Christmas in New York Concert Returns to West End

By Mark Shenton
02 Nov 2009

Christmas in New York, a now-annual West End celebration of seasonal songs and classic carols, returns for the fourth year with a concert Dec. 6 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The show will be headlined by West End stars Julie Atherton, Samuel Barnett, Daniel Boys, Ashleigh Gray, Leanne Jones, Paul Spicer, Oliver Tompsett, Hannah Waddingham and Rachael Wooding.

According to producer, the show — which will feature over 70 people onstage — evokes a magical time of year in a much-loved city. Previous incarnations of the show have played at the Apollo Theatre in 2006 and the Lyric Theatre in 2007 and 2008.

Atherton most recently reprised her acclaimed roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q at the Gielgud Theatre that she had originated when the show first opened in the West End at the Noel Coward Theatre. Earlier this year she headlined both The Last 5 Years and tick, tick… BOOM! at the Duchess.

Barnett originated the role of Posner in Alan Bennett's The History Boys at the National Theatre, before reprising the role on Broadway, on the international tour and in the film. He is well known for his acclaimed roles as Simon Doonan in BBC 2's "Beautiful People" and John Millais in BBC 2's "Desperate Romantics."

Boys is currently starring as Princeton in Avenue Q, having previously been a contestant on the BBC programme "Any Dream Will Do". He recently toured with John Barrowman and released his debut album.

Gray is currently appearing in the West End production of the musical Wicked. She has been a regular star of Christmas in New York for the past few years.

Jones originated the role of Tracy Turnblad in the West End production of Hairspray, for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her recent credits include Notes Unleashed! at the Vaudeville.

Spicer most recently played the role of Jamie in The Last 5 Years at the Duchess Theatre, following his debut at the Gothenburg Opera in Sweden, playing Tobias in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.

Tompsett is currently playing Fiyero in the West End production of Wicked. He has been a regular star of Christmas in New York for the past few years.

Waddingham recently played Desiree in Trevor Nunn’s production of A Little Night Music, having previously played the Lady of the Lake in Monty Python's Spamalot both in the West End and on Broadway.

Wooding is currently touring the UK playing the title role in Evita, having previously played Amber in the original West End cast of Hairspray.

Christmas in New York is produced by Neil Eckersley and Paul Spicer for Speckulation Entertainment.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 482 5110, or visit www.christmasinnewyork.co.uk