The British Theatre Guide: News for 5th December, 2004

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Dateline: 5th December, 2004

Oscar to Replace Lane
Brad Oscar is to replace Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock in The Producers when the latter's contract runs out on 8th January. Oscar's first operformance in the role at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane will be on 10th January.

Oscar appeared in the Broadway production as Franz Liebkind, for which he was nominated for a best supporting actor Tony, and understudied Lane.

David Ian

Six West End Shows for CC in 2005
Clear Channel Entertainment will be producing six musicals in the West End next year, says David Ian, Clear Channel Entertainment's European Managing Director, thus equalling the Really Useful Group's record. Top of the list, of course, is The Producers, and it will be accompanied by a joint production of Guys and Dolls with ATG and the Donmar and starring Ewan McGregor, a revival of The Sound of Music (with RUG), the transfer from Broadway of Hairspray, and an expanded version of the touring production of Cats. The sixth production has yet to be named.

Ian made the announcement at the company's Spotlight Awards which honour front-of-house and admin staff.

According to Variety, Ian already has one project on the stocks for 2006, a musical based around the songs of reggae singer Bob Marley. The show will be in the Mamma Mia! mould - a back-catalogue musical. No one has yet been chosen to write the book.

King's Head to Revive Jerome Kern Show
The King's Head is to revive the 1985 show Kern Goes to Hollywood opening on 5th January (previews from 29th December). It will be directed by David Kernan who devised the original Donmar Warehouse production.

Produced by Nica Burns, the cast will include Angela Richards, Glyn Kerslake, Sheri Copland and Jamie Golding.

Steadman Returns to Hampstead
Alison Steadman heads the cast of Simon Mendes da Costa's Losing Louis at the Hampstead Theatre from 20th January to 19th February. Also in the cast are Lynda Bellingham, Anita Briem, Emma Cunniffe, Jason Durr, David Horovitch and Brian Prothero. The production will be directed by Robin Lefèvre.

More on Acorn Antiques
Contrary to what was announced last week, Acorn Antiques (opening at the Haymarket on 9th February after previewing from 31st January) will have an open-ended, not limited run. However Julie Walters is only contracted for sixteen weeks and she will be replaced after that time.

During her time in the show she will perform in only six of the eight performances a week, missing the Monday evening and Wednesday matinees, in which she will be replaced by author Victoria Wood.

Joining the cast that was announced some weeks ago (Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston and Sally Ann Triplett) will be Neil Morrissey and Josie Lawrence. The production will be directed by Trevor Nunn.

Acorn Antiques will also set a new record for West End ticket prices. Seat prices will range from £25 to £55.00 Monday to Thursday, and at weekends £27.50 to £65. The reason given for the high prices is that the £2m show will be in one of the smaller theatres (the Haymarket has 888 seats). Had it been in a larger venue such as the London Palladium, prices would have been lower. The original proposal, vetoed by Victoria Wood, was for top prices to be £75.

Extending
The following have extended their booking periods:

Fame (Aldwych) to 25th June, 2005
The Lion King (Lyceum) to 2nd Octotber 2005

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