Kerry Ellis, Ria Jones and Joanna Ampil to Star in WEST END WOMEN Tour, Nov-Dec 2014

JP Productions have today announced full casting details of their forthcoming UK tour of new touring production 'West End Women'.

West End leading ladies Kerry Ellis (Wicked/We Will Rock You), Joanna Ampil (Miss Saigon/Cats) and Ria Jones (Les Misrables/Evita) join forces to celebrate their critically acclaimed careers.

With special guess star Rory Taylor from ITV's 'Superstar', this glittering concert features songs from the best loved musicals of the past 40 years including Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Cats, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and Wicked.

Kerry Ellis has fast become recognized as the First Lady of West End musicals from her starring roles in London and on Broadway, and has achieved chart-topping success as a recording artist signed to Universal Decca with her debut album Anthems. Kerry originated the role of Meat, in Queen's We Will Rock You and was the first British Elphaba in the West End smash, Wicked, for which Kerry won the 2008 Whatsonstage.com Award for 'Best Takeover in a Role'. She then immediately transferred to Broadway and played Elphaba at the Gershwin Theater for 6 months, where she won the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favourite Female Breakthrough Performance, before returning to London for 6 months in 2009. Her many other leading role credits include Nancy in Oliver! at the London Palladium, Eliza Doolittle My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon and Fantine in Les Miserables.

Kerry's first major CD release was the amazing Wicked in Rock, which is still flying high in the Dress Circle's bestseller list. Wicked in Rock was collaboration with long-time friend and Queen guitarist, Brian May. This led to her being signed to Universal as a solo recording artist and her debut album Anthems was released in 2010 on Decca Records. The success of the album, which reached No.15 in the UK album chart, and No.10 in the UK pop club charts (for Defying Gravity), led to a major tour Anthems: The Concert throughout 2011, which kicked off at the Royal Albert Hall.

In 2012 she has been involved in the Les Miserables feature film alongside headlining various festivals across the country. At the end of 2012 she starred in the Arena tour of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds alongside Jason Donavan and Ricky Wilson of the Kaiser Chiefs.

In 2013/2014, Kerry toured the UK playing the role of Mimi in Rent.

Kerry performed her own one woman show at the London Palladium, where she brought together the four British Elphaba's to sing Defying Gravity.

Joanna Ampil is an international musical theatre star from the Philippines. Joanna's career began aged 17, when she played the role of Kim in Cameron Mackintosh's smash-hit West End musical Miss Saigon, a role that she later went on to play in the Australian premier of the production in Sydney.

Joanna's theatre credits include, Jasmine in 'ALADDIN', Mary Magdalene in 'JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR', Eponine and Fantine in 'LES MISERABLES', Sheila in 'HAIR", Mimi in 'RENT', Heidi in 'I SING', Maria in 'WESTSIDE STORY', Christmas Eve in 'AVENUE Q', Maria in 'THE SOUND OF MUSIC' and most recently Grizabella in the internationally touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'CATS'.

Film credits include 'ONE DAY', TV credits include 'BROKEN NEWS', 'MUMMY AUTOPSY' and 'THE QUEST'.

Cast recording's include Beatriz in 'THE POSTMAN AND THE POET', Mary Magdalene in 'JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR' and Kim in 'MIS SAIGON'. Joanna has also released two solo albums.

Joanna was nominated for an MO Award (Australia) for Best Female Musical Theatre Performance for her portrayal of Kim in 'MISS SAIGON'. Joanna was also nominated for an Aliw Award (Philippines) for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Maria in 'SOUND OF MUSIC'.

Ria Jones was born in Swansea South Wales. At 19, she became the youngest actress ever to play the role of Eva Peron in the musical "EVITA". Followed shortly by her west end debut in the musical "CHESS", in which she played the roles of both Svetlana and Florence. She then went on to play Grizabella in "CATS" at the New London theatre, (where she stayed for two years).

Her next theatre role was as Fantine in "LES MISERABLES", at Manchester's Palace Theatre, followed by the national tour, and the west end. Then came the role of the narrator in "JOSEPH AND HIS AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT" at the Apollo Hammersmith, and the national tour. Other credits include: playing both Josephine and Monica in "ROMANCE ROMANCE" at the Bridewell Theatre; Necrophorous in "NINE" at the Donmar Warehouse; Kim in the European premiere of the musical revue "PERSONALS" at the New End Theatre, Hampstead;.the creation of the role of Emma West, in "A TWIST OF FATE" at the Jubilee Theatre, Raffles, Singapore; Petra in Stephen Sondheims "A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC", at the Leicester Haymarket; Ida in "HONK" at the Victoria theatre, Singapore. The title role in the European premiere of "VICTOR VICTORIA" at the Bridewell Theatre. Liz Imbrie in "HIGH SOCIETY" Uk tour 2004/5, and the Shaftesbury theatre. Reno Sweeney in the 2006 national tour of "ANYTHING GOES". for which she was nominated for a TMA award for best performance in a musical . Mrs Overall in "ACORN ANTIQUES" UK tour 2006/7 directed by Victoria Wood. Alex Spofford in "THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK" UK tour; guest vocalist in "STRICTLY COME DANCING" the Professionals tour; "CLOSER THAN EVER" at the Landor Theatre, London; The Witch in Stephen Sondheim's "INTO THE WOODS" at the Esplanade Theatre, Singapore and Dorothy Brock in "42ND STREET" at the Curve, Leicester.

Concerts have taken Ria worldwide. From France, Belgium, Muscat and Russia to South Africa, Singapore and Shanghai. She makes regular appearances as a guest soloist in Denmark, singing with all the major orchestras. In 2009, she was a guest soloist for the Danish Royal family at the concert house at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. She has appeared as a soloist with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall. Sung by personal request at Buckingham Palace for The Duke Of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Has sung as a soloist with The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra. A guest soloist in "CHILDREN WILL LISTEN", celebrating the work of Stephen Sondheim at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane. "A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS" with Bryn Tyrfel at his annual festival in North Wales. Mary Magdelene in "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR" at the Barbican theatre, Eva Peron in "EVITA" in concert, Highams park Chelmsford. Fantine in "LES MISERABLES" in concert Cardiff Castle. The world premiere of "THE THREE MUSKETEERS", Denmark. Anita in "WEST SIDE STORY" at Ledreborg Castle, Denmark. "MISSLEADING LADIES" at St Davids Hall Cardiff and Swansea Grand Theatre, which she co- devised with her brother Ceri Dupree. "ABBAPHONIC" the concert with the Royal Philharmonic at The Royal Albert Hall and on tour in Russia. "ULTIMATE BROADWAY" at The Cultural Square Theatre, Shanghai. A regular guest soloist in the "BEST OF BROADWAY" at the Royal Albert Hall with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And most recently a concert tour celebrating the work of Don Black "From Hackney To Hollywood".

She has recorded her own TV show "One Night Only With Ria Jones" for BBC Wales and guested on three Royal Variety shows for the BBC, as well as appearing on numerous TV chat shows and radio shows. Including "The Paul O'Grady Show" for Channel 4, "Friday Night Is Music Night" for BBC Radio 2, "Welsh In The West End" for ITV1 Wales. The role of landlady in "ERIC AND ERNIE" Victoria Woods TV Drama, and the Miracle Day episode of "TORCHWOOD".

Rory Taylor has been a professional singer since the age of 14 and has recently shot to fame after appearing in 'Superstar' on ITV. Rory was runner up in Andrew Lloyd Webber's TV search for an actor, to play the role of Jesus in an arena tour of his hit musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. Rory is lead singer in a band called 54321. He sings with his cousin and three brothers and the band are resident in The Cavern Club, Liverpool. With the band, Rory has supported Mel C, Westlife and McFly on major arena tours. The band have also performed at a number of international festivals, where they have supported The Beach Boys. Rory has released two albums, 'What We Did With Our Days' and 'Motion Picture Scenery'.

Rory has recently played the role of Roger in the UK Tour of 'Rent in Concert'. Rory is about to re-join the US Tour of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' whee he will play the role os Simon/Cover Jesus.

For more information, visit WWW.WESTENDWOMEN.COM or follow on Twitter: @WestEndWomen and Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestEndWomenUKTour.

WEST END WOMEN UK TOUR- NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

DUBLIN ON SALE: FRIDAY 23RD MAY 2014

ALL OTHER DATES ON SALE: FRIDAY 30TH MAY 2014

Monday 17th November 2014

Sunderland Empire

www.atgtickets.com/sunderland

Tuesday 18th November 2014

Orchard Theatre, Dartford

www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

Wednesday 19th November 2014

Corn Exchange, Cambridge

www.cornex.co.uk

Sunday 23rd November 2014

Opera House, Manchester

www.atgtickets.com/manchester

Tuesday 25th November 2014

Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin

www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

Thursday 27th November 2014

New Wimbledon Theatre, London

www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre

Sunday 30th November 2014

Clyde Auditorium at SECC, Glasgow

www.ticketsoup.com

Monday 1st December 2014

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

www.edtheatres.com

Tuesday 2nd December 2014

Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham

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