Julian Ovenden News

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of the new musical, Death Takes a Holiday will begin performances on Friday, June 10, 2011 and open officially on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street). Death Takes a Holiday will play a limited engagement through September 4, 2011. This production marks the second time a new musical has been presented in this theatrical space, following the recent production of The Tin Pan Alley Rag.

Roundabout Theatre Company's cast of Death Takes a Holiday met the press and BroadwayWorld.com was there! The new musical, with a book by Peter Stone & Thomas Meehan, music & lyrics by Maury Yeston is directed by Doug Hughes. The cast includes Linda Balgord (Contessa Danielli), Matt Cavenaugh (Eric Fenton), Mara Davi (Alice), Joy Hermalyn (Cora), Jay Jaski (Lorenzo), Simon Jones (Dr. Dario Albione), Rebecca Luker (Duchess Lamberti), Patricia Noonan (Sophia), Julian Ovenden (Prince Sirki / Death), Jill Paice (Grazia), Michael Siberry (Duke Lamberti), Alexandra Socha (Daisy Fenton), Don Stephenson (Fidele), Max Von Essen (Corrado Montelli).

Roundabout Theatre Company announced the full company of the new musical Death Takes A Holiday, with a book by Peter Stone & Thomas Meehan, music & lyrics by Maury Yeston, directed by Doug Hughes. The cast will include Linda Balgord (Contessa Danielli), Matt Cavenaugh (Eric Fenton), Mara Davi (Alice), Joy Hermalyn (Cora), Jay Jaski (Lorenzo), Simon Jones (Dr. Dario Albione), Rebecca Luker (Duchess Lamberti), Patricia Noonan (Sophia), Julian Ovenden (Prince Sirki / Death), Jill Paice (Grazia), Michael Siberry (Duke Lamberti), Alexandra Socha (Daisy Fenton), Don Stephenson (Fidele), Max Von Essen (Corrado Montelli).

This week, in conjunction with SOUND OFF, we are taking a look at Sunday evening's starry West End salute to Stephen Sondheim which was broadcast in the UK on TV and everywhere on the BBC website, BBC PROMS: SONDHEIM AT 80. This unforgettable event stars Dame Judi Dench, Maria Friedman, Bryn Terfel, Caroline O'Conner, Julian Ovenden, Daniel Evans, Jenna Russell and Simon Russell Beale singing selections from Sondheim's entire oeuvre - among them: "Send In The Clowns", "Broadway Baby", "Children Will Listen", "Move On" and "Side By Side". Dame Dench's recreation of her Desiree Armfeldt - a role currently essayed by Bernadette Peters who opened this week in the replacement cast of the Broadway revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, replacing Tony-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones - is merely impossibly elegant decoration on a decadently rich, rewarding, fulfilling and entertaining gateau of celebratory Sondheimian greatness. A piece of birthday cake like few others. Come see and hear some clips from it for yourself if you haven't already!

This week, we are taking a look at Sunday evening's starry West End salute to Stephen Sondheim which was broadcast in the UK on TV and everywhere on the BBC website, BBC PROMS: SONDHEIM AT 80. This unforgettable event stars Dame Judi Dench, Maria Friedman, Bryn Terfel, Caroline O'Conner, Julian Ovenden, Daniel Evans, Jenna Russell and Simon Russell Beale singing selections from Sondheim's entire oeuvre - among them: 'Send In The Clowns', 'Broadway Baby', 'Children Will Listen', 'Move On' and 'Side By Side'. Dame Dench's recreation of her Desiree Armfeldt - a role currently essayed by Bernadette Peters who opened this week in the replacement cast of the Broadway revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, replacing Tony-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones - is merely impossibly elegant decoration on a decadently rich, rewarding, fulfilling and entertaining gateau of celebratory Sondheimian greatness. A piece of birthday cake like few others. Come along and hear it for yourself if you haven‘t already!

Stage and screen star Judi Dench paid special tribute to Stephen Sondheim on July 31, 2010 as part of the Sondheim at 80 BBC Proms event, celebrating the composer's 80th birthday. Dench performed her rendition of 'Send In the Clowns' from A Little Night Music, which she claims to be 'hugely exciting' but 'daunting.'

The BBC reports that stage and screen star Judi Dench will pay special tribute to Stephen Sondheim on July 31, 2010 as part of the Sondheim at 80 BBC Proms event, celebrating the composer's 80th birthday. Dench will perform her rendition of 'Send In the Clowns' from A Little Night Music, which she claims to be 'hugely exciting' but 'daunting.' The song selection for the actress was a no-brainer, as allegedly, 'On hearing Dame Judi's performance of Send In The Clowns at the National Theatre in 1995, Sondheim is said to have told the acclaimed actress: 'It's yours now.'

The BBC reports that stage and screen star Judi Dench will pay special tribute to Stephen Sondheim on July 31, 2010 as part of the Sondheim at 80 BBC Proms event, celebrating the composer's 80th birthday. Dench will perform her rendition of 'Send In the Clowns' from A Little Night Music, which she claims to be 'hugely exciting' but 'daunting.' The song selection for the actress was a no-brainer, as allegedly, 'On hearing Dame Judi's performance of Send In The Clowns at the National Theatre in 1995, Sondheim is said to have told the acclaimed actress: 'It's yours now.'

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, The Donmar Warehouse will play special tribute to Stephen Sondheim in honor of his 80th birthday this year with a host of special events, including a production of Passion starring Elena Roger and directed by Jamie Lloyd opening September 10, Michael Grandage and Sam Mendes in conversation about staging Sondheim at the Donmar on September 16, and Stephen Sondheim in conversation about his life and career on October 11. Today, Baz Bamigboye reveals in the UK Daily Mail that concert versions of Company and Merrily We Roll Along presented by the Donmar will play the West End at the Queen's Theatre. Merrily will play two performances on October 31, with evening and matiness shows. Company will play the same schedule on November 7. The concerts were initially scheduled to be performed at the Donmar's own space, but have been moved to accommodate more patrons.

Annie Get Your Gun plays 3 October 2009 - 2 January 2010 at the Main House Jane Horrocks, Julian Ovenden and multi prize-winning director Richard Jones unite to mount a major London revival of Irving Berlin's great hit song-fest Annie Get Your Gun this autumn at the Young Vic.

At a star-studded nominations party held today (4th December) at London's Café de Paris, the shortlist reveals that popular British screen stars, including Jude Law, Lenny Henry, Helen Mirren, Rachel Weisz, Alison Steadman, Dominic West, Mackenzie Crook and Patrick Stewart, will all battle it out for acting gongs.

Annie Get Your Gun, Young Vic, Main House until 9 January, Tickets from ?22.50 www.youngvic.org or 0207 922 2922

Carrie Dunn is frustrated with the book and the scoring, but is charmed by Jane Horrocks and Julian Ovenden

What happened at Dress Circle when Annalene Beechey launched her album?

Carrie Dunn talks to London's Frank Butler about sharpshooting, the battle of the sexes and commercialisation...

Annie Get Your Gun plays 3 October 2009 - 2 January 2010 at the Main House Jane Horrocks, Julian Ovenden and multi prize-winning director Richard Jones unite to mount a major London revival of Irving Berlin's great hit song-fest Annie Get Your Gun this autumn at the Young Vic.

Annalene Beechey who starred in the West End productions of 'Marguerite', 'Wicked' and 'Beauty & The Beast', will release her debut solo album next month. The CD features arrangements by Peter White, Jonathan Williams and Richard Taylor. Featured vocalists include Julian Ovenden (Marguerite, Annie Get Your Gun), Rebecca Lock (Avenue Q, Phantom of the Opera) and Simon Greiff (Saturday Night Fever, Spamalot).

Annie Get Your Gun plays 3 October 2009 - 2 January 2010 at the Main House Jane Horrocks, Julian Ovenden and multi prize-winning director Richard Jones unite to mount a major London revival of Irving Berlin's great hit song-fest Annie Get Your Gun this autumn at the Young Vic.