Stagey Catch Up: Jake Gyllenhaal lands another musical role, Declan Bennett set for final Made In LDN & Woman in Black to tour UK

Here are some stagey stories to keep you up-to-date with theatreland!

Jake Gyllenhaal to star in Sunday in the Park With George

Having starred in Little Shop of Horrors last year, Jake Gyllenhaal is taking on another musical. The Hollywood actor will play the title role in Sunday in the Park with George for a one-night-only benefit performance for New York City Center on 14th October 2016. Gyllenhaal has previously appeared in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet on Broadway and This Is Our Youth in the West End. Surely he has to take on a major Broadway/West End musical soon..?!

Declan Bennett, Jamie Muscato and Tori Allen-Martin to star in final Made In LDN

Interval Productions will present the final Made In LDN at the Cockpit Theatre on 12th June. Showcasing new British musical theatre writing, Declan Bennett will perform An Innocent Evening of Drinking which is a musical he co-write with Phil Griffin. The cast will also include Interval's Tori Allen-Martin as well as Jamie Muscato and Callum Fitzgerald. Interval will also share an excerpt from a work in development, Boxed.

Jamie Muscato to star in A Subject of Scandal and Concern

Jamie Muscato will star as Mr Holyoake in A Subject of Scandal and Concern by John Osborne.

The show opens at the Finborough Theatre on 23rd May (previews from 22nd May) and runs until 7th June 2016.

Directed by Jimmy Walters, this production marks marks the first theatrical staging of A Subject of Scandal and Concern in over 40 years and its long overdue London premiere.

Based on the true story of the last man to stand trial for blasphemy in England, A Subject Of Scandal and Concern was originally written for television in 1960 starring Richard Burton and Rachel Roberts, and directed by Tony Richardson, and was first seen onstage in Nottingham in the early 1960s.

Melissa Errico & Jamie Muscato to star in The Gold Room workshop

It has been announced that Broadway diva Melissa Errico and West End actor Jamie Muscato will star together in the developmental workshop of new musical The Gold Room in London.

The show has original music by Michael Feinstein and book/lyrics by Warner Brown. Conceived originally by Brown, The Gold Room explores a night behind closed doors in the life of Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton. Jeremy Sams will direct the workshop.

Jamie Muscato to star in Stay Awake, Jake

It has been announced that Jamie Muscato will star in new British musical Stay Awake, Jake.

Directed by Matt Ryan (who previously directed Muscato in Dogfight), the show runs as part as the 2016 Vault Festival in The Pit between 3rd and 7th February 2016. Tickets are on sale from 4th January 2016. 

Stay Awake, Jake is a one-act, one-man musical, charting the journey of Jake, who drives through the night from London to Carlisle. Over the course of his journey across England's deserted motorways, we gradually discover why. The show is a musical in close-up, and tells a story of guilt, of change, of hope, and what it means to be a man in the modern day.

Sneak peek at... Jamie Muscato in Bend It Like Beckham

Ahead of his first performance tonight (14th December), first images have been released of Jamie Muscato in the West End production of Bend It Like Beckham The Musical. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Muscato takes over from Jamie Campbell Bower, joining Natalie Dew as Jess and Lauren Samuels as Jules in the musical which is booking at the Phoenix Theatre to 5th March 2016. The current cast also includes Sophie-Louise Dann as Paula, Jamal Andréas as Tony, Preeya Kalidas as Pinky and Tony Jayawardena & Natasha Jayetileke as Mr & Mrs Bhamra. 

Jamie Muscato to star in Bend It Like Beckham

It has been announced that Jamie Muscato is joining the West End production of Bend It Like Beckham The Musical later this month.

Muscato will take over from Jamie Campbell Bower as Joe from 14th December 2015. He joins Natalie Dew as Jess and Lauren Samuels as Jules in the musical which is booking at the Phoenix Theatre to 5th March 2016.

The current cast also includes Sophie-Louise Dann as Paula, Jamal Andréas as Tony, Preeya Kalidas as Pinky and Tony Jayawardena & Natasha Jayetileke as Mr and Mrs Bhamra. 

Muscato previously played Joe in one of Bend It Like Beckham's early workshops. Recently he played Anthony in Sweeney Todd (Welsh National Opera), Nathan in The House of Mirrors and Hearts (Arcola) and Eddie Birdlace in the UK premiere of Dogfight (Southwark Playhouse).

Review: The House of Mirrors and Hearts at the Arcola Theatre

The House of Mirrors and Hearts
Arcola Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 7th July 2015
★★★★

The House of Mirrors and Hearts is a unique new chamber musical. Perfectly suited to the intimacy of the Arcola Theatre, Ryan McBryde's production intrigues and entices. With book and lyrics by Robert Gilbert, the piece centres around the dark secrets of a British family.

Big Interview: Jamie Muscato

Jamie Muscato is currently originating the role of Nathan in the world premiere of British chamber musical The House of Mirrors and Hearts at the Arcola Theatre. 

Most recently Jamie starred as Eddie Birdlace in the UK premiere of Dogfight at the Southwark Playhouse. His theatre credits also include: understudy Digby in The Light Princess (National), understudy Drew and Franz in Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury), understudy Oliver Barrett in Love Story (Chichester/Duchess), understudy Melchior and Moritz in Spring Awakening (Lyric Hammersmith) and Busker in Lift (Trafalgar Studios). 

Jamie was in the international tour of Les Miserables. He went on to appear in Tom Hooper's film adaptation and performed with the cast at the 85th Academy Awards. His other screen appearances include: Rory Storm in Cilla, The Euphoria of Drowning and Wild Oats. 

Jamie’s workshop credits include: Joe in Bend it Like Beckham (Gurinder Chadha), Harry Blitztein in Blitz (Lucy Bailey), But I'm a Cheerleader (Jerry Mitchell), Colin in Falklands (National Theatre Studio, Polly Findlay) and Rowan in X (Steven Dexter). 

I recently spoke to Jamie about why he thinks The House of Mirrors and Hearts will surprise people, what he loves about performing new work and the controversy and debate surrounding Dogfight… 

What drew you to The House of Mirrors and Hearts? 

I was in a bit of a unique position because I got on board with this a bit later, so at the start I was just learning as I went along. It’s been an amazing experience because I was able to see everything on its feet and experience it as it went along. The music is really beautiful – some of it has got a Persian, sort of Mediterranean vibe to it and then some of it is kind of nursery rhyme-esque. It’s different from what you would usually get from your average new musical. 

Jamie Muscato, Brian Gilligan & Jordan Lee Davies + more set for The West End Big Busk

If you're around on Thursday (26th March) make sure you check out The West End Big Busk at Cardinal Place in Victoria at 12pm!

The event will bring together West End performers to raise money for a local homeless charity, The Passage. The West End Big Busk is a new project organised by Alex James Ellison. Each performer will sing a 15/20 minute acoustic set. Further dates will be announced soon!

Georgia Stitt makes West End debut with new concert

US composer and lyricist Georgia Stitt is set to make her West End debut in a welcome return to London following her sell-out concerts at St Paul’s Church in 2007 and The Hippodrome in 2012.

In her new show, My Lifelong Love, she will perform some of her best known songs from her albums This Ordinary Thursday, Alphabet City Cycle and, of course, My Lifelong Love, as well as from her shows Big Red Sun, The Danger Year, Mosaic and Samantha Spade: Ace Detective. 

The evening will feature performances from Simon Bailey (I Can’t Sing!), Norman Bowman (Mack & Mabel), Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), Jamie Muscato (Dogfight), Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon) and Caroline Sheen (Putting It Together).

Understudy Of The Year 2012: The Top 5

1st Place

Katy Treharne

Alternate Christine 

Phantom Of The Opera

1,428 votes - 27%

2nd Place 

Jenny Gayner

Roxy Hart Understudy

Chicago

1,125 votes - 21%

3rd Place 

Lauren Varnham

Scaramouche/Meat Understudy

We Will Rock You 

917 votes - 17%

4th Place

Samuel Edwards

Sam Wheat Understudy

Ghost The Musical 

353 views - 7%

5th Place

Jamie Muscato

Drew Understudy

Rock Of Ages

299 votes - 6%

Katy Treharne is named 'West End Frame's Understudy Of The Year 2012'

Over the last 3 weeks you have been voting in your thousands and have crowned Katy Treharne 'West End Frame's Understudy Of The Year 2012'. Katy, who is from Wales, has been understudying the role  of Christine Daaé in Phantom Of The Opera for some time now at Her Majesty's Theatre and is now the alternate for the role, performing regularly. She has proven hugely popular with fans of the show and we have received numerous  glowing comments about her portrayal of Christine. Katy received 27% of the final vote.

Also, massive congratulations the runners up - Jenny Gayner, Lauren Varnham, Samuel Edwards, Jamie Muscato, Emma Housley, Aaron Lee Lambert, Scott Garnham, Scott Monello and Alice Fearn who are all also incredibly popular and are beyond talented. All the nominees give breath taking performances when given the opportunity. It has been amazing to see the people who hold the West End together get some recognition. Understudies are truly wonderful and when going to a show we should be excited when we hear they are on! 

'West End Frame's Understudy Of The Year 2013' will be back in May 2013 with an extended voting period so keep you're eyes pealed! Also we are launching out new poll on Friday 8th June 2012 for 'Best West End Debut 2012'. The nominees have not yet been finalised so we would love to hear any suggestions you may have. You can contact us via our Twitter (@West_End_Frame) and Facebook Pages. Alternately you can email us at WestEndFrame@Hotmail.co.uk 

Thank you to everyone who has voted and supported the poll! We value your support so much and we hope you continue to support West End Frame in the future. Now that we have some time back we look forward to writing more articles and reviews for the blog. Coming soon we have reviews of Travelling Light at The National Theatre and Louise Dearman's new album. We are also going to look into what is going on with the Coronation Street: Street Of Dreams tour which seems to be turning into a nightmare!

We thought we would leave you with some of the lovely comments people have posted over the last few weeks about our amazing understudies.

"Katy Treharne is out of this world. If you've heard her sing you'll know, she blows you away with her performances. Best Christine ever." 

"Jenny Gayner plays Roxie with passion ,what an outstanding performance raising the audience from their seats with a standing ovation. Well deserved"

"Seen We will Rock You many many times Lauren Varnham played Scaramouche with real attitude and passion, not sure why an understudy out shines and out performs time and time again."

"Samuel Edwards is such a fantastic understudy and his singing, acting and amazing body do NOT leave you disapointed... So amazing"

"Awaiting Katy Treharne's headlining..."

Click here to read some more of the comments that stood out for us about the nominees.

Click here to find out more about who came 1st - 5th place

Click here to find out more about who came 6th - 12th place 

Click here to find out more about who came 13th - 20th place 

Vote: Understudy Of The Year 2012

Richard Fleeshman with the Original 'Molly'
Understudies in Ghost the Musical

THE VOTING PERIOD HAS NOW ENDED. 

Click Here to find out who won

Without understudies the West End would be in chaos... in fact it would not even be able to function! That is why I decided our May poll should be voting for 'West End Frame's Understudy Of The Year 2012'! It was so hard to choose 20 nominees as there are so many incredibly talented understudies in the West End of whom I have a lot of respect for, I do not know how they do what they do.

Voting opened Friday 4th May 2012 and closed Thursday 24th May at 3.00pm. This is the longest voting period we have had on West End Frame so this gives you plenty of time to spread the word!

Lets give our understudies the recognition they deserve!

Happy Voting...

Review: Rock Of Ages - The Best Rock Musical In Town?

Rock Of Ages
Shaftesbury Theatre
Performance: 10th March 2012

Rock Of Ages is a good fun show and is perfect for a night out with friends who maybe aren't massive musical theatre fans.

First of all when you walk into the auditorium you can't help but go 'wow' with all the signs and decorations that surround you. As you are waiting for the show to begin this really helps to get you in the mood, a long with the background music, which surprisingly consists of classic rock songs such as Van Halen's Jump.

The only thing that I was not very impressed with was the 'at this performance' sheet which you get in the programme and lists the understudies for the performance. It said there would be understudies on for Drew, Lonny, Constance, Mayer & Waitress when in fact there were only understudies for Drew, Stacee Jaxx, Mayer & Waitress. Also nowhere did it say Natalie Andreou had taken over as Sherrie. I have to say I was disappointed not to see Shayne Ward and I didn't particularly like his understudy, Dylan Turner, who made no connection with the audience what so ever and just didn't convince me to be this massive big rock star.

I loved the way the band are on the stage throughout the show. It doesn't seem weird or distract you from the world created, and I like being able to see the musicians.  Justin Lee Collins was fantastic, I love the way he can't dance and doesn't have a clue what is going on half the time. He made it fresh and made me believe he was doing it for the first time. Also his chemistry with Simon Lipkin who plays Lonny was amazing. There duet was simply hilarious and one of the highlights of the show.

To me Simon Lipkin was simply the star of the show. His relationship with the audience was so so so strong and I left feeling like I actually knew him. I love the way the character pops up dancing with the ensemble on many occasions and I loved the little ab-libs such as shaking the child's hand in the front row, making the rest of the cast shake their heads and laugh.

I was disappointed not to see Oliver Tompsett however Jamie Muscato has such an amazing voice! I imagine he played the role a little more timid that Oliver which I liked and found quite endearing. I enjoyed Natalie Andreou's Sherrie and liked how her more classical, musical theatre voice contrasted with everyone else's rock voice.

Sandy Moffat, Rohan Tickell &
Jodie Jacobs

Sandy Moffat was very over the top and funny as Faanz and Jodie Jacobs  is well cast as Regina, however I wish she had more singing! Rachel McFaalane also had an excellent, underused voice! I was sitting there thinking how great she would be as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost! The over the top rift she sung in her entrance was one of the funniest bits in the show for me. However I wasn't so keen on Justice's story in the show, was quite weak. 

Stand outs from the ensemble included Carly Mercedes Dyer. She was amazing and seemed to be a different character in every single scene. She always stood out when she was on stage and was an amazing dancer. Also Cordelia Faanworth was great, she was on as the Waitress and even though she sung a tiny section we were all talking about her in the interval about how incredible her voice was and what a shame it was that we couldn't get to hear any more of it!

Rock Of Ages is also popular with fans, recently beating musical We Will Rock You to claim to the title of 'Best Rock Musical In Town' with 64% of the vote in our poll. I think both musicals bring something different. Rock Of Ages is more intimate and funnier however We Will Rock You has this amazing energy with its massive set and massive cast.

The music in Rock Of Ages is great, I loved the theatre staff standing in the isles guiding us with the fake lighter things, it was very amusing to watch one guy who clearly was hating every second of his job. With 31 songs in the show it was almost a little overwhelming and too much to take in, in just 1 visit, so I might just have to go again....
_ _ _

Here is what some of West End Frame's readers have had to say so far on the blog (I think they like it...)

"Rock Of Ages is  a great night out, must see!!"

"I have been to see ROA twice and really loved it. Simon Lipkin is amazing - really steals the show! I am dissapointed to have not seen Shayne Ward yet but his understudy does a marvellous job as Staccee Jaxx. Will certainly be going again and again!"

"Rock of Ages, is hilarious. The timing of the plot's weird, it's true, but it is absolutely wonderful at not taking itself seriously and having great music."

"Rock of Ages by far the best. The brilliant cast really make the show & all the understudies are so good too. Jamie Muscato as Drew is sensational. I would vote for ROA just for the quality of cast/understudies alone but the show is amazing too - brilliant!"

"Have been to see ROA twice recently. Oliver Tompsett has an amazing voice, Simon Lipkin is hilarious and if you want to guarantee a fun evening out I would recommend you go see this now-I intend to go again! Still havent seen Shayne Ward perform, which is a shame but his understudy is brill!"

"If I had to choose which Rock Musical I enjoy WATCHING the most i'd say Rock of Ages. It's genuinely laugh out loud funny - Simon Lipkin, Sandy Moffat etc etc make the show for me. I do like We Will Rock You but if i had a choice i'd choose Rock of Ages each time."

"Rock Of Ages illustrates a new trend in alternative musical theatre attracting a new type of audience, Never-the-less the quality of the performances is awesome. Simon Lipkin shines as Lonnie, the narrator, with a huge comedic talent, unmatched anywhere in the West End. Oliver Tompsett's jaw-dropping vocals and uber charm sets a high standard which is complemented by an excellent ensemble. This is a show not to be missed!!!!"

"Simon is hilarious. In my opinion he should have got a What's On Stage Award - even if it was only for running across the stage in his underpants"

"Rock of ages is my all time favourite musical - such a wonderfully talented all-round cast, and Simon Lipkin always steals the show! Never fails to give me a great night :) if you haven't already seen it, I highly recommend a visit... or 10.. plus.."

POLL RESULT: Click here to find out more about Rock Of Ages star Oliver Tompsett coming 3rd in our 'Best Performance Of A Song' Poll for his performance of 'I Wanna Rock'
POLL RESULT: Click here to find out more about Rock Of Ages winning our 'Best Rock Musical In Town' poll