Jonathan Harvey and The Pet Shop Boys’ (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe) new cabaret show MUSIK will follow its world premiere run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a London transfer. The show which reunites the writers with stage and screen star Frances Barber who returns to the role she previously played in the trio’s […]
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Fiddler on the Roof – Playhouse Theatre
Fiddler on the Roof continues at the Playhouse Theatre, London until 2 November 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ When news comes that a classic musical – perhaps one that it is nearly 60 years old like Fiddler on the Roof – is going to be revived, the announcement is rarely […]
The View UpStairs – Soho Theatre
The View UpStairs continues at the Soho Theatre, London – until 24 August 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ In this, the 50th anniversary year of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, that act of uprising has come to symbolise the entirety of the struggle for LGBT civil rights. But there are other, […]
Blues in the Night – Kiln Theatre
Blues in the Night continues at the Kiln Theatre, London – until 7 September 2019. Star rating: five stars ★★★★★ There is much about Blues in the Night to remind one of Ain’t Misbehavin’, the Fats Waller musical revue that recently ran at the Southwark Playhouse. Both revolve around songs of Depression-era America, a time when the blues music […]
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 Preview: 10 musicals that have grabbed our attention
With only a matter of days before the Edinburgh Festival Fringe begins, we’re keen to share the Top 10 shows that have piqued our curiosity, writes Edinburgh Editor Fiona Orr. There will be, once again, a winner selected from the huge range of musical theatre pieces staged at the Fringe for Musical Theatre Review’s Best […]
Two’s a Crowd – 59E59 Theaters, New York
Two’s a Crowd continues at 59E59 Theaters, New York until 25 August 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ A celebrated standup comic, Rita Rudner demonstrates her comedy chops early on in Two’s a Crowd, the Off-Broadway musical in which she portrays a 60-plus year-old woman who discovers her husband’s been cheating […]
Not such a hard-knock life: Remembering Martin Charnin
The American writer, lyricist and theatre director MARTIN CHARNIN has died, aged 84. His name may not be one that has the same kudos as, say, Alan Jay Lerner, Oscar Hammerstein II, or indeed Stephen Sondheim, but he was at least as successful as his theatrical peers. He may not have enjoyed the celebrity of […]
Oklahoma! – Chichester Festival Theatre
Oklahoma! continues at the Festival Theatre, Chichester until 7 September 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Chichester’s reputation in its choice of musicals has been extremely high with the audience being treated to brand new shows or forgotten treasures unearthed. Therefore many people may have been disappointed when it was announced that the […]
The Bridges of Madison County – Menier Chocolate Factory
The Bridges of Madison County continues at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London until 14 September 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Jason Robert Brown’s musical adaptation of the best-selling novel by US writer, musician and photographer Robert James Waller (1939-2017) finally gets its long-overdue UK premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory. […]
INTERVIEW: ‘We could all do with a healthy dose of love’ – Edward Baker-Duly stars in The Bridges of Madison County at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Stage and screen actor EDWARD BAKER-DULY will star opposite Jenna Russell in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s eagerly-anticipated UK premiere of the musical version of Robert James Waller’s much-loved novel The Bridges of Madison County, officially opening on 23 July 2019 and running until 14 September. With music and lyrics by triple Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert […]
I Spy a Spy – Theatre at St. Clement’s, New York
I Spy a Spy continues at the Theatre at St. Clement’s, New York, until 21 September. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Undocumented immigrants… Russian spies and computer hackers… instant celebrity… gourmet delis. They’re all packed into I Spy a Spy, a new Off-Broadway musical offering a cartoon-like but big-hearted look at […]
Broken Wings has its international premiere at the prestigious Beiteddine Arts Festival
It’s only a few days now until the international premiere of new musical Broken Wings. The musical created by the West End star Nadim Naaman and Qatar-based composer Dana Al Fardan and based on Lebanese-born writer Kahlil Gibran’s autobiographical poetic novel, the musical will travel to Lebanon, to play the prestigious Beiteddine Arts Festival on […]
World premiere for new British musical Midlife Cowboy
Comedian and best-selling author Tony Hawks will debut his new full-length musical, Midlife Cowboy at London’s Pleasance Theatre in September. Writer/director Hawks will also take to the stage as mid-life crisis suffering Stuart, alongside former Coronation Street favourite and gifted impressionist Debra Stephenson (Son of a Preacher Man, UK tour) as his country music-loving wife, […]
Disney to host second summer pop-up in London
Disney fans will get the chance to get closer than ever before to their favourite shows when the film studios’ theatrical arm opens its second Summer Pop-Up in the heart of London’s Covent Garden later this month. Located at 21 Long Acre, this year’s Disney in the West End Summer Pop-Up will feature the eagerly-anticipated […]
More casting details for Back to the Future musical
Further casting has been unveiled for the eagerly-anticipated stage musical version of the classic Back to the Future which will debut in Manchester early next year ahead of a West End run. The brainchild of producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) and the creators of the much-loved time-travelling film series, Robert Zemeckis and Bob […]
Layton Williams and Shane Richie reprise their roles for Jamie tour
Layton Williams and Shane Richie will return to the roles they played in the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie when the critically-acclaimed and crowd-pleasing new British musical takes to the road for its first major tour in 2020. Still winning hearts in the central role of Jamie New at London’s Apollo Theatre, […]
Final casting for star-studded concert version of Les Misérables
Rehearsals have begun for the eagerly-anticipated, star-studded concert version of Les Misérables which is due to play the intimate Gielgud Theatre for 16 weeks from early next month. As previously announced by Cameron Mackintosh, Les Misérables – The Staged Concert will feature returning stars including Michael Ball as Javert opposite Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, […]
Luke Brady, Liam Tamne, Christine Allado and Alexia Khadime join the West End cast of The Prince of Egypt
Luke Brady, Liam Tamne, Christine Allado and Alexia Khadime will head the cast of the new stage musical version of The Prince of Egypt which is due to receive its London premiere early next year. RADA-trained Brady (Sweeney Todd, Chichester Festival Theatre, West End, St George and the Dragon, Shakespeare’s Globe, National Theatre) will play […]
Closer To Heaven – Above The Stag Theatre
Closer To Heaven continues at the Above The Stag Theatre, London until 31 August 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Continuing this bijou but beautifully presented venue’s on-going retrospective of writer JonathanHarvey’s work, following productions such as Beautiful Thing and BoomBang-A-Bang, Closer To Heaven is a musical with impeccable creative credentials. […]
Brenda Edwards will star in new look Sister Act touring production
Former X Factor finalist turned musical theatre favourite Brenda Edwards will take centre stage in a tailor-made new production of smash hit musical Sister Act next year. With the central role of Deloris Van Carter specially re-written for Edwards (We Will Rock You, Dominion Theatre and UK tour, Chicago, West End and 10th Anniversary Gala), the […]
Cast for UK debut of Angela’s Ashes at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls
Dublin-born musical theatre star Jacinta Whyte will return to the title role in the critically-acclaimed Irish production of Angela’s Ashes when it receives its UK premiere at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls in September. Whyte will reprise her performance as Angela, alongside Eoin Cannon and Marty Maguire who will return to their roles as Frank and Malachy […]
Ramin Karimloo and Celinde Schoenmaker star in UK concert premiere of Doctor Zhivago
Ramin Karimloo and Celinde Schoenmaker will take the central roles in the UK concert premiere of Doctor Zhivago on London this September. Presented by Lambert Jackson Productions, the performance at Cadogan Hall on 1 September 2019 will feature Karimloo (The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, Miss Saigon) in the title role with Schoenmaker […]
INTERVIEW: ‘It’s such a privilege to be a part of such a historic event every night’ – Meet Mamma Mia’s Lucy May Barker
Since premiering in London in 1999, ABBA-inspired Mamma Mia!, the epitome of a feel-good musical, has captured the hearts of millions around the globe. The London production has been seen by more than nine million people, played over 8,000 performances and, now in its 21st year, the musical’s success shows no sign of waning. After […]
The Color Purple – Leicester Curve
The Color Purple continues at Leicester Curve until 13 July 2019, then 16-20 July at Birmingham Hippodrome. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The Color Purple is a good shade on any audience, and this Leicester Curve gathering is no different. Alice Walker’s landmark tale of abuse, incest, race and sexuality is as relevant […]
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – London Palladium
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat continues at the London Palladium until 8 September 2019. Star rating: two stars ★ ★ ✩ ✩ ✩ It’s large scale, spectacular, energetic and impressive. In other ways, however, this eagerly anticipated revival of the first real success the youthful Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber (both in the audience […]
Casting revealed for Mamma Mia! The Party
Casting has been unveiled for the eagerly anticipated immersive theatrical and dining experience Mamma Mia! The Party which is due to take up residence in a specially-adapted venue within London’s O2 this summer. Charged with bringing ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and producer Ingrid Sutej’s inventive project to life in London, the cast will include: Fed Zanni […]
Paul Taylor-Mills to launch new Turbine Theatre at Battersea Arts Centre
Award-winning director and producer Paul Taylor-Mills will step back into the role of artistic director next month when he will take charge of a new theatre on the banks of the River Thames. Joining forces with another leading producer, Bill Kenwright, Taylor-Mills will open the inaugural season of the Turbine Theatre next month with a […]
London season at The Other Palace for Amelie The Musical
The Watermill Theatre’s sold-out production of the critically-acclaimed musical version of hit French film Amélie will follow its current UK tour with a Christmas season in London. Starring French-Canadian stage and screen star Audrey Brisson (The Grinning Man, Bristol Old Vic) in the title role, the hit production will play a limited season at The […]
Jesus Christ Superstar – Barbican Theatre
Jesus Christ Superstar continues at the Barbican Theatre, London until 24 August 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ It may be reaching for the easy cliché, but “resurrection” is the word that comes to mind for the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Arguably the best of Tim […]
Barbra Streisand – British Summer Time Hyde Park
Barbra Streisand performed at British Summer Time Hyde Park, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The legend lives on. Exactly six years after her last concert at the O2, Barbra Streisand was back in London for her first open-air concert here as part of the British Summer Time event in Hyde […]
We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time – The Public Theater, New York
We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time continues at The Public Theater, New York until 14 July 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ David Cale brings an enthralling intimate dimension to musical theatre with his one-person show We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time. The British-born monologist […]
Pretty Woman posts Broadway closing
Pretty Woman: The Musical joins the post-Tony Awards Broadway exodus, announcing it will close on 18 August 2019. Adapted from the 1990 movie, Pretty Woman failed to impress the Tony nominators, who totally ignored the work, despite the story’s Julia Roberts-driven success on the silver screen. The show was one of the first new musicals […]
Royal Academy of Music – City of Angels
City of Angels, performed by the Royal Academy of Music’s Musical Theatre Company, continues at the Susie Sainsbury Theatre, London until 8 July 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ At three hours long and far from straight-forward, it needed a highly polished production to keep the audience interested and involved and […]
Yummy – Underbelly Festival
Yummy continues at the Underbelly Festival, London until 28 July 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Deliciously daring, raucously raunchy and highly entertaining, Yummy at the Underbelly Festival totally disproves the theory that drag/burlesque shows have to adopt a certain formula. This seven-strong troupe throws that rule book right out of […]
Cast for I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical Edinburgh run
Four West End favourites will help composer Alexander S. Bermange to take his hit musical revue I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. Les Miserables’ James Hume (Mary Poppins, international tour) will appear alongside Felix Mosse (Aspects of Love, Hope Mill Theatre/Southwark Playhouse), Charlotte O’Rourke (Mamma Mia! […]
UK premiere cast for Cruel Intentions announced
Casting has been unveiled for the UK premiere of immersive jukebox-style show Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Two of the stars of the West End’s premiere production of Heathers: The Musical, Dominic Andersen and Sophie Isaacs will star alongside Rebecca Gilhooley (UK premiere of The Last Ship), Evelyn Hoskins […]
Queen’s Theatre to be renamed the Sondheim Theatre
Stephen Sondheim will become the only living artist to have a theatre named in their honour in both the West End and on Broadway when the Cameron Mackintosh’s Queen’s Theatre re-opens after four months of refurbishing work later this year. Announcing the re-naming of the iconic Shaftesbury Avenue as the Sondheim Theatre, Mackintosh said: “I […]
Fiver – Southwark Playhouse
Fiver continues at The Little at Southwark Playhouse, London until 20 July 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ If a five-pound note could tell you the story of its life, what would it say? Whose hands has it been in? Whose g-string has it been tucked into? Whose nose has it […]
Guildhall School of Music and Drama – Merrily We Roll Along
Merrily We Roll Along, performed by students from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, continues at the Silk Street Theatre, London until 10 July 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Merrily We Roll Along is such a fabulous musical with its fascinating back -to-front story and some of Stephen Sondheim’s […]
Vulvarine – King’s Head Theatre
Vulvarine at the King’s Head Theatre, London. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ The King’s Head Theatre has been hosting a new kind of superhero – and she comes with her very own vagina. Vulvarine is the farcical tale of a woman with the audacity to gain superpowers and use them for […]
Godspell – Cadogan Hall
Godspell was performed at Cadogan Hall, London. Watching the British Theatre Academy’s semi-staged rendition of Godspell in the lavish Cadogan Hall I was conflicted. By no means wanting to discourage the future generation of theatre performers and musical theatre stars, I agree with Whitney that children are indeed the future. But a “professional” show with […]
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾: The Musical – Ambassadors Theatre
Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾: The Musical continues at the Ambassadors Theatre, London until 12 October 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ To paraphrase another 1980s hit, it’s ’orrible being in love when you’re 13 and three quarters. But Sue Townsend’s comic novel The Secret Diary […]
INTERVIEW: ‘Gillian Lynne was one of those very special beings’: Michael Howe joins the star-studded line-up in To Gillie With Love
Today [Tuesday 2 July 2019], stars who worked with the late great Gillian Lynne will come together for one night only to celebrate her incredible career in the special tribute show To Gillie With Love. The event will take place, fittingly, at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most innovative […]
Porgy and Bess – Grange Park Opera
Porgy and Bess continues at Grange Park Opera with performances on 3 and 7 July 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ In a leafy corner of Surrey, the Gods of Theatre look down and bless this sublime production of Porgy and Bess. Grange Park Opera has drawn together a cast from […]
The Secret Life of Bees – Linda Gross Theater, New York
The Secret Life of Bees continues at the Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theatre, New York until 7 July 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Based on the celebrated 2001 novel by Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees, the Off-Broadway musical being given its world premiere at Atlantic Theater […]
Black Is The Color of My Voice – The Vaults
Black Is The Color of My Voice continues at The Vaults, London until 13 July 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Actress-writer Apphia Campbell has created a remarkable picture of the early part of the legendary Nina Simone’s troubled life without one mention of Simone’s name in this breathtaking 70-minute one-woman […]
Cast revealed for new musical Friendsical
Casting has been unveiled for the world premiere of new spoof musical Friendsical which will embark on a tour next month which will include over four weeks at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Created by writer and director Miranda Larson, and based on her long-time affection for hit Warner Bros Entertainment television series Friends, Friendsical will […]
Full cast for Big The Musical at the Dominion
Full casting has been announced for the eagerly anticipated nine-week limited season of Big The Musical at the Dominion Theatre this autumn. Joining the previously announced star line-up of Jay McGuiness, Matthew Kelly, Wendi Peters and Kimberley Walsh as Josh Baskin, Mrs Baskin, Susan Lawrence and George MacMillan respectively are Lori Haley Fox as Mrs […]
UK premiere for Dave Malloy’s musical Preludes at the Southwark Playhouse
Triple Tony Award nominee Dave Malloy’s Preludes will receive its UK premiere at the Southwark Playhouse in September. Subtitled ‘A Musical Fantasia Set In The Hypnotised Mind Of Sergei Rachmaninoff’, the musical is based on the true story of the Russian composer and virtuoso musician’s sessions of hypnotherapy in his early twenties. Running from 6 […]
Extended run for hit show Six and four new Queens announced
The current West End run of critically-acclaimed new British musical Six has been extended for the second time with the opening of a new booking period taking the Arts Theatre run up to 5 July 2020. Coinciding with the release of 85,000 more tickets, the producers of the rock-flavoured show in which the wives of […]
