Blog / Tom Lees
Check here for the latest musical news with links to all your #StageFaves performers, shows and theatres. Also look out for our regular #GetSocial features and contributions from our syndicate media partners including MyTheatreMates.com and the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society.
Check out the new faces joining the West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at London’s Apollo Theatre in March 2020. Rufus Hound is preparing to strut his way into the ever-popular show as Hugo/Loco Chanelle and Katy Brand will be in full teacher mode as Miss Hedge.
2019
It’s one of the biggest and most demanding roles in the West End and Mountview student Noah Thomas is going to be making his professional debut playing it. Yes, Noah will play Jamie New in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at London’s Apollo Theatre from 6 January 2020. Everybody’s going to be talking about it.
2019
There’s a new Miss Hedge in town from 17 November 2019 when actress, singer and radio presenter Preeya Kalidas joins the West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, plus we are thrilled to see that Roy Haylock, best known as his drag alter ego Bianca Del Rio, will reprise the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle from 9 December.
2019
When Tony Award-winning musical I Do! I Do! receives a new production at London's Upstairs at the Gatehouse later this month, it will include brand new songs added more than 50 years after the show's premiere. Book your tickets now.
2019
Time for vinyl to make a comeback. Full casting has been announced for The Turbine Theatre’s first musical production High Fidelity with Oliver Ormson leading the ensemble as record shop owner, Rob.
2019
The feel-good musical sensation Everybody’s Talking About Jamie goes from strength to strength with the announcement of a new booking period at London’s Apollo Theatre until 29 August 2020. Plus producers launch a national search for ‘an outstandingly talented undiscovered young performer’ to play Jamie New after Layton Williams says his farewell on 4 January next year and joins the show’s touring production.
2019
The classroom calls once again for Layton Williams as Jamie New and EastEnders’ Shane Richie as Hugo/Loco Chanelle with news that the ever-popular West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is embarking on its first UK tour in 2020.
2019
From soap sets to stilettos, TV and stage actor Bill Ward will take on the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle in Dan Gillespie Sells and Tom MacRae’s Everybody's Talking About Jamie at London’s Apollo Theatre from 1 July 2019 for a limited season.
2019
See what happened when our colleague @stagedoorjoe got to hang out at the BIG The Musical London press launch with Jay McGuiness, Kimberley Walsh, Matthew Kelly and Wendi Peters. There was an early preview of the score and a chance to have a play on the famous larger than life piano. The show will play at the Dominion Theatre from 6 September to 2 November 2019. For more images and video, read on…
2019
Watch Kimberley Walsh & Jay McGuiness sing ‘We’re Gonna Be Fine’ from the score of BIG The Musical and catch up with all the news about Kimberley, Wendi Peters and Matthew Kelly joining Jay in the West End premiere at London’s Dominion Theatre in September 2019.
Fresh from her success as a Strictly Come Dancing finalist, Steps star Faye Tozer is putting on those knockoff Jimmy Choos to play the part of Miss Hedge from 6 May to 3 August 2019 in the ever-popular London production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre. Will she be in a class of her own?
The dedicated fans of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie have nothing to worry about as the show’s producers have announced that the London run has been extended to Jan 2020. Not only that, but Layton Williams is enjoying playing Jamie New so much that he has pledged to lead the cast – & wear those heels! – right through that time and help celebrate the show’s second West End birthday in November 2019.
2019
Two years on from a workshop at Live at Zédel, Alex James Ellison and Tom Lees’ new British musical Fiver is having its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse in July 2019 and the cast so far – Daniel Buckley, Hiba Elchikhe and Kayleigh McKnight – has plenty of West End credentials. So if you have ever looked at a £5 note and wondered ‘Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?’, this is the show for you!
Following the announcement that at the end of January 2019 Layton Williams takes over the role of Jamie New & Shane Richie will play Hugo/Loco Chanelle in the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at London’s Apollo Theatre, there is news today that Hayley Tamaddon is stepping into the role of Miss Hedge. Now we have a good excuse to plan a return visit!
It’s farewell Alfie Moon and hello drag artist Hugo/Loco for Shane Richie as he joins Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre from 28 January until 4 May 2019 alongside another new recruit, Layton Williams’ in the title role.
Everybody is definitely talking about Layton Williams, best known to musical theatre fans for his roles in Rent and Hairspray, who will take over as Jamie New in the award-winning Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre from 28 January 2019. Now we are left wondering if John McCrea will be heading to Broadway with the show?
Michelle Visage seems to have liked Everybody’s Talking About Jamie so much that she fancied joining the cast! Best known to TV audiences for RuPaul’s Drag Race and Ireland’s Got Talent, now she will make her West End debut as Miss Hedge from 18 October 2018 to 26 January 2019.
Two years after London audiences welcomed DREAMGIRLS to the Savoy Theatre, the much-loved musical will play its final performance on Saturday 12 January 2019, before news of a UK tour. Are you going to squeeze in an extra visit before it’s too late?
2018
Warp Films and the creators of the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie are are looking to cast 30 young people to star as the movie’s principal Year 11 class and will be holding an open casting call, challenging Sheffield to help them find their stars. Composer Dan Gillespie-Sells explains how below:
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’s roots are in Sheffield so it seems fitting that a production company based there – Warp Films – is helping to continue the fairytale success of the award-winning show by making a major film version.