PICS: Rehearsals for Crazy For You starring Caroline Sheen & Tom Chambers

Rehearsal images have been released for Crazy For You at the Watermill Theatre. The musical opens on 3rd August (previews from 28th July) and runs until 17th September 2016. Check out the pictures below (click picture to enlarge). 

Crazy For You stars Caroline Sheen as Polly and Tom Chambers as Bobby with Matt Bateman (Eugene Fodor); Kit Benjamin (Everett Baker); Hollie Cassar (Tess); Peter Dukes (Bela Zangler); Lindsay Goodhand (Lottie Child / Patricia Fodor); Katrina Kleve (Mitzi); Jeremy Legat (Lank Hawkins); Emile Ruddock (Custus); Ned Rudkins-Stow (Moose); Seren Sandham-Davies (Patsy); Lucy Thatcher (Irene Roth) and Anne White (Margie).

Tom Chambers to star in revival of Crazy For You

The Watermill Theatre has announced its summer/winter 2016 season, the continuation of Paul Hart's inaugural programme as new artistic and executive director. 

Hart will direct the Watermill's summer musical, Gershwins’ Crazy For You which opens on 1st August (previews from 28th July) and runs until 17th September 2016. West End actor Tom Chambers will lead the cast as Bobby.

Season highlights also include the world premiere of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman's The Wipers Times, a brand new stage adaptation of the BBC film. Directed by Caroline Leslie and produced in association with Trademark films, The Wipers Times is based on the true story of the satirical newspaper created in the mud and mayhem of the Somme and runs from 22nd September to 29th October.

Tom Chambers & Laura Rogers to star in touring production of Private Lives

The Daily Mail has announced that Tom Chambers (Top Hat / White Christmas) and Laura Rogers (Tipping The Velvet / The 39 Steps) will star in a new touring production of Private Lives by Noel Coward.

Directed by Tom Attenborough, the cast will also include Charlotte Ritchie and Richard Teverson. 

The production opens at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking on 11th January and concludes at the Theatre Royal in Bath on 19th March 2016.

Review: White Christmas at the Dominion Theatre

White Christmas 
Dominion Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 12th November 2014
★★★★

Although it's only the middle of November, after last night's press night of White Christmas I wanted to dash home to put up my Christmas tree and do all my festive shopping online. It is hard to believe that Irving Berlin's classic musical has never been staged in London before as it is so at home on a West End stage.

Photo Feature: Cast of White Christmas launch Fenwick's Christmas windows

Yesterday (29th October), the West End cast of White Christmas launched the Christmas windows at Fenwick in Bond Street, London. The cast, led by Aled Jones, Tom Chambers, Wendi Peters, Graham Cole, Rachel Stanley and Louise Bowden, performed the musical's title number to crowds.

Check out pictures from the special event below (click image to enlarge). White Christmas opens at London’s newly refurbished Dominion Theatre on Wednesday 12th November (previews from 8th November) for a strictly limited eight-week season, ending on 3rd January 2015.

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas tells the story of two ex-army pals as they team up with a pair of sisters to put on a show to save their former General’s remote Vermont ski lodge that's fallen on hard times. 

Aled Jones & Tom Chambers to star in White Christmas at the Dominion Theatre

It has been confirmed that Aled Jones (pictured right) and Tom Chambers will star as Bob Wallace and Phil Davis in the West End premiere of Irving Berlin’s much-loved musical White Christmas.

The production will open at London’s newly refurbished Dominion Theatre on Wednesday 12th November (previews from 8th November) for a strictly limited eight-week season, ending on 3rd January 2015.

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas tells the story of two ex-army pals as they team up with a pair of sisters to put on a show to save their former General’s remote Vermont ski lodge that's fallen on hard times. 

At the Dominion Theatre, a 17-piece orchestra will accompany the cast in some of musical history’s best loved songs, including Let Yourself Go, Sisters, The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing, Snow, Count Your Blessings, Blue Skies, Love You Didn’t Do Right By Me, How Deep Is The Ocean, I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warmand, of course, the title song, White Christmas.

White Christmas’ 30-strong cast will also include Wendi Peters as Martha, Graham Cole as General Waverley, Rachel Stanley as Betty Haynes and Louise Bowden as Judy Haynes.

Funniest Performance in a West End Show: 9 - 12th Place

9th Place

Michael Simkins 

Sir Humphrey Appleby

Yes, Prime Minister

1%

Michael grew up in Brighton and trained at RADA. A familiar face on stage and TV, his recent leading West End roles include Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!, Billy Flynn in Chicago and David Buckle in Michael Frayn’s comedy Donkeys’ Years. Michael is hilarious in Yes, Prime Minister, a show everyone should see before it closes at the Trafalgar Studios in January. Click here to read our 4 star review of Yes, Prime Minister.

Daniel Buckley wins West End Frame Award for Funniest Performance in a West End Show

All of this month West End Frame readers have been voting in the West End Frame award for Funniest Performance in a West End Show. We can now exclusively reveal that you have crowned Loserville's Daniel Buckley as your winner!

Runners up for Funniest Performance in a West End Show are Linzi Hateley, Gina Beck, Simon Lipkin and Jodie Prenger. Other nominees included Andrew Alexander, Brenda Edwards, Kim Ismay, Michael Simkins, Rob Brydon and Tom Chambers.

Daniel Buckley is currently playing Marvin Camden in Loserville at the Garrick Theatre. Loserville is a new British musical by Elliot Davis and James Bourne. The show recently received its London premiere at the Garrick Theatre following the show's successful run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Gavin Lee and Charlotte Gooch to take over from Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen in Top Hat

From 5th February 2013 Gavin Lee will join the cast of the hit West End production of Top Hat to play Jerry Travers. Top Hat is currently booking at the Aldwych Theatre until 28th September 2013 having recently released a further 180,000 new tickets for sale. Seventy seven years after its movie release, Matthew White’s production arrived in the West End earlier this year having completed a 20 week sell-out UK tour. 

From 27th November 2012, Charlotte Gooch will join the cast to play Dale Tremont alongside Tom Chambers who continues in the role of Jerry Travers until 2nd February 2013. 

Review: Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre

Top Hat
Aldwych Theatre
Performance: Thursday 18th October 2012

Jerry Travers, the famous American tap dancer, arrives in London to appear in his first West End show. Travers meets the irresistible Dale Tremont, the girl of his dreams, and follows her across Europe in an attempt to win her heart. Performed by a cast of 31 and accompanied by a live band of 15, this new musical comedy includes Irving Berlin classics from the original movie. A further ten numbers have been interpolated from Berlin’s 1200 strong back catalogue.

Top Hat extends booking to September 2013

Over 180,000 new tickets are now on sale for Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre as it extends its booking period to 28th September 2012. Seventy seven years after its movie release, Matthew White’s production arrived in the West End earlier this year having completed a 20 week sell-out UK tour. 

The show follows Jerry Travers, the famous American tap dancer, as he arrives in London to appear in his first West End show. Travers meets the irresistible Dale Tremont, the girl of his dreams, and follows her across Europe in an attempt to win her heart.

Performed by a cast of 31 and accompanied by a live band of 15, this new musical comedy includes Irving Berlin classics from the original movie. A further ten numbers have been interpolated from Berlin’s 1200 strong back catalogue.

Album Review: Top Hat (original London cast recording)

Top Hat
Original London Cast Recording
First Night Records

Reviewing the original London cast recoding of Top Hat The Musical has been an interesting experience for me as I haven't seen the show... yet and I have not seen the film. After one listen I was not convinced however over the last week it has grown on me. Sometimes this can be the case with music, after one listen the music is forgettable but after a few listens you suddenly realise you are whistling the songs while doing the washing up. I was also surprised that I knew quite a few of the songs already.

Olivier Awards: Who Will Be Presenting Awards

The presenters for this years awards have been announced. It has not been revealed which award each person will be presenting.


The presenters will include:

• Hayley Atwell 
• Douglas Booth 
• Zach Braff 
• Jim Carter
• Tom Chambers 
• Tyne Daly
• Jack Davenport 
• Agyness Deyn 
• Jonathan Edwards 
• Susannah Fielding 
• Vittorio Grigolo 
• Lenny Henry
• Ronan Keating 
• Katherine Kelly 
• Harry Lloyd
• James McAvoy
• Natascha McElhone 
• Laurie Metcalf 
• Elaine Paige 
• Dan Stevens
• Sir Patrick Stewart 
• David Suchet 
• Kara Tointon 
• Will Young,
• Zoe Wanamaker
• Jodie Whittaker 
• Barbara Windsor