Webber Finds West End Star In Prenger

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has found his next big theatre star, after wannabe singer/actress Jodie Prenger was announced as the winner of British reality show I'd Do Anything.

The curvaceous 28-year-old, from Lancashire, north-west England, won the public vote on Saturday (31May08) to beat runner-up Jessie Buckley, 18, to the role of Nancy in a new London production of Oliver! in the West End.

But while Prenger proved a popular choice with the TV show's viewers, both theatre impressario Webber and Oliver! producer Sir Cameron MACkintosh felt Irish Buckley was more suited to the role.

However, after the results were unveiled, Webber said: "She (Prenger) was the people's Nancy, that was always going to be the people's choice, I thought."

And MACkintosh, who thought Prenger was "too big for the part", added: "I'm thrilled for Jodie, congratulations."

Prenger will begin her six-month stint in the musical in December (08).

Webber's previous TV talent searches have made West End stars out of Lee Mead, who won the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Connie Fisher, who took on the role of Maria on Trapp in The Sound of Music.

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Elvis Costello and The Imposters - Momofuku

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Mando Diao

   
Artist: Mando Diao

   Genre(s): 
Rock
   

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Discography:


   
 Never Seen the Light of Day

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 11


   
 Hurricane Bar

   Year: 2005   
Tracks: 14


   
 Sheepdog

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 5

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Mixing garage rock leer and Britpop sassing -- along with a truckload of early influences -- Borlange, Sweden's Mando Diao formed when its members were all tranquil in their teens. The band's germination dates second to 1995, when Daniel Häglund and Björn Dixgärd were in a stripe called Butler. Even after that chemical group skint up, the mate continued performing and authorship together, finally delivery bassist Fredrik Nilsson, guitarist Gustaf Noren, and drummer Anton Grahnstrom into their fold; Nilsson and Grahnstrom were replaced by Carl Johan Fogelklou and Samuel Giers. By 1999, they were known as Mando Diao, having taken their name from one of Dixgärd's dreams.


The group continued to hone their sound, blending pop, mod, soul, R&B, and Britpop elements into a style that was offbeat even so timeless. In 2002 they released their first gear EP, Motown Blood, through the Majesty and Capitol imprints; the applaud for the EP and the similarities in their effectual to the Strokes and the Hives raised Mando Diao's profile substantially, and the isthmus went on tours of Sweden with the Hellacopters and Kent. Later that year the ring released the singles Mr. Moon and The Band to stoke prevision for their full-length debut record album, Play 'Em In, which was largely recorded in their basement practice space. The following year, Mute Records released Bring 'Em In in the United States. The sophomore exploit Hurricane Bar was released in the band's native Sweden in 2004; a stateside expiration followed in 2005, and Ode to Ochrasy was issued the succeeding year. While touring in documentation of the album, Mando Diao establish time to record book their fourth studio endeavor, Ne'er Seen the Light of Day. The album was released internationally in late 2007, coincident a solo hitch by Björn Dixgärd.