Wow!
Might be over one year later but How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? is still winning awards!

It won the award for best non-scripted entertainment show on Monday at the International Emmy’s.

Best non-scripted entertainment show.

…just kidding!

2007 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® AWARD WINNERS
NON-SCRIPTED ENTERTAINMENT
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
BBC Entertainment
United Kingdom
Executive Producers: Martin Scott, Bea Ballard, Ruth Wrigley, Suzy Lamb
Producers: Deborah Sargeant, Mel Balac
Writer: Rob Colley
Principal Cast: Graham Norton, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Zoë Tyler, John Barrowman, David Ian
Accepting: John Plowman Executive Producer: Jon Plowman
Graham Norton hosts the search for a new Maria Von Trapp to star in the West End production of The Sound of Music. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber sets out on the unenviable task of trying to fill the wimple of Julie Andrews. Who could possibly be a nun in training, a governess, a will-o’-the wisp and a singing sensation? But in a twist, rather than pick their new leading lady themselves, the panel and Lloyd Webber let the viewers select the winner.

From International Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences

Wow! After an incredibly intensive 6-day rehearsal period, myself and my friends at Opera UK gave our first performance of Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte last night at Blackheath Halls, London for a special Remembrance performance.
Am so relieved and now can’t wait for the rest of the tour. So good to be back into the ‘Swing’ of things after leaving Phantom and having the opportunity to sing some Mozart is always such a treat!
Keep an eye out for it at a theatre near you next Spring!

We have a fantastic cast, all of whom I’ve had the previous pleasure of working with, and we are now intending to relax into it and enjoy ourselves.

The tour starts this week in Preston Lancs., dates as follows…

November 15th, 16th and 17th at 7.30pm, also Saturday 17th matinee at 2.30pm
Charter Theatre, Preston.
Box Office 10am - 5.30pm.
Tel 0845 344 2012 or online.
Tickets £16.50 and £18.00 (Thurs and Sat matinee) £17.50 and £19.00 (Fri and Sat evening)
Groups of 10 or more: £2 OFF with 1 free ticket per 10
Signed performance for the deaf Thurs evening.

Picture this - you and your best friend are in love with two sisters who are deeply in love with you. However, another friend says they would be unfaithful given half the chance. “No!” you both cry. A bet is laid, if you go away they’ll cheat on you - cosi fan tutte - “that’s what they all do.” So, off you go to the army, but the plan is that you come back in disguise to seduce each other’s lover. Do they forget you? Do they fall in love all over again with these new strangers? Is that what they all do?

Director Jane McCulloch, sets the opera in the summer of 1914, the last carefree days before the Great War broke out and youthful innocence will be lost forever….

www.operauk.co.uk

A while ago I recorded some songs for a personal project of Hugh Bailey’s. Hugh whose great-grandfather was Peckham composer Charles Seaton, had recently discovered long lost sheet music hidden in an attic that his great-grandfather had composed. He then set to work arranging these pieces and recording them and asked me to sing on the non instrumental ones.

Hugh was recently interview on The David Bottomley Show on Radio Peckham. Here’s a 4min excerpt containing the song ‘Tis Not The Last Goodbye.

The full show can be found here (Click on LISTEN)

My temporary Phantom Shrine

What a crazy year! This time last September I was just embarking on what was to be the time of my life at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket. I am so proud to have been a part of The Phantom Cast, it has to be the best show in the West End.

Having left 2 weeks ago, I still don’t think it has yet sunk in that I will now no longer be performing on that beautiful stage, 8 times a week. My final curtain call was incredibly emotional, as I looked around in admiration at the theatre which has been my ‘home from home’ for 12 months. It is a stunner, the show is magnificent, and I have been on such an incredible journey. In my first few weeks as Swing, I really couldn’t imagine that I would ever learn all those plots….I was TERRIFIED! But, a lot of hard work later, it became a dream job. Challenging, varied, never a dull moment! Thanks to all concerned for their help and patience! Being in the hub of central London has been a blast, and I have loved the whole experience.
All that remains is to thank the wonderful Creative Team, all my Phantom friends, and to wish the show a very Happy 21st Birthday!
I MISS YOU!!!!
xxx

Well here’s a group of people you don’t get photographed with everyday!

Wow! Finally watched a recording of Friday’s Princess Diana Memorial….I am so proud to have been involved in what was a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman. The Princes excelled under extraordinarily tough circumstances and they were delightful. I actually received a letter of thanks today. I was fortunate enough to meet Harry at Rugby World Cup 2003, in Australia, where he was briliant fun, and I can honestly say he’s ‘beefed up’ somewhat since then! That’s what hanging about in the Army does for you….

I thought the Chapel looked absolutely stunning and the BBC got some wonderful shots to really show it off. As permanent member of the Chapel Choir, I am SO proud to sing there every Sunday and it was such a momentous occasion for us all. I was so, so proud of our Director of Chapel Music, Tim Horton, who excelled, not only in his conducting but also during the arduous months of work in preparation for such a massive event. Well done dude!

P.S. For those of you wondering what The Duke Of Edinburgh said to me at the end, contrary to rumours it was not “Weren’t you one of the “Marias”?!”
He in fact said “I saw you checking out my grandson’s bottom on the way in…..!” Only joking!
He said he loved the piece by Parry. So did we, it was a fine choice.