Linzi Hateley, Clare Foster, Louise Gold & More Set for SONDHEIM: WOMEN Concert at St. James Theatre Tonight

London-based KiwiFruits Productions continues their 2013 season of sell-out concerts with 'SONDHEIM: Women' celebrating over five decades of the great anthems of Broadway composer and lyricist, the incomparable Stephen Sondheim.

Olivier Award nominee and Theatre World Award winner Linzi Hateley, Clare Foster, and the legendary Louise Gold headline a cast of West End leading ladies at the St. James Theatre, tonight September 7th 2013.

Star of Broadway and West End, Linzi Hateley is internationally renowned for her numerous starring roles. Linzi received an Olivier Award nomination for her role as The Narrator in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at the London Palladium, and her Broadway debut as Carrie White in CARRIE: THE MUSICAL earned her the Theatre World Award for Best Newcomer. Linzi is the only actress to have played the roles of both Eponine and Madame Thénardier in LES MISERABLES, while other roles include Rizzo in GREASE, Roxie Hart in CHICAGO, Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA! and Martha in the UK premier of THE SECRET GARDEN (RSC/West End). Linzi also created the role of Mrs Banks in the original cast of MARY POPPINS at the Prince Edward Theatre, and was recently on stage at The National Theatre in the critically acclaimed LONDON ROAD.

Clare Foster starred as Beth Spencer in the recent West End revival of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at both The Menier Chocolate Factory and Harold Pinter Theatre, and has played numerous roles both on and off the West End receiving an Oliver Award nomination for Best Ensemble in AVENUE Q, and a What's On Stage Award nomination for her role as Polly Baker in CRAZY FOR YOU (Olivier Award: Best Revival). Other credits include WE WILL ROCK YOU, CHICAGO, as well as PC Millie Brown in the long-running ITV series THE BILL.

Known for her role as Glinda in the West End production of WICKED, and as Christine in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Annalene Beechey has also starred as Cosette in LES MISERABLES, Johanna in SWEENEY TODD (Royal Festival Hall), as Belle in DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and Cinderella in the Stephen Sondheim musical INTO THE WOODS.

Zoë Curlett headlined on the West End as Cosette in LES MISERABLES, Christine in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and as Jellylorum the UK & European tour of CATS. Other credits include Polly Browne in THE BOY FRIEND, Sally Whittle in ZIP GOES A MILLION and Anthony Newley's UK tour of SCROOGE.

An audience favourite for her West End roles as Madame Thénardier in LES MISERABLES, and Rosie in MAMMA MIA!, Katy Secombe has also starred as Mama Morton in CHICAGO, Mrs Paroo in THE MUSIC MAN, Alice Challice in DARLING OF THE DAY and appeared in the recent movie adaptation of LES MISERABLES.

Soon to be seen in the Tori Amos musical THE LIGHT PRINCESS at The National Theatre, Laura Pitt-Pulford made her West End debut as Betty Schaefer in SUNSET BOULEVARD, with other credits including Irene Molloy in HELLO DOLLY, Adele in A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, Toine in PIAF, Mabel in MACK AND MABEL and Lucille Frank in PARADE at The Southwark Playhouse.

Coming to the attention of UK audiences in the BBC's I'D DO ANYTHING, Niamh Perry created the role of Fleck in LOVE NEVER DIES at the Adelphi Theatre, starred as Sophie in MAMMA MIA!, as Kim in the hit Brixton revival of TABOO, the title role in THE LITTLE PRINCE at the Lyric Belfast, and will soon be seen as Johanna in SWEENEY TODD for the Manchester Royal Exchange and West Yorkshire Playhouse.

London Cabaret star, Lucyelle Cliffe, has featured in WALK IN THE LIGHT at The National Theatre, the UK tour of BOEING-BOEING, CRAZY FOR YOU, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and Bizet's CARMEN.

With a career spanning almost four decades, Louise Gold has held starring roles in numerous West End productions including Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES, Tanya in MAMMA MIA!, Baroness Bomburst in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, Kate in KISS ME, KATE (Regent's Park) and Phyllis in FOLLIES at the Royal Festival Hall. Louise worked closely with Stephen Sondheim and George Furth in her role as Gussie in the Leicester Haymarket production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Louise again worked with Sondheim in her role as Sara Jane Moore in the London premier production of ASSASSINS at the Donmar Warehouse and has featured in many Sondheim concerts throughout her career notably SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM with David Kernan, Liz Robertson and Robert Meadmore. Louise is also a very experienced puppeteer working with Jim Henson on the MUPPET SHOW and many other projects including THE DARK CRYSTAL, was a founding member of the SPITTING IMAGE Team, and is in the up-and-coming film THE MUPPETS MOST WANTED and THAT PUPPET GAME SHOW for the BBC.

Featuring a live band led by acclaimed pianist Terence Penk, and directed by Johnathan Peter, 'SONDHEIM: Women' is guaranteed to be an unforgettable night of outstanding musical theatre performances.