UK theatre fans are fortunate enough to have some of the best stage stars in the world performing right here in the West End, but the world is a big place, and there are other audiences in other countries which are equally fortunate when it comes to the talent on their stages. Broadway actress Natalie Weiss is undoubtedly one such star, and while US theatre fans have been enjoying the experience of her impressive vocals and incredible stage presence for years, it’s now our turn as she is finally coming to perform in the UK.

Tickets went on sale Thursday (28th August) for her forthcoming appearance this winter, when she arrives for a one-night-only performance which is set to blow London audiences away. The exclusive event will not only launch her European tour, but also mark her UK solo concert début, and it’s all happening at the popular London venue, the St James Theatre, on Sunday 2nd November 2014.

Weiss was a semi-finalist on the fourth season of American Idol, but it is her work both on and off the stage since then that has really made her into such a well-known and well-loved name. She made her Broadway début understudying the Memonettes in the 2010 musical Everyday Rapture, which starred Sherrie Rene Scott. She has also spent ten weeks performing in the ensemble of the 2nd national tour of Wicked, where she was understudy for the lead role of Elphaba, and almost three years touring in the classic, smash-hit musical Les Miserables. She was part of the 25 anniversary tour production, joining the show as a Swing and performing on stage in multiple ensemble roles during her 2 ½ years on the road.

It is perhaps her videos on YouTube which is she best known for however. She has become wildly popular through the performance videos she has posted on her channel, as well as her highly successful web series, , in which she breaks down some of her favourite riffs from a variety of musical theatre and pop songs.

The inspiring songstress has also recorded tracks on the album’s of American musical theatre singer-songwriters Scott Alan (Keys) and Jonathan Reid Gealt (Thirteen Stories Down), and in 2011, released her own seven-track self-titled EP. She performed renditions of such popular songs as ‘Only Hope’ and ‘Water Runs Dry’, as well as an original song by Jason Robert Brown which was written exclusively for the album.

Billed as a ‘fierce night of vocals, anecdotes and riffing not to be missed’, Weiss’ London concert will feature her singing an array of songs ranging from pop to musical theatre, including some of her biggest YouTube hits. It was recently announced that she will be holding a contest to find two back-up singers for the concert, and on the day of the performance, fans will also be able to enter a ‘Riff Raffle’ through which the winner will get to join her on stage to breakdown a riff with her. The night is presented by ILIADebuts (in association with DrenHart Productions), the production company behind the London début concerts of American composers Kooman & Dimond and Jonathan Reid Gealt. ILIADebuts has also staged events for British-based composers, including the acoustic night with Steven Luke Walker and the album launches for Bobby Cronin and Anderson & Petty.

Natalie Weiss is a star whose career and popularity continues to rise ever higher. She has 12,000 followers on Twitter, her YouTube videos have had over three million views online, and she has given sold out concert and masterclasses across America. Her fans are not limited to those in the US by any means though. Fans have been racing to grab tickets for her UK concert début, and for those who have heard her displays of pure vocal talent, it’s not hard to understand why. The St James Theatre has many exciting theatrical events coming up in the autumn/winter season, and Natalie Weiss’ concert has to be one of the top picks for any theatre fan. It’s a night that is sure to be full of riff-tastic fun with an incredible vocalist who is one of the brightest stars on any stage.

http://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/

By Julie Robinson: @missjulie25

Tuesday 2nd September 2014