Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that Broadway and West End star Kerry Ellis will play ‘Nancy’ alongside Griff Rhys Jones as ‘Fagin’ and Steven Hartley as ‘Bill Sikes’ in the triumphant new production of Lionel Bart’s smash hit musical Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from Monday 29 March 2010. Jodie Prenger leaves the show on Saturday 27 March 2010 at the end of her contract. 

Cameron Mackintosh said “I’m really delighted that Kerry Ellis will take over the role of ‘Nancy’ when Jodie leaves Oliver! after a triumphant 15 month run. Kerry has become one of London’s favourite leading ladies and recently enjoyed a huge success in “Wicked”. I have had the pleasure of seeing Kerry’s career grow through roles in my productions of “My Fair Lady”, “Miss Saigon” and “Les Misérables” – where she was an outstanding ‘Fantine’. The part of ‘Nancy’ is one of the most heart-warming and tragic in any musical, so it is wonderful that the role attracts some great talents”.

Kerry Ellis recently finished two years playing the role of ‘Elphaba’ in the London production of “Wicked”, having previously played the role for six months at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. Kerry won the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favourite Female Breakthrough Performance and won the Best Takeover in a Role at the 2008 Theatregoer’s Choice Awards. Kerry’s other theatre credits include creating the role of ‘Meat’ in the original London cast of the Queen and Ben Elton musical “We Will Rock You”, ‘Fantine’ in “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre and ‘Ellen’ in the National Tour of “Miss Saigon”. Earlier this year Kerry played ‘Svetlana’ in “Chess In Concert” at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Josh Grobin. Last year she releases her debut CD “Wicked In Rock”, produced by Brian May. It featured ‘Defying Gravity’ and ‘I’m Not That Girl’ from “Wicked” as well as ‘No One But You’ with Queen.   Most recently Kerry performed her one woman show “The Great British Songbook” at the Shaw Theatre. Kerry also features on the new best selling Only Men Aloud album “Band of Brothers” singing ‘Somebody to Love’.