Connie Fisher News

Tonight, 12 May 2015, the multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical celebrates ten years in the West End.  The musical received its world premiere at the Victoria Palace Theatre in March 2005 with the gala opening night taking place exactly 10 years ago today.   To coincide with the 10th birthday celebrations, Billy Elliot the Musical today announces an extension to the West End run, releasing over 600,000 tickets for sale, taking booking through to 17 December 2016.  In addition, the first UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical is also announced today, opening at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in February 2016.  Further tour dates and booking details will be announced shortly.

Robert Gould reports for BWW on the final of the 2015 Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer Of The Year at the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea.

Thomas Hazelby, 10 years old from Doncaster, today (11 March 2015) joins the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical to play the title role. He becomes the fortieth boy to play the role in London, where in May the internationally award-winning musical celebrates its tenth anniversary. Also joining the cast today to play Billy's best friend Michael is 11 years old Nathan Jones from Prudhoe, Northumberland. Take a first look at the two (and more) in photos from the show below!

Thomas Hazelby, 10 years old from Doncaster, today (11 March 2015) joins the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical to play the title role. He becomes the fortieth boy to play the role in London, where in May the internationally award-winning musical celebrates its tenth anniversary. Also joining the cast today to play Billy's best friend Michael is 11 years old Nathan Jones from Prudhoe, Northumberland. Check out the video below!

Robert Gould reports on the preliminary round of the 2015 Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer Of The Year Competition.

Gillian Elisa has been confirmed to play Grandma in the internationally award-winning West End hit Billy Elliot the Musical, having previously alternated in the role. Gillian takes over from Ann Emery who originated the character in 2005 and who recently retired from the role at the age of 84, having worked with all 39 London Billy Elliots.

Next year marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of the 'Queen of Crime', Agatha Christie, and the 10th anniversary of the Agatha Christie Theatre Company. To mark both occasions, her most popular and best-selling thriller AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, is set to return to the stage for a UK tour - visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Monday 2 - Sat 7 February 2015.

Today, 19 November 2014, eleven year-old Brodie Donougher from Blackpool, gives his first performance in the title role of the internationally award winning Billy Elliot the Musical

Today, 19 November 2014, eleven year-old Brodie Donougher from Blackpool, gives his first performance in the title role of the internationally award winning Billy Elliot the Musical. Brodie joins a cast lead by Ruthie Henshall who plays Mrs Wilkinson, Billy's dance teacher and Deka Walmsley who plays Billy's dad, and becomes the thirty-ninth boy to perform the iconic role at the Victoria Palace Theatre and the seventy-sixth boy to perform the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film. Also joining the cast today will be 10 year old Connie Fisher from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, who will play Mrs Wilkinson's daughter Debbie. In addition 19 girls from London and surrounding counties aged 9 - 14 join the cast as Ballet Girls. Billy Elliot the Musical is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre to 19 December 2015.

Luke McCall, a 21-year-old from Bala in North Wales, currently studying for an MA at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, is the 2014 Principality Building Society Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer Of The Year.

Robert Gould reports on the 2014 Principality Building Society Welsh Musical Theatre Singer Of The Year competition.

Robert Gould reports for BWW on the 2013 Final of the Principality Building Society Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer of the Year at the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea.

According to the Sun, during filming for an ITV special to honor Andrew Lloyd Webber's 40 years in show business, he revealed Scarlett Johansson was his first choice for the role of 'Maria' in The Sound of Music during his 2006 'How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?' talent search for BBC1. The show ended up casting Connie Fisher in the role.

Robert Gould reports for BWW on the announcement of the finalists in the 2013 Principality Building Society Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer Of The Year.

The Rose Theatre Kingston recently announced casting for Noël Coward's The Vortex, 7 February - 2 March. Due to ongoing vocal issues, Connie Fisher has regretfully had to withdraw from the production. New casting will be announced in the new year.

The Rose Theatre Kingston has announced casting for Noel Coward's The Vortex, 7 February - 2 March.

Wonderful Town is the Tony Award winning musical with a big heart. With music by the wonderful Leonard Bernstein, this production ticks almost every box for a sure fire hit even before entering the theatre. Having taken a variety of different forms over the last decade, Wonderful Town started out as a group of short stories, followed by a book, then a play and afterwards probably its most recognised form in the 1953 film starring Edith Adams and Rosalind Russell - all before it became a successful musical production.

The Birmingham Hippodrome today announced full season information for its forthcoming 2012/13 season, which includes Cape Town Opera's PORGY AND BESS and Cameron Mackintosh's new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE KING AND I, WONDERFUL TOWN, DIRTY DANCING, SISTER ACT and BLOOD BROTHERS.

It's very rare that you see a touring production as large and as lavish as the current UK tour of Wonderful Town. 'It's great!' says Michael Xavier, who plays the male lead Bob Baker.