FIRST LOOK: Trailer for Howard – documentary about lyricist Howard Ashman

Howard Ashman documentary

We are pleased to brings you this first look preview at Don Hahn’s new documentary about the late lyricist Howard Ashman. Ashman and composer Alan Menken worked together on Little Shop Of Horrors, God Bless You Mr Rosewater and helped to revive Disney’s animation division with The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Ashman, who was openly gay, died of complications from AIDS eight months prior to the theatrical release of Beauty and the Beast in 1991. Documentary and film producer Don Hahn worked as producer on The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. His previous documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty chronicles the period at Disney where Ashman and Menken helped to reinvigorate Disney animation. No release date for Howard has been announced as yet.

New Casting Announced for Aladdin At Prince Edward Theatre

As Disney’s musical Aladdin heads towards its first birthday, it has been announced that Matthew Croke will make his West End debut in a leading role taking on the role of Aladdin from 5 June 2017. Originally from Sheffield, Matthew has appeared previously in Annie get Your Gun (Sheffield Crucible). Singin’ In the Rain (UK Tour), Funny Girl (Menier Chocolate Factory) and West Side Story (UK Tour). He has also understudied and performed the roles of Don in Singin’ In The Rain (Palace Theatre), Eugene in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre) and Fiyero in Wicked (Apollo Victoria). Jade Ewen and Trevor Dion Nicholas will continue in the roles of Jasmine and Genie respectively. Nick Cavaliere will join the company to play the role of Iago, whilst current cast members Miles Barrow, Leon Craig and Daniel de Bourg will step into the roles of Omar, Babkak and Kassim respectively. Don Gallagher and Irvine … Read more

Disney’s Newsies To Hit Cinema Screens At End February 2017

Disney Newsies on Cinema Screens across the UK

Following it’s Tony Award-winning run on Broadway and a cross country US Tour, the Disney musical Newsies will be presented in cinemas across the UK from Sunday 19 February in the UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Inspired by the real-life ‘Newsboy Strike of 1899,’ Newsies is set in New York City at the turn of the century and tells the tale of newsboy Jack Kelly, a charismatic and rebellious leader of a group of “newsies” who dreams of a life far from the hardship of the streets. When publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies his army of newsies to strike. Newsies is based on the 1992 film that starred Christian Bale, Newsies – The Broadway Musical features a Tony® Award-winning score with music by eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) … Read more

Disney To Hold Open Auditions For Aladdin

Book now for Disney's new West End musical Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre

Disney Theatrical have announced that they will be holding open auditions for their new West End musical Aladdin. The critically acclaimed show which opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in June 2016, and Disney’s casting team will be holding auditions for both male and female singers and dancers to play ensemble and featured roles. Disney’s casting team is looking for athletic, technically trained dancers with very strong technique in all styles, including tap, as well as excellent singing voices. Male dancers with acro, gymnastic and/or tumbling skills is a plus but not essential. Singers should be excellent and be able to dance well in order to make up the ensemble. Attendees must be aged 18 years or older, eligible to work in the UK and have a playing age of 20s-30s. Actors of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds are strongly encouraged to attend. Full information, including what to wear and … Read more