ROCKY on Broadway will play its final performance next month

The Broadway musical of Rocky will play its final performance at the Winter Garden Theatre on Sunday, August 17th after 28 previews and 188 regular performances. Stage Entertainment is currently exploring future productions across the U.S. as well as internationally.

ROCKY received its world premiere in fall 2012 in Hamburg, Germany, where it continues to play to packed houses. The musical opened on Broadway on March, 13, 2014 at the historic Winter Garden theatre. The show features an original score by the Tony Award-winning team Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once on This Island), with a book by multiple Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan (The Producers, Hairspray, Annie) and Sylvester Stallone, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the 1976 Oscar-winning Best Picture, Rocky. The production is directed by Tony nominee Alex Timbers (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson), and features choreography by Tony nominees Steven Hoggett (Once) and Kelly Devine (Rock of Ages).

Willemijn Verkaik to leave WICKED on the 19th July 2014, Kerry Ellis to return

Willemijn Verkaik will play her final performance as Elphaba this Saturday 19 July 2014 at 7.30pm, as she departs the production in order to have surgery to address an ongoing back condition. Kerry Ellis, who will recreate her celebrated performance from Monday 4 August until Saturday 25 October 2014*. 

Willemijn said: “To be given the chance to play Elphaba in four different countries is something I am incredibly grateful for. Now I have to cut my West End run short and it’s absolutely devastating to me. I’ve been fighting this injury for a few months but was determined not to let anything get in the way of my West End debut and certainly not wanting to disappoint the audiences. But I have to face the facts. I thank producers David Stone and Michael McCabe and our General Managers, Playful Productions, the cast and crew and all of you so much for all your support in this difficult time. I promise I’ll be back on stage soon, in better shape than ever!”

Sneak Peak into the rehearsals for the new SHREK UK tour

Coming direct from London, where it was seen live on stage by nearly a million people, the UK and Ireland tour of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane production of SHREK THE MUSICAL® will star Dean Chisnall as beloved swamp-dwelling ogre ‘Shrek’, the role he previously played in the West End, Faye Brookes as damsel in distress ‘Princess Fiona’, Idriss Kargbo as Shrek’s wisecracking sidekick ‘Donkey’ and Gerard Carey as pint-sized villain ‘Lord Farquaad’.

They will be joined by a full company of fairy-tale characters played by Bronté Barbé, Nikki Bentley, Jennifer Caldwell, Candace Furbert, Steffan Harri, Will Haswell, James Lacey, Mia Lincoln, Rory Maguire, Neil Moors, Jenny O’Leary, Georgina Parkinson, Ryan Reid, Leo Roberts, Jacqui Sanchez, Oliver Tester, James Winter, Kerry Winter and Kevin Yates.

URINETOWN the musical will transfer to the Apollo Theatre

Urinetown is transferring to the West End's Apollo Theatre later this year, it has been confirmed.

The musical, which is directed by Jamie Lloyd, received its UK premiere at the St James Theatre in March. It will run at the Apollo from 29 September.

Written by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, Urinetown is set in a Gotham-like city of the future, where a hero leads the people in an uprising against private toilets.

Director Lloyd's other current West End productions are The Commitments and the upcoming Richard III, as part of his new season at Trafalgar Studios.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: Musical Theatre Review

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a musical based on the film of the same name, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane this musical made its Broadway debut almost 10 years ago. With a star cast that included John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott the show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards however only managing to win 1. The show began its journey on this side of the Atlantic in November last year, having a pre-West End tryout at the Manchester Opera House and the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. It finally opened on April 2, 2014 with direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell and design by Peter McKintosh. 

The story is very similar to the film; two conmen, one who has been doing it for years and another who is new on the scene, get to together and have a bet as to who can get $50,000 out of the ‘soap queen’. The film is brilliant and I wasn’t expecting the story of the musical to be so close to it but, as they say, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it! The story was super easy to follow, to be honest you don’t need to concentrate on it so that allows you to sit back, relax and have a laugh. Exactly what this show is about. 

10 Films that should be made into stage musicals

Films are constantly being adapted for the stage, some of the most loved musicals were originally a film. Currently in the West End we have The Bodyguard, The Lion King, Once, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Billy Elliot and the soon to be open Made in Dagenham. Over on Broadway they also have Kinky Boots, Aladdin and Rocky. After some twitter suggestions and my own ideas I've put together a list of films that should make it to the stage! 

If you have any more suggestions or ideas for casting then tweet me! @PocketSizeBoy

Moulin Rouge

Released in 2001, I think this film would be perfect for the stage! There has been talk of a musical version but as of yet nothing is confirmed. I did hear a possible arena tour was on the table...? Can we also cast Kylie Minogue and Ramin Karimloo in the leads? 

Frozen

This hit Disney film has been confirmed to be in early development to be put on stage and is definitely heading to Broadway, Its one of my favourite Disney films  and I think with the right designers it would be amazing!

Made in Dagenham cast announced

Gemma Arterton will star in the musical adaptation of Made in Dagenham, which premieres at the Adelphi Theatre on 5 November 2014 (previews from 9 October). Directed by Almeida artistic director Rupert Goold, the show has a book by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) with music from David Arnold (musical director of several Bond films and the Olympics closing ceremony) and lyrics by Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer: The Opera).

Made in Dagenham dramatises the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968 that aimed for equal pay for women. The film was released in 2010 starring Sally Hawkins.

The production will star Gemma Arterton in the lead role of Rita O'Grady, with Adrian Der Gregorian (Sweet Smell of Success, The Woman in White) as her husband Eddie. Arterton appeared in the workshop version of the show in 2012, and said: "It's an important story that I'm passionate about telling, and we intend to tell it with wit, warmth and, of course, a lot of singing and dancing in this production."

FIRST LOOK: New cast joins The Bodyguard, starring Alexandra Burke

Alexandra Burke has joined the cast of the hit West End musical The Bodyguard, playing the leading role of Oscar-nominated superstar Rachel Marron.  Burke plays opposite Tristan Gemmill who continues in the role of Rachel’s bodyguard, Frank Farmer. Alexandra Burke joins the production at the Adelphi Theatre where the show is playing to 30 August 2014. 

The current cast (March 2014) comprises Alexandra Burke (Rachel Marron), Tristan Gemmill (Frank Farmer), Carole Stennett (Nicki Marron), Richard Lloyd King (Bill Devaney), Stephen Marcus (Tony), Dominic Taylor (Sy Spector), Michael Rouse (Stalker) and Stuart Reid (Ray Court).  Ensemble members are Gareth Andrews, Kimball Armes, Christopher Birch, Hannah Fairclough, Robert Gill, Nicky Griffiths, Ben Harrold, Jamie Hughes-Ward, Alex Jackson, Genesis Lynea, Fergal McGoff, Sara Morley, Joelle Moses, David O’Mahoney, Stuart Rogers, Kyle Seeley, Danielle Steers, Katy Stredder and Christopher Terry.

FIRST LOOK: Annie Get Your Gun, UK Tour starring Emma Williams and Jason Donovan

A new production of Broadway classic Annie Get Your Gun is currently touring the UK, starring Emma Williams, Jason Donovan and Norman Pace.

Presented by Ambassador Theatre Group, the tour kicked off at Manchester Opera House on 12 May and will subsequently visit venues including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bromley, Liverpool, Glasgow and Wimbledon. 

Williams, whose West End credits include Love Story and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, will play the title role of sharp-shooting country girl Annie Oakley, who falls for the chauvinistic marksman Frank Butler (Donovan) at a contest run by Buffalo Bill (Pace).

Cast for UK Tour of TOP HAT announced, Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Gooch to lead

Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Gooch will lead the cast of Top Hat when it embarks on its second UK and Ireland tour later this year.

The show first toured the UK in 2011 prior to its West End premiere the following year. It went on to win three Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.

Burkitt and Gooch both return to the show having previously performed the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont in the West End.

Adaped from the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film, Top Hat is directed by Matthew Whiteand choreographed by Bill Deamer.

LES MISERABLES announces new cast from 16 June

Joining the company from 16 June will be: Peter Lockyer as Jean Valjean; David Thaxton as Javert; Tom Edden as Thénardier; Celinde Schoenmaker as Fantine; Michael Colbourne as Enjolras and Emilie Fleming as Cosette.

Rob Houchen will continue to play Marius, with Carrie Hope Fletcher as Eponine and Wendy Ferguson as Madame Thénardier.

Peter Lockyer recently completed a year and a half run as Jean Valjean in the North American 25th anniversary tour of Les Miserables. He has also appeared on Broadway as Chris in Miss Saigon and as Marius in the 10th anniversary production of Les Miserables.

FIRST LOOK: David Hunter & Jill Winternitz join the cast of ONCE

David Hunter, who originally joined the show in July last year understudying the role of Guy, and Jill Winternitz will have their first performance together on Monday (12 May 2014). The show's current leads, Olivier Award-winner Zrinka Cvitešić and Arthur Darvill, have their last performance on Saturday (10 May).

Hunter's theatre credits include One Man Two Guvnors (National Theatre, UK tour and Adelphi Theatre), Seussical (Arts), The Who's Tommy (Prince Edward), The Hired Man (Leicester Curve), Spinach (The Royal Exchange, Manchester), Moving On (The Lowry, Manchester) and Love Shift (The Royal Exchange).

Winternitz is a graduate from RADA and made her West End debut starring as Baby in Dirty Dancing at the Piccadilly Theatre and also played the role on the UK tour of the show. 

I Can't Sing!: Musical Theatre Review

The London Palladium hosts the world premiere of I Can’t Sing!, the new musical written by Harry Hill. The musical pokes fun at the reality TV show, the X Factor, however this show is more F Factor than X Factor.

Chenice and her grandpa live in a caravan below a fly over and eat the road kill they catch, after picking up Chenices post off the floor Max, a plumber, volunteers to fix her boiler. After her grandpa dying and her house being reposed Max pushes her to enter the X Factor. Believe it or not they manage to spread this story over the course of the whole first act. In the second act we see the live finals of the X Factor and the drama unravels as Simon and Jordy (Cheryl Cole… clearly refused to let them use her name. And I don’t blame her) split Max and Chenice up. After Max wins back Chenices heart the winner is announced and an ‘interesting’ twist shakes up the ending. 

I’ll start by saying this isn’t actually as bad as you’d think, it has some good songs and some of the gags go down well. However when you have a gag every 10 seconds it starts to get old after the first 15 minutes. The show is Viva Forever with a bigger budget. 

Eden Espinosa | Interview

Eden is best known for her portrayal of the Green Witch Elphaba in the smash hit musical, WICKED. She performed the role to critical acclaim on Broadway, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Her other musical theatre credits include originating title role in Brooklyn the Musical on Broadway, Maureen in the closing cast of RENT on Broadway (this was also filmed and is available on DVD and Blu-Ray), the title role in Flora the Red Menace and the Fairy godmother in Cinderella alongside Alli Mauzey. Her television credits include Law & Order, Robot Chicken, Dog Whisperer, Titan Maximum, Ugly Betty, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the 2008 Tony Awards. Eden made her solo concert debut in Los Angeles with her show 'ME' in December 2008.  She then took the show to New York where she performed to sold out audiences at Joe’s Pub.  She then brought the show back to Los Angeles and performed to a sold out audience at the Ford Amphitheatre, with special guest, Grammy Award-winning and Decca recording artist Paula Cole.  In 2010, her show “From Eden With Love” was performed to sold out crowds in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Eden released a solo album in late 2012 entitled 'Look Around' which is available for purchase here. 

Growing up, what was the thing that made you want a career in musical theatre?

Growing up I always loved musicals. But it really wasn’t until I reached high school and met so many kids my age that loved to sing and act like me.  It was around the age of 15 and a whole new world was opened up to me.  So many musicals I never knew, the dream of being on Broadway, living in New York City.  That’s when a spark ignited the flame.

Wicked: New Cast Pictures Released

Wicked the musical, who have just celebrated their 3000th performance, changes cast tonight. The new cast includes Willemijn Verkaik (Elphaba), Savannah Stevenson (Glinda), Jeremy Taylor (Fiyero), Sue Kelvin (Madame Morrible), Sam Kelly (The Wizard), Paul Clarkson (Doctor Dillamond); Sam Lupton (Boq), Katie Rowley Jones (Nessarose), Emma Hatton (Standby Elphaba), Sophie Linder-Lee (Standby Glinda), Florence Andrews, Kyle Anthony, William Bozier, Oliver Brenin, Lauren Brooke, Philippa Buxton, Philip Catchpole, Aisling Duffy, Samuel Edwards, Kerry Enright, Michelle Francis, Jacqueline Hughes, Melissa Jacques, Marc McBride, Stacey McGuire, Natalie McQueen, Greg Miller Burns, Tom Muggeridge, Rachel Muldoon, Sean Parkins, Charlie Stemp, Lauren Stroud, Lindsay Taylor,Justin Thomas, Hannah Toy, Matt Turner, Russell Walker and Jenny Wickham.

THE BODYGUARD release new trailer, featuring Beverely Knight and Tristan Gemmill

The Bodyguard Musical have released a brand new theatrical trailer featuring new cast members, including Beverley Knight and Tristan Gemmill. The Bodyguard, based on the smash-hit film which starred Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, is now playing in London’s West End. Multi-award winning recording artist Beverley Knight stars as Rachel Marron with Tristan Gemmill (Casualty, London’s Burning) as Rachel’s bodyguard, Frank Farmer. If this doesn't make you want to watch the show, then there is something wrong with you!

The Bodyguard the Musical: Theatre Review

The Bodyguard has to be one of the most iconic films of all time, Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner’s performances have gone down in history. Recreating such a huge film on stage is a risky thing; it will always be compared to original film. Fortunately, the stage version really stands on its own two feet. With a few adjustments to the story it has been translated onto stage perfectly. The Bodyguard tells the story of worldwide superstar Rachel Marron (NOT Whitney Houston) and how she is being stalked by an obsessed fan. Frank Farmer is brought in as her new bodyguard to try and control the situation whilst working with people to catch the stalker. 

If you’re a fan of the film then you might be put off by the fact that there have been a few changes in the story but I actually think its for the best and the changes make the characters a lot more interesting. I’m not going to mention any of these however, you’ll need to find out for yourself! I have previously seen the show in previews and didn’t like it, there was just something missing from the production. Something I couldn’t put my finger on. Upon returning everything I thought about it before had disappeared, its a very clean and smooth show and the thing I thought was missing (whatever that was!) is definitely there! It moves like a movie, with fast paced scenes and the variety of locations created by Tim Hatley’s set. 

Momentous Musicals: Theatre Review

Having perviously played a One off night in Wimbledon last year, Momentous Musicals is back. Keeping some of the songs from last years show with lots of new additions. From classics like Andrew Lloyd Webber to new Broadway hits like Newsies, this show celebrates generations of shows that have audiences coming back. The production also showcases what British musical talent has to offer, from the extremely experienced and well respected John Owen-Jones to new graduates from Drama Schools such as Mountview and GSA. The set list for the show has been chosen very well, I loved the selections of songs because even though there was the expected like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and West Side Story there was also some surprises like a Disney Melody, SMASH, Ghost and The Wiz. 

For what the show was it was very good, when you see something like this you could expect a bit of a budget performance with poor quality orchestrations and average performers, this was the total opposite. First of all the stage looked very classic, a simple black background with a starry effect was elegant and made room for Tom Boucher (lighting designer) to really fill the stage with some fantastic colours. The lighting had a lot of great moments, it was a delightful design and he adjusted the lighting to every song which really added to the over quality of the performance. 

Tony Awards 2013: Full List of Winners and Nominees

BEST PLAY

Winner: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Nominees: 

The Assembled Parties
Lucky Guy
The Testament of Mary
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

BEST MUSICAL

Winner: Kinky Boots

Nominees: 

Bring it On: The Musical
A Christmas Story, The Musical
Kinky Boots

Matilda The Musical

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

Winner: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Nominees: 

Golden Boy
Orphans
The Trip to Bountiful
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt | Interview

Victoria trained at Central School of Ballet and Urdang Academy of Performing Arts, when she graduated she was cast in the UK Tour of Oh What a Night! In the role of Cat and then moving with the production to Germany. Her other credits include Stephanie Mungano in Saturday Night Fever (UK tour), Connie in the Saturday Night Fever (Scandinavian tour), Carmen Diaz in Fame (Aldwych), Anita in West Side Story (international tour) Maria and understudy Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello), Alex in Flashdance (UK Tour and West End), Rizzo in Grease (West End), Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy (Leicester Curve) and has appeared in Bohemian Rhapsody (international tour). She is currently playing Diana in the London Revival of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. She was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions…


Your family has a musical background, how influential was that for you growing up?
Very much so in the sense I was always being entertained by my uncles who always made a racket with pots and pans and anything else they could find around the house! They are both musicians who played in bands The Clash for a brief time before the band got super famous and other bands that would play the north west London scene of Kensal rise and Camden. They are a talented drummer and bass player and pots and pans terrorists! My dad sang the soho night life were he did his Billy Fury and Elvis numbers!