Spamalot - just two finalists remain
Story by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ON SATURDAY, February 2, 2008, TV3’s West End Star reaches its climax with the two remaining finalists, Linda Holmgren and Nina Soderquist, performing live in a bid to win the coveted role of The Lady of the Lake in the West production of Monty Python’s Spamalot.
Previously Posted: On January 14, 2008, Marin Mazzie and Hannah Waddingham who are currently playing The Lady of the Lake in the New York and London productions of Monty Python’s Spamalot, will swap roles.
Mazzie will appear as the Lady of the Lake until February 9, 2008, when she will pass the role to the winner of Swedish TV reality show West End Star. The five finalists have now been chosen and they are:
Sandra Caménisch, a 35 year old full time mother of three from Stockholm, who auditioned for West End Star just two weeks after giving birth to her younger son Lucas. Caménisch began her singing career as a child when she joined the Salvation Army Choir. She has worked as a professional singer and actor since 1993 during which time she has performed in Bosnia and Sweden.
Linda Holmgren, a 27 year old cruise ship entertainer from Gothenburg and older sister of Jenny who was also one of the ten finalists on the show. As well as working on Baltic cruise ships, she has performed regularly in Sweden where she has taken leading roles in Cats and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.
Viktoria Krantz, a 31 year old show jumper from Stockholm who lives with her husband Stefan, 18 month old daughter Valerie, Dina her dog and Orion her horse. Krantz, a one time musical theatre performer, has played Christine in The Phantom of the Opera and the title role in Evita.
Divina Sarkany, a 35 year old actor from Gothenberg. She lives with husband Mikael, children Mimmi aged 7 and Dexter aged 16 months and their cat Busan. She studied at the Swedish Ballet Academy followed by the University of Gothenberg where she obtained a BA in Fine Arts. Her many musical theatre performances include Cabaret, Carmen, Miss Saigon, Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar and Fame.
Nina Söderquist, a 35 year old singing waitress from Stockholm and a Second Lieutenant in the Swedish Army. Söderquist has worked alongside many bands including Toto and The Bee Gees as well as collaborating with US singer Robin Beck. She also performed at the Victory Concert for Sweden’s Olympic Gold winning Hockey Team and for the Swedish Soccer League at the World Championships in Berlin.
The final five have now arrived in London to begin rehearsals for the role of the Lady of the Lake with the cast of Monty Python’s Spamalot. However, they will return to Sweden once each week to face the judges and the viewing public in a live TV special. The series finale will be broadcast on February 2, 2008 with the winner taking over the role from Monday, February 11, 2008.
In the meantime, Mazzie will star alongside Peter Davison as King Arthur, Robert Hands as Sir Robin, Steven Kynman as Prince Herbert, Graham MacDuffas as Sir Dennis Galahad, Andrew Spillett as Patsy, Tony Timberlake as Sir Bedevere and Jake Nightingale (who takes over from Bill Ward on January 14) as Sir Lancelot.
Mazzie’s other Broadway credits include Kiss Me Kate (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, Outer Critics Circle Award), Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations), Passion (Tony nomination), Man of La Mancha, Into the Woods, Big River, Out of This World and Kismet.
Mazzie has not been seen in London since her acclaimed West End debut in Michael Blakemore’s 2001 production of Kiss Me, Kate at the Victoria Palace Theatre when she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.
Nightingale’s theatre credits include Harold in Steptoe and Son (Comedy Theatre and York Theatre Royal) and Lawrie in Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (National Theatre), as well as Henry VI Parts 1, 2 and 3, Bartholomew Fair, Measure for Measure and Roberto Zucco (all for the RSC).
His screen credits include Oliver Twist, Casualty, Dalziel and Pascoe, Doctors, Cherished, Crime and Punishment, David Copperfield, Let Them Eat Cake, Cocaine Nation, Hustle II, London’s Burning, The Vice, Skin Deep and To Kill a King.
Monty Python’s Spamalot is currently booking until September 27, 2008, at the Palace Theatre.