UPDATED: Full casting announced for Legally Blonde at the Kilworth House Theatre

Casting has been announced for Legally Blonde at the Kilworth House Theatre.

Laurence O’Keefe, Neil Benjamin and Heather Hach's musical runs between 20th August and 20th September 2015. Mitch Sebastian directs. 

Leading the cast are: Jennifer Harding (The Clockmaker's Daughter, pictured right) as Elle, Luke Newton (The Book of Mormon) as Warner, Greg Miller Burns (Carrie The Musical) as Emmett, Jodie Jacobs (Rock Of Ages) as Paulette, Graham Vick (Jersey Boys) as Callaghan and Jenny Gayner (Chicago) as Brooke Wyndham.

Review: Before The Night Is Through (From Page To Stage Festival) at the Landor Theatre

Before The Night Is Through (From Page To Stage Festival)
Landor Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 19th February 2014

Before The Night Is Through is a new British musical  receiving its world premiere this week at the Landor Theatre as part of Aria Entertainment's season of new writing, From Page To Stage. The murder mystery musical (with a twist) has book and lyrics by Olivia Thompson and music by Chris Whitehead.

Final casting announced for Aria Entertainment's From Page To Stage Festival

Jenny Gayner

Final casting has been announced for Aria Entertainment's second annual From Page To Stage Festival, a season of new musical theatre writing at the Landor Theatre. From Page To Stage kicks off on Monday 10th February and runs until Sunday 9th March 2014. 

Full casting is now confirmed for the Season’s two Headline Musicals Before the Night is Through and The Mistress Cycle, which will each receive full weeklong productions.

Before The Night Is Through

Tuesday 18th - Sunday 23rd February

Press Night: Wed 19th

A new British musical with Book and Lyrics by Olivia Thompson and Music by Chris Whitehead

The cast includes: Kate Brennan (West Side Story, Southbank Centre), Abigail Jaye (Rocky Horror Show UK Tour, Eva Peron in Evita UK Tour), Richard Colvin (The Hired Man Off Broadway), Amelia Adams-Pearce (Hairspray UK Tour, Spamalot), Tom Sankey, Kieran Brown (Wicked, Love Never Dies), Ian Mowat (Evita UK Tour), Jenny Gayner (Chicago, Spamalot), Louisa Lydell (Love Never Dies, Mamma Mia!) and James Robert-Moore (Meet Me in St. Louis).

Jenny Gayner for cabaret at The Pheasantry

On Saturday 28th September 2013, West End star Jenny Gayner will star in a one-woman cabaret show at The Pheasantry in Chelsea. 

The show is described as "an uplifting musical evening filled with stories most of us can relate to." The evening will be injected with humorous and moving songs, from contemporary musicals to pop ballads, with special guests and accompanied by the talented Colin Billing and band.

Interview: Chicago's Jenny Gayner - from stage to screen

Jenny Gayner is currently in the West End production of Chicago at the Garrick understudying the iconic role of Roxie Hart. She has many great theatre credits to her name from Spamalot and A Chorus Line to The Rocky Horror Show and Alan Ayckbourns Relatively Speaking. More recently she has been making the move from stage to screen and hasn't just been working in front of the camera. We catch up with Jenny and talk to her about Chicago closing, her latest film and what her plans are after Chicago closes.

How did you feel when you found out Chicago was closing? 

When the announcement was made in the interval for all departments to meet on stage after the show everyone started joking that it was p45 time! But I’m not sure anyone actually believed that it would actually happen. We thought, maybe, it was a time change for the shows due to the Olympics. However, when notice was given I remember my reaction so vividly. A loud gasp and my hand went straight to my forehead. And yes, I did have tears. Chicago have been such an important part of my life, from touring, to playing The Adelphi, then moving the The Cambridge. Then leaving for some years for other work and being asked to return to the most wonderful company. I was, in a nutshell, very sad.

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 

Understudy Of The Year 2012: Top Comments

It has been great to read your comments and to see how passionate people are about their favourite understudies while voting for 'Understudy Of The Year 2012'. Here are a few of our favourite comments that we picked out.

"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, Meat with carasima and stage presesce even ensamble sticks out a mile, the face those doey brown eyes and a smile that lights up the stage even if you are at the back of the theatre. A small petite person with such strong booming voice. Trust Me totally awesome a must see. 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"

"Deej (Nikki D Jones) is the BEST standby I have ever seen in the whole WOOOOOORLD!! I cried....alot during that performance and I have her autograph *faints*"

"Katy Treharne unbelievable takes the roof off with those big notes she is amazing" 

"Samuel Edwards is just amazing. If he doesn't get the role full time soon west end theatre would have made a grave mistake. Best understudy I have ever seen and I have seen many"

"Emma Housley is amazing!"

"Aaron Lee Lambert!!! Just saw him as Donkey and he was INCREDIBLE!!"

"Performance or a name? what would you like to see and hear? a totally superior voice with cant take your eyes of her stage presents or somebody that came in the top 10 of xfactor or an imported name. Well we want to be Rocked off our seats and Entertained all performance long for our money. Dont take my word for it go see for yourself, go see WE WILL ROCK YOU after you have voted for LAUREN VARNHAM of course who should be leading lady Scaramouche. Come on Mr Elton what are you doing. Lauren Rocks our socks off"

"You've clearly not seen Jenny Gayner as Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Garrick - there can be no other winner of this poll than her! Amazing star quality performance that deserves to be recognised by top billing."

"Rebecca Trehearn is such a good understudy! She has the same magic Caissie Levy did!"

"Voted for Lauren Varnham she is awesome as Scaramouche and just as good when playing Meat.....when she sang only the good die young you could hear a pin drop any every single person transfixed on the stage. amazing talent and deserves to be Lead role in the show with out a doubt."

"ALICE FEARN - It's awkward how she's the understudy yet so much better..."

"Katy Treharne has an amazing voice, heart and soul."

"Scott Garnham is brilliant as Enjolras."

"Awaiting Katy Treharne's headlining..."