This daffy musical about racing trains inspired countless stage careers, including my own. A child’s imagination made real, it is a perfect introduction to theatre....
Leading West End and Broadway producer Sonia Friedman Productions are developing a new musical based on the much loved Paddington Bear books and films....
Rebecca Caine is currently on tour across the UK with her show Dividing Day. Rebecca created the role of Cosette in Les Misérables for the RSC and was a celebrated Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera opposite Michael Crawford in the West End and her native country, Canada....
There have been instances where a performer has stepped into a role at short notice, but I don't think I've ever come across one where the performer wasn't even a member of the cast (not even as a swing), and had never done the show before....
It might not sound like the most obvious premise for a hit show, but a musical set in a gender neutral public toilet has become one of the hottest tickets at this year's Edinburgh Fringe....
A workshop presentation of SIX creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s new musical Why Am I So Single? will be held at London's Sadler's Wells from 6 September to 10 September 2023....
Posters for the West End musical Operation Mincemeat were banned from London’s transport network due to concerns that the design looked like graffiti and would encourage “wider acts of vandalism”....
Joining Tony Winner Matt Doyle as Sinatra in the jukebox show Sinatra the Musical at Birmingham Rep in September 2023 are Ana Villafañe as Ava Gardner and Phoebe Panaretos as Frank’s first wife, Nancy Sinatra. Also in the cast are Dawn Buckland as Dolly Sinatra, Vincent Riotta as Marty Sinatra, and Carl Patrick as George...
Master of the House: The Theatres of Cameron Mackintosh by Michael Coveney, with a foreword by Cameron Mackintosh, has won the inaugural Architectural History Book of the Year award....
The 10th anniversary UK tour production of Maury Yeston and Greg Stone's Titanic has announced a pro-shot via Twitter. No word yet on when the pro-shot video will be released....
The Little Big Things | The world premiere cast of the new British musical The Little Big Things by Nick Butcher, Tom Ling and Joe White (and based on the memoir by Henry Fraser) will include Jordan Benjamin (Dom), Rebecca Bowden (Surgeon), Jamie Chatterton (Tom), Tom Oliver (Marco), Malinda Parris (Dr Graham), Cleve September...
A long-speculated world tour of Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular will open in September 2024 and run for over a year in Europe, the UK, Australia, Asia and the Americas....
The season of the UK revival of Miss Saigon at Sheffield Theatres, starring Joanna Ampil as the Engineer, has extended by a week. Originally scheduled to close Saturday 11 August, it is now closing 19 August....
A Strange Loop, the Best Musical Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning meta-fictional/semi-autobiographical show by Michael R Jackson opened 29 June 2023 at London's Barbican Centre....
The revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Aspects of Love, which has been running at London's Lyric Theatre since May has posted closing notices. Originally booking to 11 November, it will now close on 19 August....
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express is roaring back and I’m ready to be transported (amp.theguardian.com)
This daffy musical about racing trains inspired countless stage careers, including my own. A child’s imagination made real, it is a perfect introduction to theatre....
Move over Abba: new ‘riskier’ wave of British musicals to challenge West End’s established order (amp.theguardian.com)
Theatreland is taking a gamble on a wave of quirky little shows to challenge the big but tired box office beasts...
Kate Miller-Heidke reveals plans for a UK tour and West End production of Muriel's Wedding; talks Bananaland (www.smh.com.au)
As part of a longer interview Kate Miller-Heidke talks musical theatre, Muriel's Wedding and Bananaland:...
Burlesque stage musical announces new Manchester dates and Glasgow run prior to West End transfer (www.whatsonstage.com)
Burlesque has announced further dates for its world premiere production....
Actress dashes 150 miles to save illness-hit show - BBC News (www.bbc.com)
An actress travelled more than 150 miles to ensure a musical went ahead after its leading lady and understudy both became ill....
New Paddington musical in development for London stage. (www.westendtheatre.com)
Leading West End and Broadway producer Sonia Friedman Productions are developing a new musical based on the much loved Paddington Bear books and films....
New musicals confirmed for 2024 (UK) (www.whatsonstage.com)
As we hurtle towards 2024, it’s time to take a closer look at 20 new musicals coming our way over the next twelve months....
Andrew Lloyd Webber calls on investors to think 'Britain first' when backing shows (www.thestage.co.uk)
Andrew Lloyd Webber has called on investors to “think of Britain first” when putting money into theatre, claiming Broadway is a “vanity project”...
Five Questions With: Rebecca Caine (musicaltheatrereview.com)
Rebecca Caine is currently on tour across the UK with her show Dividing Day. Rebecca created the role of Cosette in Les Misérables for the RSC and was a celebrated Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera opposite Michael Crawford in the West End and her native country, Canada....
Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2023 shortlist announced (www.westendbestfriend.co.uk)
The Evening Standard have announced the 2023 shortlist for the 67th Evening Standard Theatre Awards, which covers both musicals and plays....
Kylie Minogue makes surprise visit to see cast of I Should Be So Lucky musical (www.bbc.co.uk)
Pop star Kylie Minogue stunned performers with a surprise visit to the rehearsals of the I Should Be So Lucky musical this week....
Almeida’s Spring Awakening to be shown in UK cinemas in November 2023 (almeida.co.uk)
London's Almeida Theatre's production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening will be screened at selected UK cinemas in November 2023....
Stage star Tricia Adele-Turner joins husband and appears in Lord of the Rings musical with four hours’ rehearsals (www.whatsonstage.com)
There have been instances where a performer has stepped into a role at short notice, but I don't think I've ever come across one where the performer wasn't even a member of the cast (not even as a swing), and had never done the show before....
Musical set in gender neutral toilet is Edinburgh hit (www.bbc.com)
It might not sound like the most obvious premise for a hit show, but a musical set in a gender neutral public toilet has become one of the hottest tickets at this year's Edinburgh Fringe....
Workshop presentation of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s new musical Why Am I So Single? (www.sadlerswells.com)
A workshop presentation of SIX creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s new musical Why Am I So Single? will be held at London's Sadler's Wells from 6 September to 10 September 2023....
Operation Mincemeat musical posters banned by Transport for London (www.standard.co.uk)
Posters for the West End musical Operation Mincemeat were banned from London’s transport network due to concerns that the design looked like graffiti and would encourage “wider acts of vandalism”....
UK musicals casting news roundup: Rebecca, Sinatra, Flowers for Mrs Harris
Joining Tony Winner Matt Doyle as Sinatra in the jukebox show Sinatra the Musical at Birmingham Rep in September 2023 are Ana Villafañe as Ava Gardner and Phoebe Panaretos as Frank’s first wife, Nancy Sinatra. Also in the cast are Dawn Buckland as Dolly Sinatra, Vincent Riotta as Marty Sinatra, and Carl Patrick as George...
Can ‘Miss Saigon’ Be Saved? Two British Shows Disagree. (www.nytimes.com)
A revival reimagines the polarizing musical for the 21st century while a new show offers a bawdy riposte.
Master of the House: The Theatres of Cameron Mackintosh wins inaugural Architectural History Book of the Year (www.westendbestfriend.co.uk)
Master of the House: The Theatres of Cameron Mackintosh by Michael Coveney, with a foreword by Cameron Mackintosh, has won the inaugural Architectural History Book of the Year award....
Titanic UK tour production announces pro-shot (twitter.com)
The 10th anniversary UK tour production of Maury Yeston and Greg Stone's Titanic has announced a pro-shot via Twitter. No word yet on when the pro-shot video will be released....
UK musicals casting news roundup
The Little Big Things | The world premiere cast of the new British musical The Little Big Things by Nick Butcher, Tom Ling and Joe White (and based on the memoir by Henry Fraser) will include Jordan Benjamin (Dom), Rebecca Bowden (Surgeon), Jamie Chatterton (Tom), Tom Oliver (Marco), Malinda Parris (Dr Graham), Cleve September...
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular World Tour announced (concert.lesmis.com)
A long-speculated world tour of Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular will open in September 2024 and run for over a year in Europe, the UK, Australia, Asia and the Americas....
Miss Saigon at UK's Sheffield Theatre extends season (www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk)
The season of the UK revival of Miss Saigon at Sheffield Theatres, starring Joanna Ampil as the Engineer, has extended by a week. Originally scheduled to close Saturday 11 August, it is now closing 19 August....
A Strange Loop London review round (www.playbill.com)
A Strange Loop, the Best Musical Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning meta-fictional/semi-autobiographical show by Michael R Jackson opened 29 June 2023 at London's Barbican Centre....
Aspects of Love to close early in the West End (now closing 19 August) (www.whatsonstage.com)
The revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Aspects of Love, which has been running at London's Lyric Theatre since May has posted closing notices. Originally booking to 11 November, it will now close on 19 August....