Lizzy Connolly, Harry Enfield & John Marquez to star in Once in a Lifetime at the Young Vic

Further casting has been announced for Once in a Lifetime at the Young Vic.

Harry Enfield and Lizzy Connolly join John Marquez and Claudie Blakley in the play. 

Also joining the cast are Daniel Abelson, Okorie Chukwu, Lucy Cohu, Buffy Davis, Otto Farrant, Amy Griffiths and Amanda Lawrence. Further casting is still to be announced.

Big Interview: West End star Lizzy Connolly

Lizzy Connolly is currently starring in the European premiere of Vanities at Trafalgar Studios 2.

Directed by Racky Plews, the musical has previously played in Seattle, Houston, New York and Los Angeles. It has book by Jack Heifner and music/lyrics by David Kirshenbaum.

Lizzy recently originated the role of Doris in Mrs Henderson Presents (West End/Theatre Royal Bath). Her credits also include: Jest End (Waterloo East), Calliope in Xanadu (Southwark Playhouse), Jolene in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (West End), WAG The Musical (Charing Cross), Jill in From Up Here (Tristan Bates) and Galatea in The Boys From Syracuse (Union ).

I previously spoke to Lizzy backstage at the Savoy Theatre in 2014 and, because she is one of my all-time favourite interviewees, when I knew the closure of West End Frame was approaching I made sure I set up another interview. We sat down to discuss why she's so excited to be a part of Vanities, her inspirations and, of course, who she would invite to her stagey dinner party...

So much has happened since we last spoke! You’ve literally jumped from show to show, have you had the chance to take it all in?
I’ve just been super-duper lucky, I’ve just had a big luck spurt! I’ve met some absolutely incredible people who have been a lot better than me and imparted really good advice to me along the way which has helped me in different areas. Every venue I’ve worked at has been beautiful or quirky and cool.

Lauren Samuels, Ashleigh Gray & Lizzy Connolly star in European premiere of Vanities

WhatsOnStage have announced that Lauren Samuels (Buskers Opera/Bend It Like Beckham), Ashleigh Gray (Wicked/Grease) and Lizzy Connolly (Mrs Henderson Presents/Xanadu) will star in the European premiere of Vanities.

Directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, the musical will open at Trafalgar Studios 2 on 6th September (previews from 1st September) for a limited run to 1st October 2016. 

Feature: November round-up

Star of the Month
Lizzy Connolly

This month Lizzy Connolly has starred in not one but two off-West End musicals! She gave the performance of the night in Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse before proving herself to be one of the finest comedic actors working in musical theatre in Jest End at the Waterloo East Theatre. Having made her West End debut last year in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Connolly continues to steal the spotlight in show after show. She is certainly one worth keeping an eye on! Read our 2014 interview with Lizzy.

Show of the Month

The Homecoming at Trafalgar Studios

Review: Jest End at the Waterloo East Theatre

Jest End
Waterloo East Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 26th November 2015
★★★

Jest End is back! Known as 'the British Forbidden Broadway', the satirical show lovingly makes fun of the West End's most popular shows and biggest stars. 

A show like Jest End simply would not work without the right cast - and we're certainly in safe hands with Simon Bailey (I Can't Sing/The Phantom of the Opera), Lizzy Connolly (Xanadu/Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Scott Garnham (Grand Hotel/Les Miserables) and Jodie Jacobs (Legally Blonde/Rock Of Ages).

Simon Bailey, Lizzy Connolly, Scott Garnham & Jodie Jacobs to star in Jest End

BroadwayWorld have announced that Simon Bailey (I Can't Sing/The Phantom of the Opera), Lizzy Connolly (Xanadu/Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Scott Garnham (Grand Hotel/Les Miserables) and Jodie Jacobs (Legally Blonde/Rock Of Ages) will star in the upcoming revival of Jest End.

The satirical musical which "exposes the hits, flops and gossip of theatreland" opens at the Waterloo East Theatre on 26th November (previews from 24th November) and runs until 6th December 2015. 

Review: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 
Savoy Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 18th November 2014

★★★★

It just keeps getting better and better! I loved Dirty Rotten Scoundrels when it first opened, but eight months later it is slicker and funnier than ever. Set in the French Riviera, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels follows two conmen as they go head to head to pull off their biggest con, whilst fighting for the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate.

Editor's Blog: Changes to Cats, improvements at Scoundrels & excitement about Kids Week

Yesterday (Monday 7th July), Andrew Lloyd Webber officially launched the West End revival of Cats which opens in December. 

Cats will run at the London Palladium between Saturday 6th December 2014 and Saturday 28th February 2015. The revival will see the original creative team, including Director Trevor Nunn, Associate Director and Choreographer Gillian Lynne, Designer John Napier and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, reunited.

Discussing the show's return at yesterday's press launch, Lloyd Webber explained, "The four of us have been discussing looking at Cats again for what must be about a year. We wanted to rework the material and examine the show which really, literally changed our lives. Then I found we had this extraordinary opportunity over Christmas at the Palladium!"

Lloyd Webber is currently in the process of re-writing the music for two of T. S. Eliot's iconic poems which will see the Rum Tum Tugger transformed. Speaking about the changes and revisions to producer David Ian during the Q&A section of the launch, Lloyd Webber said, "I never was very happy with 'Growltiger's Last Stand'. It was never my favourite moment in the show, I have to admit, because I thought I got it a bit wrong - so I've completely rewritten that!"

Big Interview: Lizzy Connolly, starring in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Lizzy Connolly is currently starring as Jolene Oakes in the West End premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre. Marking her West End debut, Lizzy is working alongside an all-star cast in Jerry Mitchell’s production, including Robert Lindsay, Rufus Hound, Samantha Bond, John Marquez and Katherine Kingsley

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the inaugural production for Jerry Mitchell Productions. The show is based on the legendary 1988 film which famously starred Michael Caine and Steve Martin. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2005 but has since been reconceived and reimagined for British audiences.

Lizzy’s theatre credits include: WAG The Musical (Charing Cross Theatre), Jill in From Up Here (Tristan Bates Theatre) and The Boys From Syracuse (Union Theatre). I recently went backstage at the Savoy Theatre to speak to Lizzy about why she’s having the time of her life in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels… 

It sounds like you’re having an amazing time, what has the experience been like so far?

I feel like I’m in an unbelievably lucky position because of the people I’m working with! It is like a dream come true! Working with Jerry Mitchell was just out of this world because his vibe and energy really makes you feel like you’re part of something special. He lifts the whole cast and creates such a buzz which is infectious.