Blog / Gary Lloyd
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.
2019
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?
It’s to the classroom for Noel Sullivan as from 19 August 2019 he picks up his briefcase and guitar in order to take on the iconic role of Dewey Finn in the West End production of School of Rock at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre. Will you be rockin’ along to see him in action?
Great Scott! It was and remains a classic movie from the 1980s and now it’s going to be reinvented as a stage musical. Grab your hoverboard because Back To The Future The Musical is introducing itself at the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 for a 12-week season before the cast (including Olly Dobson as Marty) and crew squeeze into the DeLorean to travel to the West End.
2019
Having just celebrated its 20th anniversary in the West End at the Novello Theatre, Mamma Mia! is going from strength to strength. That includes some major cast changes in the London production from 10 June 2019 and the return of Mazz Murray, to the cast – not in her previous role of Tanya but this time as Donna. Here we go again…
2019
Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical is based on a cult Hollywood movie, it’s packed with 90s pop classics from Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, Natalie Imbruglia, *NSYNC, R.E.M and many more, and it’s having its UK premiere at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe. What else could we ask for?
Main roles are cast in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s productions of Evita & Jesus Chris Superstar
It’s a double whammy from Regent’s Park Theatre as the venue reveals casting for its Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber double bill – Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar – playing at the Open Air Theatre and the Barbican Centre. There’s plenty of #StageFaves lining up for the principal roles so waste no time in reading on…
Main roles are cast in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s productions of Evita & Jesus Chris Superstar
It’s a double whammy from Regent’s Park Theatre as the venue reveals casting for its Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber double bill – Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar – playing at the Open Air Theatre and the Barbican Centre. There’s plenty of #StageFaves lining up for the principal roles so waste no time in reading on…
2019
Global smash hit musical Mamma Mia! celebrated its 20th anniversary in London’s West End at the Novello Theatre on 6 April 2019. At the special performance, 13 former ‘Dynamos’ joined in the finale and at the curtain call producer Judy Craymer, director Phyllida Lloyd, book writer Catherine Johnson and ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus just happened to be there too. How can we resist this show?
2019
The sun is shining on the London production of Mamma Mia! and the show’s audiences too! Not only has booking been extended to 7 March 2020, but the ABBA-inspired musical will be celebrating its 20 years in the West End with a special ticket lottery. For each day & each performance in April, 20 tickets for £20 will be on offer. Now where did we put our lycra and platforms?
You couldn’t make it up. Not only is ArtsEd graduate Jac Yarrow making his professional stage debut in the West End, he is doing so at the London Palladium, alongside Sheridan Smith and Jason Donovan, while playing one of the most iconic roles in musical theatre. For Jac is living the dream by playing the lead in the new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, opening at the London Palladium in June 2019.
Is there a pattern emerging? First Michael Ball returns to Les Misérables to play Javert, now Jason Donovan will return to the London Palladium in the new production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to star as the Pharaoh, 28 years after he triumphed in the title role at the same theatre. No loincloth this time though!
Sheridan Smith has busy winning acclaim for her television work, but the Olivier Award-winning actress’ performances onstage have always been popular too (not least in the musicals Legally Blonde and Funny Girl). This summer she returns to the West End to play The Narrator in the brand new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium. Now we just have to find out who her Joseph will be?
They are big shoes to fill but we have the feeling that Nkeki Obi-Melekwe is going to make her mark in her West End debut as Tina in the record-breaking run of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre. She joins the company on 15 April 2019, as does the new Ike Turner, Ashley Zhangazha. And as for original West End Tina Adrienne Warren, she is preparing to head off to NYC to lead the Broadway production in autumn 2019.
2019
Kelly Price stars as the romantically entangled Rose Vibert in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ASPECTS OF LOVE, now transferred to London's Southwark Playhouse from the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. We caught up with her to find out more about her Andrew Lloyd Webber journey, her other musical influences and her Shakespeare debut...
It’s the best new for fans of the West End production of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre as Adrienne Warren and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith continue in the roles of Tina and Ike Turner until 13 April 2019. Plus over 200,000 tickets have been released for the popular show and there’s a cast recording is in the pipeline.
2019
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the London opening of ASPECTS OF LOVE at Southwark Playhouse. Dressed appropriately (you’ll see what we mean), Perry is wowed by the beautiful setting for Jonathan O'Boyle’s acclaimed chamber revival, the gorgeous score and the stunning performances. Plus he gets to chat with several of the cast including Jerome Pradon, Madalena Alberto, Felix Mosse, Kelly Price and Eleanor Walsh. Does love change everything? Read on and find out…
2019
Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park’s awesome staging of Jesus Christ Superstar was a sell-out in 2016 and 2017. Now the iconic musical (Pope Francis is a fan) is on its way back, transferring to the Barbican Theatre for 60 performances from 4 July to 24 August 2019. So what do you think of the new trailer?
2018
Like so many of us, Jonathan O'Boyle grew up on Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals. But one show he never saw was 1989's ASPECTS OF LOVE. Now he gets to bring his acclaimed Hope Mill Theatre revival to London thirty years after the musical's West End premiere. He explains how he feels about this honour...
2018
StageFaves’ Perry O’Bree attended the West End charity gala opening of The Band at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, a special night raising money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Perry was there on the Red Carpet to chat to all the talented cast – one confessed to being a big fan of Perry – as well as Take That’s Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams too! Are you ready to see them ‘Shine’?
Fifty years after the release of the original concept album, a brand new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s first major musical collaboration, will be back in the West End in June 2019. So who do you want to wear the coat of many colours?