Theatre News

Wicked & Top Hat stars join line-up of Whatsonstage.com Awards Concert

We’re delighted to reveal further line-up details for the Whatsonstage.com Awards Concert at the West End’s Palace Theatre on Sunday 17 February 2013.

Joining the previously announced Tim Minchin and Melanie C, who will perform as part of a Jesus Christ Superstar section (See News, 14 Jan 2013) are Wicked co-stars Louise Dearman and Gina Beck, singing a number from hit US TV show Smash, as well as stars of other 2013 nominated productions including Top Hat, Taboo, Loserville and Stiles and Drewe’s Soho Cinders, set in and around Old Compton Street, just behind the theatre.

Whatsonstage.com Awards Concert performers
Clockwise from top left: Gina Beck & Louise Dearman, Sam Buttery & Taboo cast, David Bedella, Loserville,
Gavin Lee & Top Hat cast, Beverly Rudd & Suzie Chard in Soho Cinders.

There will also be performances from Olivier Award winner David Bedella (Jerry Springer The Opera, more recently seen onstage in Torch Song Trilogy and onscreen Holby City) and Alice Fearn (Princess Fiona in Shrek, Into the Woods and Les Miserables on screen), and nominees Beverly Rudd and Suzie Chard, who will perform the riotous “I’m So Over Men” from Soho Cinders, which is also up for Best New Musical and Best Original Music by George Stiles.

Wicked‘s current Elphaba and Glinda Louise Dearman and Gina Beck, the latter nominated this year for Best Takeover in a Role, will sing “Let Me Be Your Star”, originally sung by Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee in American hit TV series Smash.

There will also be cast performances from two other shortlisted productions: Top Hat (with five nominations), led by its new leading man Gavin Lee (whose many other credits in the West End and on Broadway include Mary Poppins), and Taboo (with three nominations), including The Voice finalist turned Best Supporting Actor in a Musical nominee Sam Buttery and former Olivier Award winner Paul Baker, who also starred in the original production of the Boy George musical ten years ago.

As previously announced, the Concert will be hosted by Rufus Hound – soon to make his West End debut taking over as Francis Henshall in Richard Bean’s Whatsonstage.com Award-winning hit comedy One Man, Two Guvnors – and Great British Bake Off star Mel Giedroyc, who returns having co-hosted the 2010 Awards Concert.

Further exciting line-up details are still to be announced. Voting runs until 11.59pm on Thursday 31 January 2013 so be sure to have your say at Whatsonstage.com/Awards

In addition to the two-and-a-half hour Concert, highlights of the evening, of course, include your big-name winners collecting their trophies to your cheers. Hilarious and hanky-pulling acceptance speeches are guaranteed!

Whatsonstage.com Awards Concert hosts
Melanie C, Tim Minchin, Mel Giedroyc & Rufus Hound

The Awards Concert is directed and devised by Russell Labey, with sound by Ben Harrison, lighting by Mike Robertson, choreography by Lizzi Gee and musical supervision and orchestrations by Tom Deering. It’s produced by Stuart Piper and Jason Haigh-Ellery on behalf of Whatsonstage.com, with general management by Peter Huntley and production management by Chris Fisher.

As with last month’s Launch Party, the Concert is held in aid of this year’s adopted charity, Interact (part of Stagecoach Charitable Trust), which provides disabled and disadvantaged children and young people with real opportunities to develop valuable skills for life through drama, movement and music workshops.


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