Zizi Strallen News

There's 36 hours to go until voting closes in this year's BWW:UK Awards - but can Miss Saigon hang on to the lead in all its categories?

Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and Urinetown are all leading the musical theatre categories in this year's BWW:UK Awards - with Saigon stars Eva Noblezada, Kwang-Ho Hong, Rachelle Ann Go and Jon Jon Briones all out in front in the performance categories.

As previously announced, Nicole Scherzinger will make her West End stage debut as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking musical Cats. Returning to the West End for a strictly limited run at the London Palladium from 6 December 2014

Here are the current standings for UK / West End as of Sunday 12, October.

Internationally recognized recording artist and performer Nicole Scherzinger is set to make her West End debut in the new revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running musical CATS and comments on her new gig in a social media post.

On joining the West End production of Cats, Nicole Scherzinger said: 'I am really thrilled to be making my West End debut in such an iconic show and I couldn't be more excited. To have the opportunity to work with Andrew, Trevor and Gillian is a dream come true. I grew up listening to Andrew's extraordinary music and was lucky enough, a couple of years ago, to record Cats' beautiful song Memory. Andrew's score is breathtaking and I am truly honoured to have been asked to take part in what I know will be a very special time in my career. I can't wait to begin rehearsals.'

Today, Calimag speaks exclusively with BWW about his most memorable stage door experiences, the wide variety of actors he has seen take on these iconic roles and his own personal reflections on the 500 performances he has attended throughout the years.

CATS, one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, comes to Canterbury later this month (June).

Hairspray seems to have been doing the rounds in the UK since it closed in the West End in 2010. It is a very popular show among audiences and although the last national tour is still fresh in our mind, the Curve's Artistic Director Paul Kerryson has decided his venue would do a brand new production. Some may say a good idea and others bad but regardless, the Curve is notorious for its phenomenal production values so personally I am very excited about this new offering.

WestEndFest is back for its first concert of 2014 on 2 March at The Actors Church in Covent Garden. It was founded two years ago by West-End theatre actress Sabrina Aloueche and Parnell Page, and has since become a hugely popular bi-annual celebration combining dance, comedy, songs and raising money for charity.

Artistic Director Paul Kerryson today announces the full cast for his new production of Chicago. Leading the company are Verity Rushworth (Velma Kelly), Gemma Sutton (Roxie Hart), David Leonard (Billy Flynn) and Sandra Marvin (Mama Morton) with Adam Bailey (Mary Sunshine) and Matthew Barrow (Amos)

Voting opened this week for the 2013 BWW:UK Awards - and we've already had a record number of votes in!

The full cast is announced today as rehearsals begin for the West End transfer of the stunning Menier Chocolate Factory production of the Sondheim/ Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along. Directed by triple Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman, previews begin at the Harold Pinter Theatre on Tuesday 23rd April.

Following a sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre for 12 weeks only 100 stalls and dress circle seats at £25 available for every performance until 1 June*

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG began performances 16 November 2012 - 23 February 2013. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, with triple Olivier award winner Maria Friedman are making her professional directorial debut at the Chocolate Factory.

The first pictures from Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory, directed by Maria Friedman

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG begins performances 16 November 2012 - 23 February 2013. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, with triple Olivier award winner Maria Friedman are making her professional directorial debut at the Chocolate Factory.

Following its past sold-out Christmas musicals (Sunday in the Park with George, Little Shop of Horrors, La Cage aux Folles, A Little Night Music, Sweet Charity and Pippin), Menier Chocolate Factory announces the casting for its hugely anticipated revival of the Sondheim / Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along as its Christmas 2012 show.

ROCK OF AGES is currently in previews at London's Shaftsbury Theatre, led by Justin Lee Collins, Shayne Ward, Amy Pemberton, Oliver Tompsett and Simon Lipkin. The production officially opened on September 27. The cast is rounded out by: Ja'Keith Gill, Rohan Tickell, Jodie Jacobs, Sandy Moffat Nathan Amzi, Natalie Andreou, Grant Anthony, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Cordelia Farnworth, Ian McIntosh, Twinnie-Lee Moore, Jamie Muscato, Andrew Spillett, Zizi Strallen, Amy Thornton and Dylan Turner.

ROCK OF AGES THE MUSICAL is currently in previews at London's Shaftsbury Theatre, led by Justin Lee Collins, Shayne Ward, Amy Pemberton, Oliver Tompsett and Simon Lipkin. The production officially opens on September 27.