REVIEW: Funny Girl, Savoy Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Book now for Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre

Funny Girl Savoy Theatre 19 April 2016 5 Stars Book Tickets | More Info Following a sell-out season at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Funny Girl has now opened at London’s Savoy Theatre. Funny Girl is the musical biography of the early life and initial success of Ziegfield star Fanny Brice. The musical with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, has a book by Isobel Lennart, which has been revised for this production by Harvey Fierstein. This is the first time that Funny Girl has been presented in London since 1966. A long enough gap that all but a few remember the original production and many remember the film as something they saw quite a while ago, giving them fresh eyes when it comes to the revival of this classic. It is to the enormous credit of the production team, that they have chosen to create an entirely … Read more

REVIEW: Bar Mitzvah Boy, Upstairs At The Gatehouse ✭✭✭

Bar Mitzvah Boy

Bar Mitzvah Boy Upstairs At The Gatehouse 11 March 2015 3 Stars BOOK NOW Originally produced in 1978 in London, Bar Mitzvah Boy with a score by Jule Styne and lyrics by Don Black didn’t last closing after 78 performances. In this reworked production, Don Black has unearthed some unused Styne melodies and given them lyrics to flesh out characters and a complete book revision has been undertaken by David Thompson. Bar Mitzvah Boy is the story of Eliot Green who is about to undertake his Bar Mitzvah and his family. Much to the dismay of his family he flees the synagogue during the ceremony, leaving his family in pieces. Bar Mitzvah Boy is very much a tale of a middle class London family. Family politics pervade throughout. Dinner with the Green’s is an affair to be navigated with extreme caution as Harold, boyfriend to Eliot’s sister Lesley discovers. Prior … Read more

Savoy extends booking for Funny Girl starring Sheridan Smith

Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice. Funny Girl to transfer to London Savoy Theatre in April

Due to unprecedented demand, the critically acclaimed production of Funny Girl, which is fast selling out its run, has extended booking at the Savoy Theatre for a further four weeks until 8 October 2016. Tickets for the extension of Michael Mayer’s production starring Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress and Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice go on sale from 10am on 8 February. With music by Jule Styne (whose musical Gypsy recently completed its award-winning run at the Savoy Theatre, starring Imelda Staunton), lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, the Broadway smash which skyrocketed Barbra Streisand to stardom, is revived with book revisions by Harvey Fierstein. Sheridan Smith plays Fanny Brice, who rose from being a Brooklyn music hall singer to become one of Broadway’s biggest stars under producer Florenz Ziegfeld. The score features now-classic songs such as People, You Are Woman, I Am Man, I’m the Greatest … Read more

Funny Girl – Rehearsal Images Released

Funny Girl opens at the Savoy Theatre in April 2016

As Funny Girl prepares to preview at the Menier Chocolate Factory, we are pleased to bring you these great photographs from the rehearsal room featuring Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice. Funny Girl returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 première. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, the Broadway smash which skyrocketed Barbra Streisand to stardom, is revived with book revisions by Harvey Fierstein. Sheridan Smith plays Fanny Brice, who rose from the Lower East Side of New York to become one of Broadway’s biggest stars under producer Florenz Ziegfeld. While she was cheered onstage as a great comedienne, offstage she faced a doomed relationship with the man she loved. With a score featuring now-classic songs such as “People”, “You Are Woman, I Am Man” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade”, this brand new production promises to be … Read more

Funny Girl At The Savoy Theatre – Tickets On Sale Now

Funny Girl starring Sheridan Smith at the Savoy Theatre. Tickets now on sale

Having broken box office records at the Menier Chocolate Factory a few months ago. It has been announced that legendary musical Funny Girl will transfer to the Savoy Theatre in London for a strictly limited season and tickets are now on sale. Starring Sheridan Smith and Darius Campbell, Funny Girl tells the fascinating bitter-sweet story of Fanny Brice (Smith), whose vocal talents and comedic ability see her rise from Brooklyn music hall singer to Broadway star, and her tempestuous relationship with gambler Nicky Arnstein. Featuring some of the most iconic songs in film and theatre history, including “People” and “Don’t Rain On My Parade”. This bold new production, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, a book by Isobel Lennart from an original story by Miss Lennart, with revisions by Harvey Fierstein, is directed by Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch & Spring Awakening on Broadway). … Read more

Sheridan Smith To Star in Funny Girl At Menier

Sheridan Smith to play Fany Brice in Funny Girl

It was announced today that a major new revival of Funny Girl will be presented at the Menier Chocolate Factory starring Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice. The show will be presented from 20 November 2015 – 5 March 2016. The new production will be directed by Michael Mayer, the Tony winning director whose credits include Spring Awakening, Thoroughly Modern Millie, American Idiot and Hedwig And The Angry Inch. Funny Girl returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 première. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, the Broadway smash which skyrocketed Barbra Streisand to stardom, is revived with Sheridan Smith playing Fanny Brice, who rose from the Lower East Side of New York to become one of Broadway’s biggest stars under producer Florenz Ziegfield. While she was cheered onstage as a great comedienne, offstage she faced a doomed relationship … Read more

REVIEW: Gypsy, Savoy Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭✭

Imelda Staunton in Gypsy at London's Savoy Theatre

Everyone in this company is superb in their part, everyone can really sing, really dance and really deliver the goods in terms of dramatic and comic acting. This is that rare beast: an exquisitely cast musical where the requirements of the parts have more importance in the casting process than potential box office draw or Twitter popularity. It is difficult to believe that there has ever been a better Rose than Staunton creates here.

Lara Pulver and Peter Davison Join Imelda Staunton In Gypsy

Imelda Staunton to appear in Gypsy at The Savoy Theatre

It has been announced that Peter Davison (Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Doctor Who) will join the cast of Gypsy playing Herbie alongside Imedla Staunton as Moma Rose. Lara Pulver (Parade, Honk!, The Last Five Years) will reprise the role of Louise with further casting to be announced. Gypsy is considered by many to be the greatest of the Broadway musicals. It tells the true story of ambitious showbiz mother Momma Rose, who treks across America with her daughters Baby June and Louise in search of success with their homespun vaudeville act. As times change, Momma Rose is forced to accept the demise of vaudeville and the rise of burlesque, as well as her daughters’ quest for autonomy. A musical fable with book by Arthur Laurents, Gypsy has music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, choreography by Stephen Mear, designs by Anthony Ward, … Read more