Ruthie has starred in the most popular musicals of the past thirty years.
42nd STREET
Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto – 2023/24
Saddlers Wells, London – 2023
Curve Leicester – 2023
Role: Dorothy Brock
CHICAGO
Adelphi Theatre, London – 1997 – Roxie Hart
Shubert Theatre, New York – 1999 – Velma Kelly
Adelphi Theatre, London – 2000 – Velma Kelly
Ambassador Theatre, New York – 2010 – Roxie Hart
Cambridge Theatre, London – 2010 – Roxie Hart
Phoenix Theatre, London – 2018 – Mama Morton
“A mega-watt talent shining in all its dazzling brilliance.”
BBC Radio 4
“She has style in spades.”
Ben Brantley, New York Times
Olivier Award Nomination: Best Actress In A Musical
BILLY ELLIOT
Victoria Palace Theatre (London)
Billy Live (Cinema and DVD)
2014-2016
Role: Mrs Wilkinson
MARGUERITE
Theatre Royal, Haymarket (London)
Opening night: 20 May 2008
Role: Marguerite
“Ruthie Henshall…is at her luscious-voiced peak!”
Susannah Clapp, The Observer – 25 May 2008.
Olivier Award Nomination: Best Actress In A Musical
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
Palace Theatre (London)
Opening night: 20 May 2008
Role: Marian Halcombe
“Ruthie Henshall inherits Maria Friedman’s role as Marian Halcombe and finally gets the opportunity to prove her dramatic mettle. We’ve long known her abilities in light musical comedy from Crazy for You to She Loves Me but here she is a robust presence.”
Mark Shenton, The Stage – 13 October 2005
FOSSE
UK Tour
2004
Role: Leading Lady
“[Ruthie Henshall] has the kind of brilliant, high-voltage stage personality that can light up whole cities.”
Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman – 4 December 2003
PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED
Shaftesbury Theatre, London
2001
Role: Peggy Sue
“For the clean-cut firecracker Ruthie herself, the night is a triumph, finding fun in future talk, poignancy in her own past and added power in her lungs for a succession of big emotional musical outbursts.”
The Daily Mail – 21 August 2001
Olivier Award Nomination: Best Actress In A Musical
MISS SAIGON
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (London) – 1989
Broadway Theatre (New York) – 2000
Complete Symphonic Recording
Role: Ellen
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York
1999
Role: Younger Woman
“Henshall is here revealed to Broadway as a performer of major gifts, who can suggest a cockney tart one minute, Julie Andrews herself the next. She’s all sultry languor crooning “Sooner or Later,” the rather bland torch song from “Dick Tracy,” and later savvily tackles the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of “More,” also from the film.”
Charles Isherwood, Variety – 22 November 1999
OLIVER!
London Palladium
1997
Role: Nancy
SHE LOVES ME
Savoy Theatre, London
1994
Role: Amalia
“If rediscovering the joys of this show has been one of the delights of summer, it is matched by Ruthie Henshall, its starry leading lady. Ms Henshall is that rare commodity: a British gal with the kind of galvanic voice and personality rarely encountered this side of 42nd Street. She is the jewel in the crown of a show encrusted with gems.”
Clive Hirschhorn, Sunday Express
Won Olivier Award: Best Actress In A Musical
CRAZY FOR YOU
Prince Edward Theatre, London
1992
Role: Polly
“As the leather-lunged local cowgirl, Ruthie Henshall steps into the star’s limelight. Miss Henshall can belt her way through showstoppers such as I Got Rhythm like a trouper, then melt your heart with eternal love songs such as Someone To Watch Over Me or But Not For Me in a way the great Ethel could never do.”
Jack Tinker, The Daily Mail
Olivier Award Nomination: Best Actress In A Musical
LES MISÉRABLES
The Palace Theatre, London – 1992
The Royal Albert Hall, London – 1995
Played: Fantine
CATS
New London Theatre
1987
Played: Jemima, Demeter, Jellylorum, Griddlebone, Grizabella.
