Laura Pitt-Pulford to star in Nell Gwynn UK tour

It has been announced that  Laura Pitt-Pulford will star in the English Touring Theatre's production of Nell Gwynn.

Jessica Swale's bio-drama will open at the Lowry in Salford on 1st March and tour to 29th April 2017. The play won the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

Christopher Luscombe directs with design by Hugh Durrant, compositions by Nigel Hess, choreography by Charlotte Broom, lighting by Nick Richings and sound by Jeremy Dunn.

Louise Dearman & Laura Pitt-Pulford to star in London premiere of Side Show

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has revealed that Louise Dearman and Laura Pitt-Pulford will star in the London premiere of Side Show at the Southwark Playhouse later this year.

Directed by Hannah Chissick and produced by Paul Taylor-Mills, Side Show will open on 26th October (previews from 21st October) and run until 3rd December 2016.

Anna-Jane Casey, Moyo Akandé, Rebecca Caine & Laura Pitt-Pulford to star in Flowers for Mrs Harris

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of Flowers for Mrs Harris by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff.

The show marks the final show Daniel Evans will direct as artistic director of Sheffield Theatres. Flowers for Mrs Harris opens at the Sheffield Crucible on 23rd May (previews from 18th May) and runs until 4th June 2016.

The full cast includes Moyo Akandé (Flower Girl/Juanita), Clare Burt (Mrs Harris), Anna-Jane Casey (Violet Butterfield/French Char Lady), Rebecca Caine (Lady Dant/Mme. Colbert), Luke Dale (Terry), David Durham (Major/ M. Armand/ French Waiter/ Customs Officer), Louis Maskell (Bob/ Andre), Mark Meadows (Albert Harris/ Marquis de Chassagne), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Pamela/Natasha) and Nicola Sloane (Countess/Seamstress/Sybil Sullivan).

Julie Atherton announces special guests for Crazy Coqs residency

West End leading lady and queen of new musical theatre writing Julie Atherton has announced special guests for her upcoming residency at Crazy Coqs between 16th and 20th February 2016.

Marking her Crazy Coqs debut, Atherton will perform songs from her albums and shows she has starred in alongside some new material. 

Guests will include 2015 Olivier winners Katie Brayben and George Maguire, Atherton's former Avenue Q co-star Paul Spicer as well as Laura Pitt-Pulford and Alex Gaumond. Check out the full schedule below.

Review: Kings Of Broadway at the Palace Theatre

Kings Of Broadway 
Palace Theatre
Reviewed on Sunday 29th November 2015
★★★★★

On Sunday evening musical director Alex Parker and director Alastair Knights (aka the dream team) returned to the Palace Theatre with their latest concert Kings Of Broadway. The show celebrated music by three Broadway Gods: Jerry Herman, Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne.

Album Review: The Light Princess Original Cast Recording

The Light Princess (Original Cast Recording)

Mercury Classics

Released on Friday 9th October 2015

★★★★

Marking two years since Tori Amos and Samuel Adamson's musical The Light Princess premiered at the National Theatre, Amos has reunited the original company to release a cast album. I have fond memories of being swept away by the production; not only was it visually breathtaking and courageously creative, but I adored Amos' score which captures the beauty of the sweetest fairy tale as well as the pain of the darkest nightmare.

Rehearsal Pics: The Smallest Show on Earth starring Laura Pitt-Pulford & Haydn Oakley

Rehearsal images have been released for new musical comedy The Smallest Show on Earth which is based on the StudioCanal Peter Sellers/Margaret Rutherford film. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge). 

The Smallest Show on Earth will tour the UK, opening on 25th September 2015 at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, before playing Coventry, High Wycombe, Glasgow, Plymouth, Crewe, Swansea and Malvern. The stage show, which has a book by Thom Southerland (who is also directing the production) and Paul Alexander, contains some of Irving Berlin’s greatest songs. Choreography is by Lee Proud.

Review: Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 23rd July 2015
★★★★

Picture this - you're out and about minding your own business, start chatting to a guy and end up marrying him a few hours later. It's all going swimmingly until you move into his house and discover he has six brothers and only married you because he needs someone to do the cooking and cleaning.

Rehearsal images released for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Rehearsal images have been released for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers which opens at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre on 23rd July (previews from 16th July) and runs until 29th August. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Alex Gaumond and Laura Pitt-Pulford star as Adam and Milly, with the cast being completed by: Rosanna Bates, David Burrows, Angela Caesar, Matthew Clark, Leon Cooke, Eammon Cox, Jacob Fisher, Charlene Ford, Steve Fortune, Trevor Michael Georges, Bob Harms, Bethany Huckle, Frankie Jenna, James Leece, Phillip Marriot, Dylan Mason, Natasha Mould, Peter Nash, Sam O’Rourke, Ryan Pidgen, Adam Rhys-Charles, Karli Vale, Annie Wensak, Ed White and Emma Woods.

Jennifer Coolidge, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Alistair Brammer & Alex Hanson join all-star Follies cast

Further casting has been confirmed for the upcoming concert staging of Follies at the Royal Albert Hall on 28th April, coinciding with Sondheim's 85th birthday.

Joining the all-star cast are Jennifer Coolidge, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Alistair Brammer (pictured right), Alex Hanson and Stefanie Powers. They join the previously announced Christine Baranski, Ruthie Henshall, Anita Dobson, Anita Harris, Roy Hudd and Russell Watson.

Craig Revel Horwood directs with choreography by Andrew Wright. The production will be supported by the City of London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Review: A Little Night Music at the Palace Theatre

A Little Night Music In Concert
Palace Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 26th January 2015
★★★★

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about A Little Night Music that makes it such a special show. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, it is glorious from start to finish with quirky moments and a peaceful edge. Sondheim's score glides along - you're never quite sure where it's going to go next - whilst Hugh Wheeler's book is written with strength and wit.

Review: The Sound of Music at the Leicester Curve Theatre

The Sound of Music
Leicester Curve Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 3rd December 2014
★★★★

Marking Paul Kerryson's final show as Artistic Director of the Curve, The Sound of Music is absolutely glorious. It is visually stunning, the score is sounding better than ever and the cast bring something new to the piece.

Big Interview: Laura Pitt-Pulford

2014 has been quite a year for Laura Pitt-Pulford. After starring in the The Light Princess at the National Theatre she went on to win rave reviews for her performances in Marry Me A Little (St James Studio) and The Return of the Solider (Jermyn Street).

Laura is currently starring as Maria in The Sound of Music at the Leicester Curve Theatre. She returns to the Curve having played Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! and Toine in Piaf.

The Sound of Music opens on 3rd December (previews from 28th November) and runs until 17th January. Paul Kerryson directs, marking his final show as artistic director of the Curve, with choreography from Drew McOnie.

Just a few of Laura’s other theatre credits include: A Man of No Importance (Salisbury Playhouse), Mack and Mabel and Parade (Southwark Playhouse), title role in Sweet Charity (Belfast MAC), The Little Prince (Lyric Belfast), Guys and Dolls (the Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, Clwyd Theatre and Salisbury Playhouse) and Copacabana (Watermill Theatre, Newbury).

I recently spoke to Laura about why she’s so thrilled to be playing Maria, her whirlwind year and why she’s yodelling on the bus… 

Roles don’t come more iconic than Maria! Was the part always on your list of dream roles?

It has always been on my dream list, I think it’s probably on most girls lists [laughs]. I used to watch the film all the time with my mum and knew it inside out. I always wanted to play Maria but never thought it would happen! I saw the Palladium production and then the one at Regent’s Park and they were both fantastic in their own way. So when I was asked to do this I was a bit like, ‘Wow! Yes please!’ It’s one of those roles that you want to be able to put your own stamp on. I’m really looking forward to finding my Maria.

Further casting confirmed for Leicester Curve's The Sound of Music; meet the cast

Following last night's gossip, further casting has been confirmed for the Leicester Curve's production of The Sound of Music. 

Marking his final production at the Curve as Artistic Director, Paul Kerryson will direct Emma Clifford (Baroness Elsa Schraeder), Michael French (Captain Von Trapp), Emma Harrold (Liesl Von Trapp), Mark Inscoe (Max Dettweiler), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Maria Rainer, pictured right), Lucy Schaufer (Mother Abbess), Annie Wensak (Frau Schmidt) and Jack Wilcox (Rolf Gruber).

The production opens on 3rd December (previews from 28th November) and runs until 17th January. Full casting, including children from Curve’s community cast, will be announced shortly.

GOSSIP: Laura Pitt-Pulford & Michael French star in Leicester Curve's The Sound Of Music

According to the Daily Mail, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Michael French will play Maria and Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music at the Leicester Curve This Christmas.

The show marks Paul Kerryson’s final production as artistic director of the Curve.

The cast will apparently also include Lucy Schaufer, Emma Clifford and Jack Wilcox. Choreography is by Drew McOnie.

Sondheim’s Marry Me a Little returns to the St James Studio starring Simon Bailey & Laura Pitt-Pulford

It has been announced that Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me a Little will return to the St James Studio for a week of performances following its recent sold out run. 

West End stars Simon Bailey and Laura Pitt-Pulford will both reprise their acclaimed performances for the limited run between Monday 6th and Saturday 11th October 2014.

The story is told entirely through songs written early in Sondheim’s career or previously intended for his ground-breaking Broadway musicals including: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Company, Follies and A Little Night Music

The show pieces together a selection of songs by the undisputed master of the contemporary Broadway musical to tell a charming and bittersweet tale of love, loneliness and survival as a modern singleton. Marry Me a Little is described as a "funny, moving and sophisticated" musical as well as a "fascinating look at the songs that got away”.

Sneak peek at... Simon Bailey & Laura Pitt-Pulford in Marry Me A Little

Ahead of tonight's press night, check out Marry Me A Little production images below (click picture to enlarge). The show runs at the St. James Studio for 16 performances only starring Simon Bailey as Man and Laura Pitt-Pulford as Woman.

Marry Me a Little was co-created by Craig Lucas, who met Sondheim whilst performing in the ensemble of the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd. In discussions at rehearsals and parties, Sondheim mentioned to Lucas the large number of songs he had written that hadn’t been performed or published. 

Simon Bailey & Laura Pitt-Pulford to star in Marry Me A Little at the St James Studio

Casting has been announced for Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me A Little.

The show returns to the London stage for the first time in 17 years in a brand new production at St. James Studio for 16 performances only from Tuesday 29th July. Simon Bailey will star as Man and Laura Pitt-Pulford will star as Woman.

Marry Me A Little pieces together a selection of songs by the undisputed master of the contemporary Broadway musical to tell a charming and bittersweet tale of love, loneliness and survival as a modern singleton.

Two single strangers, left alone in their studio apartments on a Saturday night, pass their time with sweetly secret, unshared fantasies, never knowing that they’re just a floor away from each other and the end of their lonely dreams.