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Dateline: 4th December, 2006
Williams Joins Christmas in New York Emma Williams will return to the West End for the first time in nearly two years to join the cast of Christmas in New York at the Apollo Theatre on Saturday 16th December. In addition, musical theatre performer Daniel Boys, who has just finished playing Mark in the European tour of Jonathan Larson's Rent, will also join the cast, as will a forty strong choir. They will star alongside musical theatre favourite Josie Walker and Notes from New York series regulars Julie Atherton and Paul Spicer who are headlining. Also starring are James Gillan, Cassidy Janson and Oliver Tompsett from the cast of Wicked, Jon Robyns and Clare Foster from Avenue Q, Sophia Ragavelas who is currently playing Fantine in Les Misérables and Melanie La Barrie, who originated the role of Mrs Corry in Mary Poppins. Commenting on joining Christmas in New York, Emma says, "It was an opportunity I jumped at. I love working on new shows and new writing. I'm looking forward to being back on stage and singing with so many talented performers." Daniel adds, "It is exciting to be asked to perform in a series that has become an established and popular event in the West End." Christmas in New York will be the first show in the Notes from New York series to feature a full choir in addition to the twelve West End stars. It will be the largest and most technically demanding show in the series to date. Originally scheduled to play at the Lyric Theatre, producers moved the show to the Apollo Theatre this week, where, following the closure of Summer and Smoke, they will present it free from the constraints of a resident production. Emma first came to the attention of West End audiences when she created the role of Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium. She then went on to star in the UK première of Bat Boy at the Shaftesbury Theatre and has since performed in Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll at the Royal Exchange in Manchester and Promises Promises at the Sheffield Crucible. She was expected to play the alternate Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music until producers bowed to public pressure for Connie Fisher to perform all eight shows. She will next star in The Model Girl at Greenwich Theatre in 2007. Christmas in New York, a seasonal celebration of contemporary composers, is directed by David Randall with associate direction by co-founder of the Notes from New York series, Paul Spicer. Sound design is by Mark Dunne. The Notes from New York series was established in 2003 and has previously presented six sell-out shows at venues including the Arts Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse and the Trafalgar Studios, as well as the Duchess earlier this year. On the change to the Apollo, the producers said, "Nimax Theatres, who own both the Lyric and the Apollo, offered us the chance to produce Christmas in New York at the Apollo without the constraints of a resident production. As this will be the largest and most technically demanding show we have so far produced in the series, we have embraced this opportunity. We look forward to welcoming theatregoers to the Apollo." Patrons who have already bought tickets for Christmas in New York are being contacted to organise equivalent seats for the show at the Apollo. However, anyone with queries about the change of venue can contact their point of purchase or call the Box Office on 0870 890 1101. Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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