Caroline Sheen: “Whilst doing THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA my faith in the future of musical theatre was renewed”

Caroline Sheen made her West End debut performing the role of Martin in GREASE at the Cambridge Theatre. Later, she starred as Florinda in the Donmar Warehouse production of INTO THE WOODS; and was part of the original cas of MAMMA MIA! at the Prince Edward Theatre as Sohphie´s cover. Sheen also created the role of Jennifer Gabriel in the World Premiere of THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Other West End credits include LES MISÉRABLES or CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.

In 2008, Caroline Sheen played the title role on the International Tour of MARY POPPINS; and in May 2009 she was Clara Jonhson in the European Premiere of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, the musical by Adam Guettel. On February 11, 2010 she will resume her role of Mary Poppins, this time in the United States tour production, replacing Ashley Brown. This will be her U.S. debut.

Last February 1, SimG Records released ‘Raise The Curtain’, Caroline Sheen´s debut album. It is a compelling selection of songs by leading contemporary musical theatre writers from Britain and America. The Welcsh actress tells us more details about her solo debut album and about her artistic career.

WHAT COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR DEBUT ALBUM ‘RAISE THE CURTAIN’? WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RECORD THIS ALBUM?
I have always had an idea that I might do an album some day, but I didn’t just want to put all my audition songs on it, I wanted it to have a purpose. Then, whilst doing THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA last year I had the idea to record an album of new musical theatre writing. I was so inspired by working on such a wonderful piece and my faith in the future of musical theatre was renewed. I wanted to share that with other musical theatre enthusiasts.

HOW DID YOU MAKE THE SELECTION OF THE SONGS THAT ARE IN THE ALBUM?
It was tricky to select songs for the album, but in the end they picked themselves. Once I decided which writers I wanted to showcase then the songs were easy. Some I had actually sung previously and worked on with the writers and some were songs I liked and wanted to sing, some were suggested by the composers themselves. Once I had the idea for the album then the songs came along quite quickly!

‘RAISE THE CURTAIN’ INCLUDES FIVE SONGS PREVIOUSLY UNRECORDED. COULD YOU EXPLAIN US MORE DETAILS ABOUT THESE SONGS?
There is a very special song on this album which is a song my character originally had in THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK. I went through 7 rounds of auditions with this song and got to sing it in about 5 previews, then it got cut! I am so happy to be recording it now!
“Carrie Makes a Decision” is from a musical I worked on with Grant Olding which we took to the New York Musical Theatre Festival. It is great to work with a writer from the beginning on a character and this was when I was able to do that.
“Higher” by Richard Taylor and “What Did You Want from Love” by Conor Mitchell are songs from musicals which have never yet reached fruition.
The song from “The Kissing Dance” is a very English song and has quite a historical feel to it. My husband was in this in the National Youth Music Theatre and I have dedicated it to him!!

BEN STOCK IS THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR OF THE ALBUM. HOW HAS IT BEEN WORKING WITH HIM?
Ben and I were in college together and were always partnered together in dance classes and musical projects. We know each other well and it was a lot of fun working with him again, We haven’t worked together since college but have done a lot of the same shows, just at different times! He’s a talented man!

YOU HAVE STARRED IN THE WEST END IN MUSICALS SUCH AS ‘GREASE’, ‘LES MISÉRABLES’, ‘INTO THE WOODS’, ‘CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG’ OR ‘MAMMA MIA!’. HAS BEEN ANY OF THEM SPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT ON YOUR CAREER?
I think every one of those shows has had a significance for my career. All of them have been stepping stones on the way to the next. Doing LES MIS was a big personal ambition achieved as the character of Eponine was one which I had always wanted to play since I was a teenager.
It was incredible to be in the original cast of MAMMA MIA! and to have been there at the birth of such a huge success. I understudied Sophie, which is a great part to play, and the casting director for WITCHES OF EASTWICK saw me in this and pushed for me to get the role of Jennifer, which was really my big break.

YOU CREATED THE ROLE OF JENNIFER GABRIEL IN THE WORLD PREMIERE OF ‘THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK’. HOW DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THIS SHOW?
It was incredible. I had long wanted to work for Cameron Mackintosh, and to be around him rehearsing for a brand new musical was amazing. I love this show. I made some very good friends on it and experienced all the ups and downs that showbusiness has, from  a big expensive press night with amazing fireworks over the River Thames, recording a cast album, to the very sad news 16 months later, that we were closing. A phenomenal experience.

OTHER OF YOUR MUSICAL THEATRE WORKS INCLUDES UK PREMIERE OF ADAM GUETTEL’S ‘MYTHS AND HYMNS’, GRANT OLDING’S ‘THREE SIDES’ AND RICHARD TAYLOR’S ‘JONAH BOY’. WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CREATING AN ORIGINAL ROLE AND GOING INTO AN ESTABLISHED ONE? WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST?
I think creating a role is very exciting and it excites me as an actress as I get to have a creative input. But I have to say that when I have taken over in roles I have similarly been allowed to put my own stamp on the role and have never been forced into copying my predecessor.

Matt Rawle and Caroline Sheen in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA

LAST MAY, YOU HAVE ALSO STARRED IN THE EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF ADDAM GUETTEL’S MUSICAL ‘THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA’ AT THE CURVE THEATRE IN LEICESTER. WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU WORKING IN THIS SHOW? THE BROADWAY PRODUCTION WON 6 TONYS IN 2005, DO YOU THINK THAT THE SHOW WOULD ALSO SUCCEED IN THE WEST END?
This show was a dream come true for me. I had seen it in New York and fallen in love with it – so much, that I had a song from it in the ceremony at my wedding! When I found out they were doing it over here I was so excited, but I never dreamed I would get the part of Clara. It’s a beautiful piece, soaring and romantic without being sentimental, I think it needs to be seen in London, it’s an important piece of musical theatre which has taken this art form forward and a wider audience needs to see it,.

DO YOU BELIEVE IT´S IMPORTANT TO ENCOURAGE NEWS COMPOSERS? HOW DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY OF DOING IT?
 I think more risks need to be taken by the big money men out there. I can understand that we are in troubled times, but no-one ever made money by playing it safe. Cameron Mackintosh took a risk and found Boulblil and Schonberg, and look how wonderfully that turned out!!

YOU PLAYED THE TITLE ROLE ON THE INTERNATIONAL TOUR OF ‘MARY POPPINS’, AND YOU WILL REPRISE THE ROLE THIS 2010 WHEN YOU JOIN THE NATIONAL TOUR OF THE UNITED STATES. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS CHARACTER AND THIS SHOW?
I loved playing Mary on tour at home, and I felt when I finished that I hadn’t quite said goodbye to her. I have always loved the film and even made up my own little routines to the songs when I was a child. She’s an angel who seeks out where she is needed most and brings a little magic into peoples lives to help solve their problems. Who wouldn’t enjoy a character like that?!

‘Raise The Curtain’ is released on 1st February by SimG Records and can be purchased on-line at www.CarolineSheen.com