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Riding & Other Divas Line up for Brown Concerts

Double Laurence Olivier Award winner Joanna Riding (pictured) will join the roll call of special guests joining Tony Award-winning American composer Jason Robert Brown for his limited concert series in London next month. From 23 to 26 September 2004, An Evening with Jason Robert Brown and Friends will run at the recently reopened New Players Theatre at Charing Cross (See News, 29 Jul 2004)*.

In addition to My Fair Lady and Carousel, for which Riding won her two Best Actress in a Musical Olivier Awards, Riding’s many musical credits include Me and My Girl, Lady Be Good, The Witches of Eastwick and Guys and Dolls. Later this month, she takes a non-musical role in Peter Hall’s production of Blithe Spirit at Bath and on tour (See News, 8 Jul 2004).

Also appearing as guests for Brown’s London concerts will be Clare Burt (Passion, Into the Woods), Caroline Sheen (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Chicago’s Frances Ruffelle and Rebecca Thornhill, and Golda Roshuevel, who also took part in the composer’s 2002 one-off gala at the Bridewell Theatre.

In total, there will be ten West End stars participating in the nightly performances. Although the remaining four have been confirmed, they can’t yet be announced due to external commitments.

At the New Players, Brown and his guests will perform songs from his existing shows including Parade, The Last Five Years and the Whatsonstage.com Award-winning Songs for a New World, as well as pieces from his first solo album, due to be released in January 2005.

Also now confirmed, the evening will feature the world premiere of songs from Thirteen, the musical comedy Brown is currently working on, which is tipped for a US premiere in autumn 2005. Auditions will be held next week to find a 13-year-old actress who will join Brown and the other stars on stage at the New Players.

On Thursday 23, Friday 24 and Saturday 25 September, An Evening with Jason Robert Brown and Friends will run at the New Players Theatre at 10.30pm. The performance on Sunday 26 September will be at 8.00pm. Tickets are priced £15 and £25, with premium seats at £35.

- by Terri Paddock

*NOTE: Special guests may change on a nightly basis. Riding’s involvement in the concert will not affect her performance schedule for Blithe Spirit.

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