Theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed how he planted his next stage star on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks. For three months, viewers have seen Summer Shaw, played by Summer Strallen, pursue her dream of West End stardom.
In reality Lord Lloyd-Webber had already decided to cast Strallen as Maria in The Sound of Music.
He said Channel 4 producers approached him with the idea. "I thought: 'Do you know what, it's never been done before and it's funny.'"
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Personally I don't think the exposure was needed and that the whole thing was therefore pointless. Summer Strallen already has enough nepotistic 'exposure' through being related to Bonnie Langford and various other performing bods.
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It's interesting Andrew Lloyd Weber has also rubbished reports that Ryhdian is going to be taking over in Phantom of the Opera despite Ryhdians claims he is.
I'm not suprised that Summer Strallen was a plant though since it would have fitted in nicely with Darren Jon Jeffries departure and give him a storylne of finding love at last.
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I read this in the sun this morning, I think it will help the the sound of music alot, like the how do you solve a problem like maria with connie fisher
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Originally posted by Angelil: Personally I don't think the exposure was needed and that the whole thing was therefore pointless. Summer Strallen already has enough nepotistic 'exposure' through being related to Bonnie Langford and various other performing bods.
It's unfortunate that Andrew Lloyd Webber and his stooge Summer Strallen have cynically manipulated the Hollyoaks audience, and today's incredibly well-timed press announcements confirm what we long suspected.
No doubt a sizeable proportion of the Hollyoaks audience were surprised that a West End actress joined Hollyoaks, but all the same, Summer soon became popular with the fans - she mucked in with everything, got really involved and never took herself too seriously. Yet all the while, the question was in the back of my mind - what was an actress of her calibre doing "slumming it" in a teen soap, where most of the cast have either been recruited from local school drama clubs or straight off fashion catwalks? And now it's been confirmed - Summer DID join Hollyoaks with an agenda after all, although not as great as that of Andrew Lloyd-Webber who used her - and the Hollyoaks audience - for self-promotional purposes.
In spite of this I will still be sorry to see Summer go as she was a refreshing addition to the Hollyoaks cast and as a character they could have really got a lot more out of her. And an amazing voice too.
You might say it's a good thing that Lloyd-Webber has introduced a younger audience to West End shows and yes, I can't disagree. However, the whole thing has been very cynically handled and to this end ALW has made himself look no better than Simon Cowell.
Not to be mean although i think it's probably going to sound it, lol, but i don't even like Summer's voice, i think it's really whiny and nowhere near the standard of Connie Fisher, so i don't think i'll be going to see the Sound of Music now.
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I kind of agree with luv pacey, but not that I think Summer has a whiny voice, but because I think she's too nasal. And in OB's dream where she's auditioning for the other girl in the musical...I can't remember her name =/ but when Summer was going for the higher notes, she sounded and looked really uncomfortable which is never good, because it's almost like she doesn't know the limits of her own voice.
On the other hand, if Andrew Lloyd-Webber thinks she's good enough for Maria I'm not going to complain! That man is a musical genius!
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Originally posted by kelzc190: She is a good actress and has beautiful voice. It is a shame she is leaving so quickly after arriving as she became one of my favourite characters.
Exactly right!!! And I think people should get over themselves and pretend that they feel hurt!! Who cares??? It made a great storyline!!! I hope they put a new posh charachter into Hollyoaks because Jess has left and Summer is leaving to!!!!
To be honest this doesn't surprise me one bit, like someone said it seemed a bit questionable why a successful musical theatre actress would join a soap. Then further suspicion was aroused by the fact her character was also called Summer and quelle surprise was an aspiring musical theatre actress. It all became clear when it was announced that she was taking over the role of Maria and I assumed it was a bit like when Delta Goodrem joined Neighbours in a specially created role which was to basically showcase her talents as a singer.
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Originally posted by Jazz56: Then further suspicion was aroused by the fact her character was also called Summer and quelle surprise was an aspiring musical theatre actress.
So do you think it's suspicious that Suzanne Ashworth is played by an actress who is also called Suzanne?
Both she and Summer may both have got their parts before the character's name could be agreed, and to avoid confusion it was decided to use the actresses' real names.
Originally posted by Jazz56: Then further suspicion was aroused by the fact her character was also called Summer and quelle surprise was an aspiring musical theatre actress.
So do you think it's suspicious that Suzanne Ashworth is played by an actress who is also called Suzanne?
Well you never know....
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Oh, and one thing I have observed though - "Summer Shaw" reminds me of "summer show" - which many local amateur dramatics companies put on in the holiday months to entertain the tourists
I think Summer (the real Summer lol) is a brilliant singer, best soap star singer I have ever heard, I can just see her in the Sound Of Music, it's one of my favourite films ever, I use to watch over and over lol.
Summer is brilliant
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Originally posted by iluvwillmellor: I think Summer (the real Summer lol) is a brilliant singer, best soap star singer I have ever heard, I can just see her in the Sound Of Music, it's one of my favourite films ever, I use to watch over and over lol.
I don't see the problem with this storyline - I like the cross-over between fiction and reality. All storylines are contrived by nature and it shows good forward planning by Hollyoaks to pull it off in an interesting way. Furthermore - there is nothing wrong with Summer's acting ability! I found her a breath of fresh air and it's a shame she's leaving so soon.
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Originally posted by iluvwillmellor: I think Summer (the real Summer lol) is a brilliant singer, best soap star singer I have ever heard, I can just see her in the Sound Of Music, it's one of my favourite films ever, I use to watch over and over lol.
Originally posted by Tempest #12: I don't see the problem with this storyline - I like the cross-over between fiction and reality. All storylines are contrived by nature and it shows good forward planning by Hollyoaks to pull it off in an interesting way. Furthermore - there is nothing wrong with Summer's acting ability! I found her a breath of fresh air and it's a shame she's leaving so soon.
My only problem with it is the amount of times she was seen singing- it seemed to me it was more about promoting her/ the sound of music than about OB. That said, i did like her chareter, and liked the fact OB was leaving "romantically" rather in a huge accident
If I'm honest I feel rather cheated - I mean we were lied to and I don't think it's right - I feel they only put her in to get her attention so us HO fans would go see the show and spend our money. If for instance she had been in the show for a year then gone I would be happy but they used the show.
I mean good for her though it's a great role...but maybe if they had told us earlier I wouldn't feel lied to.
I also feel for the other actors in the show who have great voices - cos they never get a chance to sing.
Good luck to Summer she seems like a nice girl - but still not sure it was right.
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