The new Elton John musical Billy Elliot has cancelled its first three previews. Performances were originally going to take place from March 24th, but have been put back until March 31st, with press night still scheduled in for May 11th. Unlike most preview periods Billy has an unusual set-up – three previews a week, one for each of its three revolving Billys and set of children. Director Stephen Daldry commented "This is one of the most ambitious projects I have been involved with. The decision has been made to push back our preview performances in order to give our Company, with a cast including 45 children, a little extra time so they are as fully prepared as possible." Recently it was revealed that Anne Rogers, who would play Billy's grandmother, had left the production due to her role being downsized; she has now been replaced by Anne Emery.
The tour of Jerry Springer the Opera has had a setback in that 11 venues have pulled out due to pressure from extreme Christian group Christian Voice. The leader of the group, Stephen Green, wrote to 250 regional theatres stating that if any of them took the show he would take possible legal action. Luckily 25 theatres are still interested, and a new tour schedule is being put together for early 2006, instead of the anticipated October 2005. It's such a shame that this is how it's turned out. Before the broadcast of Jerry on British TV it sat unnoticed by Christian Voice, and its airing has been the demise of the show's further success.
The multi-million pound stage production of Lord of the Rings, directed by Matthew Warchus, has decided Canada will host the world premiere, not London as expected. Due to the apparent lack of large enough venues to house the show – with music by Bombay Dreams composer AR Rahman – it had to opt for an out-of-country tryout instead, with plans to bring it here in October 2006. It had been eyeing the Dominion Theatre, home to We Will Rock You, but with business still good there it refused to be forced out. Warchus promises 'a hybrid of text, physical theatre, music and spectacle never previously seen on this scale'. Casting is getting underway already and it opens in March 2006 in Toronto.
Kwame Kwei-Armah will lead the cast of his own play Elmina's Kitchen into the West End next month. The critically acclaimed, award winning play from the actor/writer originally ran at The National Theatre in 2003, and now a new production produced by the Birmingham Rep will go into the Garrick Theatre at the end of its UK tour. Wirtten as a dark love letter to his son, Elmina's Kitchen is the story of a single dad's struggle to survive and protect his wayward son from The Temptations of crime. Set in a run down West Indian café in Hackney, Kwei-Armah plays Deli with a supporting cast of five. It opens on April 26th and has an initial booking period until August. The producers are taking steps to ensure cheaper tickets.
Some extension news this week. '17 performances only' On The Town – with Adam Garcia and Caroline O'Connor - adds another three shows at the Coliseum, '6 weeks only' Acorn Antiques adds another four weeks on top of the six more it recently announced, now until May 21st. Meanwhile, over at the Savoy Theatre, Stephanie Cole will replace Penelope Keith from April 2nd.
And finally, Q fans get excited – Avenue Q is currently searching for a London home.. Keep watching for more news soon.
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