The London Palladium is Currently Home to Sister Act
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Palladium Marks Centenary, Renovations & Tours

Andrew Lloyd Webber and a host of celebrities today (12 October 2010) gathered to mark the centenary of the London Palladium, which opened on Boxing Day 1910, with a celebration attended by Michael Ball, Lesley Garrett, Elaine Paige and Jonathan Pryce amongst a host of famous guests who have graced the venue's famous stage.

In addition to a toast and the cutting of a specially commissioned cake – an edible replica of the theatre sculpted by cake artist Rachel Mount - Bruce Forsyth, who hosted Sunday Night at the London Palladium, joined Lloyd Webber in unveiling a commemorative plaque in the Palladium’s foyer in recognition of the building’s past.

Lloyd Webber also announced plans for the complete refurbishment of the front of house areas of the theatre, with building work starting as soon as current tenants Sister Act finish their run on 30 October 2010.

The work, which includes repairing and refurbishing the entrance facade, creating a new box office area with direct access to the theatre and installing a lift to improve accessibility to the stalls and toilets, will be completed before the first preview of The Wizard of Oz on 7 February 2011. The show, which opens on 1 March 2011, stars Over the Rainbow winner Danielle Hope as Dorothy and recently announced Michael Crawford as the Wizard.

Plans for the theatre also include converting the current box office into three new function spaces, the grandest of which will have the historic roof light reinstated and a new spiral staircase will link it directly with the existing bar.

Speaking at the celebrations Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “today’s celebration is about recognising the rich history of this wonderful theatre and the fantastic performers who have graced its stage. It is also about the beginning of the biggest programme of refurbishment and change in the Palladium’s history and I’m delighted to announce the restoration of the iconic revolving stage and plans for the complete refurbishment of the front of house areas.”

Also to celebrate the theatre's centenary, a series of guided tours have been announced, which will take in displays of memorabilia throughout the building, celebrating its heritage and the major stars that have appeared on stage, as well as areas not usually open to the public. The tours, which may vary according to the building’s daily activities, will run on select dates between 13 October and 29 October 2010, taking an hour and a half to complete.

The London Palladium is a theatre with a varied history, including music hall, variety, revue and pantomime performances, as well as the large-scale musicals which continue to entertain theatregoers today. As well as hosting more Royal Variety Performances than any other theatre, the venue was made famous by television show Sunday Night at the London Palladium which showcased the venue's revolving stage in its finale.

The Palladium is currently home to Sister Act the stage adaptation of the 1992 film which starred Whoopi Goldberg. Goldberg now co-produces the musical, which stars Whatsonstage.com Award winner Patina Miller as Deloris van Cartier, the lounge singer put in protective custody in a convent after witnessing a murder. Rumours had circulated that the musical would move from the Palladium into a new West End home, but pulled forwards its closing date to 30 October before announcing it would open in New York on 20 April (previews from 24 March 2011) at the Broadway Theatre.

- by Andrew Girvan

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Booking Tickets & Show Listings
	The Wizard of Oz Listing Page
	Sister Act Listing Page

Internal Links
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	Photos: Andrew Lloyd Webber's reality casting recruits - 18th Jan 2012 photos
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	Cats Prowls Back to West End in 2013, Oz Tour??? - 28th Jun 2011 gossip
	WOS TV: Up Close With ... The Wizard of Oz's Danielle Hope - 6th Jun 2011 interviews
	Photos: Evans Wears Ruby Slippers, Oz Extends - 4th May 2011 photos
	Galas: Toto Winner in Wizard, Caird's Challenge - 19th Apr 2011 news
	The Wizard of Oz - 2nd Mar 2011 reviews
	Review Round-up: Are Critics Friends of Dorothy? - 2nd Mar 2011 roundup
	1st Night Photos: Caine & Co Off to Meet Wizard - 2nd Mar 2011 photos
	Show Pics: Hope & Crawford in the Emerald City - 1st Mar 2011 photos
	Opening: Million Dollar, Wizard of Oz & Sapphires - 28th Feb 2011 news
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	Miller Plays Broadway Sister, UK Tour Opens Sep - 2nd Nov 2010 news
	Hannah Waddingham Casts Another Spell in Oz??? - 27th Sep 2010 gossip
	Michael Crawford Returns to Stage as Wizard - 24th Sep 2010 news
	Whoopi Comes Back to Sister Act for Five Shows - 8th Sep 2010 news
	Goldberg Departs Sister Act Due to Family Illness - 27th Aug 2010 news
	Not Another Nun: Sally Dexter Joins Sister Act Cast - 17th Aug 2010 news
	Sister Act - 13th Aug 2010 reviews
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	Photos: Whoopi Goldberg Joins Sister Act, 10 Aug - 7th Jul 2010 photos
	Nun Other: Whoopi Goldberg Joins Stage Sister Act??? - 6th Jul 2010 gossip
	Simon Webbe On ... Swinging into Sister Act - 5th Jul 2010 interviews
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	End of the Rainbow for Lloyd Webber & BBC??? - 25th May 2010 gossip
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	Top Ten TV Contestants & Where to Find Them - 18th May 2010 features
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	Final Three Dorothys Named in Rainbow Contest - 17th May 2010 news
	Public Booking Opens for Wizard with New Songs - 7th May 2010 news
	Sister Pulls Palladium Closure Forward to 30 Oct - 7th May 2010 news
	TV-cast Wizard of Oz Moves into Palladium, 1 Mar - 28th Apr 2010 news
	Sister Act Confirms Closure for 1 Jan, Webbe Joins - 28th Apr 2010 news
	Ten Dorothys & Wild Card Battle Over the Rainbow - 29th Mar 2010 news
	Lloyd Webber Searches for TV Dorothy from 26 Mar - 12th Mar 2010 news
	Church & Hancock Improve BBC Rainbow Expertise??? - 19th Feb 2010 gossip
	Can Lloyd Webber Find a Dorothy with 'Attitude'??? - 14th Jan 2010 gossip
	Want to Go Over the Rainbow with the BBC??? - 17th Nov 2009 gossip
	Photos: Leona Lewis Meets Star of Sister Act - 29th Oct 2009 photos
	Want a Sneak Peek at Sister Act's New TV Trailer??? - 18th Sep 2009 gossip
	BBC & Lloyd Webber Cast West End Wizard of Oz - 11th Sep 2009 news
	Lloyd Webber Cancels Oz TV Casting Show??? - 20th Jul 2009 gossip
	1st Night TV: Making Whoopi at Sister Act Opening - 4th Jun 2009 tv
	Review Round-up: Critics Find Miller's Act Divine - 3rd Jun 2009 roundup
	WOS TV: Theatregoers Meet Sisters at Our Outing - 3rd Jun 2009 tv
	1st Night Photos: Whoopi Flies over for Sister Act - 3rd Jun 2009 photos
	Brief Encounter With … Patina Miller - 1st Jun 2009 interviews
	Photos: Sister Act Nuns on the Run for Charity - 6th May 2009 photos
	Lloyd Webber & Slater Pen New Songs for Oz??? - 3rd Apr 2009 gossip
	Menken, Miller & Co Launch West End Sister Act - 4th Feb 2009 news
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	Whoopi Goldberg Backs Sister Act’s UK Premiere - 14th Nov 2008 news
	Sister Act Musical Premieres at Palladium in June - 7th Nov 2008 news
External Links
	Information and Booking link for Palladium tours