FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR

C.S. LEWIS

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS

PARK THEATRE’S WICKEDLY WITTY WINTER SEASON FINALE – UNLIKE ANY

OTHER SHOW IN LONDON THIS CHRISTMAS!

KAREN ELEANOR WIGHT, THE ORIGINAL ‘TOADPIPE’

TO REUNITE WITH MAX McLEAN AS THE NEW YORK HIT PRODUCTION

HAS ITS LONDON PREMIERE

The Screwtape Letters, the provocative and wickedly witty theatrical adaptation of the C.S. Lewis novel about spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view, will play the Christmas season at Park Theatre from 8 December 2016 – 7 January 2017, with a press night on 9 December.

In the European premiere of the smash New York hit, The Screwtape Letters creates a morally inverted universe that reveals unseen spiritual powers and principalities at work in humorous, vivid and surprising ways.

Set in an eerily stylish office in hell, where God is called the “Enemy” and the devil is referred to as “Our Father Below”, the play follows His Abysmal Sublimity Screwtape – Satan’s top psychiatrist due to his profound understanding of human nature – and his slavish creature-demon Toadpipe, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on how to ruin the life and damn the soul of an unsuspecting human on earth.

Max McLean returns to the role of Screwtape, which he originated and performed to sold-out audiences in New York City and across the U.S. Karen Eleanor Wight, who played alongside McLean in the original New York production, will reunite with him in London as Toadpipe.

“Fellowship for Performing Arts is excited to bring C.S. Lewis’ classic novel ‘home’ in this stage adaptation,” said Max McLean, FPA founder and artistic director. “With Lewis’ wit and insight, The Screwtape Letters has been delighting and challenging readers ever since its publication in early 1942. It’s an honor to bring Screwtape to life on stage in London as it approaches its 75th anniversary.”

“Clever and Satirical . . . the devil has rarely been given his due more perceptively.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Karen Eleanor Wight is a NYC-based actress, improviser and movement coach.  Favorite regional roles include:  Olivia (Twelfth Night), Celia (As You Like It), Katherine (Henry V), Bianca (Othello), Gladys (The Pajama Game), Weird Sister/Lady Macbeth (Macbeth). National tour: Tiger Lily/Liza, u/s Peter Pan & Wendy (Peter Pan).  Karen is one-half of the wordless improv duo Imp, performing long-form improv around the U.S.

“One Hell of a Good Show”

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Along with The Chronicles of Narnia (including The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe), The Great Divorce andMere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters remains one of Lewis’ most popular and influential works. When first published in 1942 it brought worldwide fame to this little-known Oxford don including the cover of Time Magazine.

The idea for Screwtape came to Lewis after listening to Hitler’s Reichstag Speech on July 19, 1940, while it was simultaneously translated on BBC Radio. Lewis wrote, “I don’t know if I’m weaker than other people, but it is a positive revelation to me how while the speech lasts it is impossible not to waver just a little. . . . Statements which I know to be untrue all but convince me . . . if only the man says them unflinchingly.”

The Screwtape Letters was conceived and adapted for the stage by Max McLean and Jeffrey Fiske. McLean is Founder and Artistic Director of New York City-based Fellowship for Performing Arts. Scenic Design is by Cameron Anderson, Costumes by Michael Bevins, Lighting Design by Jesse Klug and Original Music and Sound Design by John Gromada.

Full casting announced for Lawrence Batley Theatre’s first professional pantomime

The Lawrence Batley Theatre is delighted to announce full casting for Cinderella, the venue’s first professionally staged pantomime since opening its doors in 1994.

The production’s excellent cast will feature Nisa Cole in the title role of Cinderella. Nisa is currently appearing as Penelope Betteredge in BBC One’s new daytime drama The Moonstone. Her other credits include appearing as Amy Porter in the hit BBC series Waterloo Road and in the National Theatre’s touring production of War Horse.

Joining Nisa will be Adam Barlow (The Merry Wives, Northern Broadsides) as Prince Charming, Natasha Magigi (Comus – A Masque in Honour of Chastity, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s Globe and A Streetcar Named Desire, Leicester Curve) as the Fairy and Baroness, Gareth Cassidy (The TMA award winning The Hobbit, The Dukes Lancaster) as Buttons, Stephanie Hackett (Pure, Mikron Theatre) as Dandini and as the ugly sisters Michael Hugo (The Winter’s Tale, Northern Broadsides) and Richard Hand(Much Ado About Nothing, Vienna’s English Theatre).

Cinderella will be directed by Joyce Branagh, who has previously directed pantomimes at Watford Palace Theatre and Salisbury Playhouse, as well productions at the Orange Tree Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Battersea Arts Centre.

The pantomime is adapted for the stage by playwright and actor Andrew Pollard, who regularly writes, directs and appears as the Dame in Greenwich Theatre’s Christmas pantomime. He has previously worked with Northern Broadsides, New Vic Theatre and in 2007 appeared regularly as John Bune in Emmerdale.

Cinderella is at the Lawrence Batley Theatre from 9-31 December

Tickets are now available from the Lawrence Batley Theatre box office on 01484 430528 or online at www.thelbt.org.

David King for Spirit Productions Ltd presents

LEADING TELEVISION AND STAGE ACTRESS MICHELLE COLLINS

JOINS THE 2017 UK TOUR OF

BROADWAY’S MULTI AWARD WINNING MUSICAL COMEDY

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

WITH STRICTLY COME DANCING’S JOANNE CLIFTON AS MILLIE

Award winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie is set to tour the UK in 2017 opening at New Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday 17 January.

Michelle Collins will join the cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie until Saturday 4 March as Mrs Meers. She has worked extensively in television and theatre for the last 30 years and is perhaps best known for her roles as Cindy Beale in EastEnders and Stella Price in Coronation Street. Her theatre credits include Calendar Girls (West End), The Play What I Wrote (West End), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour) and most recently Kindertransport (Chickenshed, London).

Strictly Come Dancing favourite and World Ballroom Showdance Champion and Professional Dancer Joanne Clifton takes on the title role of Millie Dillmount, a Kansas girl determined to make it big in New York City! Joanne’s credits include Face the Music, Burn the Floor, Strictly Live Tourand Marilyn Monroe in Norma Jeane Musical.

Winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie is based on the 1967 Academy Award-winning film. Taking you back to the height of the Jazz Age in 1920s New York City, when ‘moderns’ including a flapper named Millie Dillmount were bobbing their hair, raising their hemlines, entering the workforce and rewriting the rules of love.

From explosive tap numbers to a ‘Fred and Ginger’ dance routine on a window ledge, and featuring hit songs including Gimme Gimme, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Not for the Life of MeThoroughly Modern Millie is a brilliantly funny and entertaining show for all the family.

Tickets for Thoroughly Modern Millie are on sale now.

WEBSITE | TWITTER

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

Book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan

New Music by Jeanine Tesori


New Lyrics by Dick Scanlan

Original Story and Screenplay by Richard Morris for the Universal Pictures Film

Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited

Director and Choreographer Racky Plews

Musical Director Tom Turner

Casting Director Sue Talbert

Celebrity Casting Advisor Bambi Haines

Executive Producer David King

Lead Producer Graham King

LOST Theatre presents:

Schlock!

The Stage and LOVEtheatre partner to launch The Stage Tickets

The world’s oldest and best theatre publication, The Stage, is delighted to announce the launch of The Stage Tickets, powered by LOVEtheatre. The Stage Tickets is a new ticketing website offering brilliant deals on performances, events and London attractions.

The Stage Tickets: www.thestage.co.uk/tickets

All subscribers to The Stage enjoy 10% discount on everything bought through The Stage Tickets website. This includes long-running performances such as Mamma Mia!, The Bodyguard and The Woman in Black, as well as newer productions like The Kite Runner and Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes. The discount also applies to events and London attractions, in addition to LOVEtheatre special offers, and dining and theatre packages.

With the average ticket price paid in the West End reaching £42.99 last year, according to Society of London Theatre (SOLT), The Stage subscribers could recoup the cost of their subscription (from £3.59 a month) with just one ticket purchase.

This is an exciting partnership with LOVEtheatre, a respected and trusted ticketing website, owned by The Ticket Machine Group, and part of Ambassador Theatre Group. LOVEtheatre offers great deals on UK theatre tickets, attractions, events, and dining and theatre packages. Through this partnership, The Stage hopes to bring more affordable and available tickets to theatregoers.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with LOVEtheatre to deliver this benefit to The Stage’s subscribers. LOVEtheatre is, like The Stage, a market leader in the theatre sector, and delivers a first class experience to its customers.”

Simon Hassell, Commercial Director – The Stage

“We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with The Stage to provide their subscribers with our streamlined ticket-buying platforms giving them access to our complete range of shows and top theatre deals including the hottest shows in London’s West End. It’s a great time for live entertainment at the moment, and we’re confident this partnership will encourage more regular visits to the theatre.”

Simon Meilak, Managing Director – LOVEtheatre

FAB FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

AT LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

Million Dollar Quartet tells the true story of the one-off, impromptu gig at Sun Records in 1956 where Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis found themselves in the studio at the same time, started to jam together and Sam Phillips hit the record button … the rest is history.

The stage production of the same name is set to open at Leeds Grand Theatre next Monday 7^th November for one week only. In a non-singing role Jason Donovan, as the famous Sun Records owner Sam Phillips, delivers the story of the time the quartet came together showing their challenges with each other, their incredible skills as musicians and their personalities as young men out to take the world by storm.

Audiences can expect to be transported back to the late 50s and witness a fascinating story, a night of rock and roll and, no doubt, a dance in the aisles to finish.

Here are a few fun facts about the show and its original stars.

·         At the time of the recording Jerry Lee Lewis was a complete unknown, Elvis was already famous and had recently left Sun Records for RCA, Johnny Cash was yet to Walk The Line and Carl Perkinshad written Blue Suede Shoes only to have it performed by Elvis when Perkins was involved in a car accident.

·         Elvis Presley had 18 No. 1 hits and 38 Top 10 hits in the USA

·         He made 31 movies including Love Me Tender and Viva Las Vegas

·         Elvis is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music, having sold around 600 million records

·         At age 48 Johnny Cash was the youngest living inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame

·         There is a species of tarantula named after him – the Aphonopela johnnycashi was identified in 2015

·         In his lifetime Johnny release 165 singles with 13 reaching No. 1

·         Jerry Lee Lewis was the seventh person to be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

·         In his ranch in Memphis Jerry Lee Lewis he has piano-shaped swimming pool

·         He is the last surviving member of the Million Dollar Quartet

·         Million Dollar Quartet premiered in 2006 at Florida’s Seaside Music Theatre in 2006, it opened on Broadway in 2010, where it was nominated for three Tony Awards, and has been touring the United States since 2011 where it is still going today.

·         The show contains 23 hit songs including Blue Suede Shoes, Long Tall Sally and Great Balls of Fire

Million Dollar Quartet is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Monday 7^th to Saturday 11^th November

Tickets are on sale now priced from £19.50 to £38

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

BY POPULAR DEMAND

TORBEN BETTS’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED

INVINCIBLE

TO TOUR UK FOR SECOND TIME

OPENING 24 JANUARY 2017

The Original Theatre Company is delighted to announce that, due to popular demand, its production of Torben Betts’s critically acclaimed INVINCIBLE will tour the UK for a second time, once again directed by Christopher Harper. The 2017 tour will open at Royal & Derngate in Northampton on 24 January 2017.

Alastair Whatley, Emily Bowker and Graham Brookes will reprise the roles of Oliver, Emily and Alan respectively. Elizabeth Boag joins the 2017 tour as Dawn.

Artistic Director of The Original Theatre Company, Alastair Whatley, said of the second UK tour, “We are delighted to be taking Invincible back on the road in 2017. Torben’s state of the nation comedy reached out to audiences across the UK in 2016 with his vision of a nation divided, cleft in two down the Watford Gap. We look forward to navigating the play through post Brexit Britain in 2017.”

With the recession biting hard, Emily and Oliver have decided to downsize and shift their middle-class London lifestyle to a small town in the north of England. One night, they open their doors to their next door neighbours, Dawn and Alan. Over the course of a disastrous evening of olives, anchovies, Karl Marx and abstract art, class and culture collide, resulting in consequences that are both tragic and hilarious.

INVINCIBLE had its world premiere at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond in 2014 and transferred later that same year to St James Theatre, London. Invencible, a Spanish version of INVINCIBLE, has just begun a nine-month tour of Spain, starring Spanish film actress Maribel Verdu.

Torben Betts was born in Lincolnshire and studied at Liverpool University. He became the resident dramatist at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre in 1999. Poet and dramatist Liz Lochhead said Betts “is just about the most original and extraordinary writer of drama we have.” His play The Unconquered won Best New Play 2006/07 at the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland. 2015 saw a revival of his acclaimed 2012 play Muswell Hill at London’s Park Theatre, his latest work, What Falls Apart, opened at Newcastle’s Live Theatre, and his version of Chekhov’s The Seagull was staged at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. In February 2016, Betts adapted Get Carter for Northern Stage in Newcastle.

Director Christopher Harper is an Associate of the Original Theatre Company and directed their 2011 production of See How They Run. As an actor, he played Benedick on a world tour of Much Ado About Nothing for the Globe and starred as Victoria Wood’s son, Cliff Last, in the television filmHousewife 49.

INVINCIBLE is designed by Victoria Spearing, with sound by Max Pappenheim. The national tour is produced by Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company, Adrian Grady for Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and Ghostlight Theatre Production (a Bob and Co Company).

Website: www.originaltheatre.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OriginalTheatre

Twitter: @OriginalTheatre

2017 TOUR SCHEDULE     

24 – 28 January                          Royal & Derngate, Northampton                                   01604 624811                                                                                                                                            www.royalandderngate.co.uk                                        On sale

31 Jan – 4 February                    Derby Theatre                                                              01332 59 39 39

                                                    www.derbytheatre.co.uk                                               On sale soon

8 – 10 February                           Cast Doncaster                                                             01302 303 959

                                                    Castindoncaster.com                                                    On sale 21 Nov

16 – 18 February                         Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield                         01484430528

                                                     thelbt.org                                                                      On sale 9 Dec

22 – 25 February                        Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough                        01723 370541

                                                    www.sjt.uk.com                                                             On sale soon

1 – 4 March                                Cambridge Arts Theatre                                                 01223 503333

                                                   www.cambridgeartstheatre.com                                     On sale

7 – 11 March                               Palace Theatre, Southend                                             01702 351135                                                                                                                                          www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk                                 On sale soon

15 – 18 March                             Harrogate Theatre                                                         01423 502 116

                                                   www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk                                          On sale soon

21 – 25 March                            Lichfield Garrick Theatre                                               01543 412110

                                                   www.lichfieldgarrick.com                                                On sale soon

28 – 30 March                            Theatre Royal Brighton                                                  0844 871 7650

                                                   www.atgtickets.com/brighton                                         On sale