Full casting announced for Wicked's International Tour

Full casting has been announced for Wicked's International Tour.

West End Frame Award winner Jacqueline Hughes will star as Elphaba, with Carly Anderson as Glinda, Bradley Jaden as Fiyero, Steven Pinder as The Wizard/Doctor Dillamond, Kim Ismay as Madame Morrible, Iddon Jones as Boq and Emily Shaw as Nessarose. Jodie Steele will be standby for Elphaba.

Editor's Blog: 5 stagey YouTube videos you should be obsessed with!

It's the beginning of January and theatre news has been slow since the Christmas holidays, so in West End Frame Towers we've been spending lots of time geeking out over stagey YouTube videos. Below are five you should be obsessed with:

5. Everybody say HEAVY METAL

Tim Prottey-Jones is currently appearing in the ensemble of Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre and has recently been uploading heavy metal versions of musical theatre classics such as 'I Still Believe' and 'On My Own' onto YouTube. Listen to his cover of 'Land of Lola' below and check out more of his covers here. I think a musical theatre heavy metal album/concert could go down a storm!

4. Oh what a celebration we'll have today!

Everybody loves a good showmance! On Christmas day Daniel Robinson and Joshua Green - who both play flying monkeys in the Broadway production of Wicked - got engaged onstage at the Gershwin Theatre. After the performance the cast gathered for a company photo before Robinson stood up and proposed to Green in full flying monkey costume! Of course it was all captured on camera and has now gone viral! Watch below:

West End Frame Awards 2015: Full Winners List

Readers of West End Frame were invited to vote for four awards throughout 2015. The West End Frame Awards recognise brand new and long-running plays and musicals, combining male and female actors into the same categories. Voting opens for one award at a time. Take a look at the full list of winners below:

Publicly Voted Awards

	Best West End Debut Matt Cardle for playing Huey Calhoun in Memphis Runners Up Danny Horn for Sunny Afternoon Marcquelle Ward for Cats Click here for full result / Photo Credit: Helen Maybanks
	Best Performance of a Song in a Musical John Dagleish for his rendition of 'Waterloo Sunset' in Sunny Afternoon Runners Up Jon Jon Briones for ‘American Dream’ in Miss Saigon Kerry Ellis for ‘Memory’ in Cats Click here for full result / Photo Credit: Kevin Cummins
	Understudy of the Year Jacqueline Hughes for standing by as Elphaba in Wicked (UK Tour) Runners Up Zoë Birkett for The Bodyguard Ryan O'Donnell for Sunny Afternoon Click here for full result
	Most Inspiring West End Show Sunny Afternoon at the Harold Pinter Theatre Runners Up Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre Click here for full result / Photo Credit: Kevin Cummins

Editor's Blog: Top 6 Theatrical Highlights of 2015

6

Kay Murphy saves the day!

Back in November I bought a last minute ticket to see Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse as I enjoyed the show so much first time round. Before the show director Paul Warwick Griffin announced that cast member Alison Jiear was indisposed so actress Kay Murphy had learnt the role in 24 hours and would be stepping in. Murphy threw herself into each and every number and performed the entire show without a script in hand! She had the time of her life; pulling off the choreography and dazzling with her faultless vocals, providing a night to remember! Click here to read more.

5

Bradley Jaden steals show after show

Since taking over as Enjolras in the West End production of Les Miserables back in June, Bradley Jaden has been proving himself as a leading man worth keeping an eye on. I've seen Jaden pop up in various one-night-only Sunday night concerts this year, and each time he has stolen the show. In West End Heroes (click here to read review) Jaden made a huge impression with his performances of 'Who I'd Be' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' whilst in Kings Of Broadway (click here to read review) he rightfully received one of the evening's biggest applauses for his rendition of  'Maria'. I recently caught Les Mis and Jaden was, without doubt, the strongest Enjolras I have seen for a long time. The future certainly looks bright for Bradley Jaden; if Jason Robert Brown's musical The Bridges of Madison County ever finds its way to London Jaden would make a perfect Robert. Read our interview with Bradley Jaden. 

4

Green girls shine 

Review: Jacqueline Hughes Live at Above The Arts

Jacqueline Hughes Live 
Above The Arts
Reviewed on Sunday 29th November 2015
★★★★★

On Sunday afternoon Jacqueline Hughes - winner of West End Frame's 2015 Understudy of the Year Award for standing by as Elphaba on the UK tour of Wicked - made her London solo concert debut at Above The Arts. Long before the sold out show had even begun there was an excited buzz as audience members, who had traveled from all around the UK, took their seats.

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.

Amy Lennox, Alistair Brammer, Jacqueline Hughes & Zrinka Cvitesic + more to feature on new album

It has been announced that West End Frame Award-winners Jacqueline Hughes (Understudy of the Year 2015 for Wicked) and Zrinka Cvitesic (Best West End Debut 2013 for Once) will feature on a new musical theatre album entitled To Do. To Be.

Featuring new work by Tim Prottey-Jones as well as Tori Allen-Martin, Nick Smithers, Angela Prottey-Jones, Martin Meehan, Daragh Carville and Ali Harris, To Do. To Be is avaliable to pre-order on iTunes now. 

Jacqueline Hughes wins Understudy of the Year 2015!

We are delighted to announce that Jacqueline Hughes has won West End Frame's 2015 Understudy of the Year Award for standing by as Elphaba in the UK and Ireland touring production of Wicked.

Speaking to West End Frame, Hughes said: "I am so completely overwhelmed to have won the 2015 Understudy of the Year Award! I feel so honoured to have been on that list in the first place, especially alongside such incredible talent. 

"The support I've had is beyond words and I want thank you all from the bottom of my heart for voting! The past year has been a dream come true and I am so lucky and proud to have had the opportunity to stand by for the iconic green girl, Elphaba. This really is the icing on the cake to my four and a half year Wicked journey!"

Hughes first joined Wicked as a swing in the West End production. She initially understudied Madame Morrible before becoming second understudy for Elphaba. In 2014 Hughes transferred to the UK and Ireland tour as standby Elphaba for the production's final year, playing the role on countless occasions. This marks the first time a performer from Wicked has won Understudy of the Year.

The incomparable Zoë Birkett finishes second for alternating the role of Rachel Marron in the UK touring production of The Bodyguard. Marking the first time performers from UK touring productions have been eligible, this year's Understudy of the Year has been one of the tightest West End Frame Awards ever - just 2% separated the top two.

Understudy of the Year 2015: Full result

Jacqueline Hughes has won West End Frame's 2015 Understudy of the Year Award for standing by as Elphaba in the UK and Ireland touring production of Wicked. Zoë Birkett finishes second for alternating the role of Rachel Marron in the UK touring production of The Bodyguard. 

Marking the first time performers from UK touring productions have been eligible, this year's Understudy of the Year has been one of the tightest West End Frame Awards ever - just 2% separated the top two! Check out the full result below:

WINNER

Jacqueline Hughes

Standby Elphaba in Wicked UK tour

26% of the final vote

Speaking to West End Frame, Hughes said: "I am so completely overwhelmed to have won the 2015 Understudy of the Year Award! I feel so honoured to have been on that list in the first place, especially alongside such incredible talent. 

Jacqueline Hughes announces solo concert

It has been announced that Understudy of the Year nominee Jacqueline Hughes will star in concert at Above The Arts later this year.

Produced by Sunday in the Arts, the show will take place on Sunday 29th November 2015 at 2.30pm.

Most recently, Hughes was Standby Elphaba in the UK and Ireland tour of Wicked. She previously appeared in the West End production as a swing and understudy for Elphaba and Madame Morrible. 

Hughes' theatre credits also include: 'Fairy Godmother' in Cinderella (DG1, Dumfries), lead vocalist in Mad About the Musicals (UK and Ireland tour), lead vocalist in A Song, a Sip and a Sandwich (Scottish venues) and 'Doreen' in The Steamie (UK tour).

Editor's Blog: New openings, career defining performances & a trip to Chichester

Michael Flatley, Christina Bianco, Jacqueline Hughes, Cynthia Erivo, Drew McOnie & Sophie Thompson take centre stage...

August is always a strange month in theatreland. As the focus moved to Edinburgh, few shows opened in London, but suddenly September has crept up on us and the West End is kicking into action. Two of this month's biggest openings include the West End transfers of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games and Forbidden Broadway.

Line-up announced for Songbirds... ‘Heart And Soul’

The full line-up has been announced for the second Songbirds... ‘Heart And Soul’ charity concert. The event takes place on-board Battersea Barge on Sunday 23rd February 2014 at 7.30pm (doors open at 6.45pm). 

 

Emma Hatton, Jodie Jacobs & Katie Paine

The all female line-up, featuring the West End’s most exciting female vocal talent, will deliver a night of soul with proceeds being donated to the British Heart Foundation. Songbirds star and organiser, Emma Hatton (current Standby Elphaba in Wicked), is also running the London Marathon for the charity in April.