Live From The Delfont Rooms

Saturday 17 July, acclaimed West End performer Clare Burt will perform her cabaret.

Saturday 31 July, don't miss this unique opportunity to see I'd Do Anything finalist Jessie Buckley perform in the intimate surrounding of this venue.

Saturday 4th September Daniel Boys (who appeared in Any Dream Will Do and has since starred in Avenue Q) will be appearing.


For more information and Tickets please see www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk

George Michael Crashes Car Into Shop

Singer George Michael was arrested after his car crashed into a shop, it emerged today.

The former Wham! star, 47, who was banned for driving for two years in June 2007, is thought to have crashed into a branch of Snappy Snaps photo store near his home in Hampstead, north London.

Michael was held by police on suspicion of being unfit to drive after the alleged incident in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A police spokesperson said: "Police were called at about 3.35am on Sunday 4th July to a report of a vehicle in collision with a building.

"Officers attended and a man aged in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive. He was taken to a north London police station and later bailed pending further inquiries to a date in mid August."

WONDER WOMAN - LYNDA CARTER: AT LAST

Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter will return to London’s West End bringing her concert show Lynda Carter: At Last to the Garrick Theatre, for two nights only on 17 and 18 September 2010.

It was five year ago that Lynda made her West End Debut as Mama Morton in Chicago.

Please see www.lyndainlondon.com for booking details!

Shrek Comes to Drury Lane June 2011

After weeks of rumoured today it has been confirmed that the Broadway Hit Shrek the Musical will open in London’s West End!

Shrek will be staged at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane with Press Night expected to be 7 June 2011, following previews from May. Tickets go on public sale on 1 October 2010.

No Casting announced that yet been confirmed for the West End production, however many names have already been linked to the show these include; Britain’s Got Talent Amanda, Legally Blonde’s Sheridan Smith, Former Avenue Q (and just released a fab second album) Julie Atherton, Girls Aloud Kimberly Walsh & currently staring in Love Story Emma Williams.

Shrek the Musical played on Broadway from December 2008 to January 2010 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards. The Anglo-American creative team is led by directors Jason Moore and Rob Ashford with David Lindsay-Abaire (Book and Lyrics), Jeanine Tesori (Music), Tim Hatley (Scenic, Costume and Puppet Design), Hugh Vanstone (Lighting Design), Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), and Josh Prince (Choreography)

The Theatre Royal is currently staging Oliver! which celebrated it 50th birthday earlier this week. Oliver will be closing after 2 years on the 8th January 2011.

‘Wicked’ Star heads to Dales!

West End actress Natalie Anderson is to swap the fictional realm of Oz for the Yorkshire Dales later this year as she joins the cast of Emmerdale.

The 28-year-old - whose year-long stage stint as Nessarose, The Wicked Witch of the East in the award-winning musical Wicked came to an end in March takes on the role of Leyla Harding's fiery sibling Alicia.

Described as "brassy and trashy and full of attitude", Alicia bounds into village in the summer and makes it clear from the outset that she has unfinished business with Leyla, who has only recently settled down with boyfriend David

With their relationship far from perfect, Leyla's forced to deal with Alicia's arrival in an attempt to keep her "murky and scandal-ridden" past buried.

Speaking of her casting, Natalie says: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the show. It'll be wonderful to be working back home in Yorkshire again. I'm a Yorkshire girl so a part in Emmerdale is a dream come true!

She added: "Alicia is a complex character, she's not all she seems and she's set to make life quite complicated for Leyla."

Natalie who has also starred as nurse Stella Davenport in The Royal - is due to begin filming at the rural soap's home in Leeds this month, and will make her screen debut in August.

50 YEARS FOR OLIVER!

It’s hard to know where to start with the amazing production, to think OLIVER 50th is just incredible and to celebrate it with Ron Moody, Russ Abbot, Steven Hartley & Kerry Ellis at the Theatre Royal made it an unforgettable evening!

To help celebrate Oliver turning 50, Ron Moody (the original Fagin for the 1960s production) returned to stage at the end of the show. Moody even managed a song of ’You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two’ joined in part by the show’s current Fagin Russ Abbot. During Moody’s speech he thank people involved the Production past and present and also took time to thank Cameron Mackintosh who was sadly not at the show last night.

Oliver! original opened in London West End on the June 30 1960, at the New Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre). The production ran for 2618 performances. Among the original cast were Ron Moody as Fagin and Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry.

There was a West End revival during the late 1970s, at the Albery Theatre (the renamed New Theatre; now the Noel Coward Theatre), starring Roy Hudd as Fagin, which ran for over two years. This was Cameron Mackintosh's first revival of Oliver! totally faithful to the 1960s original!

A Cameron Mackintosh produced revival opened at the London Palladium on December 8 1994. The cast included Jonathan Pryce Fagin and Sally Dexter as Nancy. A soundtrack was also recorded for this production. The musical ran for over 3 years before closed on February 21 1998.

In January 2009 a production of Oliver! heavily based upon the 1994 Palladium production opened in London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Produced once again by Cameron Mackintosh. It was announced early on that the central role of Fagin would be played by British comedian Rowan Atkinson (who had previously played the role in a school production but had turned down the role in the Palladium run) and that Burn Gorman would play Bill Sikes, making his West End musical debut. The leading roles of Nancy and Oliver were successfully cast via the BBC reality television show series I'd Do Anything. The three actors who won the role of Oliver were Laurence Jeffcoate, Harry Stott and Gwion Wyn Jones. Jodie Prenger won the role of Nancy.

On Saturday March 27 2010, Jodie Prenger left the show after a run of fifteen months. Kerry Ellis replaced Prenger, and received extremely positive reviews. On June 12 2010, Griff Rhys Jones left the production and on June 14 he was officially replaced by Russ Abbot.

It has been confirmed that the production will close on January 8 2011.

Tell Me On A Sunday national tour, starring Claire Sweeney

Claire Sweeney stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s masterpiece of musical theatre, Tell Me On A Sunday. Opening at the Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton on Monday 30th August 2010, Tell Me On A Sunday then embarks on a major national tour National Press Night: Thursday 2nd September.

Claire Sweeney is one of the UK’s best-loved personalities with a string of credits to her name on stage and screen, in a career which takes her from Prime Time Saturday Night Television to star roles in London’s West End Theatre.
Television programmes include Brookside, 60 Minute Makeover, Loose Women, My Big Fat Diet and Challenge of a Lifetime. West End roles include Roxie Hart in Chicago and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.

Originally conceived for television starring Marti Webb, Tell Me On A Sunday has been performed by legendary musical theatre stars Elaine Paige, Sarah Brightman and Denise Van Outen. Now Claire Sweeney takes on this celebrated role which features a wonderful score and the chart-topping hit ‘Take That Look Off Your Face’, ‘Unexpected Song’ and the title track ‘Tell Me on a Sunday’.

Tell Me On A Sunday charts the romantic misadventures of a young English girl newly arrived in New York. Brimming with optimism, she seeks success, companionship and, of course, love. But as she weaves her way through the maze of the city and her own anxieties, frustrations and heartaches she begins to wonder whether in fact she’s been looking for love in all the wrong places.

This production has been remodelled for Claire by the masters of musical theatre, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black, with an exclusive new song ‘I Still Believe in Love’ – this is the definitive version of the classic musical for 2010.

Rachel Tucker the greatest Elphaba??

As soon as the word Elphaba (or Elphie as Glinda calls her), is heard your mind goes straight to Wicked! And why not, this musical has taken the West End and the world by storm over the past 5 years!

Wicked is a story about two friends Elphaba and Glinda, how they became friends and everything the pair went through at the hands of the ‘Wonderful Wizard of Oz’.

Wicked has the most dedicated fan in musical theatre, with many of them seeing the show more than 20 times! I have seen the show many times myself and I love it, I could easily sit through it again tonight. Last time I was there my friend and I began chatting to a couple next to us who had also seem the show many times and asked us who our favourite Elphie was……

Wicked London has had a few Elphie now: Idina Menzel, Kerry Ellis, Alexia Khadime, Ashleigh Gray (super standby) and currently Rachel Tucker and of course I have to include Nikki Davis-Jones (Deej) the currently Standby!

So who is greatest Elphie, I mean who could possible pick one from that amazing list! All have their fans who will swear there Elphie is the best! For me Rachel Tucker devlivers a fantastic all round performance with her ‘No Good Deed’ as one of the best (if not the best) I have ever heard. Then there is Nikki Davis-Jones, who has such a wonderful voice, I really felt I travelled Elphaba journey with her! I cant pick, I love them all!

One thing I can be sure on is that Wicked will continue to attract fans and the debate on who is the greatest Elphie will live on!

Wicked in currently on at the Apollo Victoria staring, Rachel Tucker (Elphaba), Louise Dearman (Glinda), Lee Mead (Fiyero), Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible), Clive Carter (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), Cassie Compton (Nessarose), George Ure (Boq), Julian Forsyth (Doctor Dillamond). With Nikki Davis-Jones as Standby Elphaba and Sarah Earnshaw as Standby Glinda.

Lauren Samuels To Be Sandy In Grease

Lauren Samuels who came third in Andrew Lloyds Webber's Over the Rainbow, where he was looking to cast a Dorothy to start in his new production The Wizard of OZ. Which is due to open at the London Palladium next March.

The role of Dorothy was won in the end by Danielle Hope. But I'm sure Lauren won't be too upset as she will be taking on the role of Sandy in Grease the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Lauren joins the cast of Grease from 26th July and is set to play Sandy till 22nd January next year. She will be taking over the role from Siobhan Dillon and will starring alongside former Hear'say pop star Noel Sullivan who continues in the role of Danny.

Lucie Jones joins Les Mis

Lucie Jones from last years X Factor will be making her West End debut playing Cosette in Cameron Mackintosh's Les Miserables.

Lucie will play the part alongside Nick Jonas for ONE NIGHT ONLY taking over from Camilla Kerslake. Lucie will then be taking on the role permanent next months at the Queen's Theatre.

Lucie who was voted off the ITV show had turned down the chance to audition for the West End Show in order to be a on the X Factor. Lucie was voted off the show in order to save Jedward!

Ruthie Henshall extends Broadway stay....... AGAIN

London's favourite leading lady, Ruthie Henshall is to remain in Broadway reprising her killing role as Roxie Hart in Chicago.

Ruthie has been out on Broadway since mid April and is now set to remain there till 29th August!

It be worth a summer trip to see you out there!

Michael Ball's Summer ITV Daytime Chat Show

Michael Ball is to front his own daytime show on ITV1.

The Michael Ball Show will be broadcast every weekday over the summer, and will see Ball interview celebrities as well as rising talent.

ITV described the show as “a topical mix of entertainment, discussion and showbiz glamour”.

Ball said: “I’m hugely excited to be joining ITV at such an exciting time for the channel. This show is a great challenge, which I hope will be lots of fun and feature lots of old friends as well as some new ones. I’m really looking forward to getting started”.

ITV director of factual Alison Sharman described Ball as one of the country’s “best-known and loved entertainers”.

She said: “His personality and charm will shine as he brings this new show to our summer schedule packing it with all the style of variety our daytime viewers enjoy.”

All My Sons - Extended

Howard Davies' acclaimed revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons has extended its run at the West End's Apollo Theatre until 2 October 2010 due to demand.

David Suchet stars as Joe Keller, the man who has sacrificed his honour to maintain his family's prosperity. His wife, Kate (Zoe Wanamaker), has managed to hide her knowledge of Joe's previous crimes, but things come to a head when their son decides to marry the former fiancée of his lost brother.

Miller is believed to have based the play around a true story from World War Two, when a manufacturer knowingly allowed defective tank parts to be shipped out.

All My Sons is produced in the West End by Kim Poster, Sonia Friedman and Eric Falkenstein.

Ben James-Ellis heads for the Dreamboats and Petticoats

Ben is set to join Bill Kenwright’s musical Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre in London’s West End on 5th July.

Ben will be taking over the role of Norman, which is current being played by former Emmerdale actor Ben Freeman.

Ben first came to our screen as one of the finalists in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for a Joseph in Any Dream Will Do (which was won by Lee Mead). Since then Ben has taken up the role of Link Larkin in the West End production of the musical Hairspray staying with the show from its opening in October 2007 until July 2009. He has also toured with Michael Ball who he worked alongside in Hairspray!