When a witch goes bad

FORMER 'GLINDA' LOUISE DEARMAN RETURNS TO STAR AS 'ELPHABA' IN FIRST FOR MUSICAL WICKED

Wicked, the smash hit West End musical, is proud to announce that Louise Dearman, who played ‘Glinda’ to huge acclaim from March 2010 to December 2011, will return to star as ‘Elphaba’ from Monday 29 October 2012. It is the first time that a leading lady will have starred in both roles in the nearly decade-long history of the global musical phenomenon.

Louise Dearman is a musical theatre star, recording artist and presenter. In addition to ‘Glinda’ in Wicked, her major musical theatre roles have included: ‘Eva Peron’ in Evita, ‘Grizabella’ in Cats and ‘Sarah Brown’ in Guys and Dolls.  She has released two albums, including the recent ‘Here Comes The Sun’. You can find out more over at her official website.

Credit: Dan Wooller

Louise Dearman commented: “As an actress, you strive to challenge yourself to play as many diverse roles as possible throughout your career, and right now I feel like the luckiest girl in the history of musical theatre. I still can’t quite believe that in two months’ time I’ll be back in Wicked, but this time I won’t come and go by Bubble, I’ll be on a broomstick!"

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: “From her wonderful performance as Glinda, audiences already know that Louise possesses a stunning voice and remarkable acting abilities, so we are genuinely excited to now welcome her back to Wicked as Elphaba. We have all been awestruck by the way Louise has channelled her incredible talents to inhabit this iconic role, and I’ve no doubt that audiences will be equally thrilled”.

The multi award-winning Wicked has already been seen by over 4.5 million people since its West End premiere in 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. It is now one of the Top 20 longest-running musicals in West End history.

Wicked has music and lyrics by Academy Award® winner Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and is directed by two-time Tony Award® winner and Olivier nominee Joe Mantello.  Wicked is based on the best-selling novel, ‘Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, by Gregory Maguire.

Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG
The theatre is 1 minute from London Victoria Mainline and Underground Stations. 5 minute walk from Victoria Coach Station.

Wicked spearheads and supports a range of good causes born out of the themes of the award-winning musical. Discover more at: www.WickedForGood.co.uk

Zach Braff on the London stage

Yet another change from the usual film related stories that normally appear on this blog. This time it's for a play on the London stage. Zach Braff Scrubs and Garden State makes his UK stage acting debut in a new comedy, All The New People. Not only does Zach star in the play he wrote it himself as well.

I have been sent over a featurette about the "star studded" opening night extravaganza that happened on February 28th. Tickets are on sale for the play, either at the Duke Of York's box office or via the play's official website.

Opening night Featurette

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This angst-fuelled comedy saw New York’s Second Stage Theatre packed out nightly and received rave reviews from US critics, with its present day dilemmas and take on four very different characters way of life.

In the dead of winter, at his wealthy friends’ luxury Long Beach Island apartment, Charlie (Zach Braff) has hit rock bottom on his 35th birthday. Away from the rest of the world, this perfect escape is interrupted by a motley parade of misfits who show up and change his plans. A hired beauty, a fireman, and an eccentric British real estate agent desperately trying to stay in the country all suddenly find themselves tangled together in a beach house where the mood is anything but sunny, while Charlie just wishes they’d leave and let him get on with it.

Images courtesy of Paul Clapp at Limelight Studios