Toby Marlow, one of the writers of smash-hit West End musical Six, saved the day at the weekend when he donned high heels and leather hotpants to play the sixth Queen Catherine Parr. With just a few hours notice, the two performances initially threatened by cast illness went ahead.

Shane Richie’s BOOGIE NIGHTS heads back to the London stage during Camden Fringe, care of JR Theatre Company with a week-long run from 5 to 11 August 2019 at Highgate’s Upstairs at the Gatehouse. Time to return to the 1970s – and to get booking!

As The Phantom of the Opera heads into its incredible 34th year in the West End, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh have announced that Australian singer and performer Josh Piterman will make his West End debut as The Phantom from 9 September 2019, with Britt Lenting as Carlotta Giudicelli and Richard Woodford as Monsieur André. Do you feel the music of the night calling you back to Her Majesty’s Theatre?

The classroom calls once again for Layton Williams as Jamie New and EastEnders’ Shane Richie as Hugo/Loco Chanelle with news that the ever-popular West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is embarking on its first UK tour in 2020.

Disney’s hit West End musicals The Lion King, Aladdin, the eagerly-anticipated Frozen, and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins will all take centre stage in the Disney in the West End Summer Pop-Up, set to open its doors to fans of all ages in Covent Garden from 23 July to 1 September 2019. It could open up a whole new world.

Rev up that flux capacitor because it’s time to find out more casting details for the world premiere production of Back to The Future The Musical with Hugh Coles as George McFly, Rosanna Hyland as Lorraine Baines and Cedric Neal as Goldie Wilson.They join the previously announced Olly Dobson as Marty McFly in the show which opens at the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 before transferring to the West End. Plus have a listen Cedric’s rendition of new song, ‘Gotta Start Somewhere’.

In the second of our two-part interview, Bare: A Pop Opera star Darragh Cowley shares his Shakespeare ambitions and dishes the dirt on co-star and drama school peer Lizzie Emery as well as director Julie Atherton.

Here’s your chance to get a glimpse of composer Stephen Schwartz attending the orchestral recording of the music for the brand new production of The Prince Of Egypt, premiering at London’s Dominion Theatre on 5 February 2020 for a limited 32-week engagement.

Get ready to fight back the tears because Lambert Jackson Productions is bringing Doctor Zhivago – The UK Concert Premiere to London’s Cadogan Hall on 1 September with Ramin Karimloo as Yurii Andreyevich Zhivago and Celinde Schoenmaker as Lara Guishar, with further casting to be announced.

If you are a fan of Sister Act, then producers Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg have answered your prayers with the announcement that a reworked version starring Brenda Edwards will open at Curve Leicester on 21 April 2020 ahead of further regional dates and a London season. Hallelujah!

Throw your stetson high with excitement - Debra Stephenson and Tony Hawks will star in Hawks' new musical Midlife Cowboy when it receives its world premiere at The Pleasance Theatre in September. Book your tickets now!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening night of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical at the Ambassadors Theatre. Described by one cast member as ‘the Pixar of British stage musicals’, Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary’s inspiring show gives Perry goosebumps so he is thrilled to catch up several members of the cast: both the grown-ups and children. Will the musical be a big hit? Perry thinks so!

The flags have been flying this weekend for Pride In London 2019 and West End performers and shows have been playing their part. Are you ready for a colourful collaboration between 9 To 5 The Musical and Waitress, for example? Enjoy our Twitter round-up below.

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the UK premiere of On Your Feet! – The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan – at the London Coliseum and what a night #StageFaves’ awesome vlogger had! After chatting to music legend Gloria Estefan herself on the Red Carpet before the show (as well as Beverley Knight and Christina Bennington) Perry also caught up with the show’s leading players Christie Prades and George Ioannides. Was Perry doing the conga all the way home? Read on to find out.

Presented at the Edinburgh Fringe by the team behind West End smash Heathers The Musical, the UK premiere of hit US musical Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical – based on the cult Hollywood film – has attracted quite a cast including Dominic Andersen, Rebecca Gilhooley, Evelyn Hoskins, Sophie Isaacs and Dean John-Wilson. Are you ready to binge on 90s hits?

Just weeks prior to the just announced UK premiere of Ghost Quartet at Soho's new Boulevard Theatre, another hit New York musical by Tony Awards-lauded composer and lyricist Dave Malloy, the Rachmaninoff-inspired PRELUDES gets its UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse.

Are you ready to squeeze into that Lycra and try on those platforms because the new immersive theatrical and dining experience Mamma Mia! The Party – at The O2 London – is getting near. Full casting details have now been announced, including at least a few performers who have appeared in the West End production (shout out to Steph Parry and Joanna Munro).

In the first of our two-part interview, Bare: A Pop Opera star Darragh Cowley discusses playing ‘the golden boy’ and why 2019 is the right time to revive Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere's coming-of-age musical about Catholic school.

Have you forgotten why everyone fell in love with Queen of the Mist when it ran at the Jack Studio? Well, no, probably not. How could you forget?! But just in case check out the trailer for the upcoming transfer to the Charing Cross Theatre.

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the London premiere of Broadway musical The Light In The Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall. Perry gets goosebumps from the beauty and style of the show and has the added bonus of catching up with several members of the cast afterwards including Dove Cameron, Rob Houchen, Celinde Schoenmaker and Liam Tamne. Oh and did we mention that he bumped into Tony Award-winner Ben Platt too?