Natasha J. Barnes News

Natasha J Barnes who will play the title role of Cinderella, Suzie Chard and Wendy Sommerville who will play The Wicked Stepsisters complete the casting for the London Palladium Pantomime this Christmas. They join the previously announced Paul O'Grady (The Wicked Stepmother), Julian Clary (Dandini), Amanda Holden (The Fairy Godmother), Lee Mead (Prince Charming), Paul Zerdin (Buttons), Nigel Havers (Lord Chamberlain) and Count Arthur Strong (Baron Hardup).

The Daily Mail has reported that Natasha J. Barnes has been cast in the title role in the forthcoming London revival of Cinderella. 

The new London Cast Recording of FUNNY GIRL is now available.

West End Wilma is delighted to announce that the third annual West End Wilma Awards will be held, once again, in association with the Hippodrome Casino. This years ceremony will be held on Friday 4th November 2016 at the Hippodrome Casino at 2pm. Tickets are now on sale!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Sheridan Smith has taken a leave of absence from Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre due to 'stress and exhaustion.' Today, producers have confirmed that the actress will return to the West End production tonight in the role of Fanny Brice. Natasha J. Barnes has subbed for Smith since the end of May.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Sheridan Smith has taken a leave of absence from Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre due to 'stress and exhaustion.'

Pre-orders for the Menier Chocolate Factory production that transferred to the West End's Savoy Theatre are now being taken by Amazon.

This weekend's big news: David Rossmer joins LES MISERABLES as 'Thenardier' tonight, INDIAN SUMMER begins at Playwrights Horizons, and INDECENT and DAPHNE'S DIVE open off-Broadway on Sunday!

Natasha J Barnes plays the role of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre for a short period whilst Sheridan Smith takes 2 - 4 weeks leave of absence from the production due to stress and exhaustion.  

Still gushing over Lin-Manuel Miranda and Hamilton winning a Pulitzer Prize? Didn't have time to check in on your favorite Broadway stars? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'

Theatre in the West End. The transfer follows a sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and the show is booking until October 8. Smith takes on Barbra Streisand's iconic role of Fanny Brice, the Brooklyn singer and comedienne who became a Broadway sensation under producer Florenz Ziegfeld. The cast also features Darius Campbell as Nicky Arnstein, Marilyn Cutts as Mrs Brice,Maurice Lane as Mr Keeney, Valda Aviks as Mrs Meeker, Gay Soper as Mrs Strakosh, Natasha J Barnes as Emma/Mrs Nadler, Bruce Montague as Florenz Ziegfeld, and Joel Montague as Eddie Ryan.

Last night, the Sheridan Smith-starring revival of FUNNY GIRL opened at the Savoy Theatre in the West End. The transfer follows a sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and the show is booking until October 8. Smith takes on Barbra Streisand's iconic role of Fanny Brice, the Brooklyn singer and comedienne who became a Broadway sensation under producer Florenz Ziegfeld. The cast also features Darius Campbell as Nicky Arnstein, Marilyn Cutts as Mrs Brice, Maurice Lane as Mr Keeney, Valda Aviks as Mrs Meeker, Gay Soper as Mrs Strakosh, Natasha J Barnes as Emma/Mrs Nadler, Bruce Montague as Florenz Ziegfeld, and Joel Montague as Eddie Ryan.

With previews in full swing at the Savoy Theatre, director Michael Mayer continues to polish the new revival of FUNNY GIRL, starring Sheridan Smith, which premiered at Menier Chocolate Factory.

Following a sold-out Menier Chocolate Factory run, Sheridan Smith leads Michael Mayer's production of FUNNY GIRL into the West End. The Broadway classic is now playing at the Savoy Theatre, booking until October 8. As well as Smith's Fanny Brice, it features Darius Campbell as Nicky Arnstein, Marilyn Cutts as Mrs Brice, Maurice Lane as Mr Keeney, Valda Aviks as Mrs Meeker, Gay Soper as Mrs Strakosh, Natasha J Barnes as Emma/Mrs Nadler, Bruce Montague as Florenz Ziegfeld, and Joel Montague as Eddie Ryan.

The West End transfer of Funny Girl, receives its first preview tomorrow night, 9 April 2016 - with opening night on 20 April, at the Savoy Theatre. Michael Mayer directs Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice, Darius Campbell as Nicky Arnstein, Marilyn Cutts as Mrs Brice, Maurice Lane as Mr Keeney, Valda Aviks as Mrs Meeker, Gay Soper as Mrs Strakosh, Natasha J Barnes as Emma/Mrs Nadler, Bruce Montague as Florenz Ziegfeld, and Joel Montague as Eddie Ryan.                

Sheridan Smith, star of the current West End production of FUNNY GIRL, turned to Twitter to announce that she would be unable to perform at last evening's performance. Today, producers of the musical issued the following statement on her absence

It's a hard life being an understudy. It's even harder when you're the understudy to a much-loved Olivier-winning star whose name is selling the whole show. That's the situation for Natasha J Barnes, Sheridan Smith's understudy as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.

Earlier today, BroadwayWorld reported that West End-bound FUNNY GIRL star Sheridan Smith would love to bring the musical to Broadway. Now the Daily Mail reveals rumors that director Michael Mayer and Smith could take the show to the Great White Way in 2017. The site's Baz Bamigboye writes that for now it's 'Purely rumour, at the moment, but a lot of people would like to see it happen.'

Fanny's back. Michael Mayer's Funny Girl just began its pre-West End run at Menier Chocolate Factory and star Sheridan Smith already has her sights on the show's life beyond London. When asked if she's like to bring the show to Broadway, she told the BBC: 'I'd be daft if I said no. I would love to, that's my dream. But would they take a Lincolnshire girl to do a New York-Brooklyn girl?

FUNNY GIRL returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 premiere in a sold-out run, led by Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith as 'Fanny Brice'. The multi award-winning Michael Mayer directs the production, opening tonight, 2 December, at Menier Chocolate Factory before a West End transfer. Let's see what the critics had to say...