Alex Gaumond

Alexandre Gaumond (born (1978-04-09)9 April 1978) is a Canadian actor, singer and songwriter known mainly for his involvement in West End theatre.

Alex Gaumond
Alex Gaumond on the red carpet at the Olivier Awards 2016
Born
Alexandre Gaumond

(1978-04-09) 9 April 1978
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2000–present
Websitewww.alexgaumond.com

Gaumond is best known for playing the leading roles of Galileo in the Queen musical We Will Rock You, Emmett in the original London production of Legally Blonde and Agatha Trunchbull in the RSC's Matilda.

Early life

Gaumond was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to French speaking parents.

He moved to the UK in 1997 to study at Guildford School of Acting where he graduated with a 1st class BA (Hons) in 2000.

Stage career

2000–01 (Miss Saigon)

After completing his degree at GSA in 2000, Gaumond made his professional debut that very same year in the ensemble of Miss Saigon in the Philippines. Gaumond also understudied the leading role of Chris in that production and went on to perform in the same musical in Hong Kong and Singapore in 2001.

2002–04 (The Full Monty)

2002 saw Gaumond make his professional West End debut at the Prince Of Wales Theatre where he understudied the roles of Malcolm, Jerry and Ethan in The Full Monty. He then played the role of Malcolm in the 2004 UK touring production.

2002–09

Between 2002 and 2009 Gaumond made a number of appearances in a variety of UK national tours and London shows, including Guys And Dolls (Donmar Warehouse production), Desperately Seeking Susan and Sunday in the Park With George (5 times Olivier Award winning production[1]).

He also played the role of Tom Jenkins in Scrooge at the London Palladium. During this show he recorded a cast album with the show's star, British icon Tommy Steele.

2009 (We Will Rock You)
Gaumond (right) with guitarist Brian May (centre) and co-star Sabrina Aloueche (left)

In 2009 Gaumond was cast by Ben Elton, Brian May and Roger Taylor to play the lead role of Galileo Figaro in the first UK tour of their co-written musical We Will Rock You based on hit songs by the rock band Queen. During the 7-month tour Gaumond played at the Palace Theatre in Manchester,[2] the Sunderland Empire, the Birmingham Hippodrome and the Bristol Hippodrome.

2010–11 (Legally Blonde)

In 2009, Gaumond was cast to play the male lead (Emmett) in the original UK production of Legally Blonde alongside Sheridan Smith as Elle Woods at the Savoy Theatre in London in January 2010.[3][4] He starred in the multi-award winning production for 20 months and his portrayal of the role earned him nominations for 'Best Actor in a Musical' in both the WhatsOnStage Awards 2011 and the Olivier Awards 2011.

An album of the Original London Cast featuring Gaumond, Sheridan Smith and Duncan James was recorded live during performances on 12, 13 and 14 June 2010. It was released on 16 August 2010 under the theatre label First Night Records.[5]

2011–13

In August 2011, Gaumond reprised his role as Galileo Figaro in We Will Rock You, but this time in the Dominion Theatre production.[6] He performed in this role until 18 February 2012 and his performance earned him a nomination for 'Best Takeover in a Role' in the WhatsOnStage Awards 2012.

In the summer of 2012, Gaumond made a small appearance on TV during Andrew Lloyd Webber's auditions for the role of 'Jesus' in his upcoming UK arena tour of the show Jesus Christ Superstar. The audition process for 'Jesus' was televised in the UK in a short series called Superstar. Gaumond reached the top 20 through the initial audition process but was sent home by Lloyd Webber just before reaching the live shows.

Shortly after this, Gaumond was then cast as Jesus by UK-based Bronowski Productions in their new production of Jesus Christ Superstar for Ljubljana Festival in Slovenia.

In early 2013 it was announced that Gaumond would return to the West End starring as Alberto Beddini in Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre, alongside Broadway actors Gavin Lee and Kristen Beth Williams.[7] Gaumond performed in the show from February to August 2013. While in the show, Gaumond and his fellow cast members attended the Olivier awards 2013 which saw Top Hat win 3 major awards including Best New Musical.[8] The show was also heavily featured in a four-part documentary on Channel 4 following West End musicals, entitled The Sound of Musicals, which aired in November and December 2013.[9]

2013–14 (Matilda)

In June 2013, it was announced that Gaumond would be joining the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company's multi-award winning production of Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre, playing the iconic role of headmistress Miss Trunchbull.[10] His first show was on 3 September 2013. During his time on the show Gaumond made many TV appearances including BBC's Children in Need[11] and The Paul O'Grady Show on ITV, where he performed a specially conceived sketch with the show's host and guests.[12]

On 23 February 2014 he attended the WhatsOnStage Awards, where Matilda won for 'Best West End Show'. He accepted the award with fellow cast member Haley Flaherty (Miss Honey).[13] Gaumond also attended the Olivier Awards on 13 April 2014, where the show was nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award.

On 15 June 2014 Gaumond took part in the first 'Relaxed Performance' of Matilda.[14] This specially adapted version of the show, developed in close collaboration with The National Autistic Society, was designed for people with autism and learning disabilities. The performance was a huge success and the RSC has plans for regular instalments every year.

Gaumond played his final show as Trunchbull on 7 September 2014. After his departure the role was handed to Craige Els.

2014–2016

Gaumond appeared in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre from 11 November 2014, replacing Rufus Hound in the role of Freddy Benson, the conman portrayed by Steve Martin in the original movie version.[15] He starred opposite Robert Lindsay at the Savoy Theatre and played the role until the production closed in the West End on 7 March 2015.

Next, Gaumond played the role of Beadle Bamford in English National Opera's production of Sweeney Todd at the London Coliseum, opposite Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson, from 30 March to 12 April 2015.[16]

In April 2015, it was announced that Gaumond would star as Adam Pontipee in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, from 16 July to 29 August 2015.[17] The original 1954 movie version of the musical, starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell, won the Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture and was nominated for four additional awards, including Best Picture of the Year. The 2015 production starring Gaumond was nominated for 'Best Musical Revival' at the Olivier Awards 2016.[18] Gaumond attended the ceremony with his fellow cast members at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 3 April 2016.[19]

Gaumond was cast as the Baker in a new production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Into the Woods at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, from 4 December 2015 to 16 January 2016, directed by Matthew Xia.[20]

In May 2016, it was announced that Gaumond would play Larry Bonk in The Trial of Jane Fonda at the Park Theatre (London), from 13 July to 20 August 2016. Directed by Joe Harmston, the new play starred Hollywood icon, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner, Anne Archer (Fatal Attraction; Patriot Games; Clear and Present Danger) as Jane Fonda. This also marked Gaumond's first major non-musical role in a play.[21]

In December 2016 Gaumond played Bob Cratchit in a one-off concert version of the Broadway hit A Christmas Carol. After a decade-long success at New York City's Paramount Theatre in Madison Square Garden, the musical adaptation by Alan Menken (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) would be presented for the first time in London. The sold-out concert played at the Lyceum Theatre on Monday 19 December 2016. The London Musical Theatre Orchestra, formed of 32 musicians, performed the fully orchestrated score with a chorus and West End cast, starring Robert Lindsay as Scrooge. Gaumond and Lindsay had previously worked together in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.[22]

2017–present day

2017 marked Gaumond's debut in a Shakespeare play at the world-renowned Globe Theatre. He played Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe from 28 February to 25 March 2017.

During his run at the Globe, it was announced that Gaumond would next appear as Stuart Gellman in Caroline, or Change at Chichester Festival Theatre. The new production of the Olivier Award-winning musical was the first musical in the inaugural season of CFT's new Artistic Director, Daniel Evans. Directed by Michael Longhurst, the show played at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester from 6 May to 3 June 2017.[23] It was the fastest selling production in CFT's history and received high critical acclaim.[24]

In September 2017, it was announced that Gaumond's next stage appearance would be as Father/Marley in Jack Thorne's new adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Playing at The Old Vic from 20 November 2017 to 20 January 2018, the world premiere production was directed by Matthew Warchus and starred Rhys Ifans as Ebenezer Scrooge.[25] The production officially opened on 29 November 2017 to very positive reviews.[26] The adaptation was published by Nick Hern Books on 30 November 2017.[27]

On 12 July 2018, it was announced that Gaumond had been cast in Marianne Elliott's highly anticipated new production of George Furth and Stephen Sondheim's Company, which played at the Gielgud Theatre from 26 September 2018. The character of Bobby was changed to Bobbie, a female role, and was played by Rosalie Craig. As a result of this, the roles of April, Marta and Kathy (who sing "You Could Drive a Person Crazy") would be re-written as Andy, PJ and Theo.[28] In a final twist, the casting of Gaumond came with the announcement that the production would now also feature a same-sex couple for the first time, with Jonathan Bailey as cold-footed groom Jamie (originally written as the female character Amy) and Gaumond as his devoted fiancé Paul.[29] Sondheim also approved this change and worked on the script with director Marianne Elliott to re-imagine these two characters as a gay couple.[30] The production opened to critical acclaim,[31] a Cast Recording of the new version was produced by Warner Music,[32] and the new script was published by Nick Hern Books.[33] The production was nominated for 9 Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival and Best Director.[34]

On 22 July 2019 it was announced that Gaumond would be starring as Carl in the first UK Tour of What's in a Name?.[35] Alongside Gaumond, the production also starred Joe Thomas, Laura Patch, Summer Strallen and Bo Poraj (who replaced the previously announced James Lance before rehearsals started). Adapted and directed by Jeremy Sams, the production toured the UK from September to November 2019. Due to popular demand, further touring dates for 2020 were announced on 26 November 2019, with Gaumond reprising his role.[36]

Filmography
YearNameRole
2020 Death in Paradise Oscar Samuel
2019 The Hustle Waiter on Train
2018 My Dinner with Hervé André Villechaize
2017 Hampstead Mark Kasdan

Music career

Gaumond headlined his first solo show on 22 May 2011 at the Leicester Square Theatre, where he performed a mix of covers and original material, as well as some duets with special guests including Ramin Karimloo.[37]

On 24 June 2012, Gaumond released his first single "'Here I Am", a new version of the song co-written and originally performed by Bryan Adams. He launched the release of his single with a performance at West End Live in Trafalgar Square in front of 20,000 people, as one of three recording artists invited to perform their solo material amongst all the West End shows featured in the programme.[38]

Major professional theatre credits
Start date End date Production Role(s) Venue(s)
30 September 2000 31 March 2001 Miss Saigon Ensemble, Chris u/s Cultural Center of the Philippines
May 2001 July 2001 Hong Kong Cultural Centre
August 2001 October 2001 Kallang Theatre, Singapore
3 June 2002 23 November 2002 The Full Monty Minister, Malcolm/Jerry/Ethan u/s Prince of Wales Theatre
April 2003 April 2003 Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Concerts Apostle/Soldier Scandinavium Arena

Globen Arena

May 2003 December 2003 Miss Saigon Ensemble Birmingham Hippodrome

Southampton Mayflower Theatre

5 February 2004 October 2004 The Full Monty Malcolm MacGregor Various Venues across UK
20 October 2005 14 January 2006 Scrooge Tom Jenkins London Palladium
13 May 2006 2 September 2006 Sunday in the Park with George Swing Wyndham's Theatre
16 September 2006 7 July 2007 Guys and Dolls Rusty Charlie, Nathan Detroit u/s Various Venues across UK
16 October 2007 15 December 2007 Desperately Seeking Susan Ray Sunshine Novello Theatre
25 March 2009 17 October 2009 We Will Rock You

UK Tour

 Galileo Figaro Palace Theatre, Manchester

Sunderland Empire
Birmingham Hippodrome
Bristol Hippodrome

January 2010 18 June 2011 Legally Blonde Emmett Forrest Savoy Theatre
8 August 2011 18 February 2012 We Will Rock You Galileo Figaro Dominion Theatre
20 August 2012 25 August 2012 Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Ljubljana Festival, Slovenia
5 February 2013 3 August 2013 Top Hat Alberto Beddini Aldwych Theatre
3 September 2013 7 September 2014 Matilda Miss Trunchbull Cambridge Theatre
11 November 2014 7 March 2015 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Freddy Benson Savoy Theatre
30 March 2015 12 April 2015 Sweeney Todd Beadle Bamford English National Opera

London Coliseum

16 July 2015 29 August 2015 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Adam Pontipee Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
4 December 2015 16 January 2016 Into the Woods Baker Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
13 July 2016 20 August 2016 The Trial of Jane Fonda Larry Bonk Park Theatre (London)
19 December 2016 19 December 2016 A Christmas Carol Bob Cratchit Lyceum Theatre
28 February 2017 25 March 2017 The Taming of the Shrew Petruchio Shakespeare's Globe
6 May 2017 3 June 2017 Caroline, or Change Stuart Gellman Chichester Festival Theatre

(Minerva Theatre)

20 November 2017 20 January 2018 A Christmas Carol Father/Marley The Old Vic
26 September 2018 30 March 2019 Company Paul Gielgud Theatre
5 September 2019 25 April 2020 What's in a Name? Carl Various Venues across UK

References
  1. "Entertainment | Sondheim show wins theatre awards". BBC News. 19 February 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. "Review – We Will Rock You". Manchester: What's On Stage. 26 March 2009. Archived from the original on 29 March 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  3. "Sheridan Smith & Duncan James Lead Legally". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  4. "Photo 3 of 33 | London Gets Tickled Pink by Legally Blonde Opening". Broadway.com. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  5. "First Night Records Catalogue: Legally Blonde The Musical – Original London Cast".
  6. "Cast: Gaumond Is WWRY's New Galileo, Duncan Betwixt". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  7. "New cast members announced for Top Hat, extends to 2014". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  8. Melissa Denes. "Olivier awards 2013: winners in full | Stage". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  9. "The Sound of Musicals – Episode Guide". Channel 4. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  10. "Alex Gaumond to join the cast of Matilda in the West End : Production News". The Stage. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  11. "Matilda on BBC Children in Need 2013".
  12. "Matilda on The Paul O'Grady Show (2014)".
  13. "Video highlights from the WhatsOnStage Awards 2014".
  14. "The RSC stage a 'relaxed performance' of Matilda The Musical". BBC News: Entertainment & Arts. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  15. "Alex Gaumond to replace Rufus Hound in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". The Stage. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  16. "Full casting and extra performance announced for Sweeney Todd starring Emma Thompson". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  17. "Alex Gaumond Leads Open Air Seven Brides". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  18. "Olivier awards 2016: complete list of nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  19. "3rd April 2016 – 40th Olivier Awards – Red Carpet". Stars in Focus. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  20. "Alex Gaumond to star in Royal Exchange Theatre's into the Woods". The Stage. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  21. "Alex Gaumond Joins Jane Fonda Drama". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  22. "Robert Lindsay and Alex Gaumond to Reunite in London Debut of A Christmas Carol". Broadway World UK. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  23. "Full casting announced for Caroline, or Change". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  24. "Exceptional revival of a powerful and innovative drama – Caroline, Or Change review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  25. "Cast joining Rhys Ifans in A Christmas Carol announced". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  26. "A Christmas Carol review – Rhys Ifans' shaggy skinflint serves up a festive feast". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  27. "A Christmas Carol (Old Vic stage version)". Nick Hern Books. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  28. Gans, Andrew. "Richard Fleeshman, George Blagden, More Will Join Patti LuPone in Gender-Swapped 'Company'" Playbill, 29 June 2018
  29. Gans, Andrew. "Alex Gaumond and Jonathan Bailey Will Play Same-Sex Couple in London's Gender-Swapped Company" Playbill, 12 July 2018
  30. Dex, Robert. Ackerman, Naomi. "Stephen Sondheim gives his blessing to Company's first same-sex couple London Evening Standard, 12 July 2018
  31. Bowie-Sell, Daisy. "Did Company drive critics crazy?" WhatsOnStage, 18 October 2018
  32. Bowie-Sell, Daisy. "Company West End cast recording announced" WhatsOnStage, 23 November 2018
  33. Culwell-Block, Logan. "Gender-Swapped Company Script Will Be Published in 2019" Playbill, 20 December 2018
  34. Brown, Mark. "Olivier awards: Company and Come from Away lead nominations" The Guardian, 5 March 2019
  35. "Joe Thomas, Summer Strallen, Alex Gaumond and James Lance to star in What's In A Name UK tour". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  36. "What's In A Name? starring Joe Thomas announces 2020 tour dates". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  37. "WOS Winners Smith & Karimloo Join Gaumond". WhatsOnStage. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  38. "Musical Trio Join West End Live". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 6 June 2012.

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