Rachel Tucker

Infobox actor
name = Rachel Tucker


imagesize = 175px
caption = Rachel Tucker
birthname = Rachel Tucker
birthdate = birth date and age|1981|5|29|df=yes
birthplace = Belfast, Northern Ireland
othername =
occupation = Actor, Singer
yearsactive = 2005–present
spouse =
children =
awards =
homepage =
notable role =

Rachel Tucker (born in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish singer and actress who competed as one of the finalists in the BBC talent show-themed television series "I'd Do Anything" in 2008.cite news
title = Nancy Contestants - Rachel
publisher = BBC
date =2008-02-06
url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/contestants/nancy/niamh.shtml
accessdate =2008-05-09 ]

Background

Tucker grew up singing on the cabaret circuit from the age of 15 with her father, Tommy (Tucker) Kelly and sister Margaret Kelly under the groups name Tucker Kelly and the Kelstar.Fact|date=May 2008 She was a member of the Arts Youth Theatre during the late 1990s featuring in shows such as "Ecstasy" and "Our Day out".Fact|date=May 2008She then went on to feature in Michael Poyners version of the Rockin Mikado as Katisha.Fact|date=May 2008 She also featured as a contestant with sister Margaret on Michael Barrymore's "My Kind of Music" singing "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!".Fact|date=May 2008 She also competed in the talent show "Star for a Night" making the final with her performance of "Kids".Fact|date=May 2008

Tucker trained at the Royal Academy of Musiccite web| title=I'd Do Anything - Introducing Rachel Tucker | publisher=My Park Magazine |date= 2008-04-07 | url=http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/television/i'd-do-anything/id-do-anything-introducing-rachel-tucker.html | accessdate=2008-05-09] She worked with "Any Dream Will Do" winner Lee Mead in the 2005 United Kingdom tour of the Rock musical, "Tommy" as Sally Simpson.cite news
last = Lathan
first = Peter
title = Reviews - Tommy
publisher = British Theatre Guide
date = 2005
url = http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/tommyPDL-rev.htm
accessdate = 2008-05-09]

In December 2007 Tucker appeared as Dorothy in the Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz", written by John Kane at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. The Stage described her performance as "looking and sounding uncannily like the legendary Garland".cite news
last = Coyle
first = Jane
title = Reviews: The Wizard of Oz
publisher = The Stage
date = 2007-12-03
url = http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/19026/the-wizard-of-oz
accessdate = 2008-05-29]

Tucker recorded a version of the civil rights anthem "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around" which was used in a television advertisement for Libresse in 2005 entitled "March".cite web
title= Libresse: "March"
url=http://www.marshallstreet.co.uk/movie_page.php?movie=showreels/spencer_ferszt/libresse_572/libresse_march.mov&spot_id=572
date=2005
publisher =Marshall Street Editors
accessdate=2008-07-18]

"I'd Do Anything"

Tucker was chosen as one of the twelve finalists on the show in which began in March 2008, appearing each week in the live show on Saturday evenings and the Results show which aired each Sunday. She made it to the sem-finals in week nine where she was eliminated on 25 May.

In week six she was in the bottom two with Sarah Lark, with Tucker having received the lowest number of viewers votes. In the Results show on 4 May they sang "As If We Never Said Goodbye ", from the musical "Sunset Boulevard". Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Tucker and eliminate Lark, saying "I have to think as a producer and I do think Rachel was rock solid."cite news | title = Reviewing the Situation: Week Six Result: Sarah was the sixth Nancy out.| publisher = BBC | date =2008-05-04 | url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/news/2008/05/04/54733.shtml | accessdate =2008-05-11 ]

Tucker was once again in the bottom two in week eight, the quarter-final stage of the series. She was in the sing-off for a second time, this time with Niamh Perry, with Perry having received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" from the musical Evita. Lloyd Webber chose to save Tucker and eliminate Perry.cite episode
title = I'd Do Anything
series = 1
airdate = 2008-05-18
season =
number = 18] At the semi-final stage, week nine, Tucker was in the bottom two for a third and final time. This time with Samantha Barks who had received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "Memory" from the musical Cats. Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Barks and eliminate Tucker saying, "Last night Cameron and I were both saying that we thought both of you would be fantastic Nancys and now here am I faced with this. But I've got to make a decision and I've got to think of where the show ultimately for Cameron is going to go and I think I have to go with you Samantha.cite news
title = Reviewing the Situation: Week Nine Result Rachel was the ninth Nancy to leave
publisher = BBC
date =2008-05-25
url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/news/2008/05/25/55135.shtml
accessdate =2008-05-25 ]

In the week following the show, it was claimed that Lloyd Webber and Theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh, who will be producing Oliver! in the West End, and who joined the panel in week nine, had fallen out over Lloyd Webber's decision to eliminate Tucker who Mackintosh had wanted to see in the final. Lloyd Webber said, "The fact is Cameron wanted Rachel to stay. He wanted Rachel and Samantha in the final from the beginning of the series. Rachel did a fantastic performance but I had to face up to the fact that she wouldn't have gone any further. What I may think professionally is sometimes different to what the public want. I saved Rachel three times and she still ended up in the bottom two."cite news
last = Kilkelly
first = Daniel
title = Nancy judges fell out over Rachel's exit
publisher = Digital Spy
date =2008-05-31
url =http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a97182/nancy-judges-fell-out-over-Rachels-exit.html
accessdate =2008-06-03 ]

Performances on I'd Do Anything

After I'd Do Anything

After returning to Belfast, Tucker revealed in a video interview with the Belfast Telegraph on 9 June, 2008 that she would be appearing in a private workshop of the sequel to The Phantom of The Opera ("Phantom: Once Upon Another Time"), saying "I'm definitely doing Andrew's Phantom of the Opera Two - The Workshop."cite news
last = Coleman
first = Maureen
title = Rachel back to thank Belfast
publisher = Belfast Telegraph
date = 2008-06-09
url = http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/article3783553.ece
accessdate = 2008-06-23] In July she took part in a private performance of the first act of the musical at Andrew Lloyd Webber's private Sydmonton Festival near his estate in Hampshire, in which she sang the role of Meg Giry.cite news
title = First Act of 'Phantom Sequel' to have private reading
publisher = broadwayworld.com
date = 2008-06-23
url = http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=29189
accessdate = 2008-06-23]

On 2 August, 2008 Tucker returned to Belfast where she performed at the Gay Pride Festival. She sang a medley which included "Cabaret", " All That Jazz", "Maybe This Time" and "Don't Rain on My Parade". On 13 September, 2008 she performed alongside fellow "I'd Do Anything" finalist Niamh Perry at the "Proms in the Park", held at Belfast City Hall as part of the nationwide celebration of the BBC Last Night of the Proms.cite news
title = Singers tune up for Proms
publisher = The News Letter
date = 2008-09-12
url = http://www.newsletter.co.uk/entertainment/Singers-tune-up-for-Proms.4488959.jp
accessdate = 2008-09-14] cite news
title = BBC Proms in the Park
publisher = Ulster Orchestra
url = http://www.ulster-orchestra.org.uk/concert/item.php?a=606
accessdate = 2008-08-30] The following day she performed at the "Andrew Lloyd Webber's Birthday In The Park" show in Hyde Park, London, singing "Light At The End Of The Tunnel" from Starlight Express with fellow "I'd Do Anything" finalists Keisha Amposa Banson, Jessie Buckley, Niamh Perry as well as "Any Dream Will Do" finalists Daniel Boys, Lewis Bradley, Ben James-Ellis and Keith Jack.cite news
title = Singers tune up for Proms
publisher = The News Letter
date = 2008-09-13
url = http://www.newsletter.co.uk/entertainment/Singers-tune-up-for-Proms.4488959.jp
accessdate = 2008-09-24] cite news
last = Shenton
first = Mark
title = Paige, Menzel, Barrowman and More Celebrate Lloyd Webber's Birthday in the Park
publisher = Playbill
date = 2008-09-14
url = http://www.playbill.com/news/article/121249.html
accessdate = 2008-10-01]

In October 2008 her performance in "Wizard of Oz" in December 2007 was nominated for an award in the 2008 "Theatrical Management Association Theatre Awards". Tucker is one of three up for the Best Performance in a Musical award with Brian Conley for "The Music Man" and Kathryn Evans for "Sunset Boulevard". The awards will take place on 26 October at the Hampstead Theatre in London.cite news
last = Smith
first = Alistair
title = TV talent finalists Blackman and Tucker up for TMA awards
publisher = The Stage
date = 2008-10-01
url = http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/21938/tv-talent-finalists-blackman-and-tucker-up
accessdate = 2008-10-01]

"We Will Rock You"

In July 2008 it was announced that, from mid-September, Tucker would star as Meat in the jukebox musical, "We Will Rock You", at the Dominion Theatre, London. Based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name, the musical was written by English comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor.cite news
title = IDA’s Rachel Tucker Joins Queen We Will Rock You
publisher = whatsonstage.com
date = 2008-07-10
url = http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821215617989&title=IDA%92s+Rachel+Tucker+Joins+Queen+We+Will+Rock+You
accessdate = 2008-07-10] She said of the role, "It is a dream part. We Will Rock You is one of my favourite shows. I first saw it when I was a student at the Royal Academy and loved it. I am beside myself with excitement. I just can’t believe it." [cite news
title = Rachel Tucker will rock you in West End leading role
publisher = famemagazine.co.uk
date = 2008-07-11
url = http://www.famemagazine.co.uk/2008/07/11/exclusive-photos-rachel-tucker-will-rock-you-in-west-end-leading-role/
accessdate = 2008-08-28]

On 22 September, Tucker commenced her run under the direction of Christopher Renshaw. A review of the opening night performance of the show in The Stage newspaper said of Tucker's debut, that she had "found the perfect stage for her large voice. Her rendition of No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young) is one of the highlights of a first act that works on many levels."cite news
last = Matthewman
first = Scott
title = Review - We Will Rock You
publisher = The Stage
date = 2008-09-23
url = http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/21856/we-will-rock-you
accessdate = 2008-09-24]

Tucker is also the understudy to Sabrina Aloueche for the role of Scaramouche, and will temporarily take over the part between 3 and 15 November to accommodate Aloueche's absence.Fact|date=October 2008

Personal life

On Valentine's Day 2008 Tucker was engaged to her fiancé, theatre director Guy Retallack.web cite| title=Nancy hopeful on marrying a man 17 years her senior | work=Mirror.co.uk| url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/latest/2008/04/26/nancy-hopeful-on-marrying-a-man-17-years-her-senior-89520-20395122/| date=2008-04-26 | accessdate=2008-05-09]

References

External links

*imdb name|id=2977852|name=Rachel Tucker
* [http://racheltucker01.blogspot.com/ Rachel Tucker Fan Blog]