It’s a simple enough formula, but with Times Square Angel is doesn’t quite work. Described as a “hard-boiled Christmas fantasy” you can’t help but get the feeling that many of the cast are performing in a different show altogether.
Baz Bamigboye in today’s Daily Mail has reported that Baz Luhrman is looking at possible London theatres for his stage musical version of his hit film Strictly Ballroom. Based on the 1992 hit movie, the stage production played in Sydney this year and is due to travel on to Melbourne with other Australian stops in contention. Baz is apparently hoping to bring Strictly to the West End in late 2015 or early 2016 if a theatre can be found, but with big musicals like Newsies, Kinky Boots, Pippin, Aladdin, Motown, Elf and others looking for musical houses the show may have to wait a bit. In the meantime apparently, there are revisions being made to the production before its Melbourne opening. Watch this space for more news and in the meantime enjoy this trailer of the Australian production.
Three of the UK ’s most popular and internationally successful musical theatre stars have joined forces to record a critically acclaimed new British musical. Kerry Ellis, Ben Forster and Louise Dearman appear on the new recording of Alexander S. Bermange’s three-person musical The Route To Happiness, which was embraced by critics and audiences alike during its run at London ’s Landor Theatre last year. This album of the complete show includes new and reconceived material that BBC comic songwriter Bermange has created for the musical since its premiere production, and is produced by Mike Dixon, one of the UK ’s foremost Musical Supervisors. The Route To Happiness charts the individual and interweaving experiences of three present-day Londoners in pursuit of their respective dreams: finding love, making money, and becoming famous. A musical with humour and heart, listeners will be amused, moved, and possibly even made to question their own desires … Read more
Ahead of its opening in December, the producers of the new musical Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown have released these great preview tracks. Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown stars Olivier Award-winning actress Tamsin Greig (Episodes, Green Wing, Jumpy, God of Carnage), the smart new musical comedy Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown also stars Haydn Gwynne (The Audience, Billy Elliot), Jérôme Pradon (Les Miserables, Pacific Overtures), and Anna Skellern (BBC’s The Interceptor, Lip Service). Powered by a live band onstage, music by David Yazbek and a laugh-out-loud book by Jeffrey Lane (writers of the current West End hit musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), the colour and chaos of Pepa’s Madrid will light up London this winter. On the streets of Madrid, a city pulsing with art, industry, and passion, Pepa’s world is unravelling. Her lover leaves her. And then she meets his wife. … Read more
This Christmas, The Old Red Lion Theatre will present a new take on Dickens’ Christmas classic in a new adaptation by Neil Bartlett. Using Charles Dickens’ original words in the bold theatrical reimagining of the much-loved Christmas story, the ensemble play all the roles – singing, creating sound effects and new stage configurations through their invigorating physicality. Dickens’ quintessential story of ghosts, greed and goodwill is given a totally new slant in this chilling, contemporary, fresh production of love, compassion and forgiveness. The cast will be lead by Canadian Alexander McMorran in the role of Scrooge, with Liam Mansfield and Cat Gerrard. Director, Gus Miller says “A Christmas Carol is one of our best-loved stories for good reason. It’s vivid, joyous, moving and at times it’s downright scary. It’s impact is so powerful that it’s responsible for much of today’s Christmas tradition. A Christmas Carol will plat at The Old … Read more
Room On The Broom, based on the picture book of the same name by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler flew into the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue today to cast a magical spell over its young audience. Presented by theatre company Tall Stories, this 55 minute show was an absolute delight, and had the audience aged 3+ hooked from start to finish. Room On The Broom tells the story of a friendly witch (Yvette Clutterbuck), her cat (Emma MacLennan) a dog and a frog (David Garrud) and a bird (Daniel Foxsmith) who take to the skies on a broom and face a fearsome dragon (Daniel Foxsmith) in this magical, musical adventure. Room On The Broom is a colourful and beautifully staged telling of a story that many youngsters present in the audience knew intimately. One youngster sitting next to me knew large slabs of the text and recited along as … Read more
Last night (25 November 2014) at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End, Ronan Keating opened in the cast of the internationally award-winning Once The Musical to play Guy opposite Jill Winternitz as Girl. Guests included Jonathan Bailey, Sam Bailey, Cherie Blair, Julia Bradbury, Barbara Broccoli, Fiona Bruce, , Raquel Cassidy, Nicki Clarke, Michelle Collins, Keith Duffy, Rupert Evans, Mariella Frostrup, Michael Graham, Orla Kiely, Maureen Lipman, Shane Lynch, Lesley Manville, Nick Moran, Douglas Reith, Anneka Rice, Rachael Stirling, Linzi Stoppard, Claire Sweeney, Storm Uechtritz, Indira Varma and Tim Wonnacott. Based on the much-loved Oscar-winning film, Once bursts onto the stage with a musical celebration of love, friendship and Irish music performed by cast of actor/musicians. A chance encounter between a girl and guy from different worlds but with a shared love of music and songwriting sparks a deep connection and a tender, unexpected romance.
Following highly successful tours in 2012 and most recently in 2014, which was the 125th anniversary year of the publication of Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat, producers The Original Theatre Company and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds will once again be touring Craig Gilbert’s stage adaptation of this quintessentially British comedy in 2015, opening at the Cambridge Arts Theatre on 21 January. In an attempt to escape the stresses of city life, three friends, J, Harris and George, accompanied by their faithful canine companion Montmorency, decide to take to the river in order to relax and rejuvenate. The holiday, however, quickly unravels and descends into chaos. Originally intended as a guide to boating on the Thames, Jerome’s ripping yarn of youthful friendship, mischief and folly celebrates the very essence of Britishness. In Craig Gilbert’s production, this classic tale of boating misadventure comes complete with a working pub, … Read more
