Since understudying Martine McCutcheon in Cameron Mackintosh's production of My Fair Lady in 2000, Kerry Ellis has gone on to have the most incredible career. She originated the role of Meat in We Will Rock You and was the first British actress to play Elphaba in both the West End and Broadway productions of Wicked. Kerry has also starred in some of the most iconic West End shows, her credits include playing Ellen in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Misérables and Nancy in Oliver! Kerry has also worked closely with Queen’s Brian May over the years. Together they released an album entitled Anthems and have toured the UK several times.
Kerry chats to West End Frame about her Palladium show, her upcoming West End return and reveals some exclusive news...
Your Palladium Concert is on Sunday... how are you feeling about it?
It has come around far too soon but I am very excited! I picked out my dresses last week and they are just amazing! The show is coming together, I have some very exciting guests - Brian (May) is going to come on and do a couple of numbers. I will also be joined by a few Elphaba’s and we might do a little Defying Gravity special which Wicked fans will love! I am also performing with Rory Taylor who I did Rent with and Alex Gaumond. We have a twelve piece band and a choir of sixty, it is going to be a very glamorous night out and I hope lots of people can make it!
Can you give us any clues as to what you will be singing?
It is going to be a big mixture, I will perform tracks from my album Anthems, I will perform some new stuff, songs from musicals – some which I’m known for and some which I’ve never sung before! It will also be a big celebration of my theatre career because I have been working in theatre now for nearly fifteen years so it’s my chance to give something back to all those people who have supported me!
I think it’s great for young people to experience different writers and the whole programme embraces new writers so it’s not only about the people who perform the numbers, it’s also about the new writers who submit their songs. I think it is really important to showcase new writers as it can be so difficult to get your stuff out there. It’s really tough so I think the Sondheim Society Awards are really important.
Later this year you are returning to the West End, guest starring in the concert show ‘West End Men’. You have been involved with previous productions so what do you think audiences can expect?
I was involved with a couple of their first shows last year – we did a few try outs to see what response we got and I am really excited to be rejoining the boys for the upcoming West End run. It is basically a celebration of musical theatre featuring a collection of songs - some classics and some more contemporary stuff as well. The lads sing together, I sing a few songs and then we all sing together – it will be a really fun night out for theatre lovers!
You just finished the concert tour of Rent, what was it like to be part of such an iconic show?
I loved it! I had such a good time, the cast were just phenomenal. The producer is a new, upcoming producer who is very young and extremely passionate about the piece. We all had such a great time and became so close in such a short space of time. The audiences went crazy and we had nightly standing ovations. It was great to be part of something so iconic.
Why do you think Rent is so special and connects with so many people?
If you go to the show’s roots it is about relationships. Yes, there are various other layers surrounding drug abuse and finance problems and so on but it all boils down to human relationships and we all like to see that on stage. Rent contains a collection of every relationship imaginable which is why people can relate to it so easily. To sing those songs was just amazing, they still feel so fresh!
Is it a show you have always wanted to be part of?
Well the part came up and the producer spoke to me about it because it’s right up my street – it’s a rocky musical and it’s really raw and edgy. I have loved Rent since it first opened, I still remember going to see it, and I’ve never had the opportunity to be part of the show so this concert version has been ideal for me!
Have you got any plans to release another album?
Yes! Brian and I have an acoustic album coming out in June to coincide with our Born Free Tour and we are also releasing a new single called ‘The Kissing Me Song’.
I have heard the single and I am addicted – I can’t get it out of my head!
(Laughs) Yay! That’s the plan! This is a bit of an exclusive... but... we might perform it for the first time ever with a big band at the Palladium... I’m so excited!!
You must be looking forward to going on tour with Brian again with the Born Free Tour?
It’s funny because Brian and I didn’t really know how people were going to respond to the Born Free Tour because it is literally just Brian, myself and a keyboard player! We perform acoustic versions of various songs and tell lots of stories. Thankfully people went crazy and absolutely loved the show so I can’t wait to do it all over again, plus it coincides perfectly with the release of the new album!
You have been working with Brian for eleven years now, what’s it like working with a rock god?!
Yeah... he’s a legend! I can’t believe we have been working together for eleven years, it’s crazy! It’s so nice to be going on tour now because we know each other so well, we bounce off each other and know exactly what the other is going to do which is a great way of working. We are both very different which makes it so exciting, musical theatre plus rock creates a very unique sound.
Finally, what is it like to get such incredible support from fans?
It’s amazing, I have some brilliant fans who have been with me from day one and have supported me over the years. They are so great and come to anything regardless of where it is or if it’s a concert or a musical which I find so overwhelming! That’s partly why I wanted to do the Palladium show because it’s my chance to give something back to the fans... and of course the gifts are lovely too!
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer Of The Year Competition takes place at the Garrick Theatre on 19th May 2013. Visit www.mercurymusicals.com for further information.
The West End Men runs at the Vaudeville Theatre from 25th May until 22nd June 2013. Click here to book tickets (please note Kerry Ellis appears until 15th June).
Kerry’s Palladium concert takes place this Sunday (12th May 2013). Tickets can be purchased from www.seetickets.com
Visit Kerry’s Website: www.kerryellis.com
Follow Kerry on Twitter: @kerryjaneellis1
The West End Men runs at the Vaudeville Theatre from 25th May until 22nd June 2013. Click here to book tickets (please note Kerry Ellis appears until 15th June).
Kerry’s Palladium concert takes place this Sunday (12th May 2013). Tickets can be purchased from www.seetickets.com
Visit Kerry’s Website: www.kerryellis.com
Follow Kerry on Twitter: @kerryjaneellis1
Ahhh Kerry is the best role model. I can't wait for palladium and album!
ReplyDeleteI love how in the listing of people who have recently been interviewed, it generally says what musicals they are currently in or have been a part of, then for Kerry it just says "West End Royalty" haha! She deserves it though, she is absolutely amazing, such a beautiful person, both inside and out, and she's really modest too.
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