The real spark behind this production is Drew McOnie’s blistering choreography. Even though the cast is probably the youngest around, this is the best devised and performed choreography I have seen all year (the only other contender, In the Heights, is another McOnie production).
This week, we headed down to King’s Cross Theatre to check out the Olivier nominated In The Heights. Here are our top five reasons why you should embrace your inner Latino and go and see it.
Whilst Hairspray has a serious message of integration and understanding, it’s ultimately a musical full of joy and love, and those emotions poured off the stage thanks to this extremely talented cast.
Following the huge success of the current tour of Hairspray, Producer Mark Goucher has announced that the show will return at the end of 2017 for a second tour of the UK. The current tour of hairspray began at Leicester’s Curve Theatre and will conclude in May 2017. The production has been seen by just under a quarter of a million people with nine venues still to visit. Mark Goucher said: “I am delighted that after seeing this new production of Hairspray, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have personally extended the rights to the show, in order for us to embark upon a second UK tour. This next tour of Hairspray will give us the opportunity to bring the show to new venues which we were unable to visit in 2015/16 and also to return to theatres which welcomed the show during its current tour.” Hairspray is directed by Paul … Read more
Producers at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have announced today that Michelle Terry will play the title role of Henry V directed by Robert Hastie and that Declan Bennett will take on the title role in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar to be directed by Artistic Director Timothy Sheader. Henry V will be presented from 17 June – 9 July 2016. Olivier Award-winning actress Michelle Terry plays the title role in Henry V. With a wealth of Shakespearean roles to her credit, Terry takes on the role of King Henry in this new production as part of Shakespeare400. Terry is most noted for her numerous roles at The Globe, RSC and the National Theatre (currently appearing in Cleansed), as well as Privacy (Donmar Warehouse) and Before the Party (Almeida). In 2011 she was awarded ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ at the Olivier Awards for her … Read more
A new production, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, begins previews at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on Wednesday 30 November. The first UK staging of Strictly Ballroom The Musical, based on the much loved film, runs until 21 January 2017. Drew McOnie (In The Heights, Hairspray) will direct and choreograph the production, which is based on the original Australian musical created by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. Terry Johnson joins the creative team to adapt the original book. McOnie said: “The film Strictly Ballroom has had such a huge impact on me. It inspired me as an 8-year-old dancer to follow my choreographic instinct and gave me the desire to explore the many different ways of communicating ideas through dance. The opportunity to bring that passion and personal connection to the next stage of Strictly Ballroom’s journey means the world to me; and having Baz Luhrmann’s support is a dream … Read more
Speaking to choreographer Drew McOnie, you can’t help but get caught up in the infectious enthusiasm of youth and be in awe of the talent that this young theatre creative exudes. It’s enticing stuff! Douglas Mayo caught up with him briefly to discuss his past, his current shows and where he is headed next. What got you into choreography rather than just working as a dancer? It was sort of backwards for me in that I learnt dancing so that I could learn the vocabulary I needed for my dances. As a result I got the dancing bug and went from there. I loved watching the shows and I was always dancing around and making up shows myself, and I was affected by seeing performances. As a young boy, I would come out of the theatre saying I wish that was my idea or that I’d made up that choreography … Read more
In sum this is a show that deserves all the plaudits that have come its way and should receive a long run both at the King’s Cross Theatre and in even larger West End venues.
