I’d do anything
Oliver! the musical returns to the West End on December 12th 2008 with Olivers and Nancys selected by TV’s “I’d do anything” show.
** Book Oliver! theatre breaks for JAN - SEPT 2009 **
Where are they now? TV Contestants On Stage July 13, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Musicals , 3commentsTV audition show contestants - where are they now?
Lots of people, including myself, have raised questions about the fad for TV audition shows. Well in some cases I’m more than happy to eat my words 
Here’s a round up of some of musicals whose casts include TV show contestants.
They’re Playing Our Song
Connie Fisher - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? winner 2007
Having played Maria in the Sound of Music Connie will soon star in this Neil Simon show. The musical starts its run at the Menier Chocolate Factory on July 25 and runs till September 28.
Joseph
Lee Mead - Any Dream will Do winner 2007
Still the People’s Joseph, Mead goes from strength to strength.
Grease
Danny Bayne - Grease is the Word 2007
Danny plays the leading male role, Danny Zuko in Grease
Ray Quinn - X-Factor 2006 (2nd)
In his West End debut Ray plays Doody for a limited season - until 15 November 2008.
Oliver
Jodie Prenger -I’d Do Anything, 2008
Rehearsals for Oliver begin in September. Jodie will be Nancy six of the eight performances a week at the Theatre Royal from December.
We Will Rock You
Rachel Tucker from I’d Do Anything, 2008 will play Meat in We Will Rock You
Les Miserables
Nancy Sullivan - I’d Do Anything, 2008
Nancy plays the adult Eponine in Les Mis
Leanne Dobinson “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria” 2007
Leanne plays Cosette
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (UK Touring Production)
Susan McFadden - Grease is the Word 2007
Over to you…
I’m sure there must be some I’ve missed. Who else is currently playing in the West End but got their start on a TV audition show?
We Will Rock You gets a surprise new cast member July 10, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, cast changes, dates, wewillrockyou , add a commentClue - “Rachel, you are not Nancy”
We Will Rock You has a new leading lady - Rachel Tucker! Rachel will take over as Meat at London’s Dominion Theatre from September 22nd.
Rachel said:
“It is a dream part. We Will Rock You is one of my favourite shows.
“I first saw it when I was a student at the Royal Academy and loved it.
“I am beside myself with excitement. I just can’t believe it.”
Belfast born and bred, Rachel almost made it to the final of the BBC1 show I’d Do Anything before she heard those fateful words. Despite a fabulous performance of Cabaret, she lost her chance to star as Nancy in the West End production of musical Oliver!
Now she has her chance on the West End stage after all and in one of the most popular and well established shows in town. Let’s not forget Kerry Ellis once played this role and look at her now!
We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You has been has been running at the Dominion Theatre for six years. The musical is based on the songs of Queen and a book by Ben Elton.
Other New Cast Members
Ian Carlyle - (Porgy and Bess and Miss Saigon) will play Meat’s partner Britney.
Garry Lake - (ex We Will Rock You ensemble) will play Pop.
Yet Another Nancy (YAN) gets a West End Role July 10, 2008
Posted by admin in : I'd do anything, wewillrockyou , add a commentTV elimination shows with audience voting are played as if “The winner takes it all” (quote from Mamma Mia! ) but in reality, the losers can also be winners.
Rachel Tucker is the latest contestant from I’d Do Anything to be offered a dream of a role in London theatre. She’s landed the part of “Meat” in the fantastically successful We Will Rock You starting on September 22nd.
Rachel Tucker was the Northern Irish girl who came fourth in the BBC series with Andrew Lloyd Weber and Cameron Macintosh looking for a winner to play Nancy in Oliver when it starts in December. That prize was won by Jodie Prenger, but Oliver will be a revival of an old favourite musical whereas We Will Rock You has been running for six years at the Dominion Theatre, and ten years altogether in London. Rachel has never performed in the West End before, but she’s not inexperienced in the world of theatre by any means, having appeared in UK tours of The Full Monty, Tommy and Tonight’s The Night, on top of many shows in Belfast.
She’s not Nancy but she is Eponine! June 4, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Les Miserables , 1 comment so far Les Miserables, currently at The Queen’s Theatre, has cast changes form June 23rd. 
Nancy Sullivan, one of my favourites from the BBC’s “I’d Do Anything” (the search for the role of ‘Nancy’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s “Oliver!”), has landed the role of the adult Eponine in Les Mis! Nancy has a lovely voice and good acting skills. She should really shine in the role. Despite a fairly early departure from the BBC show I am sure that we will see Nancy Sullivan in West End productions for many years to come.
Leanne Dobinson is taking over the role of ‘Cosette’. She has been in the show before as the young ‘Eponine’ was a contestant in the BBC’s previous search for a leading lady “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria”
Les Miserables
The story is set in 19th century France during the revolutionary struggles and based on the novel by Victor Hugo. The musical was written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. Lyrics are by Herbert Kretzmer and the music was composed by Claude-Michel Schonberg, with original text by Alain Boublil and additional material by James Fenton. It is adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.
Les Mis, as it is affectionately known, is a West End perennial currently in it’s 22nd year.
Oliver - Jodie gets two extra performances on a Saturday! June 2, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Musicals, Oliver, Theatre Royal, dates , 1 comment so far
Jodie Prenger, winner of BBC’s I’d Do Anything, has already been given an extra two performances a week. This turns it into an almost full schedule. According to the official site:
Sickness and holiday permitting, we have decided that Jodie Prenger is scheduled to perform on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Wednesday matinees, Friday evenings and both performances on Saturday. Until the show opens in December we cannot make a final decision on any additional performances.
So someone clearly has confidence in Jodie’s ability to cope, despite what might have have been said during the show. There’s been a huge outcry about the small number of performances initially allotted to the winner. If you want to explore the full range of reactions just have a look through the seventy odd comments on my Jodie Prenger Wins I’d Do Anything blog post!
This looks like a good move on their part given the strength of the popular vote, Jodie’s personal popularity must be capable of translating into ticket sales so they’ll want to use her as much as possible.
I wonder if they had set the level so low in case one of the youngsters won. Let’s be honest, I can’t imagine 17 year old Samantha Berk sustaining more than 4 performances a week or Jessie, for that matter, at all of 18. I know Nancy’s not an enormous role but it has some taxing songs and her performance is pivotal to the success of the show. If we don’t care about Nancy nothing else makes sense.
So now you can be sure of seeing Jodie Prenger as Nancy on your Oliver weekend theatre break. Just one thing, book soon, as weekend dates are filling up fast!
Jodie Prenger is Nancy but can you be sure of seeing her? June 1, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Musicals, Oliver, Theatre Royal, dates , add a comment
Jodie Prenger was revealed on I’d Do Anything last night as the nation’s choice for the role of Nancy in Cameron Macintosh’s new production of Oliver at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The production starts previews from December 12th and Oliver theatre breaks are already on sale.
What Nights Will She Play?
Please Note - Updated Post - Jodie is now playing 6 shows a week.
So Jodie is Nancy, but how can you be sure of seeing her? The official web site for the show now says:
Sickness and holiday permitting, we have decided that Jodie Prenger is scheduled to perform on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Wednesday matinees, Friday evenings and both performances on Saturday. Until the show opens in December we cannot make a final decision on any additional performances.
So if you want to book Oliver theatre breaks now, to be sure of getting tickets you need to pick your days with care.
It may be that once rehearsals get going and they see how she copes more performances will be added. Currently Jodie Prenger will play 6 houses a week.
Christmas Oliver Theatre Breaks
It might still be possible to book a theatre break to see Oliver during the Christmas holidays. If you are going to go for that you will need to act quickly. I think Oliver will be a massive draw over the Christmas period. We all love a bit of Dickens at Christmas and Oliver is a perfect family show.
Oliver Christmas Performance Dates and Times
Sickness and any holidays permitting Jodie’s proposed performances are marked in red:
Mon 22nd December - 7.30pm
Tues 23rd December - 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Wednesday 24th December - 2.30pm
Thursday 25th December - No show
Friday 26th December - 7.30pm
Saturday 27th December - 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Monday 29th December -7.30pm
Tuesday 30th December -7.30pm
Wednesday 31st December - 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Thursday 1st January -7.30pm
Friday 2nd January- 7.30pm
Saturday 3rd January- 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Update - Jodie gets Saturday performances
See our latest post -Jodie’s playing both Saturday performances as well now, possibly due to public demand.
What about Oliver?
I’m afraid there’s no way to be sure of seeing your favourite Oliver. The web site states:
Due to licensing issues we cannot decide which Oliver will perform until shortly before the performance starts.
Having said that they are all wonderful, and we shouldn’t really play favourites . I can’t help but have a soft spot for one little Welsh charmer but I know they’re all good.
I’ll be ‘reviewing the situation’ and I’ll post as soon as there are any more details about the cast, dates, or anything else to do with Oliver.
Check availabilty for Oliver Theatre Breaks with Show and Stay/Holiday Extras using the form below:
Oliver - Jodie Prenger wins I’d Do Anything May 31, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Oliver, news, opinion , 189commentsOliver has it’s leading lady - on tonight’s I’d Do Anything the public vote chose Jodie Prenger.
Jodie has been a firm favourite during the whole series. She has hardly put a foot wrong and has given some extraordinary performances. In the final she was up against strong competition from Samantha Barks and Jessie Buckley. I agree with Andrew Lloyd Webber who’s final comment was that he’d always thought this might be the result. Jodie touched a nerve with the public. She’s got a good voice and she is closest to the way Nancy is usually portrayed.
There’s been some question over how happy Cameron Macintosh would be with Jodie as his Nancy. Some newspapers went so far as to suggest that he thought she might be too ‘big’ and that he’d prefer a slimmer actress for the part. As it was tonight when he was asked how he felt about the result he said:
I’m thrilled for Jodie
This did hit a slightly off note, especially after he’d expressed his preference for Jessie only a few minutes earlier.
John Barrowman and Denise Van Outen were both obviously delighted by the public’s choice. Barry Humphries seemed less so. He’s always had a soft spot for the younger girls and I suspect he’d have preferred the role to go to either Sam or Jessie.
Did the right Nancy win?
I think so, but it was awfully close. I’ve supported Jodie pretty much from the start but tonight I switched my support back and forth between the three of them.
I loved Sam’s rendition of Anyone Who Had a Heart and was ready to change my choice. Then her duet with ‘Oliver’ put me right off her for the role. There wasn’t much wrong with it but it was just very clear that there was only 5 years between them. It just didn’t work! It was no surprise then that she went out first. I’m sure we’ll see more of Sam and she’ll be on the West End stage soon.
Jessie sang a hard song and was far better with her Oliver, striking a lovely balance between being a tomboyish big sister and slightly maternal. It was the final song that let her down I think. She gave it everything. It was magnificent but I just couldn’t see her doing it 8 shows a week.
Jodie then was a safe, assured, mature Nancy. She sang all her songs beautifully, she did a great duet with ‘Oliver’ and she was just great. A safe pair of hands.
I still worry about teaming her with the right Bill Sykes though.
Have Your Say
What do you think? Is Jodie the right choice for Nancy?
Oliver - Never mind Nancy -who will be Bill Sykes? May 19, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Musicals, Oliver, opinion , 7comments
The Daily Mail seems to think it knows. They are tipping Burn Gorman to play the bruiser Bill Sykes in the new production of Oliver. Now I really like Burn’s work. He’ll be sadly missed in Torchwood where he did show he has an interestingly dark side. He was excellent in Bleak House on the BBC too so he knows his way around a costume drama. He’s musical, having even worked with the ENO. I just cannot quite see him as Bill Sykes. How can I put this? Maybe Dickens can help.
Oliver Twist
Skyes was….
… a stoutly-built fellow of about five-and-thirty, in a black velveteen coat, very soiled drab breeches, lace-up half boots, and grey cotton stockings which enclosed a bulky pair of legs, with large swelling calves;–the kind of legs, which in such costume, always look in an unfinished and incomplete state without a set of fetters to garnish them. He had a brown hat on his head, and a dirty belcher handkerchief round his neck: with the long frayed ends of which he smeared the beer from his face as he spoke. He disclosed, when he had done so, a broad heavy countenance with a beard of three days’ growth, and two scowling eyes; one of which displayed various parti-coloured symptoms of having been recently damaged by a blow.
You see, by this point I’m imagining Oliver Reed who played the part in the 1968 film version .
I just can’t quite fit the slim figure of Burn Gorman, all 5 ‘ 10″ of it, dominating some of the remaining Nancys. In particular I think if Burn is cast then Jodie is doomed. She would need someone with a bit more physical substance to play against than Burn. This is a great shame in my opinion as Jodie is consistently the best Nancy on I’d Do Anything. And Andrew Lloyd Webber has a cheek describing her dancing as “meatloaf” - not nice or even accurate!
I don’t really see how they can cast Bill Sykes without knowing who will play Nancy. There has to be a physical chemistry there that helps to explain why Nancy would stay with such a rat. If not it makes a total nonsense of a huge part of the plot. And this would mean that all four lead characters would have no solid, day in day out, stage musical experience! Am I the only one that’s worried?
Update - it’s Sikes not Skyes!
What can I say? I got it wrong as one of our readers kindly pointed out. Thanks Rosie
Check Availability for Oliver Theatre Breaks..
I’d do anything, just how experienced are these “newcomers”? March 19, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Musicals, Never Forget, Oliver, news , add a commentThe researchers at the Show and Stay blog have been busy finding out about the background of some of the potential Nancys for the new production of Oliver. (No tickets yet but watch this space!)
Jodie Prenger lost all that weight she mentioned on a reality tv show, Katie Rowley-Jones is currently appearing in Wicked (no great recommendation in my book . ) They’ve also managed to spot someone with even more experience, Francesca Jackson
not only did Francesca play Joanne in West End’s RENT but she also starred alongside none other than DENISE VAN OUTEN! For those of you who don’t know RENT, Joanne (Francesca) is Maureen’s (Denise) girlfriend which means they had to portray an intimate relationship on stage and kiss each other 7 nights a week. One has to ask - how the bloody hell can Denise vote fairly on Francesca when only a few months ago she had her tongue down her neck? Well I’d Do Anything fans, as always, we’ll just have to see how this one pans out!
I have to say I agree, although I’d probably been a little more delicate in phrasing it
Of course our eagle-eyed readers had already spotted Nancy Sullivan on the Never Forget DVD
So come on readers, who else on this list of potential Nancys has more TV or stage experience than we might have been led to believe?
(source Show and Stay )
Oliver - Who’ll Get a West End Theatre Break? March 16, 2008
Posted by Linda in : I'd do anything, Musicals, Oliver , 6commentsAfter my post about the thrall that TV seems to have over casting in London West End Theatre. “Break with tradition”, I thought, “and watch one of these things!”.
I’d Do Anything
Last night I sat and watched the BBC show I’d Do Anything. What an emotional roller coaster! Even Graham Norton seemed to wipe a tear away at one point. Is there some law that all Irish men cry at a few bars of Danny Boy? I will admit to welling up myself at a couple of things and I don’t cry easily. What was going on?
West End Theatre Break Favourites
By the end of the show I was pretty sure I’d seen the next Nancy and I already had some very definite favourites. I thought the genuine East End gal who was even called Nancy (!) sang with real, raw emotion. Stunning, powerful, believable, she really could be Nancy! I blubbed. I suspect it was the stuff about her dead dad combined with the song.I also liked Cleopatra, another Londoner, but the reliability of her voice is in question. Having to sip hot water and honey and losing your top notes is not a good start. That rasp in her voice was painful for her and us.I felt the Manchester girl who’d lost 8 stones (wow!) was a possible winner. She’s so exuberant and there was so much energy in her she really could be Nancy. I just worried that she might not have the stamina and there’s a vulnerability there that means she could get really hurt. Later I worried that she’s partly there for all us fatties to identify with.
And Not So Favourites
Of course there were other characters as well, the single mum who tugged at the heart strings, the Irish girl was cute and had a great voice. Lots of possible Nancies in fact.There was just one that made me really uncomfortable, and that’s when I started to feel slightly queasy about the whole show.You see I think she had by far the best voice but I just didn’t want to see her win Nancy. Her voice was amazing, range, power, the lot. I suspect she can act too. She even gave them a run for their money when the judges questioned her youth by pointing out that Dickens’ Nancy was only 17 in the book. Still, I didn’t want her to win. She was portrayed as a posh young miss, all of 17, product of two opera singers and a boarding school education. She was every inch the opposite of what we’d been told Nancy should be.
What’s Going On?
Just one thing, Oliver is a stage show, with, you know, acting? So why should I want someone be excluded for being too posh? Especially if she’s going to give the best performance? For the simple reason that my emotions had been manipulated by the TV show. Never forget this stuff is all very cleverly edited together to manipulate the audience. This is ‘reality TV’ not reality! Someone has been busy plotting story lines, mapping just how to influence the public vote, deciding when and how to release various bits of information, building up our idea of the characters. Except of course these are not characters they are real people with very real dreams and ambitions that the BBC are exploiting. And I got swept up in it :-(Trouble is I think it might just be unmissable TV! So I’m left hooked but not feeling too good about it. At least I have the excuse that I was watching so that I could write about it here. What’s your excuse?
Update
The East End girl (Nancy Sullivan), my top pick for Nancy. is on the Never Forget DVD. Here’s a clip:
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