Neil Austin News

Natalie Dew will play football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women's football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower as their coach Joe. Opening at the Phoenix Theatre on 24 June 2015, London previews for Bend It Like Beckham begin on 15 May 2015. Ronni Ancona will play Paula, Jules's Mum, with Jamal Andreas as Jess' good friend Tony. Preeya Kalidas plays Pinky, Jess' sister, with Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke as her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.

The world premiere of the new British stage musical Bend It Like Beckham, directed by Gurinder Chadha, with original music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart, a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha, has found its leading lady. The Daily Mail writes that newcomer Natalie Dew will star as 'Jess' at the Phoenix Theatre this summer.

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today that Laura Osnes will star as Julie Jordan in Lyric's new production of Carousel, on stage April 11 through May 3, 2015. Osnes comes to Lyric following her Tony-nominated role in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway. She joins Steven Pasquale, who stars as Billy Bigelow, in this new production directed and choreographed by legendary Tony, Emmy, and Olivier Award winner Rob Ashford.

?Richard Bean's Great Britain will have its final performance at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 10 January 2015 as previously announced.

Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins is the kind of show that, with its precise historical reference points and barely pronounceable surnames, makes you feel smarter just for looking at it.

Menier Chocolate Factory Artistic Director David Babani welcomes Jamie Lloyd's major revival of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's ASSASSINS as part of the theatre's 10-year anniversary season. Joining Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, David Roberts and Catherine Tate are Stewart Clarke, Harry Morrison, Aaron Tveit and Jamie Parker. The production opens tonight, 1 December 2014, and runs until 7 March 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

With Fully Committed running at the Menier, and Forbidden Broadway at the Vaudeville Theatre, Artistic Director David Babani welcomes Jamie Lloyd's major revival of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins as part of Menier Chocolate Factory's 10-year anniversary season. The production opens tonight, 1 December 2014, with previews from 21 November, and runs until 7 March 2015.

Tickets go on sale today (7 November) for the world premiere of the new British stage musical Bend It Like Beckham.

Hampstead Theatre has announced the casting for Tiger Country, which will be on the Main Stage 8 December 2014 to 17 January 2015. Indira Varma will star in the production, written and directed by Nina Raine.

?From November 21, the Chocolate Factory presents the musical ASSASSINS by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman. Broadway favorite Aaron Tveit will make his UK stage debut as 'John Wilkes Booth', alongside Carly Bawden as Squeaky Fromme, Simon Lipkin as The Proprietor, Mike McShane as Samuel Byck, Andy Nyman as Charles Guiteau, David Roberts as Czolgosz and Catherine Tate as Sara Jane Moore. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside rehearsal below!

Gurinder Chadha will direct the world premiere of the new British stage musical Bend It Like Beckham. With original music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart, Bend It Like Beckham has a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha; choreography and musical staging by Aletta Collins; set design by Miriam Buether; costume design by Katrina Lindsay; lighting design by Neil Austin; sound design by Richard Brooker; musical direction by Nigel Lilley and orchestrations by Howard Goodalland Kuljit Bhamra. Casting for Bend It Like Beckham will be announced shortly.

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today that Steven Pasquale will star in the iconic role of carousel barker Billy Bigelow in Lyric's new production ofCarousel, on stage April 11 through May 3, 2015. Following his critically acclaimed performance on Broadway in The Bridges of Madison County, Pasquale will bring his “glorious voice” (VARIETY) to some of the most beloved songs in musical theater history in a new production directed and choreographed by legendary Tony, Emmy, and Olivier Award winner Rob Ashford.

Joining Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, David Roberts and Catherine Tate are Stewart Clarke, Harry Morrison, Aaron Tveit and Jamie Parker. The production opens on 1 December 2014, with previews from 21 November, and runs until 7 March 2015.

Richard Bean's new play Great Britain opened in the West End on September 26,following a sell-out run at the National Theatre. With a cast led by Lucy Punch andRobert Glenister, Nicholas Hytner's production now continues at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in a strictly limited season to 10 January 2015. Designs are by Tim Hatley, with video design by 59 Productions, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding and sound by Paul Arditti. Go inside opening night in the video below!

The Kennedy Center presents the Washington, D.C. engagement of Evita which runs in the Kennedy Center Opera House from today, September 30 to October 19, 2014.

Richard Bean's new play Great Britain opened in the West End last night (26 September 2014) following a sell-out run at the National Theatre.

Following the National Theatre's sold out run, Great Britain has started performances at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Lucy Punch leads the cast as Paige Britain in the West End transfer of Richard Bean's new play, directed by Nicholas Hytner. Great Britain, is designed by Tim Hatley, with video design by 59 Productions, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding and sound by Paul Arditti. Press night is tonight 26 September, and the production is strictly booking to 10 January 2015. BroadwayWorld has new photos of the cast in action below!

Following the National Theatre's sold out run, Great Britain has started performances at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Lucy Punch leads the cast as Paige Britain in the West End transfer of Richard Bean's new play, directed by Nicholas Hytner. Great Britain, is designed by Tim Hatley, with video design by 59 Productions, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding and sound by Paul Arditti. Press night is on 26 September, and the production is strictly booking to 10 January 2015. BroadwayWorld has new photos of the cast in action below!

Lucy Punch will play the leading role of Paige Britain in the West End transfer of Richard Bean's new play,Great Britain. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the National Theatre's sell out production transfers to theTheatre Royal Haymarket tonight 9 September 2014 with opening night on 26 September at 7pm.