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Ria Jones

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Ria Jones BIO

Ria has performed in many of the top West End Musicals and Touring Productions over the past thirty years. Most recently standing in for Glenn Close as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard for The English National Opera's production at The London Coliseum. She has played the leading lady in Chess, Cats, Evita, Les Miserables, Nine, High Society, Anything Goes, The Witches of Eastwick, Honk, Victor Victoria, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Into The Woods, A Little Night Music, Closer Than Ever, Romance Romance, Personals, Acorn Antiques and 42nd St. She was also chosen by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber to create the role of Norma Desmond for his first ever showing of Sunset Boulevard. Concerts take Ria all over the world, performing with many world class orchestras. She is a regular soloist at The Royal Albert Hall with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed for the Danish Royal Family and at Buckingham Palace by Royal Request. As well as many cast albums, She has guested on numerous albums with the RPO and has also released her solo album 'Have You Met Miss Jones'. TV appearances include, 3 Royal Variety shows, her own TV show for BBC Wales, and Wales In The West End, to name but a few. For more information, live footage and photographs of Ria, please go to Riajones.co.uk



Other theatre credits include: Josephine and Monica in Romance Romance (Bridewell Theatre); Necrophorous in Nine (Donmar Warehouse); Kim in the European premiere of the musical revue Personals (New End Theatre, Hampstead); the creation of the role of Emma West in A Twist of Fate (Jubilee Theatre, Raffles Hotel, Singapore); Petra in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music (Leicester Haymarket Theatre); Ida in Honk! (Victoria Theatre, Singapore); the title role in the European premiere of Victor/Victoria (Bridewell Theatre); Liz Imbrie in High Society (UK tour 2004/5 and Shaftesbury Theatre). Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (National Tour, 2006, nominated for a TMA award for best performance in a musical); Mrs Overall in Acorn Antiques (UK tour 2006/7, directed by Victoria Wood); Alexandra Spofford in The Witches of Eastwick (UK Tour); Guest Vocalist in Strictly Come Dancing - the Professionals (Tour); Closer Than Ever (Landor Theatre); The Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods (Esplanade Theatre, Singapore) and Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street (Curve, Leicester). Jerry Herman’s musical revue, Jerry’s Girls (St. James Studio and Jermyn Street Theatre); Miss-Leading Ladies (St James Theatre, London), and most recently standby to Glenn Close in the ENO’s production of Sunset Boulevard at the London Coliseum.

Workshops include: creating the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (Sydmonton Festival); Stephen Sondheim’s Masterclass (St Catherine’s College Oxford); Mercedes in Carmen Negra (Royalty Theatre, London) and Zorro (Old Vic).

Concert credits include: Prestigious venues worldwide, from France and Belgium to South Africa, Singapore and Shanghai. Ria makes regular appearances as a guest soloist in Denmark, singing with all the major orchestras. In 2009, she was a guest soloist for the Danish Royal family (Concert House, Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen); Soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the last twelve years (Royal Albert Hall); Sung, by personal request, for The Duke Of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (Buckingham Palace); Soloist with The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra; Guest Soloist in Children Will Listen, celebrating the work of Stephen Sondheim (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); A Night Under The Stars (with Bryn Tyrfel at his annual festival in North Wales); Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar (Barbican Theatre); Eva Peron in Evita - In Concert (Highams Park, Chelmsford); Fantine in Les Misérables - In Concert (Cardiff Castle); the world premiere of The Three Musketeers and Anita in West Side Story (Denmark); ABBAPHONIC – The Concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Royal Albert Hall and Russia Tour); From Hackney To Hollywood, celebrating the work of Don Black and West End Women - In Concert (UK Tour).

Television credits include: Her own TV show One Night Only with Ria Jones (BBC Wales); Guest on three Royal Variety Performances (BBC); numerous TV chat shows, including Welsh in the West End (ITV1 Wales).
Radio credits include: Friday Night Is Music Night (BBC Radio 2)
Recording credits include: Les Misérables (Manchester Cast Recording); Soloist in A Tribute to Hal Prince; Kim in Personals; Emma West in A Twist of Fate; Guest Soloist on Pier Nielsen's albums My Way (which went Platinum) and Christmas Joy; Guest Soloist on Jesper Lundgaard's album Symphony For My Love, recorded with The Sonderyllands Symphony Orchestra; ABBAPHONIC and The Very Best of Rodgers and Hammerstein (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra); It’s Better With A Band (Prinsens Musikkorp); Ria’s solo album Have You Met Miss Jones? and her new album featuring The Golden Age of Hollywood (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra).



Ria Jones Photos

Ria Jones STAGE CREDITS

[West End]
London Production, 2021

[West End]
English National Opera West End Revival, 2016
Ensemble

[West End]
London Revival, 2005
Liz Imbrie

[London Fringe]
London Revival, 2004
Victoria


Ria Jones News


Review: CELEBRATING BROADWAY'S LEADING LADIES at Auguste Théâtre


A Showstopping AMT Live Concert at Auguste Théâtre in Paris.

FANE Passes on the Programming Baton of London's Crazy Coqs


Fane, the independent programmer of Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zédel in Piccadilly, has announced that after six very happy years programming the venue, they will be passing on the programming baton at the end of 2022.

BWW Interview: Ria Jones Chats HABEAS CORPUS at Menier Chocolate Factory


Ria Jones is known for her roles in musicals, most recently Sunset Boulevard at Leicester Curve and Gypsy at Royal Exchange, Manchester. She now makes her straight play debut in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s revival of Alan Bennett’s Habeas Corpus. We spoke with Jones about the show.

BWW Review: HABEAS CORPUS, Menier Chocolate Factory Theatre


It's good to hear collective laughter again in a theatre, but the dated characters grate rather than charm, and fewer jokes land in 2020s than in the 1970s.

Full Cast Announced For HABEAS CORPUS at the Menier Chocolate Factory


Joining the previously announced Kirsty Besterman (Constance Wicksteed), Jasper Britton (Arthur Wicksteed), Matthew Cottle (Canon Throbbing), Ria Jones (Mrs Swabb), Thomas Josling (Dennis Wicksteed), Caroline Langrishe (Lady Rumpers), Catherine Russell (Muriel Wicksteed) and Abdul Salis (Mr Shanks), are Katie Bernstein (Felicity Rumpers), Kelvin O'Mard (Mr Purdue) and Dan Starkey (Sir Percy).

Menier Chocolate Factory Announces Initial Casting Announced For Alan Bennett's HABEAS CORPUS


The antics of the Wicksteed home are a darkly satirical merry-go-round in Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus.  Family, friends and the quest for sexual pleasures of the body (“corpus”) are the ruling passions in this farcical comedy of ill-manners. Through an escapade of mistaken identities and carnal encounters, one motto holds fast: “He whose lust lasts, lasts longest.”

THE LAST FIVE YEARS to Open at the Garrick Theatre in September


Jason Robert Brown’s Drama Desk Award-winning musical, The Last Five Years, will now be opening at the larger Garrick Theatre for an extended limited season, previewing from 17 September, with an opening night on Thursday 23 September and now running until 17 October 2021.

Photo Flash: First Look at THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER by Made at Curve


Leicester’s Curve theatre has released production photos for its Made at Curve production of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a celebratory reopening concert featuring the songs that made the musicals and memories from the extraordinary life and career of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Madalena Alberto, Jessica Daley, Tim Howar & More to Star in THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER Concert


Leicester’s Curve theatre has today announced the full cast and production team for its Made at Curve production of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a celebratory reopening concert featuring the songs that made the musicals and memories from the extraordinary life and career of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Music, Comedy, Theatre and Cabaret Shows Announced For Outdoor Manchester Venue Homeground


Music, comedy, theatre and vogueing will feature at Homeground, HOME's temporary outdoor arts venue, this Summer, with a diverse lineup truly providing something for everyone, while the size of the 80,000 sq ft site means a great atmosphere no matter what social distancing regulations are necessary.

Curve Will Re-Release SUNSET BOULEVARD AT HOME This May


Curve's streamed production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical reunited company members from the award-winning 2017 Made at Curve touring production. The show ran 22 December 2020 to 17 January 2021 and was seen by almost 15,000 people across 45 countries.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS Will Transfer to The West End in September


After a critically acclaimed run at Southwark Playhouse last year and a highly successful worldwide stream with stream.theatre, Jason Robert Brown's Drama Desk Award-winning musical, The Last Five Years, will play a limited season at the Vaudeville Theatre, previewing from 17 September, with an opening night on 23 September and running until 13 October 2021. 

Crazy Coqs Will Reopen on 17 May With Shows From Marisha Wallace, Ria Jones, Grace Dent, and Paul Potts


Crazy Coqs, Soho's unique live entertainment venue within the Brasserie Zédel complex, announces the re-opening of the venue on 17 May 2021 – pending further government announcements – with a full programme from 17 May – 30 June 2021, offering both live shows and simultaneous live streams for audiences who cannot make it to the venue in-person.

BWW Interview: Adam Blanshay Chats THE THEATRE CHANNEL


Adam Blanshay is a Tony Award-nominated Producer, behind London productions such as Notre Dame de Paris, Waitress and Come From Away. We spoke to Blanshay about The Theatre Channel and where it’s going next!

Curve Leicester Extends Run of SUNSET BOULEVARD


Due to popular demand, Leicester's Curve theatre has today announced plans to extend the run of its critically acclaimed Sunset Boulevard – at Home, to Sunday 17 Jan.

Review Roundup: Curve Leicester's Streaming SUNSET BOULEVARD IN CONCERT


Leicester's Curve theatre is now streaming a virtual version of Sunset Boulevard in Concert. The production was performed by the company in the newly configured auditorium and filmed in HD for audiences to watch from the comfort of their own homes.

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes of Curve Leicester's SUNSET BOULEVARD Concert


Leicester's Curve theatre is now streaming a virtual version of Sunset Boulevard in Concert.

BWW Review: SUNSET BOULEVARD IN CONCERT - AT HOME, Curve Theatre, Leicester


Like many UK venues, Leicester’s Curve Theatre has had to quickly adapt to the everchanging COVID-19 situation. Having just transformed their two theatres into one enormous “in-the-round” space, the Curve’s concert revival of their hit 2017 production of Sunset Boulevard was transformed into a fully online show to view at home, directed by Nikolai Foster.

BWW Interview: Danny Mac Talks SUNSET BOULEVARD IN CONCERT at Curve Theatre Online


Danny Mac chats about returning to Sunset Boulevard at the Curve Theatre, why it's so relevant right now and why he adored dancing with Oti Mabuse on Strictly Come Dancing.

130+ Musicals That You Can Stream Now!


Visit our list of the best musicals & shows you can watch from home! We've got you covered with all the must-sees on streaming sites including Tony-award winners, favorite stars and top performances.

Ria Jones FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Ria Jones been in?

Ria Jones has not appeared on Broadway.

How many West End shows has Ria Jones been in?

Ria Jones has appeared on London's West End in 3 shows.

What was Ria Jones's first West End show?

Ria Jones's first West End show was High Society which opened in 2005

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