Blog / Ben James-Ellis
Check here for the latest musical news with links to all your #StageFaves performers, shows and theatres. Also look out for our regular #GetSocial features and contributions from our syndicate media partners including MyTheatreMates.com and the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society.
2020
Following the previously announced season of new musicals for MTFestUK 2020 at London’s Turbine Theatre, the full casts have been revealed for the shows and the line-up of talented performers taking part is pretty impressive. Read on to find out more...
2019
Enter the world of a 50-year marriage with the trailer and production images for I Do! I Do!, currently running at Highgate's Upstairs at the Gatehouse. Book your tickets now.
2019
West End musical theatre performer Joel Montague will be stepping in to the role of Mendel in the upcoming production of the award-winning musical Falsettos at London’s The Other Palace Theatre, following the news that Matt Cardle has had to withdraw to unforeseen scheduling complications. The show will go on!
After oodles of gossip it’s been confirmed that Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford will reprise their lead roles in the New York City Center and Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Sunday in the Park with George, opening at the Savoy Theatre in June 2020. Art isn’t easy and nor will be getting hold of tickets!
2019
Have you seen the cast for the European premiere of Falsettos? It’s looking pretty awesome with Natasha J Barnes, Daniel Boys, Matt Cardle, Gemma Knight-Jones, Laura Pitt-Pulford and Oliver Savile all lined up to star in the award-winning musical at The Other Palace from 30 August to 23 November 2019.
2019
Did you hear about who was named the 13th annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY) and who took home the 12th annual Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize? Look no further than LAMDA’s Stuart Thompson and composer Theo Jamieson. Not forgetting, runners-up Bird College’s Paige Fenlon and RADA’s Jamie Bogyo.
Jenna Russell left us with wonderful memories when she played Dot in Sunday in the Park With George at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory. Now she is heading back in July 2019 for Trevor Nunn’s UK premiere production of Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman’s musical The Bridges of Madison County. So who will be her Clint Eastwood?
2019
We are just a little bit excited to hear that Pitch Perfect star and Dear Evan Hansen Tony Award winner Ben Platt will be bringing his Sing To Me Instead tour to London’s Eventim Apollo on 15 June 2019. Today is already a good day.
Our day in Falsettoland is finally here thanks to Selladoor Worldwide who is presenting the European premiere of William Finn and James Lapine’s Falsettos at The Other Palace from 30 August to 23 November 2019. It’s the first time UK audiences will have had the chance to see March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland professionally produced together here. We can’t wait.
2019
Two years on from a workshop at Live at Zédel, Alex James Ellison and Tom Lees’ new British musical Fiver is having its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse in July 2019 and the cast so far – Daniel Buckley, Hiba Elchikhe and Kayleigh McKnight – has plenty of West End credentials. So if you have ever looked at a £5 note and wondered ‘Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?’, this is the show for you!
2019
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of Dolly Parton’s 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at the Savoy Theatre, continuing in the West End to 31 August 2019. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Caroline Sheen, Amber Davies, Natalie McQueen, Brian Conley and Bonnie Langford. Watch out for Brian describing Perry as one of the best theatre vloggers around & some expert video-bombing fromOlivier Award winner Michael Jibson!
2019
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of Dolly Parton’s 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at the Savoy Theatre, continuing in the West End to 31 August 2019. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Caroline Sheen, Amber Davies, Natalie McQueen, Brian Conley and Bonnie Langford. Watch out for Brian describing Perry as one of the best theatre vloggers around & some expert video-bombing fromOlivier Award winner Michael Jibson!
It’s a family affair for Laura Pitt-Pulford as she takes on the role of Sheryl, the matriarch of the eccentric Hoover family, in Little Miss Sunshine, running at the Arcola Theatre from 21 March to 11 May 2019 before heading off on a UK tour. Among the other Hoovers she will be attempting to keep in check will be Gary Wilmot, Gabriel Vick, Paul Keating and Sev Keoshgerian. Happy travels…
2018
Late Late Show host and lover of musicals James Corden teamed up with the stars of Mary Poppins Returns, Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda to celebrate some of the greatest musicals of all time, kicking off with Cabaret and finishing off with Mamma Mia! Kermit the Frog even stopped by to help James with ‘The Rainbow’ from The Muppet Movie. Oh, and did we mention they covered 22 musicals in 12 minutes? Is your favourite there?
2018
It’s a double whammy for Queen fans. First, they have been able to enjoy the release of the new biopic movie Bohemian Rhapsody and now a reimagined production of the Queen and Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You sets off on tour in September 2019. Are you ready to break free?
2018
The four premiere performances of James Beeny and Gina Georgio’s The Dreamers in December 2018 will mark the first time in history that a musical has been performed at Abbey Road Studios. The iconic Studio One, which has played host to the likes of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Stevie Wonder, Sting and U2, will be transformed into a theatre especially for the event. What an opportunity!
Is this one of the funniest Carpool Karaoke segments of all time? Musical Theatre LEGEND Babs joined Late Late Show host (and let's not forget, West End star!) James Corden in the car to sing some epic classics! Only this time, Babe drove...
Just as it’s getting a bit chilly, there’s some exciting news to warm us up as it’s revealed that James Lapine & William Finn’s quirky musical adaptation of the Oscar-winning movie Little Miss Sunshine will have its European premiere at the Arcola Theatre – in a brand new co-production with Selladoor – opening on 21 March 2019 for a seven-week season before hitting the road for a UK tour. Are you going to take the trip too?
Fans of Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins’ high-energy 80s-inspired British musical Eugenius! The Musical will be ‘No Pants Dancing’ with excitement following the news that the show is to transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre from 27 October 2018 to 5 January 2019 #GoEugenius!
2018
Fans of Eugenius! The Musical are going to love this. Not only do they get to see Daniel Buckley’s Feris and Melissa James’ Super Hot Lady strutting their stuff in this hilarious ‘No Pants Dance’ video, but we think we might have spotted producer Warwick Davis and writer Ben Adams in the background too!