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Casts of the Past
Click on the link below to see more details about your favourite cast member from the show's entire history!
Gwyn Jay Allen
Ambrose
Dionne Bennett
Greg Brown
Julian Cannonier
Doreen Chanter
Krysten Cummins
Ronnie Dangerfield
David Danns
Toni Devonish
Michelle Dixon
Warick Evans
Simon Foster
Neil Griffin (Tom Newman)
Gareth Haughton
Richard Henders
Mike Henry
Brad Henshaw
Matt Hewitt
Brian Hibbard
Chris Holland
Mark Lawson
Ellie Leah
Alana Maria
Mo Mason
Ian McKeith
Paul Murphy
Giles New
Tom Newman (Neil Griffin)
Yvonne Newman
Con O'Neill
Mary Pearce
Rohan Reckord
Ian Roberts
Joe Speare
Liza Spenz
Matthew Stokes
Ismail Taylor-Kamara
Mark White
Roger Wright
Gwyn Jay Allen
Gwyn was a Bluette for the UK 1996/97 tour.
Gwyn is a an all-round musician, frequently working as a session vocalist and a percussionist for Sony Music, Virgin Record, and Real World Music. He has toured internationally with The Sound of the Platters, and with The Jazz Quarterbacks. He choreographed the musical Strangers, as well as taking the lead role, and he also produced and co-wrote Less Stife More Life. His TV work includes The Bill, Eastenders, Men Behaving Badly, and Casualty.
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Ambrose
Ambrose was a Bluette for the UK 1995/96 tour.
Ambrose first began singing at the age of 14, and since then has toured with many musical groups, and formed his own band which toured the Caribbean and the USA. In Venice, he produced and appeared in his own concerts, and he has also worked in the cabaret field for two years.
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Dionne Bennett
Dionne was a Bluette for the UK 1997/1998 tour.
Dionne studied at the Lewisham Accademy of Music. After this, she moved into the music industry, singing lead vocals on various tracks, and appearing as the featured artist on Daddybug's "Maria". She sings with her Jazz and Latin Band, Jolan. She has also toured with Billy Lewis and with Lord Melody.
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Greg Brown
No information available as yet.
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Julian Cannonier
Julian was a Bluette on the UK tour of 1999/2000.
Julian trained at the Audrey Spencer School of Dance. His theatre credits include Bugsy Malone, Starlight Express, Five Guys Named Moe, Miss Saigon, and the Magic of the Musicals with Marti Webb and David Willets. He has toured with various dance troupes, and created the leading role of Young Avon for the UK tour of Tapping Harlem.
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Doreen Chanter
Doreen was a Bluette in 1994.
Doreen has worked extensively with well-known artists in the music industry for many years. She has been a backing singer for Elton John and David Essex - she was the original Miamiti on the hit single Tahiti from the Musical Mutiny! She has also worked with Kiki Dee, whose hit song Star was written and composed by Doreen. She has been on many tours with performers such as Van Morrison, Meatloaf, Roger Waters and Joe Cocker and has done recording work with Tina Turner, Chesney Hawks, Roger Daltry plus others too numerous to mention. She has worked on TV jingles and television shows and has written songs for films, TV and records with George Fenton, Keith Emerson and Richard Kerr. In the past she has made records with her sister Irene. She continues to write songs and likes the challenge of a varied career.
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Krysten Cummings
Krysten was a Bluette in 1996, and returned to perform in the UK spring tour of 2002.
Krysten was born and raised in America. In her native America she appeared as the Narrator in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the New Jersey Theatre. Other works include The Witch in Into The Woods and Consuelo in West Side Story both at the Ritz Theatre, Philadelphia; Charlene in Ain't Misbehavin' and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors both at the Riverfront Theatre, Philadelphia. She toured America as Diana Morales in Michael Bennett's A Chorus Line. In Europe she toured as one of the leads in Golden Musicals of Broadway. In England Krysten appeared as Billie Holliday in Mama I Want to Sing at the Cambridge and Gielgud Theatres, London. She appeared at The Edinburgh Festival where she appeared in Richard O'Brian's Mephistoles Smith. Krysten has performed her solo cabaret act at Don't Tell Mama's in New York and has recorded for Sony Records.
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Ronnie Dangerfield
Ronnie was a Bluette for the UK tour from 1995 to 1997.
Ronnie has been singing since the age of 13, when he sang as a soloist with a quartet. He won second place in the final of the BBC's Opourtunity Knocks. Since then, he has sung with Helen Shapiro, Cliff Richard, Dana and Bobby Ball, as well as touring the UK with The Glory of Gershwin. He sang on the BBC's Summer Sunday programme, and was the Gospel Preacher in Finnegan's Rainbow. Since leaving Blues Brothers, Ronnie has left the acting profession to train as a Priest.
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David Danns
No information available at the moment.
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Toni Devonish
Toni was a Bluette in 1993
Toni has been singing from the tender age of five. Born in Houston, Texas, she grew up in London singing with her family gospel band, Revelation 22. Acting and singing have taken her on a tour of the Caribbean and the USA, playing Diana Ross. Toni has sung backing vocals live and in the studio for Steve Camp, David Grant, Steve Carter, Cliff Richard, Caron Wheeler, BBG and Terr Symon and Amii Stewart. Other characters acted and sung on stage include Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. Toni has played a Bluette in London's West End and in ten different countries on the show's hugely successful tour.
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Michelle Dixon
Michelle was a Bluette for the UK 1995/96 tour.
Michelle began her musical career singing with the Woodgreen Gospel Choir from 1984 - 1991. From then, she she joined Voices of Praise, until 1993, when she started singing with the London Community Gospel Choir as the lead vocalist. During that year, she appeared with Michael Boulton in A Gospel Christmas for Channel 4. From 1994 - 1995, she sang with various artists, including Johnny Lodgan, and she also recorded an album for the London Fellowship Choir. She joined the production of Mama I Want to Sing, where she took over the lead role, and was involved with the cast recording.
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Warwick Evans
Warwick played Elwood Blues for the original UK tour in 1991.
No further information available at present, but information to be provided soon .....
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Simon Foster
Simon is something of a Blues Brothers institution, having toured with almost every single version of the show since it began in 1991!
No further information currently available.
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Neil Griffin (Tom Newman)
Neil was the understudy for Jake and Elwood in the UK 1995/96 tour, and took over the role of Jake for 1996/97.
Neil is from Sittingbourne, in Kent. He began his musical career by taking over the role of Jake at short notice in 1996, when one of the cast was suddenly taken ill. As a result of this sucess, he took over the role permanently later that year, when he began to use the name Tom Newman for his acting work. Previously he was involved in amateur theatre, playing in various shows which include Anything Goes, The Boyfriend, and Once Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. He has also sung with various bands, most notably the acapella duo, Double Impact. He has been seen most recently touring the UK in the show Blues Brothers Meets Soul Sisters.
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Gareth Haughton
Gareth was the standby for the 2000/01 tour, the West End run of 2001, and the 2002 spring tour.
No further information currently available.
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Richard Henders
Richard played Jake for the UK 1993/1994 tour.
Richard trained at the Mabel Fletcher College, Liverpool and with the Liverpool Cathedral Choir. His theatre performances include a world tour with the highly acclaimed Cheek by Jowl Theatre Company, as well as Just So at the Tricycle Theatre, Macbeth at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, and Stolen Christmas and Secrets of Theodore Brown at the Unicorn. He has also performed at the Liverpool Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Polka Theatre and Avignon. His television work includes the lead character of Danny in BBC2's Screen Two presentation Can You Hear Me Thinking?, The Narnia Chronicles and the award-winning drama, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit.
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Mike Henry
Mike was a Bluette during the 2001/02 tour, and during the 2001 West End run.
No information currently available.
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Brad Henshaw
Brad has been involved with far too many productions of the show to list! Most recently he performed as Jake in the 2002 tour.
No further information currently available.
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Matt Hewitt
Matt played Jake on the UK tour of 1999/2000.
Matt graduated from the University of Leeds, and also has a BTEC in Performing Arts. As well as singing, he is a keen drummer, and has been percussionist in many bands and orchestras. He is the lead singer of The PPK, with whom he has performed around the country over the last two years. His theatre credits include The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Fiddler on the Roof.
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Brian Hibbard
No information currently available.
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Chris Holland
No information currently available
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Mark Lawson
Mark was the understudy for the UK tour from 1996 to 1998, and went on to play Jake in the European tour of 1998/99.
Mark was born in Somerset. He began singing at the age of eleven in his school choir, and was also a member of his local amateur operatic society. He trained at the London School of Musical Theatre, and has since gained many theatre credits, including Loot, The Boyfriend, Godspell, Fiddler on the Roof, and a highly acclaimed production of Damn Yankees at the Bridwell Theatre. He has also recorded several tracks for a musical soundtrack. He still occasionally pops back to visit Blues Brothers when an extra pair of hands is urgently required!
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Ellie Leah
Ellie was a Bluette on the Uk tour for 1999/2000
Ellie joined the Blues Brothers directly after graduating from drama school in Birmingham. Her theatre credits include The Maid of the West, and Mac the Knife. She has also filmed the sitcom pilot Juniper Tree for the BBC.
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Alana Maria
Alana was a Bluette for the 2000/01 tour and for the 2002 West End run.
No further information currently available.
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Mo Mason
Mo was a Bluette for the UK tour of 1996/97.
Mo's musical career began in 1986, when she formed the group The Shades, with her sister Kimberley. They later became backing singers for the London group, Total Contrast. Mo trained at the Harmony Music & Dramatic Arts Accademy in London. During this period, she was involved in teaching, as well as in various shows. She then became lead singer of Tongue in Cheek, with whom she made several videos, as well as an album from which five singles were released. Mo then turned to writing and recording her own songs, both with producer Paul Simms, and with Diverse Recordings.
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Ian McKeith
Ian played Elwood for the UK tour of 1997/98.
Ian comes from Billingham, in Cleveland. He began studying at the Royal School of Music at the age of 11, and whilst he was there, he won the North East Musician of the Year. He went on to take a BA Honours in Performing Arts, and it was during this time he was spotted by the WEA label, which began his recording career. He appeared at the Edinburgh Festival in 1996, in the acclaimed World Cafe. Recently he has worked on many successful chart records. He now lives in Surrey, and has bought his own recording studio along with his brother Stuart.
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Paul Murphy
Paul was a Bluette between 1993 and 1996, and rejoined the UK tour in 2002.
Having been introduced to the theatre world at the age of 5, he has been involved in various facets of entertainment. Whilst at school he played main character roles for the Young Vic in Jason and the Golden Fleece and The Ballad of Solomon Pavey, and played the part of Leroy Smith in Alan Parker's film Bugsy Malone. In 1986 he played Hannibal in Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame. As a student of the Aria School of Voice he has written many songs, one of which won him a trip to New York to appear in a talent contest. He has made numerous television appearances. He played Smee in the pantomime Peter Pan at the De Montford Hall, Leicester, with Brian Blessed and Kristian Schmid.
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Giles New
Giles originally played Jake in 1993, and returned to the UK tour of 1997, this time to play Elwood.
Giles was originally from Essex, but now lives in North London. He read Drama at Manchester University, followed by a course in acting at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. His stage credits include Neville's Island, Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Rocky Horror Show, Coriolanus, the Pied Piper, and Blues Brothers Meets Soul Sisters. His TV works includes Hope and Glory, Faith in the Future, Eastenders and The Bill, as well as several Tesco adverts with Prunella Scales, and an advert for the Sunday Observer!
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Yvonne Newman
Yvonne was a Bluette in 1994
Yvonne works as a lead vocalist/songwriter and choreographer. A dynamic singer who has both tour and residency experience. She has been performing since the tender age of 5 in top locations, including Hammersmith Palais and the Talk of the Town. She is an experienced session singer, dancer and actress. Her television appearances include London's Burning, Halleyuha Anyhow, Behaving Badly, The Bill and South of the Border. Influences on her music include Millie Jackson, Tina Turner and Robert Nesta Marley.
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Con O'Neill
Con created the role of Jake in the original 1991 West End production. He has since returned to direct the 1999/2000 UK tour.
Con's numerous theatre credits include Blood Brothers, The Awakening, Woyxeck, The Fastest Clock and Featuring Loretta. His TV appearances include Pie in the Sky, Casualty, Moving Story, Soldier Soldier, Peak Practise, Wycliffe, Cider with Rosie, Always and Everyone, and Real Women 2. His film credits include Dancing thru the Dark, The Lilac Bus, Three Steps to Heaven, The Perfect Match, and the Last Seduction 2. He has written a film, Brotherly Love, which is due for release by Causeway Films.
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Mary Pearce
Mary was a Bluette in 1994.
Mary started singing in the bath and has been blowing bubbles ever since. Her most recent success on the London Soul scene has allowed her to work with Juliette Roberts, Angie Brown and Courtney Pine.
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Rohan Reckord
Rohan was a Bluette on the 1999/2000 UK tour.
Rohan is from North London, where he trained for eight years with vocal coach Emlyn Jones. He has been in various bands covering a wide range of musical styles, and has written music and lyrics. He has played at the Jazz Cafe, Brahms and Liszt in Convent Garden, and the West One Four Club. He continues to write music, and is currently seeking a record deal following completion of a four track demo.
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Ian Roberts
No information currently available.
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Joe Speare
Joe has been a Bluette on various UK tours, including 1997/98, 2001/02, the 2001 West End run, and the 2002 tour.
No further information currently available.
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Liza Spenz
No information currently available
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Matthew Stokes
Matthew played Elwood on the UK tour of 1999/2000.
Matthew was born in 1976 (his mum is actress Gay Soper, most fondly recalled as the voice of The Flumps!), and grew up in Battersea. He has been seen in various television adverts, the most recent of which being for Mastercard in late 1999. His stage credits include Too Clever By Half, Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labours Lost, Find Me, Canterbury Tales, and Godspell. He has also run a Karaoke set up, which he feared he may have to return to once his tour as Elwood was over!
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Ismail Taylor-Kamara
Ismail was a Bluette in 1993
Ismail trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His theatre credits include the very successful revival of Showboat at the London Palladium, Porgy and Bess at the Royal Opera House, A Small Green Space with the ENO and Carmen Jones. His television work includes EastEnders, London's Burning, For the Greater Good and Porgy and Bess. Ismail has also toured with various soul, rock and reggae bands in and around Britain and France, singing and playing guitar, and has provided backing vocals for many artistes including Dusty Springfield.
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Mark White
Mark played Jake in 1993.
Mark's West End Theatre work includes Les Miserables, Moby Dick, On your Toes, Poppy, Minnie's Boys, Destry Rides Again, Oklahoma and A Chorus Line. His touring credits include A Christmas Carol, Lady Be Good, Gipsy, The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors and Eddie/ Dr Scott in the Rocky Horror Show. His television work includes Eastenders, The Bill, Dangerfield and Noah's Ark. Mark is from London, and is an Arsenal fanatic!
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Roger Wright
Roger was a Bluette on the 1997/98 UK tour.
Roger trained at Morley College, but has always managed to combine his studies with his professional work, most notably as Joe Soap in Hot Stuff. He has also appeared in The Fifth Element, and in the James Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies.
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