After 12 weeks of competition, the future London production of "Oliver!" has found its Nancy.
A native of England, he appeared in a West End production of "Oliver!" at the age of 10 and has worked steadily since.
The main theater's production of Oliver! became an orphan, with its 21 local actors having to rehearse in dance studios, living rooms and the local Lutheran church.
In fact, of course, the young paupers who people the workhouse in the hit West End production of Oliver! are well-fed boys and girls from the home counties.
I had the high honor of playing the role of Fagin at the most recent Rockville Dinner Theatre production of "Oliver!" I have also played the lead in "Barnum".
At about 12 he was the Artful Dodger in a school production of "Oliver!" and knew instantly, unshakably — with the same unanalyzed instinct he brings to his roles — that he wanted to be an actor.
In taking over the role of Fagin in the West End production of Oliver! last year, Djalili made the shift from a Muslim stereotype to a Jewish one, even though he is neither, having been born and brought up a Baha'i, in a religion based on spiritual unity in which all the prophets, Jesus and Mohammed included, are spiritual messengers.
He added that his most recent BBC1 project, I'd Do Anything, had not worked so well because it was not his money behind the new production of Oliver! around which it was based, and viewers liked to see his "head on the block".
Mr. Waterstreet, 59, who is deaf, and Mr. Calhoun, 42, had their first success in 2000 with a critically acclaimed deaf production of "Oliver!" It encouraged them to tackle "Big River," which last year sold out its 10-week run at Deaf West Theater and earned a host of local honors.
She started dancing at the age of three and appeared in a production of Oliver five years later.
