Strippers vs Werewolves goes Stateside

Strippers vs. Werewolves, the British comedy horror film in which Ali has a starring role, has been chosen for release in the USA.

The movie, made by Black and Blue Films, will be distributed by Well Go which bought the distribution rights at the Berlin Film Festival. The distribution rights for Germany and Japan have also been bought by other companies, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter.

Strippers vs. Werewolves now has a Facebook page with news and still photos.

The film also stars Robert Englund, Martin Kemp and Lucy Pinder; it is directed by Jonathan Glendening.

Brian in LA

Brian is spending time in Los Angeles during 'pilot season' when actors and performers are cast in trial 'pilot' episodes of new American TV shows. Successful pilots will be developed into TV series with the hope that they will become hits with the viewing public. Brian is likely to be in the US until at least the end of April.

He has tweeted a pic from his new photoshoot.

For lucky dance students in California, Brian will be spending a day coaching at the Rose City Ballroom in Pasadena. The date has yet to be confirmed. For more information, or to sign up for the coaching, visit the Rose City Ballroom website.

Brian took a break from auditioning and surprised his parents Andy and Sandra when he flew in to Dallas to judge the Texas Star Ball last weekend.

Ali celebrates birthday on UK Chicago tour

Ali celebrates her birthday today but there's no chance of a day off - she is in the seaside town of Southend, Essex, appearing as Roxie in the UK tour of Chicago.

The tour started in Bradford on 10th February and continues through to this summer with dates across the country. Tour dates are here.

Ali spoke about her first musical role in this interview on the Total Essex website.

New movie role for Brian?

Brian Fortuna could be starring in a film soon after he told the Daily Mail that a role was being written specifically with him in mind.

He spoke to the paper about life after Strictly and emphasised that he had used his time since leaving the BBC programme to develop his career as an all-round entertainer. He said: "Since I left the show I’ve done things I thought would never be possible. I’ve done a short film that was shown at Cannes and now a film role is being written for me. I have even been to the Oscars . . ."

Professional dancers earn less than celebrities on Strictly on both the TV show and the tour but can build on their media fame to earn significant money if they are canny, said Brian. He said: "I was offered the chance to be in the troupe, but that was not going to be the career for me. So after Strictly, I decided I wanted to enter the entertainment business.
"You have to understand that Strictly will come to an end for you one day. And if all that you have done with that opportunity is to dance then you will still be only a dancer.
"I set myself the challenge to be an all-round entertainer like Fred Astaire."

Brian said he was rooting for his former dance partner Kristina and her celebrity Jason Donovan to win this year's Strictly.

Brian will be switching on the Christmas lights in Northampton tomorrow afternoon and starring in Aladdin in the Royal & Derngate Theatre in the town.

NB: One correction in the Daily Mail story: Ali and Brian earned perfect scores of 40for the Viennese Waltz and 50 for their semi-final American Smooth as there were five judges on that night.

Ali's tour dates for Chicago

Ali has been cast in the starring role of Roxie Hart in the UK tour of the musical Chicago.

Tour dates were announced today: starting on 10th February at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, the show will visit Hull, Southend, Birmingham, Manchester among others, before ending on Saturday 16th June at Grimsby Auditorium. More dates may be added.

Other cast members include Stefan Booth, Tupele Dorgu and Bernie Nolan.

Information about tour dates is here.

More tour dates for Over the Rainbow

The producers of Over the Rainbow have announced tour dates for 2012. These include Swansea, Worcester, Manchester, Mansfield, and many more. See the Theatre Productions website. The tour will resume on 26th January in Camberley Theatre in Surrey.

No cast changes have been announced so it is likely Brian will continue in the show in his role as Danny.

In December and early January Brian is appearing as Aladdin in the pantomime of that name in Northampton.

Brian on the radio

Brian talks to Kent radio station KMFM about Over the Rainbow ahead of the show's arrival at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, from tomorrow.