Elaine Paige To Film New DVD During Concert Tour In Australia And New Zealand, Begins In October

The First Lady of British musical theatre, Elaine Paige will tour Australia and New Zealand in a new concert tour, beginning in October.

The famed performer will film a new concert DVD during one of the tour's Australian performances.

The legendary star of the West End and Broadway, Elaine Paige is an actress, recording artist and producer, who has made a major contribution to the modern musical which ensures her own chapter in the entertainment world and justifies the title "The First Lady of British Musical Theatre". She will be recreating many of her starring roles in the biggest musicals of the modern era in a celebration of a life on the Stage.

Performance Schedule:

Saturday 24th October
Hamer Hall, Melbourne
Bookings: Ticketmaster 136 100 or The Arts Centre 1300 182 183 or www.theartscentre.com.au

Sunday 25th October
Festival Theatre, Adelaide
Bookings: Bass 131 246 or www.bass.net.au

Tuesday 27th October
Brisbane Convection Centre
Bookings: Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

Friday 30th October
Royal Theatre, Canberra
Bookings: Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

Saturday 31st October
State Theatre, Sydney
Bookings: Ticketmaster 136 100 or www.ticketmaster.com.au

Monday 2nd November
Burswood Theatre, Perth
Bookings: Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

Friday 6th November
Aotea Centre, Auckland
Booking information to be announced

Sunday 8th November
Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
Booking information to be announced

September 2008 marked the 40th Anniversary of Elaine Paige's West End debut when he was chosen by Hal Prince to create the role of Eva Peron in the original production of Evita. This was celebrated with a sell-out tour of the UK, a new book "Elaine Paige - Memories" and a CD entitled "Elaine Paige Live - Celebrating A Life On Stage". This international celebration will bring Elaine Paige to Australia in Concert in October 2009, proudly presented by Lennard Promotions and Ovation Channel.

Elaine Paige has starred in numerous West End productions and on Broadway and in concert internationally, sweeping to fame when she created her award winning performance as Eva Peron in Evita. Shortly afterwards she created the role of Grizabella in the original production of Cats and the classic song Memory became one of Elaine's many hit records. Further theatre productions: Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Billy, Chess (with her record breaking number one hit I Know Him So Well with Barbara Dickson), Anything Goes, Piaf, Sunset Boulevard in London and Broadway, The King and I, Sweeney Todd (New York City Opera). She has worked twice with Sir Peter Hall's Theatre Company in The Misanthrope and Feydeau's Where There's A Will.

Elaine Paige has performed in concert worldwide from The White House to The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, from the Bolshoi to Sydney Opera House. She has appeared in many television roles including her own TV specials and Royal Variety Shows. She has recorded 20 solo albums (4 multi Platinum and 8 consecutive Gold) and 6 cast albums and has been honoured with a number of awards: Society of West End Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Variety Club Award for Show Business Personality of the year (1978); Variety Club Award for Musical Artiste (1986) and Variety Club Award for Best Actress (1995); Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (1994); HMV Lifetime Achievement Award (1996); Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (1999); Order of the British Empire for services to Musical Theatre (1995), Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (2004).

Since September 2004 Elaine has presented her weekly radio show Elaine Paige on Sunday on BBC Radio 2. The programme is devoted to musical theatre and film music and it continues to delight audiences with its mix of music, competitions and interviews.

Recent television work has included the role of Dora Bunner in Agatha Christie's Ms Marple story A Murder is Announced for Granada/WGBH, and a guest star role in Where The Heart Is for Granada Television. In 2005 she completed her triumphant concert tour of Australia, New Zealand and the Far East and in 2006 she released her new album of songs from the stage entitled "Essential Musicals" followed by a sell-out concert tour of Scandinavia, and the UK prior to taking her new show to China and in March 2007 she performed in concert at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Elaine Paige returned to the West End stage in 2007 to critical acclaim in the title role of "The Drowsy Chaperone" at the Novello Theatre, London for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance in What's On Stage Awards, London. As well as performing in Europe and in the USA in concert she has recently recorded a track with 'Secret Garden', 'The Things You Are You To Me' for their new number one quadruple-platinum selling album.

For more information, visit www.elainepaige.com.