Colm Wilkinson News

According to the star's official web site, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. will announce that Grammy® Nominee and R&B superstar Deborah Cox will star as Lucy in the international musical sensation JEKYLL & HYDE that returns to Broadway in April 2013 following a 25-week National Tour. The tour will launch at San Diego's Civic Theatre in San Diego, California on October 2, 2012. Cox will star alongside the previously announced Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis in the title dual role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde.

NOW. HERE. THIS. which is currently receiving its world-premiere production at Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street), will extend by one-week - now through April 22 - due to popular demand and strong ticket sales, it has been announced by Artistic Director Douglas Aibel, and Co-Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

Daily Mail reports that the cast of Cameron Mackintosh and Tom Hooper's film version of the musical Les Miserables now includes Bertie Carvel (Matilda), Daniel Evans (Sunday in the Park with George) and Adrian Scarborough (Betty Blue Eyes). In addition, several cast members who have performed in stage versions of Les Miserables will star in the film including Caroline Sheen, Hadley Fraser, Killian Donnelly, Mike Jibson, Linzi Hateley, Gemma Wardle, Katy Secombe, Gina Beck, Fra Fee, Alexia Khadine and Katie Hall.

As BroadwayWord previously reported, JEKYLL & HYDE will return to Broadway following a 25-week National Tour starring Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis in the dual title role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. The tour will launch at San Diego's Civic Theatre in San Diego, California on October 2, 2012. Now, as revealed in a casting notice, the show is aiming to open on Broadway in April 2013.

Today in 1987, Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 6680 performances. Written by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is set in early 19th-century France. The plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. An ensemble that includes prostitutes, student revolutionaries, factory workers, and others joins the lead characters. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city: the original show at London's West End; the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production at the original home of the show, the Barbican Centre; and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Frances Ruffelle as Éponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, Donna Vivino as Young Cosette, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thénardier, Leo Burmester as Thénardier, Randy Graff as Fantine, and Terrence Mann as Javert.

Neil Morrissey and Samantha Barks will play the roles of Fagin and Nancy from Tuesday 13 March - Sunday 1 April. Samantha Barks will head straight from OLIVER! to start filming the forthcoming Les Miserables film, which has already begun production with scenes being shot in both England and France.

Today we are talking to one half of the supremely talented composing team responsible for ZOMBIE PROM, THE FIX, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, and, now, BROTHER RUSSIA, the lyricist of the formidable Dempsey/Rowe himself, John Dempsey. In this career-spanning conversation, Dempsey and I discuss major and minor details of his handful of skillfully written and entertaining shows written with the collaboration of composer Dana Rowe (who will also be highlighted in this column next week), in particular their affiliation with legendary producer Cameron Mackintosh and Signature Theater founder and director Eric Schaeffer, director of the US premieres of three of their musicals, including the most current one opening later this month - as well as touch on his work with Boublil & Shonberg on THE PIRATE QUEEN and his musical adaptation of the religious-themed film SAVED! As if all of that were not enough, Dempsey and I also dissect the finer points of the new Dempsey/Rowe show in previews in Washington, D.C., BROTHER RUSSIA, as he outlines its inspiration, purpose, style and the intriguing story of the new heavy metal fairy tale meta rock opera - all of that and much, much more.

From Nick Jonas and Michael Urie to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand to Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters to Susan Boyle, Colin Quinn to GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2012 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

The 2012-2013 Mirvish season was unveiled Monday morning, and it features the world premiere of Honeymoon in Vegas, an all Canadian cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Wizard of Oz, Book of Mormon and more. BWW is thrilled to bring its readers photos from the announcement, including Tony Danza, Colm Wilkinson, and cast members from Wizard of Oz, Sister Act and Flashdance.

The 2012-2013 Mirvish Production season announcement took place this morning, and features the World Premiere of Jason Robert Brown's Honeymoon in Vegas, an all-Canadian cast for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's The Wizard of Oz and the smash-hit Book of Mormon. Members of the media, subscribers and eager theatre lovers filled the Ed Mirvish Theatre to hear the announcement, which also included La Cage Aux Folles, Sister Act and Backbeat plus the pre-Broadway run of Flashdance and the directorial debut of Colm Wilkinson in Bloodless.

BroadwayWorld recently reported that when the highly anticipated movie version of LES MIS opens in theaters later this year, original cast members Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle, who created the roles of Valjean and Eponine, will again be a part of it. Cameron Mackintosh told Daily Mail that Wilkinson will play the Bishop of Digne in the film, while Ruffelle will play 'the most fabulous whore' in the number 'Lovely Ladies.'

Aunque recientemente se anunció que la cantante Taylor Swift interpretaría el papel de Eponine en la adaptación cinematográfica de Los Miserables, finalmente será la actriz de musicales Samantha Barks quien dé vida al personaje en la gran pantalla, tal y como ha confirmado el propio Cameron Mackintosh.

Original Eponine Frances Ruffelle paid homage to Samantha Barks after the announcement tonight that she would play the iconic role in the upcoming film, writing 'Profile pic changed to Me and @SamanthaBarks the night we sang ON MY OWN as a duet yeah odd title for a duet So proud of her. Mama Eponine X'

If you're looking for a quick roundup of this week's events, look no further: here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Nederlander Presentations, Inc. has announced that the JEKYLL & HYDE will return to Broadway in Spring 2013 following a 25-week National Tour starring Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis in the dual title role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. The tour will launch at San Diego's Civic Theatre in San Diego, California on October 2, 2012.

BroadwayWorld reported yesterday that when the highly anticipated movie version of LES MIS opens in theaters later this year, original cast members Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle, who created the roles of Valjean and Eponine, will again be a part of it. Cameron Mackintosh told Daily Mail that Wilkinson will play the Bishop of Digne in the film, while Ruffelle will play 'the most fabulous whore' in the number 'Lovely Ladies.'

Este año, en la esperada versión cinematográfica de Los Miserables, Colm Wilkinson - que estrenó el espectáculo en octubre de 1985 como Jean Valjean - y Frances Ruffelle - la Eponine original - participarán en la película protagonizada por Hugh Jackman y Samantha Barks que interpretarán esos papeles respectivamente.

Les Misérables originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen's Theatre on 3 April 2004. When the show opened, it featured Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean and Frances Ruffelle as Eponine.

Theatre 20 announced an exciting inaugural season in a star-studded event this past Monday, January 23rd at Toronto's National Club. Legendary musical theatre performer (and Toronto native son) Colm Wilkinson will make his directorial debut with Bloodless: The Story of Burke and Hare, Theatre 20 will partner with Sheridan College for a production of UK Fringe hit Raindogs and finally, Adam Brazier will direct a re-imagining of Stephen Sondheim's hit Company. BWW was on hand to bring its readers photos of the event, as well as all the details on what's to come for Theatre 20.

On Monday January 23rd Theatre 20 announced its inaugural season in a very special event held at Toronto's The National Club. On hand for the announcement were most of Theatre 20's founding members, as well as members of the arts community, city councilors, special musical guests and invited members of the press. BWW is thrilled to brings its readers these photos of the very special night.