Hit London musicals Hairspray and Fiddler On The Roof have announced extensions to their London runs. Hairspray, which opened last week, is now booking at the Shaftesbury until 25 October 2008. Fiddler On The Roof stays at the Savoy until 26 April 2008, when it closes to make way for Take That musical Never Forget.
Hairspray, which opened on 30 October, stars West End newcomer Leanne Jones as Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and a big heart. It is 1962 and Tracy has her heart set on winning a spot on a local dance programme and the affection of heartthrob Link Larkin.
The show, which is based on John Waters’s film, was originally staged in America, where it won eight Tony awards and a Grammy for the original cast recording.
Musical theatre veteran Michael Ball, writer/director/comedian Mel Smith and Any Dream Will Do finalist Ben James Ellis star alongside Jones.
The current production of Fiddler On The Roof was originally staged in Sheffield, where it was so successful that it transferred into the Savoy for a limited run that will have extended to 11 months by the time it closes in April.
Henry Goodman leads the cast as Tevye, an old-fashioned Jewish family man living in Tsarist Russia. In a time of upheaval and change Tevye clings onto old ideals and wants to see his daughters married in the traditional Jewish way. His daughters have their own ideas.MA