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!