West End one-off gala concert New Songs 4 New Shows at the Lyric Theatre will see theatre stars performing songs from four new musicals. The concert will take place on Monday 28 November and is produced by musical theatre production company The Stable.
The star cast of New Songs 4 New Shows includes: Douglas Hodge (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones), Haydn Gwynne (Threepenny Opera), jazz supremo Ian Shaw, Alex Gaumond (Legally Blonde, Matilda), tenor Hal Cazalet and singer/songwriter Gwyneth Herbert (The A-Z of Mrs. P).
New Songs 4 New Shows is just that, the first opportunity to enjoy a sneak preview of four exciting new musicals that will go into full production from 2017 onwards, hearing their songs for the first time in this fully staged concert production. The best in new British musical theatre with:
- Wigmaker – a modern hairy fairy tale about a beautiful wigmaker – but when she locks the door at night the wigs come to life, with music and lyrics by the acclaimed Tony Award-winning actor Douglas Hodge and book by celebrated playwright Bryony Lavery. Hodge will be performing songs from the show alongside Haydn Gwynne who will sing the showstopping ‘Women Go Grey.’
- Fanatical – a romantic comedy which takes place at a science fiction convention by Matt Board and Reina Hardy, includes a power Ballard to be performed by Game of Thrones’ Gemma Whelan in her musical and West End debut. A talented young production team will work with the Fanatical sequence, directed by Lotte Wakeham (The World Goes Round – Stephen Joseph Theatre) and choreographed by Tim Jackson (Made in Dagenham – Hornchurch).
- The Happy Prince – the classic Oscar Wilde story brought to life, with a score by opera singer Hal Cazalet and book by Michael Barry. Performances will include the heart-breaking pas de deux between the tragic Swallow and the happy Prince, directed by quadruple Oliver Award winner Maria Friedman and choreographed by hotshot Drew McOnie (In The Heights) and danced by Sophia Hurdley and Alan Vincent, both principles with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company.
- Joan – the life and times of Joan Littlewood written by Gwyneth Herbert and Mel Brimfield, with performances from Herbert singing ‘Fun Palace’, Ian Shaw performs ‘Hey Joan’ (inspired by Murray Melvin’s recollections of life with Littlewood), and a surprise guest star will sing ‘Puppet On a Shoestring’.
Douglas Hodge says: “I’ve always had a secret life as a songwriter, so when The Stable came forward to commission Wigmaker I leapt at the chance. The story started life as a short film, and then when I married a wigmaker in real life, it seemed crazy not to follow the notion all the way to the West End.
“I’ve always been envious of the way Broadway generates and develops as many new musicals as plays, and now The Stable is supporting homegrown brand new musicals. It won’t just be a chance for the audience to see new work it will be the first chance too for the composers to see their work up on its feet.”
Top West End performers also joining the company include: Jos Slovic, Laura Jane Matthewson, Emmanuel Kojo, James Smoker and Daniella Bowen.
The Stable is headed up by Neil Marcus alongside his expert team, all of whom have enviable reputations in the world of musical theatre. The company is also very proud of its close working relationship with The Kevin Spacey Foundation on its Artists Of Choice Initiative both in New York and London.
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.