George Sampson, the 14-year-old who won the latest series of Britain’s Got Talent with a scintillating dance routine to Singin’ In The Rain, will show off his slick moves in Into The Hoods this summer.
The child star, who won £100,000 and the chance to appear in the Royal Variety Performance, will appear in the street dance show at the Novello for four weeks from 4 August (press night 6 August).
His appearance on the West End stage will top a whirlwind year for the young performer, who, having won the televised talent show, has just completed the sell-out Britain’s Got Talent UK tour. “This year is getting better and better,” Sampson said. “Into The Hoods is funky and young and I love the music in it – I can’t wait to get dancing on that stage.”
Sampson plays one of the children who get lost in the hoods in this hip hop reinterpretation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Into The Woods.
Befriended by an evil landlord, the children are given a list of objects they have to collect from the tower block he rules. In doing so, they meet a host of characters including wannabe DJ Spinderella, soulful singer Lil Red, MC Rap-on-Zel, music producer Jaxx and playa Prince.
The soundtrack to the youthful show features artists including Gorillaz, Basement Jaxx, Barry White, Kanye West and Stevie Wonder.
Lauded at the Edinburgh Festival, Into The Hoods, which is performed by ZooNation, opened in the West End in March 2008. It runs at the Novello until 30 August, when it closes to make way for another Edinburgh hit, Eurovision musical Eurobeat.
MA