Anthony Andrews & Ruthie Henshall to Join London's Woman in White

Michael Crawford will not be returning to Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White this spring after all. Beginning May 2, the role of Count Fosco will be played by Anthony Andrews. On July 11 the musical will welcome another new cast member, Ruthie Henshall, who is taking over for Maria Friedman as Marian.

Andrews made his stage debut at the age of eight, playing the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. His other theatrical credits include Forty Years On, Coming in to Land, Ghosts, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Dragon Variations, One of Us, Vertigo and My Fair Lady. Andrews received great acclaim, a BAFTA award, a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of the doomed Sebastian Flyte in the television miniseries Brideshead Revisted. His film credits include Operation Daybreak, A War of Children, Ivanhoe, The Scarlet Pimpernel, QB VII, Suspicion, Under the Volcano, The Holcroft Covenant, Hannah's War, The Lighthorsemen, Second Victory and Mothertime

Henshall was nominated for an Olivier Award for originating the role of Roxie Hart in the West End production of Chicago, which opened at the Adelphi Theatre in 1997. She made her Broadway debut as Chicago's Velma Kelly in the spring of 1999, remaining with the revival until October 24, 1999, when she left to star in the short-lived musical Putting it Together. Henshall also appeared on the Great White Way as the last Ellen in Miss Saigon. In addition to Chicago, she has been nominated for Olivier Awards for her performances in Crazy For You, She Loves Me and Peggy Sue Got Married and won the coveted Best Actress in a Musical Award for She Loves Me. She also played Velma Kelly in the West End Chicago subsequent to her Broadway engagement in the role and recently toured the U.K. in Fosse.

Crawford and Friedman were in the original company of The Woman in White. Crawford went on medical leave in January with Michael Ball stepping in on February 10. Friedman is leaving on July 9 and will make her United States theatrical debut this summer in a Texas production of Gypsy.

The Woman in White also stars Martin Crewes, Angela Christian, Oliver Darley, Jill Paice and Edward Peterbridge.