London summer season for new touring Shrek
The UK and Ireland touring production of Shrek The Musical will dance into the Eventim Apollo in London for six weeks only next summer. Currently playing to packed houses across the UK and Ireland, the new production will take up residence at the Hammersmith venue from 19 July until 31 August 2024.
The hit fairy tale with the green-tinged twist has been re-imagined for a new audience by a new creative team led by acclaimed director and choreographer Nick Winston alongside former touring Lord Farquaad, Sam Holmes as co-director. Set and costume design is by Philip Witcomb, with lighting by Ben Cracknell, casting by Jim Arnold, sound by Ben Harrison, production design by Nina Dunn and puppet design by Jimmy Grimes.
The touring cast is headed by Antony Lawrence (The Lion King, international tour, Matilda The Musical, Cambridge Theatre/RSC) as Shrek opposite former Strictly champion turned musical theatre leading lady, Joanne Clifton (The Rocky Horror Show, UK tour, Flashdance, UK tour) as Princess Fiona with Olivier Award-nominee James Gillan (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Sheffield Crucible/Apollo Theatre, Starlight Express, UK tour) as Lord Faquaad, Brandon Lee Sears (Dreamgirls, UK tour, Be More Chill, Shaftesbury Theatre) as Donkey, and Cherece Richards (Once on This Island, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as the Dragon.
Based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek! and the much-loved Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical has a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.
More stars announced for Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert
Stage and screen actor, director and producer Daniel Dae Kim, Tony, Grammy and Critics Choice Award nominee Ashley Park and Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit are the latest additions to the all-star line-up for this December’s My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 8oth Anniversary Concert.
They will join the previously announced Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden, Marisha Wallace and Patrick Wilson for the two concert performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 12 December. Additional headliners will be announced at a later date.
Celebrating the timeless music of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the concert will feature the 40-piece Rodgers & Hammerstein Concert Orchestra conducted by Simon Lee, a line-up of international stage and screen stars, a West End chamber choir, a dance ensemble and surprise guest appearances.
Both Kim and Park appeared in the most recent Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I, with Kim starring as the King of Siam and Park playing Tuptim. Kim’s 3AD production company is also currently working with Concord Originals and Janet Yang Productions on a new film re-imagining of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song.
Presented by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organisation, My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 8oth Anniversary Concert will be directed and staged by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Christopher Gattelli (Lincoln Center Theater’s The King and I and South Pacific) at the newly restored venue which previously premiered the original productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific and The King and I.
Jodie Prenger to star in Hope Mill’s Gypsy in concert
Stage and small screen favourite Jodie Prenger will play the formidable Rose in a fundraising concert presentation of the classic musical Gypsy in Manchester early next year. Presented by Hope Mill Theatre and aimed at raising funds for the venue’s Hope for the Future campaign, the one-night-only performance on 25 February 2024 will be directed by Joseph Houston and choreographed by William Whelton – Hope Mill Theatre’s co-founders.
Looking forward to playing one of musical theatre’s most redoubtable females, Prenger said: “I am beyond thrilled to be a part of the upcoming Gypsy concert! It’s a dream role for anyone in the theatre world, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to bring this iconic character to life. I can remember to this day playing the overture as a teenager. Tears welling in my eyes and goosebumps on my forearms.
“But what makes this concert even more special is that it is in support of Hope Mill Theatre. This fabulous theatre has been instrumental in nurturing and shaping future generations of theatregoers. They provide a platform for emerging talent and continuously push the boundaries of creativity. I can’t wait to step on that stage and be part of something so truly special.”
Touring Wizard of Oz – full cast confirmed
Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Company have confirmed full casting for the star-packed upcoming UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard of Oz. Following a crowd-pleasing summer season at the London Palladium, the Made At Curve production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams’ adaptation of the classic story will play a Christmas season at the Liverpool Empire before heading out on tour.
As previously announced pop star Aston Merrygold will step into the role of The Tin Man in Liverpool where he will be joined by The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West for the festive run from 13 December 2023 until 14 January 2024.
The tour will feature a number of Palladium stars including Jason Manford who will reprise his performance as The Cowardly Lion for two weeks only at the Palace Theatre in Manchester (24 April to 5 May 2024) and Gary Wilmot who will return as The Wizard when the tour visits the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury; the Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh; the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend; the Theatre Royal, Norwich; Venue Cymru, Llandudno; and the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford. Allan Stewart and Alex Bourne will also play The Wizard at select dates across the tour.
Craig Revel Horwood will grab his broomstick to play The Wicked Witch of the West at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking; the Grand Opera House, Belfast; the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; the Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham; King’s Theatre, Glasgow; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen; Milton Keynes Theatre; and the Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff.
After co-starring in Liverpool, The Vivienne will also play The Wicked Witch of the West at the New Theatre, Oxford; the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton; the New Theatre, Hull; the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield; the Theatre Royal, Plymouth; the Bristol Hippodrome; the Theatre Royal, Nottingham; the Theatre Royal, Newcastle; the Palace Theatre, Manchester; the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton; and the Empire Theatre, Sunderland.
Principal company members appearing at all venues will be: Aviva Tulley (Book of Mormon, UK tour) as Dorothy, Benjamin Yates (Jersey Boys, West End) as The Scarecrow, Nic Greenshields (Love Never Dies, West End) as The Cowardly Lion, Emily Bull (9 to 5, UK Tour) as Glinda The Good Witch and Abigail Matthews as Toto (War Horse, West End).
The company will be completed by: David Burrows, Adam Craig, Cole Dunn, Tyler Ephraim, Olivia Kate Holding, Thomas Kalek, Sadie Levett, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Martin McCarthy, Rose Ouellette, Fanja Parent, Alexandra Regan, Nathan Routledge and Sydney Spencer.
Directed by Leicester Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster, the production is choreographed by Shay Barclay with set design by Colin Richmond, projection design by Douglas O’Connell, costume and puppet design by Rachael Canning, lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Adam Fisher. The team also includes creative consultant Mark Kaufman, musical director and musical supervisor George Dyer, magic consultant Scott Penrose, casting director Kay Magson, props supervisor Marcus Hall Props, costume supervisor Anna Josephs and wigs, hair and makeup designer Elizabeth Marini.
Featuring music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by EY Harburg, additional music by Lloyd Webber and additional lyrics by Tim Rice, the hit version of L Frank Baum’s classic story of Dorothy’s magical adventure was adapted by Lloyd Webber and Sams.
Cast for An Officer and a Gentleman UK tour
Luke Baker and Georgia Lennon will star as the lead lovers in the upcoming UK tour of Leicester Curve’s hit musical version of the 1980s classic movie An Officer and a Gentleman.
Recently seen as Tony in Billy Elliot at Curve, Baker (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Sheffield Crucible/Apollo Theatre, Footloose, UK tour) will play officer candidate Zach Mayo, the role played by Richard Gere in the iconic film, opposite Lennon (The Osmonds: A New Musical, UK tour, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Shaftesbury Theatre) in Debra Winger’s role of Paula Pokrifki, the factory girl Zach falls in love with.
The principal cast will also include Jamal Crawford (Fame The Musical, UK tour/Troubadour Theatre, Guys and Dolls, Chichester Festival Theatre/UK tour) as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, the tough training officer famously played on film by Louis Gossett Jr, Paul French (Grease, Dominion Theatre, Wizard of Oz, Curve) as doomed officer candidate Sid Worley and Sinead Long (Hamilton, Victoria Palace, Sweet Charity, Nottingham Playhouse) as Paula’s friend and fellow factory worker Lynette Pomeroy.
Further casting will be announced at a later date.
Directed by Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster with choreography by Joanna Goodwin, the tour will launch at The Alexandra, Birmingham on 23 February 2024 and will continue through to 16 November 2024. The dates will include a return to Leicester in August 2024 plus visits to Glasgow, Belfast, Llandudno, Bradford, Wimbledon, Cardiff, Brighton, Manchester, Stoke, Newcastle, Dartford, Oxford, York, Sheffield, Southampton, Torquay, Canterbury, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Woking, Truro, Bristol, Eastbourne, Wolverhampton, Blackpool, Aberdeen, Milton Keynes, Bromley and Hull.
Featuring a book by the writer of the movie’s screenplay Douglas Day Stewart co-written with Sharleen Cooper Cohen, the musical received its world premiere in Leicester in 2018. The production will have musical supervision and orchestration by George Dyer, set and costume design by Michael Taylor, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Tom Marshall, wig, hair and make up design by Sam Cox and casting by Debbie O’Brien.
As well as featuring the film’s romantic anthem ‘Up Where We Belong’, the musical features 1980s pop classics including ‘Alone’, ‘Don’t Cry Out Loud’, ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ and ‘Material Girl’.
Cast for Mill at Sonning’s new High Society
The Mill at Sonning celebrated winning the 2023 UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production for its summer production of the classic musical Gypsy by announcing the cast for the venue’s next major musical, High Society.
After playing Sarah Brown in The Mill at Sonning’s Guys and Dolls, Victoria Serra (Titanic, Grand Hotel, Parade) will return to the distinctive Thameside theatre to play socialite Tracy Lord. She will star opposite Matt Blaker (The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Carousel, Kilworth House) as her ex-husband Dexter Haven, with Matthew Jeans (White Christmas, Funny Girl, Singin’ in the Rain) as reporter Mike Connor and Kurt Kansley (Pretty Woman, West End, Heathers, But I’m A Cheerleader) as Tracy’s Uncle Willie.
After playing Tessie in the award-winning Gypsy, Laura Tyrer will return to The Mill to play photographer Liz Imbrie and Katio making her professional debut as Tracy’s kid sister Dinah. The cast will be completed by Tosca Fischer, Samuel How, Heather Jackson, Bethany Rose Lythgoe, Joe Press, Will Richardson, Callum Train and Russell Wilcox.
Most of the creative team behind the record-breaking Gypsy will return for High Society including director Joseph Pitcher, designer Jason Denvir, costume designer Natalie Titchener and co-lighting designers Nic Farman and Hector Murray, with casting by Pearson Casting. The team will also include choreographer Jaye Elster, musical arranger and supervisor Jerome van den Berghe, sound designer Chris Whybrow and musical director Tom Noyes.
The final production of the 2023 season will run from 29 November 2023 until 20 January 2024. Based on Philip Barry’s 1939 play The Philadelphia Story and the 1956 movie musical High Society, the stage musical which debuted on Broadway in 1998 features music and lyrics by Cole Porter, a book by Arthur Kopit and additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead.
Angela Thomas
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