I will probably be thrown into the darkest depths of Musical Theatre Purgatory for saying this, but…West Side Story has never been a favourite of mine. However, bear with me. I vaguely remember watching the film in my early years of secondary school, and wasn't particularly enamoured by it, so it was with mixed feelings of uncertainty and curiosity that I headed over to the Bristol Hippodrome to see the show on stage for the first time.
The producers of WEST SIDE STORY, playing at Sadler's Wells until 22 September before a nationwide tour, have partnered with the youth charity Leap Confronting Conflict, to run a workshop together for young Londoners exploring the musical's gang and race related conflict issues. Following the success of the workshop, there are now plans to roll out further outreach workshops whilst the musical tours the country during the coming year.
Robert Powell, who plays studio boss RF Simpson, joined original cast members Adam Cooper (Don Lockwood), Daniel Crossley (Cosmo Brown), Scarlett Strallen (Olivier nominated as Kathy Selden), Katherine Kingsley (Olivier nominated as Lina Lamont) and Sandra Dickinson (Dora Bailey & Miss Dinsmore) in Jonathan Church's Chichester Festival Theatre production. The show, which transferred to London's Palace Theatre in February this year, also features Peter Forbes, David Lucas, Brendan Cull, Kelly Ewins, Nancy Wei George, David Birch, Matthew Croke, Danielle Crockford, Jennifer Davison, Jaye Juliette Elster, Luke Fetherston, Gemma Fuller, Francis Haugen, Daniel Iannou, Peter Le Brun, Charlie Martin, Scott Mobley, Gillian Parkhouse, Sherrie Pennington, Lisa Ritchie and Jack Wilcox. Check out the photos below!
Film and television star Robert Powell will join the cast of Singin' in the Rain from 1 October 2012, as the five star West End production announces the release of over 300,000 new tickets, taking bookings at the Palace Theatre to 1 September 2013. The news coincides with the 60th anniversary of the release of the iconic 1952 MGM film version starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds. The Original London Cast Recording of this production of Singin' in the Rain was also recently released by First Night Records, reaching number one on the soundtrack chart during its first month on sale.
Sadler's Wells is pleased to announce the casting details for the West End opening of Richard Thomas and Stephen Mear's fabulously original musical, Shoes. Following the show's smash-hit world premiere at Sadler's Wells in September 2010, Shoes transfers to the West End's Peacock Theatre for a limited eight-week run from Tuesday 8 February - Sunday 3 April 2011.
Sadler's Wells is pleased to announce the casting details for the West End opening of Richard Thomas and Stephen Mear's fabulously original musical, Shoes. Following the show's smash-hit world premiere at Sadler's Wells in September 2010, Shoes transfers to the West End's Peacock Theatre for a limited eight-week run from Tuesday 8 February - Sunday 3 April 2011.
Wicked, London's hugely popular musical that tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, has announced that Lee Mead is to play Fiyero at the Apollo Victoria Theatre starting Monday, May 10th.
