Can’t wait to see…

…Shrek the Musical. The West End could use another dose of humour and fantasy – Wicked’s still a classic, but we’re about due something new. Previews start 6 May 2010. This preview video was posted today:

Here are some other projects I’m hoping to catch in the new year…

Newbies
The Wizard of Oz (opens 7 February)
Ghost (sometime in June)
Rebecca (Spring 2011)
Betty Blue Eyes (19 March)

Oldies
South Pacific (hitting the Barbican in 2011)
We Will Rock You (Cardiff from 18 March)
As You Like it (Shakespeare’s Globe tour)
Jekyll and Hyde (touring from Jan 2011)

Crazy For You (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from July)

Company (Southwark Playhouse from Feb)

The Ghost build up just got better

Caissie Levy, of Hair (here and Broadway), Wicked (LA) and Rent (US tour) has just been announced as the female lead in the West End production of Ghost: the musical, opening summer 2011. Levy’s sultry voice was a big part of the charm of Hair for me, and when I checked out her background I wished I’d seen her as Elphaba.

I was looking forward to Ghost anyway, but as I think Levy has the profile to choose quality projects, this bodes well for the production. Now, how will they stage that pottery scene?

*Update* Further casting has been announced, in the form of Sharon D. Clarke (brilliant) as Oda Mae and Corrie‘s Richard Fleeshman (really?!), presumably as the hero Sam. I think I’ve said enough on TV stunt-casting so I’ll refrain from too much comment on that one. But I don’t think he’s got the pipes to match Caissie.