Dateline 6th May, 2001
Drama Desk nominations 2001
British interest in the 2001 Drama Desk nominations includes:
Disney's first tour
The first ever national tour of a Disney production begins on 6th November when Beauty and the Beast opens at the Empire Liverpool for four weeks and then has a four month residency at the Bristol Hippodrome from 7th December through to April 2002. Further dates will follow.
Sunset to tour
A national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard begins at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, on 10th August, with Faith Brown playing Norma Desmond. It will run there for four weeks. Other venues will be announced later.
Cast changes at Witches
American Clarke Peters is to take over the role of Darryl Van Horne in The Witches of Eastwick on 1st July, as Ian McShane's illness has forced him to withdraw. Understudy Earl Carpenter will continue to play the role until Peters takes over.
Other cast changes include Josefina Gabrielle taking over the part of Alexandra and Rebecca Thornhill playing Sukie. Joanna Riding will stay on as Jane. Other cast changes are expected soon and there will be a new opening night on 17th July.
The Beau comes to the Haymarket
Ron Hutchinson's new play about Beau Brummel, The Beau, with Peter Bowles in the lead, will open at the Haymarket on 24th May, previewing from 21st.
New Godber play at Derby
John Godber's new play, On a Night Like This, will premiere at the Derby Playhosue from 7th to 19th May.
Hay Fever on tour
The Oxford Stage Company's production of Coward's Hay Fever, directed by Dominic Dromgool, began a national tour on Thursday at Theatr Clwyd Cymru and will visit Bristol, Huddersfield, Exeter, Bury St Edmunds, Windsor and Cheltenham. The leads are played by Estelle Kohler and Jonathan Newth.
Phoenix in panto?
Poenix, the calf which survived a foot and mouth cull, lying beside her dead mother for a couple of days before being discovered, has been offered a part in pantomime. Qdos, the UK's biggest panto producers, have offered her a part in Jack and the Beanstalk at Wimbledon this Christmas. The production will star entertainer Shane Ritchie.
Sher autobiography published
Anthony Sher's autobiography Beside Myself was published on 3rd May, and he is currently on a book signing tour. The book is published by Random House.