Blog / Off-Broadway
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.
How gutted are you? As the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) confirms that all West End performances are now cancelled until at least 28 June 2020, the Broadway transfer of Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, due to run 11 June to 5 September 2020 at the Savoy Theatre, has postponed its season until some point in 2021.
Here's something to look forward to - and cannily announced on National Siblings Day (10 April 2020) - Samantha Barks' Elsa has found her new little sis Anna in the form of Stephanie McKeon for the West End premiere of Frozen, due to reopen the refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane this autumn.
There are some theatre productions, both big and small, that aren’t going to make it through the current shutdown and we’re sad to report that when London Theatreland gets back to some kind of normal Waitress will be missing.
The latest date announced for Faves founder Terri Paddock's musical theatre post-show talks series will take place at London's Southwark Playhouse on 15 June 2020 talking to cast and creatives about the issues highlighted in the stage adaptation of INDECENT PROPOSAL.
2020
Did you know that a fairytale kingdom has popped up in Highgate? Classic Broadway musical Once Upon a Mattress has just opened at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, and critics have fallen in love with Beth Burrows' Princess Winnifred, not your typical fairytale princess. We've rounded up some of our fave reviews.
What a range of winners there were at the 10th anniversary Offies 2020 presented by Off West End with Best Musical Production going to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at the Union Theatre and Amour at the Charing Cross Theatre named as Best New Musical. Elsewhere Thrill Me lead actors Bart Lambert and Jack Reitman were both honoured for their performances at the Hope Theatre, while Oti Mabuse completed a victorious weekend with a prize for her choreography for Ain’t Misbehavin at Southwark Playhouse.
2020
Casting for the return of Sister Act just keeps getting better, not least Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe. Watch what Whoopi Goldberg says about making her London stage debut in the hit adaptation of her film.
2020
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the opening of Be More Chill at London’s The Other Palace. After the UK premiere production received a well-deserved standing ovation, Perry got the chance to catch up with the show’s producers, composer and lyricist Joe Iconis, director Stephen Brackett and cast members Scott Folan, Blake Patrick Anderson, Stewart Clarke, Miracle Chance, Renee Lamb, Millie O’Connell and Eloise Davies. Here’s the chance to hang out with all of them.
The reception for the UK premiere of Be More Chill has been anything but frosty with news announced that the fan favourite will now run in London until 14 June 2020. The extended season for Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz’s show will make it the longest-running musical at The Other Palace.
We reckon Kate Fleetwood will make an outstanding villainess! She'll do this summer as Cruella de Vil in the Open Air Theatre's new musical adaptation of the much-loved children's story.
It's hard to imagine a StageFave more perfect for the role of Sammy Davis Jr than Olivier Award winner Giles Terera. After years of development, he'll star in Leslie Bricusse's new musical about the Rat Packer, directed by Clarke Peters.
2020
A new musical based on the original 1988 novel INDECENT PROPOSAL, rather than the 1993 Hollywood film, will reimagine the story for the #MeToo era under the direction of Charlotte Westenra. It premieres at Southwark Playhouse this summer.
2020
Jay McGuiness, Kimberley Walsh and Daniel Casey will star as Sam, Annie and Walter respectively in SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance, based on the original screenplay Sleepless in Seattle. Who else is joining them? Full cast announced.
In the upcoming revival of classic Broadway fairytale Once Upon a Mattress, Beth Burrows stars as Princess Winnifred. It's a role that's famously been played by American comedy legend Carol Burnett, Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker and Hollywood's Zooey Deschanel. Watch them in action!
Have you seen who's starring in the new production of Mary Rodgers’ rarely seen, 1959 Broadway fairy-tale Once Upon a Mattress? Love, lechery, a legume... and a ten-strong cast of #StageFaves... plus a competition!
You only have three more chances to see new British musical drama THE JURY in its London premiere run at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, where it must finish this Sunday 16 February 2020. Have you watched Faves founder Terri Paddock's opening night post-show Q&A with the creators and cast yet? Our verdict: this is top-notch new writing.
The latest in Faves founder Terri Paddock's series of musical theatre post-show talks takes place on the official opening night of THE JURY, a brand-new original British musical making its London premiere at Highgate's Upstairs at the Gatehouse. Join us on Thursday 6 February!
2020
Tense new courtroom musical drama THE JURY gets its London premiere next month in a limited season at Highgate's Upstairs at the Gatehouse. It runs from 4 to 16 February 2020, with a press night, including post-show Q&A chaired by Faves founder Terri Paddock, on Thursday 6 February. Time to get booking!
After acclaim last year at Manchester's mighty Hope Mill Theatre, RAGS The Musical has transferred to the Park Theatre. It's a Broadway musical with a long, chequered history and is premiering here in a newly reworked version with a lot of input from Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz. Watch the full post-show discussion with cast and Aria Entertainment producer Katy Lipson.
Rehearsals begin this week for Pretty Woman: The Musical, opening at London’s Piccadilly Theatre on 13 February 2020, so it’s the perfect time to share the news of full casting for the show. Aimie Atkinson and Danny Mac, playing the roles of Vivian and Edward, will be joined by Rachael Wooding, Bob Harms, Neil McDermott and Mark Holden. We have to go shopping now...