The full schedule has been confirmed for the second Musical Con – the musical theatre-themed event which will turn ExCel London at Royal Victoria Dock into a haven for musical theatre lovers on 21 and 22 October 2023.
Over 10,000 musical theatre-lovers are due to attend this year’s event which will feature 140 hours of programming and over 100 special guests. Highlights on the Main Stage will include the opening and closing ceremonies featuring performances from Musical Con ambassadors Aimie Atkinson, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Sophie Evans, Alice Fearn, Ben Forster, Lucie Jones, Shanay Holmes, Miriam Teak Lee, Jon Robyns and Layton Williams.
Show Spotlights will include unique performances and interviews with the cast and creatives from Disney’s The Lion King, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Operation Mincemeat.
Fans will also get to say farewell to Heathers just a few weeks after the curtain came down on the crowd-pleasing show’s latest London run with a special celebration featuring the show’s composer, Laurence O’Keefe.
Highlights also include a performance and interview with Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical’s movie stars, Alisha Weir and Meesha Garbet; an interview with internationally renowned choreographer and director Arlene Phillips; and an interview with the composer of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon – musical theatre legend Claude-Michel Schönberg.
A number of new shows will be showcased with performances from Lizzie, Babies, Bronco Billy, Ride and The Book Thief and the popular Cosplay, Lip Sync and Star of Musical Con competitions will return.
There will be cast reunions with previous cast members of Newsies, Bat Out of Hell and a special surprise reunion to be revealed at the event. The Show Off game show also returns featuring previous cast members of Six versus Heathers
Produced by Chris Steward and Shanay Holmes for West End Musical Productions, the weekend will also include a larger Backstage Theatre area hosting panels of industry experts including ‘Accessibility On the West End’; ‘LGBTQIA+’; ‘Black Excellence’; ‘Social Media & Musicals’; an interview with Standing at the Sky’s Edge and Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club casting director Stuart Burt; ‘Creating A Musical’; and the return of last year’s popular Disney’s The Lion King and Frozen ‘Puppetry Demonstration’.
At Stage Door fans will once again get a professional photograph and autograph with stars including Lucie Jones, Erin Caldwell and Alisha Weir. There will also be numerous workshops and masterclasses, including dance workshops with Layton Williams and Arlene Philips and a writing masterclass with Claude-Michel Schönberg.
Fans can take a break from the main programming in the new pop-up cinema playing non-stop musicals, enjoy a photo opportunity or join Fan Meets for The Queendom, Corn Nuts, Phans, Mincefluencers and Fansies.
Commenting on the first Musical Con, West End star Layton Williams said: “This convention is something really special. The energy in the room was just insane. The atmosphere was unreal. It was iconic!”
Fellow West End favourite Trevor Dion Nicholas added: “This was a historic event. There has never been anything like it. It was a truly magical weekend!”
Angela Thomas
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