Barbara Dickson News

Following her current run in Sondheim's 'Follies' in Los Angeles Elaine Paige will return to the UK and prepare for a tour 'down under' which kicks off in Hamilton, New Zealand on 14th October, Christchurch on 16th and then travels across to Australia for Perth on 20th, ending in Brisbane on 30th.

Auckland Music Theatre presents CHESS from 12th-26th of May, by arrangement of The Play Bureau (NZ) Limited.

The entire entertainment world is reeling. We have lost one of our most iconic pop, R&B and soundtrack performers this evening - as well as a formidable movie star in her own right - Whitney Houston was just reported dead at the age of 48. Having had one of the most successful and most multimedia of careers of any multi-hyphenate star in recent memory, Houston scored multiple Grammys and racked up countless nominations over the course of her multi-decade recording career, yet her most notable contributions to the world of music reside in her outstanding soundtrack work - most of all, the songs for the film in which she made the transition into feature film leading lady, 1992's THE BODYGUARD. The biggest hit from THE BODYGUARD's blockbuster soundtrack was undoubtedly Houston's rendition of a Dolly Parton song originally recorded in 1974 and later made famous by Parton in the feature film version of the Broadway hit THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, "I Will Always Love You". In addition to Houston's sensational work on that mega-selling soundtrack - one of the Top 5 best-selling soundtracks of all time - she also provided her dramatic and vocal skills to the multi-platinum soundtracks to THE PREACHER'S WIFE and WAITING TO EXHALE, both films which she also starred in to much box office success. An Oscar-winning duet with Mariah Carey, "When You Believe" by WICKED's Stephen Schwartz from THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is yet another diadem in Houston's triple crown of accomplishments in the realms of music, film and television - having dominated all. Theatre fans may know Houston best for her incomparable portrayal of the Fairy Godmother in the incredibly successful 1997 ABC TV adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA starring Brandy and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. In addition to Houston's contributions to THE BODYGUARD, THE PREACHER'S WIFE, WAITING TO EXHALE, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT and CINDERELLA, Houston also rose to fame early in her career for her rendition of "Home" from THE WIZ on THE Merv Griffin SHOW, as well as made a mark with a Cissy Houston duet on the CHESS international smash, "I Know Him So Well" on her second hit album. The last project Houston was working on prior to her death on Saturday night was the feature film musical SPARKLE, co-starring AMERICAN IDOL winner and Broadway standout Jordin Sparks. SPARKLE reportedly completed production of principal photography and soundtrack sessions, though it is not clear when the musical remake will now be released in light of Houston's unexpected death. No matter the circumstances of her life and death, Whitney Houston most surely left a legacy that will never be forgotten by those that adored her for her vast multitude of talents and many notable accomplishments in all areas of entertainment.

Auckland Music Theatre will present CHESS from 12th-26th of May, by arrangement of The Play Bureau (NZ) Limited.

Chess is nearing the end of its 6 week pre-West End run at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre, and today BWW speaks with James Fox, who plays Freddy in the production. James talks to us about the challenges working on such a vocally demanding show, preparation for singing Pity the Child and director Craig Revel Horwood.

Chess opened on Wednesday, September 28th in Toronto after enjoying a sold-out tour in the UK. This lavish new production comes direct from England, and will play a limited engagement in Toronto before heading to London's West End. Directed by Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood and featuring a cast of some of the UK's most talented stage actors, the production is a feast for the eyes and ears. Sir Tim Rice was in Toronto for opening night, and BWW was on hand to bring you pictures of the curtain call.

Chess opens tomorrow in Toronto, fresh off a sold out UK tour. The production will play until the end of October when it ventures off to London's West End. In honour of opening night, Mirvish Productions is hosting a special Twitter Q&A with none other than lyricist Sir Tim Rice. BWW will be on hand to give you all the details of the event.

Welcome back to BroadwayWorld's newest feature, and first-ever talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE. Follow Richard as he visits Broadway's best and brightest in their Broadway dressing rooms to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In this week's installment, Richard sits with the UK's First Lady of Musical Theatre, Elaine Paige - still here and still going strong. Paige is back on Broadway for the second time in her career as the fearless Carlotta Campion in FOLLIES at the Marquis Theatre.

NATASHA HAMILTON, one third of Atomic Kitten, the UK's most internationally successful girl group of the last ten years is to make her West End stage debut in Willy Russell's legendary musical, BLOOD BROTHERS. Her opening performance will be Monday 24 January 2011 at London's Phoenix Theatre.

NATASHA HAMILTON, one third of Atomic Kitten, the UK's most internationally successful girl group of the last ten years is to make her West End stage debut in Willy Russell's legendary musical, BLOOD BROTHERS. Her opening performance will be Monday 24 January 2011 at London's Phoenix Theatre.

Today, in honor of the American premiere of ELAINE PAIGE: CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS ONSTAGE being broadcast on PBS this week is a sneak peek of an upcoming InDepth InterView with legendary star of Broadway and the West End, Elaine Paige. In this portion of the interview we discuss the writing of CHESS with ABBA's Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus and lyricist Tim Rice, as well as her thoughts on contemporaries like Patti LuPone and, of course, originating the leads in EVITA, CATS, CHESS. We also preview her new album produced by Phil Ramone and featuring a duet with Barry Manilow. We also discuss the new song written for her by Stiles & Drewe for the concert.

Elaine Paige, the 'First Lady of British Musical Theatre,' performs her greatest hits in celebration of her 40th anniversary in showbiz in the new PBS special ELAINE PAIGE: CELEBRATING A LIFE ON STAGE. The program takes the audience on a journey from Paige's beginnings in the musical Hair to performances from Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Cats, Sunset Boulevard and many more from the West End to Broadway. Part of special programming airing on PBS in June, ELAINE PAIGE will premiere on Thirteen New York on Wednesday, June 9 at 8 p.m.

Elaine Paige, the 'First Lady of British Musical Theatre,' performs her greatest hits in celebration of her 40th anniversary in showbiz in the new PBS special ELAINE PAIGE: CELEBRATING A LIFE ON STAGE. The program takes the audience on a journey from Paige's beginnings in the musical Hair to performances from Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Cats, Sunset Boulevard and many more from the West End to Broadway. Part of special programming airing on PBS in June, ELAINE PAIGE will premiere on Thirteen New York on Wednesday, June 9 at 8 p.m.

Elaine Paige will celebrate the release of her concert DVD with an appearance at Dress Circle in London. Paige will sign copies of her DVD for fans beginning at 1:30pm on February 27th. The DVD is from a concert stop on Paige's 40th Anniversary Tour. The concert, entitled 'Live in Australia,' was filmed during the New Zealand/Australian tour that took place earlier this year. This specific concert took place on October 31st, 2009.

Elaine Paige is celebrating her illustrious career with a concert DVD entitled 'Elaine Page - Celebrating 40 Years On Stage'. The video shows material from a concert stop on Paige's 40th Anniversary Tour. The concert, entitled 'Live in Australia,' was filmed during the New Zealand/Australian tour that took place earlier this year. This specific concert took place on October 31st, 2009.

Elaine Paige will celebrate the release of her concert DVD with an appearance at Dress Circle in London. Paige will sign copies of her DVD for fans beginning at 1:30pm on February 27th. The DVD is from a concert stop on Paige's 40th Anniversary Tour. The concert, entitled 'Live in Australia,' was filmed during the New Zealand/Australian tour that took place earlier this year. This specific concert took place on October 31st, 2009.

In the wake of the media storm that has ensued as a result of comments run in the U.K. Daily Mail in which Elaine Paige - famous for her performances in EVITA and CATS in the West End - states that Susan Boyle was a 'virus,' Paige has just released the following statement to clarify her comments, which she asserts, were grossly misinterpreted and skewed. The pair had recently sung a duet together for an ITV special.

Elaine Paige had some choice words for international singing sensation and former duet partner Susan Boyle this week according the the UK Daily Mail. Paige, who is famous for her performances in EVITA and CATS in the West End, stated that '[Boyle] was like a virus really that spread across the world in a nanosecond.'

A concert from the 40th Anniversary Tour of British theatre star Elaine Paige will be released on DVD in January of 2010. The concert, entitled 'Live in Australia,' was filmed during the New Zealand/Australian tour that took place earlier this year. This specific concert took place on October 31st, 2009.

The First Lady of British musical theatre, Elaine Paige will tour Australia and New Zealand in a new concert tour, beginning in October.