Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Mary Moore. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Mary Moore. Sort by date Show all posts

Thursday, 3 February 2022

Peter Andre to play Vince Fontaine in Grease at the Dominion Theatre


Peter Andre will make his West End debut playing the role of Vince Fontaine at certain performances in a new production of Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey’s iconic musical GREASE opening at the Dominion Theatre on Tuesday 17 May 2022, with previews from Tuesday 3 May 2022. GREASE is directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips. 

 

Dan Partridge (Link Larkin in Hairspray UK tour & Pepper in MAMMA MIA! West End) and Olivia Moore (Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre & Heathers at Theatre Royal Haymarket) will star as Danny and Sandy respectively, with Jocasta Almgill (& Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre) as Rizzo, Paul French (GreaseUK tour) as Kenickie, Mary Moore (Little Women at Park Theatre) as Jan, Jake Reynolds (professional debut) as Doody, Lizzy-Rose Esin-Kelly (A Chorus Line at Curve) as Marty, Damon Gould (Pretty Woman: The Musical at Savoy Theatre) as Sonny, Eloise Davies (Be More Chill at The Other Palace) as Frenchie, Jessica Croll (Hairspray UK tour) as Patty Simcox, Katie Lee (Matilda The Musical at Cambridge Theatre) as Cha Cha, Ronan Burns (West Side Story at Curve) as Johnny Casino and Corinna Powlesland (An Officer and A Gentleman at Regents Park Open Air Theatre as Miss Lynch. Darren Bennett (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre) will play Officer Mailie and Vince Fontaine at certain performances. 

 

They are joined by Jack Harrison-Cooper, Pearce Barron, Rishard-Kyro Nelson, Ellie Kingdon, Remi Ferdinand, Kalisha Johnson, Imogen Bailey, Kevin O’Dwyer and Carly Miles. Further casting is to be announced.

 

Peter Andre said “I'm beyond excited to be making my West End debut playing Vince Fontaine in Grease at the beautiful Dominion Theatre. Grease is such an iconic musical and we can guarantee audiences will have the most wonderful evening listening to songs we all know and love. We can't wait to see you there!"

 

GREASE originally opened in Chicago in 1971, followed by a move to Broadway in 1972, where it received seven Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical. During the show's eight-year run at the time, little known actors including Peter Gallagher, Patrick Swayze and John Travolta all appeared in the production, with Richard Gere understudying many roles before going on to star as Danny Zuko in the 1973 London premiere. GREASE was first performed at the Dominion Theatre in 1993 before transferring to the Cambridge Theatre in 1996. It returned to the West End, opening at the Piccadilly Theatre in 2007. 

 

The 1978 film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John is the fourth highest-grossing live action musical of all time. The musical features beloved songs, including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted To Youand You’re The One That I Want.

 

GREASE has designs by Colin Richmond, orchestrations and musical supervision by Sarah Travis, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Tom Marshall and Richard Brooker, video and projection design by Douglas O’Connell and casting by David Grindrod CDG.

 

This production of GREASE is produced by Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions, Donovan Mannato, Playing Field, Gavin Kalin, and Curve.

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Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Grease The Musical, Dominion Theatre | Review


Grease The Musical
Dominion Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 17th May 2022 by Olivia Mitchell 
★★★

It’s a cult classic that’s got the word, got the groove, it’s got meaning, and in its current West End run at the Dominion Theatre, Grease provides a high energy, fun night out that’ll have you feeling good and tapping your toes.

The production which previously toured the UK features all the iconic moments and songs from the film, but shuffles them around and combines them with their original stage versions. For example The T Birds are now back to their og name of the Burger Palace Boys. These small tweaks allow the audience to be more engaged as they don’t quite know what’s coming. However, other attempts to somewhat modernise the book fall a little flat. You would assume that ending the show with the punchline of the girl changing herself so the boy likes her, could’ve been switched up a little but it remains the same as the movie and certainly feels dated. This version of Grease does give Sandy's character more of a backbone but it would be nice to see just a bit of dialogue added to give her a bit more autonomy at the end.

The West End cast is chockablock with strong performers who bring the array of characters to life incredibly well. As the leading lady, Olivia Moore is a delight as Sandy. Her powerhouse voice soars every time she opens her mouth and she gives a dynamic and endearing performance. Leader of the Burger Palace Boys, Danny Zuko is played well by Dan Partridge who really comes into his own in the angsty number How Big I'm Gonna Be and also provides great humour and vocals in Stranded at the Drive In.

Other standout performers include Jocasta Almgill, who’s rendition of There Are Worse Things I Could Do, is heart-wrenching and transforms the song to be heard in a new light. Mary Moore is also a gem as Jan and Eloise Davies is wonderfully witty and whimsical as the Beauty School Dropout, Frenchie. Paul French’s Kenickie is rough and brooding but sometimes lets his softer side show and is a delight to watch. 

If you’ve seen the adverts for this show, you’ll have probably seen Peter Andre who is starring as Vince Fontaine and Teen Idol. Whilst only appearing briefly in act one, in act two he comes to life and is highly entertaining and will certainly please audience members who are fans!

There are a few moments in the show where the energy lulls or jokes fall a bit flat but it’s the full ensemble sections that really bring it back up and make it soar. The Hand Jive and We Go Together are especially good moments that ooze energy and almost create electricity in the auditorium. This is in a big way thanks to Arlene Phillips' outstanding choreography that is fresh and exciting but completely in keeping with what we know and love as typically Grease. 

As a whole the cast are top notch and work really well together. It's great to see how much characterisation work has gone into each role, so that no matter who you're looking at one stage, you can always see a story or relationship developing with them.

Despite a few shortcomings, the musical is a real laugh and a nice, hand jiving escape from reality. It's not groundbreaking but Grease The Musical does what it says on the tin and delivers iconic scenes and songs that fans of the film will love. So, all you crazy cats better get booking!
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Wednesday, 7 December 2022

Full Cast Announced for 'No Limits' at the Turbine Theatre


Sam Caldwell He/Him for Paper House Productions is pleased to announce the full cast of No Limits – A Song Cycle by Sam Thomas He/Him.
 
Directed by Dean Johnson, He/Him, (BKLYN, LIFT), this exciting new production will open in London at the Turbine Theatre on 15th February 2023. 
 
Joining Natalie May Paris (SIX The Musical), She/Her, in the role of #DREAMER will be, Owen Clayton (Julie: The Musical and It’s In The Air), They/He, as #ROMANTIC, Hannah Lowther (Heathers The Musical, Millennials, Emojiland), She/Her, as #CATFISH, Michael Mather (Soho Cinders and But I’m a Cheerleader), He/Him as #FIGHTER, Mary Moore (Grease and Little Women) She/They, #FUNEMPLOYED, Saffi Needham (Recently graduated and making her professional debut),  She/Her as  SWING.
 
West End and Tik Tok star Hannah Lower She/Her, said “I’m so excited to be joining the original London cast of No Limits, the team have been working so hard and we’re all so excited to finally share the show with an audience!"
 
Producer, Sam Caldwell He/Him said, “I am delighted to reveal the cast for our upcoming production of No Limits - A Song Cycle at the Turbine Theatre. I can’t wait to see this talent take to the stage and bring a fresh take to this wonderful material in this brand new, exciting production. This show has been a long time coming and I am looking forward to seeing how audiences connect with it in February.”
 
Joining Director Dean Johnson, He/Him, is Musical Director Ella Ingram She/Her, Associate Director Liv Byrom She/Her, Choreographer Rhys Wilkinson He/Him. No Limits - A Song Cycle also has set design by Justin Williams He/Him, lighting design by Alex Musgrave and stage management by Jack Evans He/Him.
 
No Limits - A Song Cycle deconstructs the concept of falling behind in life. It follows a diverse cast of characters from all walks of life as they dare to believe in themselves and strive for a brighter future.
 
This powerful collection of songs sees characters let go of their anxieties, take leaps of faith, and fight for who they truly are, from confessing their dreams of becoming a rockstar to catfishing their attractive neighbour.
 
No Limits - A Song Cycle features heartfelt and queer stories. This brand-new production emphasises that we are all in the same boat, and that with enough self-belief, we can always overcome our setbacks. There truly are No Limits to your journey.
 
Tickets for No Limits at the Turbine Theatre are on sale now
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Friday, 19 November 2021

Little Women, Park Theatre | Review



Little Women 
Park Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 18th November 2021 by Olivia Mitchell 
★★★★

Louisa May Alcott's timeless 1886 classic has earned praise and adoration, especially after the recent adaptation starring Florence Pugh and Timothée Chalamet, therefore there's a lot of excitement surrounding  the London premiere of the Little Women Musical.

Thankfully, this production, adapted by Allan Knee and directed by Bronagh Lagan is a completely wholesome treat which is full of youthful energy and is brilliantly loyal to the novel. It's a tale of life and love, with dramatic ebbs and flows that fit perfectly with musical moments.

The story follows the March sisters, with Jo, the outspoken writer taking us on a whirlwind journey through her life with her other sisters and the people they meet along the way. Everything about the story is intimate and familial and the sleek two level set and general feeling of the theatre fits it exactly.  Particularly enjoyable are the moments when Jo brings her stories to life, at times cleverly mimicking the actions of various performers and later on with projections.

Whilst most of the music adds emotional depth, there are quite a few songs and at times the dynamic feels somewhat one level. They're performed admirably but several songs are a bit samey. However, that's no reflection on the female string quartet who are vivacious from start to finish, nor the cast who are stellar.

Leading the charge is Lydia White as Jo who is entirely excellent. Her voice is clear as ice and her emotional variety and intensity is a dream to watch; she exudes star power from start to finish. As the other sisters Hana Ichijo (Meg),  Anastasia Martin (Beth) and Mary Moore (Amy) complement one another as well as having super strong solo moments. Savannah Stevenson's voice is stunning as she plays the role of the matriarch Marmee. Stevenson's vocal technique shinea through as she gives a nuanced and throughly endearing performance.  Ryan Bennett as Professor Bhaer is charming as is Sev Keoshgerian who makes Laurie a bumbling, loveable and humourous character. Mention must also go to Lejaun Sheppard who is brilliant as John Brooke. 

As a whole this is a wholesome musical that will have you laughing and tearing up. A number of shining performances and a story which highlights the importance of both unity and independence make it a thoroughly enjoyable time. Little Women is a little show with a big heart and hopefully a big future ahead of it!

photo credit: Pamela Raith
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Monday, 20 February 2023

No Limits, Turbine Theatre | Review


No Limits
Turbine Theatre
Reviewed on Friday Friday 17th February 2023
★★★

Currently playing at the Turbine Theatre, No Limits, a song cycle by Sam Thomas is a number of vignettes of millennial/gen z life which are uniformly well performed but sometimes lack enough depth to really make them pop.

That’s not to say the show is bad at all, but there are a few songs which don’t quite pack a punch and you’re left wanting just a bit more. As a song cycle, cohesion isn’t necessarily expected but I do think this piece could be elevated by having a bit of a through line to hold it all together and guide its journey so it’s a bit less of a mish-mash of individual stories.

However, as performances go, you truly couldn’t ask for more than those that this cast provide. The five strong ensemble give impeccable vocals.

Hannah Lowther (#Catfish) is masterful in her nuanced facial expressions, which convey so much emotion through the tiniest movements. She’s a vocal athlete who sounds completely in control at all times and is an absolute dream to watch and hear. Playing the #Fighter Michael Mather has some fantastically strong vocal moments, especially when bringing his rockstar dreams to life. As #Dreamer Natalie Paris is the embodiment of a star. With a tone that is buttery and riffs for days, her vocals are enough to rival anyone in the top 40 and she provides some of the most moving performances of the evening. Mary Moore (#Funemployed) really gets a chance to shine in this show and it’s a treat to see. She not only gives a brilliant vocal performance but is also incredibly witty and they also have excellent chemistry with all the other performers. Owen Clayton as #Romantic is the perfect compliment to the cast and is sweetly endearing in their performance and once again serves killer vocals throughout.

It's particularly impressive how well the five person cast use the small space of the Turbine stage. Thanks to Justin Williams' sleek set and Rhys Wilkinson's great movement direction, it never feels like they're on top of one another (except when necessary!) and the whole thing flows very well. 

Alex Musgraves' lighting helps to elevate each song, for example transforming the space into a comedy club vibe for one number, and Richard Carter's sound design makes the piece feel intimate and personal.

No Limits is sickly sweet at times but overall its an ode to positivity and the importance of your own stories. It's not groundbreaking but it's a really good night out with an absolutely wonderful cast.

photo credit: Danny Kaan

{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
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Tuesday, 6 June 2023

Greatest Days at the New Victoria Theatre review: A fun watch for Take That fans


Greatest Days (Tour)
New Victoria Theatre 
★★★

The Official Take That Musical: Greatest Days (formerly The Band) written by Tim Firth with music by Take That, offers a heartwarming story that will resonate with those who have been part of a fandom and experienced the highs and lows of a friendship with so much history. The plot's utilisation of a double timeline is effective, and the show is likely a trip down memory lane for some but overall it falls short of delivering a fully impactful emotional punch.

Made up of Kalifa Burton, Jamie Corner, Archie Durrant, Regan Gascoigne and Alexanda O'Reilly, The Band's presence in the musical, acting as a Greek chorus supporting the girls, is a clever concept. They contribute to the story through well-placed songs, although there are instances where songs do feel a bit forced. While the band's performances are good, they don't exude world domination star quality, and although each band member has their shining second, they lack standout, memorable moments considering their significant role in the show.

Greatest Days has the potential to be a great show, but it falls slightly short of achieving that status. It taps into 90s nostalgia and Take That references, making it a must-see for fans of the era. However, the overall energy of the production could use a boost. The choreography by Aaron Renfree captures the boyband aesthetic and has its impressive moments, but there is a lack of precision and unity among the cast at times which leaves things feeling flat.

The lighting design by Rob Casey stands out as a strong element, effectively evoking the feeling of being at a concert. On the other hand, while Lucy Osborne's set design works well with the show and offers adequate levels for mirroring, it doesn't offer much to visually engage the audience beyond the surface.

The chemistry between the girls, both the younger (Emilie Cunliffee, Kitty Harris, Hannah Brown, Mari McGinlay and Mary Moore) and older versions (Kym Marsh, Rachel Marwood, Holly Ashton and Jamie-Rose Monk), is commendable. Their well-defined personalities contribute to the plot, creating a strong through line which has some heart-wrenching moments. However, there are some of jokes and lines which feel outdated and unnecessary, and detract from the overall experience.

Despite its flaws, Greatest Days manages to provide some humorous moments and an ending that will have you on your feet. It caters to its target audience who will undoubtedly appreciate the 90s nostalgia and Take That references. As a fun night out, it delivers an enjoyable experience, but it doesn't leave a lasting impression worthy of raving about.


Reviewed on Monday 5th June 2023
photo credit: Alastair Muir

{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
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Friday, 21 January 2022

Beauty and the Beast to Play at the London Palladium


Disney’s beloved Olivier Award-winning stage musical Beauty and the Beast - re-imagined and re-designed in a completely new production staged by members of the original award-winning creative team - will come to London in Summer 2022, as part of its UK & Ireland Tour.

Performances will begin at the London Palladium from Friday 24 June 2022, for a strictly limited season until Saturday 17 September.

Tickets will go on-sale for London at 10am on Friday 28 January. Customers can sign up to be amongst the first to access tickets and can find all tour dates and information at BeautyAndTheBeastMusical.co.uk

The UK tour opened at Bristol Hippodrome on 25 August 2021 and is currently playing at the Sunderland Empire.  

Spectacular new designs and state-of-the-art technology fuse with the classic story, as the timeless romantic tale is brought to life on stage like never before, with all the charm and elegance audiences expect from Belle and her Beast.

Courtney Stapleton and Shaq Taylor will play the iconic lead roles. Courtney’s credits include Dear Evan Hansen, Six, Les Misérables and Bat Out of Hell, and Shaq is best known for performing in Girl from the North Country, Hadestown and Hex.

Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins, SpongeBob SquarePants, the Broadway Musical, Les Misérables) plays Lumiere and Tom Senior (The Pirates of Penzance, Eugenius!) is Gaston.

Sam Bailey (The X-Factor winner 2013, Blood Brothers) plays the legendary role of Mrs Potts, with Nigel Richards (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables) as Cogsworth.

Martin Ball (Les Misérables, Wicked, Top Hat) takes the role of Maurice, Samantha Bingley (Martha In The Secret Garden) is Wardrobe, Emma Caffrey (Curtains, 42nd Street, Funny Girl) is Babette and Louis Stockil (Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia!) plays Le Fou.

The full company is completed with Richard Astbury, Sarah Benbelaid, Jake Bishop, Pamela Blair, Liam Buckland, Jasmine Davis, Matthew Dawkins, Autumn Draper, Daisy Edwards, Alyn Hawke, George Hinson, Jennifer Louise Jones, Brontë Lavine, Thomas-Lee Kidd, David McIntosh, Aimee Moore, Sam Murphy, Ashley-Jordon Packer, Emily Squibb, Grace Swaby, India Thornton and Rhys West.

Beauty and the Beast is reimagined in startling new designs which use the latest theatrical innovations. Among the many new features is an exuberant tap dance within the legendary production number Be Our Guest, created expressly for Gavin Lee, recognised as one of the great tappers on either side of the Atlantic.

Olivier Award nominee Matt West directs and choreographs this new production, leading a team that includes composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, bookwriter Linda Woolverton, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and lighting designer Natasha Katz. The team collectively received five Tony® nominations and a win for Hould-Ward’s costume design, when Disney first debuted Beauty and the Beast on Broadway 28 years ago.

The structure and tone of the story and score – as conceived for the 1991 film by its executive producer and lyricist Howard Ashman with a continued evolution for the Broadway adaptation three years later – made Disney history. Only once before – in Menken and Ashman’s previous film musical The Little Mermaid – had a Disney film been structured like a stage musical where the songs are integral to plot and characterisation rather than only ornamental or digressions. This Menken/Ashman innovation is credited with the 1990’s Disney animation renaissance that went on to create such film classics as Aladdin, The Lion King and Hunchback of Notre Dame and helped re-introduce the book musical form to popular culture.

This new Beauty, while retaining the lush period sound of the Oscar-winning and Tony®-nominated score - which brought classics including Be Our Guest and Beauty and the Beast, as well as Change in Me, added to the musical production in 1998 and retained thereafter - has new dance arrangements by David Chase, allowing original choreographer Matt West to re-visit his work. Longtime Menken collaborators Michael Kosarin and Danny Troob are musical supervisor/vocal arranger and orchestrator, respectively.

Completing the design team, Tony®-winner John Shivers is sound designer, Darryl Maloney is the video and projections designer, and David H. Lawrence is hair designer. Jim Steinmeyer is the illusions designer, as he was on the original 1994 production. Casting for the production is by Pippa Ailion Casting.

The original West End production of Beauty and the Beast opened at the Dominion Theatre in April 1997, playing over 1100 performances to more than two million people. It won the 1998 Olivier Award for Best Musical and enjoyed a hugely successful UK & Ireland tour in 2001.

Based on the 1991 film – the first animated feature ever nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture – Beauty and the Beast opened on Broadway in April 1994 and garnered nine Tony nominations and one win. It played for more than 13 years on Broadway, closing in 2007. It remains to this day – 28 years after it opened – among the top 10 longest running shows in Broadway history. The 2017 live-action retelling of the animated classic quickly became the highest grossing live action film musical of all time, a record only beaten by The Lion King live-action release in 2019.

Beauty and the Beast is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the supervision of Thomas Schumacher.

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