Cabaret Casting Latest: James Dreyfus???

Given that Rhys Ifans will now be appearing at the Donmar Warehouse in Patrick Marber’s Don Juan in Soho from December to February (See News, 14 Jul 2006), he’s pretty much ruled out of the running for the camp emcee in the upcoming West End revival of Kander and Ebb musical Cabaret (See The Goss, 11 Jul 2006), which opens on 10 October 2006 (previews from 22 September) at the Lyric Theatre (See News, 13 Jun 2006). However, a new name has been added to the list of possibilities: James Dreyfus. Currently starring in Michael Frayn’s Donkeys' Years at the Comedy, Dreyfus’ previous musical credits include Lady in the Dark (for which he won an Olivier) and The Producers (in which he created the London role of Carmen Ghia). He’s best known for his screen work in the likes of Gimme Gimme Gimme, The Thin Blue Line, Absolutely Fabulous, Notting Hill and Colour Me Kubrick. Meanwhile, things seem to be getting down to the wire concerning Sally Bowles, with the previously tipped Anna Maxwell Martin now the hot favourite (See The Goss, 11 Jul 2006). Maxwell Martin is best known for her heavy-hitting play credits including His Dark Materials, The Coast of Utopia, Three Sisters, Dumb Show and Honour as well as TV’s Bleak House. Other names mentioned to date in connection with Rufus Norris’ revival of the Nazi Germany-set musical have included Star Wars’ Natalie Portman, Dr Who’s Billie Piper, Denise Van Outen, Martine McCutcheon and, improbably, cross-dresser Eddie Izzard for Sally and Sheila Hancock for the part of her hard-bitten landlady Fraulein Schneider (See The Goss, 26 Jun 2006).

Got some goss? Contact gossip@whatsonstage.com

Related Content