Top 100 Greatest Musicals Results: 40 – 31

Top 100 Musicals of All Time Poll Results

We’re almost done with this massive project to identify the Top 100 Greatest Musicals as judged by our readers and musical theatre fans around the world. In this latest instalment Alan Menken, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Kander and Ebb all make repeat appearances. Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts on the results. 40. Little Shop Of Horrors Long before Alan Menken became Mr Disney, he and writer Howard Ashman wrote an Off-Broadway musical that over the years has become one of the world’s favourites. Little Shop Of Horrors was based on the 1960 low budget black comedy that starred a young Jack Nicholson. Premiering Off Off Broadway, then moving to Off Broadway, the show ran for five years before moving to London and Sydney amongst other locations. Frank Oz of The Muppets fame made a great movie adaptation of the film bowing to studio pressure … Read more

In The Heights London Sets Closing Date

In The Heights Kings Cross Theatre

In the Heights, the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical has announced that it will close at the King’s Cross Theatre on Sunday 8 January 2017. In The Heights won three 2016 Olivier Awards – Outstanding Achievement in Music, Best Choreographer and Best Supporting Actor for David Bedella. In The Heights is the creation of Lin-Manual Miranda,  whose latest musical Hamilton is Broadway’s hottest ticket, opening here in October 2017. Joining the cast of In The Heights from 16 September are Arun Blair-Mangat as ‘Benny’ (“Kinky Boots”); Juliet Gough as ‘Camilla’ (“Matilda”) and Stephanie Rojas as ‘Carla’ (“Wonder.land”). Sarah Naudi, who has been with the show since it opened at the Southwark Playhouse in 2014, will play the role of ‘Vanessa’ and Damian Buhagiar returns to the production as ‘Sonny’, having originated the role in 2014. Continuing their roles are: Sam Mackay as ‘Usnavi’ (“Wonder.land”); Gabriela Garcia as ‘Nina’ (“Ghost The … Read more

INTERVIEW: Drew McOnie on making musicals dance

Drew McOnie

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

CRITICS CHOICE: The Top 10 New Musicals in London – November 2015

Showstopper at the Apollo Theatre

What Musical should you see first in London? Here is out list of London’s Top 10 New Musicals. We have compiled this list to save you the trouble of working it out! It’s just our view – and everyone has one – based on our Reviewers’ thoughts. We will update the list regularly so new productions get on your radar and when original casts change that is factored in. Musicals which have been running for more than three years are not included – this is a list for new or relatively new productions running in London. So go see them! 1. Gypsy – CLOSING SOON – DON’T MISS IT! 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 … Read more

In The Heights – First Look Gallery

In The Heights Kings Cross Theatre

Tony Award-winning Broadway musical In The Heights opens this week in London on Tuesday 13th October. The show which is now in previews has just announced that it will be extending its run at the Kings Cross Theatre until Sunday 3 January 2016. Nominated for thirteen Tony Awards and winning four for Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations, In The Heights is an uplifting and exhilarating journey into Washington Heights, one of Manhattan’s most vibrant communities – a place where the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggle can be deciding which traditions to take with you, and which ones to leave behind. With a gripping story and unforgettable Latin and hip-hop infused score, … Read more

In The Heights – Rehearsal Images Released

In The Heights at the King's Cross Theatre

BritishTheatre.com is pleased to be bringing you these first look images of the Into The Heights rehearsal room. Previews for Into The Heights begin this Saturday 3rd October at the King’s Cross Theatre. Into The Heights is being presented by popular demand following its sell-out UK Premiere at Southwark Playhouse in 2014. Reprising their roles following the run at Southwark Playhouse are David Bedella as Kevin, Josie Benson as Camila, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Daniela, Sam Mackay as Usnavi, Sarah Naudi as Carla and Eve Polycarpou as Abuela. They are joined by Vas Constanti as Piragua Guy, Jade Ewen as Vanessa, Lily Frazer as Nina, Antoine Murray-Straughan as Graffiti Pete, Joe Aaron Reid as Benny and Cleve September as Sonny. The cast also includes Jocasta Almgill, Courtney-Mae Briggs, Michael Cortez, Gabriela Garcia, Reiss Hinds, Alexandra Sarmiento, Spin and Philippa Stefani. In The Heights is an uplifting and exhilarating journey into Washington … Read more