Jason Robert Brown to direct Jonathan Bailey & Samantha Barks in The Last Five Years!

Composer Jason Robert Brown will direct an upcoming revival of his musical The Last Five Years in London starring Jonathan Bailey and Samantha Barks.

The show will open at the St James Theatre on 2nd November (previews from 28th November) for a limited run to 26th November 2016. Tickets are on general sale from 25th June.

The Last Five Years premiered off-Broadway in 2002, where it won the Drama Desk Award for Music and Lyrics, and has since been seen all over the world. A film adaptation was also released in 2014 starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. This major revival production was first seen in a record-breaking off-Broadway run at New York’s Second Stage Theatre in 2013. Musical direction will be by Torquil Munro.

Phillipa Soo replaces Samantha Barks in Amélie

According to the New York Daily News, Phillipa Soo will star in new musical Amélie.

The show is set to play a second out-of-town tryout in Los Angeles ahead of a rumoured Broadway transfer. 

Soo originated the role Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton in Hamilton and is rumoured to be leaving the musical this summer. She replaces West End actress Samantha Barks who starred in Amélie's first out-of-town tryout last year.

Based on the 2001 French film, Amélie features music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Nathan Tysen and a book by Craig Lucas. Direction is by Pam MacKinnon with choreography by Sam Pinkleton.

Stagey Catch Up: Samantha Barks reveals support act, Alex Gaumond's new role & Christina Bianco's tour dates

Here are some stagey stories to keep you up to date with theatreland!

Alex James Ellison to support Samantha Barks

Renowned singer-songwriter and theatre performer Alex James Ellison will support Samantha Barks on her upcoming UK tour. James Ellison, whose credits include Aliens Love Underpants and Aparment 40C, previously released his EP Duvet Days and single 'Chocolate Bar'. Barks' solo tour begins on 8th June at the Theatre Royal Norwich before visiting Bromley, Swansea, Horsham, Liverpool, Shoreditch, Guildford, Richmond, Lancaster Grand and St Andrews.

Alex Gaumond to star in The Trial of Jane Fonda

West End regular Alex Gaumond will star as Larry Bonk in The Trial of Jane Fonda at the Park Theatre. Directed by Joe Harmston, performances begin at Park200 on 13th July. As previously announced, Anne Archer returns to the UK to star as Jane Fonda, with the cast also including Christien Anholt  as Buzzy Banks, Martin Fisher as Reverend John Clarke, Paul Herzberg as Joe Celano, Ako Mitchell as Reggie Wells and Mark Rose as Tommy Lee Cook.

Samantha Barks announces dates for solo tour

West End star Samantha Barks has announced dates and venues for her upcoming solo concert tour this June (see below). 

The tour - which begins on 8th June at the Theatre Royal in Norwich - will follow the release of Barks' album, details of which are to be announced. 

As previously announced, Barks will also play the St James Studio on 2nd April 2016 in preparation for the album and tour.

Barks is signed to United Agents Music. It was recently revealed that the company are taking over Crazy Coqs; the venue will relaunch in September as Live at Zedel featuring a a mix of music, theatre and comedy.

Samantha Barks lands role in Mozart film alongside James Purefoy

It has been announced that West End actress Samantha Barks will star alongside James Purefoy in Mozart drama Interlude in Prague.

London-based Carnaby will handle worldwide rights for the film, which will be presented to buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market. Filming is set to begin in Prague this April.

Directed by John Stephenson with a screenplay by Brian Ashby, Interlude in Prague is produced by Productive International’s Huw Penallt Jones along with Hannah Leader. Cinematography is by Michael Brewster with production design by Oscar winner Luciana Arrighi. Hybrid’s Charlotte Truman is composer and music producer.

Samantha Barks announces album & solo tour

On her own! It has been announced that West End star Samantha Barks will embark on a solo concert tour this June following the release of her debut album.

Whilst full tour dates and further information about the album are yet to be announced, it has been confirmed that Barks will play the St James Studio on 2nd April 2016.

Barks is signed to United Agents Music. It was recently revealed that the company are taking over Crazy Coqs; the venue will relaunch in September as Live at Zedel featuring a a mix of music, theatre and comedy.

Samantha Barks & Anton Stephans to perform with Lucie Jones

Special guests have been announced for Lucie Jones' upcoming solo concert at the Waterloo East Theatre.

The one-night-only show takes place on 31st January 2016 at 7.30pm. Joining Jones will be Samantha Barks (Les Miserables/Amélie) and Anton Stephans (X Factor/Porgy and Bess). 

Most recently Jones originated the role of Molly Jenson in the Asian tour of Ghost The Musical. Her theatre credits also include: Cosette in Les Miserables (West End), Kelly in The Prodigals (Edinburgh Fringe), Meat in We Will Rock You (world arena tour) and Victoria in American Psycho (Almeida).

Samantha Barks to star in new movie musical

It has been announced that West End actress Samantha Barks has landed a role in a new movie musical.

Barks will star as suffragette Rebecca in the film adaptation of STRIKE! which is based on the 2005 musical of the same name by Danny Schur about the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. 

The cast of STRIKE! also includes Alan Doyle and Steven Page. Schur write the screen adaptation alongside Rick Chafe whilst Joseph Novak will direct the movie. Filming is scheduled to begin this summer. 

CONFIRMED: Samantha Barks to star in Broadway-aimed musical Amélie

As previously rumoured, Samantha Barks will star as the title role in the world premiere of musical Amélie at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Best known for finishing as a runner-up on BBC1's I'd Do Anything and starring as Éponine in Tom Hooper's film adaptation of Les Miserables, Barks' theatre credits include: Mallory/Avril in City Of Angels (Donmar), Velma Kelly in Chicago (Hollywood Bowl), Nancy in Oliver! (UK Tour), Éponine in Les Miserables (West End / 25th Anniversary Concert) and Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

The cast will also include Broadway actor Adam Chanler-Berate as Nino. The out-of-town tryout runs between 28th August and 4th October 2015.

GOSSIP: Samantha Barks to make Broadway debut?

Broadway.com have suggested that West End actress Samantha Barks could make her Broadway debut in new musical Amélie.

Barks recently led a workshop of the musical adaptation of the 2001 French film. Amélie will premiere at California’s Berkeley Repertory Theatre in August. The show has music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Messé and Nathan Tysen and book by Craig Lucas. Pam MacKinnon directs.

Best known for finishing as a runner-up on BBC1's I'd Do Anything and starring as Éponine in Tom Hooper's film adaptation of Les Miserables, Barks' theatre credits include: Mallory/Avril in City Of Angels (Donmar), Velma Kelly in Chicago (Hollywood Bowl), Nancy in Oliver! (UK Tour), Éponine in Les Miserables (West End / 25th Anniversary Concert) and Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Photo Feature: City Of Angels production images

The Donmar Warehouse has released the first production images for City Of Angels which officially opens tonight (16th December). Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

City Of Angels runs until Saturday 7th February 2015. The entire run is sold out; however, the Donmar will be releasing more than 550 tickets each week, including Barclays Front Row (released 10am every Monday throughout the run) and Day Tickets (available in person at the Box Office every day). 

Sneak peek at... the cast of City Of Angels in rehearsals

The Donmar Warehouse has released images of Samantha Barks, Rosalie Craig, Katherine Kelly, Peter Polycarpou, Marc Elliott and the West End Frame Award winning Tam Mutu in rehearsals for City Of Angels. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

City Of Angels opens on Tuesday 16th December 2014 (previews from 5th December) and runs until Saturday 7th February 2015. The entire run is sold out; however, the Donmar will be releasing more than 550 tickets each week, including Barclays Front Row (released 10am every Monday throughout the run) and Day Tickets (available in person at the Box Office every day).

Full casting announced for City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse

Full casting for City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse has been announced. 

Joining the previously announced Samantha Barks, Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser are Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street), Tam Mutu (West End Frame Award winner for Les Mis, pictured right), Peter Polycarpou (Chichester's Guys and Dolls/The Pajama Game) and Rebecca Trehearn (Ghost/Dogfight).

They are joined by Nick Cavaliere, Cameron Cuffe, Marc Elliott, Adam Fogerty, Kadiff Kirwan, Sandra Marvin, Mark Penfold, Jennifer Saayeng, Jo Servi and Tim Walton.

City Of Angels opens on Tuesday 16th December 2014 (previews from 5th December) and runs until Saturday 7th February 2015.

Samantha Barks joins Hadley Fraser & Rosalie Craig in City Of Angels

It has been announced that Samantha Barks has joined the previously announced Hadley Fraser and Rosalie Craig in City Of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse.

The Donmar's Artistic Director, Josie Rourke, will direct Cy Coleman, David Zippel and Larry Gelbart’s musical.

Following a successful sell-out run in Coriolanus, Fraser returns to the Donmar to play Stine. He stars opposite Craig (his fiancée). The Light Princess actress is making her Donmar debut as Gabby/Bobbi alongside Les Miserables' Barks as Mallory/Avril

The musical comedy is set in Broadway in the 1940s with two plots: a Hollywood comedy and a detective drama involving the world of a writer trying to turn his book into a screenplay and the world of the fictional film. It is a homage to the film noir genre of motion pictures in the 1940s.

Theatre Gossip: Samantha Barks leads Bend It Like Beckham The Musical workshop alongside Frances Ruffelle & Richard Fleeshman

The Daily Mail has revealed that the creative team behind the musical adaptation of Bend It Like Beckham held a workshop performance last week. Samantha Barks, who recently starred in the Les Miserables film, played Jules (the role Keira Knightley famously played in the 2002 film).

Tara Divina starred alongside Samantha as Jess. The cast also included: Frances Ruffelle, Shobna Gulati, Ex-Eastenders actress Preeya Kalidas and Richard Fleeshman (pictured above with Samantha during rehearsals). Baz Bamigboye reports that no cast deals went beyond the workshop. He claims that the company were instructed not to talk or tweet about their participation in the performance which was directed by Gurinder Chadha (who directed and co-wrote the film) as the producers do not want a repeat of Viva Forever which created too much hype too early on.

Theatre Gossip: Samantha Barks to star in Broadway revival and new film adaptation of Oliver!?

According to the Daily Mail, Cameron Mackintosh wants to make another film adaptation of Lionel Bart's Oliver!, following the success of Tom Hooper's Les Miserables film adaptation, which has officially surpassed the $400 million mark in worldwide sales, making it the second highest-grossing movie musical of all time. It is rumoured that Cameron wants Stephen Daldry to direct the film.

It is also rumoured that Samantha Barks, who appeared as 'Eponine' in the Les Miserables film and recently finished playing Nancy in the UK tour of Oliver!, is in the spotlight to play Nancy in the possible film adaptation. However, the Daily Mail also reports that Cameron Mackintosh is looking to stage a revival of Oliver! on Broadway with Samantha starring as Nancy before the film adaptation is made!

Based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Oliver! premiered in the West End in 1960, directed by Peter Coe and featuring Ron Moody as Fagin, Georgia Brown as Nancy and Keith Hamshere as Oliver. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1963 at the Imperial Theatre, with Bruce Prochnik as Oliver, Georgia Brown, reprising her West End role as Nancy, and Clive Revill as Fagin. The Broadway production received 10 Tony nominations. It was revived very shortly after in 1965, and then again in London in 1977. The subsequent London revival in 1983-produced by Mackintosh-transferred to Broadway in 1984, starring Patti LuPone alongside Ron Moody. Mackintosh then produced another revival in 1994, directed by Sam Mendes, leading up to the most recent 2009 record breaking revival of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane which starred Jody Prenger as Nancy and Rowan Atkinson as Fagin.

Wicked stars in Little Women Charity Concert along with Helena Blackman, Daniel Boys, Sarah Lark and Samantha Barks

After West End Live on Sunday 24th June 2012 (this Sunday) there will be a special, one off Charity Concert of Little Women at the Playhouse Theatre at 7.30pm. The special adaptation will star Gina Beck, Shona Lindsay, Helena Blackman, Norma Bowman, Daniel Boys, Nikki Davis-Jones, Sarah Lark, Jon Robynsand and Lisa-Anne Wood. The concert will also include a guest appearance from Samantha Barks who recently completed filming the Les Miserables film.

Little Women was written by Louisa-May Allcott in 1868 and has stood the test of time, still being a popular story with today's teenagers. It tells the story of four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, who through a series of happy, and sad, events, grow up into 'little women'. It is said that the story is loosely based on the childhood of the author, Louisa-May Alcott and her experiences with her three sisters. The story follows the sisters through love, marriage, illness, death, and the inevitable move away from the childhood home

.
The full cast is:
Gina Beck - Meg
Helena Blackman - Belle Gardner
Norman Bowman - Professor Bhaer
Daniel Boys - Laurie
Nikki Davis-Jones - Jo
Sarah Lark - Beth
Shona Lindsay - Marmee
Jon Robyns - John Brooke
Lisa-Anne Wood - Amy
Guest performance by Samantha Barks
Supported by a specially formed GSA ensemble.
Hosted by Mark Shento

Little Woman is an incredibly moving musical which is beautifully written. The cast list of this special one off charity concert is mind blowing. What a fantastic opportunity to see such a inspirational group of performers on the same stage performing such a heart wrenching show.

Michelle Ryan to join Will Young in Cabaret - another musical theatre debut

After the announcement that Will Young would be making his Musical Theatre debut in Cabaret as the Emcee it has now been revealed that ex-Eastenders actress Michelle Ryan will be joining him to play Sally Bowles! This is a big risk as Michelle has never sung professionally before, apart from some singing lessons for one of her recent films. I hope she pulls it off or it could be a bit of a disaster! Previous actresses to play Sally Bowles include the likes of Judi Dench, Samantha Barks and Siobhan Dillon.

This is what Michelle had to say  "Sally is quite delusional. She’s not the best singer, she’s not a performer, but she has this kind of spirit that takes her through it all ... I’ve been working with a voice coach for two years (on new film The Man Inside), so you could say that when Cabaret came along I was ready."

Besises Eastenders, Michelle 's TV credits include Jekyll, Bionic Woman, Merlin and Doctor Who, while her stage acting credits include Toby Young's Who's the Daddy? at the King's Head (2005) and The Talented Mr Ripley at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton (2010).

The production will start with a short UK tour before settling at The Savoy Theatre. Click here to find out more information about the production one of our previous blog posts.

On 10/08/12 further casting was announced for the production. Click here to find out more.

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