INTERVIEW: Simon Bailey, currently playing Tommy De Vito in the UK tour of Jersey Boys

Simon is currently reprising the role of Tommy De Vito in the new UK tour of Jersey Boys after having previously played the role in West End Production. His other credits include Whisper House (The Other Palace), Reverend Billy Hightower in Bat Boy (Southwark Playhouse), Man in Marry Me A Little (St. James Theatre), Liam in I Can't Sing! The X-Factor Musical (London Palladium), Raoul in Phantom of the Opera (London & National Tour) and Enjolras in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre). He took the time out of rehearsals before the show kicked off its new tour to speak to us about this upcoming production of Jersey Boys. 

You’re returning to the role of Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys after playing it in the West End, now on tour. What made you want to return to this role and show?

Jersey Boys has been one of, if not my favourite show, since it opened. Tommy is such a great character to play. After the show closed in London, I didn’t feel I was done with him! I’m so grateful to be asked back.

How do you think your interpretation of the role could change this time round? 

Well, we’ve had 8 months off so it feels fresh again – I’m also with different actors this time, so I listen and respond to them differently. That’s the best part of my job.

FAME the musical announces new new 30th Anniversary tour

Fame - The Musical is set to tour the UK in a stunning new 30th Anniversary tour opening at Manchester Palace on 20 July 2018. For full tour dates and venues visit www.fameuktour.co.uk

Based on the 1980 phenomenal pop culture film, Fame The Musical is the international smash hit sensation following the lives of students at New York’s High School For The Performing Arts as they navigate their way through the highs and lows, the romances and the heartbreaks and the ultimate elation of life. This bittersweet but uplifting triumph of a show explores the issues that confront many young people today: prejudice, identity, pride, literacy, sexuality, substance abuse and perseverance.

Fame the Musical has seen seven West End runs since opening in Miami in 1988 and continues to be one of the best loved musicals across the world.

INTERVIEW: Lewis Griffiths, currently playing Nick Massi in the UK tour of Jersey Boys

Lewis is currently reprising the role of Nick Massi on the UK tour of Jersey Boys, having previously played the role on the 2014 UK tour. His other credits include Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing (UK tour), cover Carl in Ghost (UK tour), Chad/Dewey/Kyle & Cover Warner in Legally Blonde(UK tour), Frank in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre), cover Benny in Rent Remixed (Duke Of York Theatre) and Clarence in Whistle Down The Wind (Aldwych Theatre). He took the time out of rehearsals before the show kicked off its new tour to speak to us about this upcoming production of Jersey Boys. 

You are returning to playing Nick Massi after playing him on the last UK tour, what made you want to return? 

Call it unfinished business. Nick Massi is an enigmatic character to play, so I wanted to honour that and build on what I already knew.

After already going on tour with the show, what are you expecting from audiences this time round? 

Who knows, some regional audiences will turn out in droves, due to the success of the last tour, but you can’t take that for granted. Hopefully they will re-love Jersey Boys all over again.

REVIEW: Spamalot at New Victoria Theatre, Woking

"Lovingly ripped off from the hugely successful 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this spammier than ever production is a riotous comedy full of misfit knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns and ferocious Frenchmen. Join King Arthur as he travels with his hapless Knights of the Round Table on a divine mission to locate the illusive Holy Grail – with uproarious consequences."

"Spamalot was the winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best New Musical, while it enjoyed a victorious West End run. This hilarious show is written by Python legend Eric Idle."

On paper alone, Spamalot is outrageously funny and this script has been updated to be as relevant now as it was when it premiered 12 years ago. It's Python's classic style of humour and fans of the films and television shows will love it. With this production, sadly what it's missing is, well, people... 

First look at the new WICKED UK & Ireland Tour cast

WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is pleased to release new production photography, by Matt Crockett, of Amy Ross as Elphaba, Helen Woolf as Glinda and Aaron Sidwell as Fiyero, who lead the cast, together with Jack Harrison-Cooper as Chistery, of the forthcoming return engagement of the spectacular, critically acclaimed and multi record-breaking UK & Ireland Tour, which begins a five week season at the Bristol Hippodrome from 31 January 2018.

This production of WICKED will also play a special engagement at Theater 11 in Zürich, marking the musical’s Swiss premiere, from 15 November-31 December 2017 (www.musical.ch/en/wicked).

The full cast is Amy Ross (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Aaron Sidwell (Fiyero), Steven Pinder (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond), Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible), Emily Shaw (Nessarose), Iddon Jones (Boq), Nikki Bentley (Standby for Elphaba), Charli Baptie, Jason Broderick, Samantha Brown, Hannah Cadec, Grace Chapman, James Davies-Williams, Howard Ellis, Amy Goodwin, Daniel James Greenway, Jack Harrison-Cooper, Charlie Karlsen, Nicole Lupino, Stuart MacIver, Stacey McGuire, Sara Morley, Emily Olive Boyd, Georgia Rae Briggs, Paul Saunders, James Titchener, Helen Walsh, Amy Webb, Luke Woollaston and Benjamin Yates.

JERSEY BOYS Tour Full Cast & Extra Dates

Due to overwhelming demand, a further 12 dates have been announced for the second UK & Ireland Tour of the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning musical JERSEY BOYS, taking the tour through to March 2019. 

The newly announced 2018/19 dates are The Marlowe Canterbury (2 – 13 October 2018), New Victoria Theatre Woking (16 – 27 October 2018), Bristol Hippodrome (30 October – 17 November 2018), Leeds Grand Theatre (20 November – 1 December 2018), New Theatre Oxford (18 December 2018 – 5 January 2019), Wales Millennium Centre (16– 26 January 2019), Palace Theatre Manchester (29 January – 16 February 2019), Edinburgh Playhouse (19 February – 2 March 2019), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (5 – 16 March 2019) and Mayflower Theatre Southampton (19 – 30 March 2019).

The producers are also delighted to announce that Michael Watson will be playing Frankie Valli, Simon Bailey will be Tommy De Vito, Declan Egan will be Bob Gaudio and Lewis Griffiths will be Nick Massi. Michael, Simon, Declan and Lewis have all previously performed their roles in JERSEY BOYS to great acclaim: Michael and Simon in the West End, Declan in the West End and Australia, and Lewis in the first UK and Ireland tour. Dayle Hodge will return to the production to play Frankie Valli at certain performances.

REVIEW: Legally Blonde at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley

OMIGOD OMIGOD YOU GUYS! Lucie Jones should win a prize for staring as Elle Woods in the National Tour of Legally Blonde: written by Heather Hatch and music from the man who brought us Batboy and Heathers, Laurence O’Keefe. The energy in the theatre tonight was electric with what was sure to be a high octane journey through Harvard Law School, I was wearing pink and ready to click along with the sorority girls of UCLA’s Delta Nu. 

From the get go the energy bar is set pretty high, girls riding on spin bikes and talking on the phone (Pre-emptively) celebrating Elle Woods and Warner Huntingdon the Thirds’ engagement. Which quickly spirals down hill when he breaks up with her. This set her on a new path, one that will challenge her Disney expectation of the power of love. Through trials (excuse the pun) and tribulations she realises it’s actually a good thing she is doing, practicing law and becomes the serious type of girl Warner laments about at the beginning of the first act. By the end there is cheering, and whooping and a mega mix (why?). Directed and choreographed by Anthony Williams the the use of set is very effective yet minimalistic, just what you need for a tour. 

FIRST LOOK: In rehearsals with the UK tour of HAIRSPRAY

Rehearsal images for smash-hit musical Hairspray have been released today ahead of the UK tour which kicks off in Cardiff at Wales Millennium Centre on 16th August 2017. This major UK tour will visit more than 30 venues across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland until early summer 2018.

Tickets are now on sale at www.hairsprayuktour.com/tour-dates.

Featuring the iconic music and lyrics by Academy Award, Tony and Emmy winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, this much-loved musical comedy is choreographed by Olivier Award-winning Drew McOnie with direction from Paul Kerryson. 

REVIEW: Top Hat at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking

Based on the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers classic film, Top Hot tap dances its way to Woking on the latest stop of a UK tour. Recent Olivier award recipients for choreography (amongst others) expectations were high.

The farcical story follows the blossoming romance between Broadway star Jerry Travers and the gorgeous Dale Tramont and the chaos of mistaken identity that sees the story hop from the US, London and Italy.

REVIEW: The Sound of Music at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking

It’s hard to reinvent a production set in the 1930s but a little more imagination and panache is needed to rescue this latest tour of The Sound of Music.

If you’ve not seen the film (I haven’t so not everyone has!) this is the story of loveable and feisty Maria Rainer and her struggle find her place in the world. Does she want to dedicate her life to God and become a nun or can this free-spirit shake up the regimented von Trapp household and breathe new life into Captain von Trapp?

REVIEW: Jesus Christ Superstar at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking

Jesus Christ Superstar, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, tells one of the World’s most well-known and important stories. The show has been wowing audiences all over the globe since the 1970s and this touring production arrives in Woking at a topical time of year with Easter just days away.  Opening with Judas and his concerns with the influential Jesus and culminating with his crucifixion, the show tells rather than preaches. The writers knew this musical was a risk when it was being developed but the audience on opening night here clearly disagreed, rising to their feet.

JERSEY BOYS UK tour launches in Birmingham ahead of run at the New Alexandra Theatre

The producers of the UK and Irish tour of the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical JERSEY BOYS, are delighted to bring the UK tour of JERSEY BOYS to the New Alexandra Theatre from 9 December 2014 - 4 January 2015.

Tim Driesen stars as Frankie Valli with Stephen Webb, Sam Ferriday and Lewis Griffiths as Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi.  Matt Corner will play the role of Frankie Valli at certain performances. Also in the cast are Sean Kingsley as Gyp DeCarlo, Matt Gillett as Bob Crewe, Nathaniel Morrison as Barry Belson, Dominic Smith as Norm Waxman, Damian Buhagiar as Joey Pesci, Henry Davis as Hank Majewski, Leanne Garretty as Lorraine, Amelia Adams-Pearce as Mary Delgado and Sinead Long as Francine, with Dan Krikler, Dayle Hodge, Luke Morton and Charlie Allen.

JERSEY BOYS has been seen by over 19 million people worldwide and is firmly established as one of the West End's longest running and most popular shows, where it continues to play at its new home of the Piccadilly Theatre.

THE HISTORY BOYS will return in 2015, touring the UK in a major new production

Voted the nation’s favourite play, Alan Bennett’s multi award-winning The History Boys will return in 2015, touring the UK in a major new production opening at Southend Theatre on Monday 26 January 2015. On sale now; full tour schedule attached.

Winner of over 30 major awards including the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best New Play, The History Boys is the story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. Their maverick English teacher is at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher, whilst their headmaster is obsessed with results and league tables. Staffroom rivalry and the anarchy of adolescence overflow, provoking insistent questions about history and how you teach it. Their A Levels may be over, but their true education is only just beginning. Widely hailed as one of the greatest theatrical events of the last decade, The History Boys is an hilariously funny and exceptionally moving play about the true purpose of education.   

FIRST LOOK: Top Hat, currently touring around the UK

The show first toured the UK in 2011 prior to its West End premiere the following year. It went on to win three Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.

Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Gooch both return to the show having previously performed the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont in the West End.

Adaped from the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film, Top Hat is directed by Matthew Whiteand choreographed by Bill Deamer.

The story centres on Jerry Travers, a famous American tap dancer, who arrives in London to appear in his first West End show. Travers meets the irresistible Dale Tremont, the girl of his dreams, and follows her across Europe in an attempt to win her heart.

After touring the UK, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will play at the Barbican and will star Robert Sean Leonard

Following two hugely successful runs at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, To Kill a Mockingbird will return to London from 24 June until 25 July 2015 at the Barbican, at the end of the forthcoming UK tour. Robert Sean Leonard is thrilled to reprise the role of Atticus Finch exclusively at the Barbican. Tickets are now on sale to Barbican Red and Orange Members. 

Tickets will go on sale to the public on Tuesday 2 September at 10am.

Robert Sean Leonard is a Tony award-winning American actor and is best known for playing Dr. James Wilson in the Fox television series House and Neil Perry in the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society. Having frequently performed on and off Broadway since 1986, To Kill a Mockingbird at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2013 marked Robert’s critically acclaimed return to the London stage for the first time in 22 years. 

FIRST LOOK: New cast join the UK tour of WICKED the Musical

WICKED, the global musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, have a new cast starting from 16th September; that includes Ashleigh Gray (Elphaba), Samuel Edwards (Fiyero), Steven Pinder (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond), Richard Vincent (Boq) and Jacqueline Hughes (Standby Elphaba) will join the record-breaking UK Tour from Tuesday 16 September 2014 at Liverpool Empire Theatre. 

Emily Tierney (Glinda), Marilyn Cutts (Madame Morrible) and Carina Gillespie (Nessarose) all continue in their current starring roles. 

The tour is currently at  Birmingham Hippodrome (9 July to 6 September 2014). It will then tour to Liverpool Empire Theatre (16 September to 11 October 2014); Southampton Mayflower Theatre (21 October to 15 November 2014); Edinburgh Playhouse (19 November 2014 to 10 January 2015); Plymouth Theatre Royal (20 January to 14 February 2015); Bristol Hippodrome (18 February to 21 March 2015);Sunderland Empire Theatre (31 March to 25 April 2015); Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre (5 to 30 May 2015) and concludes at The Lowry in Salford (3 June to 25 July 2015). Tickets are now on sale at all venues and can be booked via www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Full cast announced for UK tour of BARNUM

The national tour of Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Barnum will open at Leicester Curve on 5 September 2014. The tour will star Brian Conley in the title role, alongside Linzi Hateley as Chairy.

Cy Coleman's 1980 Broadway musical follows the life of Phineas T Barnum, America's "Greatest Showman". The score includes "Come Follow The Band", "The Colours Of My Life" and "There Is A Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute".

The revival, directed by Open Air Theatre's Timothy Sheader, was first seen at Chichester Festival Theatre's temporary Theatre in the Park in July last year.

Jon Lee stars in the new touring production of COPACABANA

Barry Manilow’s hit musical, Copacabana will return to the UK and tour in a new production starting in October. The musical, written by Manilow and his longtime collaborators Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, has not been seen in the UK for ten years and will open at Harlow Playhouse on Thursday 2 October 2014 (press night Friday 3 October at 7.30pm).

Packed with original songs, dazzling costumes and dynamic choreography, this new production will reimagine the original stage version of Copacabana, which was first performed in the US in 1991 and has never before been seen in the UK.

Featuring Manilow hits including Dancin’ Fool, Who Needs to Dream, Welcome to Havana and of course, the Grammy Award-winning Copacabana (At The Copa), this production will have audience members dancing in the aisles.  Critics and audience members agree that Copacabana “explodes with memorable songs and dances.”   

FIRST LOOK: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, starring Lloyd Daniels and Danielle Hope

With a crash-of-drums-and-a-flash-of-light X Factor finalist Lloyd Daniels makes his musical theatre debut in the title role of the UKs longest running musical JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. The youngest contestant in 2009’s competition, Daniels got to the final 5 out of 250,000 entrants and performed in front of 10 million TV viewers. Since then he has performed to sold out arenas on a 56 date X Factor tour and released popular single Suburban Girl.

Danielle Hope captured the hearts of the country when she won BBC Television’s Over the Rainbow and made her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. Now, following a hugely successful year as Eponine in Les Misérables in London’s West End she joins the cast of Joseph as Narrator.

Full cast announced for WICKED UK tour from September 16

WICKED, the global musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is pleased to announce that Ashleigh Gray (Elphaba), Emily Tierney (Glinda), Samuel Edwards (Fiyero), Marilyn Cutts (Madame Morrible), Steven Pinder (The Wizard andDoctor Dillamond), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Richard Vincent (Boq), Jacqueline Hughes (Standby Elphaba), Joe Atkinson, Joshua Berg, Chrissy Brooke, Ben Carruthers, Harrison Clark, Lauren Ellis-Steele, Oliver Evans, Victoria Farley, Natasha Ferguson, Zoë George, Natalie Green, Will Knights, Sophie Leigh-Griffin, Candy Marriot, Tom Mather, Brian McCann, Ashley Morgan-Davies, Stephanie Powell, Wendy-Lee Purdy, Elisha Sherman, Grant Thresh, Hannah Veerapen and Danny Whiteheadwill star in the record-breaking UK Tour from Tuesday 16 September 2014 at Liverpool Empire Theatre. 

The tour is currently at Birmingham Hippodrome (until 6 September 2014) and continues to Liverpool Empire Theatre (16 September to 11 October 2014); Southampton Mayflower Theatre (21 October to 15 November 2014); Edinburgh Playhouse (19 November 2014 to 10 January 2015); Plymouth Theatre Royal (20 January to 14 February 2015); Bristol Hippodrome (18 February to 21 March 2015); Sunderland Empire Theatre (31 March to 25 April 2015); Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre (5 to 30 May 2015) and concludes at The Lowry in Salford (3 June to 25 July 2015). Tickets are now on sale at all venues and can be booked via www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk