Michael Xavier News

Michael Xavier, Janie Dee, Claire Moore, Hayley Gallivan, Maria Friedman, Danielle Hope, Alison Jiear, Haydn Gwynne, Sally Anne Triplett, David Bedella, Tam Mutu, Paul Kaye, Stuart Matthew Price, Lucy May Barker, James Bourne, Madalena Alberto and Jenna Russell are now confirmed as the full line up of artists for Mercury Musical Developments 20th Anniversary Gala on Sunday 14 October 2012 at the Novello Theatre.

Soho Cinders does what it says on the tin - it's a cheeky London W1 reworking of the classic Cinderella tale, centred on Robbie (Tom Milner), a cute but savvy young gay man with very little family but many dreams. He has ugly sisters (the deliciously vulgar, lycra-clad Suzie Chard and Beverly Rudd), a wicked stepfather we never meet and of course a Buttons-style soulmate full of unrequited love for him. This is Velcro (the standout performance from Amy Lennox), a loveable, ballsy blonde who works in his dead mother's launderette.

Soho Cinders is directed by Jonathan Butterell with music by George Stiles, lyrics by Anthony Drewe, book by Anthony Drewe & Elliot Davis, choreography by Drew McOnie, design by Morgan Large and lighting design by Hugh Vanstone. Press night will be held at the Soho Theatre on Thursday, 9th August at 8.00pm, and the show runs through Sunday, 9th September, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Following the sold-out concert performance of Soho Cinders at the Queen's Theatre in October 2011, Stiles & Drewe's new musical receives its world premiere at Soho Theatre running from tonight, 2nd August to 9th September 2012. The full-scale production with a live band features an all-star cast, including Jenna Russell and Michael Xavier, and featuring the voice of Stephen Fry.

Raj Ghatak, Thomas Milner, Gerard Carey and Neil McCaul will join Jenna Russell and Michael Xavier in the world premiere of Stiles & Drewe's SOHO CINDERS at Soho Theatre running from 2nd August to 9th September 2012. The full-scale production with a live band also features the voice of Stephen Fry.

Perfect Pitch has released a concept album of LIFT, a new British musical by Craig Adams and Ian Watson. This recording, now available to buy. It features West End names including Louise Dearman, Michael Xavier, Jennifer Tierney, Paul Ayres, Julie Atherton and Jack Shalloo.

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.

Following the sold-out concert performance of Soho Cinders at the Queen's Theatre in October 2011, Stiles & Drewe's new musical will receive its world premiere at Soho Theatre running from 2nd August to 9th September 2012. The full-scale production with a live band will feature an all-star cast including Jenna Russell and Michael Xavier, and featuring the voice of Stephen Fry.

Perfect Pitch will be releasing a concept album of LIFT, a new British musical by Craig Adams and Ian Watson. This recording, which will be available to buy from Thursday May 31st, features West End names including Louise Dearman, Michael Xavier, Jennifer Tierney, Paul Ayres, Julie Atherton and Jack Shalloo.

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.

Connie Fisher and Michael Xavier lead the cast of the UK tour of Wonderful Town!

Rumours that The Public Theatre's production of INTO THE WOODS will transfer to Broadway have been fueled once more by The New York Post, which reports that extentions to Donna Murphy, Amy Adams and the rest of the cast's contracts are being negotiated.

Legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein's (West Side Story) award-winning musical comedy WONDERFUL TOWN comes to the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield, from today 1 - Saturday 5 May, as part of a major national tour.

Legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein's (West Side Story) award-winning musical comedy WONDERFUL TOWN comes to the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield, from Tuesday 1 - Saturday 5 May, as part of a major national tour.

According to a report by Michael Riedel of nypost.com, The Public Theater is already considering a Broadway transfer for the revival of INTO THE WOODS which plays the Delacorte in Central Park this Summer.

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that the hit open-air production of INTO THE WOODS that played London's Regent's Park Theatre in 2011 is now planning for a transfer to Central Part's Delacorte Theater as part of the Public Theater's Summer 2012 programming. Casting is said to be underway already for the role of 'The Witch' and that the producers are seeking a big name. Nothing officially has been announced on a possible transfer, as The Public is expecting to announce the 2012 summer season at the Delacorte sometime next month. The Public Theatre had no comment by press time.

What we're looking forward to in 2012

The nominations have been tallied up - now have your say!

The programme for September includes a variety of things to see and do during the weekends at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST), beginning with ‘Theatremakers with Hammers' on Saturday 3rd September.