Jenna Russell

Just got back from 'An Evening with Jamie Lloyd and Jenna Russell' which was a wonderful little post-show event after Doctor Faustus (thankfully didn't have to sit through it again though).

Most interesting point of the night was a discussion about Next to Normal. Lloyd himself has been trying to get the rights for a number of years over here to do a production with Jenna but has been unsuccessful. Jenna said it was one of her dream roles to do and she sung an absolutely sublime version of I Miss the Mountains.

I wonder why it's proving so difficult to get the rights?

Speaking of dream roles, she's keen to explore more Sondheim and would love to do an Adam Guettel show - Jenna in Light in the Piazza? YES PLEASE. She also spoke briefly about her disappointment at Grey Garden's short run and how the West End is unfortunately so commercialised and that New York is doing far more interesting musical theatre.

An interesting idea, that I doubt would ever come to fruition, also came about - a Sweeney - where Mrs Lovett and Sweeney are alternated between two actors. Resulting in female Sweeneys and male Mrs Lovett's. 

Alongside I Miss the Mountains, she sang her favourite Sondheim - I Remember from Evening Primrose and More Than Just My Name from the late Victoria Wood's The Day We Sang.