Welcome to Musicals Mash Up in which we catch up with lots of the week’s stories that haven’t yet appeared on the Musical Theatre Review pages. We hope you approve! News editor Angela Thomas reports
Hamilton West End – new extension announced 
A new booking period has been announced for the West End’s Hamilton with performances of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s multi-award-winning musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre now extended up to 30 September 2023.
The hit London production now stars Reuben Joseph as Alexander Hamilton with Simon-Anthony Rhoden as Aaron Burr, Allyson Ava-Brown as Angelica Schuyler, Shan Ako playing Eliza Hamilton, Roshani Abbey as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, Trevor Dion Nicholas as George Washington, Waylon Jacobs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Emile Ruddock as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jake Halsey-Jones as John Laurens/ Phillip Hamilton and Joel Montague as King George III. At certain performances, Alexander Hamilton is played by Alex Sawyer.
The cast also includes: Jade Albertsen, Curtis Angus, Maya Britto, Matthew Caputo, Filippo Coffano, Ashley Daniels, Kelly Downing, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Jordan Frazier, Manaia Glassey-Ohlson, Olivia Kate Holding, Barney Hudson, DeAngelo Jones, Phoebe Liberty Jones, Nicolais-Andre Kerry, Travis Kerry, Ella Kora, Natasha Leaver, Aaron Lee Lambert, Louis Mackrodt, Kerri Norville, Samuel Sarpong-Broni, Lindsey Tierney and Brandon Williams.
Frozen the Musical is this year’s Radio 2 Gala performance in aid of Children in Need
This year’s Radio 2 Gala performance in aid of BBC Children In Need is Frozen The Musical. It takes place on 6 November at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane. At the end of the show, Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox will be joined on stage by Pudsey, with Radio 2 presenters also in the audience watching the show.
Rebecca Lock completes Elf: The Musical cast
Actress Rebecca Lock will play Emily Hobbs in ELF: The Musical when the festive family favourite returns to the Dominion Theatre to play a strictly limited eight-week season this Christmas.
Lock (School of Rock, UK tour, Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre) will join the previously announced Simon Lipkin as Buddy, Georgina Castle as Jovie and Tom Chambers as Walter Hobbs, Kim Ismay as Debs, Nicholas Pound as Santa and Dermot Canavan as Store Manager.
The cast also includes Evonnee Bentley-Holder Kyle Cox, Jade Davies, Bethan Downing, Francis Foreman, Morgan Gregory, Ryan Jupp, Ellis Linford-Pill, Shane O’Riordan, Theo Reece, Chloe Saunders, Heather Scott-Martin, Jessica Spalis, Michael Tyler, Katie Warsop and Natalie Woods. Dexter Barry, Logan Clark, Alfie Morwood and Frankie Treadaway will alternate the role of Michael.
Directed by Philip Wm. McKinley with original set and costume design by Tim Goodchild, the new production will begin preview performances on 14 November ahead of an opening night on 24 November. The eight-week season will run until 7 January 2023.
Based on the instant Christmas classic film which starred Will Ferrell, the feel-good family favourite features a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin), with songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin.
Audra Macdonald’s London Palladium concert recorded for film release
Record-breaking American stage and screen star Audra McDonald’s recent solo concert at the London Palladium has been recorded for a future film release.
Presented by Fourth Wall Live, the show which featured the singer and actress who has won a string of awards including six Tonys, two Grammys and an Emmy Award, alongside Andy Einhorn and the 46-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra featured a selection of songs from the Great American Songbook and some of Broadway’s greatest hits.
Island Records releases the original cast recording of Get Up Stand Up The Bob Marley Musical
Island Records has released the Original Cast Recording of the award-winning hit West End musical Get Up Stand Up The Bob Marley Musical which opened in October 2021. Featuring original cast members including Arinzé Kene and Gabrielle Brooks, alongside ‘The Stand Up Crew’, the fantastic group of musicians who propelled the show, the 20-track album was produced and mixed by Island stalwart Paul ‘Groucho’ Smykle, with arrangements by Phil Bateman, and features many of Marley’s most popular, powerful, enduring and inspiring songs of freedom. The production takes its inspiration from Bob Marley’s visionary lyrics to tell the Jamaican legend’s extraordinary story through a truly electrifying mix of many of his most memorable songs.
West End Musical Halloween
The award-winning team behind the popular West End Musical Brunch, West End Musical Drive-In and West End Musical Christmas shows will return to London with spookily star-packed celebration of musical theatre this Halloween.
The all-singing, all-dancing West End Musical Halloween at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue on 31 October will feature a cast of West End favourites including Courtney Bowman, Luke Bayer, Shanay Holmes, Sophie Isaacs, Jordan Shaw and Tosh Wanogho-Maud.
Les Misérables star joins the cast of Dorian at The Other Palace
Following the success of their two-night run at The Other Palace Studio, the cast of composer Joe Evans’ Dorian: The Son of Love and Death is back, led by Elliot Gooch reprising his portrayal of the title role. Joining them is West End star Chanice Alexander-Burnett, fresh from her lead role as Fantine in Les Misérables. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, this new musical adaptation gives the iconic, Gothic story a Glam, modern twist.
Dorian Gray’s tragic lovers Sibyl/Fabian Vane will be performed by Ashley Goh. Harry Boyd will play the charismatic music producer ‘Lord’ Henry Wotton, while James Rockey will play the celebrity photographer Baz Hallward, who unwittingly captures, and immortalises, Dorian’s portrait. Chanice Alexander-Burnett portrays the dangerous and provocative villainess, Victoria Wotton. Linnie Reedman directs alongside Aaron Clingham as musical director.
Picture: Lidia Crisafulli
The Other Palace announces new musical Glory Ride
A new, original musical based on an amazing, true story from the Second World War, Glory Ride, will have its world premiere in the main theatre at London’s The Other Palace as a staged concert for three performances from 14 November 2022.
How did a cyclist, an accountant and the Cardinal of Tuscany join forces to pull off one of the most remarkable rescue operations of the War? Glory Ride reveals the untold tale of an Italian Tour de France winner who uses his fame and his bicycle to save hundreds of children from Mussolini’s Fascists. The show takes place in Tuscany and features soaring, memorable songs, along with a witty book and comic relief.
Backed by members of the original producers of Jersey Boys, Glory Ride features music, lyrics and a book by the daughter and father team Victoria and Todd Buchholz and direction by Shaun Kerrison.
Musical The Lost Spells at the Polka Theatre
The Polka Theatre 2023 season will culminate with a new musical adaptation of The Lost Spells (13 April to 7 May 2023), adapted from the popular book by Robert Macfarlene and Jackie Morris, about a girl who finds a book of spells that can conjure up an entirely new world. This is a Goblin, Watford Palace Theatre, Polka Theatre and Theatre by the Lake co-production. The Lost Spells, adapted by Matt Borgatti and Robert Macfarlane with music and lyrics by Mary Erskine and Will Dollard, is directed by Charlotte Westenra.
Aimed at ages six to 12, The Lost Spells is a fun, wild and boisterous adventure full of paw-tapping music and dancing, played live on-stage by actor-musicians, celebrating the magic, power and wonder of nature that could be just outside your window.
Stiles and Drewe musical The Three Billy Goats Gruff in upcoming Unicorn Theatre season
Justin Audibert will direct the UK premiere of award-winning Stiles and Drewe’s musical The Three Billy Goats Gruff at London’s Unicorn Theatre from 12 March to 15 April 2023 (press night is 22 March). Featuring music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning team, audiences are invited to step into the magical, fairy tale world of The Three Billy Goats Gruff in this perfect first musical for young families. For ages three to six years.
Disney’s Frozen Jr released to schools and youth groups in the UK and Ireland
Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Group have announced the immediate release of Disney’s Frozen Jr to schools and youth groups in the UK and Ireland.
Disney’s Frozen Jr brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life onstage in a version specially adapted for youth performers between ages eight and 18. In its compact, 60-minute running time, the piece features the hits and highlights from the iconic animated film classic, as well as songs written for the current West End production, now running at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
To celebrate MTI will give one lucky school/youth group the chance to perform an excerpt from their licensed production of Disney’s Frozen Jr to an audience of over a thousand young people at MTI’s Junior Theatre Festival (JTF), to be held at Birmingham’s ICC on 29 April 2023. The successful school/youth group will receive free access to the Festival, a travel and accommodation bursary of £1,500 and be invited to perform “Fixer Upper” from the show on the main stage during the Festival’s awards ceremony. For information about applying for performance rights and for the opportunity to perform at the JTF, visit www.mtishows.co.uk/frozenjr.
Rosemary Ashe stars in Adorable Dora
West End Diva Rosemary Ashe pays tribute to national treasure Dora Bryan in a tour of Adorable Dora, opening at the Lighthouse Theatre, Poole on 19 October 2022 before visiting Guildford, Bromley, Bingley, Bracknell, Surbiton and Hastings.
Over nearly eight decades Dora did it all, from pantomime and Carry On to Shakespeare, from Last of the Summer Wine and Ab Fab to Dinner Ladies, and perhaps most importantly her iconic and BAFTA Award-winning performance in the film A Taste of Honey.
Now that legend is being brought to the life by West End star and Olivier Award nominee Rosemary Ashe (The Phantom of the Opera, The Witches of Eastwick, Mary Poppins) and Paul Knight (42nd Street, Forbidden Broadway).
Adorable Dora, directed by Ben Stock with musical direction from Knight, recently played the Fringe, Above the Stag, The Pheasantry and Jermyn Street Theatre.
Lung Ha Theatre Company and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh present Castle Lennox
Award-winning Lung Ha Theatre Company is finally bringing Linda McLean’s Castle Lennox to the stage. Originally due to premiere in May 2020, the play features songs by Michael John McCarthy and is co-produced with Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.
Castle Lennox explores the strength, wit and resilience of those who were sent to Lennox Castle Hospital in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland’s largest mental institution, from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was inspired by Linda’s memories of visiting her uncle there in the 1960s.
This ensemble piece will be performed by the Edinburgh-based Lung Ha Theatre Company who since 1984 has worked with over 300 performers with a learning disability, created over 40 original productions and toured internationally. The 26 actors from Lung Ha Theatre Company will be joined by three actors brought to the production by the Lyceum Theatre in this exciting collaboration between the two companies.
Family theatre show on a mission to save a British Christmas tradition
This Christmas, join Oxford’s The Story Museum for The Royal Christmas Pudding, a feast of story and song in the museum’s magical studio theatre ‘The Woodshed’, running from 30 November 2022 to 1 January 2023.
Featuring traditional stories woven together with original songs and music, this festive treat promises to give even the hungriest of appetites a happily ever after. The show is inspired by the dwindling tradition of ‘Stir-Up-Sunday’, originating in the Victorian era, where families gather to stir the Christmas pudding mix and make a wish.
The Royal Christmas Pudding hopes to reintroduce children to this age-old tradition in a musical theatre spectacular where the Christmas pudding is the star. Before the show, families will get a chance to make their own Christmas wishes, by stirring a giant pudding mixture in the theatre foyer. The Royal Christmas Pudding is written and directed by Renata Allen, with new music and songs from acclaimed children’s musician David Gibb.
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