Editor's Blog: Erich Bergen, Jordan Lee Davies, Wicked Young Writers Award + more

Erich Bergen makes his London debut

Photo Credit: Darren Bell

Earlier this week U.S. performer Erich Bergen made his London debut with two solo shows at the London Hippodrome. The show featured music that inspired Bergen growing up, some material from his albums, as well as a tribute to his theatrical career which most notably saw him play Bob Gaudio in the U.S. touring and Las Vegas productions of Jersey Boys, before reprising his performance for the film adaptation.

Bergen put on a wild evening; he let loose on stage and gave us a taste of what he's all about. Bergen certainly knows how to tell a story and brought all the material together smoothly. Special guests Cassidy Janson and Charl Brown set the stage alight, but the highlight of the evening was when Bergen was joined by former UK Jersey Boys stars Stephen Ashfield, Tim Driesen and Michael Watson to form a Jersey Boys supergroup - many were brought to their feet. Bergen put on a superb evening with a terrific band - let's hope he returns to the UK again soon.

★★★★ | Read our interview with Erich | Visit www.club11.london for information about upcoming concerts at the London Hippodrome.

Wicked Young Writers Award restores faith 

Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

Hours after the EU referendum result was announced, my faith in this country was restored after attending the 2016 Wicked Young Writers Award at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Now in its 6th year, the Awards are all about inspiring young people to use writing to express themselves by producing unique and original pieces of prose and poetry. Over 100 shortlisted finalists and their families and teachers attended the ceremony, creating an extraordinary buzz in the theatre.

Stagey Catch Up: Andrew Wright's dream show, Jason Denton saves the day & Jordan Lee Davies plays the Pheasantry

Summer is upon us and theatreland has been set alight! Catch up with some stagey stories you may have missed below.

Andrew Wright to helm Moby Dick

Earlier this year Andrew Wright spoke to West End Frame about how gutted he was when a production of Moby Dick he was working on got cancelled. Well... West End Frame makes dreams come true and it has been revealed that Wright will direct and choreograph a production of Moby Dick at the new Union Theatre, running between 12th October and 12th November 2016!

Jordan Lee Davies to play the Pheasantry

This Sunday (26th June) West End actor Jordan Lee Davies, who recently left Les Miserables, will perform his new one-man show Treat Yourself at the Pheasantry. Special guests include Phantom's Celinde Schoenmaker and recent graduate Lauren Drew. Musical direction is by the one and only Alex Parker with backing vocals by Samantha Thomas and Charlotte Kennedy.

Another West End transfer for the Menier Chocolate Factory

Photo Credit: Marc Brenner 

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!

Rebecca Trehearn & Simon Bailey join West End Switched Off album launch

It has been announced that Rebecca Trehearn (Ghost, pictured right) and Simon Bailey (I Can't Sing) will perform at the album launch of West End Switched Off at the St James Studio on Sunday 27th April at 6.30pm.

Press material states that audiences will be given "the chance to have an up-close and personal experience of some of the never before heard tracks on the album before the official release." 

Trehearn and Bailey join Alice Fearn (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Sophie Linder-Lee (Wicked), Emma Hatton (We Will Rock You), Chlöe Hart (Hairspray), Adrian Hansel (Hairspray), Dean John-Wilson (Sister Act) and Dale Evans (From Here To Eternity), as well as Jordan Lee Davies (Molly Wobbly), Tori Allen-Martin (Hair), Thomas Sutcliffe (Wicked) and Ambra Caserotti (Streets). 

Review: Molly Wobbly at the Phoenix Artist Club

Molly Wobbly 

Phoenix Artist Club 

Reviewed on Wednesday 12th March 2014

'The town of Little Happening gets an unexpected make-over when a devious and creepy stranger arrives on Mammary Lane promising personal improvement to three unhappy women.'

Molly Wobbly (formerly known as Molly Wobbly's Tit Factory) was supposed to receive its London premiere at the Hackney Empire last September. However, when a financial backer pulled out moments before the first preview the entire run was cancelled. Fast forward six months and Paul Boyd's musical is back up on its feet, running in the back room at the Phoenix Artist Club (below the Phoenix Theatre, home to the West End production of Once).

Full casting announced for Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory

Jordan Lee Davies

Full casting has been announced for Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory which receives its London premiere at the Phoenix Artist Club next month. Paul Boyd's musical runs between Saturday 8th and Wednesday 19th March 2014. 

The full cast includes: Alistair Brookshaw (Malcolm), Christopher Finn (Robbie), Russell Morton (Ithanku), Conleth Kane (Jake), Leanne Jones (Magaret), Kate England (Ruth), Lucy Garrioch (Jemma) and Jordan Lee Davies (Kitten).

Molly Wobbly premiered at the Lyric Theatre Belfast and subsequently ran at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012. The score features the numbers ’Presbyterian Minister’s Wife’, 'Mammary Lane' and ‘Off My Chest’

Sabrina Aloueche & Jordan Lee Davies to star in Parallel Productions' Gala Launch

Sabrina Aloueche

It has been announced that Sabrina Aloueche, Jordan Lee Davies, Ambra Caserotti and Jeremy Legat will perform in Parallel Productions' Gala Launch. The show is described as a "fusion of cabaret and concert, musical theatre and acoustic arrangements" and will take place on Battersea Barge on Wednesday 4th September 2013.

The gala will see a cast of established musical theatre performers, alongside some new talent, singing stripped back acoustic versions of musical theatre songs.

West End star Sabrina Aloueche will lead the cast. She has played Eponine in Les Miserables, Scaramouche in We Will Rock You and most recently Jenna in Sleeping Arrangements at the Landor Theatre. She will be joined by Jordan Lee Davies (Bare), Jeremy Legat (Wicked) and Ambra Caserotti (Streets Project). Further casting will be announced soon.