UK Roundup - Swayze, Gambon, Cabaret, Avenue Q

Patrick Swayze is the latest actor to join the star-studded revival of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre. As Nathan Detroit, Swayze will follow on from the likes of Ewan McGregor, Nigel Harman and Neil Morrissey, all of whom have played either Sky or Detroit in the show since it opened last June. Best known for his role in Dirty Dancing, Swayze has appeared on Broadway in Grease, Goodtime Charley and Chicago. Also joining the cast on July 10th is Claire Sweeney as Miss Adelaide. Sweeney was most recently seen in the UK tour of Fosse and also appeared in Chicago. Michael Grandage's production – which won the 2006 Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production – is planning to open on Broadway in the 2006-7 season, as well as launching a UK tour in the autumn with Harman and Sweeney in the leads.

Michael Gambon is to take to the London stage in a completely silent role. In the title role of Samuel Beckett's Eh Joe, Gambon will be on stage silent whilst actress Penelope Wilton voices her part off stage. The thirty minute play will be performed twice nightly for thirty performances only at the Duke of York's Theatre from June 27th. Gambon most recently appeared on stage as Falstaff in Henry IV at The National Theatre and on screen as Dumbledore in Harry Potter 4 and 5. Elsewhere in the West End, Sally Dexter is to join the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical as dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson. Dexter, a twice Olivier nominated performer, replaces Haydn Gwynne, who originated the role at the Victoria Palace Theatre. 

And in even more casting news – Dirty Dancing has found its Baby and Johnny. JoseF Brown, an Australian actor who originated the role of Johnny down under, will reprise his performance in the West End. However the role of Baby will be originated in London by an English actress fresh out of drama school. Georgina Rich, who recently graduated from RADA, admitted she was nervous about the role but "thrilled to be part of this fantastic production". Directed by James Powell and written by screenplay writer Eleanor Bergstein, the show starts previews on September 29th with a press night scheduled for October 24th. Ticket sales for Dirty Dancing are said to have broken all previous box office records; top price tickets are £59.50.

The new revival of Cabaret – directed by Festen director Rufus Norris – has announced dates and a venue. At the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, the Kander and Ebb musical will open on October 10th following previews from September 22nd. Casting has not yet been announced but strong rumours are circulating that Olivier Award winner Martine McCutcheon will make her first West End appearnce since her ill-fated run in My Fair Lady as Sally Bowles. A website, just with sign up information and the logo, can be found at http://www.cabaret-the-musical.co.uk. Norris heads straight to Cabaret following his production of Market Boy at The National Theatre, which opens tomorrow (Tuesday 6th June).

Two of the summer's biggest musicals are now previewing in London. Avenue Q, the hit Broadway musical which mixes puppets and people, plays at the Noel Coward Theatre ahead of a press night on June 28th and Evita, the first West End revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical biography of Eva Peron, is previewing at the Adelphi. Producer Cameron Mackintosh has admitted in interviews that Avenue Q will be relying on word of mouth for sales, whilst Andrew Lloyd Webber has defended his casting of unknown Argentinian actress Elena Roger by stating that he's gone for "the best, not the biggest". The revival is directed by Michael Grandage and choreographed by Rob Ashford, the same creative team behind Guys and Dolls. It opens on June 21st.