Linzi Hateley at 17 is the RSC's youngest ever leading lady. She was born in Tamworth near Birmingham, and has been studying at the Italia Conti Academy since she was 13. She has appeared on a nationwide tour of the musical Annie and in the popular BBC TV series Grange Hill. She was offered one of the leading roles in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express but was unable to take up the offer as she was still only 15. Carrie is her first leading role.
Barbara Cook comes from Atlanta, Georgia and made her Broadway debut as the lead in the Fain/Harburg musical Flahooley. She then went on to play Ado Annie in Oklahoma (the girl who can't say no) and Carrie Pipperidge in the Roger's and Hammerstein classic Carousel which led to the role of Hilda Miller in Plain and Fancy. She also starred in Leonard Bernstein's Candide, The Music Man (for which she won a Tony Award), She Loves Me, The Gay Life and The Grass Harp. She played Mrs Anna in the revival of The King and I and Julie in Carousel and also starred as Magnolia in Showboat.
Apart from musicals she also created the role of Patsy in the original production of Jules Feiffer's Little Murders and starred for a year in the Broadway production of Any Wednesday. In 1972 she appeared with the Lincoln Center Repertory Co in the American premiere of Maxim Gorky's Enemies.
Barbara Cook has made eight original cast-recordings, an album of Jerome Kern songs and one of George Gershwin songs, and two successful albums for Columbia records -Barbara Cook at Carnegie Hall and As of Today. For MMG she made the album Its Better with a Band which was chosen as one of the Best Records of the Year by Stereo Review Magazine.
In January 1975 after her debut appearance at Carnegie Hall the New York Times dubbed her 'an instant cult figure' and she followed this with an appearance as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She was the first singer to appear at the Louise Davies Hall in San Francisco.
In September 1980 Barbara made a triumphant return to Carnegie Hall and has also appeared since at the Kennedy Centre, Washington DC; the Cafe Carlyle, New York, Carre Theatre, Amsterdam; La Fenice Opera House, Venice; Espace Cardin and Le Rond Point Theatre, Paris; and has appeared as a guest with the Atlanta and Phoenix Symphonies.
In 1985 she appeared with the New York Philharmonic as Sally in the famous concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Follies (the live recording by RCA received a Grammy Award). The following year she was first seen in London with her one woman show Wait 'Till You See Her, first at the Donmar Warehouse and later transferring to the Albery Theatre in the West End. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for this show and had a great success in both venues with nightly standing ovations and enormous critical acclaim.
Betty Buckley won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Grizabella, the Glamour Cat in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats and her most recent Broadway appearance was in another Lloyd Webber musical, Song & Dance.
She made her Broadway debut as Martha Jefferson in the musical 1776 and also appeared on Broadway as Catherine in Pippin, and for the New York Shakespeare Festival she was Edwin Drood in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Other theatrical credits include the New York and Los Angeles productions of I'm Getting My Act Together. . . the Second Stage's production of Juno's Swans and she starred as Fran Kubelik in the London company of Promises, Promises.
In film she made her debut as the gym teacher in Brian dePalma's screen version of Stephen King's Carrie. She portrayed Dixie Scott in Bruce Beresford's Tender Mercies; appeared in a Wild Thing, a John Sayles screenplay; and most recently stars in Roman Polanski's Frantic. This fall she will be seen in a new Woody Allen film, as yet untitled. Miss Buckley's television credits include her role as Abby Bradford in "Eight is Enough", the television films "The Ordeal of Bill Carney" and "The Three Wishes of Billy Grier", the miniseries "Evergreen" and "Rose's Are for the Rich". She received an Emmy nomination for her performance in the After-School Special "Bobby and Sarah" and appeared on the "1983 Kennedy Centre Honors". Her first record album, Betty Buckley, a concert album on Rizzoli Records, recorded live at St. Bartholomew's Church features her work as a composer/lyricist.
Sally Ann Triplett has appeared in London's West End in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Chess and as Margie in follies. She played Rizzo in Grease at Coventry, Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, Mary in Godspell and the title role in Alice at the Leeds Playhouse. She played in The Metropolitan Mikado on the South Bank in London. Sally Ann represented Britain in the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest with the group Bardo singing "One Step Further' and reaching No.2 in the British charts. She has performed on The Tube with her own band Co-op City. She writes her own songs and is aiming towards another record deal.
Paul Gyngell's West End credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tom Brown's Schooldays and two appearances at the London Palladium in Aladdin and as Dandini to Paul Nicholas' Prince. His television credits include 20 appearances in Name That Tune, 3 2-1, Starburst, Entertainment Express and Live from Her Majesty's. He starred in Elkie and Our Gang, And There's More and in a Royal Tribute to Dickie Henderson. Paul can be heard nearly every day in 1988 singing the theme tune to Give Us A Clue. He also appeared with Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria.
Charlotte d'Amboise has featured on Broadway in Song and Dance and Cats. Her Off-Broadway work includes Non-Pasquale for the New York Shakespeare Festival, Tennis Game, Red Eye, Prairie Avenue, Toulous and Time Pieces. She and has made musical videos which include I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Rum Tum Tugger the Cats video), and Blue Suede Shoes Charlotte has appeared on television as Page O'Brien in Neon Jungle and plays Ina in the film The In Crowd which is shortly to be released.
Gene Anthony Ray played the leading role of Leroy in both the film and the television series Fame. He starred with Michael York in the miniseries The Shipwreck, with The Weather Girls in their music video, and with Debbie Allen in TV specials. Gene was the star host in September 1987 of the TV video show Hot Tracks and in October 1987 starred as the Greek God Dion in the rehearsal run for the American Music Theatre Festival production of Revelation in the Court House Park.
Darlene Love is a recording star in America. Her first recording. He's a Rebel, which she made at the age of fifteen went to number 1. This was followed by a series of hits with Phil Spector under recording names ranging from The Crystals to Bobby Sox and the Blue Jeans to The Blossoms. Among her songs were numerous number 1 hits including Do Run Run, He's Sure The Boy I Love and Zippity Do Da. She also appears on the Classic Phil Spector Christmas album. She appeared as a regular lead singer of The Blossoms on the television rock show Shindig as well as on Elvis Presley's NBC television comeback special. She also sang background for Elvis Presley on stage and appeared as a nun in one of his films, Change of Habit Darlene Love has been a vocalist on recordings of many artists including The Beach Boys, Sam Cook, Elvis Presley, The Mamas and the Papas, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Luther Vandross and Clarence Clemmons. She appeared in a tribute to songwriter Ellie Greenwich which became the hit Broadway musical Leader of the Pack. She recently made her film debut as Trish in Lethal Weapon.
Jamie Beth Chandler appeared on Broadway in the original company of Starlight Express as Buffy, and Off-Broadway as Paula in Letters to Ben. She played in a USA National tour of Pippin and her Stock/Regional work includes Chava in Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty in Sleeping Beauty, the lead in Red Shoes and Rufus in All the Way Home. She has appeared as a soloist with the Orlando Ballet Company. the Contemporary Ballet Company and Mina Baylis & Company and as a featured dancer with Troupe de Trois and has also performed with Leonid and Valentina Kozlov in the Classic Ballet Company of New Jersey. This is Jamie Beth's first stage appearance in England.
Gary Co-Burn has appeared as Kenickie in Grease at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, and in London at the Old Vic as Daniel in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and as Mechisidec Retinue in Time at the Dominion Theatre. Work in Australia includes Tulsa in Gypsy, leading role in Is He Talking to Me, Nick in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Big Deal in West Side Story and Ephraim in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Gary's television appearances include Laughter Show and the Royal Variety Show '87.
Catherine Coffey has worked in various trade shows and cabarets, and in several videos and commercials for television. Other television appearances include Streets Ahead, as a principal dancer, Bluebell and Tanya. She has appeared as an actor/dancer for the English National Opera at the Coliseum (Orpheus in the Underworld, Rigoletto, Faust) and as a dancer/singer in the original company of Chess in London.
Kevin Coyne has made many appearances on Australian television in the Don Lane Show, Darryl Somers Show, Bert Newton Show, Paul Hogan Show, Victoria's 150th Birthday Show Conway Country, 1984 Olympic Games Opening, Jimmy Hannon Show, Ted Hamilton Show, Gazaly Sports Awards, Miss Australia Quest, James Pegler, Simon Gallagher, Countdown, Shooby Doo, Saturday Show and D-Generation. His theatre credits include Don Quixote and Petrushka for Australian Ballet, and Chess.
David Danns appeared as Richie in the UK tour of A Chorus Line. His variety work in Britain includes pantomime and summer seasons in Blackpool, Windsor and Canterbury, and he has toured Switzerland and Norway with the group forsight. His television credits include Get Set For Summer, Albion Market, Top of the Pops and Coronation Street.
Matthew Dickens has appeared on stage in Dreamgirls on an International Tour and on Broadway; Black Nativity in Europe, the Caribbean and New York; The Taming of the Shrew, The Wiz and Working in Cleveland Ohio; and Antigone and Romeo and Juliet in Washington DC. His television credits include The New Mike Hammer Show, NAACP Image Awards, Star Search, Fame, 3-2-1-Contact, Mahalia's Song and Langston. His films are Death Spa, Beat Street, Being There.
Michèle completed her training at the London Studio Centre just over a year ago. Since then she has found most of her work on television where her credits include the Russ Abort series, the Kenny Everett series, the Roland Rat series, and the 3-2-1 TV show. She has also made pop videos, appeared in trade shows and commercials. Carrie will be her first stage appearance.
Eric Gilliom has played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Polly Baker in Man is Man, Miles Hendon in The Prince and the Pauper at the Goodman Theatre Chicago. His television appearances include guest star in My Sister Sam, Heart of the City and US Constitution Celebration with Richard Dreyfuss. His film credits are J June in Hoosiers, and the lead role of Starkey in Defense Play.
Michelle Hodgson trained at the Royal Ballet School and at the Arts Educational School. While still at school she danced with London Festival Ballet in The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty. Her television appearances include The Fame Game, ECT TV Series, Bluebell, Tucker's Luck, The Saturday Morning Picture Show and various commercials and pop videos.
She acted as Assistant to the Choreographer on the UK tour of The Muppet Show as well as playing the role of Janice. She made an appearance in the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium and most recently has been playing Lois/Cassie/Judy Turner in the UK tour of A Chorus Line.
Rosemarie Jackson appeared as Electra in Gypsy, as Maggie Winslow in A Chorus Line and Bobin in Godspell. She has toured abroad with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and in Cats. Her television credits include Cox Cable Entertainment Special and a Christmas Special (Nashville Tennessee).
Kenny Linden has appeared in three musicals in London the musical cabaret Y at the Piccadilly Theatre, in the original cast of Me and My Girl at the Adelphi Theatre, and Charlie Girl at the Victoria Palace. He played Mark Anthony in A Chorus Line on the UK tour. His television appearances include LWT's Night of 100 Stars, the 1985 Laurence Olivier Awards and the 1986 Royal Variety Performance. He made his film debut in Absolute Beginners.
Kelly Littlefield has appeared on television as a dancer in It's Showtime at the Apollo, We the People and in the video Dancesation. She appeared in the Radio City Music Hall Production An Evening with Pimpinella and with Music Dance USA, The Boston Gold Dance Company, Statue of Liberty Benefit, Jerry Lewis Telethon and Talk of the Town Cabaret Show. She has also appeared in many trade shows, fashion shows and catalogues.
Madeleine Loftin's theatre work includes the Royal Ballet School production of The Nutcracker She appeared as a dancer in the Freddie Starr Show in Scarborough, as a singer/ dancer in Cinderella at Manchester, and in Dick Whittington at Wimbledon. She was principal dancer/singer in Masquerade at the Young Vic and principal dancer in the Cannon and Ball Show in Birmingham. Her television credits include Phyllis Dixey. The Kenny Everett Video Show with Hot Gossip, On the Town with Angst, Newsnight with Masquerade, Face Lift, Swap Shop, Top of the Pops, The David Essex Show The Leo Sayer Show, Duran Duran TV Special. As a dancer she has performed at major London clubs, with David Essex support group on a British Tour and with Dexys Midnight Runners support group on tour. She has appeared on the Gilbert O'Sullivan Show and in the Black and White fashion show at the Albert Hall. As a member of Hot Gossip she has performed on a nine month tour of Britain including Birmingham Night Out and on an overseas tour including New Zealand, St Moritz and South Africa. Her film appearances are in The Bitch and Monty Python's Meaning of Life. She was an original member of the West End cast of Chess.
Joey McKneely has appeared on Broadway originating the roles of Krupp in Starlight Express and Moise in Hal Prince's Roza. His credits also include the television series Fame and the films Back to School and The In Crowd.
Michelle Nelson has performed in many musicals including Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Kismet. She has appeared in international festivals in London, the UK and Israel. Her television and video appearances include The Pet Shop Boys, Chaka Kahrt Queen and 5 Star Her most recent West End appearance was in Chess.
Mary Ann Oedy has appeared in the films Running Man and Dance Academy. Her television credits include Fame and the Tracy Ullman Show and such videos as Captain EO and Dragnet.
Mark Santoro made his Broadway debut at the age of ten in the revival of Gypsy starring Angela Lansbury. Since then he has appeared in many stock, television and dinner theatre productions. He was in the Las Vegas company of Sophisticated Ladies and in the National tour of Tap Dance Kid.
Christopher Solari appeared as Chris in Dance Between the Lines, Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, Bobby in The Boyfriend and Mr Dussel in The Diary of Anne Frank in Regional Theatre in the USA. His television credits include Moonlighting, Hill Street Blues, Tracey Ullman, Winner of Star Search '86. Christopher made his film debut in Smooth Criminal.
Suzanne Thomas trained with the Royal Ballet and has toured with the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet around the UK and also to New Zealand, Korea, Singapore and India. She has also toured with the National Ballet of Portugal and was in the original cast of Chess in London's West End. Her ballet credits include La Fille mal Gardée, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère, Petrushka, Concerto, Paquita, Nutcracker, There is a Time, Les Sylphides.
Scott Wise has appeared on Broadway as Mike Costa in A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre, McCavity in Cats at the Winter Garden Theatre, and in Song and Dance at the Royal Theatre. He has toured the UK with I Love New York and toured abroad with A Chorus Line, Song and Dance and I Love New York. He has appeared on television in the Whitney Houston Video Gotta Dance With Somebody and in the film of A Chorus Line. He has also performed with the Joffrey Concert Group and the Memphis Ballet Company.