In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Ben shares some incredible stories about about Julie Andrews, Idina Menzel, Caissie Levy, Bernadette Peters + more!

Benjamin Rauhala is Jeremy Jordan’s musical director and has accompanied Jeremy for all his London concerts over the past few years, including a recent run of sold out shows at Cadogan Hall.

He is the co-creator and ‘Fairy Godfairy’ of the Broadway Princess Party concert series, which has seen a host of Broadway's biggest stars perform across the U.S., with many of their performances going viral on YouTube.

Earlier this year Ben was Associate Music Director for The Secret Life of Bees, which ran off-Broadway directed by Sam Gold. He has worked on the music team for the Broadway productions of Fiddler on the Roof, American Psycho and Pippin. Ben is also the musical director for many major Broadway stars!

During his recent trip to London, Ben sat down with West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, to discuss Jeremy Jordan & Broadway Princess Party, his path to becoming a musical director, the shows he has worked on, plus lots more!

Broadway Princess Party is coming to London next year! Keep an eye on www.club11.london for info.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts!

Ben shares some incredible stories about about Julie Andrews, Idina Menzel, Caissie Levy, Bernadette Peters + more!

Benjamin Rauhala is Jeremy Jordan’s musical director and has accompanied Jeremy for all his London concerts over the past few years, including a recent run of sold out shows at Cadogan Hall.

He is the co-creator and ‘Fairy Godfairy’ of the Broadway Princess Party concert series, which has seen a host of Broadway's biggest stars perform across the U.S., with many of their performances going viral on YouTube.

Earlier this year Ben was Associate Music Director for The Secret Life of Bees, which ran off-Broadway directed by Sam Gold. He has worked on the music team for the Broadway productions of Fiddler on the Roof, American Psycho and Pippin. Ben is also the musical director for many major Broadway stars!

During his recent trip to London, Ben sat down with West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, to discuss Jeremy Jordan & Broadway Princess Party, his path to becoming a musical director, the shows he has worked on, plus lots more!

Broadway Princess Party is coming to London next year! Keep an eye on www.club11.london for info.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts!

Will In The Heights return to London? Why has Next To Normal never been staged in the UK? How do you go about opening a new theatre? This week Paul Taylor-Mills is In The Frame!

Paul is a theatre producer; his recent productions have included the West End production of Heathers which is about to launch a UK tour and the London premiere of In The Heights. A few of his other recent productions have included Honest Amy, Side Show and The Last 5 Years.

Paul is the Artistic Director of The Turbine, a brand new theatre at Battersea Power Station which is currently home to the UK premiere of High Fidelity. He is also an advisory producer to Andrew Lloyd Webber and was formerly Artistic Director of The Other Palace.

Paul is incredibly honest throughout this interview, discussing some of the challenges he has faced in recent years, as well as his major success stories.

High Fidelity runs at the Turbine Theatre until Saturday 7th December 2019. Visit www.theturbinetheatre.com for more info and tickets. Heathers launches its UK tour in June 2020.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

Will In The Heights return to London? Why has Next To Normal never been staged in the UK? How do you go about opening a new theatre? This week Paul Taylor-Mills is In The Frame!

Paul is a theatre producer; his recent productions have included the West End production of Heathers which is about to launch a UK tour and the London premiere of In The Heights. A few of his other recent productions have included Honest Amy, Side Show and The Last 5 Years.

Paul is the Artistic Director of The Turbine, a brand new theatre at Battersea Power Station which is currently home to the UK premiere of High Fidelity. He is also an advisory producer to Andrew Lloyd Webber and was formerly Artistic Director of The Other Palace.

Paul is incredibly honest throughout this interview, discussing some of the challenges he has faced in recent years, as well as his major success stories.

High Fidelity runs at the Turbine Theatre until Saturday 7th December 2019. Visit www.theturbinetheatre.com for more info and tickets. Heathers launches its UK tour in June 2020.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

"The day I found out I was nominated for an Olivier I worked a double shift at a restaurant. I was cleaning tables and taking people's dirty plates away... but at the same time you think 'well, I have two Olivier nominations at the age of 23 - it swings in roundabouts!'"

Charlotte Wakefield is currently playing Miss Windsor in the RCS's new musical The Boy in the Dress at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The Boy In The Dress is based on David Walliams' book, with new music by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers.

Charlotte has been nominated for two Olivier Awards; for her performances as Wendla Bergman in the original West End production of Spring Awakening and Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Just a few of her other credits include playing Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Laurey in Oklahoma!, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Veronica in the workshop of Heathers and Polly in Crazy For You.

Charlotte talks all things The Boy in the Dress and discusses the balancing act of being an actor.

For more info aboutThe Boy in the Dressplease visitwww.rsc.org.uk.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

"The day I found out I was nominated for an Olivier I worked a double shift at a restaurant. I was cleaning tables and taking people's dirty plates away... but at the same time you think 'well, I have two Olivier nominations at the age of 23 - it swings in roundabouts!'"

Charlotte Wakefield is currently playing Miss Windsor in the RCS's new musical The Boy in the Dress at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The Boy In The Dress is based on David Walliams' book, with new music by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers.

Charlotte has been nominated for two Olivier Awards; for her performances as Wendla Bergman in the original West End production of Spring Awakening and Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Just a few of her other credits include playing Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Laurey in Oklahoma!, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Veronica in the workshop of Heathers and Polly in Crazy For You.

Charlotte talks all things The Boy in the Dress and discusses the balancing act of being an actor.

For more info aboutThe Boy in the Dressplease visitwww.rsc.org.uk.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

“I remember coming out of college and going to my first agent meeting. I said to him ‘I want to be a leading man by the time I’m 25’ and he just openly laughed in my face. But I proved him wrong… I did it when I was 23. I’m still pinching myself.”

Joel Harper-Jackson is currently playing Charlie Price in the UK tour of Kinky Boots. His previous theatre credits include: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (UK Tour), Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Beautiful (Aldwych Theatre); Che in Evita (Slovenia); Little Women (Hope Mill Theatre); Pieces of String (Mercury Theatre); Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus (The Other Palace); Picture Perfect (St James); Pacific Overtures (Union Theatre) plus the UK tours of Rent and West End Women.

Joel discusses what it has been like to take Kinky Boots around the UK, working with Jerry Mitchell and how he has learnt to sustain his performance over the past 14 months.

He also discusses what he wants to do next, becoming a leading man at the age of 23 and reveals some exciting plans..!

For more info about Kinky Boots, please visit www.kinkybootsthemusical.co.uk.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

“I remember coming out of college and going to my first agent meeting. I said to him ‘I want to be a leading man by the time I’m 25’ and he just openly laughed in my face. But I proved him wrong… I did it when I was 23. I’m still pinching myself.”

Joel Harper-Jackson is currently playing Charlie Price in the UK tour of Kinky Boots. His previous theatre credits include: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (UK Tour), Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Beautiful (Aldwych Theatre); Che in Evita (Slovenia); Little Women (Hope Mill Theatre); Pieces of String (Mercury Theatre); Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus (The Other Palace); Picture Perfect (St James); Pacific Overtures (Union Theatre) plus the UK tours of Rent and West End Women.

Joel discusses what it has been like to take Kinky Boots around the UK, working with Jerry Mitchell and how he has learnt to sustain his performance over the past 14 months.

He also discusses what he wants to do next, becoming a leading man at the age of 23 and reveals some exciting plans..!

For more info about Kinky Boots, please visit www.kinkybootsthemusical.co.uk.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

Last summer Fabian Aloise received huge acclaim for choreographing Evita at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, working alongside director Jamie Lloyd.

Originally from Canada, Fabian trained as a ballet dancer in Melbourne, Australia but - after being told he wouldn't make it as a ballet dancer - pursued a career in musical theatre. After working as a performer, Fabian began also working as an assistant, associate and resident choreographer.

He appeared in the West End productions of We Will Rock You and Legally Blonde and was the resident choreographer for the West End production of Matilda The Musical for 5 years.

He then began working as a choreographer. In addition to choreographing Evita, Fabian's recent choreography credits include The View UpStairs (Soho Theatre) and The Rink (Southwark Playhouse).

In this episode, Fabian discusses his career from how he fell into musical theatre to the most recent productions he has worked on.

Visit www.fabianaloise.com for further information.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins

Last summer Fabian Aloise received huge acclaim for choreographing Evita at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, working alongside director Jamie Lloyd.

Originally from Canada, Fabian trained as a ballet dancer in Melbourne, Australia but - after being told he wouldn't make it as a ballet dancer - pursued a career in musical theatre. After working as a performer, Fabian began also working as an assistant, associate and resident choreographer.

He appeared in the West End productions of We Will Rock You and Legally Blonde and was the resident choreographer for the West End production of Matilda The Musical for 5 years.

He then began working as a choreographer. In addition to choreographing Evita, Fabian's recent choreography credits include The View UpStairs (Soho Theatre) and The Rink (Southwark Playhouse).

In this episode, Fabian discusses his career from how he fell into musical theatre to the most recent productions he has worked on.

Visit www.fabianaloise.com for further information.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins