Former pop star Noel Sullivan will step into the central role of Dewey Finn in the West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Olivier Award-winning School of Rock – The Musical in August. Sullivan, who first found fame as a member of Hear’Say (the pop group created by ITV talent show Popstars nearly two decades […]
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Rita Simons to join the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Former EastEnder Rita Simons is the latest star name lined up to join the West End cast of the award-winning musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. The former pop singer who is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders will step into the role of Miss Hedge, following the departure of the current actress in […]
Camp Morning Wood: A Very Naked Musical – Peter Jay Sharp Theater, New York
Camp Morning Wood: A Very Naked Musical continues at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, New York until 7 July 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ You can’t accuse Camp Morning Wood: A Very Naked Musical of false advertising. The 10 male cast members spend most of their time in this Off-Broadway […]
On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan – London Coliseum
On Your Feet continues at the London Coliseum until 31 August 2019 Star rating: two stars ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ Gloria Estefan, together with her husband Emilio and their band, the Miami Sound Machine, is one of the few artists who can honestly be said to have changed the face of contemporary pop music. […]
Bare: A Pop Opera – The Vaults
Bare: A Pop Opera continues at The Vaults, London until 4 August 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ There are two lasting impressions one gets during the first ten minutes of this revival of Bare, a cult musical following two gay teenagers in a Catholic boarding school somewhere in America. The […]
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Kilworth House Theatre
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat continues at Kilworth House Theatre, Leicestershire until 7 July 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Oh Joseph, here we are again. You’re no less problematic than before – terrible people are rewarded with fortune and love, women are no more than saints or demons, and […]
Love Notes: Michele Brourman – The Pheasantry, London
Love Notes: Michele Brourman at The Pheasantry, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ There’s not much of pianist-singer-songwriter Michele Brourman but what there is is pure gold. I am no expert on pianists but if there’s anyone who plays a more educated piano, whether jazzy and thrilling or slow and heartbreaking, than this Los […]
Broadway closings posted for King Kong and The Cher Show
Two big legends of entertainment are saying earlier-than anticipated farewells to Broadway in the annual thinning out that follows the Tony Awards. Both King Kong and The Cher Show have announced a closing date of 18 August 2019. Neither show left the Tony Awards empty-handed, but the handful of trophies apparently was not enough to […]
West End return for Girl From The North Country
The Old Vic’s critically acclaimed world premiere production of Girl From The North Country will return to the West End for an eight-week run beginning in December. Written and directed by multi award winning playwright Conor McPherson (The Seafarer, The Weir) and featuring the songs of Bob Dylan, the production will play the Gielgud Theatre […]
Royal Academy of Music – The Wild Party
The Wild Party was performed by the Royal Academy of Music at the Susie Sainsbury Theatre, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Although I hated The Wild Party, such was the brilliance of the direction (Hannah Chissick), choreography (Chris Whittaker), set design (David Harris), all the dancing and most of the acting/singing, it […]
Here’s To Life: Amanda McBroom with Michele Brourman – The Pheasantry
Here’s To Life: Amanda McBroom with Michele Brourman at The Pheasantry, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Any visit by the elegant Los Angeles singer-songwriters Amanda McBroom and Michele Brourman is a cause for celebration and their four-day residency at The Pheasantry was its usual mix of sad songs, topical ones, […]
Broadway shows The Prom and Be More Chill announce closing dates
Two Broadway musicals, The Prom and Be More Chill, have announced earlier-than-anticipated closings, joining what’s commonly referred to as the post-Tony shake-out. Both shows have scheduled shutdowns for 11 August 2019. They follow a trio of prominent non-musicals that have closed or are closing after receiving little or no recognition from the Tonys, either in […]
A Strange Loop – Playwrights Horizons, New York
A Strange Loop continues at Playwrights Horizons, New York until 7 July 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The programme photo of Michael R. Jackson, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for the new Off-Broadway musical A Strange Loop, shows a guy with a broad, affable smile. There’s little hint of the […]
The Sandman – Southwark Playhouse
The Sandman continues at the Southwark Playhouse, London until 29 June 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Part of the BRIT School, the Foundation Bridge Company works part-time with recent school leavers and gives them valuable professional experience. The Sandman (music and lyrics by Harry Blake who also directs) is an […]
First casting news for Falsettos premiere
An all-star cast will take to the stage in the long-awaited UK premiere of double Tony Award-winning musical Falsettos at The Other Palace this summer. Funny Girl’s Natasha J Barnes (American Idiot, Arts Theatre, Wasted, Southwark Playhouse) will play Cordelia alongside Daniel Boys (The Boys in the Band, Park Theatre, UK tour, Vaudeville Theatre, Spamalot, […]
Cast for Menier Chocolate Factory’s UK premiere of The Bridges of Madison County
Stage and screen actor Edward Baker-Duly will star opposite Olivier Award winner 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. With music and lyrics by triple Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years, Honeymoon in […]
Adam Cooper returns to the role of Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain return
Award-winning dancer and choreographer Adam Cooper will re-create his crowd-pleasing performance as Don Lockwood when the acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production of Singin’ in the Rain plays a five-week season at Sadler’s Wells next summer. Cooper first played the iconic role at Sadler’s Wells in the 2004 revival of the show before playing Lockwood once […]
Third annual inclusive festival A Bit Of A Do to play London
Ground-breaking mini-festival A Bit Of A Do will return for its third year early next month with three days of inclusive entertainment at Stanley Halls in London. Created by theatre company and charity Drunken Chorus, the packed free programme will run from 5-7 July in South Norwood. Working with partners including British Sign Language (BSL) […]
John Partridge will star as the Emcee in UK tour of Cabaret
Stage and screen favourite John Partridge will star as the Emcee when Rufus Norris’ multi-award-winning Cabaret hits the road again this summer. The former EastEnder whose vast array of West End credits include A Chorus Line, Chicago and Cats, will be holding court from 28 August 2019 when the extensive tour launches at Bromley’s Churchill […]
First UK tour for Once following Christmas in Croydon
Singer-songwriter Daniel Healy and Emma Lucia will take on the leading roles when the hit actor/musician co-production of Tony Award-winning Once heads out on its first UK tour early next year. Launching following a festive run at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls (19 December 2019 to 11 January 2020), the production which received its regional premiere at […]
The Light in the Piazza – Royal Festival Hall
The Light in the Piazza continues at the Royal Festival Hall, London until 5 July 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ The Light in the Piazza is based on a novel by the American author Elizabeth Spencer who travelled to Italy on a scholarship and stayed there so long that she […]
Sunday in the Park With George starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford opens at the Savoy Theatre in June 2020
Tickets have gone on sale today for a strictly limited season of Sunday in the Park With George starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford and directed by Sarna Lapine, at the Savoy Theatre. Preview performances will begin on 11 June 2020, with the final performance taking place on 5 September 2020. Official opening night to […]
Peter Rabbit to bounce back into the West End with Myleene Klass as one of the narrators
Innovative family musical adventure Where Is Peter Rabbit? will be hopping back into London’s West End this summer, with Myleene Klass featuring as one of the narrators in a limited summer season Following its Easter West End debut and two successful seasons at the Old Laundry Theatre in the heart of the Lake District, the […]
CD Review: The Rhythm Of Life – Joanna Forest
THE RHYTHM OF LIFE – JOANNA FOREST (Piccolo Music: PICCOLOCD1) Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ I may just be getting old but I don’t quite understand the concept of this album. It is a: ‘crossover family musical adventure, exploring the day in the life of a child’. The tracks are set […]
CD Review: Lost Broadway 1961 – Various Artists
LOST BROADWAY 1961 – Various Artists (Stage Door Records – STAGE 9063) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I have a selection of CDs and vinyl that are catalogued under ‘Great to Be Alive’. They consist of shows that lift your spirits, singers who bring joy to the ear and compilations that hit the […]
CD Review: The Man In The Ceiling – Studio Cast Recording
THE MAN IN THE CEILING – Studio Cast Recording (Ghostlight Records – CD and download) Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The artwork for this CD put a smile on my face and it remained there for the entirety of the album. The Man in the Ceiling is based on the 1995 graphic […]
CD Review: Lucky To Be Me – Alfred Drake
LUCKY TO BE ME (A Life In Music) – Alfred Drake (STAGE DOOR RECORDS – STAGE 9062) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ So excited to get this double CD for review. I am of the generation that grew up with the original cast recordings of great shows such as Oklahoma!; Kiss Me, Kate; […]
CD Review: Jonathan Larson Project – Various Artists
JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT – Various Artists (Ghostlight Records – download or physical CD at ghostlightrecords.com) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I have to admit that I am no huge fan of Rent. I saw it in America and also in London and I was not exactly blown away by it. However, my partner […]
Vivian Reed – The Pheasantry
Vivian Reed performed at The Pheasantry, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ For two special nights a magical event happened: the too long overdue London debut of a glittering Broadway star, Vivian Reed. Although she repeated in Paris her Tony Award-winning performance in the musical revue Bubbling Brown Sugar and subsequently had a […]
West End Live 2019 – full details of weekend schedule revealed
Full details have been released of the line-up of award-winning shows and performers due to feature in this year’s West End LIVE event when it returns to London’s iconic Trafalgar Square next weekend. With first time appearances from new hits including Come From Away, Only Fools and Horses The Musical, Waitress, 9 To 5 The […]
The Book of Mormon – Palace Theatre, Manchester
The Book of Mormon continues at the Palace Theatre, Manchester until 24 August 2019 before touring to the Sunderland Empire, with more venues to be announced. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The Mormons are here. We’ve been told they were coming for months, with adverts around the city generating huge excitement […]
West End favourites help unveil new theatre artwork
Les Misérables’ current Valjean Dean Chisnall, The Phantom of the Opera’s latest Christine, Kelly Mathieson, and the cast of hit show Six were on hand to mark the unveiling of a new theatre mural in Leicester Square this week. Commissioned by the Society of London Theatre, the artwork which features images of historic theatres, famous […]
Casting revealed for Hope Mill Theatre’s Jerry Springer The Opera
Details of the Northern-based talent lined up to appear alongside Michael Howe in the eagerly-awaited revival of Jerry Springer The Opera at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre this summer have been partly revealed. As previously announced the veteran stage and screen actor known for his roles in TV shows Life Begins, Solo and Hollyoaks, and on […]
Katharine McPhee serves up one last Waitress treat
Outgoing Waitress leading lady Katharine McPhee has recorded the show’s hit ballad ‘She Used to Be Mine’ for release as she serves up her last performance in the hit West End production on Saturday (15 June 2019). McPhee’s exclusive version of the showstopping song is now available for download and on streaming platforms via https://linkto/NywiPtpH […]
Performance Preparation Academy – The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game, performed by Performance Preparation Academy, continues at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford until 15 June 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ In a riot of colour, comedy and complex choreography, The Pajama Game sends PPA’s final-year graduates out into the real world with all guns blazing. The 1954 Broadway […]
Tony Awards – Hadestown wins Best Musical plus seven other nods
Hadestown came out on top at the 2019 Tony Awards on Sunday night (9 June), being named Best Musical and grabbing up another seven acclimations as well. It was a strong showing for this mythic musical, but not a landslide. The Tony voters also spread their love pretty evenly among a trio of other musicals, […]
LAMDA’s Stuart Thompson wins the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Award – Theatre Royal Haymarket
Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and Stiles + Drewe Best New Song competitions at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London. It was lucky 13 for LAMDA final-year talent Stuart Thompson when he walked away with the prestigious Stephen Sondheim Student Performer of the Year competition at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket on Sunday afternoon. He wowed the […]
Rebecca Trehearn and David Ricardo-Pearce to star in Watermill’s Kiss Me, Kate
Rebecca Trehearn and David Ricardo-Pearce will play the warring couple at the heart of the Watermill Theatre’s version of Cole Porter’s classic Kiss Me, Kate this summer. Olivier Award-winner Trehearn (Show Boat, New London Theatre, Sweet Charity, Nottingham Playhouse) will take on the role Lilli Vanessi (Katherine) opposite Ricardo-Pearce who returns to the Newbury venue […]
Encore names Mousetrap Theatre Projects as its Charity of the Year
Mousetrap Theatre Projects, the theatre education charity dedicated to bringing the magic of theatre into the lives of young people, has been chosen as Encore Radio’s Charity of the Year for 2019. Announcing the decision to recognise the charity’s distinctive contribution to London’s vibrant theatre scene, Encore’s managing director Dave Alsybury said: “As an independent […]
Ore Oduba and Carley Stenson join Jason Manford in Curtains tour
Former Strictly champion Ore Oduba will follow his theatrical debut in Grease by joining comedian Jason Manford for the new touring production of Kander and Ebb’s Tony Award-winning Curtains. Appearing at selected venues during the tour which launches this autumn, the BBC TV presenter will play composer Aaron Fox alongside the previously announced Manford (Chitty […]
Bill Ward is the next Loco Chanelle in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Former soap favourite Bill Ward will step into the role of Loco Chanelle/Hugo in the award-winning musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the West End from 1 July 2019 for a limited season. Best known for his ill-fated roles in ITV soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale, Ward’s theatre credits include the UK tour of Legally […]
Fiver at Southwark Playhouse – full cast announced & video released
Final casting has been announced for the first full production of new British musical FIVER which will receive its world premiere at the Southwark Playhouse this summer. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’s award-winning Luke Bayer, Aoife Clesham (Peter Pan international tour) and Alex James Ellison (The Secret Garden) will join the previously announced Daniel Buckley (Eugenius!) […]
Associated Studios Performing Arts Academy – Sister Act
Sister Act was performed by students from the Associated Studios Performing Arts Academy at the Vaults Theatre, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Justina Kehinde is glitteringly talented and I’m certain that in the future I shall, as they say, be remembering where I first saw her. Delores, the nightclub singer […]
More Dear Evan Hansen tickets available plus chance to appear in show’s poster art
A second batch of extra tickets will be released for the eagerly-awaited West End debut of Dear Evan Hansen from Monday (10 June) following a sold-out priority booking period. Produced by Stacey Mindich, the West End run which will reunite the creative team behind the show’s record-breaking Broadway run is due to begin previews at […]
What ever happened to Taron Egerton? It’s the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year roll of honour
From little acorns do mighty oaks grow and from 2007 when an entry of just ten students meant they ALL qualified for the final, the Stephen Sondheim Society’s Student Performer of the Year competition has become a very special date on the musical theatre calendar, writes Jeremy Chapman. This year’s 13th edition, for the first […]
Main Men of Musicals – Cadogan Hall
Main Men of Musicals was performed at Cadogan Hall, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Continuing a string of successful one-night-only concerts at Cadogan Hall, Lambert Jackson presented Main Men of Musicals with four of the West End’s leading men taking centre stage. This show follows There is Nothin’ Like a Dame and West End Women […]
Child cast for West End’s Adrian Mole revealed
The producers of next month’s London transfer run of Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾ – The Musical have unveiled the young cast who will take on the pivotal roles of Adrian, Pandora, Barry and Nigel. With all child cast members aged between 12-14 years old, the title role will […]
Early closing date for Amour at Charing Cross Theatre
The well-received UK professional premiere of multi-award-winning composer Michel Legrand’s musical fantasy Amour is to end its run at London’s Charing Cross Theatre early after just 45 performances. Initially due to run until Saturday 20 July, the show which features music by legendary film composer Legrand with English lyrics by Jeremy Sams (from the original […]
Stars to join British Theatre Academy performers for special performance of Godspell
West End favourites Laura Baldwin, Luke Bayer, Max Bowden, Rachel John and Ramin Karimloo will appear alongside students from the British Theatre Academy in a semi-staged production of Godspell at London’s Cadogan Hall on 29 June 2019. Announcing the line-up of guest performers, BTA artistic director Matthew Chandler said: “I am so excited about this […]
Transfer run for Pint Of Wine’s Queen of the Mist
Pint of Wine’s critically-acclaimed European professional premiere of Michael John LaChiusa’s Queen of the Mist will transfer to the Charing Cross Theatre this summer. Following on from its successful sold-out run Jack Studio Theatre in Brockley in April, the new theatre company’s version of LaChiusa’s award-winning show will play a limited seven-week season at the […]
