After looking back at the musical theatre successes of 2016, Musical Theatre Review opened the year by previewing some of the 2017 musical theatre openings we know about so far in the West End, on the London Fringe and across the UK. Here are some of the big ones coming up fast. Where are we up to?

After West End success with Half a Sixpence and, transferring later this year, The Wind in the Willows, the Stiles & Drewe juggernaut continues this Easter with the 20th anniversary production of HONK!, the story of the Ugly Duckling, at London's Union Theatre, where the pair's Soho Cinders was revived in November...

It's the age of Aquarius... again! The ultimate 1960s hippy musical, HAIR, transfers to London as it hits the grand old age of 50, transferring - care of the mighty Katy Lipson and Aria Entertainment - after an acclaimed run at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre...

It's the age of Aquarius... again! The ultimate 1960s hippy musical, HAIR, transfers to London as it hits the grand old age of 50, transferring - care of the mighty Katy Lipson and Aria Entertainment - after an acclaimed run at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre...

Miranda Hart has 'a spring in her step' - thanks to being cast as villainess Miss Hannigan in the new West End production of ANNIE, which comes to the Piccadilly Theatre in May. We reckon she'll be as big a success on the musical stage as she is in comedy world...

Now it's official, we can start properly thinking of which #StageFaves we want to star in Mel Brooks' screen-to-stage Broadway musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, which will have its West End premiere in September at the Garrick Theatre...

Now it's official, we can start properly thinking of which #StageFaves we want to star in Mel Brooks' screen-to-stage Broadway musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, which will have its West End premiere in September at the Garrick Theatre...

Maybe all good things do come to those who wait. After last year's postponement, Broadway legend Audra McDonald's West End debut is back on, with the transfer of her Tony Award-winning LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL now confirmed for this summer...

Maybe all good things do come to those who wait. After last year's postponement, Broadway legend Audra McDonald's West End debut is back on, with the transfer of her Tony Award-winning LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL now confirmed for this summer...

As part of the National Theatre's announcement of its wide-ranging plans for the next year, there are two productions that are cause for major excitement amongst musical lovers: a star-studded revival of Sondheim's FOLLIES and a world premiere stage adaptation of PINOCCHIO directed by John Tiffany (Once, Harry Potter)...

'Oh, Mr Blue Sky, please tell us why you had to hide away for so long' ... But not for much longer. OUR LADIES OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR, Lee Hall's adaptation of Alan Warner novel which features seminal hits from Electric Light Orchestra, has confirmed that it's coming to the West End in May after last year's London premiere at the National Theatre...

Jodie Prenger predicts the small screen-to-stage musical adaptation of Kay Mellors FAT FRIENDS will be 'a big fat hit' - and one that she gets to star in when it premieres in Leeds later this year...

Another little gem for Sondheim fans: a rare London outing for the maestro's early Broadway 'flop' ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, revived at the Union Theatre as part of direct Phil Willmott's new residency. Casting is still to be announced...

Announced on World Braille Day (4 January 2017), the world premiere of THE BRAILLE LEGACY tells the true-life story of the inventor of the language for blind people - and is supported by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). Jerome Pradon stars, continuing director Thom Southerland's run of musicals at Charing Cross Theatre...

Carley Stenson and her real-life fiance and Strictly Come Dancing star Danny Mac star as Annie and Sam, the roles immortalised on screen by Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, in the screen-to-stage musical adaptation of 1993 romcom Sleepless in Seattle. SLEEPLESS premieres at Theatre Royal Plymouth in April ahead of a short tour and planned West End run.

Tina Turner came to town to drop in on workshops for a new musical based on her life, which is now in development, under the direction of Phyllida Lloyd, who made a Mamma Mia! monster hit out of Abba's back catalogue. Who do you think should play Tina when the show comes to fruition? Any ideas for Ike?

Producer Paul Taylor Mills and director Luke J Sheppard reunite for the first time since their Olivier Award-winning success with In the Heights for the British premiere of MURDER FOR TWO, which is the inaugural production in the soon-to-be-renamed The Other Palace Studio (currently the St James Studio)...

Was THE SORROWS OF SATAN the 50 Shades of Grey of its day? Marie Corelli's original novel is regarded as one of the world's first modern bestsellers and caused controversy when it was first published in 1895 (it was one of Oscar Wilde's fave reads, dontcha know). Now it gets musical treatment care of British writers Bateman & Conley...