Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends continues at the Gielgud Theatre, London until 6 January 2024. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ What a glorious evening of unalloyed brilliance at the Gielgud with a superb cast headed by Sondheim muse Bernadette Peters and fellow Broadway legend Lea Salonga feasting on the works of the greatest composer of our time in a glittering revue originally conceived as a one-off tribute by entrepreneur Cameron Mackintosh after he left us at 91 with so many rich and profound memories.
Tag Archives | Julia McKenzie
Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year – Sondheim Theatre
There was no arguing with the judges’ choice for Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY for short) after a knock-’em-dead performance of ‘The Worst Pies in London’ by star of the future Milly Willows.
Full company confirmed for Sondheim’s Old Friends
The full cast has been unveiled for the highly anticipated West End return of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends with a strictly limited season at the Gielgud Theatre later this year.
Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2022 – 12 finalists announced
The Stephen Sondheim Society has announced the 12 finalists in the running for the 2022 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY) contest. Returning to the West End for the first time since the competition’s two-year Covid-enforced hiatus, the nominees will take to the stage of the Sondheim Theatre during the gala final […]
Tickets for a live screening of the sold-out Sondheim’s Old Friends Gala to be released
Tickets for a live screening at the Prince Edward Theatre of the sold-out Sondheim’s Old Friends Gala are to be released today, 30 March 2022. Priority will be given to the thousands of people who signed up in the hope of securing tickets but couldn’t be accommodated for the performance at the Sondheim Theatre. Booking […]
An all-star cast of Old Friends will celebrate Sondheim at the Sondheim
Cameron Mackintosh has invited many of Stephen Sondheim’s old friends to join him in celebrating his extraordinary talents and legacy at the theatre which was recently rebuilt in Sondheim’s honour. The all-star cast for OLD FRIENDS so far includes Michael Ball, Petula Clark, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Bonnie Langford, Adrian Lester, Damian Lewis, Julia Mckenzie, […]
CD Review: Anyone Can Whistle – Studio Cast Complete Recording
ANYONE CAN WHISTLE – Studio Cast Complete Recording – 2 CD (JAY RECORDS – CDJAY2 1457) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The 23 year wait for the much-anticipated complete recording of Stephen Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle has finally come to fruition and the crop is as delicious and mouthwatering as anything […]
New Year Honours – Matt Henry, Julia McKenzie, John Tiffany and more are recognised
Olivier Award winner Matt Henry leads the musical theatre contingent in the New Year Honours List with an MBE for services to the art form. Henry, who won the Olivier for Best Actor in a Musical in 2016 for his role as Lola in Kinky Boots, is one of several honours recipients from the performing […]
Clive Rowe hosts Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and Stiles + Drewe Prize
Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe will host the 11th annual West End gala for The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and the 10th anniversary of The Stiles + Drewe Prize next month. Featuring a special performance by fellow Olivier Award winner and guest judge Janie Dee, the event will be staged at the […]
Hey, Old Friends! – An 85th Birthday Tribute to Stephen Sondheim – Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Hey, Old Friends! – An 85th Birthday Tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Galas such as this one to celebrate composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s 85th birthday are notoriously difficult to pull off. Everything from the tricky issue of performers’ availability to limited […]
Interview – Millicent Martin returns to London for Sondheim Birthday Gala
MILLICENT MARTIN is making a rare visit to London this Sunday 25 October to appear on stage at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in Hey, Old Friends! An 85th Birthday Tribute to Stephen Sondheim. Born in Romford, Essex, Martin first trod the boards in the children’s chorus at the Opera House in Covent Garden, and later turned up […]
Hey, Old Friends! Sondheim 85th Birthday Tribute – images and interviews with the stars of the show
Some of the performers of Hey, Old Friends! An 85th Birthday Tribute to Stephen Sondheim have posed for photos (pictures by Darren Bell) and revealed their own personal Sondheim anecdotes and the dream roles they would love to play in one of his musicals. Tim Flavin, Anita Harris, Rula Lenska, Robert Meadmore, Nicholas Parsons and former […]
Elaine Paige judges the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year
Twelve student finalists from top drama schools across the UK will compete for the title of this year’s Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY), on Sunday 17 May at 3pm at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End. Each student will sing a song by Stephen Sondheim and, at his personal request, […]
SSSSPOTY and Stiles & Drewe Prize winners revealed
The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year/Stiles & Drewe Best New Song competitions took place at the Garrick Theatre, London. Girl power took over from Twelve Angry Men at the Garrick Theatre for one glorious Sunday afternoon as Corrine Priest and Tamar Broadbent walked away with the glittering prizes. Priest, a 21-year-old from […]
Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2014/Stiles & Drewe Prize
The 12 finalists of this year’s Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Competition 2014 (SSSSPOTY) will sing their hearts out competing for the title on Sunday 18 May at 3pm at the West End’s Garrick Theatre. The young artists will not only sing a Sondheim number, but at the composer/lyricist’s request, they will also perform 12 […]
