Hairspray

Michael Ball has extended his run playing the role of ‘Edna Turnblad’ in the smash hit award-winning musical “HAIRSPRAY” by another six months.  He will now be starring in the role until Saturday 25 April 2009, marking the longest continuing contract that Michael, one of the UK’s leading stage stars, has ever performed.

In other casting news, Liz Robertson will take over the role of ‘Velma Von Tussle’ from Tracie Bennett on Monday 27 October. A West End musical star, she played ‘Eliza Doolittle’ in “My Fair Lady” at the Adelphi Theatre, for which she won the Variety Club ‘Most Promising Actress’ Award as well as an Olivier ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ nomination. Her other West End credits include “A Little Night Music”, “The Mitford Girls” and “The Phantom Of The Opera”. Zoe Rainey will take over the role of ‘Amber Von Tussle’ from Rachel Wooding at the same time, and 16-year old newcomer Raquel Jones the role of ‘Little Inez’ from Natalie Best.  Principal cast members Leanne Jones (‘Tracy Turnblad’), Ben James-Ellis (‘Link Larkin’), Ian Talbot (‘Wilbur Turnblad’), Elinor Collett (‘Penny Pingleton’), Adrian Hansel (‘Seaweed’), Johnnie Fiori (‘Motormouth Maybelle’) and Paul Manuel (‘Corny Collins’) all remain with the show.