West End and Broadway musicals star Ruthie Henshall is to go legit with a starring role in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

Ruthie Henshall in Chicago

Henshall is to star as Elvira in a new revival of Noel Coward’s classic comedy at the Apollo Theatre in London from 2 March 2011.

Winner of an Olivier Award for her performance in She Loves Me, Ruthie Henshall has played some of the West End and Broadway’s biggest shows including Crazy For You, Chicago, Miss Saigon and Oliver!

Henshall will join a star-studded cast for the play, including Alison Steadman (Gavin and Stacey) as Madame Arcati, and Cold Feet’s Hermione Norris (Spooks) and Robert Bathurst (Alex) as Charles and Ruth Condomine.

In the play, the novelist Charles Condomine (Bathurst) and his second wife Ruth (Norris) are haunted when an eccentric medium (Steadman) manages to conjure up the ghost of Charles’s neurotic and beautiful first wife, Elvira (Henshall), at a séance.

The spirited comedy will open at Theatre Royal Bath later this year before a UK tour and West End opening in the Spring.

Noel Coward’s comedy will be directed by Thea Sharrock, who recently enjoyed enormous success for her production of Terence Rattigan’s After The Dance at the National Theatre. She will return to Rattigan next year for his Centenary by directing Cause Célèbre, which will open at the Old Vic Theatre on 17 March, a few days after Blithe Spirit opens in London.

No stranger to Blithe Spirit, Sharrock directed a 2004 production of the play at the Savoy Theatre starring Penelope Keith. The Noel Coward classic, first produced in 1941, has had numerous UK revivals in the last few years.

Book tickets to Blithe Spirit at the Apollo Theatre in London

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

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.

Sheridan Smith

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

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

Legally Blonde star Sheridan Smith stays with hit show

Sheridan Smith

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

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!”

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.

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

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

Willy Russell’s award-winning musical Blood Brothers celebrates its 22nd birthday today at the Phoenix Theatre in London.

Niki Evans in Blood Brothers

The powerful show, about twins separated at birth, opened at the Albery Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre) on 27 August 1988. It transferred from the Albery to its current home at the Phoenix Theatre in 1991.

Blood Brothers originally ran at the Lyric Theatre in 1983 before its revival in 1988. The lead role of the mother, Mrs. Johnstone, has been played by countless actresses including Barbara Dickson, Stephanie Lawrence, Clodagh Rodgers, Kiki Dee, Lyn Paul, Siobhan McCarthy, Katie Scott, four of the Nolan sisters (Linda, Bernie, Denise and Maureen), Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm and current star Niki Evans.

The original 1983 production of the show won the Olivier Award for Best Musical and the show’s star Barbara Dickson won Best Actress in a Musical. The current production saw Con O’Neill win for Best Actor in a Musical in 1988 and Mel C was nominated this year for Best Actress in a Musical.

The show currently features Niki Evans as Mrs Johnstone, Philip Stewart as the Narrator, Stephen Palfreman as Mickey, Simon Willmont as Eddie and Vivienne Carlyle as Mrs Lyons.

Liverpudlian playwright Willy Russell is currently enjoying a revival, with two of his plays, Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine, running at the Trafalgar Studios in London.

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £31.50 on tickets to see Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre in London

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

Is there no end to the number of Sondheim productions whizzing around in celebration of his 80th?

Kim Cattrall in Private Lives

Up next year is a sparkly new production of Follies, with none other than Broadway goddess – and current A Little Night Music star – Bernadette Peters in the lead as Sally (at Washington’s Kennedy Center, 7 May to 5 June 2011).

Perhaps even more exciting, Kim Cattrall, who has been recently working it in the West End in Private Lives at the Vaudeville Theatre, is rumoured to be playing Phyllis in the musical (her rendition of “Someday I’ll find you” in PL was more than acceptable, and any way, she can always do a Dianna Rigg and sing-speak it).

We know that it hasn’t even transferred to Broadway yet, but please can someone put first dibs on it for London? (Cameron Mackintosh – you know you want to).

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

One of the furry characters from Avenue Q has knocked out a new project to keep him busy after the show closes at the Wyndham’s Theatre on 30 October.

Trekkie Monster is releasing a much-needed self help book on a subject close to his… heart, “Masturbation: The Medicine of Life”.

Learning from a master, the 1,500 page book will offer valuable advice and guidance based on decades of careful, clinical and rigorous research.

Trekkie commented, “Me feel that this really digs to the soul of Trekkie. Me believe my techniques will help people and monsters all over the Earth”.

The book is available wherever books are sold*.

Special Offer: Save up to £13.50 on tickets to Avenue Q at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London

*er, possibly not true.

LINKS

Avenue Q: Masturbation: The Medicine of Life

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

Theatre impresario Cameron Mackintosh talked to Michael Ball today about his new musical project, Betty Blue Eyes.

Cameron Mackintosh on The Michael Ball Show

Speaking on The Michael Ball Show on ITV1, Mackintosh revealed that it will be his next musical. The new show, which is written by Mackintosh protégés George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (Mary Poppins, Just So), is based on Alan Bennett’s screenplay A Private Function.

The original 1984 film starred Michael Palin and Maggie Smith and is set in a small Northern town shortly after the war, when rations were still biting hard. A group of local businessmen plan to hold a patriotic party to celebrate the impending royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip, and decide to illegally raise a pig for the occasion. But hen-pecked chiropodist Gilbert Chilvers (Michael Palin) and his wife Joyce (Maggie Smith) have other plans…

Late last year Mackintosh told the Daily Mail: “The title (of the show) is in honour of our lovely Queen. Well, they are both catalysts of the story. We have the marriage of Elizabeth and Philip – and our heroine, the pig, is Betty Blue Eyes. I haven’t checked the Queen’s eye colour recently, but they’re rumoured to be blue.”

The musical is slated to begin rehearsals early next year, trying out at the West Yorkshire Playhouse before coming to the West End at Easter. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee begins the following year in 2012.

Gareth Gates sings on The Michael Ball Show

Mackintosh also talked about the 25th anniversary celebrations planned for Les Miserables, and said that the show is, “doing better than it has for 15 years”.

He was at pains to emphasise that the new touring production had “new costumes, new sets and new direction” following a recent public spat with original directors of the musical Trevor Nunn and John Caird, who were not invited to work on the 25th anniversary tour, which will play its original home at the Barbican Theatre in September. Gareth Gates, who is starring in the touring production, joined Mackintosh on the show, to sing Empty Chairs At Empty Tables from Les Mis.

Mackintosh also spoke to Michael Ball about the current resurgence in musical theatre: “Ten years ago if you said you were in the theatre you’d duck” he said, but now it’s trendy, with people “fed up with just sitting looking at a computer”. Despite popular TV talent shows, such as BBC1′s Over The Rainbow, finding new a new generation of musicals stars, Mackintosh said that “if you have a raw talent and you have a platform then you can make a career” but that few people have the staying power to make a career out of the theatre.

Cameron Mackintosh, producer of some of the world’s most successful shows including Miss Saigon, Cats, Mary Poppins and current West End musicals Oliver!, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Avenue Q and Hair!, also revealed that his favourite musical of all time is My Fair Lady.

LINKS

Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre, the O2 Arena and the Barbican Theatre

Stiles and Drew official site

Listen to a song from Betty Blue Eyes

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

BBC Radio 2 will broadcast a major new documentary on the history of West End and Broadway musicals this autumn.

Produced by the BBC’s Malcolm Prince, who also produces Elaine Paige’s show on a Sunday, The Musical will reveal the enduring appeal of West End and Broadway shows. Running for eight weeks, the programme will explore the 80-year history of musical theatre from its humble beginnings to a multi-billion pound industry.

No official scheduling information has been announced for the programme, although it is expected to play from week beginning 6 September.

Also on Radio 2 this autumn, and also produced by Malcolm Prince, is The London Palladium Story, a two-part documentary series about arguably the nation’s most famous theatre, in the year of its centenary. Hosted by Michael Grade, the programme will chart the building’s history and long association with variety and star names, from Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr and Ella Fitzgerald, to the legendary Sunday Night At The Palladium show.

Other shows with a theatrical slant on Radio 2 this autumn include Come To The Cabaret, a two-part series presented by Paul O’Grady about the magic of cabaret, from its Parisian origins in 1881, via New York, Berlin, London in the Swinging Sixties to its present-day resurgence.

Currently playing on Radio 2 is Bill Kenwright’s Golden Years featuring one of the West End’s most famous producers. In the show, on Tuesdays at 11pm, he journeys through his favourite songs from the late-Fifties and early-Sixties to look at the best-loved singers of this glorious period. Bill has produced many of the West End’s most successful shows including current favourites Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre and Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre.

The special documentaries compliment a well established Musicals schedule on Radio 2 that includes Michael Ball’s Sunday Brunch at 11am on Sundays, followed by Elaine Paige on Sunday at 1pm.

Bob Shennan, Controller of Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music says: “Radio 2 is one of the BBC’s pillars of public service broadcasting, and I am immensely proud of our distinctive documentary output this year – which offers a rich and diverse menu across the cultural and creative spectrum.

LINKS

BBC Radio 2

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

Enjoy 50% off tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £29.50 on tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London

Offer valid 2 October at 10.30am. Also save £18 on Mon-Thu evenings and Wed matinees.

Les Miserables in gearing up for its 25th anniversary with a series of special events and concerts – including a major concert at the O2 Arena in London and the 25th anniversary touring production starring Gareth Gates coming back to the Barbican Theatre – where it all began in 1985.

As the excitement mounts, a special 10.30am early matinee of the show will be performed on Saturday 2 October. Westendtheatre.com readers can now enjoy 50% off top price tickets to see this special performance.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, Les Miserables is the world’s longest-running musical having played in 42 countries to over 55 million people worldwide.

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £29.50 on tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London

Offer valid 2 October at 10.30am. Also save £18 on Mon-Thu evenings and Wed matinees.

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com

Whilst we desperately try to avoid turning on the TV before cocktail hour, sometimes the search for art and beauty (and a good show tune) prevails.

All this week, ITV’s This Morning has been celebrating the West End Musical, with Monday’s show featuring the cast of Mamma Mia! and Tuesday shaking things up with Sister Act.

Today, at 11am, Noel Sullivan, Lauren Samuels and the cast of Grease sang Summer Nights on the show.

And coming up next is the cast of Dirty Dancing tomorrow, Thursday 26 August, and the cast of We Will Rock You on Friday.

THE MICHAEL BALL SHOW

ITV’s The Michael Ball Show, on ITV1 weekdays from 3pm, will feature Cameron Mackintosh today. The theatre impresario will discuss celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables, and will be joined by Gareth Gates who is playing Marius in the touring production – soon to come to the Barbican in London.

Lauren Samuels on This Morning

Grease’s Noel Sullivan and Lauren Samuels interviewed on This Morning

News courtesy of westendtheatre.com