Ruthie Henshall News

Today we are revisiting the very best theatre-related items released in 2014 in honor of the holiday shopping season being upon us.

Billy Elliot LIVE! por fin llega en formato DVD y Blu-Ray, a la venta a partir del 19 de diciembre en España.

El próximo 19 diciembre se pone a la venta en DVD y Blu-Ray la filmacion, desde el teatro Victoria Palace, del Billy Elliot londinense basado en la pelicula de 2001 de mismo titulo. Por ello BroadwayWorld lo celebramos con dos entrevistas con dos de las mujeres que lo hacen posible: la actriz Ruthie Henshall que interpreta a Ms. Wilkinson, la maestra de ballet que empuja a Billy a que persiga sus sueños y Jessica Ronnane la directora de casting que ha llenado de talento juvenil tanto el casting de Billy Elliot como el de Matilda.

59E59 Theaters will host the New York premiere of EVERYBODY GETS CAKE!, created and performed by Joel Jeske, Danny Gardner and Brent McBeth, and directed by Mark Lonergan. Produced by Parallel Exit, EVERYBODY GETS CAKE! begins performances on Friday, January 16 for a limited engagement through Sunday, February 8.

Blood Brothers, which starts performances on 6 February, has quickly become the fastest-selling show at the Hayes Theatre Co since the venue opened its doors. Due to this phenomenal demand for tickets an extra week of performances has been added, as well as some mid-week matinees throughout the season. Blood Brothers will now play until Sunday 15 March 2015. It is the first time a production has extended its run at Hayes Theatre Co and no further extension is possible.

Today, 19 November 2014, eleven year-old Brodie Donougher from Blackpool, gives his first performance in the title role of the internationally award winning Billy Elliot the Musical

Today, 19 November 2014, eleven year-old Brodie Donougher from Blackpool, gives his first performance in the title role of the internationally award winning Billy Elliot the Musical. Brodie joins a cast lead by Ruthie Henshall who plays Mrs Wilkinson, Billy's dance teacher and Deka Walmsley who plays Billy's dad, and becomes the thirty-ninth boy to perform the iconic role at the Victoria Palace Theatre and the seventy-sixth boy to perform the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film. Also joining the cast today will be 10 year old Connie Fisher from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, who will play Mrs Wilkinson's daughter Debbie. In addition 19 girls from London and surrounding counties aged 9 - 14 join the cast as Ballet Girls. Billy Elliot the Musical is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre to 19 December 2015.

Today we are talking to one of the most powerful directors on Broadway, in the West End and in Hollywood all about the breathtaking screen-to-stage-to-screen adaptation of his Tony Award- and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL, coming to Fathom movie theaters nationwide this week, the affable and gifted Stephen Daldry. Discussing originally adapting the hit British indie alongside composer Elton John and screenwriter/lyricist Lee Hall into the worldwide sensation that the musical eventually became, Daldry reflects on how many iconic elements of the original production came to be as well as comments on the enduring impact of the musical since its debut more than 10 years ago. Additionally, Daldry sheds considerable light on how the Fathom filming of BILLY ELLIOT was designed to showcase the exceptional entertainment value of the enterprise and its incredible cast of actors, as well as overseeing the unforgettable finale staged especially for this special 10th anniversary performance, including an awe-inspiring dance sequence involving 26 actors who have notably essayed the title role over the course of the show's run on Broadway, in the West End and around the world since its debut. Additionally, Daldry also touches upon his other two recent Fathom Events seen in movie theaters worldwide, SKYLIGHT and THE AUDIENCE, both of which will also be arriving on Broadway later this season in new productions. Plus, Daldry comments for the very first time on the feature film adaptation of stage sensation WICKED and working with Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman on bringing it to the screen, as well as offers his thoughts on the importance of properties such as BILLY ELLIOT and WICKED targeting the youth demographic in general. All of that, his early career success directing Caryl Churchill's remarkably prescient and powerful A NUMBER and FAR AWAY as well as an update on his new Peter Morgan TV series collaboration created especially for Netflix titled THE CROWN and much, much more in this quick yet compelling chat with one of the industry's best!

Monday, October 27 at 9:00 pm there will be a special performance at State 72 / The Triad, 158 West 72 Street (just off Broadway). Written and performed by Jon Peterson, "He Wrote Good Songs" is the story of Anthony Newley, the legendary British actor, singer, song-writer, director.

Fathom Events brings top theater from London's iconic West End to the big screen with 'Billy Elliot the Musical Live' which will be screened in select U.S. cinemas for three showings only: November 12 at 7 p.m., November 15 at 12:55 p.m. and November 18 at 7 p.m., all local times. This unique performance was previously captured live when it was broadcast to eight countries from the show's West End home at the Victoria Palace Theatre, hitting number one at the UK box office. It has been dazzling audiences in London since it opened in 2005, and has gone on to captivate audiences across five continents, winning more than 80 theater awards globally including 10 Tony Awards®.

Monday, October 27 at 9:00 pm there will be a special performance at State 72 / The Triad, 158 West 72 Street (just off Broadway). Written and performed by Jon Peterson, 'He Wrote Good Songs' is the story of Anthony Newley, the legendary British actor, singer, song-writer, director.

Theatre star Keith Jack has announced the release of his third studio album, Keith Jack - A Little Bit More Of Me, as well as dates for his 2015 solo tour. The show will feature songs from the album as well as classic musical theatre numbers and classic pop and swing tunes.

This weekend saw a record breaking twenty-five former and current Billy Elliots come together on stage in a specially choreographed mash-up finale of Billy Elliot the Musical. This unique performance was broadcast live to eight countries from the show's West End home at the Victoria Palace Theatre. All three original Billy Elliots - James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower - took part in a spectacular finale as the broadcast, the widest ever cinema release of a live event, hit number one at the UK box office.

Gary Naylor sees his first Billy Elliot and marvels at a tremendous central performance while wondering if the show is just a little too manipulative for his tastes.

This weekend saw a record breaking twenty-five former and current Billy Elliots come together on stage in a specially choreographed mash-up finale of Billy Elliot the Musical. At a unique performance, broadcast live to eight countries from the show's West End home at the Victoria Palace Theatre, all three original Billy Elliots - James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower - took part in the spectacular finale. Two special screenings of Billy Elliot the Musical Live also took place at the historic Easington Social Welfare Centre, formerly the Easington Colliery Miners' Institute, one of the settings for Billy's inspiring story.

Enda Markey will produce Blood Brothers, one of the longest running musicals in theatre history at Hayes Theatre Co from February 6 for a strictly limited 4-week season.

MISS SAIGON, now celebrating its 25th anniversary on stage, marked the milestone event with a special performance in London, featuring cast members from the original 1989 production joining the current cast members for a spectacular finale.

A reissue of the complete recording of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's MISS SAIGON is set for release today, September 16.

This week 11 year old Todd Bell from Whitehaven, Cumbria, joins the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre to play Billy Elliot's best friend Michael, alternating the role with current Michaels Zach Atkinson (12 years old from Manchester) and Tomi Fry (11 years old from Swindon). Todd Bell will join the adult cast led by Ruthie Henshall (Mrs Wilkinson), Deka Walmsley (Dad), Chris Grahamson (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), Howard Crossley (George) and Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy) alongside current Billy Elliots Elliott Hanna (11 years old from Liverpool), Ollie Jochim (12 years old from Chelmsford, Essex Bradley Perret (12 years old from Juan les Pins, France) and Matteo Zecca (12 years old from Buckinghamshire) who alternate the title role.

Twenty-seven former and current Billy Elliots will unite on stage in a specially choreographed mash-up finale onSunday 28 September when Billy Elliot the Musical is broadcast live from the Victoria Palace Theatre to cinemas across the UK and around the world. All three original Billy Elliots - James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower - will take part in the spectacular finale. In addition, as previously announced, Liam Mower will play the role of Older Billy at this performance.