job learning – the potential is there for a first class production.

The Bunker, 53A Southwark Street London SE1 1RU

Tuesday 6th – Saturday 17th June 2017

Following a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2016, Pharmacy Theatre present the London transfer of their debut show – a highly-acclaimed adaptation of death penalty investigator Rene Denfeld’s award-winning novel. The Enchanted highlights issues around capital punishment, child abuse, and the self-perpetuating cycle of violence corrupting the US penitentiary.

Death row in America. Men sit in isolated dungeons awaiting execution. An investigator works tirelessly to save them. She will not let men go to their deaths without a fight.

Rene Denfeld’s disturbing and poetic novel comes to life through performance, puppetry, choreography and sound in this striking adaptation examining themes of evil, punishment, clemency and redemption. This journey through the eyes of the condemned seeps deep into our consciousness – are monsters really born or do we create them?

Pharmacy Theatre comment, Now more than ever, the exploration of these concepts needs to be discussed with wider audiences. By sharing Rene Denfeld’s story, we hope to illustrate, and provoke discussion about, the parallel failings of justice systems in America and the UK. This run will allow us to ask questions and inspire solutions for the way forward.

This spellbinding story will refuse to let you go. It is a play with a message to tell about the treatment of human beings and the possibilities of redemption, and it delivers this with skill (Broadway Baby).

Rene Denfeld is a bestselling American author from Portland, Oregon. She is the winner of the French Prix, ALA Medal for Excellence and a Carnegie Listing. She also works as a death penalty investigator and is active in prison reform.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING HIT

S C H O O L   O F   R O C K  –  T H E   M U S I C A L

WWW.SCHOOLOFROCKTHEMUSICAL.COM

GARY TRAINOR TO LEAD CAST AS DEWEY FINN

 

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Olivier award–winning production of School of Rock – The Musical today announces that Gary Trainor, having played the role of alternate Dewey since the show’s London premiere, will lead the cast as Dewey Finn from 17 May 2017, with Stephen Leask joining the cast as the alternate Dewey.

For a third time since its West End premiere School of Rock – The Musical recently announced a further booking extension with tickets now available to 14 January 2018.  Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, the record breaking West End production of School of Rock – The Musical opened to rave reviews in November 2016, and last month the show’s ‘kids’ cast were the excited recipients of the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.  In New York, the Broadway production now in its second year, continues to play to packed houses at the Winter Garden Theater.

Gary Trainor’s (Dewey Finn) previous theatre credits include Donnie Kirshner in the West End production of Beautiful The Carole King Musical, I Can’t Sing at the London Palladium, Potted Potter at the Garrick Theatre and on tour in the US and Australia, The Shawshank Redemption at Wyndham’s Theatre, Prophecy for The Old Vic New Voices and at the Public Theatre, New York,Into The Woods at the Landor Theatre and Jago at the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh. He has also toured the UK in Buddy, Frankenstein: The Year Without a Summer, Stones in His Pockets and The Oxford Passion.

Stephen Leask’s (alternate Dewey) previous theatre credits include Robin Hood at The Egg Theatre, Bath, The Canterbury Tales at The Pantaloons, One Man, Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, A Little Hotel on the Side for Theatre Royal Bath, The Revenge of Sherlock Holmes at Hoxton Hall, Staunch for Theatre 503, Potted Panto at the Vaudeville Theatre, Newsrevue at the Edinburgh Festival, The Secret Garden for Birmingham Rep and Troilus and Cressida for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Leask is a member of the Merely Players, a theatre company dedicated to producing accessible productions of Shakespeare.  His television appearances include Nightmares, Our World War, The Intern and Eastenders.

 

The adult West End cast of School of Rock – The Musical comprises Gary Trainor as Dewey Finn with Florence Andrews as Rosalie Mullins, Oliver Jackson as Ned Schneebly and Preeya Kalidas as Patty Di Marco.  They are joined on stage at each performance by one of three teams of thirteen young performers who make up Dewey’s band.  The ‘grown up’ cast is completed by Stephen Leask as the alternate Dewey with ensemble members Jonathan Bourne, Nadeem Crowe, Michelle Francis, Rosanna Hyland, Cassandra McCowan, Joel Montague, Andy Rees, Cameron Sharp, Andrew Spillett, Alex Tomkins and Lucy Vandi and swings,Charlotte Bradford, Jason Denton, Cellen Chugg Jones, Alfie Parker and Tasha Sheridan.  They are joined by three teams of thirteen ‘kid’s who make up Dewey’s band.

 

Based on the iconic hit movie and with a rocking new score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, School of Rock – The Musical follows slacker and wannabe rock star Dewey Finn turn a class of straight-A 10 year old students into an ear popping, riff scorching, all conquering rock band!  Dewey poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to make ends meet, and when he discovers his fifth graders’ musical talents, he enlists his class to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands. As Dewey falls for the beautiful headmistress, can he and his students keep this special assignment secret as they learn to fully embrace the power of rock?

 

Best seats for £10.00 are available every Wednesday evening an hour before curtain to purchase as part of the School of Rock – The Musical Student Rush scheme.  These tickets are only available in person from the New London Theatre Box Office.

 

Based on the smash hit 2003 film of the same title, School of Rock features music from the movie, as well as new music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes.  School of Rock – The Musical is directed by Laurence Connorwith choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, set and costume designs by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick Potter, music supervision by John Rigby withMatt Smith as musical director.

 

Produced by Paramount Pictures, the 2003 hit film School of Rock was directed by Richard Linklater and starred Jack Black in a career-defining performance.

School of Rock — The Musical is produced in the West End by Andrew Lloyd Webber for The Really Useful Group and Warner Music Group & Access Industries with Madeleine Lloyd Webber as Executive Producer.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                  New London Theatre, 166 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW

Dates:                    now booking to 14 January 2018

Running time:          approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including interval

Box Office:              0844 811 0052

Performances:          Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.40pm, Sundays at 3pm

Please check website for Christmas schedule

Prices:                    from £15.00 – £75.00

Student rush tickets for £10 on Wednesday evening

All ticket prices include a £1.50 restoration levy.  No booking fee via official box office channels

Website:                 www.SchoolOfRockTheMusical.co.uk

Twitter & Instagram:  @SchoolofRockuk

Facebook:               facebook.com/schoolofrockmusical

• IMAGES RELEASED TODAY – FIRST LOOK AT NEW ALADDIN MATTHEW CROKE IN COSTUME AS THE ICONIC TITLE ROLE
• BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE FIRST NEW CAST PHOTO SHOOT IS AVAILABLE HERE.

• DISNEY’S ALADDIN WILL WELCOME NEW COMPANY AND CELEBRATE FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT THE PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE ON 15 JUNE 2017
• JADE EWEN AND TREVOR DION NICHOLAS WILL CONTINUE IN THE ROLES OF JASMINE AND GENIE

Disney Theatrical Productions has released an exclusive first look at Matthew Croke as the title role in Aladdin ahead of his first performance in the title role on 5 June 2017 at the Prince Edward Theatre.

A behind-the-scenes video of Matthew’s very first Aladdin transformation and photo shoot is also available now. The new musical based on the classic Academy Award®-winning animated film will have its first birthday in the West End on 15 June, with Jade Ewen and Trevor Dion Nicholas continuing in the roles of Jasmine and Genie respectively.

The role of Aladdin will be Matthew Croke’s debut in a leading role in the West End. Originally from Sheffield, Matthew has previously starred in Annie Get Your Gun (Crucible Theatre), Singin’ in the Rain (UK Tour), Funny Girl (Menier Chocolate Factory), Shall We Dance (Sadler’s Wells), A Chorus Line (Crucible Theatre) and West Side Story (UK & Ireland tour). He has also performed and understudied the roles of Amos Hart & Mary Sunshine in Chicago (Cambridge Theatre), Eugene in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre), Don in Singin’ in the Rain (Palace Theatre) and Fiyero in Wicked (Apollo Victoria).

As previously announced, Nick Cavaliere will join the company to play the role of Iago, whilst current cast members Miles Barrow, Leon Craig and Daniel de Bourg will step into the roles of Omar, Babkak and Kassim respectively. Don Gallagher and Irvine Iqbal will continue in their respective roles of Jafar and the Sultan.

The new cast also includes Chanelle Anthony, Danny Becker, Cindy Belliot, Filippo Coffano, Nolan Edwards, Sinead Kenny, Travis Kerry, Dann Kharsa, Tarisha Rommick, Joshua Steel, Monica Swayne, Damien Winchester and Niko Wirachman.

Danny Becker, Travis Kerry and Niko Wirachman join the production after entering international open auditions.

The remaining cast comprises Arran Anzani-Jones, Albey Brookes, Lauren Chia, Bianca Cordice, Cavin Cornwall, Melanie Elizabeth, Kade Ferraiolo, Antony Hewitt, Mitch Leow, Oliver Lidert, Ian Oswald, Kyle Seeley, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Ricardo Spriggs, Kayleigh Thadaniand Jermaine Woods.

Disney’s hit new West End musical Aladdin opened to critical acclaim on 15 June 2016, having begun preview performances from 27 May 2016. The show continues to play to sell-out houses, breaking attendance records at its London home, the Prince Edward Theatre. Tickets are now on sale for performances up to and including 30 September 2017 for individuals and 10 February 2018 for group bookings. For further details please visit www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk

Now in its fourth record-breaking year on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Aladdin’s global presence has grown to six productions on four continents, seen by  more than 4 million people to date. The show opened at Tokyo’s Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi in May 2015, had its European premiere in December 2015 at the Stage Theatre Neue Flora, Hamburg, began performances in August 2016 in Australia and launches its North American tour next month in Chicago.

Aladdin features the timeless songs from the 1992 animated film as well as new music written by Tony®, Olivier© and eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Little Shop Of Horrors). With lyrics from Olivier Award and two-time Oscar® winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony and Olivier Award, three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida), and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), and a book by Beguelin, Aladdin is directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).

Previous Disney stage productions in London have included Shakespeare in Love and the Olivier-winning productions of Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins and The Lion King, which is now playing its 18^th year in the West End.

Aladdin is designed by Olivier and seven-time Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, five-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, Olivier and two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken Travis. Casting is by Jill Green CDG.

The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arrangerGlen Kelly.

ALADDIN
Prince Edward Theatre
28 Old Compton St
London W1D 4HS

Box Office number: 0844 482 5151
www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk

Facebook: Aladdin London
Twitter: @AladdinLondon
Instagram: @AladdinLondon
#AladdinLondon

CASTING UPDATE FROM CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE:  THE COUNTRY GIRLS andTHE HOUSE THEY GREW UP IN

Casting is announced today for two plays premiering this summer as part of Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2017 season. Daniel Ryan and Samantha Spiro will lead the cast of Deborah Bruce’s new play THE HOUSE THEY GREW UP IN; Genevieve Hulme-Beaman and Grace Molony play the title roles in Edna O’Brien’s THE COUNTRY GIRLS.

THE COUNTRY GIRLS plays in the Minerva Theatre from 9 June – 8 July, directed by Lisa Blair.Grace Molony makes her professional theatre debut as Kate, while Genevieve Hulme-Beaman, whose theatre work includes The Seagull at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre and The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare’s Globe, plays Baba. The full company is: Romayne Andrews,  Rachel Atkins, Tom Canton, Chris Garner, Colm Gormley, Genevieve Hulme-Beaman (Baba),  Melanie McHugh, Keshini Misha, Grace Molony (Kate), Bailey Patrick, Valery Schatz (Mr Gentleman) and Jade Yourell.

THE HOUSE THEY GREW UP IN runs in the Minerva Theatre from 14 July – 5 August, directed byJeremy Herrin in a co-production with Headlong. Samantha Spiro returns to Chichester where she played Fanny Brice in Funny Girl in 2008; her award-winning theatre roles also include Di and Viv and Rose (West End), Chicken Soup with Barley (Royal Court) and Hello, Dolly! (Regent’s Park), while her extensive television work includes Grandma’s House, The Tracey Ullman Show and Barbara Windsor in the forthcoming Babs. Daniel Ryan makes his Chichester debut; his many television series include Mount Pleasant, Home Fires and Doc Martin, and theatre includes Inadmissible Evidence (Donmar Warehouse), Posh (Royal Court) and Gethsemane (National Theatre).

Booking is now open for both The Country Girls and The House They Grew Up In:

cft.org.uk   Box Office 01243 781312

 

Prologue: £5 tickets for 16 – 25s

£5 tickets are available for 16 to 25 year-olds for all productions throughout Festival 2017; sign up for free at cft.org.uk/prologue.  Members also have access to a range of exclusive events.

 

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