Olivier Award winners Sharon D Clarke and Matt Henry and TV favourite Catherine Tate are among a host of stage and screen stars featuring in a virtual reading for new children’s book Broadway Baby. Celebrating the Official London Theatre Kids Week and in support of the Theatre Artists Fund, the online reading of the best-selling […]
Tag Archives | Sharon D Clarke
Stars unite for Make A Difference Trust single to mark a year of closedown
Some of the most distinctive voices in the West End feature on a new charity single released to mark a year since UK theatres went dark. With representatives from every musical open in the West End when the curtains came down on 16 March 2020 along with artists from shows that should have opened in […]
Don Black and Ian McKellen to be honoured in Olivier Awards 2020
The winners of the 2020 Olivier Awards with Mastercard will be revealed on 25 October 2020 during a special programme broadcast from the London Palladium on ITV at 10.20pm. Originally due to be held in April this year, the replacement for the usual Red Carpet event will be hosted as planned by Jason Manford and […]
Tonight At The London Coliseum performance dates announced
The dates have been announced for the series of live acoustic concerts featuring a line-up of West End stars on stage at the London Coliseum. Presented by West End and Broadway producers Jack Maple and Brian Zeilinger for their new company Take Two Theatricals in association with Jamie Chapman Dixon and John-Webb Carter on behalf […]
Musical theatre stars to headline London Coliseum concert series
Seven West End stars will take centre stage in a series of acoustic concerts at London’s Coliseum which will be streamed over one week in September. Presented by West End and Broadway producers Jack Maple and Brian Zeilinger for their company Take Two Theatricals in association with Jamie Chapman Dixon and John-Webb Carter on behalf […]
Award-winners join star-packed line-up for Turn Up! live stream
Sharon D. Clarke, Noma Dumesweni, Norm Lewis and Clive Rowe are among the West End and Broadway performers who will unite with community leaders for TURN UP! – next month’s online charity event in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Raising money for four charities – The Bail Project, The Okra Project, The Black […]
Casting for MTPRIDE’s Queered announced
Casting has been announced for the launch event of MTPRIDE – the online music festival celebrating Pride past, present and future through performances of musical theatre stars from the LGBTQ+ community. Queered will feature West End performers Waylon Jacobs (Hamilton), Michael Mather (Soho Cinders), Evie Rose Lane (Footloose) and Roshani Abbey (Bring It On) along […]
Song from Martin Smith’s King to be released
The team behind the critically-acclaimed 2018 Hackney Empire staging of Martin Smith’s KING will release the single ‘We Need You Now’ next Friday (26 June 2020). One of four songs recorded in 2019 taken from the musical which charts the extraordinary life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, the song is performed by […]
Dame Vera Lynn headlines morale-boosting music video ‘We’ll Meet Again
Alfie Boe has joined the previously announced line-up of socially distanced West End stars for a unique video version of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ featuring a special message of love and best wishes from Dame Vera Lynn. The inspirational face and voice of the Second world War is working her magic once again in a special […]
West End stars join Dame Vera Lynn for We’ll Meet Again video
Dame Vera Lynn is uniting with a host of socially distanced West End stars for a special morale-boosting video aimed at the theatre industry. The inspirational face and voice of the Second World War will work her magic once again by providing a personal message of love and best wishes for a unique video version […]
Concept album for new digital musical #ZoologicalSociety
Northampton’s Royal & Derngate is releasing a star-packed concept album for new digital musical #ZoologicalSociety on Friday 27 March 2020 (the release was originally planned to coincide with a live concert performance at BEAM 2020). Written by multi award-winners Vikki Stone and Katie Mulgrew, #ZoologicalSociety is the first in a series of original music commissions […]
‘In theatre, anything can happen’: Clive Rowe chats Blues in the Night, being a grande Dame & the infinite possibilities of theatre
CLIVE ROWE – MBE and Olivier Award winner – is one of the UK’s most recognisable and best-loved performers. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he won critical acclaim early in his career for playing Enoch Snow in Nicholas Hytner’s sold-out revival of Carousel at the National Theatre, for which he received […]
Blues in the Night – Kiln Theatre
Blues in the Night continues at the Kiln Theatre, London – until 7 September 2019. Star rating: five stars ★★★★★ There is much about Blues in the Night to remind one of Ain’t Misbehavin’, the Fats Waller musical revue that recently ran at the Southwark Playhouse. Both revolve around songs of Depression-era America, a time when the blues music […]
Caroline, or Change – Playhouse Theatre
Caroline, or Change continues at the Playhouse Theatre, London until 6 April 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ After acclaimed runs at the Chichester Festival’s Minerva and London’s Hampstead Theatre, Caroline, or Change, a collaboration between Fun Home composer Jeanine Tesori and Angels in America author Tony Kushner, makes its much-anticipated […]
Company leads individual production nominations for Evening Standard Awards
Marianne Elliott’s critically-acclaimed gender-swapped version of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company leads the individual production nominations for the 64th Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Just three weeks after the show’s opening night, Company has been nominated for the award for best musical alongside Caroline, or Change, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Fun Home and Hamilton. The […]
Caroline, Or Change – West End run extended
Just weeks before the opening night of the eagerly-anticipated West End transfer of the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Caroline, Or Change, the show’s producers have announced a two-month extension to the Playhouse Theatre run. Following sold-out runs at the Chichester Festival Theatre and London’s Hampstead Theatre, the production which features a critically-acclaimed central performance […]
Guys and Dolls – Royal Albert Hall
Guys and Dolls was performed at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The legendary Royal Albert Hall turned into musical comedy heaven for a weekend. Though the venue will never be the ideal venue for musical theatre, and there have been better productions lately of Guys and […]
Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall – Exclusive gallery of images
Hailed as the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls is performed at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and an all-star cast in a semi-staged concert directed by Stephen Mear (Gypsy, Singin’ in the Rain) and narrated by Stephen Mangan. And you are in for a treat because Musical Theatre Review’s official photographer Roy Tan has taken this fabulous […]
Cast for Caroline, Or Change West End transfer season
Full casting has been announced for the eagerly-anticipated West End transfer of the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s Caroline, Or Change. Following sold-out runs at the Chichester Festival Theatre and London’s Hampstead Theatre, the production which features a critically-acclaimed central performance from Sharon D. Clarke will play the Playhouse Theatre […]
Lara Pulver and Stephen Mangan join cast of Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall
Lara Pulver, Stephen Mangan, Sharon D. Clarke and Paul Nicholas are the latest star names to be added to the cast of double Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear’s semi-staged version of the classic musical Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall next month. An Olivier Award winner for her performance in the hit revival […]
Plans to launch UK’s first Theatre Convention – StageCon – in November 2018
Some of the West End’s biggest names are lined up to attend the UK’s first ever theatre convention in London in November. Inspired by BroadwayCon, the annual theatre convention in New York which offers theatre fans the chance to get closer than ever to the stars and shows they love, StageCon will be held over […]
King: The Musical in Concert – Hackney Empire
King: The Musical in Concert, Hackney Empire, London Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ In this, the 50th anniversary year of the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, it feels appropriate to revive this musical based on his life. Although maybe “revive” isn’t the right word. King, performed in concert this […]
Follies star Tracie Bennett to host Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year gala
Olivier Award winner Tracie Bennett will host the 12th annual West End Gala for The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and the 11th anniversary of The Stiles + Drewe Prize next month. Chris Hocking will return to direct the annual gala which will this year be staged at the Savoy Theatre on […]
Cedric Neal to take on title role in LMTO and Hackney Empire production of musical King
Cedric Neal will take to the stage as Martin Luther King Jr in the first performance of Martin Smith’s King in 30 years at the Hackney Empire next month. Co-produced by the Hackney Empire and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra which returns to the venue following its successful presentation of Jerry Herman’s Mack & Mabel, […]
Revival of Blues in the Night and musical re-telling of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth to feature in Kiln Theatre’s first season
A major revival of Sheldon Epps’ musical revue Blues in the Night will feature in the first season for the newly refurbished London venue, the Kiln Theatre. Running from 22 July to 7 September 2019, Blues in the Night will be directed by Susie McKenna with a cast that will include Sharon D Clarke and […]
Caroline, or Change heads for West End transfer
Sharon D. Clarke’s acclaimed performance in Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s Caroline, or Change will be seen in London’s West End this autumn following sold-out runs at the Chichester Festival Theatre and London’s Hampstead Theatre. Currently playing Hampstead Theatre until 21 April, the Chichester Festival Theatre production will transfer to the Playhouse Theatre from 20 […]
Caroline, or Change – Hampstead Theatre
Caroline, or Change continues at the Hampstead Theatre, London until 21 April 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Caroline, or Change comes to the Hampstead Theatre from the small Minerva Theatre at Chichester where it was playing in the same season as Fiddler On the Roof. It addresses issues of race […]
Full company for Hampstead Theatre run of Caroline, Or Change
Hampstead Theatre has announced the full company joining Sharon D. Clarke for Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s Caroline, Or Change which is due to open next month following its successful run last year at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Clarke, who will reprise her acclaimed performance in the title role, will be joined by Naana Agyei-Ampuda, […]
Sharon D Clarke to host UK Theatre Awards 2017
Olivier Award-winning actress Sharon D Clarke will host this year’s UK Theatre Awards at London’s historic Guildhall next month. The star, whose recent hits include the title role in the Chichester Festival Theatre’s critically-acclaimed production of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s Caroline, Or Change, will host the glittering ceremony on Sunday 15 October. Commenting on […]
Caroline, or Change transfers to Hampstead with Sharon D Clarke reprising lead role
Tony Kushner’s and Jeanine Tesori’s celebrated musical Caroline, or Change will transfer to the Hampstead Theatre, following its run at Chichester Festival Theatre with Sharon D Clarke reprising her role as Caroline Thibodeaux. Artistic director Edward Hall commented: “Tony Kushner’s work continues to enthral audiences around the world and we are thrilled that he will […]
Caroline, or Change – Minerva Theatre, Chichester
Caroline, or Change continues at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester until 3 June. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Chichester Festival Theatre has a new artistic director, Daniel Evans, and though his tenure may have started with a bit of a blip in the revival of Alan Bennett’s Forty Years On, this inaugural […]
Interview – Sharon D Clarke on a dream role in The Life and colour-blind casting
Revived at the Southwark Playhouse, The Life at is a revival of a Cy Coleman musical which has not been seen since its original Broadway production 20 years ago. Musical theatre star SHARON D. CLARKE, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list, plays Sonja, a prostitute in 1980s New York. Musical […]
The Life – Southwark Playhouse – gallery of exclusive images
Broadway musical The Life is making its long-awaited London debut at the Southwark Playhouse, directed by original director Michael Blakemore (the run continues until 29 April 2017). See here, Musical Theatre Review official photographer Roy Tan’s gallery of exclusive images. The cast includes: Sharon D. Clarke (Sonja), Cornell S. John (Memphis), John Addison (Jojo), David Albury (Fleetwood), Jalisa Andrews (Chichi), Matthew Caputo (Oddjob), Lawrence Carmichael (Snickers), Omari Douglas (Slick), Aisha Jawando (Carmen), Thomas-Lee Kidd (Bobby), Charlotte Reavey (April), Jo Servi (Lacy), Lucinda Shaw (Tracy), Johnathan Tweedie (Theodore), T’Shan […]
The Life – Southwark Playhouse
The Life continues at the Southwark Playhouse, London until 29 April. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ There are many musicals that deal with society’s underclass, and its criminal element. The Life is one such piece: with music by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, City of Angels) and lyrics by Ira Gasman (who […]
Interview – director Michael Blakemore revisits The Life at Southwark Playhouse
Opening this week, The Life at Southwark Playhouse is a revival of a musical which has not been seen since its original Broadway production 20 years ago. For this anniversary revival, the show’s original director Michael Blakemore has returned to the show. With music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Ira Gasman and a book by […]
Chichester season – Omid Djalili to star in Daniel Evans’ Fiddler On the Roof
Comedy favourite Omid Djalili’s performance as Tevye in a major new production of Fiddler On the Roof is set to be one of the musical highlights of Daniel Evans and Rachel Tackley’s first season at the Chichester Festival Theatre. The British-Iranian comedy actor whose many credits include taking on the role of Fagin in Oliver! […]
The Life at Southwark Playhouse – casting details
Full casting has been revealed for the Broadway musical The Life which makes its long awaited London debut, directed by the show’s original Broadway director Michael Blakemore, at Southwark Playhouse from 25 March to 29 April 2017, with press night on 29 March. The cast includes John Addison (Jojo), David Albury (Fleetwood), Jalisa Andrews (Chichi), Matthew Caputo (Oddjob), Lawrence Carmichael (Snickers), Omari Douglas (Slick), Aisha Jawando (Carmen), Thomas-Lee Kidd (Bobby), Charlotte Reavey (April), Jo Servi (Lacy), Lucinda Shaw (Tracy), Johnathan Tweedie (Theodore), T’Shan Williams (Queen) and Joanna Woodward (Mary). […]
New Year Honours – Richard Eyre, Clive Rowe and Sharon D Clarke recognised
Ray Davies, Ken Dodd, Bryn Terfel, Patricia Routledge, Mark Rylance, Richard Eyre, Clive Rowe and Sharon D Clarke are among the famous names from the entertainment world celebrating their inclusion in this New Year Honours list. Receiving MBEs are Rowe and Clarke, while Kinks frontman Davies, veteran comedian Dodd, opera singer Terfel and stage and screen actor Rylance have all […]
Kerry Ellis and Sharon D Clarke play solo shows at Hippodrome Casino
Popular We Will Rock You leading ladies Sharon D Clarke and Kerry Ellis have been lined up to play concert dates at London’s Hippodrome Casino nightspot. Ellis, who created the role of Meat in the Queen musical, and the show’s original Killer Queen, Clarke will both bring their distinctive vocal talents to the popular cabaret […]
Cy Coleman’s The Life arrives in London at last
Arriving in the UK for the first time, musical The Life makes its long-awaited London debut, directed by the show’s original Broadway director Michael Blakemore. Starring the brilliantly talented musical theatre stars Sharon D. Clarke (Sonja) and Cornell S. John (Memphis), The Life will run at Southwark Playhouse for a strictly limited season from 25 March-29 April 2017, with press night on 29 March. The Life, featuring a rarely heard […]
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Lyttelton Theatre
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom continues at the Lyttelton Theatre, London until 18 May. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ It’s hard to deny the influence that blues music has had on musical theatre, indeed a great deal of western popular music owes a debt in one way or another to blues, ragtime, and African-American roots […]
Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess – Regent’s Park Open Air production in rehearsal
Rehearsals are in full flow for the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess which will run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 17 July to 23 August, with opening night on 28 July. Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre with iconic songs including ‘Summertime’, ‘I Got Plenty of Nothing’, ‘I Loves You Porgy’ and ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’, Porgy and Bess will be directed by Regent’s Park Open […]
Blues in the Night – Hackney Empire
Blues in the Night continues at the Hackney Empire, London until 4 May. Sheldon Epps’ 1980 Off-Broadway (and 1982 Broadway) show returns to London, this time spending a spell at the glorious Hackney Empire. More of a dramatic revue than a musical, per se, Blues in the Night is packed with classic songs from the Blues […]
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 […]
