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Rachel Barrell
Rachel Barrell (born 1980) is a British stage performer and singer known best for playing Christine, the female lead in the West End theatre, West End production of ''The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical), The Phantom of the Opera'', from September 2004 until October 2006. She played the role opposite long-running London Phantoms, John Owen-Jones, and Earl Carpenter. She also performed for the show's 18th and 20th anniversaries. In February 2007 she played young Sally in a special charity performance of ''Follies''. Rachel has also previously performed in the musicals ''Thoroughly Modern Millie (musical), Thoroughly Modern Millie'', ''Beauty and the Beast (musical), Beauty and the Beast'', and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sweeney Todd.https://www.westendinternational.com/theatre-productions/sweeney-todd/cast-creatives She also runs a dance school in Hertfordshire. She currently runs a youth theatre company in Hertfordshire called “spotlight”, along with he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West End Theatre
West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes"West End"in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1195, Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre represents the highest level of Theatre of the United Kingdom, commercial theatre in the English-speaking world. Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London. Prominent screen actors, Cinema of the United Kingdom, British and World cinema, international alike, frequently appear on the London stage. There are approximately 40 theatres in the West End, with the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, opened in May 1663, the oldest theatre in London. The Savoy Theatre—built as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan—was entirely lit by electricity in 1881. Society of London Theatre, The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) announced that 201 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Phantom Of The Opera (1986 Musical)
''The Phantom of the Opera'' is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe, and a libretto by Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe. Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux, it tells the tragic story of beautiful soprano Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious and disfigured musical genius living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opera House. The musical opened in London's West End in 1986 and on Broadway in New York in 1988, in a production directed by Harold Prince and starring English classical soprano Sarah Brightman (Lloyd Webber's then-wife) as Christine Daaé, screen and stage star Michael Crawford as the Phantom, and international stage performer Steve Barton as Raoul. It won the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical, with Crawford winning the Olivier and Tony for Best Actor in a Musical. A film adaptation, directed by Joel Schumacher, was released in 2004. ''The Pha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Owen-Jones
John Owen-Jones (born 5 May 1971) is a Welsh musical theatre actor and singer, best known for his portrayals of Jean Valjean in Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg's ''Les Misérables'' and The Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''The Phantom of the Opera''. He most recently appeared in these roles as an emergency Valjean replacement in the 2021 West End production at the Sondheim Theatre, and as The Phantom in the 2016 West End production at Her Majesty’s Theatre. He has now recorded six studio albums. Early life Owen-Jones was born in 1971 and originates from Burry Port in Carmarthenshire. He was educated at Glan-y-Mor Comprehensive School, and was a member of the still running local theatre group, Llanelli Youth Theatre. Jones went on to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He graduated in 1994 with a BA (Hons) in Acting. He has been married since 1999 to Teresa, a primary school teacher. They live in Surrey with their two children. Music ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Earl Carpenter
Earl Carpenter (born 9 May 1970) is an English musical theatre actor and singer, recognised chiefly for his work in London’s West End. He is known for his performances as Inspector Javert in the stage musical ''Les Misérables'' and as the title character in ''The Phantom of the Opera'', both roles he has played on and off for two decades. He is widely known for his rich, deep baritone singing voice. In 1995, he made his West End debut as a Javert understudy in ''Les Misérables''. In 2003, he became the standby for the role of The Phantom in ''The Phantom of the Opera'' and two years later was promoted to the principal actor for the role replacing John Owen-Jones for two years before being replaced by Ramin Karimloo. In 2008, he returned to the West End production of ''Les Misérables'' as the principal Inspector Javert and also played the role a year later on the 25th Anniversary UK Tour. 2011 and 2012 saw Carpenter reprise his roles of both the Phantom and Inspector Ja ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Follies
''Follies'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The plot centers on a crumbling Broadway theater, now scheduled for demolition, previously home to a musical revue (based on the ''Ziegfeld Follies''). The evening follows a reunion of the Weismann Girls who performed during the interwar period. Several of the former showgirls perform their old numbers, often accompanied by the ghosts of their younger selves. The score offers a pastiche of 1920s and 1930s musical styles, evoking a nostalgic tone. The original Broadway production, directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, with choreography by Bennett, opened April 4, 1971. The musical was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and won seven at the 26th Tony Awards. The original production, among the most costly on Broadway, ran for over 500 performances but ultimately lost its entire investment. The musical has had a number of major revivals, and several of its songs have become standar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thoroughly Modern Millie (musical)
''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Scanlan. It is based on the 1967 film of the same name, which itself was based on the British musical ''Chrysanthemum'', which opened in London in 1956. ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love – a thoroughly modern aim in 1922, when women were just entering the workforce. Millie soon begins to take delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by the leader of a white slavery ring in China. The style of the musical is comic pastiche. Like the film on which it is based, it interpolates new tunes with some previously written songs. After previews at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California, in October 2000, the show opened on Broadway on April 18, 2002. The production subsequently won six ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beauty And The Beast (musical)
''Beauty and the Beast'' is a musical, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton. Adapted from Walt Disney Pictures' animated film – which in turn was based on "Beauty and the Beast" by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont – it tells the story of an unkind prince who has been magically transformed into an unsightly creature as punishment for his selfish ways. To revert into his true human form, the Beast must learn to love a bright, beautiful young lady who he has imprisoned in his enchanted castle and earn her love in return before it is too late. Critics, most of whom hailed the original film as one of the finest musicals in years, instantly noted its Broadway musical potential when it was first released in 1991, encouraging Disney CEO Michael Eisner to venture into Broadway. All eight songs from the animated film were reused in the musical, including a resurrected musical number which had been cut from the motion picture. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
''Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'' (often referred to simply as ''Sweeney Todd'') is a 1979 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. It is based on the 1970 play ''Sweeney Todd'' by Christopher Bond. The character of Sweeney Todd first appeared in a Victorian penny dreadful titled ''The String of Pearls''. ''Sweeney Todd'' opened on Broadway in 1979 and in the West End in 1980. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Olivier Award for Best New Musical. It has been revived in many productions and inspired a film adaptation. The original logo for the musical is a modified version of an advertising image from the 19th century, with the sign replaced by a straight razor. There is also a woman wearing a blood-stained dress and holding a rolling pin next to the man. Background The character Sweeney Todd originated in serialized Victorian popular fiction, known as penny dreadfuls. A story called ''The String of Pearls'' was pub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
