Hot Off The Press! Wicked, Billy Elliot, Thriller Live
by Oliver Mitford on Thursday 25 April 2013, 10:29 am in West End News & Gossip
Fans of Wicked, the hit West End musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, are all abuzz with the news that Harriet Thorpe has returned to her role as Madame Morrible. Thorpe previously played the part to enormous acclaim in a two-year stint from April 2008 to March 2010. She will reprise her role of Madame Morrible, the headmistress of the magical Shiz University (the school for budding witches and wizards) until 16 November 2013.
Thorpe will be joining the ranks of the current cast lead by Louise Dearman as Elphaba and Gina Beck as Glinda, alongside Ben Freeman, Keith Bartlett, Christopher Howell, Sam Lupton and Katie Rowley Jones. Wicked has now been seen by over five million people and was recently acclaimed as “one of the most popular West End musicals ever" (Evening Standard). The London production of the global musical phenomenon is already the 16th longest-running West End musical of all time.
A brand new addition to the cast of Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre was also set in motion this week. Anna-Jane Casey will play Billy’s dance teacher Mrs Wikinson (the iconic part made so famous by Julie Walters in the film version) from 13th May 2013. Casey’s work in musical theatre has spanned almost 20 years, appearing in West End productions of Starlight Express, Chicago and Grease. With the announcement of the news that she will be playing Mrs Wikinson, Casey said: “I’ve been wanting to play the part for years, and at 41 years old, I think I’m finally old enough!”
Lastly, Thriller Live has reveled that it will be moonwalking its way into 2014 with a new extension to its run at the Lyric Theatre. This all-singing, all-dancing journey through the career and music of Michael Jackson is a welcome change to the traditional story-telling book-based musicals on the West End, and the news that it will be continuing to thrill audiences into the new year has put a smile on many a theatergoer’s face.