She's climbed the reality TV mountain and now doesn't have far to go before making her West End debut. But her new-found fame is still only just sinking in for one-time salesgirl Connie Fisher. The 23-year-old beat off stiff competition to win the role of Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage version of The Sound Of Music, and admits: "It's mad, it's like a massive dream."
Connie, who won the How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? talent contest, couldn't help but smile as she joined her handsome co-star Simon Shepherd, who plays Captain Von Trapp, along with the boys and girls who will be the Von Trapp children for a photo call this week.
"I'm most looking forward to the curtain going up on the opening night," revealed the flame-haired Welsh lass. "I believe every musical star has their show and I do believe this is my show."
The bright lights of the capital's legendary theatreland are a far cry from her previous job as a call centre worker on an annual salary of just £7,500. The show, which opens at the London Palladium on November 14 has already sold £9.2 million worth of advance tickets, and looks set to make her a huge star.
Another singer looking forward to performing in the stage spectacular is 51-year-old soprano Lesley Garrett who plays the Abbess. "I asked to play this role," explained the Yorkshire-born opera star.
"It's the one I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember. This musical is in everyone's psyche... I've sung Climb Ev'ry Mountain, the Mother Abbess's big song, in recital for years. But only now am I at an age where I think I could bring something to the part."
Meanwhile life is clearly also a cabaret for Bleak House actress Anna Maxwell Martin. Her role as Sally Bowles in the new production of raunchy musical Cabaret, which opened on Tuesday night at the Lyric, is a total turnabout from her portrayal of homely Esther in the BBC drama. Audiences will see a completely different side to the small screen star as she hits the high notes in the surrounds of the Kit Kat Club, following in the footsteps of Liza Minnelli who made the role famous.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
