Warwick Davis, David Bedella, Amy Lennox, Samuel Holmes & Summer Strallen to star in Eugenius!

New musical Eugenius! will receive a concert staging at the London Palladium on 29th June 2016.

Described as an "exciting and innovative musical", the show will star Warwick Davis who is also producing the performance.

The cast will also include: David Bedella (In The Heights/Jerry Springer The Opera), Amy Lennox (Kinky Boots/Legally Blonde), Samuel Holmes (Mrs Henderson Presents/Spamalot) and Summer Strallen (Sound of Music/Love Never Dies). 

Editor's Blog: Top 10 Performances of 2015

Check out my top ten favourite performances of 2015 below! Please note that as I saw Gypsy in Chichester in 2014, Imelda Staunton was included in last year's list.

10

Andrew Scott

for The Dazzle at Found111

Photo by Marc Brenner

I usually start drafting my ‘top ten’ lists in November, but earlier this month - during my final week of reviewing - Andrew Scott reminded my why these lists shouldn’t be finalised until the year is actually through. A temporary theatre on the site of the old Central St Martins School of Art on Charing Cross Road, Scott embraced the intimacy of Found111 where he starred in The Dazzle, performing with such intricate detail and giving a performance to remember!

Read our 4* review of The Dazzle

Andrew Scott is in "advanced discussions" to play Hamlet

9

Amy Lennox

for Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre

Photo by Matt Crockett

Amy Lennox is an absolute revelation as Lauren in Kinky Boots. As her character develops a crush on her new boss Charlie, Lennox brings the house down with her rendition of 'The History of Wrong Guys' - I have never witnessed so many mid-song applauses during a musical number. She is silly, weird and wacky and the audience couldn't get enough of her impeccably delivered one-liners. 

Read our 5* review of Kinky Boots

Check out our previous interview with Amy Lennox

8

Michael Urie

for Buyer and Cellar at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Photo by Joan Marcus

Album Review: To Do. To Be. by Tim Prottey-Jones

To Do. To Be. 
Tim Prottey-Jones
Released 7th September 2015
★★★★★

As if opening in a major West End musical wasn't enough to keep someone busy, Tim Prottey-Jones (who is currently appearing in Kinky Boots) has returned to writing with the release of his new album To Do. To Be. The past year has been tough for new British writing, but Prottey-Jones has fully restored my faith.

Review: Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre

Kinky Boots 
Adelphi Theatre
Reviewed on Saturday 12th September 2015
★★★★★

Everybody say YEAH - a musical with heaps of heart, irresistible style, killer songs and a sensational cast has opened in London's glittering West End! Kinky Boots transfers from Broadway where it opened in 2013, winning six Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Amy Lennox replaces Laura Tebbutt in The Last Five Years at the Lyric Theatre Belfast

Amy Lennox will star as Cathy in The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, replacing the previously announced Laura Tebbutt. She stars alongside Fra Fee as Jamie. The production runs between 24th June and 4th July 2015. 

Lennox has previously starred in 9 to 5 (UK Tour), Soho Cinders (Soho Theatre), Legally Blonde (West End/UK Tour) and The Sound of Music (West End). It was recently announced that she will originate the role of Lauren in the West End premiere on Kinky Boots in September. 

Fee's credits include playing Marius in Les Miserables (West End) and A Man of No Importance (Salisbury Playhouse) as well as the title role in Candide (Menier Chocolate Factory). He played Courfeyrac in Tom Hooper's film adaption of Les Miserables.

Panto Review: Linda Gray stars in Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Cinderella
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 9th December
★★★★

Known for staging the greatest pantomimes in all the land, this year's New Wimbledon Theatre panto is bigger and crazier than ever before. I must admit I had forgotten just how bizarre panto is; Ian Talbot's production ticks all the right boxes and provides a fun family experience.

Linda Gray, Matthew Kelly, Amy Lennox & Liam Doyle star in New Wimbledon Theatre's panto

It has been announced that Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing in Dallas) will make her panto debut as the Fairy Godmother in the New Wimbledon Theatre’s pantomime, Cinderella! 

Linda said: “I am so delighted to be making my pantomime debut in Cinderella at the beautiful New Wimbledon Theatre. I have heard such great things about British pantomime and I am very excited to get started! I am especially looking forward to working with such a brilliant and talented cast; the script is hilarious, my costume is sensational and I am looking forward to spending Christmas in the wonderful city of London”.

Linda will be joined by comedian Tim Vine (Not Going Out) as Buttons, Matthew Kelly (Lend Me A Tenor/Legally Blonde) and Matthew Rixon as the Ugly Sisters and Wayne Sleep (I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here/Celebrity Masterchef) in the role of Dandini.

Interview: Amy Lennox, Soho Cinders & 9 to 5 The Musical UK Tour

Amy Lennox is currently playing Velcro in Soho Cinders at the Soho Theatre and later this year will star as Doralee in the UK tour of 9 to 5 The Musical. Amy's theatre credits include Decade for Headlong, Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden for Birmingham Rep and Margot/1st cover Elle in the original West End production of Legally Blonde The Musical at the Savoy Theatre. Her film credits include Jen in Never Let Me Go for DNA Films and Amy’s television credits include Wrong Turn Five for WT5 Productions. Amy talks to West End Frame about Soho Cinders, how she's looking forward to life on the road with 9 to 5 The Musical and what it was like to recently join the Legally Blonde UK tour to play Elle Woods again...

Everyone has been raving about Soho Cinders, why do you think people love the show so much? 

It's a fun, silly show but is surprisingly heart warming to. I think the audiences are surprised it has that kind of content. The music is just wonderful - Stiles and Drewe really know how to write catchy tunes. We've heard people singing the songs as they leave! 

Bonnie Langford, Natalie Casey & Amy Lennox to star in 9 to 5: The Musical UK Tour

Casting has been announced for Dolly Parton's musical 9 to 5. The show will open at the Manchester Opera House on 16th October 2012. Bonnie Langford will play office manager Roz in the adaptation of the hit 1980 film and Jackie Clune will play Violet. Joining them will be Natalie Casey as Judy who was recently starred in the West End Productions of Legally Blonde & Abigail's Party. Another ex-Legally Blonder, Amy Lennox is to star as Doralee which the part Dolly Partion played in the original film. Finally Ben Richards will play the women's boss, Franklin.

Bonnie Langford has just finished playing The Lady of the Lake in the national tour of Monty Python's Spamalot. Natalie Casey is currently appearing in Abigail's Party in the West End. She recently finished playing Paulette Buonufonté in Legally Blonde the Musical. She was absolutely incredible in this role so I am delighted she is joining another musical! Amy Lennox also appeared in Legally Blonde, understudying Sheridan Smith as Elle while also Margot. She was born to play both roles. She recently reprised the role of Elle during the Legally Blonde UK tour. She is an amazing performer so it is great more people will get the opportunity to see her on stage again.

9 to 5: the Musical, which opened on Broadway in 2009, is making its UK premiere this autumn. A national tour begins at the Manchester Opera House on 12 October. Performances up to 5 January 2013 are already on sale, with further dates to be announced. 

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