Dirty Dancing tour lead tops September's most-searched stage stars
A touring Johnny Castle beat West End regulars to become the stage name fans searched for most in September.
WhatsOnStage published its monthly ranking of most-viewed and most-searched Stage Names on 30 September 2026. Dirty Dancing tour lead Joel Benjamin kept returning to the top of the list through the month. WhatsOnStage
Benjamin plays Johnny Castle in the touring production of Dirty Dancing. A tour means the same show travels to theatres in different cities, rather than staying in one London house. His repeated place at No 1 put him ahead of a busy field of tour, West End and concert names.
Searches also surged for the two stars sharing one famous comedy role. Natalie Anderson will star as Lina Lamont in the UK tour of Singin' in the Rain. She will share the part with Karen Hauer, with the pair alternating the role on the road.
Another classic heroine found her leading man. Verity Power will play Eliza Doolittle opposite Alan Cumming as Professor Henry Higgins in a new intimate chamber version of My Fair Lady. A chamber version is a small-scale staging, usually with a tight cast and band and the audience close to the action.
There was movement in two long-running musicals. Ellie Gilbert-Grey was announced to play Sophie in Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre in the West End. Matty J finished a run as Annas in Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium, and has been confirmed to return to the show as alternate Judas at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. An alternate is a performer who plays a leading role at scheduled performances.
Concert and screen work drove other searches. Stewart Clarke starred in the Alan Menken Prom celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall. Rumi Sutton, an Ian Charleson Award nominee, appeared in the second season of the crime thriller Ludwig. The Ian Charleson Award is an annual prize for young actors in classical stage roles.
Two new shows added to the mix. Rachel Tucker will star as Louise and Amy Lennox will star as Thelma in a new Thelma and Louise musical. It runs at the Young Vic Theatre in London from 3 September to 24 October 2026. WhatsOnStage In Bristol, Bea Roberts adapted Max Porter’s text for a stage version of Lanny. WhatsOnStage
For fans, this means one list covered a lot of ground. Tours, the West End, the Proms, television and two brand-new adaptations all made the cut. That is some going.
