Ex Strictly star Pasha Kovalev to choreograph Barista The Musical
Former Strictly Come Dancing glitterball-winning pro Pasha Kovalev will provide the Latin-flavoured choreography for the new original production Barista The Musical next year.
Currently making his musical theatre debut in the UK touring production of new musical La Bamba!, the Russian Latin and ballroom dancer was a professional partner for eight seasons of the hit BBC show, reaching four finals and lifting the glitterball trophy in 2014 with celebrity partner Caroline Flack.
Following his departure form Strictly, Kovalev starred in the West End alongside a number of fellow Strictly alumni in Here Come the Boys and this year he choreographed the feature film Paris Christmas Waltz.
Written by Sussex-based husband and wife team Nigel and Anna Newman, the musical – directed by West End actress Sarah Redmond – will premiere at Horsham’s Capital Theatre from 12-21 September 2024.
Michael Ball and Lucy St Louis join star line-up for My Favorite Things concert
Double Olivier Award winner and British musical theatre treasure Michael Ball and West End Wicked’s current Glinda, Lucy St Louis are the final headline additions to the all-star line-up for this December’s My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 8oth Anniversary Concert.
They will join the previously announced Daniel Dae Kim, Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden, Ashley Park, Aaron Tveit, Marisha Wallace and Patrick Wilson for the two concert performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 12 December.
Celebrating the timeless music of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the concert will feature the 40-piece Rodgers & Hammerstein Concert Orchestra conducted by Simon Lee, a line-up of international stage and screen stars, a West End chamber choir, a dance ensemble and surprise guest appearances.
Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Christopher Gattelli directs the show at the venue which previously premiered the original productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific and The King and I.
Guest list for the first West End chat show
West End and Broadway stars Rachel Tucker and Andy Nyman and illusionist and mentalist Derren Brown will be the first on the guest list for the West End’s first chat show this December.
Hosted by Carl Mullaney (recently seen as Albin in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s hit production of La Cage aux Folles), the first A Spotlight On Live show will debut at the Sondheim Theatre on 10 December.
Tickets are now on sale for the event which offer theatre lovers a glimpse behind the scenes and allow them to get closer than ever to their favourite performers.
A Spotlight On is a new streaming service where subscribers can discover, learn from, and access the world’s greatest innovators, educators and experts in live theatre.
London revival for Songs for a New World
Kai Wright will direct a London revival of Jason Robert Brown’s song cycle Songs for a New World at Upstairs at the Gatehouse early next year.
Commenting on the production which will play the Highgate venue from 6 February until 3 March 2024, Wright said: “Having made my professional directorial debut with this production in Southend last year, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to give this beautiful show a further life at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, as part of what is sure to be an exciting and innovative new era for the venue under the artistic direction of Annlouise [Butt] and Isaac [Bernier-Doyle].
“The themes of life, love and existential turmoil continue to resonate 28 years after its original Off-Broadway outing, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to explore this collection of stories, masterfully scored by the irrefutably brilliant Jason Robert Brown, within the context of the 2020s.”
The creative team for the production also includes musical director Liam Holmes, sound designer Glenn Oxenbury, lighting designer Jason Fenn and production designer Sophie Goodman.
2024 UK and Ireland tour announced for hit West End production of Grease
The hit West End production of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s Grease will follow its hugely successful run at the Dominion Theatre by heading out on the road again in 2024.
Directed by Leicester Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, the 2024 UK and Ireland tour will begin at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley on 12 April 2024 and will run through to 16 November 2024 with its final dates due to be played at Sheffield Lyceum. Star casting will be announced at a later date.
Lead producer Colin Ingram confirmed the tour news just days before the curtain was due to come down on the recent Dominion Theatre run which had been seen by over 500,000 people, making it the venue’s most successful summer production since We Will Rock You. The production received four WhatsOnStage Award nominations for Best Musical Revival, Best Choreography for Arlene Phillips and Best Supporting Performer in a Musical for original cast members Jocasta Almgill and Paul French.
The production features designs by Colin Richmond with orchestrations and musical supervision by Sarah Travis, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Tom Marshall and Richard Brooker, video and production design by Douglas O’Connell and casting is by David Grindrod.
Dylan Townley announced as next Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer
Musical Theatre Network (MTN), Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) and the Octagon Theatre, Bolton have announced Dylan Townley as the next Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer.
Commenting on the award, the composer, lyricist, music director and pianist whose credits include the multi-award-winning How to Win Against History and Milky Peaks (both with Seiriol Davies and company) and the upcoming Miss Wales (commissioned by Theatr Clwyd and co-created with Francesca Goodridge, Daniel Lloyd and Emma Reeves) said: “I am delighted to have been chosen as the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer. The chance to play an ongoing role in a busy producing theatre is a dream job for a composer, and a rare opportunity in our industry.
“The Bolton Octagon is a special place to develop new work, be inspired by brilliant colleagues, and contribute to the theatre’s outstanding programme of shows and community life. Thank you to Mercury Musical Developments, Musical Theatre Network and the Mackintosh Foundation for their vital support of new writing and musical theatre.”
On behalf of the Otagon Theatre, artistic director Lotte Wakeham said: “We are delighted to welcome Dylan to the Octagon and to be working with him over the coming months. It is an exciting time at the Octagon as we move into our autumn/winter season, with lots of projects for Dylan to get involved with. He will be a fantastic addition to the Octagon team and we are looking forward to getting his valuable creative input into our programme.”
Natalia Scorer, executive director of MMD, added: “We are delighted that Dylan will be the next Resident Composer and we believe he and the Octagon Theatre will be a great fit for each other. Dylan is hugely talented and we hope this will be a wonderful development opportunity for him – and we know he will bring so much to the Octagon as well. Opportunities like this for composers are rare and valuable, so we’d like to thank The Mackintosh Foundation for their continued support of this scheme.”
The Cameron Mackintosh Foundation-backed development scheme pairs musical theatre composers with venues giving the recipients the opportunity to be involved in a range of work which could include underscoring plays, setting text to music or creating their own new work.
Launched in 2011, the scheme has awarded paid placements to 16 musical theatre writers to date. Venues involved have included the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dundee Rep, Lyric Hammersmith, Leeds Playhouse, Curve, British Youth Music Theatre, the New Wolsey Theatre, Hope Mill Theatre, The Lowry and Theatr Clwyd.
Angela Thomas
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