Carrie Dunn - Page 17

As Keeler continues its run at the Charing Cross Theatre, Stephen Ward is preparing to open just up the road. Alexander Hanson is taking the title role - and in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical, Ward is presented as a much more sympathetic chap than the shadowy svengali that's entered into popular legend...

Including the Dr Seuss stories Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who! and The Cat in the Hat, this family-friendly musical by Tony and Drama Desk Award winning team Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and co-conceived by Monty Python's Eric Idle returns for a second year at the Arts Theatre. A cast of 12 tell the story of Horton the Elephant and the tiny world of Who, interwoven with other madcap Seuss characters who pop up to help and hinder Horton and the Who he heard.

In the final part of our Russell Watson interview, he talks about his plans for an international tour in 2014, and the experience of working with Claude-Michael Schonberg.

Dominic Thorburn answers our tough questions - he's just joined the cast of the comedy hit One Man Two Guvnors. Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe. But Roscoe is really Rachel, posing as her own dead brother - who's been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a job with one Stanley Stubbers - but to prevent discovery, he must keep his two guvnors apart. Simple.

It's a thundery, soggy afternoon when I speak to Robert Lonsdale; we've both, weirdly, had the same experience of getting caught in the rain earlier in the day, running from our respective physio appointments to shelter from the seasonal storm. He sounds on good form, though; and why wouldn't he be?

Voting closed for the 2013 BWW:UK Awards at 12 noon today. The West End's leading new musicals were battling in out in their categories - and now Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Once, The Book of Mormon and The Bodyguard must sit tight to see who wins.

We talk to the British tenor about his forthcoming album, collaborating with the creators of Les Miserables. Watson's new album, Only One Man, is out now.

It's still tight at the top of all the BWW:UK 2013 Award categories! Your votes can still make a difference as The Book of Mormon, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Once all battle it out for the musical theatre prizes.

Voting closes on Friday for this year's BWW:UK Awards! The Book Of Mormon, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Once all look set to win for the musicals - and Hadley Fraser may pick up a special double award for his performances in a musical and a play.

The first part of UK editor-in-chief Carrie Dunn's chat with the tenor…

We ask the tricky questions so you don't need to...Kellie Shirley stars as Pauline, 'dumbest of all blondes', in One Man Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

The Book of Mormon is leading in many of the New Musical categories - but Once and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is running it close!

One has to admire the bravery of anyone who's willing to launch a brand-new musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Despite the successes of Hairspray and Rock of Ages, people seem to enjoy whispering about the 'curse of the Shaftesbury' due to its string of flops, and it seems to me that a fair number of onlookers really do want new shows to fail just for the continuation of this coincidental curse.

Michael Ball talks exclusively to BWW:UK about Spamalot - and his West End return...

Olivier nominee Holden revealed to our reporter at the One Man Two Guvnors gala performance that she may return to the West End next year!

Big West End showstoppers Once, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Book of Mormon are leading the way, with the competition just as tight for the fringe categories - Chichester's The Pajama Game and Southwark Playhouse's Titanic are also garnering the votes at the moment.

TV actress, celebrity masterchef, and cabaret singer - Denise Black is a woman of many talents. She's also a woman of seemingly boundless energy: yesterday she spent the day filming for Emmerdale before heading off to see a movie

Voting opened this week for the 2013 BWW:UK Awards - and we've already had a record number of votes in!

Today Hackney Empire announces the principal cast of its brand new pantomime, Puss in Boots. Written and directed by Susie McKenna with music by Steven Edis, the cast will include Kat B as Puss in Boots, Sharon D Clarke as Queen Talulah, Josefina Gabrielle as the witch Evilena and Stephen Matthews as Dame Nettie Knowall. In true Hackney style this rarely performed classic Perrault pantomime will be reimagined for today's audience, packed with show-stopping songs, dazzling dance routines and side-splitting comedy.

Nominees this year include stars from The Bodyguard, Merrily We Roll Along, The Book of Mormon, Once, Barnum, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Color Purple.