On Wales's national Patron Saint Day, I'd like to wish all musical theatre fans everywhere a special greeting from Wales. It seems particularly apt as there are so many Welsh actors/actresses who are now playing or have played leading roles in the West End. Some of the current West End musicals with principals who are either Welsh or have strong Welsh ancestry include:
Ghost - Mark Evans Wizard Of Oz - Sophie Evans, Russell Grant Wicked - Desmond Barritt The Phantom Of The Opera - Katy Treharne We Will Rock You - Noel Sullivan Les Miserables - Caroline Sheen, Hadley Fraser, Katy Secombe (and Ramin Karimloo owns property in Wales!)
Many more have recently played major West End musical roles - such as John Owen Jones, David Thaxton, Aneurin Barnard, Iwan Rheon, Daniel Evans, Lucie Jones, Emma Williams, Hayley Gallivan, Craig Gallivan, etc. (not to mention honorary Welshman John Barrowman who has made his home in Cardiff!) - and Michael Ball will be making his return to the West End very soon. (lots left out - there are too many to name them all!)
But the main St David's Day greeting comes from the creative team and cast of the Studio Cast Recording of the new epic Welsh musical MY LAND'S SHORE (currently available from Dress Circle!). Here's a showreel mix of some of the songs from the album where "every Welsh man's heart beats to Make Wales Proud":
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***