Full casting announced for Cool Rider

Full casting has been announced for Cool Rider which returns to the West End next month. The production runs at the Duchess Theatre from Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th April 2014.

Mark Benton (Hairspray/Waterloo Road) will star as Mr Stuart and Niki Evans (Legally Blonde/X Factor) as Ms Mason. Hannah Levane (Flashdance/We Will Rock You West End) returns to play Paulette.

Also joining the cast are Stewart Clarke (Ghost/Loserville, pictured right) as Jonny, Luke Fetherston (Singin’ in the Rain/Top Hat) as Goose, Joshua Dowen as Louis, Harry Francis (A Chorus Line/Wicked) as Davey, Bronte Barbe (Over The Rainbow) as Sharon and Lucinda Lawrence (Kiss Me Kate/Love Never Dies) as Rhonda.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre announces first casting for Hobson’s Choice and Porgy and Bess

The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed lead casting for Hobson’s Choice and the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.

Mark Benton will play Henry Hobson in Hobson’s Choice, with Jodie McNee (pictured right) as his daughter Maggie. Rufus Bonds Jr and Nicola Hughes play the title roles in Porgy and Bess with Phillip Boykin re-creating his Tony Award nominated performance as Crown, and Sharon D Clarke as Mariah.

Hobson’s Choice will run from 12th June until 12th July and will be directed by Nadia Fall with set and costumes by Ben Stone.

Hairspray set for 2013 UK tour

After all the recent news of shows closing I was delighted to wake up to some positive news this morning! It has been announced that Hairspray will once again tour the UK and Ireland throughout 2013! Mark Benton will lead the cast as Edna Turnblad. The tour will officially open at Manchester’s Lowry Theatre on Wednesday 13 February. It is also going to visit Liverpool, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Nottingham, Bristol, Leeds and Belfast. The rest of the cast is yet to be announced.

Hairspray opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London in October 2007 to universal critical acclaim. The show won Best Musical at the Olivier Awards, the Evening Standard Awards, the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice awards, the Critics' Circle Awards and the Variety Club Showbiz Awards! In 2010 the multi-award winning production hit the road, visiting theatres throughout the UK and Ireland. Almost two million people have seen this incredible show since its West End debut, and now you have the chance to enjoy the happiest, funniest, sunniest show in town during this strictly limited 2013 tour.