Musical theatre, cabaret, comedy and drag feature in a new “secret” arts theatre festival in London this month, with a line-up including Louise Dearman, Mark Watson, Mat Ricardo and Ivy Paige.
The Sound Of Musicals is back by popular demand with a new programme of show–stopping music and songs from the greatest Broadway and West End musicals. Featuring Louise Dearman (Wicked), Hannah Waddingham (Spamalot), Tim Howar (Tonight’s The Night and Oliver Tompsett (Wicked), this limited series of concerts will feature the London Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe. Audiences can expect to hear highlights from musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Oliver, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Chicago, Sunset Boulevard, Evita, My Fair Lady and Chess. THE SOUND OF MUSICALS TOUR 11 May 2017 Symphony Hall, Birmingham 12 May 2017 Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 13 May 2017 Royal Festival Hall, London
Hopefully, this will be the first of many productions of Side Show here in the UK, although I doubt any will match the talents involved here or the transcendent brilliance of its two incredible leading ladies. Bravo!
In November 2016 The John Wilson Orchestra will undertake a major UK tour with their brand new show Music From The Movies. These concerts will celebrate Oscar-winning songs and movie scores from the Golden Era of Hollywood. Tickets are now on sale. 2016 has been a vintage year for the perennially popular John Wilson Orchestra. The release of their first live album, Gershwin in Hollywood: Live At The Royal Albert Hall, a coveted win at the Echo Klassik awards in Germany for the Cole Porter In Hollywood recording, and an annual return to the BBC Proms which sold out in record time. In September 2016 the John Wilson Orchestra made its debut at the Musikfest Berlin in a concert celebrating the MGM film musicals at Berlin’s iconic Philharmonie concert hall. The orchestra was invited to the festival on the recommendation of Sir Simon Rattle who came and played timpani with … Read more
BritishTheatre.com is pleased to bring you these first look images of Side Show the musical which opens tomorrow night at Southwark Playhouse. Tickets for Side Show are now on sale. Inspired by the real-life story of Daisy and Violet Hilton, the celebrated conjoined Siamese twins who went from a seedy sideshow act to become the highest paid Vaudeville stars of their time, Side Show is a remarkable story about love, acceptance and embracing the unique. With a score by Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls) and book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Elegies For Angels and Punks and Raging Queens) and additional material by Bill Condon (Director – Dreamgirls, Gods and Monsters), Side Show’s Broadway production in 1997 marked the first time that two actresses shared the nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress. The cast features Louise Dearman (Wicked) and Laura Pitt-Pulford (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Regent’s Park) as conjoined … Read more
Producers have announced that Louise Dearman and Laura Pitt-Pulford will play conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton in the much anticipated UK premiere of the Broadway musical Side Show at Southwark Playhouse. Inspired by the true story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, Side Show is a remarkable musical about love, acceptance and embracing the unique. Louise Dearman (Daisy) is best known for being the first actress to star as both Glinda and Elphaba in the hit musical Wicked, playing both roles to great acclaim in the West End. Her many other theatre credits include Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (UK Tour), Bianca in Kiss Me Kate (Royal Albert Hall), Mrs D in The Water Babies (Leicester Curve), Eva Peron in Evita (UK Tour) and Jan in Grease (West End). Laura Pitt-Pulford (Violet) received a 2016 Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance … Read more
The comic performance of the night, and the source of most consistent pleasure, came from the very talented Tom Edden who made an acting masterclass out of the portrayal of the reluctant Vice President, Alexander Throttlebottom (is there a character in a Broadway musical with a better name?). Taking his cue from that name, Edden presented a neurotic, chaotic, frantic but ambitious, character: he stole every scene he was in and even some he was not in. Superb.
BritishTheatre.com caught up with Lorna Luft recently to talk about her current tour with The Judy Garland Songbook asking what audiences might expect from the tour. The Judy Garland Songbook has given Lorna Luft, Garland’s daughter the opportunity to revisit her mother’s legacy through her songs and what a catalogue of songs it is. “It’s all of her songbook, these are songs that nearly every person knows and they are going to have the experience of being able to remember where they were and what there doing when they first heard these songs.” Lorna said. Judy Garland’s career spanned some 40 years as a film actress, vaudevillian, recording artist and concert performer. During that time she appeared in over two dozen films with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Mikey Rooney, some of which would go on to become beloved favourites including The Wizard Of Oz. “Audiences will hear everything … Read more
