Post by rosemary on Mar 24, 2005 13:13:14 GMT
Confirmation of the rumours that Joseph is extending -
www.whatsonstage.com/dl/page.php?page=greenroom&story=E8821111659284&PHPSESSID=cd3851442b57eb325ce0baaeabeec27b
24th March 2005 - What's on Stage News
Dreamcoat Cancels Closure, Extends by Five Months
Despite losing its star Darren Day, whose immediate departure (after regular absences) was confirmed
earlier this week (See News, 21 Mar 2005), the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat has called off next week's closure and extended by five months.
The revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Biblical musical, previously on tour, opened at the New London
Theatre on 3 March 2003 (previews from 13 February) and had announced this past January that it
would close on 2 April 2005 after a run of more than two years. Following today's reprieve, booking
has now been extended up to 27 August 2005.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the first-ever collaboration between Lloyd Webber
and lyricist Tim Rice. It started life in 1968 as a 20-minute entertainment for an end-of-term
school concert. The musical went on to huge success in the West End and on Broadway and on tours
throughout the world. Its score includes "Any Dream Will Do", "Close Ev'ry Door to Me" and "One More
Angel".
Prior to the New London run, the musical was last seen in the West End in the early 1990s, when it
ran for more than two years at the London Palladium, taking over £47 million at the box office and
bringing huge stage success for its Josephs - Philip Schofield and Jason Donovan.
The current production, directed and produced by Bill Kenwright, has featured its own high-profile
Josephs, including Boyzone's Stephen Gately and Ian Watkins, aka 'H' from Steps, in addition to Day.
The title character is now being played by Simon Gorton, with Day's former partner, Hear'Say's
Suzanne Shaw, as the Narrator (See News, 27 Jan 2005).
Although Day has officially left the production because of "vocal trouble", it's believed that
personal problems arising from his split from Shaw, with whom he had a child last year, were a
contributing factor. Day is now due to play the title role in a new musical version of Alfie, which
opens at the Watford Palace Theatre in May.
- by Terri Paddock
Now we have to wait and see what will happen about casting, with quite a few of the current cast planning to leave on 2nd April. Apparently, there may be more news on that after this Saturday.
www.whatsonstage.com/dl/page.php?page=greenroom&story=E8821111659284&PHPSESSID=cd3851442b57eb325ce0baaeabeec27b
24th March 2005 - What's on Stage News
Dreamcoat Cancels Closure, Extends by Five Months
Despite losing its star Darren Day, whose immediate departure (after regular absences) was confirmed
earlier this week (See News, 21 Mar 2005), the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat has called off next week's closure and extended by five months.
The revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Biblical musical, previously on tour, opened at the New London
Theatre on 3 March 2003 (previews from 13 February) and had announced this past January that it
would close on 2 April 2005 after a run of more than two years. Following today's reprieve, booking
has now been extended up to 27 August 2005.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the first-ever collaboration between Lloyd Webber
and lyricist Tim Rice. It started life in 1968 as a 20-minute entertainment for an end-of-term
school concert. The musical went on to huge success in the West End and on Broadway and on tours
throughout the world. Its score includes "Any Dream Will Do", "Close Ev'ry Door to Me" and "One More
Angel".
Prior to the New London run, the musical was last seen in the West End in the early 1990s, when it
ran for more than two years at the London Palladium, taking over £47 million at the box office and
bringing huge stage success for its Josephs - Philip Schofield and Jason Donovan.
The current production, directed and produced by Bill Kenwright, has featured its own high-profile
Josephs, including Boyzone's Stephen Gately and Ian Watkins, aka 'H' from Steps, in addition to Day.
The title character is now being played by Simon Gorton, with Day's former partner, Hear'Say's
Suzanne Shaw, as the Narrator (See News, 27 Jan 2005).
Although Day has officially left the production because of "vocal trouble", it's believed that
personal problems arising from his split from Shaw, with whom he had a child last year, were a
contributing factor. Day is now due to play the title role in a new musical version of Alfie, which
opens at the Watford Palace Theatre in May.
- by Terri Paddock
Now we have to wait and see what will happen about casting, with quite a few of the current cast planning to leave on 2nd April. Apparently, there may be more news on that after this Saturday.