All or Nothing to close on 12th May at Ambassadors

ALL OR NOTHING - THE MOD MUSICAL, is to close on 12th May which is a few weeks earlier than planned  the Ambassadors Theatre.  

The show, with book by Carol Harrison and music and lyrics by the Small Faces, opened at the Ambassadors Theatre on 28th  March and was booking until 2nd June, following a sell-out season at the Arts Theatre. 

Before its London run, it  had enjoyed two years of success on tour around the UK.

Spamilton : An American Parody announced as Menier Summer Musical

The Menier Chocolate Factory has just announced Spamilton:An American Parody as its summer musical running from 12th July-8th September. 

Spamilton  is a musical parody of the Broadway show Hamilton written by Gerard Alessandrini, (creator of the parody revue Forbidden Broadway).  It  also parodies several other musicals, including Gypsy, Chicago, The King and I, Assassins, Camelot, The Book of Mormon and Sweeney Todd, and personalities including Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Barbra Streisand, Bernadette Peters, Carol Channing and Liza Minnelli. It features numbers including "Look Around (The Schuyler Puppets)", "The Film When It Happens" and "Aaron Burr, Sir, Nervous-er"

The piece originally premiered in New York in 2016 and  went on to be nominated for two Drama Desk Awards and a Drama League Award. Hamilton's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda said that he "laughed his brains out" when he first saw the parody show.

Described by the New York Times as “smart, silly and convulsively funny”, Spamilton makes its UK debut at the Menier Chocolate Factory, where unlike the Victoria Palace, there are tickets available - at a fraction of the price.

Casting news to follow.

Buy tickets for Spamilton : An American Parody

Tim Howar leaves first preview of Chess Musical in the interval

The first preview of Chess the Musical at London Coliseum had some unexpected high drama when Tim Howar (who plays the American Frederick Trumper) had a call from his heavily pregnant wife Jodie Oliver-Howar to tell him she had just gone into labour with their first child.

The decision was taken that Tim should leave for the hospital immediately with his understudy Cellen Chugg Jones going on for the second act with very little rehearsal and being required to sing the number  Pity the Child. Luckily it all ended well with congratulations to Tim and Jodie who welcomed a baby boy who they have named Hamish Rex and to Cellen for doing an amazing job.

Dawn French to star in Snow White panto at Palladium over Christmas

News of a real casting coup has broken this morning with the fabulous Dawn French signed up play the Evil Queen in  Snow White which is this year's panto at the London Palladium running for five weeks only from 8th December to 13th January 2019.

In her panto debut she will be joined by stalwarts  Julian Clary as the Man in the Mirror,  Nigel Havers as the Understudy, Paul Zerdin/Muddles, and Gary Wilmot again playing dame as Mrs Crumble. A top class tango should be guaranteed with the King and Queen being played by ex Strictly professional dance champions Vincent  Simone and Flavia Cacace. Snow White’s Seven lttle helpers will be played by Josh Bennett, Simeon Dyer, Craig Garner, Leigh Gill, Ben Goffe, Jamie John and Blake Lisle.

Tickets for Snow White go on Priority Sale from Wednesday 2nd  May and General Sale from Friday 4 May at 09:30am - make sure you book early for this one!

Cast for Little Shop of Horrors at Open Air Theatre Regents Park

To complete their 2018 season, the Open Air Theatre at Regents Park is presenting Little Shop of Horrors in August, when Maria Aberg makes her Open Air Theatre directorial debut. The musical will be designed by Tom Scutt ( Jesus Christ Superstar), with musical supervision by Tom Deering (Jesus Christ Superstar / On The Town), lighting by Howard Hudson (On The Town), and sound by Nick Lidster for Autograph (Jesus Christ Superstar).

The cast will feature Marc Antolin (Romantics Anonymous) as Seymour and Jemima Rooper (One Man, Two Guvnors) as Audrey.Busted star Matt Willis will play sadistic dentist Orin, alongside Forbes Masson (Big Fish) as Mr Mushnik with US drag queen Vicky Vox as the plant, Audrey II.

The cast will also feature Renée Lamb (Six), Seyi Omooba (Ragtime) and Christina Modestou (In the Heights) as Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette. Completing the cast are: Joe Allen, Josh Baker, Billy Cullum, Julian Hoult, Rosalind James, Bobbie Little, Helen Siveter and Mary Lynn Tiep.

Tickets on sale today for Christmas tour of Love Actually

The iconic 2003 Christmas film Love Actually, tells the story of tells ten separate yet interweaving stories of love around Christmas time with stars including  Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Martine McCutcheon, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson, Kiera Knightley.  At the end of this year it is ging on tour and being screened at a number of  theatres accompanied by a live orchestra performing  BAFTA winning Craig Armstrong’s  score with the film being projected on to a huge screen. 

It will be shown at the following theatres in November and December: 

Monday 26th Nov – Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Sunday 30th Nov – Poole Lighthouse
Saturday 1st Dec – Bath Forum
Sunday 2nd Dec – LONDON Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Monday 3rd Dec – Cardiff St David’s Hall
Tuesday 4th Dec – Sheffield City Hall
Thursday 6th Dec – Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Saturday 8th Dec – Edinburgh Usher Hall
Sunday 9th Dec – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Monday 10th Dec – Hull
Tuesday 11th Dec – Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Wednesday 12th Dec – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Thursday 13th Dec – York Barbican

Buy tickets for Love Actually

Martin Kemp and Milton Jones starring in arena tour of Peter Pan this December.

Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp is to return to the role of Captain Hook in an arena tour of Peter Pan. He played the part  in last year's tour of the same show with Bradley Walsh  in London and Birmingham. This year he is  joined by Milton Jones, best known for his standup and appearances on shows including Mock the Week, who will play Mr Smee with Matt Knight (BBC's Let It Shine) as  Peter Pan.

The cast will be joined by over 100 circus and young ensemble members, performing on a stage featuring a 10,000-gallon water wall and a seven-meter long crocodile. The piece will also have the highest Peter Pan flight on record.

The production runs at Belfast's SSE Arena from 15 to 16 December, before transferring to Leeds First Direct Arena between 21 and 23 December and Manchester Arena between 28 and 29 December.

Kemp said: "I can't wait to be Captain Hook again after the amazing success of Wembley and Birmingham last year where this show blew me and audiences away. It was dubbed the world's biggest pantomime, but it is so much more than a panto. It's completely different and the special effects are astonishing."

Tickets for Peter Pan Arena Tour

New tour of Annie the Musical next year

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that their hit production of Annie the Musical which recently ran for an extended season in the West End following a sell out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2015/16 will embark on a new UK tour opening at Manchester Opera House on 9th February 2019.

Directed by Nikolai Foster, the piece follows young orphan Annie as starts life in a 1930s orphanage under the tyrannical control of Miss Hannigan, before spending Christmas at the house of a billionaire. The show has music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and a book by Thomas Meehan, and includes numbers  "It's the Hard Knock Life", "Easy Street", "I Don't Need Anything But You" and "Tomorrow". The piece has set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker.

While running in the West End, the part of Miss Hannigan was played by Craig Revel Horwood, Meera Syal and Miranda Hart. Casting for the UK tour is to be announced.

The tour will open in Manchester before performances in Wolverhampton, Oxford, Bristol, Chester, Hull, Glasgow, Bradford, Southampton, Llandudno, Nottingham, Southend, Woking, Dartford, Liverpool and Milton Keynes. Most of these venues go on sale on 1st May with further dates to be announced.

Summer Strallen, Amy Lennox,sabrina Aloueche and Liam Tamne lead London cast performing West End Sings Whitney Houston

West End Sings  combines the music of one iconic recording artist with a selection of the best talent from London's West End. Each concert will support a charity chosen for their links to the artist being celebrated.

The first concert in the series is 'West End Sings Whitney Houston' on Sunday 20th May, 7.30pm at the London Cabaret Club, Holborn supporting Women's Aid. It will feature performers from top West End shows  including ; Summer Strallen, Sabrina Aloueche, Liam Tamne, Luke Bayer, Amy Lennox, Nathaniel Morrison, Aaron Lee Lambert, Jenny Fitzpatrick, Lara Denning, Damien Winchester, Rachael Archer, Charlotte Riby and  Lucie Shorthouse accompanied  a live band led by Mark Crossland. The evening will be hosted by Norman Pace who can currently be seen as Wilbur Turnblad in the tour of Hairspray

Tickets start from £25  at www.westendsings.com

Kinky Boots London announces cast change and extension to booking period

New casting has been announced for the West End production of Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein's Kinky Boots.

From Monday 4th June Oliver Tompsett (Guys and Dolls, We Will Rock You) will join the cast as Charlie Price, with Natalie McQueen (Wonderland, Wicked) taking over the role of Lauren.  David Hunter and Verity Rushworth will play their final performances as Charlie and Lauren on Saturday 2nd  June.

Ensemble members Sean Needham (Mamma Mia!, Wicked) and Antony Reed (Annie, Mamma Mia!) step up from the ensemble to play Don and George, joining other continuing cast members Simon-Anthony Rhoden (Lola) and Cordelia Farnworth (Nicola).

Also joining Jed Berry, Momar Diagne, Jemal Felix, Jordan Fox, Rossie Glossop, Robert Grose, Keith Higham, Ben Jennings, Robert Jones, Suzie McAdam, Emma Odell, Jon Reynolds and Tom Scanlon are Abbey Addams, Jak Allen-Anderson, Louis Clarke-Clare, Daniel Downing, David Haydn, Graham Kent, Christopher Parkinson, Hannah Price, Anna Stolli and Olivia Winterflood.

The production has also announced an extension and is now booking until Saturday 5 January 2019.

Louise Dearman to perform in BBC Prom On The Town conducted by John Wilson

This year’s BBC Proms will celebrate the centenary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein with performances of  On the Town this summer.

John Wilson will  conduct the performance of On the Town on what would have been the legendary composer’s 100th birthday (25th August). As part of a Bank Holiday weekend of Bernstein celebrations, the performance will feature Louise Dearman as Hildy, with Nathaniel Hackmann as Gabey, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Drew McOnie directed and choreographed a revival of the musical On The Town at Regent's Park last year. The show opened on Broadway in 1944 with music by Leonard Bernstein, book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green based on Jerome Robbins' idea for his 1944 ballet Fancy Free, which he had set to . Bernstein's music. Classic songs include New York, New York; Come Up To My Place and Some Other Time. A 1949 film version starred Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin telling the story of three American sailors who hit New York on 24-hour shore leave determined to see the sights, and meet three women.

Tickets for On the Town  go on general sale on 12th May.

Fra Fee leads West End cast in new musical The Rhythm Method

The Stable has just announced the full cast of THE RHYTHM METHOD,  new contemporary British musical  about the stuff that’s difficult to talk about - sex, relationships and contraception.

The cast includes  Fra Fee (The Ferryman, Candide, Les Miserables – West End and film); Melanie Marshall (Guys and Dolls , Jane Eyre, FELA! ); Emile Ruddock (5 Guys Named Mo, The Scottsboro Boys); Jennifer Caldwell (Mamma Mia, Shrek The Musical) and Annie Wensak (Half A Sixpence.  Seven Brides for Seven Brothers).

THE RHYTHM METHOD headlines Fertility Fest (12-13th May) at The Bush Theatre and then transfers to The Landor for a run of just six performance showcases with audience discussions from 14th - 18th May.

The musical is set in the near future where family planning no longer receives state support, telling the emotional and physical journey of the friends that meet at Lady Pearl Grey’s (Melanie Marshall) cosy little Tea House, where the brew is hot and the eggs are freshly laid – and all served with love and understanding. After all, the Tea House sports a weathered green plaque outside, for it was once the first Marie Stopes’ Mothers’ Clinic founded in 1921.As the welfare state fades and austerity kicks in, the Tea House is a life line for the ever-changing facts (and fictions) of life. Pearl and her dearest friend Mimi (Annie Wensak) have shared a life-time of experience in family-planning, and now they are needed more than ever. When grand-daughter Flick (Jennifer Caldwell) arrives and meets Fra Fee‘s young scientist Sol who is on the brink of medical greatness, can each find their true rhythm and the best method by which to live it?

THE RHYTHM METHOD is produced by The Stable with development support from The Wellcome Trust. It is a chamber musical, by the writing partnership of singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Gwyneth Herbert and playwright Diane Samuels. Their first musical collaboration was The A-Z Of Mrs. P, about the pioneering Phyllis Pearsall mapping an entire city into her 1936 pocket-sized A-Z Street Guide of 23,000 streets + house numbers(!) - Southwark Playhouse (2014). Gwyneth is currently touring Letters I Haven’t Written with her band, and Diane Samuels‘s hauntingly moving play Kindertransport is currently on national tour.

Sierra Boggess pulls out of West Side Story Concert

Updated 24th April: Following  backlash on social media over whitewashing of the role of Maria, who is meant to be Puerto Rican, Boggess took to Facebook to announce that she was withdrawing from the production. She said:  Last week it was announced that I will be singing in a concert of West Side Story at Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms in London. Because it was a concert presentation and not the show proper - I had signed on to lend my voice to honor Leonard Bernstein in his centennial this year, with an orchestra I have loved singing with for years, following in the long list of sopranos who have all sung the score before me.

After much reflection, I've realized that if I were to do this concert, it would once again deny Latinas the opportunity to sing this score, as well as deny the IMPORTANCE of seeing themselves represented onstage. And that would be a huge mistake. Since the announcement of this concert, I have had many conversations about why this is a crucial time, now more than ever, to not perpetuate the miscasting of this show. I apologize for not coming to this realization sooner and as an artist, I must ask myself how I can best serve the world, and in this case my choice is clearer than ever: to step aside and allow an opportunity to correct a wrong that has been done for years with this show in particular. I have therefore withdrawn myself from this concert and I look forward to continuing to be a voice for change in our community and our world!

Broadway and West End star, Sierra Boggess, has been cast as Maria in a concert version of  West Side Story to  be presented as part of the Proms 2018 concert series at London's Royal Albert Hall at 15:30 on Saturday 11th August 2018.

Conducted by John Wilson and featuring the John Wilson Orchestra alongside students from ArtsEd and Mountview, it will be the first time the complete musical has been performed in concert in the UK. Broadway actor Ross Lekites (Frozen, Kinky Boots) is playing Tony with more casting to follow.

Sierra Boggess London theatre credits include Les Misérables; The Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall; and Love Never Dies (Olivier Award nomination). She was last seen on Broadway in the Tony-nominated musical School of Rock. Other Broadway credits include It Shoulda Been You directed by David HydePierce; The Phantom of the Opera (25th Anniversary and opposite Norm Lewis); Master Class (opposite Tyne Daly); and The Little Mermaid (Drama Desk and Drama League nominations, Broadway.com Audience Choice Award). 

 

Tickets for West Side Story  go on general sale on 12th May.

Ben Forster ,Caroline Sheen, Rachel Tucker and Linzi Hateley among performers at With A Little Bit of Lerner Concert

To celebrate  the 100th birthday of Alan Jay Lerner The BBC Concert Orchestra is presenting With a Little Bit of Lerner at the Southbank Centre - Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday 23 May 7.30pm
 

Conducted by Broadway maestro Larry Blank special guests from the world of musical theatre, including  Christine Andreas, Alexia Khadime,Samantha Bond, Liz Robertson, Ben Forster , Caroline Sheen, Alexander Hanson, Rachel Tucker and Linzi Hateley perform  some of the most popular and enduring works of stage and screen, including: ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ and ‘On the Street Where You Live’ from My Fair Lady; ‘I Remember it Well’ and ‘The Night They Invented Champagne’ from Gigi plus classics from Brigadoon; and many more.

Tickets for A Little Bit of Lerner


  

Killian Donnelly to lead new tour of Les Miserables

Breaking news: According to the Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Killian Donnelly is to play Jean Valjean in the new tour of Les Miserables which opens at the Leicester Curve in November.  He is currently playing the role  in the West End production at the Queen's Theatre but due to leave on 9th June. Prior to his run in “Les Misérables”, he played the role of ‘Charlie Price’ in “Kinky Boots” on Broadway, a role he originated at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2015, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. His other theatre credits include: ‘Jackie Day’ in “Donegal”, a new play by Frank McGuinness, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and ‘Huey’ in the original London cast of “Memphis” at the Shaftesbury Theatre for which he was also nominated for an Olivier Award.  He created the role of ‘Deco’ in “The Commitments” at the Palace Theatre and has also played ‘Tony’ in “Billy Elliot” at the Victoria Palace Theatre as well as’ Raoul’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty's Theatre. He first joined the company of “Les Misérables” in 2008, going onto play the role of ‘Enjolras’ from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, he played the role of ‘Courfeyrac’ in the “25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables” at The O2 Arena and also played the role of ‘Combeferre’ in the multi-award-winning film of the show, released in 2012.

Cameron Mackintosh said, “When I announced the first UK tour of Les Miserables for ten years, I was really delighted that Killian said to me that he would like to continue playing Jean Valjean.  No stranger to the original production, having played both Enjolras and Valjean with enormous success, his passionate take on the role will be even greater in the thrilling staging of my new production which has proved to be a worldwide success all over again. He is the first Irishman to play the role since Colm Wilkinson in the original and I’m delighted that from advance bookings, this new tour looks set to be sold out before we open”.

Further dates have also been added to the tour in 2019: Birmingham Hippodrome (2 April-11 May), Milton Keynes (14 May-8 June) and Newcastle Theatre Royal (15 August-2 October). All go on sale on 21st June.

Sondheim's Follies to return to National next February

As promised, the National Theatre's revival  of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's musical Follies is to return to the Olivier theatre in February 2019. The show which won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival this year starts previews from 14th February, with tickets on sale until March 26th and further dates to be announced. 

Set in 1971 New York, during a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre which is due to be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves.Stephen Sondheim’s legendary musical includes such classics including  Broadway Baby, I’m Still Here and Losing My Mind. 

The revival of the musical, directed by Dominic Cooke (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)) , opened in September 2017 with a stellar cast including Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Tracie Bennett, Peter Forbes and Philip Quast. It has been announced that Dee and Forbes will be returning with the show in 2019, but further casting is yet to be announced.

Public booking opens on Friday 18 May at  8.30am 

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Marti Webb and cast joining Tommy Steele in The Glenn Miller show at London Coliseum

Updated 6th July: Marti Webb is joining the legendary performer Tommy Steele with  Autumn Draper, Charlie Tighe, Devon McKenzie-Smith, Howard Samuels, Holly Rostron, Jessica Ellen, Jordan Oliver, Linal Haft, Myles Brown, Oliver Ramsdale, Siobhan Diffin, Tim Maxwell-Clarke and Tom Sowinski who form the ensemble, performing alongside the 16 piece big band.

Britain’s first Rock and Roll Star and legendary entertainer Tommy Steele is due to perform at the London Coliseum with The Glenn Miller Show for a limited run from  6th July-18th August 2018

Tommy Steele's first UK number-one was Singing the Blues in January 1957, reaching the top spot before Elvis. The same year he filmed The Tommy Steele Story, one of Britain’s great rock ‘n’ roll movies.

His career has included over twenty hit singles, twelve hit musical movies – including Finian’s Rainbow, The Happiest Millionaire,  Half A Sixpence,  Hans Andersen and Singin’ in the Rain. Tommy starred in the musical Scrooge, which enjoyed two successful runs at the London Palladium and made him the theatre’s all-time record-breaking performer, having headlined more performances than any other star in its history.

He made his stage debut in 1958 starring in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, which enjoyed a sold-out run at the London Coliseum, but the inspiration for Tommy’s extraordinary career was an American band leader whose music Tommy had loved  from the moment he first heard it in his early teens…and now, 60 years on, TOMMY STEELE returns to THE LONDON COLISEUM to salute his idol GLENN MILLER in a new musical celebration. He has already headlined two very successful tours of this musical.

It’s been over seventy years since Glenn Miller disappeared over the English Channel on a flight to Paris to entertain the troops during the World War 2. Did he crash or was he shot down? The mystery remains unsolved.Glenn Miller was the best selling recording artist in the world from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known big bands. In those four years, he scored 23 number-one hits – more than Elvis Presley and The Beatles.The Glenn Miller Show features the journey the legendary big band leader took to find his unique sound, and his subsequent fame and untimely death. With the authentic sounds of In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade, Little Brown Jug, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Tuxedo Junction, Chattanooga Choo Choo . It is produced by Bill Kenwright with choreography by Olivier Award Winner Bill Deamer and direction by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright.

Tommy said:  I am and always will be one of Glenn Miller’s biggest fans. That sound, that wonderful sound, and his search for it, is one of the most inspiring stories I know. So, I’m returning to the Coliseum to say two thank yous!

Tickets for Tommy Steele in The Glenn Miller Story

Rufus Hound joins Katherine Kingsley in Dusty the Musical as more cast announced

On Dusty Springfield's birthday (she was born on this day in 1939) more casting has been announced for the tour of the new musical Dusty, which will have its world premiere at Theatre Royal Bath in June before moving on to The Lyceum in Sheffield, Newcastle Theatre Royal, and The Lowry in Salford.

Joining the previously announced lead Katherine Kingsley (Singin' in the Rain) will be Rufus Hound (The Wind in the Willows) as Dusty's manager Billings and Roberta Taylor (EastEnders) as Dusty's mother Kay.

The full cast will include Ishmail Aaron, Jenny Bolt, Alex Bowen, Esther Coles, Joelle Dyson, Joanna Francis, Paul Grunert, Ella Kenion, Adam Lyons, Lisa Mathieson, Katharine Pearson, Micha Richardson, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Hampus Lee Strand and Chad Wilder, with further casting still to be announced.

Written by Olivier-nominated writer Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing), the show has direction by Maria Friedman (Stepping Out) with design by Tom Pye and choreography by Tim Jackson.

Clare Burt to lead cast for RSC's new summer musical Miss Littlewood

Clare Burt will take on the role of Joan Littlewood in the new musical Miss Littlewood, which runs at the Swan Theatre,  Stratford-upon-Avon  from  22nd June- 4th August.  Tickets go on sale soon.

Burt, who most recently appeared in Big Fish and will star in the revival Flowers for Mrs Harris this autumn, will play Littlewood, will be joined by  Aretha Ayeh (Love Me Tender), Sandy Foster (The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich), Amanda Hadingue (A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer), Dawn Hope (Follies), Emily Johnstone (The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich) and Sophia Nomvete (The Wind in the Willows) also taking on the role of the director at various stages of her life.

Further casting includes Daisy Badger (The Archers, The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich) as Rosalie, Greg Barnett (The School for Scandal) as Jimmie Miller/Cedric Price, Laura Elsworthy (The Hypocrite) as Shelagh Delaney), Solomon Israel (The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich) as Gerry Raffles, Natasha Lewis (Priscilla Queen of the Desert ) and Tam Williams (Sunny Afternoon) as Murray Melvin.

The musical follows Littlewood's life, born into poverty before emerging as one of the greatest directors of the twentieth century, responsible for shows including Oh, What A Lovely War!, A Taste of Honey and The Hostage and revitalising Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Directed by the RSC's deputy artistic director Erica Whyman, the piece has book, music and lyrics by Sam Kenyon with design by Tom Piper, lighting by Charles Balfour, sound by Jonathan Ruddick, movement by Lucy Hind, and video by Nina Dunn.

Noel Sullivan starring in IT’S ONLY LIFE at Union Theatre

Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment has just  announced the UK Premiere of It’s Only Life, opening at the Union Theatre for 4 weeks from Wednesday 13th June -Saturday 7th July 2018.

The cast includes: Noel Sullivan (Rock of Ages, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Jennifer Harding (Funny Girl, Legally Blonde) and Jordan Shaw (Follies, tick, tick… BOOM!). They are joined by recent graduates Will Carey and Sammy Graham.

It’s Only Life is a musical revue featuring the songs of John Bucchino. His songs have been recorded and performed by Judy Collins, Patti LuPone, Yo-Yo Ma, Audra MacDonald, Liza Minnelli, Art Garfunkel and many others. Conceived by director Daisy Prince and the award-winning songwriter, It’s Only Life is about longing, fulfillment, loss, triumph and ultimately wisdom.According to the New York Times, Bucchino’s ‘flowing, finely made piano ballads describe an urban life in which relationships come and go in cycles of yearning, fulfillment, heartbreak and healing’ – where romantic love is anticipated with ‘high expectations, high anxiety and open hearts.’ The show won LA’s 2008 Ovation Award for Best Book/Lyrics/Music for an Original Musical.

Katy said “I have been in love with this beautiful piece for many years. There has never been a more appropriate time to now bring it to the UK. I am thrilled to bring together such a talented team of cast and creatives to the Union Theatre this summer”.

Creative team: Director: Tania Azevedo (The ToyBoy Diaries, Paper Hearts). Musical Director: Nick Barstow (Wonderland, The Burnt Part Boys). Choreographer: William Whelton (Pippin, Hair).Designers: Justin Williams and Jonny Rust.Lighting Designer: Clancy Flynn.  

Tickets for It's Only Life

First performance of Titanic the musical has to be stopped

The first performance of the tour of  Titanic the musical which opened at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre last night  had to be cancelled just minutes into act two when part of the ceiling above the stage appeared to fall in, narrowly missing cast members who were performing below.
 

After around a 40 minute  stop, the audience were told  that the show would not continue due to safety reasons but the show is expected to go ahead as usual from tomorrow.Audience members cheered as it was announced their tickets would be refunded or exchanged for another performance.

An official statement from the Mayflower Theatre said:At last night’s performance of Titanic the Musical, a small piece of plaster from the wall backstage fell onto the stage. With the safety of the cast in mind we made the decision to cancel the second act of the show. We are in the process of contacting all ticket holders to offer them seats to another performance.We want to clarify the fact that this is not a structural issue, but there are some remedial works that are taking place this morning and we fully expect this evening’s performance to go ahead as planned. We would like to thank all of the customers last night who showed great understanding and support for the cast and crew of Titanic the Musical.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie will be broadcast live in cinemas this summer.

The West End production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie will be broadcast live in UK cinemas this summer with Nimax Theatres and More2Screen collaborating to screen the show  in venues across the  on 5th July, with a worldwide roll-out of the recorded show to be distributed in autumn. 

The hit musical originally opened at Sheffield Crucible before transferring into the West End last autumn.

Written by Tom MacRae with music by Dan Gillespie Sells and direction by Jonathan Butterell, the musical is based on the real-life documentary entitled Jamie: Drag Queen at 16.

Buy tickets for screening of Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Impressive cast announced for workshop of new musical Emma

Full casting has been  announced today for the London workshop of EMMA, A New Musical.

The cast will be headed by Carly Bawden (Romantics Anonymous), Rupert Young (Merlin), and Ashleigh Gray (Wicked).

They will be joined by Alex Young (Follies), Jack North (Harry Potter And The Cursed Child), Norman Bowman (42nd Street), Tiffany Graves (Kiss Me, Kate), Rob Houchen (Les Miserables), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Barnum) and Samuel Thomas (The Comedy About A Bank Robbery).

Based on the novel by Jane Austen and  directed by award winning Thom Southerland, the new musical tells the story of clever and rich Emma Woodhouse who  amuses herself by matchmaking for her friends - until she meets her own match. With a new book and  score, this modern adaptation of Jane Austen's novel explores the necessary risk of feeling your feelings.

Full casting announced for Heathers the Musical starring Carrie Hope Fletcher

Updated 18th May: Full  casting just been announced for Heathers the Musical:  Joining Carrie Hope Fletcher as Veronica Sawyer will be Jodie Steele (UK Tour of Wicked) as Heather Chandler, T’Shan Williams (This Life, Southwark Playhouse) as Heather Duke and Sophie Isaacs (Kinky Boots West End) as Heather McNamara with  Jamie Muscato (Big Fish, Dogfight, Lazarus, Bend it Like Beckham) as Jason Dean (JD) her dark and mysterious beau with  Rebecca Lock as guidance counsellor Ms Flemming with Dominic Anderson (Cats) as Ram Sweeney, Edward Baruwa (Five Guys Named Moe) as Ram's Dad, and Jon Boydon (Jersey Boys) as Kurt's Dad with  Jenny O'Leary as Martha Dunnstock and  Chris Chung as Kurt Kelly,

Making up the ensemble is Alex James-Hatton, Charlotte Jaconelli, Lauren Drew, Sergio Pasquariello and Olivia Moore.

News has broken his morning Carrie Hope Fletcher will star as Veronica Sawyer in the homicidal high school musical, Heathers, which is set to  run at The Other Palace from 9th June-4th August. Fletcher has appeared on the West End in Les Miserables, Mary Poppins and the UK tours of Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang and The Addams Family.

The Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy musical adaptation Heathers received five workshop performances in London at The Other Palace in summer 2017.

The 1989 cult feature film Heathers helped launch the careers of actors Winona Ryder (Veronica), Christian Slater (JD) and Shannen Doherty (Heather Duke). It  became a cult favourite with pop culture phrases including  "What's your damage?", "It'll be very," and "Greetings and Salutations" . In 2006, Heathers was included in the top five of Entertainment Weekly's list of the "Greatest High School Movies of All Time".

Set in September, 1989 Westerberg High is terrorized by Veronica, and her three friends each named Heather., the hottest and cruellest girls in all of Ohio.  They’re the most popular girls in school, but Veronica decides she’s had enough of the Heathers and wants to return to her old, geeky friends.But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark sexy stranger JD, who plans to put the Heathers in their place - six feet under.

Heathers the musical has book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, is produced by Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor-Mills, (the team behind the acclaimed stage adaptation of Carrie). With direction from Andy Fickman and choreography by Gary Lloyd.

 

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Debbie Kurup & Gemma Sutton join Sharon D Clarke & Clive Rowe in Blues in the Night revival

Updated 5th April; Full casting has been announced  Blues in the Night. Joining the already announced Sharon D Clarke as The Lady and Clive Rowe as The Man will be Debbie Kurup (The Woman) and Gemma Sutton (The Girl).


The Kilburn venue will reopen in September and next year Sharon D Clarke (Caroline, Or Change) and Clive Rowe (Guys and Dolls) will star in a new revival of Sheldon Epps' Blues in the Night, directed by Susie McKenna which opens  on 24th July, with previews from 18th July, and runs until 7th September. 

Susie McKenna directs the show, which was conceived and originally directed by Sheldon Epps. Blues in the Night is set in Chicago in 1939 and is a complication of 26 blues numbers which frame the lives and loves of a man and three women who have a love of music and features songs from the likes of Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen and more. The musical was nominated for both Tony and Olivier Awards when it first opened in 1980, and will be revived for the first time in 30 years.

Cast from 2016 20th Anniversary production of Rent performing at special event

Cast from the 2016 20th Anniversary production of Rent are to perform pieces from the show in a secret location in an abandoned lot in London on 17th  June at 2.30pm and 7pm, and on 24 June at 2.30pm and 7pm. The exact address is still to be revealed with protest posters and fancy dress actively encouraged.

The cast appearing includes Shanay Holmes (The Bodyguard) as Joanne, Layton Williams (Hairspray) as Angel, Lucie Jones (Eurovision, Legally Blonde) as Maureen, Billy Cullum (Matilda) as Mark and Philippa Stefani (In The Heights) as Mimi. They will perform some of the show's most iconic songs including  "Seasons of Love", "La Vie Boheme" and "Take Me or Leave Me" before the movie begins.Further cast appearances are to be confirmed.

Holmes said: "We wanted to put something together for the fans to say thank you for their continued love and support for our production of this incredible show! This will be the ultimate Rent head experience."

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Full cast announced for UK tour of Summer Holiday Musical starring Ray Quinn

As they start rehearsals, the full cast has just been announced for the UK tour of Summer Holiday the Musical which opens at the Liverpool Empire on 8th May.

As previously revealed, current Dancing on Ice Champion of Champions Ray Quinn who was a runner up in The X Factor in 2006 and has since starred as Danny Zuko in Grease as well as appearing in Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde and The Wedding Singer is to star as Don (the role played in the film by Cliff Richard) with Bobby Crush playing the role of Jerry the the long-suffering agent for the first eight weeks of the UK tour. They will be joined by Sophie Matthew as runaway singer, Barbara, with Taryn Sudding taking on the role of Stella, her controlling fame-hungry mother. Sophie is best known for playing the role of Sarah in Our House (UK Tour), and also played the role of Ginny in Humans (Channel 4). Taryn Sudding played Angie in the 1997 production of Summer Holiday. She is most well-known for playing Bombalurina in Cats across the world over a fourteen-year period, including in the original South African production. Other notable roles include Grace Farrell in Annie (South African Production), and Elsa in The Sound of Music (SA and international tour).

Billy Roberts (Steve), Joe Goldie (Edwin) and Rory Maguire (Cyril) play Don's fellow London Transport mechanics. Billy Roberts is best known for playing Emmo in Our House (UK Tour); Joe Goldie's credits include playing Scooby-Doo in Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries (London Palladium; UK Arena Tour) and Rory Maguire played Peter Pan/Ensemble in Shrek The Musical (UK and Ireland Tour), and 2nd cover Pepper in Mamma Mia! (UK Tour).

Gabby Antrobus (Mimsie), Alice Baker (Alma) and Laura Marie Benson (Angie) play girl singing group 'Do-Re-Mi!'. Gabby was in the ensemble for Monty Python Live (Mostly): One Down Five To Go, choreographed by Arlene Phillips at the O2 arena, and broadcast around the world. Other credits include Dirty Dancing (UK Tour) and most recently Olga Mara/ensemble in Singin' In The Rain Revival (Theatre Musical de Paris-Chatelet). Alice Baker is best known for playing Gloria and Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour). Alice also played Baby in Secret Cinema's production of Dirty Dancing. Laura Marie Benson is best known for playing Alice and Miss Flannery in Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour).

The cast is completed by Hannah Barr (Female Ensemble), Becky Bassett (Female Character), Caroline Bateson (Resident Choreographer); William Beckerleg (Male Character); Adam Crossley (Male Ensemble, Dance Captain); Sam Gallacher (Male Ensemble); Leanne Groutage (Female Ensemble) and Matt Trevorrow (Male Ensemble).

MUSICAL THEATRE OLIVIER AWARD WINNERS

The 2018 Olivier Award winners were announced yesterday in a  glittering ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall.

Predictably Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton led the night with seven Olivier Award wins, with Giles Terera picking up Best Actor in a Musical and Michael Jibson winning Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as King George. Other awards were for Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, Best New Musical, Best Choreography and Outstanding Achievement in Music.

David Lan was this year’s recipient of the Special Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution in leading the Young Vic since 2000, his work within the local community around the theatre, and his commitment to internationalism and diversity.

Performances on the night included American musical theatre legend Chita Rivera performing West Side Story's track Somewhere with Andy Karl (2017 winner for Groundhog Day), Adam J. Bernard (2017 winner for Dreamgirls), and the Arts Educational Schools London Choir, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the production debuting in London. Plus  performances from nominated musicals:  Hamilton; Everybody’s Talking About Jamie; Girl From The North Country, Young Frankenstein, Follies and 42nd Street.

The ceremony paid  homage to the 50th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with past stars including Jason Donovan and Linzi Hateley, Lee Mead and Preeya Kalidas, and Joe McElderry and Danielle Hope.

Presenters this year included Alexandra Burke, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Anne-Marie Duff,  Beverley Knight, Chita Rivera, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Frank DiLella, Juliet Stevenson, Meera Syal, Mel Giedroyc, Michael Sheen, Ophelia Lovibond, Patti LuPone, Pearl Mackie and Sergei Polunin.

All the musical theatre winners are listed below:

BEST ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY
Dick Whittington at London Palladium

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre, Olivier

BEST SOUND DESIGN
Nevin Steinberg for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

BEST SET DESIGN
Bob Crowley and 59 Productions for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Howell Binkley for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC
Hamilton - composer-lyricist: Lin-Manuel Miranda; orchestrator: Alex Lacamoire at Victoria Palace Theatre

BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER
Andy Blankenbuehler for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL
Follies at National Theatre - Olivier

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Michael Jibson for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Sheila Atim for Girl From The North Country at The Old Vic and the Noël Coward Theatre

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Shirley Henderson for Girl From The North Country at The Old Vic and the Noël Coward Theatre

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Giles Terera for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

BEST NEW MUSICAL
Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre

SPECIAL AWARD
David Lan

Cast announced for West End Live Lounge at The Other Palace

Following  a sell-out concert in February, West End Live Lounge is returning  to The Other Palace on Sunday 13th May at 6:30 pm with ‘Number 1’- an evening celebrating some of the biggest songs to top the charts in the world of music. The evening will be hosted by Paul Taylor-Mills and Vikki Stone and feature a line up of some of the West End’s finest accompanied by the Live Lounge band with musical direction by Sam Coates. 

The cast will include  (subject to availability) : Kelly Agbowu, Sabrina Aloueche, Moya Angela, Paul Ayres,  Adam Bailey, Andrew Bateup, Christina Bennington, Divalution, Kit Esuruoso, Hannah Jane Fox, Stacy Francis, Natalie Green, Rob Houchen, Joel Harper-Jackson, Jodie Jacobs, Ruben Van Keer, Brennyn Lark, Emma Lindars, Rebekah Lowings, Andrew Polec, Brady Isaacs Pearce, Oliver Savile, Danielle Steers, Liam Tamne, Marisha Wallace, John Wilding, Paul Wilkins.
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West End Live Lounge was set up in 2017, with the view to putting on concerts featuring West End talent to raise vital funds for charities. Previous events have raised money for UNICEF, Mind, Barnardos, and Women’s Aid. ‘Number 1’ will be raising money for Centrepoint- a charity set up to help homeless youths in the UK through rehabilitation, education and employment. When speaking of the event its producer, Shaun McCourt said: I am delighted to be bringing West End Live Lounge to The Other Palace again. The continued support for this project really is overwhelming and I am beyond grateful to every single person involved.. Recent adverse weather conditions really forced me to stop and reflect on just how difficult it is for those who have found themselves on the streets. The work Centrepoint do in helping homeless youths in the UK is remarkable. We are in a position in this industry where we have the opportunity to help others which is precisely why this project was started.

Tickets are priced between £15 and £20.