- Dianne Pilkington
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Dianne Pilkington 
Dianne Pilkington, June 2007Born Dianne Lesley Pilkington
7 June 1975
Wigan, UKSpouse Jean-Claude Pelletier (2010–present) Website http://www.diannepilkington.co.uk Dianne Lesley Pilkington (born 7 June 1975) is an English theatre actress and singer.
Contents
Life
Pilkington was born in Wigan. She trained at the Guildford School of Acting, graduating in 1997 with the Principal's Award.
Pilkington married her longtime partner, Jean-Claude Pelletier, on 10 October 2010. The couple met whilst touring with the UK production of Cats in 2006.
Theatre
Pilkington began her professional career in 1997 when she joined the West End Company of Misérables, Pilkington understudied the role of Fantine whilst in the production.
Following Les Misérables, Pilkington starred in the production of Tess, going on tour with the show prior to it appearing at the Savoy, she played the role of Marion. The production only ran for 10 weeks in the West End before closing on 8 January 2000.
Pilkington joined the cast of Sweeney Todd at the Bridewell Theatre later in 2000, a production she had played the role of Mrs Lovett in whilst training at GSA.
In late 2000 Pilkington was part of the Original London Cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, The Beautiful Game. She played the role of the Protestant girl as well as understudying the role of Bernadette.
In 2002 Pilkington originated the role of Kim in Boy George’s musical Taboo. She appeared alongside Boy George at the Royal Albert Hall alongside other members of the original London cast.
It was in late 2002 that Pilkington joined the UK touring production of Beauty and the Beast playing Belle. She remained with the production into 2003.
Again in 2003 Pilkington originated another role in the West End, this time in Rod Stewart musical Tonight’s the Night, as Mary at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
For the Christmas panto season of 2004-2005 Pilkington starred in the leading role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opposite Lily Savage.
In 2005 Pilkington starred in The Far Pavilions in the role of Belinda. Following this Pilkington again went on tour in the role of Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, Cats. It was whilst on tour with the production that Pilkington met her husband.
After leaving the Cats tour in early 2007, Pilkington joined the West End production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. She replaced Helen Dallimore as Glinda on 16 July 2007, after serving as the standby from April of that year.[1] After three years in the company, she played her final performance on 27 March 2010 and was succeeded by Louise Dearman.
Immediately after leaving Wicked, Pilkington joined played the parts of Annabella Schmidt, Pamela, and Margaret in the West End production of The 39 Steps. She replaced Natalie Walter on 26 April 2010.[2] She ended her nine month run on 29 January 2011 and was succeeded by Laura Rogers.[3]
After leaving The 39 Steps Pilkington took part in the 2011 season of Cabaret in the House at Lauderdale House on February 20, 2011, performing many tracks from her album in a one woman cabaret, her guests at the cabaret included Jean-Claude Pelletier, Shimi Goodman & Nicole Faraday, she was accompanied on piano by Christopher Hamilton.[4]
In the Chichester Festival 2011 Pilkington played the role of Amalia in She Loves Me, from 9 May 2011 until 18 June 2011.[5]
Pilkington has undertaken many musical workshops including: ‘Hope’ in the London workshop production of Urinetown, directed by John Rando; ‘Tonya’ in the workshop of Dr Zhivago directed by Des McAnuff; the title role in Helen of Troy - a new musical, directed by Gary Griffin; ‘Charlotte’ in Charlotte — Life or Theatre?; 'Meg' in the workshop of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Love Never DiesFilm
Pilkington was due to play the role of a Blind Opera Singer in 2010's The Wolfman, opposite Benicio del Toro, but her scene had been cut from the final version of the film.[6] However, the scene was included in the DVD version of the film.[7]
Television
Pilkington’s television credits include appearing on the West End edition of The Weakest Link, which aired 31 December 2008. Pilkington came in a respectable 4th place.[8] She also appeared on Britain's Got Talent giving a brief tour of Wicked, on This Morning performing Popular with Alexia Khadime and on The Alan Titchmarsh Show discussing reality TV shows such as Over The Rainbow.
Awards
Pilkington was nominated in the "Best Takeover Role" category for her role in Wicked at the 2008 Theatregoer's Choice Awards, but lost to co-star Kerry Ellis.[9] She and Alexia Khadime won the "Art and Culture Woman of the Future" category at the 2009 Women of the Future Awards.[10] Pilkington also won the Broadwayworld.com UK Award for Best Lead Actress in a Play for The 39 Steps.[11]
Theatre credits
Year Show Venue Role(s) Notes 1997–1998 Les Misérables Palace Theatre Ensemble Also understudied the roles of 'Fantine' and 'Cosette' 1999 Tess Savoy Theatre Marion Dewy 30 October 1999 - 8 January 2000
Dianne toured with the production prior to its West End appearance.2000 Sweeney Todd Bridewell Theatre Beggar Woman 2000–2001 The Beautiful Game Cambridge Theatre Protestant Girl 26 September 2000 - 1 September 2001 2002 Taboo The Venue Leicester Square Kim 2002–2003 Beauty and the Beast UK Tour Belle 2003–2004 Tonight’s the Night Victoria Palace Theatre Mary 2004–2005 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Victoria Palace Theatre Snow White 2005 The Far Pavilions Shaftesbury Theatre Belinda 24 March 2005 - 17 September 2005 2006–2007 Cats UK Tour Grizabella 2007–2010 Wicked Apollo Victoria Theatre Glinda 16 July 2007 - 27 March 2010.
Replaced Helen Dallimore after briefly serving as her standby in 2007.2010–2011 The 39 Steps Criterion Theatre Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret 26 April 2010 – 29 January 2011 2011 She Loves Me Chichester Festival Theatre Amalia 9 May 2011 - 18 June 2011 Discography
Year Song(s) Album 2002 "Love Is A Question Mark", "Pretty Lies", "Independent Woman" Taboo 2003 "Reason To Believe" Tonight’s The Night 2007 "God's Own Country" The Beautiful Game 2008 "I Only Wish For You" "Act One — Songs From the Musicals of Alexander S. Bermange" 2010 "Stuck On You" "Bush Tales" by Matthew R Jameson 2010 see details below Little Stories 2011 "Trusting You" with Shimi Goodman on his debut album "When You Hear My Voice" Album
Dianne's début solo album, entitled 'Little Stories', was released in December 2010.[12][13]
Little Stories: Tracklisting No. Title Music Length 1. "Meadowlark" (From The Baker's Wife) Stephen Schwartz 5:32 2. "Someone Else's Story" (from the musical Chess) Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, Björn Ulvaeus 3:36 3. "Burn (*)" Christopher Hamilton, Tennessee Williams 3:43 4. "Remember (*)" Christopher Hamilton 3:26 5. "As Good As New (*)" (Melody Towers) Christopher Hamilton, Susannah Pearse 2:31 6. "Somebody's Wife (*)" (from Over The Threshold) Christopher Hamilton 3:18 7. "The Man That Got Away" (From A Star Is Born) Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin 5:29 8. "It's Never Easy / I've Been Here Before" (From Closer Than Ever Feat. Nicole Faraday) Richard Maltby, Jr., David Shire 5:39 9. "Memory" (From Cats) Andrew Lloyd Webber 4:30 10. "Quando M'en Vo" (From La Bohème) Giacomo Puccini 2:31 11. "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" (Feat. Mark Goldthorp) Cole Porter 4:18 (*) Previously Unrecorded[14]
All songs performed by Dianne Pilkington and Accompanied on the Piano by Chris Hamilton.
References
- ^ WICKED Cast Change: Flashback - Kerry Ellis And Dianne Pilkington
- ^ Wicked's Dianne Pilkington and David Bark-Jones to Join London's The 39 Steps
- ^ Rogers, Wright, Canavan, Kearns Join THE 39 STEPS
- ^ http://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/page.asp?ID=302&PID=10&PVID=308
- ^ CFT - She Loves Me
- ^ Wicked the Musical - Cast - Dianne Pilkington
- ^ The Wolfman (London Chase Extended scenes)
- ^ West End Musical Stars Line Up for Weakest Link.
- ^ Theatregoers’ Choice Award Winners
- ^ WICKED Stars Khadime and Pilkington Named Women Of The Future
- ^ LOVE NEVER DIES The Big Winner In First BWW:UK Awards!
- ^ Dianne-Pilkington.Net
- ^ http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/8606-Product-CD-Dianne%20Pilkington-Little%20Stories-37205
- ^ http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/8638-Product-Pre-order%20CD-Dianne%20Pilkington-Little%20Stories%20(Signed%20Copy)-37233
External links
Categories:- 1975 births
- Alumni of the Guildford School of Acting
- English actors
- Living people
- English musical theatre actors
- British musical theatre actors
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