Savannah Stevenson, Jeremy Taylor, Sue Kelvin and Paul Clarkson are to join the cast of hit West End musical Wicked later this year, joining international musical theatre star Willemijn Verkaik from 18 November.
Last seen on the London stage in Chariots Of Fire at the Gielgud theatre, Stevenson will take on the role of pink-loving Glinda in the much-loved show following previous appearances in West End productions of Mary Poppins and Gone With The Wind, as well as Aspects Of Love at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Arguably best known for his on screen role in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, Olivier Award-winning actor Clarkson (Doctor Dillamond) picked up one of London theatre’s prestigious accolades in 1984 for his performance in Howard Goodall and Melvyn Bragg’s acclaimed musical The Hired Man. The actor also created the role of Harry Bright in the original London production of Mamma Mia!.
Taylor (Fiyero) and Kelvin (Madame Morrible) can both currently be seen in the West End, appearing in We Will Rock You and Private Lives respectively. Taylor’s other London stage credits include The Sound Of Music at the London Palladium, while Kelvin has appeared in West End productions including Chicago, Fiddler On The Roof and Les Misérables, as well as Travelling Light and A Streetcar Named Desire at the National Theatre.
Sam Kelly will also return to the production to play The Wizard, having previously taken on the role from 2009 to 2010. Best known for his appearances in classic TV comedies including Porridge, ‘Allo ‘Allo and On The Up, which have won him a special place in the hearts of British TV fans, Kelly’s theatre credits include The Homecoming and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum at the National Theatre, Dead Funny and HMS Pinafore at the Savoy theatre, and Under The Whaleback at the Royal Court.
The quintet of musical theatre stars will join the previously announced Verkaik, who has notched up more than 1,000 appearances as the musical’s iconic green-skinned witch Elphaba in productions across the world.
Sam Lupton and Katie Rowley Jones will continue in their roles as Boq and Nessarose alongside a cast that also includes Florence Andrews, Kyle Anthony, William Bozier, Oliver Brenin, Lauren Brooke, Philippa Buxton, Philip Catchpole, Aisling Duffy, Samuel Edwards, Kerry Enright, Michelle Francis, Jacqueline Hughes, Melissa Jacques, Marc McBride, Stacey McGuire, Natalie McQueen, Greg Miller Burns, Tom Muggeridge, Rachel Muldoon, Sean Parkins, Charlie Stemp, Lauren Stroud, Lindsay Taylor, Justin Thomas, Hannah Toy, Matt Turner, Russell Walker and Jenny Wickham.
Wicked, which opened at the Apollo Victoria theatre in 2006, has now been seen by more than five million people. Based on the story by Gregory Maguire, the Olivier Award-winning musical, which features songs including I’m Not That Girl, As Long As You’re Mine, For Good, Defying Gravity and The Wizard And I, tells the story of two young sorcery students and how they came to fulfil their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The production, which is currently booking until 26 April 2014, currently stars Louise Dearman, Gina Beck, Ben Freeman, Harriet Thorpe, Keith Bartlett and Christopher Howell.