Bette Midler to star in Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!

She's heading back to Broadway! It has been announced that Bette Midler will star in a revival of Hello, Dolly!.

Directed by Jerry Zaks, the musical will open on Broadway on 20th April 2017 (previews from 13th March 2017) at a to-be-announced theatre. Rehearsals will begin one year from today! Choreography is by Warren Carlyle.

This production will mark the first Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! since 1995 which starred Carol Channing. The show has music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart.

Big Interview: Janie Dee (Part 2)

Janie Dee is one of theatre’s biggest stars, having played countless starring roles in musicals and plays in both London’s West End and in some of the UK’s most prestigious regional theatres. 

She won the Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics Circle Awards for Best Actress in a Play, as well as the Obie and Theatre World Best Newcomer Award in New York, for her legendary performance as Jacie Triplethree in Alan Ayckbourn's 'Comic Potential' which was written especially for her.

No stranger to awards success, Janie has also won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance as Carrie Pipperidge in Nicholas Hytner's acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Carousel' at the National Theatre. Most recently she won a UK Theatre Award for her critically acclaimed portrayal of the title role in Hello Dolly at the Leicester Curve. Not only has the star worked closely with Harold Pinter and Alan Ayckbourn, but she has also worked extensively on screen and completed work on two films last year.

Just a few of Janie’s other theatre credits include: Noises Off, Calendar Girls, Shadowlands, Donkeys Years, The King and I, South Pacific, The Sound Of Music, Cats, Cabaret, Twelfth Night and Private Lives.

Janie is currently starring in the London premiere of Putting It Together at the St James Theatre. First produced by Cameron Mackintosh in New York, with Julie Andrews over 20 years ago, the London premiere also stars David Bedella, Daniel Crossley, Damian Humbley and Caroline Sheen. Later this year Janie will star alongside Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre. The most anticipated play of the year is directed by Michael Blakemore.

Recently I spoke to Janie, who is one of the most inspirational people I have ever had the pleasure of interviewing, about her last minute casting in Hello Dolly, her awards success and why she’s so excited to be starring in Putting It Together at the St James Theatre…

Just over a year ago now you starred in Hello Dolly at the Leicester Curve Theatre. What was the whole experience like for you? The response was just out of this world!

Well, I’ll tell you what happened! I was leaving my parents’ house in France to come home after a holiday and just as I was getting into the car my father said “When are you doing to do Hello Dolly Janie?” I looked back and said “Daddy, oh my god” because I have done all these wonderful parts but he had never asked me “When are you going to play Anna in The King and I?” or “When are you going to do South Pacific?”

 

Interview: Michael Xavier

Michael was nominated for 2 Olivier Awards in 2011; ‘Best Supporting Performance in a Musical’ (Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince – Into The Woods at The Open Air Theatre) and ‘Best Actor in a Musical’ (Oliver – Love Story at The Duchess Theatre & Chichester Festival Theatre). He was also nominated for a What’s On Stage Award for Into The Woods and a Broadway World UK Award for Love Story. He is currently nominated for a Broadway World UK Award (Best Actor In A Musical) for his role as James Prince in Soho Cinders. 

Other theatre credits include Curly in Oklahoma! (Chichester Festival Theatre), Sir Galahad in Spamalot! (Palace Theatre), Rock Hudson in Rock (National Tour & Oval House Theatre), Raoul in The Phantom Of The Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Sky in Mamma Mia! (International Tour Original Cast), Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Miss Great Plains in Pageant (Vaudeville Theatre and King’s Head Theatre), Nankipoo in The Mikado (UK Tour), Chris in Miss Saigon (Original UK Tour). 

Radio credits include Tony in West Side Story (BBC Radio 2), Artie Green in Sunset Boulevard (BBC Radio 2). Recordings include Oliver in Love Story (Original Cast Recording), Laurie in Little Women (Pelion Productions), Thank You For The Music (West End International), Soldier in Toys (MiltonMorrisey Productions), Unwritten Song (Michael Bruce), Chance In A Lifetime (Tim Prottey-Jones) and Therese Racquin and Lift (Craig Adams). 

Michael will be releasing his debut solo album early next year.

Are you looking forward to performing at the Mercury Musical Developments 20th Anniversary Gala this Sunday? Yes, it’s going to be a fantastic evening celebrating 20 years of such a wonderfully supportive venture. I delighted to be a part of it.

Can you give us any clues as to what we can expect to see you perform?
It’s a song from new writer Craig Adams’ musical Therese Raquin. I don’t want to give too much away but the song is incredibly powerful and dramatic. Anyone who knows the book, film or play will know it ends tragically (which is when the song is set). 

Janie Dee to star in Hello, Dolly at Curve Leicester

Later this year, award-winning actress Janie Dee will return to Curve Leicester to play the title role in Artistic Director Paul Kerryson’s production of Michael Stewart and Jerry Herman’s Hello, Dolly! This production reunites Dee and Kerryson following their collaboration on The King and I in 2010. The production opens on Wednesday 5 December, with previews from 30 November, and runs until 12 January 2013.