REVIEW: Grease Live!

Increasingly in the USA, networks are broadcasting live musicals. They seem to be bringing in generally good reviews and ratings boosts, however, last night’s ‘Grease: Live’ took everything to a whole new level.

Simply put, the show was electrifying; an absolute knockout.

The shining star of the evening was Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo who utterly embodied the mantra ‘the show must go on’. Hudgens tweeted on the morning of the performance that her father, Greg Hudgens, had died as a result of stage 4 cancer. With absolute professionalism and total fearlessness, she stole the show in dedication to her late father. Her version of ‘There are worse things I could do’ was spine-tingling and poignant. She offered a real layer of vulnerability to the otherwise outspoken and brazen Rizzo with enough conviction to make even the coldest heart warm.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL LIVE - 27 former and current Billy Elliots to unite on stage

Twenty-seven former and current Billy Elliots will unite on stage in a specially choreographed mash-up finale on Sunday 28 September when Billy Elliot the Musical is broadcast live from the Victoria Palace Theatre to cinemas across the UK and around the world.   All three original Billy Elliots - James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower - will take part in the spectacular finale.  In addition, as previously announced, Liam Mower will play the role of Older Billy at this performance.

Liam Mower (22, from Hull), James Lomas, (24, from Sheffield), George Maguire (23, from Stanford-Le-Hope), Leon Cooke (23, from Newcastle under Lyme), Matthew Koon (20, from Salford, Lancashire), Dean McCarthy (22, from Dublin), Layton Williams (20, from Manchester),Oliver Taylor (20, from Devon), Joshua Fedrick (20, from Saltash, Cornwall), Fox Jackson-Keen (19, from Hornsey, London), Tom Holland (18, from Kingston-upon-Thames), Brad Wilson(18, from Doncaster), Ollie Gardner (17, from Bath), Rhys Yeomans (16, from Oldham), Aaron Watson (16, from Kings Lynn, Norfolk), Scott McKenzie (17, from Dumbarton, Scotland), Josh Baker (16, from Rochester), Ryan Collinson (16, from Southport), Kaine Ward (15, fromHertfordshire), Harris Beattie (15, from Aberdeen), Harrison Dowzell (14, from Nottinghamshire), Redmand Rance (14, from Fareham) and Ali Rasul (13, from Hartlepool) will be joined by currently Billy Elliots – Elliott Hanna (11, from Liverpool), Bradley Perret (12, from Juan-les-Pins, France), Matteo Zecca (12, from Buckinghamshire) and Ollie Jochim (12, from Essex). 

Hippodrome announces full Autumn season

The Hippodrome’s live entertainment programme continues into the autumn with a varied offering of music, burlesque, cabaret and more including three nights from US YouTube sensation Christina Bianco; the return of the popular all-male stage show Circus Of Men; West End star John Barr’s celebration of legendary writer and composer Lionel Bart; musical director to the stars Laurie Holloway continues his monthly residency; and one of the world’s leading ballet dancers Fernando Montano introduces his Classical Cabaret.

Looking further ahead, much-loved singer, songwriter, author and broadcaster Cerys Matthews will be performing shows in November and December.

September 2014

Soho Burlesque Club – Wednesday 3rd September - (8.30pm / tickets from £10)

Burlesque star Miss Polly Rae (The Hurly Burly Show) turns up the temperature at the Soho Burlesque Club. This intimate rendezvous invites you seductively into Miss Rae’s ‘Boudoir’, to celebrate all things sensual, sexy and saucy. An up close and personal, hilarious burlesque cabaret that is provocative and cheeky and features some of the best performers in the business. 

Hippodrome Live: Full programme for July & August

The Hippodrome’s live entertainment programme continues into the summer with a varied offering of music, burlesque, cabaret and more including a July 4th celebration of The Great American Songbook with Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke, a brand new all-male stage show Circus of Men, and pioneering 80s soul singer Jaki Graham.

Looking ahead to September, acclaimed singer, actress and impressionist Christina Bianco returns to The Hippodrome for three nights with an all-new show.