Photo Flash: Rehearsals Underway for Stephen Sondheim Society's GOD, July 8-12

Rehearsals are now well underway for GOD, the 20th anniversary celebration show from the Stephen Sondheim Society, which pays tribute to Mr Sondheim and his genius. Check below for photos!

Cast members Emma Odell ( Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer Of The Year [SSSSPOTY] finalist 2009), Kris Olsen ( SSSSPOTY Winner 2012) , Corrine Priest (SSSSPOTY Winner 2014) and Jay Worley ( SSSSPOTY finalist 2014) have an extraordinary array of material to perform from such diverse writers as Jonathan Larson (Rent and winner of the Stephen Sondheim Award) ; Andrew Lippa ( Addams Family, whose work was showcased to such acclaim in The Life of the Party at the Menier); and John Bucchino (whose songs are sung by musical theatre legends such as Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Audra Macdonald and Kristin Chenoweth) plus many others.

In keeping with the Society's desire to support new Musical Theatre talent, three new songs have been written especially for this show by Stiles and Drewe New Song finalists: Matt Boardand Eamonn O'Dwyer, plus one from Alex Parker, the show's Musical Director himself, who only recently premiered his own musical, Amateur Dramatics: A Musical Comedy at the Electric Theatre, Guildford.

This specially created piece affectionately celebrates and reflects our love for the great man himself.

With tongue very firmly in cheek, there will be gentle parodies that serve to demonstrate and appreciate his art, together with songs that remind us why we all love Sondheim. Plus a very special Sondheim song.

Alastair Knights ( Director) says: ' I am excited that not only do we have such an incredibly talented young cast - but we also have some wonderful new songs from up and coming composers such as Eamonn O'Dwyer, Matt Board and Alex Parker which are beautiful, funny and touching. These are the Musical Theatre Stars of Tomorrow and I feel privileged to be working with them on a show that honours Sondheim's achievements and legacy.'GOD debuts at The London Theatre Workshop. There are 6 performances and Saturday night has already sold out.

LISTINGS

GOD - A Musical Celebration Parody of Stephen Sondheim

Tuesday 8 July - Saturday 12 July

London Theatre Workshop, 65, New Kings Road, London SW6 4SG

Performances: Tuesday to Friday 7.30pm and Saturday 2.30pm and 7.30*pm

*Last performance for Sondheim Society Members only

Tickets: £15 /Society members only £10/Concessions £12.50

Book online http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/60789

Special Offers: Non Members can join the Society at the discounted rate of £17.50 (normally £20 per annum) and receive their GOD ticket at the members' rateNon Members can also buy 6 tickets and get one FREE (which equates to concession price of £12.50 each)

RUNNING TIME: Approx. 1hr 15 mins

CREATIVES:

Alastair Knights - Director

Alastair's most recent project was working with Elaine Paige, staging the musical numbers for THE ELAINE PAIGE SHOW on Sky Arts. Earlier this year he directed the West End Premiere of Stephen Sondheim's PUTTING IT TOGETHER at St James Theatre, after having directed the show at GLive Studio in Guildford.

Alex Parker - Musical Director

AMD for STEPHEN WARD (Aldwych Theatre); THE PAJAMA GAME (Minerva Theatre); SOHO CINDERS (Soho Theatre). Alex's credits as MD include A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Yvonne Arnaud); MARGUERITE (Tabard); ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (Union); FOLLIES (Yvonne Arnaud). As a Producer, Alex recently co-produced and was Musical Supervisor for the London premiere of PUTTING IT TOGETHER at the St. James Theatre. Recently, Alex's musical AMATEUR DRAMATICS: A MUSICAL COMEDY had its premiere at the Electric Theatre in Guildford.

CAST

Emma Odell

Emma is a BBC Fame Academy Bursary and Performers' Fund winner, and a Stephen Sondheim Society Student of the Year Finalist (2009) Training: London School of Musical Theatre. Recent credits include: Mrs Glegg in Mill on the Floss (Cheltenham Everyman Studios), Mrs Giant in Jack and the Giant (Chipping Norton theatre), Cathy Hiatt in The Last Five Years (Battersea Barge), Soloist in Prom 19: Sondheim at 80 (Royal Albert Hall), Cinderella/Flute in Into the Woods (Upstairs at the Gatehouse).

Kris Olsen

Kris won the Stephen Sondheim Student Society Performer of the Year Award in 2012. Originally from Norway he trained at Bardar Academy, before gaining a BA in Musical Theatre from Guildford School of Acting where he graduated in 2012. Roles since graduating include: Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Combferre in Les Miserables (Norwegian Premiere), HMS Headwind (Landor Theatre) and most recently Holby City (BBC)

Corrine Priest

Corrine won the Stephen Sondheim Student Society Performer of the Year Award 2014 - only the second girl in its eight year history. Graduating this year from London School of Musical Theatre, she performed at Landor Theatre in London, From Page To Stage, Aria Entertainment. In training she played Viv Nicholson in Spend Spend Spend (musical).

Jay Worley

Jay was a finalist in the Stephen Sondheim Student Society Performer of the Year Award Competition 2014. He was also a finalist in the Carlton Hobbs Radio Award 2014. He is graduating this year as an Actor from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Final year shows at RWCMD include Shakespeare's Twelfth Night directed by Paines Plough's George Perrin and most recently Moss and Kaufman's You Can't Take It With You directed by Robin Belfield.

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