Kerry Ellis to Play Nancy in the West End's Oliver!

Kerry Ellis is set to take over the role of Nancy in the West End’s Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The actress, best known to theatregoers for her portrayal of Elphaba in the West End and Broadway productions of Wicked, will begin performances on March 29, 2010. She is replacing Jodie Prenger, who will exit the show on March 27.

Ellis recently finished two years playing the role of Elphaba in the London production of Wicked, having previously played the role on Broadway, for which she won the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Female Breakthrough Performance. Her other theater credits include creating the role of Meat in the original London cast of We Will Rock You, Fantine in Les Misérables and Ellen in the national tour of Miss Saigon. Earlier this year, she played Svetlana in Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Josh Groban. Last year she released her debut CD Wicked In Rock.

Ellis joins Griff Rhys Jones as Fagin and Steven Hartley as Bill Sikes in this hit production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, directed by Rupert Goold and co-directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne.