Beautiful extends West End booking

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical has extended its West End booking period at the Aldwych Theatre to 22nd July 2017. 200,000 new tickets are now on sale. 

The current West End cast is led by Cassidy Janson as Carole King with Alan Morrissey as Gerry Goffin, Lorna Want as Cynthia Weil, Ian McIntosh as Barry Mann, Gary Trainor as Don Kirshner and Diane Keen as Genie Klein.

Completing the company are Gavin Alex, Hannah Jay-Allan, Vivien Carter, Dom Hartley-Harris, Leo Ihenacho, Jammy Kasongo, Matt Nalton, David O’Mahony, Earl R. Perkins, Jay Perry, Sharon Rose, Tanisha L. Spring, Danielle Steers and Joanna Woodward playing iconic musical performers and band members of the era. Ensemble members are Chanice Alexander-Burnett, Koko Basigara, Ashford Campbell, Matthew Colthart, Rosie Heath and Leigh Lothian. 

PICS: Cassidy Janson performs with Carole King at Hyde Park Tapestry concert

Last night (3rd July) the cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical joined Carole King onstage for the finale of her Tapestry Concert in Hyde Park. Check out images of Cassidy Janson, who currently plays Carole King in the West End production, performing with King below (click picture to enlarge).

Beautiful is currently booking at the Aldwych Theatre to 18th February 2017. Alongside Janson, the cast includes Alan Morrissey as Gerry Goffin, Lorna Want as Cynthia Weil, Ian McIntosh as Barry Mann, Gary Trainor as Don Kirshner and Diane Keen as Genie Klein.

PICS: Cassidy Janson stars in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Production images have been released of Cassidy Janson in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge). 

Janson took over as Carole King last week on 30th November, starring alongside Diane Keen as Genie Klein, Alan Morrissey as Gerry Goffin, Ian McIntosh as Barry Mann and Gary Trainor as Don Kirshner and Olivier winner Lorna Want as Cynthia Weil.

Interview: Cassidy Janson, starring as Carole King in Beautiful

Tonight (30th November) Cassidy Janson takes over as Carole King in the West End production of Beautiful at the Aldwych Theatre.

Having opened on Broadway in 2014, Beautiful – which is based on the early life and career of Carole King - opened in London this February and went on to win two Olivier Awards. Musical numbers include the likes of ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’, ‘You’ve Got a Friend’, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ and ‘I Feel the Earth Move’. 

Cassidy famously understudied Elphaba in the original West End production of Wicked before taking over as the standby for the role. Her West End credits also include starring as Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut in Avenue Q and originating the role of Maggie in Lend Me A Tenor The Musical. 

Cassidy’s extensive theatre credits include: Dessa Rose (Trafalgar Studios), Candide & Tick Tick …Boom! (both Menier Chocolate Factory), Company (Southwark Playhouse), Bridget Jones: The Musical (workshop), Footloose (UK tour), Blood Wedding (Courtyard), Rooms: A Rock Musical (Finborough), Crazy for You (Kilworth House) and Snoopy (Jermyn Street).

I recently spoke to Cassidy about when she fell in love with Beautiful, how she’s been preparing for the role and why she has been channelling her Elphaba days…

Had you seen Beautiful before being cast? Was Carole a role you had your eye on?

It was funny actually because I’m good mates with Katie Brayben (who originated the role in London) so went to see it in previews and then went to see it again, with another group of friends who know her, because I really loved the show. I thought ‘Why do I love the show so much?’ – it was the best commercial musical I had seen in over a decade. It was brilliant! But… I never actually saw myself as playing Carole!

Cassidy Janson takes over as Carole King in Beautiful

Cassidy Janson is taking over as Carole King from Katie Brayben in the West End production of Beautiful from 30th November 2015.

Diane Keen is also joining the cast, taking over as Genie Klein, Carole's mother. Beautiful has extended its booking period at the Aldwych Theatre to 26th November 2016.

UPDATE: Alan Morrissey will continue as King’s husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin as well as Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, Ian McIntosh as song-writer Barry Mann and Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner.

The cast also includes Gavin Alex, Hannah Jay Allan, Vivien Carter, Dom Hartley Harris, Leo Ihenacho, Matt Nalton, Earl E. Perkins, Jay Perry, Sharon Rose, Tanisha L Spring, Danielle Steers and Joanna Woodward as iconic musical performers and band members of the era. Ensemble members include: Koko Basigara, Ashford Campbell, Matthew Colthart, Rosie Heath and Leigh Lothian. Final casting will be announced shortly.

Review: Dessa Rose at Trafalgar Studios 2

Dessa Rose 
Trafalgar Studios 2
Reviewed on Thursday 31st July 2014
★★★

Following two young women on their journey to acceptance, Dessa Rose is an intriguingly spiritual piece of theatre. The musical centres around Dessa, a young black slave, and Ruth, a young white mother, who form an unlikely alliance. 

Their unique friendship sees the pair looking out for each other in various situations. Based on Sherley Anne Williams' novel, the story is told as Ruth and Dessa relive their ordeals and pass on their story to their grandchildren. 

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's score is influenced by blues, folk, hymns and gospel music. These styles have been fused with musical theatre to create an incredibly refreshing style. 

This was my first time seeing a musical inside the tiny studio space at Trafalgar Studios and I was intrigued to see where the band would be positioned. Musicians are dotted around the space, with one even tucked away in the corner of the entrance. Whilst this looks a little odd, the sound is mesmerising - it is rare to hear instruments being played all around you.

Review: Candide at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Candide

Menier Chocolate Factory

Reviewed on Tuesday 3rd December 2013

The Menier Chocolate Factory has once again been transformed for its revival of Leonard Bernstein's 1956 Operetta Candide. Set in the round, Paul Farnsworth's inventive design allows the cast to glide around and in-between the audience, meaning at times heads have to be turned to see what is going on. This never becomes tiresome and adds to the excitable atmosphere. Usually when reviewing shows set in the round I find myself complaining about the cast favouring a particular side, but Matthew White's swift direction ensures no part of the audience is neglected.

Review: Blood Wedding at the Courtyard Theatre

Blood Wedding

Courtyard Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 23rd October 2013

Aria Entertainment's production of Blood Wedding certainly is not a piece of theatre to go and see if you fancy a fun night out! Instead, this interesting piece is for audiences who want to witness a Spanish drama and be affected by the complexity of human beings in relationships and in life. The Courtyard Theatre is located in the depths of trendy Hoxton and, although simplistic, Franciso Rodriguez-Wile's scenic design is very atmospheric.

Big Interview: Cassidy Janson

At the moment Cassidy Janson is one of the busiest actors in musical theatre. Not only is she currently starring in Aria Entertainment’s production of Blood Wedding at the Courtyard Theatre, but during the day she is rehearsing with an all-star cast for the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production Candide.

Earlier this year Cassidy won rave reviews for starring in Rooms: A Rock Musical at the Finborough Theatre and created the role of Trinity in The Route To Happiness at the Landor Theatre as part of Aria Entertainment’s From Page To Stage season of new writing. 

Cassidy famously played Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut in the West End production of Avenue Q, created the role of Maggie in the original West End production of Lend Me A Tenor The Musical and was in the original West End production of Wicked, eventually taking over as Standby Elphaba.

Some of Cassidy’s other theatre credits include: Amy in Company (Southwark Playhouse), Jude in Bridget Jones: The Musical directed by Stephen Daldry (workshop), Polly Baker in Crazy for You (Kilworth House), Sam in Austentatious (Landor) , Sarah in Only the Brave (Edinburgh Festival 2008), Susan in Tick Tick …Boom! (Menier Chocolate Factory), Rusty in Footloose (UK tour), Brenda in Brenda Bly Teen Detective (Bridewell), Newsrevue (Canal Café) and Snoopy (Jermyn Street Theatre).

Recently I spoke to Cassidy about doing her first ever play, returning to the Menier Chocolate Factory and her time in the West End productions of Wicked and Lend Me A Tenor...

What was the rehearsal process like for Blood Wedding?

Really, really good. It’s just so exciting being a part of such a talented cast and everyone is so nice as well! It’s lovely to be doing such a heavy piece of theatre with such generous and thoughtful people; we’re having quite a laugh!

Jackie Clune and James Dreyfus join Menier Chocolate Factory's Candide

It has been announced that Jackie Clune and James Dreyfus will also star in the Menier Chocolate Factory's upcoming production of Candide as the Old Lady and Dr Pangloss.

They join a cast which features many West End favourites including: Fra Fee as Candide, Cassidy Janson as Paquette, Ben Lewis as Govenor and Vanderdendur, Scarlett Strallen as Cunegonde and David Thaxton as Maximillian. The cast also includes: Carly Anderson, Jeremy Batt, Michael Cahill, Christopher Jacobsen, Frankie Jenna, Rachel Spurrell, Helen Walsh and Matt Wilman.

With music by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, lyrics by Richard Wilbur with additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein, Candide is set to run at the Menier Chocolate Factory this Christmas. The production will open on 2nd December 2013 (previews from 22nd November) and runs until to 22nd February 2014.

Scarlett Strallen, Fra Fee, Cassidy Janson, Ben Lewis and David Thaxton to star in Candide at the Menier Chocolate Factory

It has been announced that Scarlett Strallen, Fra Fee, Cassidy Janson, Ben Lewis and David Thaxton will star in the Menier Chocolate Factory's Christmas musical Candide. The show features music by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, lyrics by Richard Wilbur and additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein.

Scarlett Strallen, Fra Fee & Cassidy Janson,

From Westphalia to the far reaches of the New World, Candide's journey of discovery is anything but dull. Through anguish, happiness, loss and love this is a whirlwind adventure that seeks to prove 'life is happiness indeed'. Leonard Bernstein's joyous musical comedy features a classic overture and 'Make Our Garden Grow' (both of which were performed on the Last Night of the Proms) and 'Glitter and Be Gay'.

Cassidy Janson, Niall Sheehy and Shona White to star in world premiere of The Route To Happiness

It has been announced that West End Stars Cassidy Janson, Niall Sheehy and Shona White will star in the world premiere of The Route To Happiness, a new musical by the internationally acclaimed British composer and lyricist Alexander S. Bermange. The musical will run at London's Landor Theatre.