London Theatre Weekly Round-up: Michelle Visage joins cast of ‘Jamie,’ ‘Harry Potter’ releases album, ‘Waitress’ approaches, and more!

This week, things are heating up on the London theatre scene. We’ve got exciting new casting announcements for some of the West End’s biggest shows, plus some Harry Potter magic and a new season at the Almeida!

Michelle Visage, of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ireland’s Got Talent, and Celebrity Big Brother, will join the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in her West End debut next month. Starting 18 October, she’ll play Miss Hedge. We can’t wait!

The upcoming production of All About Eve will star Gillian Anderson and Lily James. Directed by Ivo van Hove, it’s an adaptation of the 1950 film about a leading actress and her young fan. All About Eve runs at the Noel Coward Theatre from 2 February to 11 May. Tickets go on sale next Friday!

David Thaxton (Passion, Les Misérables) is soon to be royalty. He’ll play King Arthur in the upcoming concert performance of Camelot at the London Palladium. Joining him as the beautiful Queen Guenevere will be Savannah Steveneson (Wicked), with opera star Charles Rice as Sir Lancelot. Don’t miss this one, brief, shining moment on 6 October!

Laura Tyrer (Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Spamalot, Ruthless!) steps into the role of Velma Kelly! She’ll join the London cast of Chicago from 24 September to 6 October. But wait, there’s more…. Tyrer’s audition will be shown on TV as part of new ITV series The Big Audition.

In September of next year, the 30th anniversary touring production of Fame, directed by Nick Winston, will touch down at London’s Peacock Theatre. The last time Fame played in the West End was back in 2007.

Production shot from Fame the Musical
Production shot from Fame‘s UK tour. Photo by Tristram Kenton.

Waitress‘ West End arrival is getting closer all the time: the Sara Bareilles musical will premiere at the Adelphi Theatre in February. Tickets go on sale this autumn–which is almost upon us!

This November, Seussical the Musical opens at Southwark Playhouse. And we’ve got casting! Marc Pickering stars as the Cat in the Hat, with Scott Paide as Horton the Elephant and Amy Perry as Gertrude McFuzz. Other cast members inclue Katie Paine, Ngozi Ugoh, Anna Barnes, Daisy Steere, Adam Dawson, Robbie Fell, Rhys Benjamin, Marianna Neofitou, and Sarah Spence. James Tobias directs.

Channing Tatum’s upcoming production of Magic Mike Live is now fully cast. It will feature Samantha Baines, Jake Brewer, Harry Carter, Pip Hersee, Sophie Linder-Lee, Jack Manley, David Morgan, Ross Sands, Dean Stewart, Manny Tsakanika, Aaron Daniel Ralph, Antonio Donadio , Sebastián Melo Taveira, Maxwell Trengove, and Brian Siregar.

This Saturday, The Woman in Black celebrates its 12,000th performance. Next June, it will celebrate its 30th anniversary in the West End.

If you feel magic in the air, it’s probably because Harry Potter and the Cursed Child just released a new block of tickets! You can now book through 28 July 2019.

And speaking of Harry Potter, you’ll be able to buy the stage play’s magical soundtrack, composed and performed by Imogen Heap, on 2 November.

Album cover for Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

The Almedia Theatre has announced a new season, including a Shakespeare (The Tragedy of King Richard the Second starring Simon Russell Beale), a Chekhov (Three Sisters starring Patsy Ferran and Pearl Chanda), and three new plays. Rupert Goold will direct Anne Washburn’s Shipwreck (a “nightmarish comedy” about Donald Trump) and David Farr’s The Hunt. Tinuke Craig will direct a version of Maxim Gorky’s Vassa Zheleznova.

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical extends! Starting Monday, you can book tickets to 20 July 2019.