Theatre News

My Top 5 Showtunes: Lizzy Connolly

From ”On the Town” to ”Heathers”, Connolly lists the musical numbers she couldn’t live without

Lizzy Connolly is currently appearing in Xanadu at Southwark Playhouse (which closes today) and is soon to appear in Jest End at the Waterloo East Theatre.

She made her West End debut in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy last year.

We caught up with Lizzy and asked her: "If you were stranded on a desert island, which five showtunes could you not live without?"


1. "I Can Cook Too" from On the Town

LC: Oh my gosh, the version Alyssa Umphress sings, on the most recent Broadway cast recording of On the Town is far too much fun! The song isn't in the original film, which if you like old school musicals at all, you must watch. It's with Ann Miller and good ole Frank Sinatra and it's just loads of fun with sailors. But "I Can Cook Too" would definitely keep me happy on my island, dance along while cooking, although as desert islands go most of them don't have stoves.

2. "Wonderful Wonderful Day" from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

LC: I used to watch it on VHS at my nanny's house when I was little. My nan still sings along with it now, so it reminds me of her. So it would be a bit of family vibes on my desert island. Plus I think the melody is just beautiful.

3. "Moments in the Woods" from Into the Woods

LC: All Sondheim's lyrics are magic. They have wit, they are filled with his observations of people, they are so layered you can listen again and again and take different meanings from it every time. So it doesn't get dull. "Moments in the Woods" is sooooo beautifully detailed and I really do think Emily Blunt's version in the film was fabulous.

4. "Candy Store" from Heathers

LC: My friend Darren Carnell introduced me to Heathers last year. If you like Legally Blonde definitely check out Heathers as it's by the same writers. It needs to come to London. "Candy Store" is upbeat and sassy (I'm not cool enough to use the word sassy, but there we go). It is my song for my island when I'm feeling "sassy".

5. "Walking in the Rain" from Beautiful

LC: It just warms my heart. I sound like a wanker, but I was on a jog on a rainy day and it came on my iPod and it made me feel all happy. So it's a song for my desert island on a rainy day.