News for week of 24th June 2024

• Bat Out of Hell – will return for a new tour. Glenn Adamson will star when the musical kicks off the tour at the Edinburgh Playhouse on Monday 6 January. Joining him will be Katie Tonkinson, along with iconic rock legends Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton. Inspired by the arena tour of Australia and New Zealand, the 2025 reimagined show features an eight-piece rock band on stage and multi-level platforms. It has direction by Jay Scheib, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, additional choreography by Xena Gusthart, set and costume design by Jon Bausor, original costume designs by Meentje Nielsen, original wig designs by Linda McKnight, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, original casting by David Grindrod and casting by Anne Vosser. Following the Edinburgh opening the show will move on to Portsmouth Kings Theatre (13 to 18 January), Liverpool Empire Theatre (20 to 25 January), Bromley Churchill Theatre (27 January to 1 February), Cardiff New Theatre (3 to 8 February), Birmingham The Alexandra (10 to 22 February), Manchester Palace (25 February to 8 March), Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre (10 to 15 March), Peterborough New Theatre (17 to 22 March), Cheltenham Everyman (31 March to 5 April), Glasgow King’s Theatre (7 to 19 April), Leeds Grand Theatre (21 to 26 April), Woking New Victoria Theatre (5 to 10 May), Plymouth Theatre Royal (12 to 17 May), London Peacock Theatre (21 May to 7 June), Leicester Curve (9 to 14 June), Milton Keynes Theatre (16 to 28 June), Wycombe Swan (21 to 26 July), Southend Cliffs Pavilion (4 to 9 August), Sunderland Empire (18 to 23 August), Dartford Orchard Theatre (25 to 30 August), Bristol Hippodrome (1 to 13 September), and Northampton Royal and Derngate (15 to 20 September).
• Jack And The Beanstalk – Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre have announced further casting for this year’s GIGANTIC pantomime adventure. Joining the previously announced Britain’s Got Talent winners and street dance sensations Ashley Banjo and Diversity, award-winning actor and stand-up comedian Kev Orkian and actress Anne Smith will be west-end performers Matt Rixon as the hilarious Dame Trot, Jacqueline Hughes as the magical Spirit of the Beans and Lauren Hampton as the loveable Princess Jill. Matt Rixon can currently be seen in Moulin Rouge at the Piccadilly Theatre, London playing the role of Harold Zidler. Jacqueline Hughes is currently rehearsing for Hello Dolly! alongside Imelda Staunton, which opens at The London Palladium for the summer season. Lauren Hampton is currently touring the UK in Grease the Musical and can be seen at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre from 29^th October. Previously announced Ashley Banjo and Diversity will play Jack and the Trot Family, Kev Orkian will play Silly Simon and Anne Smith will appear as Mrs Blunderbore. For three weeks only, Jack and the Beanstalk will bring all the laughter, spectacle, special effects and glittering festive magic audiences have come to expect each year from Mayflower Theatre’s spectacular Christmas panto and runs from Saturday 14 December 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2025.
• The Lightning Thief – the musical is set to make its UK professional debut. We first saw it at Mayflower Theatre Southampton in 2022, when their Youth Theatre premiered a fully staged production. Based on the best-selling novel by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief features a score by Rob Rokicki and a book by Be More Chill scribe Joe Tracz. The musical follows New York teenager Percy Jackson, who discovers he is descended from the god Poseidon. The revelation is the beginning of a journey through a pantheon of problems. It had its off-Broadway premiere in 2014, ahead of two US tours, a second off-Broadway run and a 16-week Broadway season in 2019. Bill Kenwright Group are bringing this epic and exciting mythical adventure musical to London for the very first time as part of their 2024 diverse programme in London following Cruel Intentions – The Musical, Boys from the Blackstuff, Heathers the Musical and the Death of England series of lays. Lizzi Gee will direct and choreograph the show’s UK premiere, which is set to open at the Other Palace in London for a festive run from 23 November to 2 February 2025.
• The Wild Party – the new staging of the Broadway musical had been set to become the inaugural production at EartH Hackney – a 680-capacity venue in Dalston, north London scheduled for this coming summer, has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances and despite best efforts to proceed with the production, there have been insurmountable challenges.
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – the musical will open at London’s Ambassadors Theatre, on Thursday 10 October 2024. It is based on F Scott Fitzgerald’s short story, was adapted for the stage by Jethro Compton and Darren Clark. Winning Best Musical Theatre Production at the 2024 Off West End Awards, it is set in a Cornish fishing village and tells the story of Benjamin Button, who ages in reverse. Award winning actor John Dagleish (Sunny Afternoon, Sylvia, Harlequinade) will star as Benjamin Button, while joining him are Matthew Burns, Jonathan Charles, Oonagh Cox, Anna Fordham, Philippa Hogg, Damien James, Ann Marcuson, Jack Quarton, Benedict Salter,and Elliot Mackenzie. Olivier Award-nominated Clare Foster (Merrily We Roll Along, Crazy for You) will star as Elowen Keene, as well as Katy Ellis, who joins the ensemble. The creative team includes Jethro Compton (director and stage designer), Mark Aspinall and Darren Clark (co-music supervisors, orchestrators, and arrangers, Aspinall also as musical director), Chi-San Howard (choreographer), Anna Kelsey (costume and associate stage designer), Luke Swaffield (sound designer), and Zoe Spurr (lighting designer). Casting is by Ginny Schiller. The production is presented by ATG Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Gary Beestone Associates, Eilene Davidson Productions, Susan Edelstein Productions, Umeda Arts Theater, Rupert Gavin and Mallory Factor, Winkler and Smalberg, and Jethro Compton Productions.
• Spend, Spend, Spend – The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester has announced it will return to programming a big festive musical with this show, directed by Josh Seymour. Steve Brown and Justin Greene. It tells the true story of Viv Nicholson, who went from winning the football pools to losing it all. Rachel Leskovac, Olivier Award-nominated for her role as Young Viv in the original production, stars as the older Viv. The show runs from 23 November 2024 to 11 January 2025.
• Criterion Theatre’s 150th anniversary gala performance – a company of over 40 actors and musicians have now been confirmed for the special performance next week. Under the direction of Michael Fentiman, the evening will be hosted by Stephen Fry and will feature songs, sketches and scenes from productions that have graced the Criterion Theatre stage over the past 150 years. Aside from saluting the matchless history of this beloved venue, it will celebrate the work the theatre performs as a charitable trust encouraging and developing new talent from all over Britain. This will help highlight and fund the 150Tix initiative, which offers 150 free tickets a week to the under 21s throughout the spring and summer, as well as the theatre’s work in providing experience, mentorship, guidance and opportunity in new writing and all aspects of theatre to young people from around the country. But above all the gala will be a joyous and entertaining occasion, full of fun, mischief, and delight. Performing songs from musicals such as Amélie, Elegies, Mack & Mabel and current production, Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), will be Roshani Abbey, Audrey Brisson, Tanasha Chege, Jenny Fitzpatrick, Nadine Higgin, Ellis Kirk, Zizi Strallen and Johnson Willis. Performing excerpts from plays by the likes of Noël Coward, Terrence Rattigan, Tom Stoppard, Joe Orton and more will be Amanda Abbington, Sam Alexander, Tom Bennett, Julian Bleach, Gunnar Cauthery, Forbes Masson, Pippa Nixon, Simon Paisley Day, Mark Quartley, Jenny Rainsford, Ian Redford, Tom Rhys Harries, Rosie Sheehey and Angus Wright. In addition, Joe Stilgoe is set to present a brand-new opening number composed especially for the show, while (for one night only) the Reduced Criterion Company will also take to the stage. Finally, the original West End cast of The Comedy About A Bank Robbery will reunite to perform a scene from the hit Mischief show. They are Charlie Russell, Nancy Zammit, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields, Dave Hearn, Greg Tannahill, Chris Leask, Jeremy Lloyd, Ellie Morris and Holly Sumpton. Alongside Fentiman, the creative team includes lighting designer Richard Howell, sound designer Dominic Beale and music supervisor Barnaby Race.
• Fiddler on the Roof – casting for the new production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is almost complete. The classic musical, features a book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. It will star are Adam Dannheisser (Beetlejuice) as Tevye and Lara Pulver (Gypsy) as Golde, while completing the cast are Liv Andrusier (Tzeitel), Natasha Jules Bernard (Mirila), Greg Bernstein (Mendel), Noa Bodner (Rifka), Ralph Bogard (Avram), Lawrence Boothman (Nacham), Hannah Bristow (Chava), Georgia Bruce (Hodel), Georgia Dixon (Bielke), Jonathan Dryden Taylor (Constable), David Freedman (Rabbi), Helen Goldwyn (Shandel), Dickon Gough (Mordcha and Inkeeper), Thomas-Lee Kidd (Sasha), Beverley Klein (Yente), Daniel Krikler (Perchik), Darya Topol Margalith (Schprintze), Gregor Milne (Fyedka), Raphael Papo (The Fiddler), Alex Pinder (Russian #2), Dylan Saffer (Onstage swing), Michael S. Siegel (Lazar Wolf), Alex Tranter (Russian #1) and Dan Wolff (Motel). The full creative team are Mark Aspinall (musical supervisor), Stuart Burt (casting director), Laura Braid (associate choreographer), Julia Cheng (choreographer), Yarit Dor (fight and intimacy director), Emma Farnell Watson (assistant choreographer), Jordan Fein (director), James Hassett (season associate sound designer), Hannah Hauer-King (associate director), Nina van Houten (wigs, hair and make up designer), Nick Lidster for Autograph (sound designer), Aideen Malone (lighting designer), Tom Scutt (designer), Peter Noden (casting associate), Rabbi Rose Prevezer (Jewish culture, religion and history consultant), Caitlin Stegemoller (voice and text director), Dan Turek (musical director), Livi van Warmelo (associate musical director), The Telsey Office/ Kristian Charbonier (NY casting). The show is set to play from 27 July to 21 September 2024.

News for week of 17th June 2024

• King’s Birthday Honours List – Imelda Staunton, who played the Queen in The Crown, has been made dame ahead of her next stage appearance in Hello, Dolly! Choreographer Wayne McGregor has been made a knight and venue owner Nica Burns and actor Alex Jennings (who previously played Prince Charles in The Queen) were both made CBE, as was Dawn Airey, chair of the National Youth Theatre. Writer Armando Iannucci received the same honour. Chair of the National Theatre of Scotland was made OBE. Shobna Gulati was made MBE, as was Rose Ayling-Ellis, who made her West End debut in As You Like It last year. Producer Kenny Wax received the same honour, as did Paula Garfield of Deafinitely Theatre and singer Rebecca Ferguson. Chief executive officer of the Royal Theatrical Fund Sharon Lomas was made MBE, as was Dale Rooks, director, of learning, education and participation at Chichester Festival Theatre.
• Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – a major new UK tour of the hit Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical kicks off this Christmas 2024 at Edinburgh Playhouse, and then plays a host of UK dates including Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Cardiff, Newcastle, Southend, Plymouth, Canterbury, Nottingham, Belfast, Blackpool, Oxford, Sunderland, Woking Norwich and Milton Keynes. Legendary star Donny Osmond is playing Pharaoh for the Edinburgh Playhouse Christmas run from 3 to 29 December 2024 and is expected to continue in the role at major venues when casting is announced shortly. This production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat premiered at the London Palladium, and is again directed by Laurence Connor (School of Rock, Miss Saigon, Chess, Cinderella, Les Misérables), alongside choreographer JoAnn M Hunter, set and costume design by Morgan Large, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Gareth Owen, Musical Supervisor John Rigby, and casting by David Grindrod. The show is produced by Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group.
• Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World – the musical which returns to London on 20^th July at the Other Palace and is booking until 8^th September has announced it’s cast. Set to return are Georgia Grant-Anderson (Demon Dentist) as Jade and Elena Breschi (Kindertransport). New cast members are Meg Hateley (Mamma Mia!), Charlotte Jaconelli (Sunset Boulevard), Anelisa Lamola (Once on This Island), and Aaliyah Monk (School of Rock). Also returning to the show from the most recent tour are the swings Summer Priest (Get Up, Stand Up!) and Rachel Seirian (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), who is also assistant choreographer. The UK Theatre Award-winning piece follows a young girl who leaves class to meet a variety of iconic women from history such as Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, Emmeline Pankhurst to name just a few. It is based on Kate Pankhurst’s picture book of the same name, which has extensively toured from 2021 to 2023. Written by Chris Bush and Miranda Cooper, and directed by Amy Hodge, the production features set and costume design by Joanna Scotcher, choreography by Danielle Lecointe, associate choreography by Jackie Kibuka, assistant choreography by Seirian, lighting by Zoe Spurr, sound by Carolyn Downing and Rob Bettle, casting by Rosie Pearson, music, orchestrations and music production by Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo, live arrangements by Jen Green, additional music production by Nick Coler, musical direction by Audra Cramer and assistant musical direction by Nicola T Chang.
• Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch – a studio cast recording of the musical parody is now available across all streaming platforms. Produced by Nikki Davison and Joe Davison for Auburn Jam, the album features 17 original tracks, including “Sucking On You”, “We Didn’t Make It To Disney” and the show’s titular song. Unfortunate has book and lyrics by Robyn Grant (who also directs) and Daniel Foxx, with music, arrangements and orchestrations by Tim Gilvin. The not-so-family-friendly musical parody tells the backstory of one of Disney’s most illustrious villains, immortalised through the 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken created one of the great Disney soundtracks of all time in 1989 and set the blueprint for all Disney films to come. The Little Mermaid is full of pastiche, with calypso, chansons and burlesque, and this score is written fully in that same spirit, embracing modern drag cabaret and the classic Disney orchestral sound. The production is currently on a UK tour until 14 July and is being staged at York Grand Opera House until tomorrow, 15 June. Further stops include Churchill Theatre, Bromley (18 to 22 June), Theatre Royal Nottingham (24 to 29 June), Newcastle Theatre Royal (2 to 4 July), Southampton Mayflower Theatre (6 to 7 July), and Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton (11 to 14 July). The cast includes Orange Is the New Black star Shawna Hamic (as Ursula) in her UK theatre debut, alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race UK‘s River Medway (as Ariel), Thomas Lowe (as Triton), Allie Dart (as Sebastian), Jamie Mawson (as Eric), and Julian Capolei (as Grimsby), with Corrina Buchan, Jack Gray, Jamie McKillop and Milly Willows serving as ensemble members and understudies. Casting is by Sarah Leung. The production features set, costume and puppet design by Abby Clarke, choreography by Melody Sinclair, musical direction and supervision by Arlene McNaught, lighting design by Adam King, sound design by Lucy Baker, Oscar Thompson and Will Thompson, flying and effects by John Maddox for Suspended Illusions, make-up design by Maya Lewis, production management by Titch Gosling, intimacy and fight coordination by Claire Llewellyn for RC-Annie, puppet builds by Aled Williams, costume supervision by Sian Clare and assistant direction by Stephenson Ardern-Sodje. Additional orchestrations are by Nikki Davison and Joe Davison for Auburn Jam and the show is presented by Wildpark Entertainment and Dianne Roberts.
• Who Do Ya Love? – is set for its world premiere this summer at the Edinburgh Fringe – marking producer ATG Productions’ first foray into the much-loved festival. The musical explores the early years of Harry Wayne Casey, known as KC, and his journey to international fame with KC and The Sunshine Band. Developed with Casey, and written by J F Lawton, the musical features over 20 of the band’s hits, including “Give It Up,” “That’s The Way (I Like It),” and “Get Down Tonight.” KC and The Sunshine Band gained prominence in the 1970s, selling over 100 million records worldwide. The band won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1979 as part of the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, and had multiple chart-topping singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK charts. The cast features Peter Camilleri as Orly, Paige Fenlon as Dee, Fionán O’Carroll as Harry, and Annabelle Terry as Gina. Ensemble members include Lydia Bell, Evan Taylor Benyacar, Ashley St John, and Sheehan Parsons. The direction and choreography are by Lisa Stevens, with Mark Crossland as music supervisor. The set and costume design are by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Gillian Tan, sound design by Chris Whybrow, and Demmileigh Foster serves as assistant choreographer. Casting is directed by Anne Vosser, and Chris Buffham is the production manager. It will open at Edinburgh’s Assembly George Square Studios, playing across the month of August. The show is produced by ATG Productions, CTK Enterprises for Harry Wayne Casey, Gavin Kalin Productions, LPO, and Dudley Hinton Productions.
• My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) – is scheduled to conclude its UK tour at HOME in Manchester from 19 to 25 August, as it launches its 2autumn/Christmas season. A highlight of the programming is a musical adaptation of the beloved Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street. Directed by Sara Joyce and produced by HOME, the festive production will run from 6 to 31 December. Set in New York City at a major department store on the brink of collapse, the musical follows a kind-hearted stranger who steps in as a last-minute replacement for the store’s Santa. After claiming, however, to be the real deal, and a subsequent arrest, it is in the hands of a young girl named Susan to restore the world’s belief in him.
• Only Fools And Horses – the musical version is heading out on tour – and full casting has now been revealed. Based on John Sullivan’s much-loved sitcom, the show is written by John’s son, Jim Sullivan, alongside star Paul Whitehouse. It was previously revealed that Whitehouse will return to the show to play the role of Grandpa for select stops. Directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, Only Fools and Horses has musical supervision and arrangement by Stuart Morley. The show closed in the West End in April 2023 after four years at Theatre Royal Haymarket – with over 1000 performances, making it the longest-running production in the venue’s history. It will open on tour in Bromley on 23 September 2024 before visiting Southend, Bradford, York, Wolverhampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Sunderland, Stoke, Brighton, Ipswich, Norwich, Llandudno, Bristol, Newcastle, Northampton, Southampton, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Canterbury, Nottingham, Blackpool, Truro, Cardiff, Plymouth, Leeds, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin, wrapping up in June 2025. Whitehouse will appear in Bromley, Southend, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Brighton, Hammersmith (see below), Bristol, Leeds, Southampton, Birmingham, Blackpool, Cardiff, Sheffield, Liverpool and Dublin. The show will also spend three weeks at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith for Christmas, beginning its run on 17 December 2024. the cast includes Sam Lupton as Del Boy, Tom Major as Rodney, Philip Childs as alternate Grandad, Georgina Hagen as Raquel, Nicola Munns as Marlene/Cassandra, Craig Berry as Boycie, Lee VG as Trigger, Bradley John as Denzil, Peter Watts as Danny Driscoll/Mickey Pearce, Darryl Paul as Mike/Tony Driscoll, Richard J Hunt as Dating Agent, Gloria Acquaah-Harrison as Mrs Obookao, Andrew Bryant as resident director/dance captain/ensemble. The ensemble is completed by Amanda Coutts, Chris Arkeston, Rhys Owen, Kieran Andrew, Katie Paine and Oscar Dobbins.
• Dear Evan Hansen – is heading out on a UK tour, co-produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Nottingham Playhouse, the new production is directed by Nottingham Playhouse’s artistic director Adam Penford. The tour will open in Nottingham on 9 September 2024, The tour will open at Nottingham Playhouse on 9 September, running until 28 September, with subsequent stops including Curve Leicester (from 1 October), Hall for Cornwall (from 8 October), Brighton Theatre Royal (from 15 October), Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham (from 22 October), New Victoria in Woking (from 29 October), Leeds Grand (from 5 November), Liverpool Empire (from 12 November), Sunderland Empire (from 19 November) and New Theatre Oxford (from 26 November). It wil break for the holiday season and reopen at Northampton Derngate (from 14 January 2025), Mayflower Southampton (from 21 January 2025), Milton Keynes Theatre (from 28 January 2025), Marlowe Theatre Canterbury (from 4 February), Bristol Hippodrome (from 11 February 2025), Manchester Palace Theatre (from 18 February 2025), King’s Theatre Glasgow (from 25 February 2025), His Majesty’s Aberdeen (from 4 March 2025), Grand Opera House Belfast (from 11 March 2025), Storyhouse Chester (from 18 March 2025), New Wimbledon Theatre (from 25 March 2025), Wolverhampton Grand (from 1 April 2025), Sheffield Lyceum (from 8 April 2025), Theatre Royal Plymouth (from 15 April 2025), Hull New Theatre (from 22 April 2025), Wales Millenium Centre Cardiff (from 29 April 2025), Theatre Royal Norwich (from 13 May 2025), Blackpool Grand Theatre (from 20 May). Ryan Kopel (Newsies) will play the role of Evan Hansen, alongside Lauren Conroy (Into the Woods) as Zoe Murphy and Alice Fearn (Wicked, Come From Away) as Evan’s mum, Heidi. They will be joined by Helen Anker (Mamma Mia!) as Cynthia Murphy, Richard Hurst (The Lion King) as Larry Murphy, Killian Thomas Lefevre (Bat Out Of Hell) as Connor Murphy, Tom Dickerson (Heathers) as Jared Kleinman, Vivian Panka (9 to 5 the Musical) as Alana Beck and Sonny Monaghan (discovered via TikTok) as alternate Evan. This is the first production of Dear Evan Hansen in the UK to perform the show with an ensemble – made up of Lara Beth-Sas, Will Forgrave, Daniel Forrester, Jessica Lim, Monaghan and Shakira Simpson. Morgan Large is the set and costume designer, with Carrie-Anne Ingrouille as choreographer, Matt Daw as lighting designer, Tom Marshall as sound designer, Ravi Deepres as video designer, Matt Smith as musical supervisor, and Natalie Gallacher for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting as casting director, Michelle Payne as associate director and Laura Llewellyn-Jones as orchestral manager.

News for week of 10th June 2024

• Bonnie and Clyde the Musical – which recently suspended it’s UK tour before completing the first half of dates, due to poor ticket sales will be launching an on-line alternative later this month when it will be streamed from June 24^th.. The musical, with music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, and a book by Ivan Menchell, tells the story of Bonnie and Clyde, two small-town kids who became notorious folk heroes in America. The production, directed by Nick Winston and filmed during two concert stagings in January 2022, stars Jeremy Jordan, known for originating the role of Clyde Barrow on Broadway in 2011, alongside Frances Mayli McCann, who originated the role of Bonnie in the West End. Joining them in the cast are George Maguire as Buck, Natalie McQueen as Blanche, Trevor Dion Nicholas as Preacher, Liam Tamne as Ted, Casey Al-Shaqsy as Stella, Simon Anthony as Cop/Bud/Archie/Deputy Johnson, Gillian Bevan as Cummie Barrow/Eleanor, Eloise Davies as Trish, Adrian Grove as Henry Barrow, Debbie Kurup as Governor Miriam Ferguson, Matthew Malthouse as Bob Alcorn, Jeremy Secomb as Judge/Sheriff Schmid, Russell Wilcox as Captain Frank Hamer, and Julie Yammanee as Emma Parker. It is produced by David Treatman and Brett Sullivan, with executive producers Max Johnson, Adam Paulden, Darren Bell, and Jason Haigh-Ellery. The production has musical direction by Katy Richardson, set and costume design by Philip Whitcomb, lighting design by Zoe Spurr, and sound design by Tom Marshall. The production manager is Phil McCandlish, company stage manager Graham Harrison, deputy stage manager Anne Baxter, assistant stage manager Tom Fisher, and dialect coach Charmian Hoare, with children’s casting by Keston and Keston. The band is made up of assistant musical director Chris Poon, Kate Ingram, Hannah Lawrance, Kobi Pham, Jack Pennifold, Zach Okonkwo, Elliot Lyte, and Annie Blake.
• The Phantom of the Opera – celebrated its 15,000th performance in London’s West End on Saturday 8^th June 2024. The show is only the third in history to reach this milestone, following in the footsteps of The Mousetrap and Les Misérables. The musical is based on the novel Le Fantôme de l’Opera by Gaston Leroux and features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and a book by Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber. It premiered at Her Majesty’s Theatre (now renamed His Majesty’s Theatre) on 9 October 1986 and is now booking until 29 March 2025. The West End cast is currently led by Jon Robyns as The Phantom, Lily Kerhoas as Christine Daaé and Joe Griffiths-Brown as Raoul, alongside Kelly Glyptis as Carlotta Giudicell, Matt Harrop as Monsieur Firmin, Adam Linstead as Monsieur André, David Kristopher-Brown as Ubaldo Piangi, Francesca Ellis as Madame Giry and Maiya Hikasa as Meg Giry. At certain performances, the role of Chistine Daaé is performed by Chumisa Dornford-May. The company is completed by Hollie Aires, Federica Basile, Corina Clark, Michael Colbourne, Leonard Cook, Colleen Rose Curran, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Connor Ewing, Serina Faull, Florence Fowler, James Gant, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Yukina Hasebe, Samuel Haughton, Thomas Holdsworth, Jacob Hughes, Grace Hume, Janet Mooney, Tim Morgan, Eve Shanu-Wilson, Tim Southgate, Zoë Soleil Vallée, Jasmine Wallis, Victoria Ward, Ralph Watts, Simon Whitaker, and Andrew York.The Phantom of the Opera has played to over 160 million people to date, in 46 territories and 195 cities in 21 languages. The score includes such standards as “Music of the Night”, “All I Ask of You”, “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” and, of course, the title song. The musical is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group Ltd. and features orchestrations by David Cullen and Lloyd Webber, musical supervision by Simon Lee and production design by Maria Björnson. The set design is adapted by Matt Kinley with associate costume design by Jill Parker, lighting by Andrew Bridge with associate lighting design by Warren Letton, and sound design by Mick Potter. The musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne, recreated and adapted by Chrissie Cartwright. Originally directed by Harold Prince, this production is helmed by Seth Sklar-Heyn.
• Sondheim on Sondheim – James Lapine’s hit revue celebrating composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, will be performed at Alexandra Palace Theatre on 20^th and 21^st October 2024. It offers a portrait of Sondheim through his own words and music, the piece will involve two dozen songs framed by video interviews. Conceived by Lapine, the revue uses original and archival footage to create a collage of Sondheim’s life and career. Songs from 19 Sondheim musicals, including West Side Story, Company, Follies, and Into The Woods, are featured. The cast includes Fra Fee, Georgina Onuorah, Jenna Russell, and Scarlett Strallen, with further casting to be announced. Directed by Paul Foster, with musical direction by Alex Parker and choreography by Joanna Goodwin, this production reunites the team behind the 2022 concert of Gypsy at Alexandra Palace. The creative team includes lighting designer Jack Weir, sound designer Paul Smith, and video designer Neil McDowell Smith. The production will feature a 14-piece onstage orchestra and is produced by Quick Fantastic.
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – the musical will open at the Ambassadors Theatre, on Thursday 10 October 2024. It is based on F Scott Fitzgerald’s short story, was adapted for the stage by Jethro Compton and Darren Clark. The musical, which won Best Musical Theatre Production at the 2024 Off West End Awards, is set in a Cornish fishing village and tells the story of Benjamin Button, who ages in reverse. Award winning actor John Dagleish (Sunny Afternoon, Sylvia, Harlequinade) will star as Benjamin Button, while joining him are Matthew Burns, Jonathan Charles, Oonagh Cox, Anna Fordham, Philippa Hogg, Damien James, Ann Marcuson, Jack Quarton, and Benedict Salter, all reprising their roles from the 2023 Southwark Playhouse production. Additionally, Elliot Mackenzie joins the ensemble, with further casting to be announced later. The creative team includes Jethro Compton (director and stage designer), Mark Aspinall and Darren Clark (co-music supervisors, orchestrators, and arrangers, Aspinall also as musical director), Chi-San Howard (choreographer), Anna Kelsey (costume and associate stage designer), Luke Swaffield (sound designer), and Zoe Spurr (lighting designer). Casting is by Ginny Schiller. The production is presented by ATG Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Gary Beestone Associates, Eilene Davidson Productions, Susan Edelstein Productions, Umeda Arts Theater, Rupert Gavin and Mallory Factor, Winkler and Smalberg, and Jethro Compton Productions.
• A Night With Janis Joplin – the Tony Award-nominated hit musical is heading to the Peacock Theatre in London’s West End, running from 21 August to 28 September 2024. Joining previously announced Mary Bridget Davies and Sharon Sexton – with Davies reprising her Tony-nominated role as Joplin at evening performances and Sexton covering matinee performances – will be Kalisha Amaris (Sister Act), Georgia Bradshaw (Sunset Boulevard), Choolwe Laina Muntanga (Cheeky Little Brown) and Danielle Steers (Just For One Day) as “The Joplinaires”. As well as playing Joplin’s backing vocalists, they will also embody such trailblazers as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. The show features her greatest hits – including “Piece of My Heart”, “Cry Baby”, and “Me and Bobby McGee” – and a book by Randy Johnson. It opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre back in 2013. The UK production is directed by Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical supervision by Lestyn Griffiths. Allison Coyne serves as the associate director, while casting is overseen by Anne Vosser. It is produced by Michael Cohl, Tony Smith and the estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol for Jam, Inc.
• The Fabulist – the brand-new musical is heading to the London stage it will run at the Charing Cross Theatre from 12 August to 21 September 2024, Featuring music by Giovanni Paisiello and book and lyrics by James P Farwell (Mona Lisa), based on Paisiello’s opera The Imaginary Astrologer, the world premiere musical comedy is set in 1929 Italy, where Julian, an illusionist and outlawed heretic, is on the run from Mussolini and the Catholic church. Under the direction of John Walton (Instructions for American Serviceman in Britain), the creative team includes musical director and orchestrator Bobby Goulder, set and costume designer David Shields, lighting designer Fridthjofur Thorsteinsson, sound designer Andrew Johnson, and casting director Debbie O’Brien.
• The Devil Wears Prada -mhas unveiled its complete company in a glitzy shoot, reminiscent of the Vogue 40th anniversary cover. The musical has a score by Elton John (Billy Elliot) and Shaina Taub (Suffs) and book by Kate Wetherhead (Burlesque the Musical) – with direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots). Based on Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel and the 2006 movie starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, The Devil Wears Prada follows Andy, a journalist who takes on a job at a fashion magazine with unexpected results. Vanessa Williams will star as the fearsome Miranda Priestly and Matt Henry will play Nigel (the role originated in the film by Stanley Tucci), alongside Georgie Buckland (Shrek the Musical) as Andy and Amy Di Bartolomeo (Six) as Emily. Joining them will be James Darch (Mamma Mia!) as journalist Christian, with Rhys Whitfield (The Phantom of the Opera) as Andy’s long–term boyfriend, Nate. For the show’s London run this autumn, Debbie Kurup will join the production as the standby Miranda Priestly. Completing the cast are Maddy Ambus, Gabby Antrobus, Selena Barron, Pamela Blair, Robertina Bonano, Lloyd Davies, Elishia Edwards, Akeem Ellis-Hyman, Elizabeth Fullalove, Jinny Gould, Natasha Heyward, Samuel How, Luke Jackson, Liam Marcellino, Robbie McMillan, Ciro LourencioMeulens, Gabriel Mokake, Theo Papoui, Christopher Parkinson, Eleanor Peach, Ethan Le Phong, Jon Reynolds, Harriet Samuel-Gray, Olivia Saunders, Kayleigh Thadani, Ella Valentine and Tara Yasmin. The Devil Wears Prada will open first at Theatre Royal Plymouth for a preliminary run from 6 July to 17 August 2024, with a West End season to then follow from 24 October at the Dominion Theatre. A special gala event will raise money for World Aids Day and the Elton John Aids Foundation on 1 December. The production features set design by Tim Hatley (Back to the Future), costume design by Gregg Barnes (Legally Blonde), lighting design by Bruno Poet (Tina – The Tina Turner Musical), sound design by Gareth Owen (& Juliet) and casting by WhatsOnStage Award winner Jill Green.
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – the musical is to be performed in concert at The London Palladium on Sunday 24^th November 2024. Set in the French Riviera, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels follows two con men competing to swindle an heiress out of $50,000. The musical has a score by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane. The 2005 Broadway adaptation received ten Tony Award nominations, and its cast album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The concert will feature musical theatre stars Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom of the Opera) as Freddy Benson and Hadley Fraser (Young Frankenstein) as Laurence Jamieson. They will be joined by Carly Mercedes Dyer (A Chorus Line) as Christine Colgate, Janie Dee (The Motive and the Cue) as Muriel Eubanks, Rufus Hound (It’s Headed Straight Towards Us) as Inspector Andre, and Lauren Drew (Legally Blonde) as Jolene Oaks. Hound appeared alongside Robert Lindsay in the show’s 2014 West End premiere at the Savoy Theatre, following tryouts in Manchester and Aylesbury.The 2024 concert production will be directed by Rupert Hands, with musical direction by Adam Hoskins. It is produced by Lambert Jackson and Positive Sum. The concert will feature a live orchestra and the Mountview Choir.
• Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody – produced by Richard Kraft will have a world premiere this summer at the Edinburgh Fringe. The producers have been keen to emphasise that the show is in no way associated with any Roald Dahl films, books or existing shows. The new musical will feature numbers from songwriters including Riki Lindhome, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell, and Daniel Mertzlufft. The world premiere will run at the Pleasance King Dome from 9 to 26 August.
• West End Live – The Society of London Theatre has revealed the shows for the 2024 event which will take place in Trafalgar Square, London on 22^nd and 23^rd June. Thousands of fans will be welcomed free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis for the two days of musical theatre celebrations.
  The 2024 line-up will be:
  42 Balloons
  Babies The Musical
  Back To The Future The Musical
  Baga Chipz
  The Baker’s Wife
  The Book Of Mormon
  Cabaret
  The Choir Of Man
  A Chorus Line
  Closer To Heaven
  The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
  DIVA: Live From Hell!
  Dorian: The Musical
  Emerald Storm
  Fangirls
  Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World
  Frankie Goes To Bollywood
  Disney’s Frozen
  Hadestown
  Hamilton
  Heathers the Musical
  I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical
  I Wish You Well – The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Trial Musical
  John Owen-Jones
  Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder!
  Kiss Me, Kate
  Les Misérables
  Disney’s The Lion King
  Magic Mike Live
  Mamma Mia!
  Marie Curie
  RSC’s Matilda the Musical
  Mean Girls
  MJ the Musical
  Moulin Rouge! The Musical
  Mrs Doubtfire
  Next To Normal
  A Night With Janis Joplin the Musical
  Operation Mincemeat
  The Phantom of the Opera
  Queenz: Live In London!
  Roles We’ll Never Play
  Shantify – The Show
  Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
  Sister Act
  Six The Musical
  Standing At The Sky’s Edge
  Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
  Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)
  Westway Music Presents
  Why Am I So Single?
  Wicked
  The Wild Party
  The Wizard Of Oz
  You, Me and The Rest Of The World
  Your Lie In April The Musical
• Further acts and the weekend schedule will be revealed in due course. The event will be BSL interpreted live by Omoyele Davey, Marco Nardi and Caroline Richardson.

• Your Lie in April – the musical adaptation of one of the most popular romantic stories and greatest tearjerkers in Japanese manga history, follows a young piano prodigy who is unable to perform following his mother’s death. His life then changes when he strikes a friendship with a talented violinist. The manga, published in 2011, has since sold over 7.5 million copies in 17 countries. It was adapted into a 22-part anime TV series in 2014, and a Japanese live-action film in 2016. The Japanese musical, now translated, was first seen in 2022. The theatrical production, which has music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Carly Robyn Green and Tracy Miller, English book by Rinne B Groff, music arrangement and orchestration by Jason Howland and original book by Riko Sakaguchi, was first seen on UK shores at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where the piece played three concerts. As previously announced, the show will be led by Zheng Xi Yong (Spring Awakening) as Kosei Arima, Rachel Clare Chan (Oliver!) as Tsubaki Sawabe and Dean John-Wilson (The King and I) as Ryota Watari, who all starred in the concert version of the show, with Mia Kobayashi, making her professional debut as Kaori Miyazono. They will be joined on stage by Ernest Stroud (as Takeshi, first cover Watari/second cover Kosei), JoJo Meredith (as Derick, first cover Kosei), Chris Fung (as Mi-ike, ensemble), Eu Jin Hwang (as Kaori’s Dad, Judge #1), Daniel Nardone (as swing), Ericka Posadas (as Emi/ensemble), Lucy Park (as Kosei’s Mom), Gracie Lai (as Kaori’s Mom, Judge #2), Imogen Law Hing Choy (as ensemble) and Ria Tanaka (as swing). Stroud, Meredith, Fung and Hwang are all reprising their respective roles from Drury Lane. The production team includes director and choreographer Nick Winston, co-director Jordan Murphy, musical supervisor Katy Richardson, musical director and conductor Chris Poon, set designer Justin Williams, costume designer Kimie Nakano, sound designers Rob Bettle for Sound Quiet Time and Adam Fisher, lighting designer Rory Beaton, and video designer Dan Light. Orchestral management is handled by Rich Morris for Music Solutions Ltd, with production manager Toby P Darvill, and casting director Harry Blumenau. Also attached are associate director and choreographer Tommy Franzen, associate musical supervisor and associate musical director Chris Ma, associate set designer Christophe VandenEynde, assistant musical director Cerys McKenna, and costume supervisor Rachel Dickson. Your Lie in April runs at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 28 June until 21 September.
• Why Am I So Single? – a new musical penned by Six creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, follows two writers struggling to write a second musical while also embroiled in romantic woes. Leading the show will be Jo Foster (& Juliet, Just For One Day), who will return from the show’s early workshop, alongside Leesa Tulley (Six, Kin). They are joined on stage by Noah Thomas (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) in a supporting role. The alternate leads are Jordan Cambridge-Taylor (Schwartz at 75) and Collette Guitart (Just For One Day). The ensemble cast are Critics’ Circle National Dance Award-nominee Jemima Brown, Josh Butler (Bronco Billy), Natasha Leaver (Hamilton), Ran Marner (Jack and the Beanstalk), Joshian Angelo Omaña (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Natasha Wilde (42 Balloons), Rhys Wilkinson (Just For One Day) and Jamel Matthias and Olivia O’Connor in their professional and West End debuts. The swings are Callum Bell (Guys and Dolls), Owen McHugh (Clueless the Musical) and Caitlin Redpath in her West End debut, and Ebony Clarke (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, West End), who is also the resident choreographer. Directed by Moss, the show’s creative team includes choreographer Ellen Kane, orchestrator, musical supervisor and vocal arranger Joe Beighton, set designer Moi Tran, costume designer Max Johns, lighting designer Jai Morjaria, sound designer Paul Gatehouse, casting directors Harry Blumenau and Sarah-Jane Price, band fixers Sylvia Addison and Richard Morris, music producers Future Cut, associate choreographer Michael Naylor, production manager Phoebe Bath and general managers Kenny Wax Productions and Ameena Hamid Productions. The show will open at the Garrick Theatre on 27 August 2024, and is currently booking until 13 February 2025.
• Calamity Jane – Carrie Hope Fletcher (Heathers the Musical) is set to lead a new UK and Ireland tour of the musical, ahead of a West End transfer. The Watermill Theatre production will re-launch in January 2025, reuniting the previous creative team of director Nikolai Foster (An Officer and a Gentleman), co-director and choreographer Nick Winston (Shrek the Musical), orchestrator and music supervisor Catherine Jayes (The Color Purple), and set and costume designer Matthew Wright. Additional creative team members include lighting designer Tim Mitchell, sound designer Ben Harrison and casting director Debbie O’Brien. The score features music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster (with orchestral and vocal arrangements by Philip J Lang) and includes such standards as “The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away)”, “The Black Hills of Dakota”, “Just Blew in from the Windy City”, and the Oscar-winning “Secret Love”. Calamity Jane is set to open at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre on 14 January 2025, before visiting Manchester Opera House (from 21 January), Southend Cliffs Pavilion (from 28 January), Sunderland Empire (from 4 February), New Victoria Woking (from 25 February), Leeds Grand Theatre (from 4 March), Wales Millennium Centre (from 11 March), Birmingham Hippodrome (from 18 March), Nottingham Theatre Royal (from 25 March), Brighton Theatre Royal (from 1 April), Norwich Theatre Royal (from 8 April), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (from 15 April), Liverpool Empire (from 22 April), York Grand Theatre (from 29 April), New Wimbledon Theatre (from 13 May), Canterbury Marlowe (from 27 May), Southampton Mayflower (from 3 June), Sheffield Lyceum (from 10 June), Stoke Regent Theatre (from 17 June), Blackpool Opera House (from 24 June), Glasgow Kings (from 1 July), Curve Leicester (from 8 July), Plymouth Theatre Royal (from 15 July), Milton Keynes Theatre (from 29 July), Truro Hall For Cornwall (from 5 August), Dublin Bord Gais (from 19 August), Llandudno Venue Cymru (from 26 August), Bradford Alhambra (from 2 September), Wolverhampton Grand (from 9 September) and Bromley Churchill Theatre (from 16 September)
• Muriel’s Wedding The Musical – will have its UK premiere in April 2025. The Made at Curve production, a collaboration between the venue and Global Creatures in association with Sydney Theatre Company, is based on the beloved 1994 film of the same name. The musical celebrated its world premiere in 2017 in Sydney, winning numerous awards including five Helpmann Awards and seven Sydney Theatre Awards. The story follows Muriel, who dreams of the perfect wedding but is stuck in a dead-end life in Porpoise Spit. She moves to Sydney, finds unexpected success, and discovers the importance of being true to oneself. The musical features a book by the film’s writer and director PJ Hogan, with music and lyrics by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, as well as additional songs by ABBA’s Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson. It is directed by Simon Phillips and choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth, The musical will run at Leicester Curve from 10 April to 10 May 2025 ahead of a nationwide tour.
• Wild Rose – the world premiere of the musical adaptation of the film written by BAFTA Award winner Nicole Taylor (Three Girls) is set to take place at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre on 6^th March 2025 where it will run until 5^th April. The production will feature songs from such country music favourites as Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Wynonna Judd, Chris Stapleton, Caitlyn Smith, The Chicks, and Patty Griffin, as well as the film’s original song “Glasgow (No Place Like Home).” Wild Rose follows the trials and tribulations of Rose-Lynn Harlan. Fresh out of jail for past misdemeanours and dreaming of a career as a singer in Nashville, she is faced with the realities of raising two young children in Glasgow. Choreography is by Steven Hoggett (a long-term collaborator of Tiffany’s) and Vicki Manderson, with set design by Chloe Lamford, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound Design by Tony Gayle, music supervision, orchestration and arrangements by Sarah Travis and Davey Anderson, and casting by Charlotte Sutton.
• There’s a Monster in Your Show – will transfer to London this summer running at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith from 14 August to 1 September. Tom Fletcher’s family-friendly musical, with original tunes by Fletcher and Barrie Bignold, premiered last autumn and has been touring since. The storyline follows a group of performers who discover they are not alone on stage when Little Monster, eager to join the fun, invites his friends— Dragon, Alien, and Unicorn —to create a magical show together. Presented by MEI Theatrical, the show is adapted by Zoe Bourn with design by Laura McEwen and puppets by Keith Frederick. Miranda Larson directs, with Katie Haygarth serving as associate director and Roman Stefanski providing puppet direction.
• The Baker’s Wife – The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced complete casting for the musical which opens this July at the Southwark venue. Featuring a score by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin) and a book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof), the musical is set in a provincial French village, where the arrival of a new Baker and his younger wife turns it upside down. It is based on the 1938 French film La Femme du Boulanger by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono. Lucie Jones (Wicked, Waitress) will play the Baker’s Wife Genevieve, with Clive Rowe (Sister Act, The Prince of Egypt) will play the Baker. Also in the show are Sutara Gayle (Therese), Bart Lambert (ensemble), Norman Pace (Claude), Liam Tamne (Barnaby), David Pendlebury (ensemble), Annabelle Williams (ensemble) and Finty Williams (Hortense). They join Bobbie Chambers (Niece), Mark Extance (The Teacher), Josefina Gabrielle (Denise), Jack Gardner (Philippe), Hana Ichijo (Niece), Michael Matus (The Marquis), Robyn Rose (Niece), Matthew Seadon-Young (Priest), David Seadon-Young (Antoine) and Joaquin Pedro Valdes (Dominique). Gordon Greenberg, who has recently directed The Heart of Rock and Roll on Broadway, will helm the production that will also feature choreography by WhatsOnStage Award winner Matt Cole, designs by Paul Farnsworth, lighting by Paul Anderson, musical supervision and orchestrations by Stuart Morley and musical direction by Dustin Conrad. It was cast internally by the Menier. The Baker’s Wife will run from 6 July to 14 September 2024.
• Fangirls – The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, in collaboration with Sonia Friedman Productions, has announced the UK premiere of the musical. Written and composed by Yve Blake and directed by Paige Rattray, the show is set to run for six weeks from 13 July to 24 August at the Lyric Hammersmith. It follows Edna, a 14-year-old misfit in love with Harry, a member of the world’s biggest boy bandThe creative team includes David Fleischer as the production designer, Ebony Williams as the choreographer, Ash J Woodward as the video designer, Jessica Hung Han Yun as the lighting designer, Tony Gayle as the sound designer, Zara Stanton as the vocal arranger and orchestrator, David Muratore as the music producer, Alex Sarmiento as the associate choreographer, Laurence Stannard as the associate musical director and Bobbie Chatt as casting associate. Making her musical theatre debut in the role of Edna, is recent graduate Jasmine Elcock – she is known for her Golden Buzzer performance on Britain’s Got Talent in 2016. Joining her are Miracle Chance (Starter for Ten, The Witches) as Brianna, Mary Malone (Burnt at the Stake) as Jules, Gracie McGonigal (The Little Big Things) as Lily, and Terique Jarrett (Daddy) plays Salty.Eve De Leon Allen (The House with Chicken) joins the company as Dom/Ensemble, Max Gill (Bugsy Malone) plays Greta/Ensemble, Lena Pattie Jones makes her professional debut as Ash/Ensemble, alongside Nicky Wong Rush (The Wedding Singer) as Dancer. Joining them are Thomas Grant Spring Awakening) as Harry, Max James Hodge making his professional debut as Pat/Ensemble and Debbie Kurup (The Cher Show) as Caroline.