128 - Jenna Russell on Working With Sondheim, Les Miserables & Sinatra
About this episode
Amber Davies interviews Jenna Russell about her experiences in British musical theatre and working with notable figures like Stephen Sondheim.
On this episode of Call To Stage , we are joined by an icon of British musical theatre — the incomparable Jenna Russell. Jenna's credits include many of the most iconic roles in theatre, including playing both Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables (West End), Mary Flynn in the Olivier Award winning production of Merrily We Roll Along (West End) as well as roles in the West End productions of Follies and Hello, Dolly. She has also performed on Broadway in Urinetown and Songs For A New World. Jenna won an Olivier Award for her performance in Sunday In The Park With George and has been nominated for Olivier's for her performances in Guys and Dolls , Merrily We Roll Along and, most recently, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry . On this episode of Call To Stage , Amber and Jenna talk about making the roles of Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables her own (and how she made the roles harder for everyone who followed), what it was like working with Stephen Sondheim himself and her audition story for Sinatra: The Musical . There are also stories from Broadway, Guys and Dolls and Into The Woods (alongside Hannah Waddingham!), as well as reflections on Sylvia Young's quiet generosity…
People in this episode
Host: Amber Davies
Guest: Jenna Russell
Topics covered
- British musical theatre
- iconic theatre roles
- working with Stephen Sondheim
- Broadway experiences
- Olivier Award performances
- casting discussions
Keywords
- Jenna Russell
- Les Miserables
- Stephen Sondheim
- Olivier Award
- Broadway
- musical theatre
- Eponine
- Fantine
- casting
- Ariana Grande
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Les Miserables, Merrily We Roll Along, Follies, Hello, Dolly, Urinetown, Songs For A New World, Sunday In The Park With George, Guys and Dolls, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Into The Woods
More episodes of Call To Stage with Amber Davies
- 127 - Ryan Kopel on Dear Evan Hansen, Skincare Routines, Discipline & Newsies
- 126 - Natalie Kassanga on Moulin Rouge, Vocal Health, Child Acting & Dreamgirls
- 125 - Annabelle Terry on Legally Blonde, Shakespeare & Training
- 124 - Karen Mavundukure on Legally Blonde, Tour Digs & Dreamgirls
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