Ben Elton News

The Broadway at Birdland concert series is proud to present the American concert debut of Dutch performer Willemijn Verkaik, best known to theater lovers for originating the role of Elphaba in the German production of Wicked. This event will take place at Birdland on Monday, August 22 at 7pm. Verkaik, backed by a seven piece rhythm and string section, will sing the work of today's most celebrated composers and will be joined by three very special guest composers: Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), Jason Robert Brown (Parade; Last Five Years) and Scott Alan (Dreaming Wide Awake; Home), who will accompany the singer on work from their songbooks. This concert will mark Verkaik's American concert debut.

West End star Kerry Ellis is set to return to the Shaw Theatre for 'An Audience with Kerry Ellis,' September 30 and October 1. Ellis will perform her most loved songs, and will discuss her life and career with Mark Shenton.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series is proud to present the American concert debut of Dutch performer Willemijn Verkaik, best known to theater lovers for originating the role of Elphaba in the German production of Wicked. This event will take place at Birdland on Monday, August 22 at 7pm. Verkaik, backed by a seven piece rhythm and string section, will sing the work of today's most celebrated composers and will be joined by two very special guest composers, Jason Robert Brown (Parade; Last Five Years) and Scott Alan (Dreaming Wide Awake; Home), who will accompany the singer on work from their songbooks. Other special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. This concert will mark Verkaik's American concert debut.

Nominated as Best Actor in a Musical in both the Oliver Awards and Whatsonstage.com Awards for his performance as Emmett in the original London cast of Legally Blonde, actor, singer Alex Gaumond is to take over the leading role of Galileo in the Queen & Ben Elton hit West End musical, We Will Rock You. The announcement was made today by show producers Phil McIntyre Entertainment, Tribeca and Queen Theatrical Productions.

Queen legend Brian May and West End and Broadway singing sensation Kerry Ellis are to perform the live version of their hit album, ANTHEMS, in a special Royal Albert Hall concert next Spring on the May Bank Holiday Sunday after the Royal Wedding.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Joely Richardson and Cotter Smith will star in the third and final production of the company's 25th Anniversary Season, Side Effects by Michael Weller. As previously announced, David Auburn (author of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Broadway smash Proof) will direct this world premiere production. Performances of this two-person play begin at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on June 2, 2011 with an official opening night set for Sunday, June 19, 2011. Please note that these dates reflect a different schedule than the one previously announced for this production.

Theatre on Fire closes its sixth season at the Charlestown Working Theater with something never before seen on a U.S. Stage: BLACKADDER II: LIVE. TOF is adapting the classic British TV comedy - voted 2nd best of all time - to the stage for the 25th anniversaryof its original broadcast. First aired in 1986, the Blackadder series made many of its cast into worldwide household names, including Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson.

Theatre on Fire and the Charlestown Working Theater to Present BLACKADDER II: LIVE, the Entire Second Season of the Classic TV Series on Stage Directed by Darren Evans

Theatre on Fire closes its sixth season at the Charlestown Working Theater with something never before seen on a U.S. Stage: BLACKADDER II: LIVE. TOF is adapting the classic British TV comedy - voted 2nd best of all time - to the stage for the 25th anniversaryof its original broadcast. First aired in 1986, the Blackadder series made many of its cast into worldwide household names, including Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson.

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The Laurence Olivier Awards - the most prestigious awards in London's Theatreland - will be held this year in a revamped ceremony at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 13 March. Follow full coverage of the event on www.olivierawards.com.

Theatre on Fire and the Charlestown Working Theater to Present BLACKADDER II: LIVE, the Entire Second Season of the Classic TV Series on Stage Directed by Darren Evans

Theatre on Fire closes its sixth season at the Charlestown Working Theater with something never before seen on a U.S. Stage: BLACKADDER II: LIVE.

The Laurence Olivier Awards - the most prestigious awards in London's Theatreland - will be held this year in a revamped ceremony at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 13 March. Follow full coverage of the event on www.olivierawards.com.

The nominations for this year's awards are being announced this morning - follow all the news with us!

Queen legend Brian May and West End and Broadway singing sensation Kerry Ellis are to perform the live version of their hit album, ANTHEMS, in a special Royal Albert Hall concert next Spring on the May Bank Holiday Sunday after the Royal Wedding.

West-End star Kerry Ellis has been at work with tenor Alfie Boe on a track for his new album. A preview has just been released on YouTube...

CAST (Carolina Actors Studio Theatre) announces an Audition Notice for POPCORN by Ben Elton, Director: Paige Johnston Thomas

KERRY ELLIS and BRIAN MAY will perform ANTHEMS: The Concert, live at the Royal Albert Hall, London on Sunday May 1, 2011 at 8.00pm for the benefit of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.