Family favourite Oliver!, currently playing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, isn’t calling time on the West End just yet. The production was one of the fastest selling West End shows in history, thanks to the BBC program I’d Do Anything highlighting a search to cast the role of Nancy as well as 3 youngsters for the part of Oliver.

Ah, good times watching Lord Lloyd Webber on his throne as the music from The Phantom of the Opera thundered through the studio; great panto moment. In fact, Lloyd Webber’s entrance is almost as good is hearing an over excitable John Barrowman repeat everything he says 3 times….. I do hope they will all be back when the search for the Wizard Of Oz’s Dorothy commences next year.

Jodie Prenger eventually won the role of Nancy, but after occupying the part for over a year, it was announced that Kerry Ellis will take over from the 29th March 2010.

Ellis is probably most well known for dipping herself in green paint every night to play Elphaba in Wicked (washing the paint off was probably no small feat in itself, I’m sure). She will join Gryff Rhys Jones, who will star as the nasty Fagin when Omid Djalili finishes his run in December.

Some of the best known show tunes are from Oliver! and include Consider Yourself, As Long as He Needs Me, Oom-pah-pah, and Food, Glorious Food.

Oliver! Is booking until the 26th February 2011. If you still want to see Jodie Prenger as Nancy, Upper Circle tickets are reduced to £34.75 starting from January. Buy your Oliver! Tickets here.

Two big names will take to the stage next May, when Arthur Miller’s play, All My Sons, opens at the Apollo Theatre.

David Suchet (Poirot) and Zoe Wanamaker (My Family) star in Miller’s powerful drama about a grieving family, whose various involvements in the second world war cause strain and dark revelations.

The play itself has recently had a lot of press attention Stateside, especially as Katie Holmes made her Broadway debut in the show last year. That production also starred John Lithgow and Diane Wiest, creating a lot of hype, especially when Mr Tom Cruise himself was in the audience on opening night. Thankfully, he didn’t jump up on his seat when his wife made her stage entrance.

Earlier this year, A View From The Bridge, another of Miller’s plays, had a fantastic run in the West End, with the critics showering praise on the production. And with the Tennessee Williams’ classic, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof about to open, it seems like 20th century Americana is the fashion of the moment.