Harold Wheeler News

WhatsOnStage.com reports that UK comedy star Brian Conley will make his return to the West End this summer when he takes over from Michael Ball as the 'Mama of all Mamas', Edna Turnblad in the multi award-winning Broadway import Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Nigel Planer and Verity Rushworth joined the cast of Hairspray the musical as Penny Pingleton and Wilbur Turnblad.

The New York Times is reporting that THE WIZ will 'Ease on Down the Road' to the New York City Center as it has announced that it would stage a revival of 'The Wiz' as its Encores! Summer Stars production.

An all-star cast of Ana Gasteyer (Wicked, 'Saturday Night Live'), Carolee Carmello (Mamma, Mia!, Parade), Tony? Award-winner Adriane Lenox (Doubt, Caroline, Or Change), Brad Oscar (The Producers, Jekyll & Hyde), Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King, Ragtime), John Dossett (The Constant Wife, Gypsy), Sam Harris (The Producers, The Life) and Sara Chase (Godspell at Paper Mill Playhouse) will star in a reading of the eagerly anticipated Broadway-bound musical FIRST WIVES CLUB this Monday, February 2 in New York City. FIRST WIVES CLUB will have its premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego July 15 through August 23, 2009. The cast for the fully staged production will be announced soon. FIRST WIVES CLUB marks the once-in-a-lifetime reunion of the famous Motown songwriting trio Holland-Dozier-Holland (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland), who created such monumental hits as 'Where Did Our Love Go?,' 'Baby Love' and 'Stop! In The Name of Love' for The Supremes and 'How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved By You)' for Marvin Gaye. These chart-topping legends, who had more airplay than the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Elvis combined, have reunited for this one production.

The producers of 'HAIRSPRAY' are delighted to announce that Nigel Planer and Verity Rushworth are to join the cast of the multi-award winning musical, beginning on Monday 2 February. Nigel takes over the role of 'Wilbur Turnblad', husband of larger than life 'Edna' played by Michael Ball.

Mumsnet.com, the UK's leading family website, is delighted to announce that, from Monday 5 January, kids will go free to the musical 'HAIRSPRAY' at the Shaftesbury Theatre. On Mondays, for every full paying adult buying a ticket, Mumsnet will give a child's ticket completely free. This offer is available at www.mumsnet.com/offer or by visiting www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk.

Mumsnet.com, the UK's leading family website, is delighted to announce that, from Monday 5 January, kids will go free to the musical 'HAIRSPRAY' at the Shaftesbury Theatre. On Mondays, for every full paying adult buying a ticket, Mumsnet will give a child's ticket completely free. This offer is available at www.mumsnet.com/offer or by visiting www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk.

John Breglio, producer of the upcoming 2009 national tour of Dreamgirls, announced today the open casting call is being postponed from Saturday, November 1, 2008, to Saturday, November 22, 2008. The talent search for the new 'Dreams' will still take place at the Apollo Theater.

While it may take a village to raise a child, an impressive team of award-winning celebrities along with The Juilliard School, New York State Governor David A. Paterson, and other notables have taken the lead to collaborate in support of students of color at Juilliard via a scholarship benefit concert honoring legendary Juilliard alumnus, Luther Henderson, Mr. Henderson, who died in 2003, was a gifted American arranger, composer and orchestrator with an extraordinary talent for creating music for choreographic movement.

Today, an Equity casting notice was put up for a revival of the musical Dreamgirls. According to the notice, rehearsals will begin September 21, 2009 with performances starting in early November 2009.

Michael Ball has extended his run playing the role of 'Edna Turnblad' in the smash hit award-winning musical 'HAIRSPRAY' by another six months. He will now be starring in the role until Saturday 25 April 2009, marking the longest continuing contract that Michael, one of the UK's leading stage stars, has ever performed.

The previously-announced production schedule for the upcoming Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange's acclaimed play 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf' is being temporarily delayed, producers Whoopi Goldberg and DreamTeam Entertainment Group announced jointly today.

Whoopi Goldberg and DreamTeam Entertainment Group are pleased to announce that two-time Grammy Award winner India.Arie will make her Broadway stage debut this fall in a new, re-envisioned production of Ntozake Shange's acclaimed play, FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF.

The smash hit award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London has recouped its entire £3.5 million capitalization in a record-breaking 29 weeks.

There will be access performances for the smash hit award-winning musical 'HAIRSPRAY' on 3, 10 and 17 April.

Michael Ball has extended his run in the hugely popular role of 'Edna Turnblad' in the smash hit award-winning musical Hairspray by six months. He will now be starring in the role until Saturday 25 October 2008.

The much anticipated new musical Roller Derby, being presented as part of this year's New York Musical Theatre Festival, is rolling uptown to a new venue.

The premiere West End cast of the smash hit multi-award winning Broadway musical Hairspray has been announced. Michael Ball will star as Edna Turnblad, Mel Smith as Wilbur Turnblad, Leanne Jones as Tracy Turnblad and Ben James-Ellis as Link Larkin . Hairspray open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Tuesday October 30, following previews from October 11.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), now in its fourth year, is a three-week event in NYC that has premiered over 90 musicals in its first three years, becoming the largest musical theatre event in America. Tickets for NYMF productions are available at www.nymf.org or by calling 212-352-3101. This year's Festival will run from September 17 through October 7 with the following schedule of events...

Michael Ball, Mel Smith and newcomer Leanne Jones will star in the multi-award winning musical Hairspray, which will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Tuesday, October 30, following previews from October 11.