Barnaby Thompson News

WEST END HEROES, hosted by Christopher Biggins, the hugely popular star of musical theatre, screen comedies, panto dame extraordinaire and one of Britain's best-loved TV personalities, again united the country's top military musicians with even more West End performers and productions in a dazzling showcase of show-stopping numbers, unlikely song mash-ups and stunning choreography and precision drilling to raise funds for the Help For Heroes charity. Scroll down for photos!

RLJ Entertainment (RLJE), founded by Robert L. Johnson, RLJE Chairman and Founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) has acquired all North American rights to the highly anticipated film NINA, based on the life of legendary American singer-songwriter Nina Simone. With first time writer-director Cynthia Mort, the film stars Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy) and David Oyelowo (Selma, The Butler).NINA will be released in theaters in December 2015 under the RLJ Entertainment brand.RLJ Entertainment previously released its theatrical titles under the Image Entertainment brand, which RLJ Entertainment purchased in 2012.

In an unprecedented move, the producers of the smash hit musical ELF, opening at the newly refurbished Dominion Theatre in the heart of London's West End, have bowed to overwhelming public and social media demand to introduce a more affordable ticket price to broaden the already wide demographic the show is attracting.  The new price brand of £30 for a limited number of tickets through the run becomes available at the Dominion box office by telephone and via the website from Sunday 6 September.  

The full cast for the London premiere of the smash hit musical ELF has been announced. The company is led by Ben Forster as Buddy, Kimberley Walsh as Jovie, Joe McGann as Walter Hobbs and Jessica Martin as Emily Hobbs, with Jennie Dale as Deb, Mark McKerracher as Santa and Graham Lappin as Store Manager. Also in the cast are Katie Bradley, Charlie Bull, Nicola Coates, Alex Fobbester, Anton Fosh, Charlotte Gale, Francis Haugen, Matt Holland, Tash Holway, Paul Hutton, Mark Iles, Ceili O'Connor, Debbie Paul, Joanna Rennie, Barnaby Thompson and Ed White. Harry Collett, Ilan Galkoff, Noah Key and Ewan Rutherford will alternate the role of Michael.

A first look at the cast of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical OKLAHOMA! presented by Music & Lyrics Limited and Royal & Derngate Northampton, has been revealed. Check out photos below!

Ashley Day, Charlotte Wakefield, Belinda Lang and Gary Wilmot star in the new UK tour of OKLAHOMA!

A first look at the cast of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical OKLAHOMA! presented by Music & Lyrics Limited and Royal & Derngate Northampton, in rehearsal has been revealed. Check out photos below!

A first look at the cast for Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical OKLAHOMA! presented by Music & Lyrics Limited and Royal & Derngate Northampton, has been revealed. Check out photos below!

The full cast has been announced for the new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical OKLAHOMA! presented by Music & Lyrics Limited and Royal & Derngate Northampton. From the award-winning producers of the highly successful tours of The King and I and Fiddler on the Roof, this new production of one of the great classic American musicals will feature Lucy May Barker as Ado Annie, James O'Connell as Will Parker, Paul Grunert as Andrew Carnes, Kara Lane as Gertie Cummings, Christopher D Hunt as Cord Elam and Barnaby Thompson as Ike Skidmore. Also in the cast are Simon Anthony, Christina Bennington, Robbie Boyle, Katie Marie-Carter, Lisa Dent, Emilie du Leslay, Ian Gareth-Jones, Hannah Grace, Ross Lee Fowkes, Perry O'Dea, Sasi Strallen and Gabriella Stylianou. They join the previously announced Belinda Lang as Aunt Eller, Gary Wilmot as Ali Hakim, Ashley Day as Curly, Charlotte Wakefield as Laurey and Nic Greenshields as Jud Fry.

Freestyle Digital Media has set August 27th, 2013 for the VOD release of the classic Brit Com THE LEGEND OF FRITTON'S GOLD, directed and produced by Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson and written by Piers Ashworth and Nick Moorcroft.

Blackfilm.com reports that two-time Emmy winner and Broadway actor Kevin Mambo (‘Fela!) has joined the cast of the upcoming Nina Simone biopic, NINA.

Based on the hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon, this critically acclaimed new musical is created by a top-of-their-class creative team, led by Tony Award-winning director and Olivier Award-nominated choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray). In the video below, the cast of the UK tour sends a special Christmas message. Click below to check it out!

Sweeney will play the role from 19th September - 3rd December 2011. She will take over from Liz McClarnon who plays Paulette until 17th September 2011.

Starring Faye Brookes as ‘Elle', Iwan Lewis as ‘Emmett', Claire Sweeney as ‘Paulette', Neil Toon as ‘Warner' and Dave Willetts as ‘Professor Callahan' for the first ever UK tour of the West End and Broadway sensation Legally Blonde The Musical.

Sweeney will play the role from 19th September - 3rd December 2011. She will take over from Liz McClarnon who plays Paulette until 17th September 2011.

Starring Faye Brookes as ‘Elle', Iwan Lewis as ‘Emmett', Liz McClarnon* as ‘Paulette', Neil Toon as ‘Warner' and Dave Willetts as ‘Professor Callaghan' for the first ever UK tour of the West End and Broadway sensation Legally Blonde The Musical.