James Ballanger News

Celebrate the very first West End birthday of Kinky Boots with the video below, featuring interviews with the new cast, creative team and happy theatergoers!

Matt Henry, who received the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical, is extending his acclaimed performance as Lola, and is joined by David Hunter, who takes on the role of Charlie Price.

The new cast for Kinky Boots gives their first performance at the Adelphi Theatre this evening, Monday 15 August. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Last night, Saturday 9 April 2016, after 4,600 performances and prior to the theatre's previously announced refurbishment programme, the final Victoria Palace Theatre performance of Billy Elliot The Musical took place in front of a packed house with guests including past and present Billy Elliots, original cast members and members of the show's creative team.  The over 1530 strong audience rose to their feet for the curtain call to join the Company in celebrating a very special evening and a phenomenal eleven year run in the West End.  Director Stephen Daldry, writer Lee Hall and composer Elton John joined the company on stage accompanied by 32 past and present Billy Elliots (the most Billy Elliots to ever appear on stage together), 24 past Michaels and 18 past Debbies as well as several adult members of the original Company. 

The producers of Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the show will play its final London performance in support of East Durham Trust, a charity based in Easington, Co. Durham, a former mining town and the setting for Billy Elliot's iconic story.  Tickets for the final performance will be released for sale today (Tuesday 1 March 2016, 2pm) via the Victoria Palace Theatre box office, with all proceeds from ticket sales for this performance being donated to East Durham Trust.

Billy Elliot the Musical today (16 November 2015) welcomes Euan Garrett, 12 years old from East Lothian, Scotland, who will make his West End stage debut at the Victoria Palace Theatre as the forty-second boy to play the title role in the iconic British musical in London.  Also joining the cast today is Matthew Seadon-Young who will play Billy's older brother Tony.

Nat Sweeney, 12 years old from Birmingham, will make his West End stage debut this evening (3 July 2015) when he becomes the forty-first boy to play the title role in the iconic British musical Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Now in its eleventh year in the West End, the show recently extended booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre until 17 December 2016. In addition, the first UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical begins in February 2016 with tickets now on sale for performances at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Ruthie Henshall and Deka Walmsley today confirm they are to continue as Mrs Wilkinson and Dad respectively in the West End cast for Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre.  Also continuing in their role are Chris Grahamson as Tony, Gillian Elisa as Grandma, Howard Crossley as George and Claudia Bradley Dead Mum.   Phil Snowdon, in his new role, will play Mr Braithwaite and James Butcher joins the cast as Older Billy.  Ensemble members are Craig Armstrong, Richard Ashton, James Ballanger, David Bardsley, Paul Basleigh, Rachel Bingham, Lucinda Collins, Peter Cork, Scott Cripps, Robbie Durham, Ross Finnie, Lee Hoy, Ruri James, Ben Redfern, Charlotte Riby, Mike Scott, Sharon Sexton, Wendy Somerville, Spencer Stafford, David Stoller and Kerry Washington.

After a sell out night at The Phoenix Artist Club back in February, John Kristian and a host of West End professionals will come together to perform in "Songs from the Playground", a showcase at the Union Theatre on June 22nd.

Further to previous notices, producers today confirmed that From Here to Eternity will close on 29 March 2014 following a six month run at the Shaftesbury Theatre. ?From Here to Eternity is adapted from one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, this gripping tale of illicit love and army life unites the writing talents of Tim Rice (lyrics), Stuart Brayson (music) and Bill Oakes (book). It marks Tim's first new stage musical for over ten years and Stuart's West End debut.

On Saturday at the Shaftesbury Theatre the Military Wives Choir shared the stage with the full company of From Here to Eternity to mark today's anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, an event integral to the plot of the musical. Introduced by Tim Rice, the choir of 36 joined the company for a moving curtain call rendition of Boys of '41 - the song in the show dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives in the attack.

To mark the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, an event integral to the plot of From Here To Eternity, the producers of the show are delighted that The Military Wives Choir will be joining the full company of the musical on stage to perform a curtain call rendition of the song in the show which is dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives in the attack - Boys of '41.

The world premiere of Tim Rice and Stuart Brayson's new stage musical From Here to Eternity begins previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre tonight, 30 September.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of Tim Rice and Stuart Brayson's new stage musical From Here to Eternity which begins previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 30 September.

BWW reports on the upcoming workshop of new musical My Land's Shore at RADA with a West End cast.

West End stars Louise Dearman (Wicked), Tim Driesen (Never Forget), Gerard Carey (Masterclass) and Lucy Sinclair (We Will Rock You) will lead a workshop presentation of a brand new musical comedy version of JM Barrie's Peter Pan.

London's Union Theatre is set to revive The Baker's Wife, which will begin performances Sept. 21, and open Sept. 23. The production will be directed by Michael Strassen and feature Lisa Stokke as Geneviève.