Claire Sweeney Shines in New Musical Theatre Season FROM PAGE TO STAGE

FROM PAGE TO STAGE is a four week season of new musical theatre writing produced by KATY LIPSON for Aria Entertainment and ROBERT McWHIR of The Landor Theatre. The season will comprise of readings, showcases and revues of International new musical theatre work with a focus on British writing and will showcase the work of over 40 writers.

Making its London debut is David Krane and Stephen Cole'S THE ROAD TO QATAR! A true musical comedy about two American musical theatre writers commissioned to write a larger-than-life Broadway-style musical for the Emir of Qatar. Directed by Kate Golledge (The Wizard of Oz, Sweet Charity) and Musically Directed by George Dyer (The Wiz, Ragtime) the cast includes Kimberly Blake (Sweeney Todd), NIC GIBNEY (Pirates of Penzance), RALPH BOGARD (Lend Me A Tenor), DAVID McKECHNIE (Chicago) and SAMI LAMINE.

Another UK premiere follows with ALEXANDER S. BERMANGE'S THE ROUTE TO HAPPINESS. The Route To Happiness charts the individual and interweaving experiences of three present-day Londoners in pursuit of their respective dreams: finding love, making money, and becoming famous. Directed by ROBERT McWHIR (Curtains, The Glorious Ones, Ragtime) and Musically Directed by the Author, we are delighted to welcome to the cast Shona White, Cassidy Janson and Niall Sheehy, all principal cast members of West End Hit show WICKED, with many other credits to boot!

Finally, there will be a semi-staged reading of the already award-winning Irish-American musical EMERALD by DENISE WRIGHT and CHRIS BURGESS. This musical stars Claire Sweeney ('Brookside', 'Chicago') as a New Yorker in search of the quiet life in an Irish seaside town. But a quiet life is the last thing she gets! Directed by Nikolai Foster (FLASHDANCE), with Musical Direction by Tony Award Winning Sarah Travis, the cast also features West End performers Helena Blackman, GLEN CARTER, Sevan Stephan, J.P. HEVEY, Sue Kelvin and Michael Cantwell.