And the winners are...
- Posted on June 11, 2007 12:42 PM
- 13 comments
Reality TV-lovers unite; there's a reason to leave the sofa and head out into the night. The winners of ‘Any Dream Will Do’ and ‘Grease is the Word’ have been announced. Somehow I don't think the West End will know what's hit it. 
Gone are the days of private West End auditions for some of theatre's biggest productions. These days, stage-star hopefuls audition in front of the nation. High profile stars judge the theatre-world's rising 'stars' based on their talent (or lack of). We see high-profile entertainment bods sit in director's chairs, dealing out comments about looks, technique and pitch, while the viewers at home vote for the characters they love best.
In reality TV shows gone by, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria sent Carrie Connie Fisher into the public limelight. From then on, our television screens have been alive with the sound of music. Earlier this month Musicool turned a group of eclectic young London kids into musical stars for a night and in 2006 The Play's The Thing unearthed an amateur playwright. Over the past few months we've followed a very public hunt for Danny and Sandy in Grease is The Word, and Joseph for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Is it a good thing for the West End? If the butts in seats (and new ones at that) are anything to go by, the answer it seems is ‘yes’. The question now is “what next?” Will the Lloyd Webbers and judges such as David Gest up the ante? Will the world of television sensationalise the reality West End shows to such a degree that we can't take it seriously anymore? Next thing you know, we'll have Dame Edna Everage hosting the hunt for ‘Panto's Psycho Popstars’. Let us know what you think in our comment section.
On to this year's triumphant - after all, you need to know what to expect on your next central London jaunt. The winner for Joseph was announced over the weekend and by all accounts it was a technicolour dream come true. Media reports include boyish bitch fights between the three Joseph rivals on BBC1's Any Dream Will Do. Now that's what we like to see - a bit of theatre-world feistiness. After months of competing for the crown, Lee Mead, 25, Lewis Bradley, 17, and 19-year-old Keith Jack went head to head in the showdown. All three were alarmingly fresh-faced and gelled up... but Lee Mead came out triumphant and did Southend on Sea proud. He has experience as an understudy for ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ and ‘Miss Saigon’ - so expect a professional performance from the curly-haired lad. Former Joseph, Jason Donovan is certainly a hard act to live up to; the question is, will Mead do Webber proud?
On to greasier topics (and no, I'm not just talking David Gest's hair), the musical production of Grease also has a pair of new stars in its ranks. ITV1's search for Danny and Sandy amused me for a few episodes... but I certainly didn’t lose any sleep when I missed it. It sounds like the same can’t be said for a large chunk of Britain’s viewing public. I will head to the show though, I'd watch Grease in any shape or form - I even formed a 'Grease' band in primary school. Those were the days.
We’ve all seen Grease and I think this is the type of musical people will take an interest in, no matter who plays Danny and Sandy. It's a chick-flick favourite and while there are still hen’s nights in the world, there'll be an audience for this one. But, on many fronts, the roles are harder to live up to. You don't get much better than Olivia Newton John and John Travolta. My hopes were on former pop star Kavana (Anthony Kavanagh) winning the show... but Danny Bayne and Susan McFadden were the public's chosen duo. You may recognise Susan't last name; yes, she is the sister of former Westlife singer Bryan McFadden. No prizes for guessing who's likely to front up to opening night. Talk about Six Degrees Of Seperation... there's a has-been pop star around every corner.
What do you think of the reality television shows? Did you back a winner? Will you see the West End productions? Post your comments, views and messages for the winners in our comment section.
We're also keen to hear what you think of the release of the song Any Dream Will Do for charity Children In Need. The single will be available in shops from June 18. Now there's a stocking filler for you.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will officially open at the Aldephi Theatre in London on 17 July (07).
Grease opens at london's Piccadilly Theatre on 8 August 2007 (previews from 25 July)
Comments (13)
Norma Sharp
I'd hoped Lee would win and was so pleased for him. He really deserves it. My daughter and I would love to go and see show but tickets are SO expensive!! Never mind. Hope Lee enjoys his new role. I'm sure he'll do it proud!
Posted on June 11, 2007 4:56 PM
Pam
I am so pleased Lee won. He was my favourite from the beginning. He will be a great Joseph!
Posted on June 12, 2007 12:40 PM
Tiffany
I really hoped that danny B and Susan would win, when their names were announced i went nuts with joy.I think that Danny B and Susan are going to be great this summer!
Congratulations!!!!!!!! :)
Posted on June 13, 2007 5:14 PM
steff r
im really glad that susan won and danny b she had such a sweet smile and a look of innocence about her and danny b wot can u say hes gorgeous go on !and was so nice to see brian mcfadde3n there upporting his sister!good luck
Posted on June 19, 2007 3:37 PM
steff r
im really glad that susan won and danny b she had such a sweet smile and a look of innocence about her and danny b wot can u say hes gorgeous go on !and was so nice to see brian mcfadden there supporting his sister!good luck
Posted on June 19, 2007 3:38 PM
KAY FORDHAM
ALTHOUGH I LIKED LEE I THOUGHT KEITH HAD A WIDER VOCAL RANGE PARTICULARLY IN BALLADS
Posted on June 21, 2007 5:57 PM
Danni
Danny & Susan were the best by far,they both look and sound great and deserved to win. Can't wait to see the show.
Posted on July 30, 2007 8:02 PM
helen
i have just come back from london with my 13 year old daughter and sister in law after watching joseph, what a performance we absalutely loved it, Lee did it proud and i am pleased he won it, cant wait to go back and see it again.
Posted on September 10, 2007 12:57 PM
Mel
Lee stood out from the rest of them from the very beginning. He deserved to win. Can't wait to go and see him.
Posted on September 14, 2007 12:23 PM
Pat
Went to see Joseph last weekend.What a show, what a performer Lee is. Standing ovation for all the cast. Love to go and see it again. Lee was definitely the right choice.
Posted on September 22, 2007 3:51 PM
melissa
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat – Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London.
Preview Week – Review by Melissa M. Roberts.
For some any dream will do. But not for the winner of the recent BBC talent show of the same name.
For actor, Lee Mead there was only one dream and that was to be the lead in Joseph & his Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat.
On 6th July he got his dream when the musical opened at the Adelphi Theatre in the Strand. As Lee took to the stage in his first lead role in the West End, the question begging to be asked is did the audience get their dream too?
In his coat of many colours Lee was amazing. Bare chested, dripping with sweat, he was fantastic; women throughout the theatre cheering as he was stripped to his loin cloth, all of them wishing they could get closer to the deliciously good looking Essex actor.
The show opened with the familiar ‘Any Dream…’ song to an enthralled audience. Preeya Kalidas (East is East, Bombay Dreams, Bend it Like Beckham) as the narrator guided the show skilfully through each splendid musical number along with the children’s choir.
All the main parts were superbly cast, among them Dean Collinson (Whistle Down the Wind, Notre Dame de Paris) as Pharoah, Stephen Tate (Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line, Cats) as Jacob and John Alastair (Mamma Mia) as Reuben, and all the supporting actors and actresses who were enthusiastic and full of energy and keen to show the audience what they could do.
And show us they did. The show was a lively mix of humour, familiar songs and comic timing and yes, Lee Mead was everything we had hoped he would be. For me this was a better show than the Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, Phillip Schofield era and with Lee in the role, Joseph has been reborn. You’d be foolish to miss it.
Posted on November 10, 2007 8:05 AM
Sam
I loved the movie and the musical took me straight back to Grease Lightning world!
Posted on November 28, 2007 11:11 AM
Katie
loved this but it was hen night heaven the day we went. Oh my goodness.. The woman in the third row was moved do much she sang her own solo and bowed when she was done! keep it to yourselves ladies!! Let the cast work their magic!
Posted on November 28, 2007 11:12 AM
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