Second, there’s a new musical on the horizon. A Chorus Line opens at the London Palladium next year: the first London revival of the show ever. Featuring the iconic songs One (Singular Sensations), What I Did For Love, I Can Do That and Hope I Get It, the Olivier Award-winning musical is the story of 17 dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. It’ll play a limited season from 2 February (press night 19 February) to 29 June.

London Cast News

• Janie Dee will lead the cast of NSFW at the Royal Court, Lucy Kirkwood’s debut play opening in late October
• Tricycle season regular Simon Chandler and Charlotte Lucas (last seen in Posh) are among the cast joining Adrian Lester in Red Velvet at the Tricycle theatre
• West End star Oliver Tompsett is swapping one rocking West End musical for another as he’s leaving Rock Of Ages to join We Will Rock You in October
• Conleth Hill, Will Keen, Felicity Montagu and Malcolm Sinclair will join the previously announced Rowan Atkinson in Quartermaine’s Terms at Wyndham’s Theatre
• Damian Humbley, Jenna Russell and Mark Umbers return to the Menier Chocolate Factory this winter to star in Maria Friedman’s forthcoming production of Merrily We Roll Along

London Shows Extending

• Chariots of Fire has extended its West End run at the Gielgud Theatre until 2 February 2013
• Top Hat has extended its booking period at the Aldwych Theatre until 28 September 2013
• Matilda is now booking at the Cambridge theatre until 22 December 2013

Team GB Volleyball player Shauna Mullin headaed to London’s West End yesterday to celebrate her role in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Shauna did a bit of shopping on Regent Street before meeting up with some friends for something to eat and then heading to see comedy rock musical Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Sounds like a perfect day out to me!

Read our interview with Rock of Ages star Shayne Ward, or book tickets to see the show here.

New musicals are cropping up all over the West End. Rock of Ages is similar in structure to We Will Rock You – a vague narrative created around a list of hit songs. It’s certainly a fun night out – in fact, I’m not sure I can remember laughing so much at the theatre.

Set on the famous Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, a typical love story emerges amidst the grungy rock scene. The 80s nurtured some of the greatest and most successful rock artists of all time and their legendary music is brought back to life by this energetic and passionate cast. It stars Justin Lee Collins and X-Factor winner Shayne Ward.

Everyone was given fake lighters on entry to be held aloft during the ballads. Visually the team have gone all out, it is hard to know where to look – the auditorium transformed with the elaborate set, outrageous costumes, and fabulous glitter and confetti showers.

During the crazy Don’t Stop Believing finale I decided that this is the perfect show for a hen or stag night – you are guaranteed to walk out smiling.

Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre until 11 February 2012. Book tickets

Second, a note for any Shakespeare fans out there. Theatre company Antic Disposition is planning to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first performance of The Tempest in London this August. And they’re staging it at London’s Middle Temple Hall, an Elizabethan venue where Shakespeare’s own company once performed. What a treat.

The Royal Court has announced two extensions this week. Both current hit Chicken Soup With Barley, and forthcoming black comedy The Village Bike, have added dates to their runs.

Now to this week’s casting news:

• Robert Sheehan from E4′s Misfits will make his stage debut at the Old Vic in September, playing the lead in JM Synge’s The Playboy Of The Western World. He’ll be performing opposite Ruth Negga and Old Vic regular Niamh Cusack.
• Hustle star Marc Warren returns to the London stage at the Aldwych Theatre in October, playing iconic prisoner Cool Hand Luke in a stage adaptation of Donn Pearce’s classic novel.
• West End stars Oliver Tompsett (previously Fiyero in Wicked), Amy Pemberton (formerly in Footloose and Jersey Boys) and Simon Lipkin (best known as Nicky and Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q) are all signed up to play in new London rock musical, Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
• Ellen Greene from Pushing Daisies is to play identical triplets (the Enchantress, the Princess and the Nymph Queen) in fantasy musical Betwixt! at the Trafalgar Studios in July.

See you at West End Live!

Firstly, news that the classic Ealing comedy, The Ladykillers has been adapted for the stage by the writer behind hit TV comedies Father Ted and The IT Crowd, Graham Linehan, and will be coming to the Gielgud Theatre in November. The cast sounds fantastic: Peter Capaldi from the Thick of It will play Professor Marcus (the Alec Guinness role from the film). And he’ll be backed up by a gang played by James Fleet (Hugo from the Vicar of Dibley), comic Ben Miller, Stephen Wight and everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, Clive Rowe. The quintet is joined by multi-Olivier Award-winner Marcia Warren as Mrs Wilberforce.

Next, I’m thrilled to hear both War Horse and Billy Elliot: The Musical are extending: War Horse to October 2012, and Billy to December 2012. Congratulations to both these incredible shows.

And so to casting news:

• Another member of the Rock of Ages line-up was announced this week: Shane Ward from The X-Factor is to play the disillusioned rock bad boy Stacee Jaxx when Rock Of Ages opens at the Shaftesbury theatre in September
• Supermodel Christie Brinkley is going to be the latest star to take on the role of Roxy Hart in Chicago. She’ll be donning the fishnets from 11 July to 6 August.
• Carley Stenson, who’s currently playing Margot in Legally Blonde will step up later this summer and play the lead role of college sweetheart Elle Woods. Carley starts on 11 July; Any Dream Will Do-winner Lee Mead will be Stenson’s leading man as he’s joining the cast from 20 June.

Finally, the Bush Theatre has announced the show that will welcome audiences to its new home. Sixty Six Books is an epic celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Sixty-six playwrights, poets, songwriters and novelists from 12 different countries will create a response to each of the 66 books in the Kings James Bible. The impressive list of contributors includes Jeanette Winterson, Carol Ann Duffy, Billy Bragg, Neil LaBute and even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Artistic Director Josie Rourke is working with a team of directors to present three hour, six hour and two 24 hour epic performances, with every room, corner and cupboard(!) of the new venue put to use.

You can read more about the Bush’s future plans here on the Official London Theatre website.

The former Avenue Q actress will sing tracks from her latest album No Space For Air as well as tunes from the shows that shaped her musical theatre career, like Mamma Mia!, Fame, The Last 5 Years and Ordinary Days. Helping her out will be Daniel Boys – who Atherton starred alongside in Avenue Q and Ordinary Days – and Richard Fleeshman, who’ll soon be starring as Sam in Ghost The Musical.

I have two exciting bits of cast news for you this week: comedian Justin Lee Collins is to play ageing hippy and bar owner Dennis Dupree in the forthcoming 80s jukebox musical Rock of Ages. Did you see his 2009 performance as Mr Cellophane in Chicago when it was on his Sky show JLC Is…? I thought it was great, and think he’ll love the chance to get on stage in the West End a second time.

Secondly, Steven Webb has joined the cast of comedy musical Betwixt! at the Trafalgar Studios next month. You might’ve seen Steven in: Departure Lounge at Waterloo East Theatre, The History Boys in the West End, The Long Road at Soho Theatre and Public Property at Trafalgar Studios. He also played Dick Whittington at the Lyric Hammersmith last Christmas. 

Sad news now, about Tim Curry having to leave the upcoming production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, which open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket later this month.

I was so excited about seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show star (and he’s in Annie! and It! and my favourite, Mr Boddy in Clue!), but it’s not going to happen. According to an official statement, an “on-going chest infection and repeated asthma attacks” led to Curry leaving the production, which is currently playing in Chichester ahead of its West End opening. For now, Chris Andrew Mellon is playing the Player, alongside Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker in the title roles, while the directors “consider longer-term options.” I’ll obviously keep you posted.