This week’s video is available on YouTube:
This week’s news includes:
Clive Rowe joins the Prince of Egypt replacing Gary Wilmot.
The Olivier Award winner will take over the role of Jethro, as Gary Wilmot leaves to begin Anything Goes.
Clive Rowe will remain with the show from 1st July until 16th October.
Rowe made made his debut in Nicholas Hynter's production of Carousel and won the Olivier for his performance as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Richard Eyre's revival of Guys and Dolls. He has also appeared in TV shows including Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned.
Tickets for the Prince of Egypt are available here: https://www.theprinceofegyptmusical.com
Sutton Foster will replace Megan Mullally in Anything Goes.
Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster will replace Will & Grace star Megan Mullally in the upcoming revival of Anything Goes at the Barbican.
Sutton joins Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot and will open on 23 July (rescheduled from 5 June) for a strictly limited run until 17 October.
They will be joined by Samuel Edwards as Billy Crocker, alongside Nicole-Lily Baisden as Hope Harcourt, Carly Mercedes Dyer as Erma and Haydn Oakley as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.
Cole Porter and PG Wodehouse's classic musical is set on the SS Americana and follows two pairings that try to find love on the high seas. It features numbers such as "I Get A Kick Out of You", "You're the Top", "It's De- Lovely!" and "Anything Goes".
Kathleen Marshall, who directed and choreographed the 2011 revival, will return to helm a brand new version of the show. The creative team also includes set designer Derek McLane, costume designer Jon Morrell, music supervisor Stephen Ridley and wig designer Campbell Young.
Sutton Foster won her second Tony Award when she played Reno Sweeney in the 2011 Broadway revival of Anything Goes.
Tickets are on sale now. https://anythinggoes.tickets.co.uk/
Ramin Karimloo replaces Kayi Ushe in Sunset Boulevard after being announced as Simba in the Lion King.
Karimloo will play Joe Gillis in the upcoming concert production of Sunset Boulevard at Alexandra Palace Theatre.
Led by Mazz Murray in the role of Norma Desmond, with Zizi Strallen (Betty Schaefer), Sharif Afifi (Artie Green), Christopher Howell (Manfred Sheldrake) and David Shaw-Parker (Cecil B DeMille).
The company is completed by Jack Harrison-Cooper, Jordan Lee Davies, Momar Diagne, Chloe Hart, Aimee Hodnett, Sejal Keshwala, Anelisa Lamola, Evie Rose Lane, Cameron Sharp and Bleu Woodward.
Directed by Jordan Murphy and conducted by Alex Parker. Choreograpy is by Joanna Goodwin, while Paul Smith will supply the sound design. Lighting design is by Jack Weir, wig design is by Sam Cox and keyboard programming is by Stuart Andrews.
There are two performances at 3pm and 7pm on Sunday 13 June 2021.
Tickets are on sale now. https://alexandrapalaceevents.seetickets.com/tour/sunset-boulevard
Gus Gowland and Craig Mather’s EP In Motion is out now.
The EP consists of 5 original pop songs co-written by Craig Mather and Gus Gowland.
Early in the pandemic, writer Gowland (Pieces of String) and performer Mather (Les Miserables, The Wind In The Willows) began sharing their experiences of mental health challenges via WhatsApp, to stay connected and to support one another. These messages evolved into lyrics and musical ideas, transforming over time into an ambition: a pop EP exploring mental health. From this ambition, In Motion emerged.
Each song is inspired by a different – or shared – experience of mental health challenges, reflecting the stress and anxiety exacerbated by the pandemic and repeated lockdowns. With Damocles’ sword hanging over the live theatre industry, sharing voice notes on WhatsApp turned into a pressure-free way to stay connected to creativity.
“The EP has been a light in an otherwise dark year”, says Gus. “It started so organically – just two friends sharing ideas, without any pressure of making anything. So it’s lovely that it’s become this collection of songs that we’re really very proud of”. Craig adds, “We started making music to help and reflect our mental health. It feels so right to be releasing the EP during Mental Health Awareness Week”.
In Motion is available on streaming platforms worldwide now.
Rachel Tucker’s EP Lessons is also out now.
Rachel has also recorded a launch event that is streaming on Stream.Theatre until 23rd May.
A mix of my new original music and some classic covers Rachel says “you’ve never heard me sing but I’ve always wanted to.”
The Old Vic have announced their Back Together season.
The seventh season from artistic director Matthew Warchus, which will run from July 2021 to July 2022 and combines both streamed and live shows.
Highlights include:
In celebration of Pride Month the 2017 monologue series Queers, curated by Mark Gatiss, will be re-released on BBC iPlayer (2 June) to accompany two brand new One Voice monologues (30 June) to for Your Old Vic on YouTube
To mark Refugee Week, HOME? is three new One Voice monologues curated by Noma Dumezweni for Your Old Vic on YouTube (14–20 June)
Jeremy Herrin directs the sixth in the live Old Vic:In Camera series, Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter with Daniel Mays and David Thewlis which will also welcome a small live ‘studio’ audience (7–10 July)
Company in Residence Wise Children will return for the world premiere co-production of Emma Rice’s adaptation of the 1987 film Bagdad Cafe. The cast includes Patrycja Kujawska, Le Gateau Chocolat and Sandra Marvin (19 July-21 August, Old Vic: In Camera 25–28 August)
Old Vic Baylis director Katy Rudd directs the world premiere of Bess Wohl’s Camp Siegfried starring Patsy Ferran and Luke Thallon (7 September–30 October)
Festive favourite A Christmas Carol, written by Jack Thorne and directed by Matthew Warchus, will return for live audiences (13 November 2021–8 January 2022)
Lyndsey Turner will direct Caryl Churchill’s play A Number starring Paapa Essiedu and Lennie James (24 January–19 March)
Long-time collaborators Terry Gilliam and Leah Hausman co-direct Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods (16 April-9 July 2022)
The next Baylis Director will be Tinuke Craig who will join the theatre for 12 months to direct a full-scale production, receive a fund with which to commission a new piece of work, and shadow the artistic director, using The Old Vic’s space and resources to research and develop projects.
Artistic director Matthew Warchus said: “We are absolutely delighted to be reopening our doors to live audiences and rebooting in person all of the other important work that The Old Vic engages in alongside its main stage productions. It’s particularly gratifying to be able to play our part in bringing theatre freelancers (including writers, directors, designers, choreographers, musicians and performers) back to work after an impossibly challenging period.
“Through astonishing efforts and support from friends old and new, we’ve made it to reopening. We don’t take that for granted. We feel incredibly fortunate to be back. Very grateful to all those who made it happen. And very excited to be Back Together.”
There will also be new commissions for writers Diana Nneka Atuona, Natasha Gordon, Regina Taylor and Roy Williams as well as an adaptation of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr, adapted for the stage with book and lyrics by Caroline Bird and music by Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler.
Full details https://www.oldvictheatre.com
Alice Fearn has announced six more guests for Intermissions Live.
Sophie Evans, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Sam Tutty, Jenny Fitzpatrick, Natalie Green and Shekinah McFarlane join Alice Fearn and the cast of Intermissions Live in the west-end on Monday 24th May.
Having played opposite each other for 2 years in the west-end production of Wicked, Alice Fearn and Sophie Evans will reunite for one night only at the Vaudeville Theatre to celebrate the return of live theatre in London. Joining them, will be 2020 Oliver Award Winner Sam Tutty and star of ITV’s All Star Musicals Trevor Dion Nicholas.
Competing the guest line up are Jenny Fitzpatrick, Natalie Green and Shekinah McFarlane from the 2020 digital production of Godspell, who will join previously the announced Nicole Raquel Dennis, Blake Patrick Anderson, Molly Lynch, Lauren Samuels and Emma Kingston.
As always, the Intermissions team are passionate about showcasing graduating students who have been affected by the pandemic and are extremely proud to welcome Mountview’s Sha Dessi, Daniel Luiz and Jo Stephenson to the family as the evening’s resident choir.
Further details about the evenings program can now also be revealed, which include a series of exclusives and never before seen performances...
Nick Barstow, Emma Lindars and Alice Fearn will give the first live performance of their recent charity single “You’ve Got A Friend”.
Lauren Samuels and Sophie Evans will also give their very first live performance of a track from their upcoming album Chasing Rainbows.
Blake Patrick Anderson and Nicole Raquel Dennis will perform an exclusive Rent vs Hair mash up and Molly Lynch, Emma Kingston and Lauren Samuels, who all starred as Cathy in various 2020 productions of The Last Five Years, will sing a specially arranged trio from the show.
Ticket available at www.intermissionslive.com
The Turbine Theatre has kicked off their MT Fest UK, and announced Rally Fest in June.
Full details about MT Fest UK can be found in my previous blog:
Paul Taylor-Mills and The Turbine Theatre will present Rally Fest – a celebration of LGBTQ+ voices and stories, opening at the Battersea based theatre from 6-13 June 2021.
The festival, which includes 12 shows, sets out to promote allyship within the creative industries and encourage artists to take up space with LGBTQ+ work. Rally Fest aims to promote ways in which recognising the craft of under-represented voices can make society a richer, more cohesive and dynamic place to live. The festival will feature both new work and re-energised classics that mark important moments of our history.
Paul Taylor-Mills, Artistic Director, the Turbine Theatre said, “The opportunity to mount a festival of new work from under-represented voices has been an ambition of mine for some time. Over the last year we’ve had a huge amount of time to reflect about our practice, to think about the kind of work we want to create, encouraging artists to tell the stories of today. My hope is that #RallyFest provides us with a platform to do this, as well as allowing us to look back on some seminal moments in LBGTQ+ theatre.
During the curation of the festival, I’ve come across artists who I didn’t previously know existed, and have learned a huge amount about what is and isn’t out there for under-represented theatre-makers.
We hope the festival allows for conversation and for change. I believe so strongly in the power of theatre to unite people and to educate and to learn, including myself. I look forward to sharing our varied programme with our loyal audience and can’t wait to re-open our doors on 17 May.”
The Rally Fest Line up is:
Queens of MT
An Evening OF Show tunes with Drag Queens: Misty Van Cartier (Priscilla Queen Of The Dessert), River Medway, Samantha Stone and your Host; Tiana Biscuit (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bugsy Malone).
Wreckage
Sam’s life is completely devastated by the sudden, unexpected death of his fiancé Noel. Left alone with his fractured mind, Sam works tirelessly to keep Noel close to him as he wrestles with his guilt and anger at the world. But when Sam stumbles upon new scientific theories about consciousness and our very existence, he is convinced there is a way to really see Noel again.
Harlow Playhouse presents this reading of new work by emerging talent Tom Ratcliffe (VELVET, Circa) directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair. Wreckage is a touching and emotional two-hander about learning to live with a loss that can never be resolved.
Safe Sex
A collection containing the following three plays by Harvey Fierstein.
Manny and Jake – Two young men meet in a bar. Manny is literally praying for sex; Jake is only too eager to oblige. What the latter does not know is that Manny has AIDS.
Safe Sex – Two recently reconciled male lovers confront the challenge of their on-again, off-again relationship in the time of AIDS. Ghee, an aging, congenial gay man, may be using guidelines for safe sex as an excuse for his fading sex drive. This dismays Mead, a virile and no-nonsense blue-collar type. The emotional seesaw of their interactions creates the compelling dynamics of this fascinating short piece.
On Tidy Endings – A man has died of AIDS, leaving behind a son, a male lover, and an ex-wife. She still loves him and accepts the fact that he was gay, and that he died in the arms of his male lover, who selflessly cared for him right up until the end.
Steenie by Ian Hallard
George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, was a Seventeenth Century celebrity. He was beautiful, charismatic, and his lust for power led to him becoming the favourite of not one, but two, English kings.
Steenie is a sexy, comedic, historical romp, and tells the true story of Villiers’ rise and fall, and of his infamous love affair with King James I.
Blowing Whistles
Matthew Todd is the award winning author of the hit LGBT mental health book Straight Jacket, described by Elton John ‘as an essential read for every gay person on the planet’. His first play, Blowing Whistles, last seen in London in 2008, is a painfully honest and funny drama about the complications of aspects of modern gay life.
Obsession
Obsession is a 1920’s gothic-horror romance about a young, black, American paranormal debunker who travels to England to find his Sceptics Society’s long absent founder but instead discovers the woman he left behind, intent on reliving their relationship in ways that will challenge this sceptic to his core.
Boy Out The City
Boy Out The City is a brand new intimate autobiographical one man show written and performed by Declan Bennett (Once, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fatherland, Kiss of the Spiderwoman).
A story about moving in and moving out of the Big Smoke and the love loss and sexuality that showed up in the most unexpected places.
Work In Progress Showing: Oh We Do Like To Be
HighTide present a work in progress extract of a new play by commissioned writer Sonia Jalaly.
A stack of postcards, a trail of secrets and an innate curiosity leads Beth to Blackpool where the lights flash and the rain glistens.
Heterophobia
Gays are the majority. Straights are illegal – Thanks to a population explosion, the UK government began to actively encourage gay relationships. Decades later, being gay is the law, babies are born only by government sanctioned IVF and anyone found harbouring heterosexual tendencies is punished severely in a correctional facility.
Fister Act
A autobiographical musical about my inability to get past the knuckles. Fister Act, is a life-affirming queer fantasy adventure through time, space, bodies, and brains. Join intergalactic sexpot and non-binary drag icon in the making, Fatt Butcher, as we journey beyond the knuckles, battle our demons, and free ourselves from shame with the help of an enchanted bottle of poppers and the disembodied voice of Liza Minelli.
Showtune Disco Bingo
WARNING: this is not your ordinary bingo, Fatt Butcher’s Disco Bingo is a FULL ON PRODUCTION BABES! And this time we are bringing you an all musical theatre special, so get your tits and teeth on and jazz hands at the ready.
A Brief History Of Drag
Join international multi award winning Cabaret star Velma Celli as she celebrates the most iconic drag moments of film, stage and popular culture, many of which helped cultivate and shape her into the living drag legend she is today!
To book tickets visit https://www.theturbinetheatre.com/whatson
And the Southwark Playhouse have announced SWK Fest.
Are you a theatre company with a show that was supposed to go up before the pandemic hit? Are you looking for somewhere to put it on? Do you want to pop along to the Southwark Playhouse for a day and get it in front of an audience?
They have got the perfect opportunity for you…
They’re looking for up to twelve pieces to put on in our socially distanced Large space for one night each. They have twelve nights of shows, that’s Monday 5th until Saturday 17th July (with no shows on Sunday) and they’d like your production to be one of them.
What they’re after:
– A finished piece of theatre that’s ready to be staged
– It can be a play, it can be a musical, new writing, a revival, or it can be none of those things – you tell us!
– It should be no longer than two hours (not including an interval, if you have one)
– There should be a creative team already attached to the project, and a stage manager
When they want it:
– By Monday May 17th, please, before 10am
What else you need to know:
– You’ll get a 50% split of the box office after selling tickets at £15 a pop, to a capacity of 110, in a socially distanced set up, less a £1 per ticket fee
– You’ll have the space and a dressing room from 12.30pm on the day of your show with a 7.30pm curtain
– You’ll have tech support from one of our stonking technicians
Sounds great! How do I sign up?
Please complete the form they’ve linked below, and give them as much info as you can. All applications will be read and considered by our team, and all applicants will be contacted by Saturday May 22nd to give you the green light or to let you know that they’re not able to host your show this time around. Whether it’s a yes or a no, everyone will hear back directly from them.
If you need this information sent to you in a different format or would like to discuss sending a submission in an alternative way, please let them know by emailing Camille and Charlotte at eventproposals@southwarkplayhouse.co.uk.
Please email eventproposals@southwarkplayhouse.co.uk or give us a call on 0207 407 0234 if you have a question.
UPDATE- Applications are now closed.
Be More Chill transfers to the West end for ten weeks.
It will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London later this year.
Featuring a Tony-nominated score by Joe Iconis, a book by Joe Tracz and inspired by Ned Vizzini's novel, the show follows a teen who takes a pill to become more popular.
The musical became a huge cult sensation following millions of plays online after an initial premiere in 2015. The production enjoyed a stellar run off-Broadway before a six-month spell on Broadway, where it completed its season on 11 August 2019.
Returning to the show will be Blake Patrick Anderson (Michael Mell), Miracle Chance (Christine Canigula), Stewart Clarke (The Squip), Eloise Davies (Brooke Lohst), Scott Folan (Jeremy Heere), Christopher Fry (Mr Heere, Mr Reyes and others), James Hameed (Rich Goranski), Gabriel Hinchliffe (Ensemble), Eve Norris (Ensemble), Millie O'Connell (Chloe Valentine), Miles Paloma (Jake Dillinger).
It first opened at The Other Palace in early 2020 and will return to the Shaftesbury Theatre from 30 June to 5 September 2021, before & Juliet returns to the venue.
The production is directed by Stephen Brackett, choreographer is Chase Brock, set designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Bobby Frederick Tilley, lighting designer Tyler Micoleau, sound designer Ryan Rumery and projection designer Alex Basco Koch. Associate Director is Gavin Mitford, Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Charlie Rosen, music vocal arrangements by Emily Marshall and UK casting is by Will Burton.
For tickets visit https://www.bemorechillmusical.com
New rock musical, Dorian will be available on Stream.Theatre from Friday 4th – Saturday 26th June 2021.
Following the success of their Gatsby A Musical, filmed and streamed at Cadogan Hall, Ruby in the Dust now present Dorian A Rock Musical. This exciting new production gives Oscar Wilde’s classic an epic, modern twist with a newly composed score that sears through the action, propelled by influences from Bowie to Brecht.
A rock star, trapped in eternal adolescence, wants to change the course of his life and discover love. But, can you find love if you’ve sold your soul to the Devil? Whilst sitting for the eccentric society painter, Basil Hallward, Dorian is discovered by the influential Lord Henry and is soon under the spell of this dangerous, charismatic music impresario. Dorian, the secret child of love and death, is suddenly thrust into a confusing world where love dare not speak its name.
With Keith Ramsay fresh from his critically acclaimed performance as Sergei Rachmaninoff in Preludes at Southwark Playhouse as the titular character (Armour, Charing Cross Theatre; Julius Caesar, The Globe), the cast comprises John Addison (The Life, Southwark Playhouse; A Little Night Music, Garrick Theatre), Fia Houston-Hamilton (Mamma Mia!, UK Tour; Wolf of Wall Street, Immersive London), Robert Grose (Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre; EastEnders, BBC), Lewis Rae (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Regents Park Open Air Theatre; Mame, Hope Mill Theatre), Johanna Stanton (The Rocky Horror Show, No. 1 UK Tour; The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Apollo Theatre), Sophie Jugé (Coppelia, Birmingham Royal Ballet; Good Omens, BBC) and Tristan Pegg (The Merry Wives of Windsor, RSC; The Shape of the Impossible, National Theatre).
Although The Picture of Dorian Gray was written over one hundred and twenty years ago, its themes of vanity, mortality, and corruption still resonate. The show began life as a reading at Cafe Royal, in the very room where Oscar Wilde used to stage his own readings. Its run at the Other Palace was cancelled just two days before opening night as the pandemic forced the first lockdown in March 2020. Now, filmed at a secret location in the heart of the West End, it will be brought to audiences online.
Composer Joe Evans comments, This is a fantastic opportunity to present Oscar Wilde’s iconic fairy tale in a timeless setting. Oscar Wilde, if not a rock star, would have definitely floated in those circles if he were around today. His Gothic prose lends itself perfectly to a rock score, without losing the sense of irony and fun inherent in the text. I am thrilled to be working with such a dream cast who will bring this musical to life.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.stream.theatre/season/127 for £15.
Julian Clary joins Cabaret All Stars at Proud Embankment from 25th June.
PROUD Embankment proudly presents it's newest, hottest show. Cabaret All Stars is a Vegas style show introduced to London's West End by one of the nations favourite stars.
With performances embodying the spirit of the swinging sixties & sexy seventies, we give you an experience of a lifetime. Enjoy world-class jazz musicians and on-stage bands, award-winning acrobats, fire breathers and burlesque beauties. Be prepared to be amazed. This is an unforgettable night out.
Standard tickets include entry, a welcome cocktail and a 3-course meal
Premium tickets include entry, premium seating, a welcome cocktail and a 3-course meal
VIP tickets include entry, VIP seating, a welcome cocktail, a 3-course meal and half a bottle of prosecco
Drinks tickets include entry to the show and a welcome house cocktail on arrival (not available on Saturdays)
Alyn Hawke’s Understudy Jazz comes to the Turbine on 28th June.
A celebration of the role of understudies, previously produced at Sing Easy, Piano Works West End.
After over a decade in show-business, Alyn Hawke celebrates the role of the Understudy and reflects on his time covering leading roles in London’s prestigious West End.
Featuring jazz arrangements from classics such as Top Hat, An American in Paris, 42nd Street, Follies and more, it promises to be an evening of song, dance and whimsical story-telling that you won’t want to miss.
Special guests include Natasha Barnes (Funny Girl, Falsettos), Sarah-Marie Maxwell (Top Hat, Follies) and Thomas Charles (Berlin Berlin, Classic Brit Awards).
Watch my interview with Alyn Hawke from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9g-viDOYTQ&t=3s
And one of his performances from Sing Easy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM0tWmPoDfs
Dear Evan Hansen returns in October.
Producer Stacey Mindich was thrilled to announce that the London production of Dear Evan Hansen, which won the 2020 Olivier Award Best New Musical, will reopen at the Noel Coward Theatre on 26 October 2021. Tickets for the West End production will go on public sale on 19 May 2021.
In addition, Mindich announces that the Broadway production will open on 11 December 2021 when the Tony Award-winning Best Musical will return to its home at the Music Box Theatre five years after its original Broadway opening.
The third year of the record-breaking North American Tour will relaunch on 7 December 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina before visiting more than 30 cities across the US and Canada in the 2021/22 season. For a full list of tour cities and venues, visit www.dearevanhansen.com
“It’s a remarkable feeling to put plans in place to relaunch all three Dear Evan Hansen companies, though we, like everyone in the theater industry, are facing considerable challenges,” Mindich said. “We will proceed safely and smartly to ensure a safe and equitable workplace for everyone when we return, and protect our cast, crew and audiences amidst a world forever changed and continuously evolving due to both the global pandemic and the cultural and racial reckoning. We hope that Dear Evan Hansen’s message of human connection and acceptance will feel more vital than ever.”
As part of the relaunch, Mindich has promised that, with the help of their mental health not-for-profit partners in the UK and the US, all three productions will hold a special night in their first weeks of performances to honor mental health care workers and volunteers, who will be invited to attend as guests.
“Mental well-being has become a core part of our show’s narrative over the years, and we hear from so many audience members about how the show has helped them on their own journeys to mental wellness,” Mindich said. “We have had long-standing relationships with some of this countries and the United Kingdom’s mental health not-for-profits and we want to honour the mental health care workers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly through these trying times.”
Obtaining Government backed contingency insurance to protect against further unscheduled closures remains a priority. All plans for the re-opening of Dear Evan Hansen are in accordance with the Government’s latest directives and therefore subject to change. While COVID guidelines and safety protocols are still being worked out, the intention is to open at full capacity.
Dear Evan Hansen features a book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy®, Tony® and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif.
Dear Evan Hansen opened at the Music Box Theatre to rave reviews on December 4, 2016, where it has broken all box office records. It went on to win six 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the Drama League Award for Outstanding Musical Production, two Obie Awards, a Drama Desk Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Helen Hayes Awards. The show launched its First North American Tour at the Buell Theatre in Denver, Colorado in October 2018 and has since performed in more than 40 cities across North America playing for more than 1.5 million audience members.
The West End Production of Dear Evan Hansen opened at the Noël Coward Theatre in November 2019 and recently won the 2020 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, along with two other Olivier Awards. The show’s now-iconic blue polo and arm cast are part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.
The Grammy Award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen, produced by Atlantic Records, was released in February 2017, making an extraordinary debut on the Billboard 200 and entering the chart at #8 – the highest charting debut position for an original cast album since 1961 – and went on to win the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Moulin Rouge to start performances at the Piccadilly Theatre in November
The London production of the Broadway musical, based on the acclaimed Baz Luhrmann film. The production will begin performances at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End on 12th November with a press night on 8th December.
“At its heart, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is about a group of artists fighting to keep their stage show alive," said producer and CEO of Global Creatures, Carmen Pavlovic in a statement. "That element of the story has felt very real for us as a company, as we’ve contended with the Covid shutdown and delay to our UK premiere. But now we are so excited and so honoured to finally confirm that our show will form part of a revitalised West End. We cannot wait for the red windmill to start turning in London!”
Directed by Tony nominee Alex Timbers, the musical is based on the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film about a young American writer in Paris who falls in love with a mysterious performer at the Parisian nightclub. The musical features a book by John Logan and a score of contemporary pop hits, with orchestrations and arrangements by Justin Levine. The production is choreographed by Sonya Tayeh.
“The last 12 months have proven uniquely challenging in engaging with performers as we look to cast the UK production," Timbers said in a statement. "Nevertheless we have all been astounded by the perseverance and sheer talent of those we have seen, and I am excited to see the cast coming together. It feels great to finally be confirming our UK premiere dates. I am thrilled now that we can look forward to bringing Moulin Rouge! to life in London and to welcome our audiences."
Moulin Rouge! The Musical opened on Broadway in summer 2019 and will reopen in New York after the pandemic theatre shutdown on 24 Sept. The Broadway cast stars Aaron Tveit, Danny Burstein, and Tam Mutu.
Tickets are available now https://www.moulinrougemusical.co.uk
The cast of Les Mis appeared on the One Show.
The full cast is listed in my previous blog: https://www.thatstageyblog.com/post/sixty-second-theatre-news-roundup-may-10th
Watch the performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zh5qGzKh88&feature=youtu.be
Monday Night at the Apollo kicks off next week.
The star line up has been confirmed for the first concert of the series for Monday Night at the Apollo – which will be performed in front of a socially distanced audience at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue on Monday 24 May, and simultaneously livestreamed to viewers at home via the theatre discovery platform Thespie, which is dedicated to bringing the best live and recorded theatre to audiences around the world.
Aimie Atkinson (Six, Pretty Woman), Cassidy Janson (&Juliet, Beautiful), Lucie Jones (Waitress, Rent), Cedric Neal (Chess, Mowtown the Musical) and Julian Ovenden (South Pacific, Downton Abbey) will join on-stage for an intimate night of music and theatrical chat, featuring ovation worthy performances of songs from their favourite genres. Host Greg Barnett (Miss Littlewood, Swallows and Amazons) invites his audience behind the curtain to catch these castmates as you’ve never seen them before. Sharing their most cherished memories and experiences from their careers, alongside performances of music personal to them, West End royalty celebrate the craft and industry they’ve so dearly missed.
Monday Night at the Apollo has been conceived of to support the theatre industry, and a percentage of profits will be donated to Acting for Others, an organisation made up of 14 individual theatrical charities.
Tickets are on sale now for all three concerts: Monday 24 May, Monday 14 June and Monday 5 July. The producers will continue to review each date as it approaches and react according to government guidelines at the time. Line ups for the second and third concerts will be announced soon.
Producers Greg Barnett and Hugh Summers said, “We’re excited to be announcing the first of our all-star line-ups for ‘Monday Night At The Apollo’. We have five of British Theatre’s best performers joining us for this night to celebrate the re-opening of our wonderful industry and we simply cannot wait to be out on stage performing in front of a live audience. We are thrilled that all three performances will also still be live-streamed to viewers at home via Thespie.com. The industry faces huge challenges in its recovery and we still hope to be able to raise funds for the charity ‘Acting For Others’ to support the thousands of freelancers who continue to be hit hardest as our sector begins to slowly reawaken. Theatre and its audiences know how vital it will be to support each other on the road to recovery and in these seemingly crucial final months, we ask your support, kindness, and most of all your theatrical presence, as we embark on our journey back to the stage. Public health and the safety of our audiences are still our utmost priority and the performances will adhere to the current government guidelines.”
This concert series is musically directed by George Dyer, and produced by Greg Barnett and Hugh Summers for Wild Mountain Productions Ltd.
Tickets are on sale here https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/monday-night-at-the-apollo/
And can be streamed here https://thespie.com
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