Drawing: Robert Glenister and Kris Marshall in Glengarry Glen Ross

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Robert Glenister and Kris Marshall in Glengarry Glen Ross at the Playhouse Theatre, London

Popular British TV stars Robert Glenister and Kris Marshall join Christian Slater in the first major revival in nearly a decade of David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize winning GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS at London’s Playhouse theatre. Set in the cut-throat world of a Chicago real-estate office, it’s a fast talking, expletive-filled depiction of sleazy salesmen scrapping it out. Robert plays the ‘spitting, hissing’, angry Moss and Kris is the uptight office manager, Williamson. I met both actors after last Saturday nights performance at the stage door, where they signed my sketch for me.

Drawing: John McCrea in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autgoraphed drawing of John McCrea in "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" at the Apollo Theatre on London's West End

The new musical EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE that generated a lot of buzz in Sheffield earlier this year has now transferred to London’s Apollo Theatre. Described as the ‘Billy Elliot for today’s generation’, it tells the story of Jamie New, a sixteen year-old schoolboy living on a Sheffield council estate who beats bullies and prejudice to go to the school prom in full drag. It’s based on the 2011 BBC documentary about secondary student Jamie Campbell’s ambition to become a drag queen.

The lead role is played by twenty-five year-old John McCrea who grew up near Sheffield and began his London stage career at the age of nine in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG at the Palladium. In his five-star review for the Independent, Paul Taylor wrote, “the extraordinary bravura of John McCrea’s performance is the right mix of sas and sensitivity and strength.” I caught up with John before Saturday’s matinee at the stage door where he signed this montage sketch for me.

Drawing: Amber Riley in Dreamgirls

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Amber Riley in Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre on London's West End

American actress and singer Amber Riley completed her West End debut in the hit musical DREAMGIRLS at London’s Savoy theatre last Saturday night. After receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of lead Effie White, Amber won this year’s Olivier Award for Best actress in a Musical. The thirty-one year-old is best known for her TV role as Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series GLEE for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award. She also won season 17 of DANCING WITH THE STARS in 2013 and has been nominated for the Grammy three times. It took me a few attempts to get this drawing signed. For one reason or another I keep missing Amber at the stage door, but finally, on the last night after her final performance I got the graph.

Drawing: Bryan Cranston in Network

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed Drawing of Bryan Cranston in "Network" at the National Theatre, Lyttelton Theatre in London 2017

Bryan Cranston made his London stage debut as Howard Beale, the mad prophet of the airways to rave reviews in NETWORK on the Lyttelton boards at the National Theatre this month.

Based on Paddy Chayefsky’s brilliant script for the Oscar winning 1976 film, Bryan plays the aging news anchor who threatens to kill himself on live TV, becoming an instant crazed celebrity guru yelling the iconic slogan, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Bryan won a Tony for his portrayal of Lyndon B. Johnson in ALL THE WAY on Broadway and is the winner of six Emmys and 2 Golden Globe Awards for his celebrated role as Walter White, the chemistry-teacher-turned-drug-lord in the hit television show BREAKING BAD. He also earned BAFTA and Oscar nominations for TRUMBO in 2015.

Bryan signed my sketch at the National Theatre stage door last week.

Drawing: Rodney Bewes

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Rodney Bewes in The Moment of Truth at the Southwark Playhouse in London 2013

Rodney Bewes died yesterday, six days short of his 80th birthday. He appeared in a number of British TV shows, including DR WHO, but it was his role as Bob Ferris in THE LIKELY LADS that made him a household name. In 2013 he returned to the London stage as The Marshall in Peter Ustinov’s THE MOMENT OF TRUTH at the Southwark Playhouse where he kindly signed this sketch for me. RIP Rodney.

Drawing: Clare Louise Connolly in The Exorcist

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Clare Louise Connolly in The Exorcist at the Phoenix Theatre in London

When young English actress Clare Louise Connolly was auditioning for the part of Regan, the 12 year old possessed by the Devil in stage adaption of THE EXORCIST, she was mindful of the iconic scene in the 1973 movie, when the character’s head spins 360. “I was sure I told the director Sean Mathias, that my neck was extremely flexible,” she revealed in a recent interview. It obviously helped, she got the part and after a brief run last year at Birmingham Rep, has reprised the role in the West End at the Phoenix Theatre. Musical movie buffs may also remember her in a reverse and lot less graphic role-a screen adaption of a stage production-in the 2008 film version of MAMA MIA! She signed this montage sketch for me on her way into the theatre for another head-turning performance on Saturday.

Drawing: Peter Bowles in The Exorcist

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Peter Bowles in "The Exorcist" at the Phoenix Theatre on London's West End

Much-loved British actor Peter Bowles has returned to the West End in the terrifying stage adaption of THE EXORCIST at the Phoenix Theatre. The 81 year-old veteran of stage and screen plays Father Lankester Merrin in the production that originated at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and is based on William Peter Blatty’s hugely successful novel and William Friedkin’s 1973 masterpiece film. Probably known more for his comedy roles such as Richard DeVere in the very popular sitcom TO THE MANOR BORN, Peter spent his formative television years playing villains in shows such as THE AVENGERS, DANGER MAN, THE SAINT and THE PRISONER. His stage career began at the Old Vic in 1956 with appearances in a series of Shakespearean productions, including MACBETH, ROMEO AND JULIET and RICHARD II. When I met Peter at the stage door on his way in for Saturdays late matinee he signed my sketch. I quipped, “It looks a scary play to watch,’ he replied “It’s a scary play to be in!”

Drawing: Kristin Chenoweth

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of actress Kristin Chenoweth

American actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth was in London last month for her one night only engagement at the Palladium as part of her brief European Tour. I had missed her a couple of times before, so was very keen to get a drawing signed. I did this quick portrait based on her poster and dropped it into the new and impressive stage door office at the theatre, fingers crossed. Kristin won the Tony Award in 1999 for her portrayal of the title character’s sister, Sally Brown in YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN. She also originated the role of Glinda in the musical WICKED on Broadway, earning another Tony nom. The cast recording won the 2005 Grammy. On the small screen, Kristin is best known for the reoccurring role as media consultant Annabeth Schott in THE WEST WING and Olive Snook in the comedy-drama PUSHING DAISIES for which she won the 2009 Emmy Award. As you can see my mission was complete when the signed and dedicated sketch arrived in the mail yesterday.

Drawing: Adam Garcia in The Exorcist

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Adam Garcia Drawing

Australian-born, London-based actor, singer and dancer Adam Garcia is Father Damian Karras in the chilling West End premiere of the stage adaption of William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel THE EXORCIST at the Phoenix Theatre, after an initial run at Birmingham Repertory last year. Adam, a two-time Olivier Award nominee, was last seen on the London stage in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s THE WINTER’S TALE at the Garrick in 2015. Among his many theatre roles is Flyero in the original London cast production of WICKED.

His breakthrough screen appearance was in COYOTE UGLY in 2000. Adam once again teamed up with Sir Kenneth, this time in the film remake of Agatha Christie’s MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS which opened last week. I caught up with him at the Phoenix stage door as he was returning from a break between Saturday’s performances. After signing my drawing and a brief chat about our Antipodean connections he said, “Better get back, got more demons to exorcise.”

Drawing: Hadley Fraser in Young Frankenstein

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

English actor and singer Hadley Fraser takes the lead role as Frederick Frankenstein in Mel Brook’s musical version of his 1974 film YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, which opened at the Garrick Theatre last month. Hadley made his West End debut as Marius in LES MISERABLES at the Palace Theatre in 2002 and performed the role of Grantaire in LES MISERABLES IN CONCERT: THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY at London’s 02 in 2010. The following year he played Raoul in three special concerts of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the show’s 25th Anniversary, the last of which was screened live around the world. Also in 2011 he returned to LES MISERABLES as Javert at the Queens Theatre for a year. He signed this drawing for me at the stage door after a Saturday matinee a few weeks ago.