Photos: Jade and the cast of Porgy and Bess at rehearsals

By George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin
Book Adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks Musical Score Adapted by Diedre L. Murray

One of these mornings you’re gonna rise up singing,
Then you’ll spread your wings and you’ll take to the sky

A powerful story of love and betrayal, Porgy and Bess is celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre.

Porgy, a crippled beggar, is devoted to taming wild Bess and saving her from a life of ruin. Yet new beginnings give way to temptation as Bess is haunted by the demons of her past.

Directed by Timothy Sheader, this musical masterpiece includes ‘I Got Plenty of Nothing’, ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’, ‘I Loves You Porgy’ and the poignantly beautiful ‘Summertime’, an icon of the Great American Songbook.

Drawing on talent from both sides of the Atlantic Rufus Bonds Jr and Nicola Hughes take the title roles. Rufus received a Drama Desk nomination for the original US production of Parade, and Nicola revisits the role of Bess following her Olivier Award nominated performance in Trevor Nunn’s 2006 production. Phillip Boykin reprises the role of Crown for which he received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for the 2012 Broadway production. Double Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke (Ghost / We Will Rock You) also joins the cast as Mariah.

Rufus Bonds Jr, Phillip Boykin and Cedric Neal are appearing with the permission of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.

CREATIVE TEAM

• Director – Timothy Sheader
• Set & Costume Designer – Katrina Lindsay
• Choreographer – Liam Steel
• Musical Director & Orchestrator – David Shrubsole
• Lighting Designer – Rick Fisher
• Sound Designer – Nick Lidster for Autograph
• Casting Director – Pippa Ailion CDG
• Casting Director (USA) – Justin Huff CSA
  for Telsey + Company
• Season Associate Director – Barbara Houseman
• Assistant Director – Ola Ince
• Fight Director – Kate Waters
• Assistant Choreographer – Diane Alison-Mitchell

THE CAST

• Ensemble – David Albury
• Porgy – Rufus Bonds Jr
• Crown – Phillip Boykin
• Ensemble – Angela Caesar
• Mariah – Sharon D Clarke
• Clara – Jade Ewen
• Detective – Alex Giannini
• Policeman – Owain Gwynn
• Bess – Nicola Hughes
• Ensemble – Tyrone Huntley
• Ensemble – George Ikediashi
• Ensemble – Claudia Kariuki
• Ensemble – Arthur Kyeyune
• Ensemble – Oliver Lidert
• Jake – Leon Lopez
• Ensemble – Jay Marsh
• Ensemble – Tania Mathurin
• Sportin' Life – Cedric Neal
• Ensemble – Ellen O'Grady
• Serena – Golda Rosheuvel
• Ensemble – Yemie Sonuga
• Robbins – Marvin Springer

Photos: Happy Days the Musical production photos

Photos: Amelle at tumble training

Amelle Berrabah @Amelle_Berrabah · Thank you @yogisnap for my cap!!! Meeee looooove!

Amelle Berrabah ‏@Amelle_Berrabah  Jun 27

Another great day of training with @DavidRoy_Wood & @DougFordyce #Tumble #GoHardOrGoHome #DreamTeam #TeamAmelle

Amelle Berrabah @Amelle_Berrabah · 

Me @DavidRoy_Wood @DougFordyce doing what we do Lol! #Tumble #DreamTeam #TeamAmelle #DreamBig #InThe #SummerTime

Photos: Jade and the Porgy and Bess cast at West End Live

Open Air Theatre @OpenAirTheatre · Jun 21

Fantastic performances from Jade Ewen, Phillip Boykin, Nicola Hughes & Cedric Neal! Thank you to everyone who came along to @WestEndLIVE

West End LIVE‏@WestEndLIVE

Can't wait for @OpenAirTheatre's Porgy & Bess coming up soon. #WestEndLIVE

Open Air Theatre @OpenAirTheatre · Jun 21

Just about to go on stage at @WestEndLIVE.. #OATporgyandbess here we go!

Open Air Theatre @OpenAirTheatre · Jun 21

Just arrived at @WestEndLIVE! @theboycan Phillip Boykin is getting in the mood for #OATporgyandbess

Open Air Theatre @OpenAirTheatre · Jun 21

Phillip Boykin and Nicola Hughes performing live at @WestEndLIVE right now.. So powerful! #OATporgyandbess

Sugababe in at the deep end in Birmingham

14 Feb 2014 09:05

Tonight's The Night for two young singers, as Roz Laws discovers.

Jade Ewen as Dee Dee in Tonight's The Night

In the Rod Stewart musical Tonight’s The Night, Jade Ewen has a solo to The First Cut Is The Deepest.
But it might be more fitting to sing The First Dive Is The Hardest (and most painful).
The pop star and Sugababe was one of the first contestants on ITV reality show Splash! – and reveals how terrified she was.
“I couldn’t even swim when I agreed to take part,” she admits.
“I only did it so I could learn to swim, but I had sleepless nights worrying about it.
“It was really painful, the impact of the water really hurt. I wouldn’t recommend anybody do it.
“I went off the five-metre board, which I never thought I would do.
I was so chuffed that I did a dive and didn’t drown.
“It took a lot to convince me to do Splash! and I wouldn’t like to do anything else that dangerous.
“I watched a bit of the Channel 4 winter sports show The Jump and thought that was cruel. They enjoy seeing celebrities wee themselves out of fear!
“I wouldn’t even go there. Maybe I’d do something less terrifying. I love cooking, so I could maybe do Great British Bake Off or MasterChef.
“And I think Strictly Come Dancing would be cool. I don’t like exercise, I don’t like going to the gym but dancing is fun.”
Tonight’s The Night tells the story of a shy young man, Stu, who is too tongue-tied to declare his love to the girl of his dreams. One night he strikes a deal with the Devil to trade his soul for Rod Stewart’s. The story, written by Ben Elton, is told through Rod’s songs, from Maggie May to Sailing via Baby Jane and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.
“It’s full of great feelgood songs,” says Jade, 26, who shot to fame when she was chosen to represent the UK in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. She performed Andrew Lloyd Webber’s It’s My Time and came fifth.
“They were released before I was born so I didn’t think it was music I knew very well. But you hear stuff subconsciously and I surprised myself by actually knowing lots of the songs.
“I play Dee Dee, the best friend of Stu’s love interest Mary. I’m really anti-him, I’m not a fan.
“My favourite Rod Stewart song is This Old Heart of Mine but one of my solos is The First Cut Is The Deepest, which is pretty emotional. It starts off completely a capello then two guitars come in on the chorus.
Tonight’s The Night comes to Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre from February 24 and Jade is looking forward to returning to a city she knows well.
“I’ve been to Birmingham and the Midlands a lot because my mum is from Wolverhampton and my cousins still live in the area. Plus my best friend, Carlton Sheekey, is from Birmingham. He’s a musician and actor who I met in London when he played for me.
“My mum moved to London in her twenties and met my dad. She’s lost her accent but the rest of her family haven’t. We’d go back for Christmases and so on.”
Jade still spends her free time caring for her parents, as her father Trevor is completely blind and has a guide dog, and her mother Carol is partially sighted.
Jade became the sixth member of pop band Sugababes when she replaced Keisha Buchanan. She had two Top 10 singles with Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah.
Their last record was released four years ago but Jade insists the Sugababes haven’t officially split.
“Nothing bad has happened, we’ve not split, but the reality is that we are not recording. Amelle left to pursue a solo career two years ago. Heidi and I stayed with the management but we can’t wait around forever.
“I am in touch with the girls, though, I last spoke to Heidi on her 30th birthday.”
But as that was last May, they are perhaps not the closest of friends.

Sinead Long who stars in Tonight's The Night

 
Jade’s castmate Sinead Long has battled back from injury to be playing her home city. She plays Bootie in the musical, as well as understudying both Mary and Dee Dee.
The Birmingham-born 23-year-old, who grew up in Halesowen, could not perform for four months after she had an operation on a torn ligament in her ankle.
Sinead, who started dancing at the age of two at her local Timmins Academy, won a scholarship at 18 to a musical theatre course at Arts Educational Schools in London.
She left two months early when she won the part of Serena in an 18-month tour of Legally Blonde.
But one night she fell awkwardly on her ankle. She took three weeks off but insisted on returning to finish her contract, putting off having surgery until the end of the tour.
“It was very painful at first, but I had constant checks with the physiotherapist and swapped my heels for flats,” says Sinead, a former pupil of Hagley High School and King Edward VI College in Stourbridge.
“After the operation I was out of action for four months and it took a year to retrain myself.
“It was frustrating, but I told myself I would get back on stage.”
Then she won the job on Tonight’s The Night, where her big number, ironically, is Hot Legs.
* Tonight’s The Night plays at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre from February 24- March 1. For tickets ring 0844 871 3011 or go to www.atgtickets.com/birmingham.

Celebrity line-up revealed for new BBC One Saturday night entertainment show, Tumble

Celebrity line-up revealed for new BBC One Saturday night entertainment show, Tumble

These celebrities are embarking on a gruelling training regime combining aerial and gymnastic skills. They’ll use them all to deliver breath-taking performances that you’d expect from the department that also produces Strictly Come Dancing.Rachel Ashdown, Commissioning Executive, BBC

Date: 13.06.2014     Last updated: 13.06.2014 at 16.24

Category: BBC One; Entertainment

Today the BBC announces the 10 celebrities who will take part in BBC One’s new Saturday night entertainment show, Tumble.

The celebrities vaulting, tumbling and flipping head-over-heels in a bid to win the public’s votes are current world boxing champion Carl Froch, Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding, fitness legend Mr Motivator, EastEnders actor John Partridge and Loose Women host Andrea McLean.

Also joining the celebrity line-up are TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh, BAFTA Award-winning Wolfblood actor Bobby Lockwood, Sugababe Amelle Berrabah, Dynasty icon Emma Samms and Ian ‘H’ Watkins from Steps.

BBC Commissioning Executive, Rachel Ashdown, says: “These celebrities are embarking on a gruelling training regime combining aerial and gymnastic skills. They’ll use them all to deliver breath-taking performances that you’d expect from the department that also produces Strictly Come Dancing.”

Jane Allen, British Gymnastics Chief Executive Officer, says: “This is an exciting opportunity for our sport that will enable people to view gymnastics in a whole new entertainment light. It’s been rewarding for British Gymnastics to work with the BBC in providing technical support and we’re all looking forward to seeing the star cast enjoy the challenges of our sport.” 

Kate White and Jane Rice-Bowen, Joint CEOs - National Centre for Circus Arts, say: “We’re delighted to be supporting the BBC in the development of this new show. The most exciting thing for us is that Saturday night audiences are about to be treated to some really special circus performances from some of the leading circus artists in the UK today.”

Master of ceremonies Alex Jones will preside over each show, and judging the celebrities’ performances will be world-renowned Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci, Strictly Come Dancing champion and London 2012 medallist Louis Smith, MBE, Commonwealth Games gymnastics champion turned sports broadcaster Craig Heap and world-renowned cirque artist/aerial performer Sebastien Stella.

The famous faces will be put through their paces by high-flying, gravity defying gymnasts from across the globe, whom they’ll be partnered with throughout the series.

All 10 celebrities will start training with professional partners and coaches in the coming weeks before the show kicks off this summer.

Tumble will be made by BBC Productions for BBC One and exact scheduling will be confirmed in due course.

Notes to Editors

Quotes from the celebrities:

Amelle Berrabah says: “I've been asked to do other shows before but this is something I genuinely wanted to do, especially because I'm so into my health and fitness. I've always loved gymnastics, I used to watch it as a kid. I'm really looking forward to the physical challenge, pushing myself and learning new skills!”

Andrea McLean says: “I’m so excited about taking part in the show! I’ve never tried gymnastics before but I love fitness so hopefully I can hold my own with the others and stay the distance. I'm also thrilled to be part of the first ever series of this new brand-new show.... I’m definitely ready to Tumble!”

Bobby Lockwood says: “This is the first time I have ever been involved in such a huge competition. I am very excited (and scared!) by this amazing opportunity to learn new skills. Bring on the handstands and backflips!”

Carl Froch says: “After a fight of such magnitude it will be great for me to get my body and mind stuck straight into a new discipline. I am excited to learn these new skills as gymnastics, backflips and somersaults are something that have always impressed me and I have wanted to be able to do."

Emma Samms says: “Well who hasn't watched Cirque Du Soleil and not wanted to join in?! I am very excited to be part of this despite the fact I have never done gymnastics before!”

Ian 'H' Watkins says: “I don't know what I'm more nervous for - the training or having to wear the lycra! Whatever happens, I'm up for the challenge and actually can't wait to get going…"

John Partridge says: “I can't wait to get started on Tumble. I'm always up for a new physical challenge and, as I've had no former gymnastics experience, this will definitely be one. Plus what better way to get killer abs in time for the summer!”

Lucy Mecklenburgh says: “I'm scared, nervous and more excited than I can describe about Tumble! To have the opportunity to learn a new skill is a dream come true for me. Although I'm sure I'll be falling over a lot before then!" 

Mr Motivator says: “As I rise to this new challenge I am going to stretch, ache, smile and have a great time. I will gravitate to my dominant thought which is right now, I am fabulous, fit, and soon to be an accomplished gymnast.”

Sarah Harding says: “I'm really excited but a bit nervous about what it is going to be like doing Tumble! I'm really looking forward, but also a little bit scared, about all the training I'll be doing ... but at least it beats going to the gym!"

About British Gymnastics

British Gymnastics is proud to be the UK Governing Body for the sport of gymnastics. It exists to support, lead and inspire all those involved or interested in gymnastics. British Gymnastics provides the national direction and structure for the sport; from grass roots to delivering international success on the world stage.

British Gymnastics has worked with the BBC in providing technical support to see the star cast enjoy the challenges of the sport. You can take part in gymnastics at any age or ability and to find out more go to www.british-gymnastics.org

About National Centre of Circus Arts

Founded in 1989 as 'Circus Space', the National Centre for Circus Arts is one of the best circus schools in the world and it is at the heart of a network of circus organisations that are leading the renaissance of circus in the UK. The organisation champions and supports excellence in circus arts in the UK and around the world.

It is helping to change the perception of circus in the UK by providing an unparalleled launch-pad for present and future performers, with over 40 circus companies accessing studio time and funding through the National Centre for Circus Arts. For more information go to www.nationalcircus.org.uk