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Kerry Ellis attends the Whatsonstage.com Awards. Photo credit: Dan Wooller
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Vote in WOS Poll: Do The Voice judges know anything about musical theatre?

Date: 2 April 2012

It was sad television viewing for musical theatre fans on Saturday night when West End super-star, and two-time Whatsonstage.com Award winner, Kerry Ellis failed to make it through auditions on BBC One's reality TV competition The Voice.

To add insult to injury, after failing to swivel their chairs round to propel Ellis to the next stage of the competition, none of the four judge-coaches � Tom Jones and chart-toppers Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue (The Script) and will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas) � seemed to know who she was, even after she listed her myriad credits, including Oliver!, We Will Rock You, My Fair Lady and Wicked.

The screamingly enthusiastic audience knew, of course. And Whatsonstage.com was pleased and proud to see Ellis' pictured on the show with her Whatsonstage.com Award, which she won this year for Best Solo Performance for Anthems: The Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. She would get our vote again, hands down.

Ellis is not the first musical theatre professional to enter a reality TV competition. Any Dream Would Do�s Lee Mead and Daniel Boys, and I�d Do Anything finalists Rachel Tucker and Sarah Lark all had West End credits under their belts prior to entering their reality TV competitions, and Ellis� former We Will Rock You co-star Tony Vincent has competed on The Voice abroad. For all, their time in the television spotlight has arguably helped to further their careers.

** WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD KERRY ELLIS HAVE GONE THROUGH ON SATURDAY NIGHT? ARE MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMERS AT A DISADVANTAGE IN SUCH COMPETITIONS? PLEASE TAKE A SECOND TO TAKE PART IN OUR POLL.

AND ADD FURTHER THOUGHTS � AND MESSAGES TO KERRY � VIA THE USER COMMENTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. FROM US, KERRY, WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU! YOU'RE TOO GOOD FOR THE VOICE!**

Related Content

Internal Links
	Brian May & Kerry Ellis headline Whatsonstage.com Awards - 6th Feb 2012 News
External Links
	Whatsonstage.com Awards microsite
	The Voice website

Reader Comments

Comment	Date
I thought it was a great idea for Kerry to go on The Voice. She's very recognisable in theatre circles but outside of that, despite her recordings to date, she is still unknown to the masses. I understand she was nervous, and she recognised the fact that she was putting herself in a very vunerable position but her song choice was uninspired and her delivery fell flat compared to everything I've seen her in. There is no denying her talent, I remember her rehearsing, possibly performing in We Will Rock You, and she was brought out of that show to perform as Eliza for one performance at Drury Lane. She was stunning! A few weeks later I caught her Meat in WWRY and the range and versatility of her voice was there to see by just comparing the two performances. She is a great talent but let herself down in The Voice auditions. Everyone has bad auditions and this was just one of those. Imagine if she had got though - it could have done wonders for her career as a recording star and for the ticket sales of any musical she signed on to do in the future. Anyway, onwards and upwards - I just don't believe we should be berating her for trying to establish herself as an artist beyond musical theatre - after all, it isn't the glamorous job with a multitude of opportunities that a lot of people think it is. - Philip	04 Apr 12

For me is wasn't the fact that they didn't react to her singing by turning around as i think it ptobably wasn't the best of songs to perform, it was the fact that none of them recognised her when they did see her and didn't even know when she told them her name. The fact is she is not just a 'normal' West End performer but one of the big name stars so it's clear that the judges do not know enough about all aspects of the music industry and therefore are not fit to be judges on this type of show. - Chris Dunnett	04 Apr 12

The judgesa were right. I have seen her in the West End as had most of the audience by the sound they made on the show. The song did not suit her and it would do nothing for her career. - Andrew	04 Apr 12

I really thought she'd flipped. What was she on? Very embarrassing for all of us in the industry. I won't be able to look her in the face next time I see her. Very sad. - Ben	04 Apr 12

Whatever was she thinking? She HAS a career, to do this was more than a little crazy - is Brian May not a big enough contact for her? Get real, girl! - Tom Murphy	04 Apr 12

Terrible song-choice! Nothing special about her voice, so I'm not surprised that the judges were not impressed. It must have been embarrassing for her, as she kept asking them why they hadn't turned around. I can't imagine her mentor Brian May, advising her to audition! - Margaret J	04 Apr 12

It was a really bad song choice and didn't showcase her voice at all well. I'm sorry to say I would not have voted for her on the night. - Angela	04 Apr 12

1) Couldn't understand why she should put herself in what turned out to be an embarrassing position. 2) She's wonderful in shows but on The Voice she tried too hard - and was a bit shouty. 3) The show should be for undiscovered talent, not existing talent. - Katy	03 Apr 12

Just because Kerry has a career already doesn't mean she couldn't audition, after all they are open and blind auditions. Yes she didn't through but for me she doesn't need that show, Kerry is already a star in her own way and has more talent than all four of the judges, which is normally the case, if your looking for real talent look at musical theatre performers. Kerry is not only a west end star but a Broadway star to, has a album out with Brian May, played at the Royal Albert Hall & as Kerry mentioned on the show the number of musicals she has been in. I'm a keen theatre goer and have seen Kerry perform as her self and in character on serveral times. In my personal opinion West End stars done get enough credit for what they do, musical theatre is tougher but so rewarding than being a pop star!! Kerry all your fans love you and you are The Voice to us, Team Ellis!! - Nikki	03 Apr 12

Terrible terrible decision of her to go on this show. ONE she actually does not have the voice they are looking for and two as Tom Jones pretty much summed up why go on it when she already has an EXTREMELY successful career. I am very glad they didn't turn round as that means that she isn't depriving someone who really couldn't meet those contacts in other ways. - tel	03 Apr 12

Had I been one of the judges, I wouldn't have hit that button either. Kerry Ellis belted and growled her hight notes like she does every time, but communication is not just about that. There's a need for subtlety, that she clearly doesn't have in herself, or at least that she regularly fails to show. There was hardly any feeling behind those great, big, loud vocals. Too bad, because being "a voice" is not just about being loud, it's about having things to say! - Actor	03 Apr 12

Publicity stunt. - Sean Aydon	03 Apr 12

The judges were looking for a 'pop' voice. I completely understand why they didn't choose Kerry. She belted out that song like a seasoned old trouper and it just didn't have the freshness of a new, malleable performer. Having said that, the woman from Five Star got through and she's an old hand, but at least she has a voice for pop and Kerry, I'm afraid had 'musical' embedded in every note. - Alison Goldie	03 Apr 12

It's not about finding the voice; if it was Kerry (and others) would have got through. It's about finding a voice they can mould into what they want it to be! Kerry is an amazing singer, in or out of a musical, and this was a risk worth her taking. People saying she shouldn't have auditioned because she's already 'established' should listen to the intro of the show, people are invited to audition, and it wouldn't surprise me if she had been invited. This would have, and may have, brought her amazing voice to a wider audience. More power to her for taking the risk! Playing it safe doesn't progress your career, taking risks do. Sometimes they pay off, other times they don't. Even though she didn't get through to the next round I think it's a risk that is going to do Kerry some good. - Laura	02 Apr 12

It's not about finding the voice, if it was Kerry (and others) would have got through. It's about finding a voice they can mould into what they want it to be! Kerry is an amazing singer, in or out of a musical, and this was a risk worth her taking. People saying she shouldn't have auditioned because she's already 'established' should listen to the intro of the show, people are invited to audition, and it wouldn't surprise me if she had been invited. This would have, and may have, brought her amazing voice to a wider audience. More power to her for taking the risk! Playing it safe doesn't progress your career, taking risks do. Sometimes they pay off, other times they don't. Even though she didn't get through to the next round I think it's a risk that is going to do Kerry some good. - Laura	02 Apr 12

It's not about finding the voice, if it was Kerry (and others) would have got through. It's about finding a voice they can mould into what they want it to be! Kerry is an amazing singer, in or out of a musical, and this was a risk worth her taking. People saying she shouldn't have auditioned because she's already 'established' should listen to the intro of the show, people are invited to audition, and it wouldn't surprise me if she had been invited. This would have, and may have, brought her amazing voice to a wider audience. More power to her for taking the risk! Playing it safe doesn't progress your career, taking risks do. Sometimes they pay off, other times they don't. Even though she didn't get through to the next round I think it's a risk that is going to do Kerry some good. - Laura	02 Apr 12

Agree with the judges - Actor	02 Apr 12

Makes the judges look pretty damned stupid....of course they don't call themselves judges, but they are. Just shows how idiotic and futile competitive behaviour and judging people is. Wait until the Olympic fiasco bankrupts the country and maybe the penny will finally drop. - coral	02 Apr 12

My immediate reaction was what on earth was she thinking? Kerry already has a West End career, albums, tours and Brian May as a mentor - what did she think The Voice was going to achieve apart from a very public humiliation. Much more importantly, if I was a West End producer I would be very reluctant to cast Kerry anymore as clearly her ambitions lie elsewhere and there are hundreds of talented performers who are desperate for the chance. If this was a publicity stunt it has backfired horribly and could prove to be career suicide. - David Baxter	02 Apr 12

The judges definitely made the right decision. No-one can argue that she can sing but there was no emotion and heart in her performance. Maybe she can only summon these when she's playing a character who knows, but she never revealed who she is to us so we couldn't relate to her at all. - The Voice Fan	02 Apr 12

I think the choice of song was all wrong. I think they imagined she was a 50+ granny and Subo has already cornered that market. If she had sung a contemporary number I think they were more likely to have picked her. One more reason why I don't watch this type of rubbish. - Anna	02 Apr 12

Am I the only person that thinks this could be good for musical theatre? I'm not a theatre goer so I didn't know her. Now I'm more likely to consider going to one other shows. As for is it the right choice they made? I'm not sure. Pop music is all about having a unique voice. Yes she's good, very good, but unique? I don't think so. - Danny	02 Apr 12

Sorry thought this was called 'The Voice', not 'The Voice of Musical Theatre.' She didn't cut so move on. There was just alot more talent on there that was from the heart and unique.I agree it shouts publicity stunt. - Jane	02 Apr 12

Can't imagine why she did it. - Janet	02 Apr 12

Why would someone who has already had their own CD released want to go The Voice? She already has a successful career and is linked to one of the most successful recording artists - Brian May, so why did she need to go on a talent show. It seems like a publicity stunt that has backfired. Not sure what the prize is but likely to be some sort of recording contract, which she already has. - Sara B	02 Apr 12

Completely different discipline. I can only assume this was some sort of publicity stunt. - Anthony	02 Apr 12

Didn't see it, so I can't say whether the judges were right - but why was she on at all? Isn't she established enough not to need this sort of help? - Chris Moorcroft	02 Apr 12

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Vote in WOS Poll: Do The Voice judges know anything about musical theatre?

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