MICHAEL BALL TO GUEST STAR AS ‘COUNT FOSCO’ IN THE HIT WEST END MUSICAL “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” AT THE PALACE THEATRE MAKING HIS DEBUT IN THE SHOW ON TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY FOR A LIMITED SIX-WEEK SEASON

Stage and recording star Michael Ball will guest star as ‘Count Fosco’ in the hit West End musical “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” at the Palace Theatre for six weeks, starting officially on Tuesday 22 February although it is anticipated that he may be able to join the show earlier.  Michael Ball says “I am delighted to have been offered this opportunity. Stepping into the great Michael Crawford’s shoes represents an enormous challenge and I am thrilled to be working once again with Maria”.

Michael Crawford, currently playing the role, has been forced to take a temporary break due to illness.  Crawford has been laid low by an acute ‘flu’ virus and is under doctor’s orders not to return to work until he has made a complete recovery. He today expressed his frustration at being unable to appear having established a legendary record for his West End appearances across four decades.  Crawford aims to return to the show in early April and will then play the role until the end May. 

The producers of “THE WOMAN IN WHITE”, Sonia Friedman Productions and The Really Useful Theatre Company, are delighted that they have been able to arrange this casting at such short notice, especially as this will reunite Michael Ball and Maria Friedman, who had such a success together in the Stephen Sondheim musical “Passion”.

Currently playing to packed houses, “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” has just been nominated for five Olivier Awards, including ‘Best New Musical’.

“THE WOMAN IN WHITE” stars Maria Friedman as ‘Marian’, with Martin Crewes as ‘Walter Hartwright’, Angela Christian as ‘Anne Catherick’ (‘the Woman in White’), Oliver Darley as ‘Sir Percival Glyde’, Jill Paice as ‘Laura Fairlie’ and Edward Petherbridge as ‘Mr Fairlie’.

“THE WOMAN IN WHITE” opened at the Palace Theatre on 15 September last year and has played to sell-out houses ever since.

‘I Believe My Heart’ from “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” was a hit single for Duncan James and Keedie at the end of last year.
”A compelling tale of love, betrayal and greed, “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” is a stunning new musical.  Walter Hartright’s life is changed forever after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman, dressed in white, desperate to reveal her chilling secret. When he takes up his position as drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, Marian, he sees in Laura's face an eerie reflection of the forlorn creature he previously met.

Walter and Laura's feelings for each other are thwarted by her engagement to the sinister Sir Percival Glyde. What is the connection between Laura, Sir Percival and the woman in white?  Is Sir Percival's friend Count Fosco, with his unusual taste for white mice and poison, really as charming and well-meaning as he seems. Can true love prevail?”

This new musical has been adapted for the stage by Charlotte Jones, whose award-winning plays include “Humble Boy”, with lyrics by David Zippel, whose credits include “City of Angels” and the Disney classics “Mulan” and “Hercules”. Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the captivating and romantic new score. Internationally renowned director Trevor Nunn, responsible for, amongst others, “Cats”, “Starlight Express”, “Les Misérables” and, recently, “Anything Goes”, has directed the production.  The revolutionary design is by William Dudley.

Wilkie Collins's “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” was one of the most influential and successful Victorian novels and quickly became a phenomenon. Since its publication in 1860, it has never been out of print and generations of readers have been thrilled by its suspense and excitement.

“THE WOMAN IN WHITE” is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and The Really Useful Theatre Company.

Performance times will be Mondays-Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £15.00-£50.00, are available from the Palace Theatre Box Office on 0870 895 5579.

MARTIN CREWES, ANGELA CHRISTIAN, OLIVER DARLEY, JILL PAICE AND EDWARD PETHERBRIDGE JOIN 

“THE WOMAN IN WHITE”

ALONGSIDE MICHAEL CRAWFORD AND MARIA FRIEDMAN
REHEARSALS BEGIN MONDAY 12 JULY

 Martin Crewes will play ‘Walter Hartwright’, Angela Christian ‘Anne Catherick’ (‘the Woman in White’), Oliver Darley ‘Sir Percival Glyde’, Jill Paice ‘Laura Fairlie’ and Edward Petherbridge ‘Mr Fairlie’ in the World Premiere of the new musical “THE WOMAN IN WHITE”. Michael Crawford is playing ‘Count Fosco’ and Maria Friedman ‘Marian’.

Martin Crewes played the lead role of ‘Kaplan’ in the film “Resident Evil” and his television credits include “Bad Girls”, “The Grand”, “Neighbours” and “Flying Doctors”. His stage work includes playing ‘Marius’ in the West End production of “Les Misérables”. American Angela Christian also makes her West End debut playing the role ‘Anne Catherick’ (‘the Woman in White’), having recently received an Outer Critics’ Circle nomination for her performance as ‘Dorothy’ in the Broadway production of  “Thoroughly Modern Millie”. Oliver Darley has worked extensively at the RSC, appearing in “The Alchemist”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “The Thebans” and “Columbus”. His television work includes “The Bill” and “Sins”. American Jill Paice makes her West End debut as ‘Laura Fairlie’, having recently played the lead role ‘Sophie’ in the Las Vegas production of “Mamma Mia!”. Edward Petherbridge, a founder member of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre at the Old Vic in 1964 and of the Actors’ Company in 1972, has played many roles at the RSC and in the West End, most recently starring in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at the London Palladium when it opened in 2002. He won an Olivier Award for his performance in “Strange Interlude”, but is most famous for playing ‘Lord Peter Wimsey’ on BBC Television.

“THE WOMAN IN WHITE” opens at the Palace Theatre on 15 September, with previews from 28 August.

Freely adapted from Wilkie Collins's sensational Victorian thriller, “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” brings to the stage a musical of startling brilliance. A dashing young man, employed as the art tutor to two devoted sisters, is stranded at a remote railway cutting. Out of the darkness looms a woman, a mysterious figure dressed in white, desperate to share a chilling secret.

He and the sisters soon find themselves trapped in a web of betrayal and greed, the victims of a seemingly flawless crime. Together they will need all their resourcefulness and courage to outwit a hugely charismatic and ingenious villain. As the compelling plot twists and turns, low villainy vies with high romance in a world where nothing is as it first appears and where it is impossible to know who to trust.

This new musical has been adapted for the stage by Charlotte Jones, whose award-winning plays include “Humble Boy”, with lyrics by David Zippel, whose credits include “City of Angels” and the Disney classics “Mulan” and “Hercules”. Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the captivating and romantic new score. Internationally renowned director Trevor Nunn, responsible for, amongst others, “Cats”, “Starlight Express”, “Les Misérables” and, recently, “Anything Goes”, will direct the production.

“THE WOMAN IN WHITE” will be designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Paul Pyant and sound by Mick Potter. Dance and movement will be by leading contemporary choreographer Wayne McGregor and Simon Lee is the musical supervisor.

Wilkie Collins's “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” was one of the most influential and successful Victorian novels and quickly became a phenomenon. Since its publication in 1860, it has never been out of print and generations of readers have been thrilled by its suspense and excitement.

"THE WOMAN IN WHITE” is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and The Really Useful Theatre Company.

Performance times will be Mondays-Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £15.00-£50.00, are available from the Palace Theatre Box Office on 0870 895 5579.

MICHAEL CRAWFORD AND MARIA FRIEDMAN TO STAR IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S NEW MUSICAL “THE WOMAN IN WHITE”

Michael Crawford, who returns to the West End stage 18 years after he starred in “The Phantom of the Opera”, is to reunite with Andrew Lloyd Webber and star in his new musical, “THE WOMAN IN WHITE”.

Crawford will play the charismatic Italian ‘Count Fosco’, one of the wittiest and cleverest villains ever written, and will star alongside multi-award winning actress Maria Friedman as the courageous heroine ‘Marian’. Maria this week picked up her third Olivier Award for her performance in “Ragtime”. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber says, “I am delighted that Michael has accepted the delicious role of ‘Count Fosco’, a character of overpowering charisma and ingenuity, and one of the best villains in Victorian fiction. It is fantastic that we have lured such a great international star back to the West End where he belongs.”

 “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” opens at the Palace Theatre on 15 September, with previews from 28 August.

Freely adapted from Wilkie Collins's sensational Victorian thriller, “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” brings to the stage a musical of startling brilliance. A dashing young man, employed as the art tutor to two devoted sisters, is stranded at a remote railway cutting. Out of the darkness looms a woman, a mysterious figure dressed in white, desperate to share a chilling secret.

 He and the sisters soon find themselves trapped in a web of betrayal and greed, the victims of a seemingly flawless crime. Together they will need all their resourcefulness and courage to outwit a hugely charismatic and ingenious villain, ‘Count Fosco’. As the compelling plot twists and turns, low villainy vies with high romance in a world where nothing is as it first appears and where it is impossible to know who to trust.

 This new musical has been adapted for the stage by Charlotte Jones, whose award-winning plays include “Humble Boy”, with lyrics by David Zippel, whose credits include “City of Angels” and the Disney classics “Mulan” and “Hercules”. Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the captivating and romantic score. Internationally renowned director Trevor Nunn, responsible for, amongst others, “Cats”, “Starlight Express”, “Les Misérables” and, most recently, “Anything Goes”, will direct the production.

 Wilkie Collins's “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” was one of the most influential and successful Victorian novels and quickly became a phenomenon. Since its publication in 1860, it has never been out of print and generations of readers have been thrilled by its suspense and excitement.

 The Palace Theatre Box Office is now open for “THE WOMAN IN WHITE” on 0870 895 5579.

“THE WOMAN IN WHITE” is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and The Really Useful Theatre Company.

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