Burt Bacharach, the American composer, arranger, songwriter, record producer and singer who wrote hundreds of songs will always be remembered for the influence he had on popular music of the 20th century, as Michael Darvell reports..
Tag Archives | Burt Bacharach
Numerous stars pay tribute to legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach
Music lovers across the world are mourning the passing of the legendary Burt Bacharach at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 94.
CD Review: Some Lovers – Various Artists
SOME LOVERS – Various Artists (Broadway Records – DIG20821 – Digital Download) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Burt Bacharach is one of the world’s most acclaimed, award-winning composers/songwriters. His music is as diverse as his audiences, spanning generations and continents, as he is celebrated both as a pop culture icon and […]
World premiere of My Best Friend’s Wedding The Musical cancelled
Michael Harrison and David Ian have announced the cancellation of this September’s world premiere tour of My Best Friend’s Wedding The Musical citing continued uncertainty surrounding Covid restrictions across the UK. Starring former X Factor winner turned musical theatre leading lady Alexandra Burke (The Bodyguard, Chicago, Sister Act), the show which had already been postponed […]
Rescheduled dates for launch of My Best Friend’s Wedding musical
Michael Harrison and David Ian have announced the new dates for the world premiere of My Best Friend’s Wedding The Musical. Featuring former X Factor winner turned musical theatre leading lady Alexandra Burke (The Bodyguard, Chicago, Sister Act) as meddling food critic Julianne Potter, the show will now open at the Manchester Palace Theatre on […]
Alexandra Burke to headline My Best Friend’s Wedding The Musical
Former X Factor winner turned musical theatre leading lady Alexandra Burke will star in the world premiere of My Best Friend’s Wedding The Musical. Based on the hit 1990s movie that starred Julie Roberts and featured a scene-stealing performance from Rupert Everett, the musical will debut at the Plymouth Theatre Royal on 16 September 2020 […]
CD Review: Legends – Gary Williams
LEGENDS – Gary Williams (BOS Records – BOS6817) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Gary Williams is back with a new CD and this time it is a love letter to the greats of yesteryear: Sinatra, Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Presley, Nat ‘King’ Cole, and others. Tracks include: ‘Mr Bojangles’, ‘Mack the Knife’, ‘Route […]
There will always be a place to enjoy his comic genius’: Remembering Neil Simon
NEIL SIMON, the most prolific comedy writer in the world who died on 26 August 2018 at the age of 91, had a very long career as a writer for television, the theatre and the cinema. There was just nobody else to match him, not even Shakespeare! Michael Darvell looks back at the life of a total comic […]
Bacharach and Sater’s Some Lovers – casting details
The Bodyguard’s Ben Richards will return to musical theatre to star in the European premiere of Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater’s Some Lovers at the upcoming From Page to Stage Summer Festival at The Other Palace. Richards [pictured left] will be one of four actors cast to play two characters, Ben and Molly, caught between the […]
Full West End rep company for From Page to Stage
A cast of 56, more than 50 composers and writers, and an 18-strong creative team will form a musical rep company in the West End for this year’s From Page to Stage Summer Festival at The Other Palace. Aria Entertainment’s annual event will bring a packed programme of new musicals to its new home at […]
From Page To Stage festival – Bacharach’s Some Lovers heads line-up
Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater’s Some Lovers will receive its fully presented European premiere as part of this year’s From Page To Stage summer festival. Bacharach’s second original musical is a surprise inclusion in the line-up for Aria Entertainment’s annual event which moves to its new home at The Other Palace for three weeks this […]
Promises, Promises – Southwark Playhouse
Promises, Promises continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 18 February. Star rating: two stars ★ ★ ✩ ✩ ✩ Is Promises, Promises really only three hours long? It feels longer, and not in a good way. Based on Billy Wilder’s film The Apartment, this musical has some serious creative welly behind it, with a book […]
Promises, Promises at Southwark Playhouse – exclusive images
Thanks to our official photographer Roy Tan, here is a brand new gallery of images showcasing the first major London production of the hit Broadway show Promises, Promises since its 1969 West End premiere. Directed by Bronagh Lagan, the new production of the multi award-winning show continues at the Southwark Playhouse from until Saturday 18 February. The cast includes: Craig […]
Original Bacharach musical Some Lovers heads for London workshop
Members of the creative team behind Promises, Promises, due to begin previewing on Friday (13 January), have revealed they are working on the European premiere of Burt Bacharach’s second original musical Some Lovers. Aria Entertainment’s Katy Lipson and Senbla’s Ollie Rosenblatt will present an industry-only workshop reading of the show written by music legend Bacharach and […]
Booking open for Promises, Promises at Southwark Playhouse
Booking opened this week for the first major London production of the hit Broadway show Promises, Promises since its 1969 West End premiere. The new production of the multi award-winning show will play the Southwark Playhouse from Friday 13 January 2017 until Saturday 18 February. Featuring a number of timeless pop songs from the songwriting […]
Close to You – Burt Bacharach Reimagined by Kyle Riabko – album launch
Fans of the acclaimed Burt Bacharach review show Close to You will be pleased to hear that the original London cast has made a recording. The show started off its life in the UK as What’s it all About? at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2015 before transferring to the Criterion in Piccadilly, although its origins date back to a […]
Promises, Promises to return to London for first time since 1969
Promises, Promises – the hit Broadway musical based on the multi Oscar-winning 1960 film The Apartment – with music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David and book by Neil Simon, is to get its first London production since its 1969 West End premiere. Promises, Promises, about a junior executive at an insurance company who sets out to […]
Cast recording of Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined to be released
The original London cast recording of the West End show Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined will be released on digital format next month ahead of the July release of a two-disc physical copy. Kyle Riabko’s re-working of the greatest hits of the legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach began Off-Broadway, transferred to London’s Menier Chocolate Factory and then […]
Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined extends its West End run
Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined has extended its West End transfer at the Criterion Theatre until 14 February 2016. The new booking period is now on sale. Opening to public and critical acclaim on 15 October, new musical Close to You featuring Burt Bacharach’s songbook, broke box office records at the Criterion Theatre with the biggest advance in the venue’s […]
Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined – brand new images
The West End transfer of Close to You – Bacharach Reimagined, the new musical featuring Burt Bacharach’s songbook, opened last week at the Criterion Theatre, London. After the performance, Burt Bacharach joined the cast in Piccadilly Circus for a very special performance of ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head’. See below for some brand new production images from […]
What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined – Menier Chocolate Factory
What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined continues at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London until 5 September. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The Menier Chocolate Factory has transformed itself this summer into a 1960s hippie retreat – the perfect setting for a remarkable celebration and ‘reimagining’ of the songs of Burt Bacharach by Canadian […]
What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined – great new images
The UK premiere of What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined at the Menier Chocolate Factory opens tonight so here are some fabulous new images of the show from our official photographer Roy Tan. Burt Bacharach’s celebrated songbook is given a new interpretation in the production, thanks to Kyle Riabko’s original musical arrangements. Directed by Oliver Award-winner Steven Hoggett, the show is a 90-minute non-stop […]
Interview – Kyle Riabko on the inspiration behind What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined
KYLE RIABKO is the 27-year-old actor-musician Canadian behind the Menier Chocolate Factory’s upcoming production, What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined. As the title suggests, it’s a show that explores the contribution that songwriter Burt Bacharach has made to popular music, but rather than a jukebox rehash of this unparalleled songbook, it’s a respectful and impassioned reworking, performed by a small […]
Bacharach show What’s It All About? has UK premiere at Menier Chocolate Factory
The Menier Chocolate Factory will host the UK première of What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined from 3 July to 5 September (press night is 15 July). Burt Bacharach’s celebrated songbook is given an exciting new interpretation with Kyle Riabko’s thrillingly original musical arrangement. This show, directed by Olivier Award-winner Steven Hoggett, is a 90-minute non-stop musical journey in which the 27-year-old Riabko leads a talented […]
The Jewish Legends – Upstairs at the Gatehouse
The Jewish Legends continues at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London, until 15 March. Star rating: 3 stars ★ ★ ★ Where to start with The Jewish Legends? There are so darn many of them this idea for a show, the great Jewish talents who have graced showbusiness down the years, could run longer than EastEnders. Part One gives us […]
Carnaby Street the Musical is labour of love
Hackney Empire, London, then touring until June 29. Since the back catalogue of The Beatles is already being hurtled through nightly over at the Savoy Theatre for Let it Be, there are no climactic ‘na-na-nah-nahs’ – indeed the Fab Four hardly get a look in here – in Carnaby Street the Musical, a jukebox musical which […]
