Legendary Ellen Greene - who starred as Audrey in ‘Little Shop of Horrors' on Broadway, in the West End and in the subsequent Hollywood film alongside Rick Moranis and Steve Martin - was previously announced for the cast of Betwixt!, a new British comedy musical written and directed by Ian McFarlane, which is getting a West End season at Trafalgar Studios 2 from Tuesday 26th July to Saturday 20th August.
Playing three roles - the identical triplets, The Enchantress, Princess and Nymph Queen - Ellen Greene joins Steven Webb, Ashleigh Gray and newcomer Benedict Salter.
Producer Christopher D. Clegg said: "We are looking forward to working with Elllen and have her create a role (or three!) in Betwixt!. To have Ellen returning to her musical theatre roots is exciting for the entire creative team, and we are looking forward to having her fabulous presence and unmistakeable voice back on the West End stage."
Actress, singer and recording artist Ellen Greene last performed in London at the New Players Theatre in her cabaret show ‘Torch!', accompanied by her husband and musical director, Christian Klikovits.
She played Sylar's mother, Virginia Grey in the sci-fi TV series, ‘Heroes' and the cheese-loving Vivian, one of the Darling Mermaid Darlings, in two series of the critically praised TV series "Pushing Daisies."
Her theatre roles include ‘The Prince and the Aviator' with Michael York, and ‘Three Men On a Horse' with Tony Randall, Jack Klugman and Jerry Stiller an Broadway and playing Miss Adelaide in a concert version of the Broadway musical ‘Guys and Dolls', at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, in 2009. As Chrissy in Joe Papp's production of ‘In the Boom Boom Room', her reviews brought her to the attention of Paul Mazursky who was at that time casting for ‘Next Stop, Greenwich Village'; she got the role of Sarah, her first starring role in a film. Continuing her work with Joe Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival, Greene starred as Jenny in ‘The Three Penny Opera' at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in Lincoln Center, and was nominated for a Tony Award. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in ‘Little Shop of Horrors'. Greene was also honoured to perform for the Queen in the Cameron Mackintosh salute, ‘Hey, Mr. Producer'. Her debut solo CD, ‘In His Eyes', was named the vocal recording of the year by Playbill Magazine.
In modern day New York, writer Bailey - suffering writer's block - and his roommate Cooper Fitzgerald are catapulted head first into a strange enchanted world. Their arrival fulfils a prophecy that tells of a brave hero and a great queen and they are tasked with searching out a fading daytime TV star who is the only hope for saving a pregnant princess from losing the throne... Sex-crazed nymphs, hunchbacks, cross-dressing mutes, dancing reporters, enchantresses (of the evil-world-dominating variety) and a disembodied head with a Bavarian accent are teamed with sitcom-styled dialogue and a toe-tapping score in a truly funny musical comedy.
The Writer/Director is Ian McFarlane. Choreography is by Grace Harrington. Musical Direction by Ross Leadbeater. The Producer is Christopher D?Clegg.
