The work of multi-award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz will be in the spotlight when the popular pay-to-stream musical theatre flavoured web series The Theatre Channel returns next month.
Presented by Adam Blanshay Productions, Park Theatre, Playbill and The Theatre Café, the special episode will be narrated by Schwartz who will also join the resident ensemble The Café Five for an exclusive finale.
Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award-nominated choreographer Fabian Aloise (Evita, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), the journey through the glittering career of the composer and lyricist whose hits include Godspell, Pippin, Wicked and The Prince of Egypt will feature two of the West End production of Wicked’s most memorable stars Alice Fearn (Come From Away) and the only woman to play both Elphaba and Glinda, Louise Dearman (Evita) along with The Prince of Egypt’s Christine Allado (Hamilton).
Streaming from 17 September, the episode will also include performances by Stewart Clarke (Be More Chill, Fiddler On the Roof), Melanie La Barrie (Wicked, & Juliet) and Cedric Neal (Back to the Future, Motown: The Musical). They guest artists will be joined by The Café Five – Anthony Starr (Guys and Dolls, Sheffield Crucible), Danny Becker (The Prince Of Egypt, Dominion Theatre), Kayleigh Thadani (Disney’s Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre), M-Jae Cleopatra Isaac (Billy Elliot, Victoria Palace) and Vicki Lee Taylor (A Chorus Line, London Palladium).
For the first time The Theatre Channel has collaborated with a current West End production on a music video by featuring the cast of the critically-acclaimed revival of Pippin at the Charing Cross Theatre (Ryan Anderson, Ian Carlyle, Alex James-Hatton, Daniel Krikler, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson, Natalie McQueen, Genevieve Nicole, Jaydon Vijn) performing ‘Magic to Do’.
Commenting on his involvement in the project, Schwartz said: “I’m honoured to be collaborating with The Theatre Channel on Episode 8, featuring my theatre songs. I’ve very much enjoyed and admired the previous episodes, so I know I and my work are in very good hands.
“An MTV/VH1-meets-Musical Theatre hybrid, The Theatre Channel uses the skilful and imaginative videos they produce to offer new perspectives on musical theatre songs, rediscovering them through a new lens.
“With ‘my episode’ – Episode 8 – we plan to give fresh and modern twists to some popular favourites and offer some ‘hidden gems’ as well. As a certain Glinda once said: ‘I couldn’t be happier’.”
Following the successful collaboration with Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre on Episode 7: Rodgers and Hammerstein, The Theatre Channel continues to partner with theatrical venues to celebrate the return of live entertainment by co-producing Episode 8 with the Park Theatre. The London venue was the setting for a hit production of Schwartz’ Rags in early 2020.
On behalf of The Theatre Channel producer Adam Blanshay added: “The Theatre Channel are delighted to continue our in-focus exploration of the anthology of a composer’s work with the incredible Stephen Schwartz.
“Spanning over six decades, Stephen’s work includes some of the most cherished musicals of all time. We are also incredibly grateful to Park Theatre for their collaboration with us on this episode. Their production of Rags was an immense success, and it’s an honour to bring the work of Stephen Schwartz back home to Finsbury Park.”
Available to stream via Stream.Theatre on 17, 18 and 19 September and available on demand from 20 September, the creative team for the eighth episode in the series includes musical supervisor Michael England, videographer Piers Foley, sound designer Keegan Curran, set and costume design by David Shields and lighting designer Jack Wills with hair and make-up by Katy Harris.
Previous episodes (1-7) of The Theatre Channel are available to purchase at Stream.Theatre.
Angela Thomas
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