London Odds & Ends: Ben Forster Will Headline Elf, Kristin Scott Thomas' Prime Ministers Appointed & More

Here's a quick roundup of London stories today.

Ben Forster & More to Headline London's Elf 
Ben Forster (Superstar) will play Buddy, with Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh as Jovie, Joe McGann (Oliver!) as Walter Hobbs and Jessica Martin (Me and My Girl) as Emily Hobbs in the previously announced West End premiere of Elf. They will be joined by Jennie Dale, Mark McKerracher and Graham Lappin in the production, which will play a limited run from October 24 through January 2. Opening night is scheduled for November 5 at the Dominion Theatre.

Prime Ministers Set for The Audience
Her Majesty Kristin Scott Thomas’ Prime Ministers have been appointed! David Calder will play Winston Churchill, with Mark Dexter as David Cameron, Michael Gould as John Major, Gordon Kennedy as Gordon Brown, Sylvestra Le Touzel as Margaret Thatcher, David Robb as Anthony Eden and Nicholas Woodeson as Harold Wilson in the West End’s upcoming new and updated version of Peter Morgan’s The Audience. David Peart, Charlotte Moore, Marnie Brighton, Madeleine Jackson-Smith and Izzy Meikle-Small will also join the cast. Directed by Stephen Daldry, the production will begin performances at the West End’s Apollo Theatre from April 21 and open on May 5.

High Society Will Star Broadway Alums
Broadway alums Tony nominee Kate Fleetwood (Macbeth) and Jamie Parker (The History Boys), along with Barbara Flynn (Donmar’s Versailles), Annabel Scholey (BBC’s Being Human) and Rupert Young (BBC’s Merlin), have been tapped to appear in the previously reported High Society. Directed by Maria Friedman, with Joe Stilgoe and the High Society Band, Cole Porter’s classic will run at the Old Vic from April 30. The show will officially open on May 14.

Sinatra to Play the Palladium
Sinatra: The Man & His Music will run at the London Palladium this summer. “Come Fly With Me,” “My Way“ and more of the icon's classic numbers will be heard at the venue July 10 through October 10. Opening night is set for July 20. This show is not to be confused with Sinatra 100, which had been set to play the venue this year but has disappeared without nary a press release. Maybe it's flown to the moon. Or something.

Carrie: The Musical to (Finally) Receive London Premiere
27 years after its first appearance on Broadway, Carrie: The Musical will receive its London premiere. Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford and Lawrence D. Cohen’s reworked and re-imagined tuner will play the Southwark Playhouse May 1 through May 30. Directed by Gary Lloyd, the production will officially open on May 6. We are praying for our salvation already.