The Woman in White to Close in the West End on February 25

The Woman in White, which is based on Wilkie Collins' Victorian thriller of the same name, concerns how Walter Hartright's life is changed forever after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman, dressed in white, desperate to reveal her chilling secret. When he takes up his position as drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, Marian, he sees in Laura's face an eerie reflection of the forlorn creature he previously met. Walter and Laura's feelings for each other are thwarted by her engagement to the sinister Sir Percival Glyde. What is the connection between Laura, Sir Percival and the woman in white? Is Sir Percival's friend Count Fosco, with his unusual taste for white mice and poison, really as charming and well-meaning as he seems. Can true love prevail?

The Woman in White features music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by David Zippel and a book by Charlotte Jones. Trevor Nunn directed the production, which opened in the West End on September 15, 2004 to mixed reviews. The current cast stars Ruthie Henshall as Marian Halcombe, Damian Humbley as Walter Hartwright, Elinor Collett as Anne Catherick, Michael Cormick as Sir Percival Glyde, Alexandra Silber as Laura Fairlie and David Burt as Count Fosco. Henshall will depart on February 4 to be replaced by Yvette Robinson two days later.

The New York mounting of the tuner, which opened at Broadway's Marquis Theatre on November 17, 2005, features former leads from the London production including Maria Friedman, Michael Ball, Jill Paice and Angela Christian and is currently in the midst of an open-ended engagement. The Woman in White is also set to begin a U.K. tour in January 2007 in Milton Keynes. Casting has not yet been announced for the tour.

As previously reported, the Palace Theatre will house Spamalot starting in the fall. The 2005 Tony-winning musical is set to begin West End performances on October 2.