In the 'House Seats'
Craig Bartley
This podcast brings you interviews with people working in the entertainment industry discussing about all aspects of onstage performing or backstage production. Ideas as a prospective performer through to what an adjudicator, choreographer or casting director might look for when you are delivering your performance piece.
Hosted by Craig Bartley who is a performer and choreographer, who has appeared in West End and Broadway productions ranging from 42nd Street (Original cast at Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Me & My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), La Cage Aux Follies (Palladium Theatre), Mack And Mabel in concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Man of La Mancha (Peacock Theatre) of which he recorded the cast albums for both ‘Mack And Mabel’ and ‘Man of La Mancha’. He also spent more than two and a half years playing the part of ‘Doody’ in the hit musical ‘Grease’ where he received the Golden Quiff Award for best performance, which was presented by the late Victoria Wood.
He also appeared in two Royal Variety Performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for the BBC and ITV and 'A Royal Performance' at the Adelphi Theatre.
Craig’s experience has enabled him to travel the globe extensively whilst being involved in performing, choreographing, directing and producing for the inaugural production set up for most of the World’s leading cruise lines. As well as performing, Craig has taught specialist classes at Mountview, Millenium, Urdang, Elmhurst and Red Roofs Theatre School. He was also the full-time Course Director and co-Principal of his own successful Starquest Performers College.
He still runs and teaches at Starquest Performing Arts encouraging children from two and a half to 18 to act, sing and dance.
He hopes this podcast will help and inspire existing and especially newly graduated creatives just what challenges lie in store and what the highs and lows are for people within the performing arts industry. If you like this podcast then please leave us a 5 star review on iTunes podcasts.
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Top 10 In the 'House Seats' Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best In the 'House Seats' episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to In the 'House Seats' for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite In the 'House Seats' episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Ep 56: John Barr, West End star and vocational teacher
In the 'House Seats'
06/06/21 • 42 min
John made his West End Debut at the age of 12 in Lionel Bart’s ‘Oliver’ at the Albery Theatre.
His theatre credits include: Bull Connor in King The Musical (Hackney Empire, 2018), Lionel Bart in The Story of Bart (Tour 2018 & Mirth, Maud & Marvel -2017 & The Hippodrome 2014), Barry Bronze in Rehab - A New Musical (The Union Theatre – 2017), Uncle Ernie in The Who’s Tommy (Greenwich Theatre), Principal Singer in Rhythm of Life (The St. James Theatre, Studio), Fogg in Sweeney Todd (ENO), Ed Kleban in A Class Act (The Landor Theatre) for which he was nominated for Best Male Performance at the Offie Awards and Broadwayworld.com 2013/14, Tateh in Ragtime (The Landor Theatre), Charles Guiteau in Sondheim's Assassins (The Union Theatre) for which he was nominated for Best Male Performance at the Offie Awards 2010, Greta in Martin Sherman's Bent (The Landor Theatre), Maisie in Diamond (The Kings Head Theatre), Dr. Thomas Parker in Batboy the Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre), Ragtime (Piccadilly Theatre), Original Cast Member of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspect of Love (Prince of Wales Theatre), Hey, Mr Producer (Lyceum Theatre), Feuilly in Les Miserables (Palace Theatre). Red Bishop & Gran/Wolf in The Boy Who Fell into a Book-Written & Directed by Alan Ayckbourn (The Stephen Joseph Theatre), Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray (Curve Theatre, Leicester - 2014), Amos Hart in Chicago (The Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur), Skimbleshanks in Cats (Larnaca Municipal Amphitheatre, Cyprus), David in Company (Derby Playhouse), Koko in The Mikado and Njegus in The Merry Widow (both for Opera Della Luna), Harry in Flora The Red Menace and Snoopy in Snoopy The Musical (both at The Cambridge Arts Theatre), Cliff in In The Midnight Hour (York Theatre Royal), Che in Evita (Opera House, Manchester), and Tobias Ragg in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (Watermill Theatre, Newbury).
In film he has appeared as Convict 5 in Les Miserables – The Movie (2012) Directed by Tom Hooper, Kenny Star in The Catch (Primley Road Productions 2013), and Do Not Disturb – Shut Eye (2017). and TV includes Taboo (BBC-2016) The Bill (ITV), The Purple People Eater (Dramarama Series-ITV) Pebble Mill at One (BBC1), The 1987 Royal Variety Show (ITV), and Wednesday at Eight (Thames TV)
John has also performed his own Cabaret shows on the QE2 and in some of the most prestigious cabaret venues all over the world, including London, New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Washington D.C, Chicago, Sydney, Venice, Switzerland, and Denmark.
His panto credits include: Dame Nanny Fanny in Robin Hood (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch) 2019/20, Dame Dotty in Jack & The Beanstalk (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch) 2018/19, King Rat in Dick Whittington (The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury) Winner of Best Pantomime Villain of the Year – 2016/17, Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington (Ferneham Hall), King Rat in Dick Whittington (Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield), Widow Twankey in Aladdin (Milton Keynes Theatre), Dandini in Cinderella (Capitol Theatre, Horsham), Ugly Sister in Cinderella (Churchill Theatre, Bromley), Ugly Sister in Cinderella (Richmond Theatre), Snowman in Jack & The Beanstalk (Hackney Empire), Josh the Jester in Sleeping Beauty (The Paul Robeson Theatre), Jack in Jack & The Beanstalk (Greenwich Theatre), Dame ‘Debut’ Christabel Crusoe in Robinson Crusoe (Corn Exchange, Newbury), Buttons in Cinderella (Corn Exchange, Newbury), Aladdin in Aladdin (Eden Court Theatre, Inverness), Slap in Mother Goose (Horsham Arts C
Ep17: Cassidy Janson, Actress, West End leading lady and recording artist.
In the 'House Seats'
08/30/20 • 45 min
Cassidy Janson is a British actress, best known for her work in musical theatre.
In 2005 Janson appeared in Tick, Tick... Boom! at the Menier Chocolate Factory. She played Susan, alongside Neil Patrick Harris as Jonathan and Tee Jaye Susan as Michael. In 2006 she joined the original West End cast of Wicked as part of the ensemble, later moving to be standby for the role of Elphaba. Following this, she joined the final West End cast of Avenue Q as Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut. In 2011 she originated the role of Maggie Saunders in the musical version of Lend me a Tenor. She appears on the original cast recording.
Janson has appeared in several shows Off-West End, including Company at the Southwark Playhouse (as Amy), Rooms: A Rock Romance at the Finborough Theatre (as Monica), and Blood Wedding at the Courtyard Theatre.
In 2013 she returned to the Menier Chocolate Factory in Candide, playing the role of Paquette. Following this, she played Ruth in Dessa Rose at the Trafalgar Studios, alongside Cynthia Erivo as Dessa.
In November 2015 Janson took over the role of Carole King in the West End production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. She joined Carole King at the British Summer Time concerts to perform I Feel The Earth Move. She remained with the production until it closed in August 2017.
In 2018 she appeared in a revival of Chess as Florence at the London Colosseum, alongside Michael Ball, Alexandra Burke and Tim Howar.
In April 2019 she appeared in Man of La Mancha at the London Colosseum, sharing the roles of Aldonza and Dulcinea with Danielle de Niese. The production played a limited run to 8 June 2019. Following this, she has been cast in the new musical & Juliet, which is currently showing on the West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre. She stars as Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare's love, Shakespeare being portrayed by Oliver Tompsett. Janson has been nominated for an Olivier Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance of Anne Hathaway.
In 2017 Janson teamed up with Beverley Knight and Amber Riley to form a musical theatre supergroup, known collectively as the "Leading Ladies". Their debut album, Songs from the Stage, was released on 17 November 2017 and features covers songs from Cats, Beautiful and Rent among others.
Cassidy Janson announced via her Twitter in late 2018 that she had signed a record deal with BMG. In April 2019 Janson announced that her debut album Cassidy would be released on 14 June. It features 14 new songs, 12 co-written by Janson herself, and new song written for her by legend and friend Carole King.
For more information about her and to purchase her album go to her website at http://www.cassidyjanson.com
Bio courtesy of Wikipedia
Ep 74: Javier De Frutos, director, choreographer and designer
In the 'House Seats'
10/10/21 • 72 min
Javier De Frutos, Spanish Director, Choreographer and designer (born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1963) was named by the Evening Standard as one of 2016 most influential people in the UK. He is one of only three artists in the history of the Olivier Awards to have received nominations in all of the dance categories. His awards include the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography for Cabaret, The Evening Standard Award for The Most Incredible Thing in collaboration with Pet Shop Boys, Critics’ Circle Awards for Milagros with Royal New Zealand Ballet and Elsa Canasta with Rambert and Scottish Ballet, The South Bank Show Award for Grass and The Time Out Award for Sour Milk with Candoco Dance Company. Further credits include the National Theatre production of London Road - winner of the Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and for which he received an Olivier nomination for the stage version and The 2017 Chita Rivera Award for best choreography in a feature film for the screen adaptation. His work Fiction for BalletBoyz was named Best of Dance by The Arts Desk and Top 10 by the Guardian in 2016. From Here to Eternity, the Tim Rice musical which he premiered on the West End, was nominated for the WhatsOnStage award for Best Choreography and The Anatomy of a Passing Cloud for Royal New Zealand Ballet was nominated for both an Olivier Award and a National Dance Award.
He has received further recognition in the field of music video with a nomination for best choreography in the UK music Video awards for his collaboration with Jake Nava in Delilah’s Inside My Love and also received the Prix de Auteur in the 1996 Concours de Seine-Saint Denis in Paris.
His work has been the subject of several documentaries. The South Bank Show in 1998 dedicated an hour king feature. Only a handful of Dance Artists have received that Honour.
In 2011 the BBC broadcasted in prime time The Most Incredible Thing in collaboration with Pet Shop Boys, and the US premiere took place in Charlotte North Carolina in March 2018.
He was invited by the McColl Center for Arts and Innovation to be the same years’s Artist in Residence. Their first Choreographer and Director in their History.
in 2000 De Frutos became one of the first Fellowship recipients The Arts Council of England, through which he studied extensively the works of Tennessee Williams for more than two years. He also represented Britain at the internationally prestigious Venice Biennale in 2006.
Ep 75: Emma Kate Nelson, actress, singer and dancer
In the 'House Seats'
10/17/21 • 53 min
Emma Kate is a British performer. Actress, singer and dancer she performs mainly on stage in theater and opera but also in cinema.
Recently Emma Kate was spotted on stage at The Monte Carlo Opera House in Kurt Weill's Street Scene. At the Grand Palais and at the Théâtre du Châtelet for her portrayal of Lina Lamont in Singing In The Rain, or in the role of Anytime Annie in 42nd Street. She also played the role of La Fée Des Lilas in French in Peau d'âne at the Théâtre Marigny, re-orchestrated by Michel Legrand produced by Jean-Luc Choplin (Cast Album / Sony France) and Jenny Diver in The Beggars Opera by Robert Carsen & William Christie, Les Arts Florrisant, Theater Bouffes Du Nord and OPUS ARTE / FRA Prod Cinema.
Emma Kate Nelson began her career at a young age in the West End, London in Aspects of Love at the Prince of Wales Theater, she will be found later on many stages in London: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (The World's Greatest Show, The Enchanted Pig), Aldwych Theater (Stephen Ward), Southwark Playhouse (Victor Victoria), Young Vic Theater (Street Scene), Union Theater (The Pajama Game), Jermyn Street Theater (Jean de Florette), Open Air Theater in Regent's Park (The Music Man, The Boyfriend, Lady Be Good, (A Midsummer Night's Dream), The Gatehouse Theater (Call Me Madam), Chichester Theater (42nd Street), at the Swan Theater in High Wycombe (Me and My Girl) but also on tour with White Christmas and That's Entertainment.
Outside the UK, she performed the role of Princess Adelaide (The Enchanted Pig) at the New Victory Theater in New York, Soloist at The Eldorado Showroom in Reno, Nevada, the lead role in the Australian tour of Putting on the Ritz, as well as several roles in Starlight Express in Germany. On tour again with Street Scene (Toulon Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Theater an der Wien Vienne, Oper Koln and Opera De Monte Carlo).
Ep 40: Gareth Valentine, composer, conductor and musical director.
In the 'House Seats'
02/14/21 • 42 min
Gareth is a Welsh composer, arranger, conductor and musical director. He has worked extensively in London's West End on musical productions and also conducted orchestras worldwide including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Welsh National Opera Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pasdeloup orchestra, RPO Concert Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, ENB Sinfonia, Orchestre de chambre de Paris and many others. After graduating from the Royal College of Music, London, he studied with Sir Peter Pears at Aldeburgh.
As Musical Supervisor his theatre credits include: Kiss Me Kate, Chichester Festival Theatre; Crazy For You, Open Air Theatre and the Novello Theatre; INTO THE WOODS, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (captured by Digital Theatre); End of the Rainbow, Royal & Derngate, Trafalgar Studios; Strictly Gershwin, ENB, Albert Hall and the Coliseum; Sondheim At 80 Concerts – Merrily We Roll Along and Company at the Donmar Warehouse; The King and I, Royal Albert Hall; Wicked, Apollo Victoria; Acorn Antiques, Haymarket Theatre and UK Tour; Porgy & Bess, Savoy; Sinatra, London Palladium; Aladdin, The Old Vic; Children Will Listen, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane; Musicality, Channel 4; Anything Goes, RNT and Drury Lane; My One & Only, Piccadilly. As Musical Director his credits include: Kiss Me Kate, Victoria Palace; Merrily We Roll Along, Donmar; Chicago, Adelphi London, Madrid, Gottenburg, Moscow and Japan; Damn Yankees, Adelphi; Nine, Donmar; Camelot, Covent Garden; Company, Donmar; Kiss of the Spider Woman, Shaftesbury; Miss Saigon, Drury Lane; The Baker’s Wife, Phoenix; Cats, New London; Closer Than Ever, Vaudeville; Kiss Me Kate, RSC; Cabaret, Aldwych; 42nd Street, Drury Lane.
Ep 39: Laurretta Summerscales, professional classical ballerina.
In the 'House Seats'
02/07/21 • 58 min
At 18 Laurretta joined English National Ballet under the Directorship of Wayne Eagling. After 6 months she had the opportunity to dance the Principal role of Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis in Mary Skeaping's Giselle at the London Coliseum. Following the success of this role Laurretta got to perform the Pas de Trois in Suite En Blanc along side Vadim Muntagirov and also participate in the new creation of the ballet Firebird, choreographed by George Williamson, dancing the roles of the Firebird and the Purist Lady.
In 2013 under the new directorship of Tamara Rojo, Laurretta got the opportunity to dance the prestigious role of Odette/Odile in Derek Deane's Swan Lake ‘in-the-round’, at the Royal Albert Hall. Following this she travelled to Beijing where she competed and won the Gold Medal, in the 2nd International Beijing Ballet and Choreography Competition, being coached by HuaFang Zhang and partnered by James Forbat, both from the ENB Company.
At the end of the 2012/13 season Laurretta got promoted from Artist to First Soloist, one of the biggest promotions made at the Company. From this Laurretta started to dance many Principal roles. In January of the 2015/16 season she finally got promoted to her dream rank of Principal on stage at the London Coliseum.
In September 2017 she also joined the Bayerishes Staatsballett in Munich as a Principal under the directorship of Igor Zelensky, and in 2018 she decided to continue in Munich full time.
Over her career she has performed in many countries, Australia, China, Columbia, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia,The Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan and Ukraine.
She has also been a Guest for Acosta Danza, Roberto Bolle and Friends, The Kremlin Palace Ballet, The Shanghai Ballet, The Kazan Opera Ballet, The National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Mongolia and The Satratov Opera Ballet Theatre.
For more information see https://summerscales.org
Ep 38: Matthew Cole, Olivier award nominated choreographer and director.
In the 'House Seats'
01/31/21 • 47 min
Matthew Cole is an OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATED Choreographer and is the founder of LONDON THEATRE RUNWAY. A musical theatre training and connectivity programme for industry professionals. www.londontheatrerunway.com
His forthcoming productions include: FOOTLOOSE UK Tour - 2021, IDENTICAL (based upon The Parent Trap) Directed by Trevor Nunn, Music by George Stiles and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe - 2021, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF UK TOUR - 2021, BERLIN BERLIN German and International Tour - 2021 and MEMPHIS UK and International Tour - 2022.
Choreography: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Olivier Award Nominated for Best Choreographer and Best Revival, dir. Trevor Nunn,The Menier Chocolate Factory, The Playhouse Theatre West End); OKLAHOMA (dir. Jeremy Sams, Chichester Festival Theatre); LOVESICK (dir. Chris Renshaw, Theatre J Washington DC); BERLIN BERLIN (German/International Tour); AMOUR (The Charing Cross Theatre); THE BEAUTIFUL GAME (NYMT); THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (The Royal Academy of Music); THE NIGHT PIRATES (UK TOUR); THE PRODUCERS (China and Asian Tour); LOVESICK (New York City workshop); CINDERELLA (Milton Keynes); FLASHDANCE (UK and international Tour); EM (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama); FOOTLOOSE (UK and International Tour); LOVESICK (Berkely Repertory Theatre); ALADDIN (Theatre Clwyd); SIDE SHOW (Southwark Playhouse); THE MGM STORY (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (UK TOUR); RAGS (The Royal Academy of Music); FOOTLOOSE (UK Tour); PURE IMAGINATION - The Songs of Leslie Bricusse (The Other Palace); BETTE MIDLER AND ME (Edinburgh Festival and UK Tour); AMOUR (The Royal Academy of Music); JERRY’S GIRLS (The Other Palace, Jermyn Street Theatre); THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER (Jermyn Street Theatre); ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MUSICAL (UK and Australian Tour)
Associate choreographer credits include: Guys and Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre and Phoenix Theatre).
Television credits include: Assistant Choreographer on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing (BBC).
Directing credits include: The Drive In London, Artistic Director; PIPPIN, Director/Choreographer; The Secret Garden, Director/Choreographer; Co Director CARMEN LA CUBANA, (Sadlers Wells); SWEET CHARITY, Director/choreographer; Resident Director on The Railway Children (King’s Cross Theatre); Resident Director on West Side Story (ATG UK Tour).
Ep 36: Michael England, conductor, composer, musical director
In the 'House Seats'
01/17/21 • 39 min
Michael England was born in Colchester and went on to study at Huddersfield University. Since then he has embarked on a highly successful career as conductor, composer and musical director.
In London’s West End, Michael has been Musical Director for Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Spamalot, The Producers, Jerry Springer – The Opera (also BBC TV) and Doctor Dolittle. On tour he has been Musical Director for The Sound of Music, Evita, Les Misérables, Aspects of Love and Grease. He has also been Assistant MD on Cats, Miss Saigon and West Side Story.
He has been Musical Supervisor for productions of Company; The Drowsy Chaperone; the all male productions of H.M.S. Pinafore (Hackney/UK tour), Iolanthe (Wilton’s), Patience (Union Theatre) and The Pirates of Penzance (Australia Tour/Sydney Theatre).
He has worked as an accompanist in London, Paris, Sydney and New York and has been musical director for John Barrowman, Tony Award winner Liliane Montevecchi and Olivier Award winner Ruthie Henshall.
In 2010 Michael was invited to conduct the opening weeks of Cameron Mackintosh's 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables, he conducted the new live cast album, and worked on the recent film version.
Orchestral conducting credits include The Philharmonia Orchestra, (Buckingham Palace), Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra, Stockholm Sinfonietta, and the Slovenia Radio Symphony Orchestra (televised).
He has worked as Cover Conductor for the Royal Ballet productions of The Rite of Spring; Giselle; Chroma; Concerto; The Judas Tree; Monotones; La Valse and Marguerite & Armand.
He has composed music for film, TV, theatre, and the concert platform, as well as writing and conducting orchestrations for Ruthie Henshall's album, Pilgrim. He has also orchestrated The Ballad of Little Jo, Company and the new production Judy & Liza. He attended the Film Music Institute Orchestration Course in Los Angeles and composed the score for the film Night Junkies, released in the USA in 2007.
Michael has twice composed music for the Royal Ballet, Draft Works (Clore) and New Works (Linbury). His 40 minute ballet, La Destinée, commissioned by the Royal Ballet School, premiered at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in July 2013.
www.michaelengland.info
Ep35: Sarah Ingram, leading lady, actress and director
In the 'House Seats'
01/10/21 • 48 min
Sarah Ingram is a London-based actress whose musical theatre credits include Miss Jane in Floyd Collins (Wilton's Music Hall), Paulette in Legally Blonde (South Korea for The Curve) Grand High Witch in The Witches (The Curve and Tour) Medium / Aunt in See What I Wanna See (Jermyn Street Theatre), Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Twickenham Theatre), Stella in Follies (Opera de Toulon), Josie in Taboo (Brixton Club House), Mrs Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank (York Theatre Royal and Tour), Miss Hannigan in Annie (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), Hannah Owens in Flashdance (Shaftesbury Theatre, West End), Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls (Kilworth House Theatre, Leicester), Mrs Blair in Inherit The Wind (Old Vic Theatre), Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Sarah/Naomi in Imagine This (New London Theatre & Plymouth Theatre Royal), Mrs Pearce in My Fair Lady (Singapore/Kuala Lumpa), Lina Lamont in Singing in the Rain (Hereford Court Yard), Marge McDougal in Promises Promises (Sheffield Crucible), Mrs O'Brian in Showboat (Royal Albert Hall), Felicia in Murderous Instincts (Savoy Theatre), Dinah Murphy in South Pacific (Royal National Theatre), Sonia Walsk in Neil Simons' They're Playing Our Song (The English Theatre of Frankfurt), Therese Talien in the original West End production of Napoleon (Shaftesbury Theatre), Mrs Cratchitt in A Christmas Carol (Derby Playhouse), Maddie in Women Laughing (Not The National Theatre Tour), Sarah's own one woman show Portrait of a Lady (New End Theatre, Hampstead), The Dressmaker in Spin (Royal National Theatre Studio), Sylvie in Oklahoma! (Royal National Theatre and Lyceum Theatre), Anya in A Brief Affair (The Bridewell Theatre), Catherine in Martin Guerre (Prince Edward Theatre), Mona in Chicago (Leicester Haymarket), Maggie in Yakety Yak, and Rosie in Cabaret (The Sheffield Crucible).
National tours include Scrooge with Anthony Newley, Minnie Faye in Hello Dolly with Dora Bryan, Alternate Laurey in Oklahoma! and Anytime Annie in 42nd Street.
Film and television credits include: Daphne in Open Air, Come Home Ginger for Mentorn Films, Sylvie in the film of the Royal National Theatre's production of Oklahoma! and Sarah/Naomi in PBS’s production of Imagine This.
Ep 92: Ria Jones, West End leading lady and international musical theatre star.
In the 'House Seats'
11/13/22 • 52 min
Ria was born and raised in Swansea and was brought up surrounded by the rich heritage of Welsh music. Her mother was an Opera Singer and her father a successful cabaret entertainer, so it was inevitable at an early age that Ria Jones was destined for stardom.
At 19 she became the youngest actress ever to play the role of Eva Peron in 'Evita', followed shortly by her West End debut in the musical 'Chess' in which she played both Svetlana and Florence. She went on to perform famed roles such as Grizabella in 'CATS', Fantine in 'Les Miserables, The Narrator in 'Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' Liz Imbrie in 'High Society' Reno Sweeney in 'Anything Goes', alongside Marti Pellow in 'The Witches of Eastwick' among many other notable roles and more recently in Victoria Wood's most iconic role as Mrs Overall in 'Acorn Antiques' which she recently reprised when requested by Victoria Wood to appear in the 'Angina Monologues' at The Haymarket Theatre, London.
Ria has performed as a soloist on three Royal Variety Shows and has also sung by royal request at Buckingham Palace. She has performed as a soloist to audiences in many of the worlds' finest venues, including in numerous West End Theatres, The Millennium Centre, The Palladium, The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The Jubilee Theatre at Raffles Hotel Singapore and regularly at The Royal Albert Hall. Ria was also honoured to be picked to perform alongside Bryn Terfel, Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey for the opening of the Welsh Assembly at Cardiff Bay.
Ria's TV appearances include her own one-off special for BBC Wales entitled 'One Night Only with Ria Jones', Three televised Royal Variety Performances for the BBC, 'Wales in the West End' for HTV, a recently televised drama written by Victoria Wood, 'When Eric Met Ernie' and most recently an episode for the new series of Torchwood.
She has performed frequently with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall, and has personal accolades from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. She has shared the stage with Tom Jones, Tony Bennett, Montserrat Caballe, Philip Schofield, Catherine Zeta-Jones Take That, Lulu, Ronnie Corbett, Angela Rippon, Aled Jones, Brian Adams, Jason Donovan, Elaine Paige, Joe Pasquale, Marti Pellow, Michael Ball....to name but a few.
Ria has also released an album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, 'Abbaphonic' and her first solo album 'Have You Met Miss Jones?'
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In the 'House Seats' currently has 100 episodes available.
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The podcast is about Acting, Film, Performing, Theater, Podcasts, Education, Arts, Theatre, Broadway, Interviews and Performing Arts.
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