Brenda Edwards News

Today, producer Mark Goucher has confirmed that following the phenomenal success of the current UK tour, the new production of Hairspray will return at the end of summer 2017 to once again tour the UK. This second tour of the smash hit musical will visit venues across the country until the spring of 2018. Casting, dates and locations for the 2017/18 tour will be announced in due course.

The HAIRSPRAY UK tour is currently playing at Cambridge Corn Exchange, through February 20, and will soon move on to Edinburgh Playhouse. Below, watch as the cast performed a rousing 'I Know Where I've Been.'

International smash-hit musical Hairspray comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Monday 8 - Saturday 13 February starring actor, presenter and former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan, Benidorm's Tony Maudsley, TV and musicals star Claire Sweeney and X Factor finalist and West End star Brenda Edwards.

According to the West End Frame, current HAIRSPRAY UK tour producer Mark Goucher, has revealed that he wants the musical to transfer to the West End next year.

The dust has only recently settled on the last production of Hairspray at the Curve in Leicester but now this production is on the road across the UK. Based on the packed house at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham last night, it's proven itself to be a show that people will return to. It's just upsetting that this time around the show did not live up to my expectations.

Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad when Hairspray returns to Edinburgh next year. He will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) who will play the role of Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) will play Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour (Miss Saigon) will play Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) will play Amber, Monique Young (Top Hat) will play Penny, Karis Jack (Urinetown) will play Little Inez, Adam Price (Hairspray) will play Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn (Made in Dagenham) will play Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) will play Duane. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Revived again, the touring favourite Hairspray is again packing out theatres across the country.  This new production delivers some impressive performances and a fun evening, if not quite living up to dancing in the aisles quality of the West End original.

The international smash hit musical comedy Hairspray the Musical returns in a brand new production, touring the UK from September 2015. Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and an even bigger dream: to dance her way onto national TV, and into the heart of teen idol Link Larkin. Tracy's audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for integration. But can she win equality - and Link's heart - without denting her 'do? Starring Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) as Edna Turnblad, Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Chicago) as Velma Von Tussle, Peter Duncan (Blue Peter, Tumble), and Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside Jon Tsouras as Corny Collins, Dex Lee as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour as Link Larkin and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) as Duane.

BWW:UK recently sat down for a chat with the stars of the new UK tour of Hairspray at the show's Birmingham press launch at the New Alexandra Theatre, where it is playing over the Christmas period. Here we speak to Claire Sweeney (Velma Von Tussle), Tony Maudsley (Edna), Peter Duncan (Wilbur) and Brenda Edwards (Motormouth Maybelle).

Hairspray will star Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) as Edna Turnblad, TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle.

Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad in the major 40-week UK tour of Hairspray which will open at Curve theatre in Leicester this autumn. He will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) who will play the role of Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) will play Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour (Miss Saigon) will play Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) will play Amber, Monique Young (Top Hat) will play Penny, Karis Jack (Urinetown) will play Little Inez, Adam Price (Hairspray) will play Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn (Made in Dagenham) will play Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) will play Duane. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Making Records & Strike Up The Band announce the launch on iTunes of IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING: The Songs Of Charles Miller & Kevin Hammonds A 'must buy' for all lovers of musical theatre, this collection of 18 tracks, featuring over 50 artists and musicians, showcases the songs of theTransatlantic writing team Charles Miller (Music - UK) and Kevin Hammonds (Lyrics - USA).

Making Records & Strike Up The Band announce the launch on iTunes of IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING: The Songs Of Charles Miller & Kevin Hammonds A 'must buy' for all lovers of musical theatre, this collection of 18 tracks, featuring over 50 artists and musicians, showcases the songs of the Transatlantic writing team Charles Miller (Music – UK) and Kevin Hammonds (Lyrics – USA).

West End's Queen musical We Will Rock You will perform its final show today, 31 May 2014, shortly after its 12th anniversary.

With producers of the much anticipated North American touring production having announced their full casting this past week in readiness for an autumn opening, the London mother ship production of Queen and Ben Elton's We Will Rock You today produced its own casting news, revealing details of a revamped cast for 2013/ 2014.

According to Brian May's website Brian's Soapbox, he has given the go-ahead for a US tour of We Will Rock You, with a stop in New York City, possibly on Broadway. The show is already set for a world tour, beginning in the UK, this year.

The night started off with original compositions ("High," "Summer Feeling," and "Nothing You Do," among others) and a few show tunes from two smash Broadway shows ("Burn the Floor," "Rock of Ages"): Mig Ayesa, 'Rock Star: INXS' finalist-turned-bona fide Broadway rock star, dishing out hard rock, soulful vocals while playing the keyboard; Jon Skibic, "Rock of Ages" guitarist, strumming his electric guitar while listening closely to Ayesa - both perfectly played in sync.

MiG Ayesa, 'Rock Star: INXS' finalist-turned-bona fide Broadway rock star, rocked New York City via his solo concert at Perlas International Cuisine in Woodside, Queens Saturday night, December 15. Below, check out a video of him singing Bon Jovi's 'Wanted Dead Or Alive'!

MiG Ayesa, 'Rock Star: INXS' finalist-turned-bona fide Broadway rock star, is set to rock New York City (NYC) via his solo concert at Perlas International Cuisine in Woodside, Queens (69-09 Roosevelt Avenue) tonight at 10 p.m.