With The Bay at Nice currently running at the Menier and Fiddler on the Roof at the Playhouse Theatre, the Menier Chocolate Factory has announced the European premiere of the musical of Robert James Waller’s bestselling novel The Bridges of Madison County in a new staging by Trevor Nunn. The production opens on 23 July […]
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The Hired Man – Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch and Touring
The Hired Man continues at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch until 18 May 2019, before transferring to the Hull Truck Theatre (23 May to 15 June) and the Oldham Coliseum Theatre (20 June to 6 July). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Cumbria, an old regional name for that part of North West England which includes […]
Beetlejuice – Winter Garden Theatre, New York
Beetlejuice continues at the Winter Garden Theatre, New York. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ If you’re enchanted by non-stop chaos, Beetlejuice may be absolutely your pot of tea. And judging by the noisy rapture this new Broadway musical engendered in the audience at a recent performance, a lot of people are. […]
Tootsie – Marquis Theatre, New York.
Tootsie continues at the Marquis Theatre, New York. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Being a woman is not a job for a man,” says Michael Dorsey as the new Broadway musical Tootsie moves into its final moments. Nevertheless, Dorsey, as embodied in a high-powered performance by the ultra-talented Santino Fontana, does quite a […]
New London production of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
A new interpretation of moving song cycle Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens will play London’s Union Theatre from 15 May until 8 June 2019. Produced in support of the MAD Trust, Bryan Hodgson will direct the new version of the Tony-nominated tribute to those who have died from AIDS and the loved ones […]
Full company confirmed for Chichester’s Oklahoma!
Bronté Barbé, Isaac Gryn and Emmanuel Kojo will make their Chichester Festival Theatre debuts in this summer’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved Oklahoma! Barbé (Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Over the Rainbow) will play the flirtatious Ado Annie opposite Gryn (Bugsy Malone, Billy Elliot) as her cowboy boyfriend Will Parker and Emmanuel Kojo […]
Mazz Murray joins new cast of Mamma Mia!
Mazz Murray will return to the multi-award-winning feel-good musical Mamma Mia! at London’s Novello Theatre as part of new intake of cast members from 10 June 2019. The original Killer Queen in We Will Rock You, who previously joined the Mamma Mia! cast as Tanya in 2015, will step into the central role of Donna […]
The Prince Of Egypt to premiere in London in 2020
The producers of the stage musical based on the animated film The Prince Of Egypt have confirmed plans for the London premiere of the show early next year. Following on from the recent private reading of a revised version of the show which was first seen on stage in Silicon Valley in the US in […]
Michael Ball is back as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray at the London Coliseum in April 2020
Michael Ball will once again be donning a fancy frock and a large wig to return to his Olivier Award-winning role as Edna Turnblad when Hairspray the Musical returns to London next year for a strictly limited season at the London Coliseum. Featuring the original award-winning creative team of director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry […]
Anita Dobson and Maria Friedman to join West End Fiddler On The Roof
West End stars Maria Friedman and Anita Dobson will join the transfer run of the Menier Chocolate Factory and Trevor Nunn’s critically-acclaimed new staging of the much-loved classic Fiddler on the Roof next month. From 18 June 2019, triple Olivier Award winner Friedman (Chicago, Ragtime) will take over the role of Golde from quadruple Tony […]
London School of Musical Theatre – Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel is performed by London School of Musical Theatre students at the Bridewell Theatre, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ You could transport this exceptional LSMT student production of Grand Hotel a mile up the road to any West End theatre, charge three times as much for a ticket, and anybody lucky […]
The King and I – Opera House, Manchester
The King and I continues at the Opera House, Manchester until 11 May 2019 and then tours until 2 May 2020. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ From the breath-taking opening scene (credit to set designer Michael Yeargan), as you view Annalene Beechey’s Anna and her young son Louis (Lewis Fernée) arriving on […]
Dillie Keane: Love and Other Bad Ideas – The Pheasantry
Love And Other Bad Ideas: Dillie Keane at The Pheasantry, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Introduced as “the funniest woman in England”, Dillie Keane is all of that and much more because she can make us cry as well with beautifully crafted songs of regret, nostalgic remembrance of mis-spent youth and lost […]
West End Eurovision 2019 – Adelphi Theatre
West End Eurovision 2019 at the Adelphi Theatre, London. This year West End Eurovision saw seven West End shows compete (using original songs from the Eurovision Song Contest), while entertaining a lively audience and panel of celebrity judges. It was pretty impressive that the acts were able to stun the audience – from the side-splitting […]
Man of La Mancha – London Coliseum
Man of La Mancha continues at the London Coliseum until 8 June 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Premiered in 1965, Man of La Mancha had a meteoric rise, via Off-Broadway to Broadway, two London runs with Keith Michell and Richard Kiley, and numerous foreign language productions and recordings. It also […]
The Full Monty – New Wimbledon Theatre and Touring
The Full Monty at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London and touring until 18 May 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ This isn’t the American musical we briefly saw in London in 2002 and 2009 but it’s verging on one with eight famous tracks for the six jobless steelworkers to strip to […]
This Is My Family – Chichester Festival Theatre
This Is My Family continues at the Minerva Theatre at Chichester Festival Theatre until 15 June 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Tim Firth’s musical was first staged by Daniel Evans at The Crucible, Sheffield in 2013. Evans, now artistic director at Chichester, has revived it for new audiences to enjoy […]
Hadestown burns brightly as Tony nominations are revealed
Hadestown sizzled as the Tony Award nominations were announced, leading the field with 14 nods, including Best Musical. Following close on its trail were two other Best Musical contenders, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations, with 12 nominations, and Tootsie, with 11. Also in the Best Musical race are Beetlejuice, […]
Twelfth Night – Rose Playhouse, London
Twelfth Night continues at the Rose Playhouse, London until 5 May 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Beautiful – The Carole King Musical to tour again in 2020
The multi-award winning Beautiful – The Carole King Musical will hit the road again for a second UK and Ireland tour from January next year.
Alistair Brammer to play Fiyero in the West End production of Wicked
Miss Saigon star Alistair Brammer will take over the role of Fiyero in the hit Apollo Victoria Theatre production of West End and Broadway smash Wicked in July 2019. Brammer, who made his Broadway debut in 2017 as Chris in Cameron Mackintosh’s record-breaking revival of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Miss Saigon, will step into […]
CD Review: Sondheim Sublime – Melissa Errico
SONDHEIM SUBLIME – Melissa Errico (Ghostlight Records) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
From The Heart: Maria Friedman – Live at Zedel
From The Heart: Maria Friedman continues at Live at Zedel, London until 5 May 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Hadestown – Walter Kerr Theatre, New York
Hadestown continues at the Walter Kerr Theatre, New York. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Club Tropicana – New Wimbledon Theatre and Touring
Club Tropicana continues at New Wimbledon Theatre, London until 27 April 2019, then tours until 10 August. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Southwark Playhouse
Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 1 June 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
London School of Musical Theatre – Lend Me a Tenor
Lend Me a Tenor is performed by London School of Musical Theatre students at the Bridewell Theatre, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Amelie the Musical – Watermill Theatre, Bagnor and Touring
Amelie the Musical continues at the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor until 18 May 2019 before touring until 19 October 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
CD Review: Lucy Thomas – Premiere
CD Review: Premiere – Lucy Thomas (Cavendish Records). Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ It’s a delightful debut, rich in promise.
CD Review: On the Town and Broadway Melody – Studio Recordings
CD Review: On the Town and Broadway Melody – Studio Recordings – Stage Door Records. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
CD Review: Only Dreaming – Matt Croke
Matt Croke, star of Disney’s Aladdin, has released solo album Only Dreaming to showcase his vocal talents – and that is exactly what it achieves ★★★★★
‘There’s plenty about it that’s surprising and different’: Stewart Clarke plays Perchik in the West End transfer of Fiddler on the Roof
Stewart Clarke talks to MTR about playing the role of Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, transferred from the Menier to the Playhouse Theatre.
Calendar Girls The Musical – New Theatre, Oxford and Touring
Calendar Girls The Musical was reviewed at the New Theatre, Oxford and is currently touring until 9 November 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Friends-inspired Friendsical to tour and visit Edinburgh Festival Fringe
TV series Friends is the inspiration behind new spoof musical Friendsical which will embark on a tour this summer including a stint at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Eurovision royalty Dana International to join West End Eurovision celebrations
Ground-breaking Eurovision winner Dana International will bring more than a touch of glitter and glamour to West End Eurovision 2019 later this month.
Cast members from Six and Waitress join Magic At the Musicals
The cast of hit shows Six and Waitress and West End stars John Owen-Jones and Louise Dearman will be joining hosts Ruthie Henshall and Trevor Dion Douglas for Magic At the Musicals with Celebrity Cruises from the Royal Albert Hall on 10 May 2019.
Musical Cruel Intentions to make UK debut at the Edinburgh Fringe
Immersive jukebox-style show Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical will receive its UK premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
Broadway actor and writer Andy Mientus will make his UK theatre debut in The View UpStairs at the Soho Theatre
Broadway actor and writer Andy Mientus will make his UK theatre debut alongside a number of West End stars in the European premiere of new LGBTQ+ musical The View UpStairs.
Sweet Charity – Donmar Warehouse
Sweet Charity continues at the Donmar Warehouse until 8 June 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
New Pet Shop Boys and Jonathan Harvey musical Musik starring Frances Barber to have world premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe
Stage and screen star Frances Barber is reuniting with Jonathan Harvey and The Pet Shop Boys Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe for a new cabaret show which will receive its world premiere at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe.
Lead casting for Regent’s Park’s Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has unveiled principal casting for Evita and the Barbican Theatre transfer season of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Selladoor to bring Falsettos to London for the first time
Double Tony Award-winning musical Falsettos will receive its long-awaited European premiere at The Other Palace this summer.
West Side Story – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
West Side Story continues at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until 25 May 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ As though it was only yesterday, I recall my English teacher strolling into our classroom and announcing: “Boys,” (sadly, ours was a single sex school), “I have just been down to London and seen […]
Queen of the Mist – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Queen of the Mist continues at the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, London until 27 April 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
The Marvelous Wonderettes – Upstairs at the Gatehouse
The Marvelous Wonderettes continues at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London until 12 May 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
John Standing: Noel, Cole and George – The Pheasantry
John Standing performed Noel, Cole and George at The Pheasantry, London.Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
In the Willows – Oxford Playhouse and Touring
In the Willows was reviewed at the Oxford Playhouse and is currently touring until 8 June 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Simply Barbra – Steven Brinberg – Live at Zédel
Steven Brinberg performed in Simply Barbra at Live at Zedel, London.Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Innovative Dutch production Soldier of Orange – The Musical heads for new purpose-built London theatre
Record-breaking Dutch theatre production Soldier of Orange – The Musical looks set to make its UK debut in late 2020. Subject to planning permission the producers of the groundbreaking show aim to build an innovative new theatre featuring a 360 degree ‘surround set’ to house the production in London’s Royal Docks. If the plans are […]
Alex Jennings joins cast of The Light in the Piazza
Triple Olivier Award winner and current BAFTA nominee Alex Jennings will complete the star-studded cast for this summer’s special production of Tony Award-winning The Light in the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall. He will join American soprano Renée Fleming (Carousel, Broadway) who will make her London musical theatre debut as Margaret Johnson alongside Disney […]
