Welcome to London’s newest Theatreland Royalty!
Amy Di Bartolomeo, Amanda Lindgren, Claudia Kariuki, Dionne Ward-Anderson, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe and Meesha Turner are the new Queens at the Vaudeville Theatre.
They are joined by Paisley Billings, Danielle Rose, and Roxanne Couch as Alternates, Rachel Rawlinson as Swing and Esme Rothero as Swing and Dance Captain.
Yesterday, the Queens met together for the first time for a photoshoot at the Tower of London, courtesy of Historic Royal Palaces, and today they started rehearsals. Their first performance will be Tuesday November 16.
So who are the new Queens?
Amy Di Bartolome (Catherine of Aragon) made her professional debut in ‘Starlight Express’ in Germany, toured the UK in ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ and made her West End debut as ‘Leibeswoosh’ in ‘Bat Out of Hell’.
Amanda Lindgren (Anne Bolyen) hails from Sweden, was recently in ‘South Pacific’ at Chichester Festival Theatre, and has toured the UK and internationally in both ‘Miss Saigon’ and ‘The King and I’.
Claudia Kariuki (Jane Seymour) made her professional debut as Sarah in ‘Ragtime’ at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Her West End credits include ‘School of Rock’ and ‘Wicked’. She played one of the Divas in the recent ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ UK Tour.
Dionne Ward-Anderson (Anna of Cleves) is making her West End debut.
Tsemaye Bob-Egbe (Katherine Howard) was the alternate Tina in the original West End cast of ‘Tina: The Tina Turner Story’, and Janelle Woods in ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’, and
Leading Player in ‘Pippin’ (Garden Theatre).
Meesha Turner (Catherine Parr) is a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music making her professional and West End debut.
Paisley Billings (alternate Catherine of Aragon & Anna of Cleves) made her West End debut aged 11 as Young Nala in ‘The Lion King’. She was Karissa in ’On the Edge’ on C4.
Roxanne Couch (alternate Jane Seymour & Katherine Parr) appeared in the West End concert ‘I Could Use a Drink’ and ‘In Pieces’ at the Turbine Theatre.
Danielle Rose (alternate Anne Boleyn & Catherine Howard) is a recent BA musical theatre graduate from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, also making her West End debut.
Rachel Rawlinson (swing) was most recently in ‘Heathers’ in the West End and played a Diva in ’Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’. Her West End credits also include ‘Billy Elliot’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’.
Esme Rothero (swing and dance captain) is also making her West End debut.
We can’t wait to see the new queens and what they bring to the table!