A former X-Factor finalist has joined forces with three other young talented singers to form a group that will start a UK tour in June. Classically trained singer James Wisker, aged 19, from Ross-on-Wye was described as "a young Michael Ball" by Simon Cowell as he left the television show and now he is setting out to prove Simon Cowell right by singing songs from major musicals with his newly-formed group. Back to Broadway kick off their UK tour with a launch concert close to James' home at The Blake Theatre, Monmouth, on Saturday June 30. Alongside him will be Steve Liddle, who at just 19 has already starred as Chino in West Side Story, featured on BBC Radio 4 and has directed shows for one of the country's leading youth theatre groups. Charlotte Hill, aged 20, has sung in Godspell, West Side Story and Les Miserables in university productions and cabaret. Jessica Ball, 19, has performed with the National Youth Musical Theatre and X-entricity Youth Theatre. Their show will include songs from Les Miserables, the Lion King, Wicked and many more shows that have been hits on Broadway and in the West End. Said James Wisker: "Of course I was disappointed when I left X-Factor but I saw it as just the start of my career and to have encouragement from someone like Simon Cowell was fantasic. "There is a huge audience for musical theatre and all four members of Back to Broadway love the music and want to bring a fresh, new and exciting element to it. "We are younger than most of the other groups touring the UK with musical theatre shows and we hope that means we can bring more energy to the songs and bring out some excitement without changing the music, which gets more popular every year. "The show includes lighting and effects to add a modern element and some drama for the audience." Back to Broadway have bookings taking them through to May next year. The group have been rehearsing every week but could not start touring until Charlotte finished her degree at Bristol University. The group have agreed to raise money for the registered charity Children with Leukaemia at all their shows and have produced a demo CD and intend to launch a first commercial CD later this year. Box office 01600 719401.
