Welcome to the first instalment of Musicals Mash Up in which we catch up with lots of the week’s stories that haven’t yet appeared on the Musical Theatre Review pages. We hope you approve! News editor Angela Thomas reports
David Albury takes over the the title role in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical at the Lyric Theatre, London. Picture: Craig Sugden
New cast for Get Up, Stand Up! final performances
The producers of the Olivier Award-winning musical Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical have confirmed casting for the final weeks of performances at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. Currently playing Alternate Bob Marley, David Albury (Motown The Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre, Disney’s The Lion King, national tour) will take over from Michael Duke as the musical heads towards its final performance on 8 January 2023. From 4 October, Albury will star opposite Cleopatra Rey (Motown The Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre, Dirty Dancing, Aldwych) who will step into the role of Rita Marley following the departure of Gabrielle Brooks. Rey is currently playing Mrs Grey/Aunty Viola and is an understudy Rita Marley.
Other company newcomers include: Ivano Turco (Alternate Bob Marley), Tom Bowen (Doctor), Newtion Matthews (Coxsone Dodd/Lee Perry/Bucky), Philip Kamau (Little Bob), Kristiano Ricardo (Little Bob), Zack Richards (Little Bob), Jack Matthew (Ensemble), Andrè Antonio (Swing), Cartell Green-Brown (Swing), Michael Jeremiah (Swing), Summer Priest (Swing) and Lauran Rae (Swing).
Continuing in the show in the same roles are Craig Blake (DJ Sway/Claudie Massop), Melissa Brown-Taylor (Marcia Griffiths), Shanay Holmes (Cindy Breakspeare), Sophia Mackay (Judy Mowatt), Julene Robinson (Mama), Jacade Simpson (Bunny Wailer), Nate Simpson (Intermediate Bob Marley), Callum Jaye (Cover Intermediate Bob Marley), Jaime Tait, Luke Buck, Viquichele Cross, Llewellyn Jamal, Kieran McGinn and Pharrell Marshall-Green.
Continuing in the show but taking on different roles are Charles Blyth (Chris Blackwell), Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton (Peter Tosh), Cleopatra Rey (Rita Marley), Amarra Smith (Mrs Grey/Aunty Viola) and Athena Collins.
Kristina Love with Tina Turner
West End to welcome new Tina Turner
Kristina Love will join the hit West End production Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre from 12 October 2022. The American actress who previously played Tina Turner in the first non-English version of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical in Hamburg, Germany will share the title role in London with Elesha Paul Moses (Whitney: Queen Of The Night and Tina: What’s Love Got To Do With It, international tours) while Caleb Roberts (Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre, She Ventures and He Wins, Young Vic) will continue in the role of Ike Turner.
Extra performance for Once In Concert at London Palladium
Lambert Jackson has added a second performance to the spring concert presentation of the multi-award-winning Broadway and West End musical Once in response to public demand. Starring former Heathers co-stars Carrie Hope Fletcher (Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre, Les Misérables, Queen’s Theatre) and Jamie Muscato (Moulin Rouge!, Piccadilly Theatre, Spring Awakening, Novello Theatre/Lyric Hammersmith), the concert will now play two performances at the London Palladium on 12 March. The duo will head a cast of actor/musicians for the special concert production which will be directed by Dean Johnson with musical direction by Adam Hoskins. Further casting will be announced at a later date.
New cast for Mamma Mia! The Party in London
Innovative theatrical and dining experience Mamma Mia! The Party has welcomed a new cast to guide ABBA-hungry diners through Greek island-themed venue in the heart of London into 2023. The new cast includes Javier Rasero as Nikos, Scarlet Gabriel as Debbie, Luke Friend as Adam, Noah Sinigaglia as Konstantina, Rosie Rowlands as Bella (at certain performances), Jamie Birkett, Caline Hampartzoumian, Robban Hogstrom and Maison Kelley. They join existing cast members Lorraine Chappell who will continue in the role of Kate, Dawn Spence as Grandma, Allie Ho Chee as Bella (at certain performances), Claudia Bradley and Ellis Dackombe. Tamara Perks will play the role of Nina, and Oscar Balmaseda will play Fernando. The musicians are John Donovan, Luke Higgins, Kathryn Tindall, Steve Rushton and Luke Roberts. In response to demand booking for the immersive show within the specially-adapted venue within London’s O2 is now booking up to 23 February 2023.
Picture: Roy Tan
Cinema release for Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker!
New Adventures has announced the upcoming release of the filmed version of the acclaimed 30th anniversary production of Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! Released by Trafalgar Releasing and produced by Illuminations, Nutcracker! will be screened in more than 255 cinemas across the UK and internationally ahead of the Christmas season on 15 and 20 November 2022. Filmed live at Sadler’s Wells in January and directed for the screen by Ross MacGibbon, the production features Cordelia Braithwaite as Clara, Harrison Dowzell as Nutcracker, Ashley Shaw as Princess Sugar and Dominic North as Fritz.
The Drifters Girl – first tour dates announced
Producers Michael Harrison and David Ian have announced the first tour dates for their acclaimed new musical The Drifters Girl. Due to play its final performance at the Garrick Theatre on 15 October, the touring version of the new musical inspired by the life of the woman behind legendary vocal group The Drifters will launch at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton on 12 September 2023.
Following Southampton, the 2023 leg of the tour will visit Theatre Royal, Norwich; Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield; Alhambra Theatre, Bradford; Opera House, Manchester; Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes; Curve Theatre, Leicester; Cliffs Pavilion, Southend; Theatre Royal, Newcastle; New Victoria Theatre, Woking; and Orchard Theatre, Dartford. With further 2024 dates to be announced, the tour’s first 2024 venue will be the Bristol Hippodrome (9-13 January).
Michael D. Xavier, Charlotte Kennedy and John Middleton as Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady. Picture: Marc Brenner
My Fair Lady tour – extra 2023 venues confirmed
Further venues have been added to the UK and Ireland tour of Bartlett Sher’s multi-award-winning production of My Fair Lady. After a run at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin, the production will then visit the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff (8-26 November 2022), the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh (14 December 2022-7 January 2023) and the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton (12-29 January 2023). The musical will then head for the Sunderland Empire (1-11 February), the Bristol Hippodrome (14-25 February) and the Birmingham Hippodrome (8-19 March), before playing its final performances at Manchester’s Palace Theatre from 22 March until 1 April. The touring cast is currently headed by Charlotte Kennedy as Eliza Doolittle, Michael D. Xavier as Henry Higgins with Adam Woodyatt as Alfred P. Doolittle, Heather Jackson as Mrs Higgins, Lesley Garrett as Mrs Pearce, John Middleton as Colonel Pickering and Tom Liggins as Freddie Eynesford-Hill.
New cast for touring Jersey Boys
The crowd-pleasing UK and Ireland touring production of Jersey Boys has welcomed a number of new cast members. Christopher Short steps into the role of Nick Massi alongside current stars Michael Pickering as Frankie Valli, Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio and Dalton Wood as Tommy DeVito. Ryan Heenan plays Frankie Valli at certain performances. Other cast newcomers include Matthew Lawrence (Norm Waxman), Olly Manley (Swing), Victoria McCabe (Francine), Dan O’Brien (Hank Majewski) and Kirsty Whelan (Swing).
They join current cast members Emma Crossley (Mary Delgado), Jordan James (Gyp DeCarlo), Michael Levi (Bob Crewe), Tom O’Brien (Swing), Nathan Routledge (Swing), George Salmon (Joe Pesci), Ellie Seaton (Lorraine) and Damien Winchester (Barry Belson). The third UK and Ireland tour is now booking through to April 2023.
Disney’s Lion King tour 2023 – new venues announced
The Walt Disney Company UK and Ireland have announced two further venues for 2023 for the touring production of Disney’s The Lion King. Currently playing the Southampton Mayflower Theatre ahead of a season at the Manchester Palace Theatre from 27 October 2022 until 19 February 2023, the tour will then visit Sunderland Empire from 16 March until 6 May 2023 and Birmingham Hippodrome from 6 July until 16 September 2023.
Cast for Phizzical’s Bombay Superstar
Award-winning theatre company Phizzical Productions has unveiled the cast for new disco-infused musical Bombay Superstar. Award-winning actress Nisha Aaliya (Ghosts, BBC, Girl on the Train, Netflix, Bring on the Bollywood, Phizzical Productions) will star as fiery rising star Laila opposite Rav Moore (Precious Bazaar, Phizzical; Bollywood Jane, Curve Theatre, Band Baaja Dance, De Montfort) who was cast as dashing hero Sikander following a cross-country talent search launched in the summer by Phizzical Productions in partnership with Sony TV UK. They will be joined by Pia Sutaria, Robby Khela, Sheetal Pandya, Yanick Ghanty, Chirag Rao and Amar. The production will also include Aaron Mistry, Daisy Hardy, with professional debuts from Pavan Maru and Alexandra Adams as part of the ensemble.
Written and directed by Phizzical Production’s artistic director Sâmir Bhamra, the 1970s Bollywood-set musical will receive its musical world premiere at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre from 15- 22 October ahead of a UK tour.
Belfast Lyric debut for Conor Mitchell’s new musical Propaganda
Award-winning writer and director Conor Mitchell’s new show Propaganda: A New Musical is debuting at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast as part of this year’s Belfast International Arts Festival. Featuring a live 14-piece orchestra, the satirical musical comedy stars Joanna O’Hare (School of Rock) and Darren Franklin (The Ferryman) as Hanna and Slavi, two young lovers trapped in 1949 East Berlin. They are joined by Rebecca Caine (The Light in the Piazza, Flowers for Mrs Harris), Matthew Cavan (Sweeney Todd), Celia Graham (Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, Les Miserables), Sean Kearns (The Last Ship, The Commitments) and Oliver Lidert (The Lion King, The Book Of Mormon, The Prince Of Egypt). Co-produced by the Lyric Theatre and Mitchell’s Belfast Ensemble, the production plays the Lyric Theatre until 5 November 2022.
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