UK Roundup - Bonnie Langford, Wicked sales, UB40 and The Crucible

The fantastic Bonnie Langford is to open the transfer of Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre next month. Langford, who has numerous musical theatre credits to her name – Cats, Gypsy, Sweet Charity, Me and My Girl – recently appeared in the UK tour of Fosse, in which she gave an incredible performance. Though the recent leads cast have been mainly around 30 years old, Langford's casting as Roxie Hart at 41 is somewhat closer to the (much argued) intended age of the characters. Her appearance in Chicago comes after her recent TV comeback in the popular ITV programme Dancing on Ice. Chicago closes at the Adelphi Theatre on April 22nd, reopening at the Cambridge on the 28th.

Publicity for Wicked says that 'so much happened before Dorothy dropped in'. Judging by its record breaking opening weekend sales, that's true. The London production sold £100,000 worth of tickets in an hour with a reported £1.7m taken in just two days. Executive producer Michael McCabe said "even with the phenomenal success of Wicked on Broadway, we really had no idea what to expect when tickets went on sale here". Previews are priced up to £45, and if anyone's looking for a bargain there are seats for just £5 at the back of the dress circle. Avenue Q tickets go on sale this week with previews priced simply at £10, £20 and £30 (apart from Saturday nights, which adds an extra five).

Casting has been confirmed for the UB40 musical Promises and Lies, which opens at the Birmingham Rep on March 28th ahead of an anticipated West End transfer. Olivier award winner Clive Rowe and recent Olivier nominee Tameka Empson join West End regulars David Burt and Julie-Alanah Brighten in a cast of twelve. Directed by artistic director Jonathan Church – who leaves the venue in April to run the Chichester Festival Theatre – the musical has a book by Jess Walters, with UB40 hits such as 'Red, Red Wine' and 'I Got You Babe'. Check for a Broadwayworld.com review shortly after opening.

The RSC's critically acclaimed production of The Crucible will transfer to the Gielgud Theatre for a limited West End run. Produced by Bill Kenwright and Thelma Holt - who transferred All's Well That Ends Well with Judi Dench – and directed by Dominic Cooke, the play stars Iain Glen, Helen Schlesinger and Elaine Cassidy. Arthur Miller's classic 1953 play is the latest of his works to be presented in the capital; Brian Dennehy recently won an Olivier for Death of a Salesman at the Lyric and Miller's penultimate play Resurrection Blues opened at the Old Vic last week, albeit to poor reviews. The Crucible opens on April 5th.

And finally, Anna-Jane Casey will replace Joanna Riding in the one-off concert Not(es) from New York this month. The concert - which takes place on March 19th at the Duchess Theatre - also has another new cast member, Dougal Irvine, who replaces the previously announced Richard Dempsey. More info at www.notesfromnewyork.co.uk.

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