Ray Shell performs Back to Black at The Pheasantry, London, until 22 February. From traditional gospel music to West End musicals in which he has starred. through a reading from his first novel Iced, to Kate Bush and Amy Whitehouse pop classics, and right up to date with a terrific song from the Cyndi Lauper […]
Godspell returns to West End for charity gala
The acclaimed Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz’s musical Godspell is to be staged in the West End for the first time since it premiered there 42 years ago. And the one-off charity gala concert performance at the Lyric Theatre (Monday 19 May), in aid of Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, will be introduced on stage by David Essex, whose casting […]
Jersey Boys celebrates 2,500th performance
Jersey Boys celebrates its 2,500th performance in London today (Thursday 20 February) at the Prince Edward Theatre, where it opened in 2008. Its last performance there will be on Sunday 9 March, and then it moves to the Piccadilly Theatre, opening there on Saturday 15 March. The show will celebrate its sixth birthday in London […]
Drunk – Bridewell Theatre
Drunk continues at the Bridewell Theatre, London until 1 March, then tours. Director/choreographer Drew McOnie’s first foray into a bold new world where dance elements are as strong as the music in musical theatre is a real success. Structuring movement, scenes and songs around a conceptual plot, this revue style show – a world premiere […]
Do I Hear a Waltz? – Volksoper, Vienna
Do I Hear a Waltz? – Musicalsoiree was performed at the Volksoper, Vienna. Even though the title Do I Hear a Waltz? might be a bit misleading, particularly in Vienna, this evening wasn’t dedicated to waltz music, but to the works of Stephen Sondheim. In the cast were Julia Koci (Guys and Dolls, Frau Luna), […]
Emerging Artists season at Crazy Coqs
Simon Greiff for SimG Productions, in association with the Crazy Coqs, is presenting the Emerging Artists season. Following last November’s successful launch (as part of the inaugural London Festival of Cabaret), Emerging Artists will return for three nights at the acclaimed Crazy Coqs. This season will feature emerging British based writers and performers presenting original […]
Nicola Hughes leads Porgy and Bess cast at Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed lead casting for the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Rufus Bonds Jr and Nicola Hughes play the title roles with Phillip Boykin re-creating his Tony Award nominated performance as Crown, and Sharon D Clarke as Mariah. Rufus Bonds Jr is an American actor who has appeared in The Color […]
All Star Productions stages How to Succeed
All Star Productions is presenting a rare professional revival of the 1961 Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow from 6–24 May (press night is 9 May). The musical follows the rise of J. Pierrepont Finch, who uses a little handbook called […]
Finian’s Rainbow – Union Theatre
Finian’s Rainbow continues at the Union Theatre, London until March 15. The older a musical, the more its reliance on stereotypes becomes a struggle to deal with in a modern revival. Finian’s Rainbow is now of pensionable age, and some of its characterisations – most notably of Irish traditions and folklore – do rankle. But director […]
Oh What a Lovely War – Theatre Royal Stratford East
Oh What a Lovely War continues at the Theatre Royal Stratford East until 15 March. This year is big for anniversaries. One hundred years ago saw the commencement of the First World War, it also saw the birth of Joan Littlewood whose Theatre Workshop devised this ‘musical entertainment’ that brilliantly depicts the follies of war […]
Peter Straker’s Brel is his first album in 30 years
Paul Vale goes along to the launch of actor and singer Peter Straker’s new album, Peter Straker’s Brel. In the plush surroundings of the 1707 Wine Bar just off Piccadilly, actor and vocalist Peter Straker launched his new album Peter Straker’s Brel. Straker has been a familiar face and voice in the West End for […]
Fame the Musical tour – behind the scenes
Musical Theatre Review writer Jonathan Vickers was invited to attend rehearsals for the upcoming UK tour of the multi award-winning musical Fame the Musical. The show has enjoyed seven West End runs since premiering in the USA in 1988 and continues to be performed all over the world. Based on the Oscar-winning musical film and hugely […]
