Sky Arts proudly introduces a sensational new flagship series The Elaine Paige Show
Performance, interview, songs and musical memories exclusively on Sky Arts
6 x 60mins TX: Commencing May 2014
10/02/2014: Elaine Paige, ‘The First Lady of Musical Theatre’, will host a new six-part series exclusively on Sky Arts beginning May 2014. The Elaine Paige Show will be a unique inspirational glimpse into the fascinating world of musical theatre and combine a mix of songs, performance, and interviews, as Elaine is joined by a variety of guests from stage and screen.
Award winning Elaine Paige, actress, singer, producer, radio presenter, has made a unique and major contribution to the development and production of the stage musical. She has starred in more smash hit West End & Broadway musicals than anyone else of her generation – Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Billy, Evita, Cats, Chess, Anything Goes, Piaf, Sunset Boulevard, The King & I, Sweeney Todd, The Drowsy Chaperone and most recently Follies. She has defined them, set standards, and in 1995 was awarded an OBE for services to Musical Theatre by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 2014 sees Elaine celebrate 50 years on stage.
In each episode, Elaine will be joined by stars from both the West End and Broadway who will perform and demonstrate their incredible talent in front of a studio audience. Guests include Scarlett Strallen, Christine Andreas, Michael Feinstein, John Owen Jones, Hannah Waddingham, Clive Rowe and Leigh Zimmerman. Elaine will also interview key industry aficionados including Herbert Kretzmer and Trevor Nunn. She will delve into their epic careers in order to understand their success and reveal the secrets to their most famous work.
The Elaine Paige Show will open and close with a bespoke performance by Elaine. With a number of new arrangements produced especially for this series, each show will have a fresh and an exciting character which Sky Arts viewers and fans will love. The show will also be peppered with behind-the-scenes wisdom and wit from Elaine as she shares her infinite knowledge and love of musicals. For each episode, Elaine will mentor a rising star from a musical theatre college in the UK. The students will have the opportunity to learn from Elaine and perform songs from a much-loved musical in front of her, her guests and studio audience.
Elaine Paige commented: I’m delighted to be working with Sky Arts and Fresh One in this, my 50th year on stage, to bring my passion for musical theatre to television. I look forward to welcoming some of my friends and colleagues to the show and singing not only some new songs, but some of my all-time classics.”
“We’re absolutely delighted to be able to bring this legend of musical theatre and her esteemed talent and expertise to Sky Arts,” comments James Hunt, Channel Director of Sky Arts. “Elaine has such an incredible wealth of experiences in show business and an affinity with guests and performers which is second to none. The Elaine Paige Show is going to be a true show-stopper for every Sky Arts viewer and musical fan.”
The Elaine Paige Show will be produced by Fresh One. Executive Producers are Claudia Rosencrantz and Mark Sammon (Fresh One) and Elaine Paige and Nick Fiveash (EP Records). The Series Editor is Rachel Ashdown. It was commissioned by Deborah Sargeant (Commissioning Editor, Sky Entertainment).
The series marks a further development for Sky Arts which champions innovative and original art programming, underlining Sky’s promise to deliver high-quality, exclusive content to customers, supported by a commitment to increase investment in home-grown programming to £600 million by 2014.
The Elaine Paige Show will TX on Sky Arts in May 2014
Elaine Paige’s 50th Anniversary Farewell Tour for October 2014 is on sale now at WWW.GIGSANDTOURS.COM • WWW.TICKETMASTER.CO.UK / 0844 811 0051 • 0844 826 2826. For more information go to www.elainepaige.com
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Dominic Collett Sky Arts Publicist, Sky Press Office
T: 0207 032 4892
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Lesley Land Sky 1 HD PR Manager, Sky
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Katherine Solomon PR Manager, Sky Press Office
T: 0207 032 0599
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NOTES TO EDITOR
Notes to Editors:
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