Danielle Hope News

Sophie Evans has just announced via her Twitter that she will be filling in Danielle Hope's ruby slippers in the West End production of The Wizard of Oz on February 7, 2012. Evans was the runner up in the BBC reality talent competition show, Over The Rainbow, which tracked Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for his new Dorothy.

It's now official that both Michael Crawford and Danielle Hope will both depart the West End production of THE WIZARD OF OZ on February 5, 2012. Both have been with the show since the beginning, and audiences had been following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Crawford (as the Wizard) and Danielle Hope (as Dorothy), winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, at The London Palladium where the show began previews in early February and opened in March to great reviews.

The series launched last week week with LYSISTRATA JONES and this week celebrates the hit London production of THE WIZARD OF OZ with the original cast of Michael Crawford, Danielle Hope, Emily Tierney, Paul Keating, David Ganly, Edward Baker-Duly and Hannah Waddingham.

Today, as a well-earned holiday surprise for all of the millions of Broadway babies who read Broadway World all year long, we have a sneak preview of next year's upcoming InDepth InterView with leading lady stage superstar Sierra Boggess, best known to Broadway and West End audiences for her creation of the title role in THE LITTLE MERMAID, as well as originating the role of Christine in both PHANTOM VEGAS - the Las Vegas iteration of the international sensation THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by original helmer Hal Prince - and LOVE NEVER DIES, the recent Andrew Lloyd Webber-penned musical sequel to the original thriller/romance tuner, as well as her most recent essaying of the role in the absolutely phantastic 25th anniversary production THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL, which will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in the US in 2012. Before we get to all about PHANTOM 25 - lest we forget, Ms. Boggess was also generous enough to tell us all about the show when it was still in rehearsals (you can read that chat here) - Boggess shares her affection for another recent InDepth InterView participant who shared the stage with her at the thrilling encore for PHANTOM 25 - the one and only Phantom of legend himself, Michael Crawford, as well as all about her participation in the yearly ASTEP charity concert CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK CITY and the cast recording of it featuring herself along with Raul Esparza, Andy Karl, Orfeh, Constantine Maroulis and many more! Plus, insight into her preparations for her next Broadway role, that of Rebecca in the lavish stage spectacular REBECCA and much, much more!

The full Broadway cast has been announced for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff which will open March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. Click below to check out a holiday message from the cast and crew!

Today we have a super-special triple-focus Flash Friday dedicated not only to two of the top-tier talents in the entertainment history ever - Judy Garland and Michael Crawford - but, also, to the ever-lasting entity through which they are now, forever, inextricably linked - THE WIZARD OF OZ. Of course, Judy Garland famously starred in the original 1939 film adaptation of the L. Frank Baum children's classic, but, just this past year, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and Jeremy Sams adapted the classic film for the stage to much success and added a number of significant new songs to the Harold Arlen/E.Y. Harburg score. Be sure to catch my exclusive InDepth InterView with Michael Crawford that went live earlier this evening to read all about the new stage spectacular, as well as his affection for Judy Garland in the original film and some of his own favorite Christmas and holiday songs. Additionally, next Tuesday GLEE will be paying tribute to Judy Garland in the form of a mid-1960s-style TV Christmas special homage, so now is certainly as good a time as any to look back at the unparalleled performance of Garland in THE WIZARD OF OZ - for which she won a juvenile Academy Award - as well as her 1963 Christmas special which featured guest performances by Mel Torme, Liza Minnelli and more! So, make this a truly Mikey & Judy holiday season - as opposed to Mickey & Judy one - with this spotlight on Michael Crawford and Judy Garland and both their OZ-ian and Christmas connections - and a GLEE-ful surprise or two, too. After all, 'tis the season!

If only for originating the title role in the longest-running and most successful musical in world history - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - which is merely one of the many impossibly impressive moments in a fifty-year career that truly defies description - Michael Crawford is known and loved the world over. From the Broadway and West End stage to the concert stage; the recording studio to the movie studio; performing everywhere imaginable - he has conquered it all. In a resume-spanning conversation that takes us from Broadway to Hollywood and to the stage of the London Palladium where he is now starring as the eponymous WIZARD OF OZ in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new theatrical adaptation of the classic film, Crawford and I take a look back at his many notable stage roles - among them, BILLY, BARNUM, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and, most recently, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE WOMAN IN WHITE - and he also generously shares stories and recollections of the esteemed figures he has collaborated with over the years, including Barbra Streisand, John Lennon, Oliver Reed, David Foster, Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Sarah Brightman and many more! Additionally, Crawford shares his insightful opinions on the state of theatre today and how it has changed over the course of his decades spent in show business, as well as looks ahead to returning to the concert stage following his departure from THE WIZARD OF OZ in the West End in February. So, catch Crawford while you can - and your little dog, too!

After yesterday's announcements of the 2011 BWW:UK Award winners, there are celebrations across theatreland!

The 2011 awards, featuring several highly competitive categories shattered the site's previous records, with tens of thousands of West End fans, aficionados and professionals having their say about the very best of theatre on the West End and beyond...including a nail-biting, game-changing nearly 5,000 votes on the last day alone.

Stars from the worlds of music, comedy, television and theatre will be celebrating 100 years of Macmillan Cancer Support at The Macmillan Centenary Gala, an all-star evening of entertainment hosted by Graham Norton, at The London Palladium on Monday 28 November.

Conrow Productions will present the London debut of acclaimed musical theatre composer Jonathan Reid Gealt on November 27.

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. Click below to backstage at their 'Children in Need' performance!

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. Click below to go behind the scenes of rehearsals for their 'Children in Need' performance!

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. Check out even more new video footage from the production and an interview with the Wizard himself, Michael Crawford, below!

The stars of musical theatre are battling it out in their categories - Michael Crawford (The Wizard of Oz) and Shayne Ward (Rock of Ages) are neck and neck for Best Featured Actor; just two per cent separates Oliver Tompsett (Rock of Ages) and Richard Fleeshman (Ghost) for Best Leading Actor; Hannah Waddingham (The Wizard of Oz) and Jodie Jacobs (Rock of Ages) are tied as they push Sharon D Clarke (Ghost) for Best Featured Actress; and just three per cent separates Danielle Hope (The Wizard of Oz), Caissie Levy (Ghost) and Sarah Lancashire (Betty Blue Eyes) for Best Leading Actress!

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. Check out new video footage from the production below!

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. Click below to hear more from the new Wicked Witch, Marianne Benedict!

On Saturday 5th November, the winners of this year's English Heritage Angel Awards were revealed on BBC 2's Culture Show in a special ceremony, hosted by presenters Clare Balding and Graham Norton and held at the Palace Theatre in London's West End. Michael Winner and Danielle Hope helped to present the awards.

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. Marianne Benedict joine dthe cast back in September as the new Wicked Witch of the West, and you can check out photos of Benedict in action below!