As the excitement builds for the West End premiere production of The Prince Of Egypt, previewing at London’s Dominion Theatre from 5 February 2020, Stage Door Joe attends the launch for the much-anticipated Stephen Schwartz musical and catches up with all the stars. Are you ready to journey behind the ‘miracle’?

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.

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.

Your chance to make a date with destiny is just around the corner as tickets go on sale for The Prince of Egypt, Stephen Schwartz and Philip LaZebnik’s new stage musical based on the celebrated DreamWorks Animation film, and details of the creative team are announced. The production opens at London’s Dominion Theatre on 5 February 2020.

Flying into the London production of musical sensation Wicked from 22 July 2019 will be Nikki Bentley and Helen Woolf who will lead the new cast as Elphaba and Glinda, having played the roles on the recent UK and Ireland tour. They will be joined at the Apollo Victoria by Alistair Brammer as Fiyero, Kim Ismay’s Madame Morrible and Idriss Kargbo returns to play Boq. Do you see another visit to Oz in your future?

So it’s official. On March 31st the Broadway production of Anastasia will take one last Journey to the Past. If you need a moment to wipe away a little tear and celebrate this fabulous stage adaptation now is your chance... says Chloe Fry.

Phone rings, door chimes, in come the 2018 West End cast recording of Company. In the same week as Marianne Elliott’s groundbreaking production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s legendary musical comedy triumphed at the Critics’ Circle Awards, the digital download and streaming release has been made available and the fans can’t wait!

It seems that Marianne Elliott’s production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company at the Gielgud Theatre, featuring a female lead for the first time, hasn’t just been a favourite with audiences. The show won in both musical categories at the 2018 Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards today: for Best Musical & Best Designer for Bunny Christie.

Could there be a better time for Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Mary Poppins to return to the West End, with the movie sequel starring Emily Blunt having been such a hit? Now you can put the confirmed dates in your diary with news that the production starring Zizi Strallen and Charlie Stemp will open for previews at the Prince Edward Theatre from 23 October 2019 with opening night on 13 November. Are you booking your flight?

There will be many a musical theatre fan secretly listening to the National Theatre cast recording of Stephen Sondheim’s legendary musical Follies at work today. Plus, it’s not long before the production returns to the venue on 12 February 2019. Here they come, those beautiful girls…

A stream of A-listers including Paul McCartney, Bryan Cranston, Judi Dench, Henry Cavill, Whoopi Goldberg, Jack Black, Steve Martin and more have contributed to a music video for ‘The Hero – A West End & Friends Tribute’ alongside stars of London’s West End (Charlie Stemp, Marisha Wallace, Cleve September, Kerry Ellis and oodles more #StageFaves). Everyone involved wished to pay thanks to servicemen and women around the world and to raise money for the UK charity, Help For Heroes.

Southwark Playhouse could never be accused of not championing musicals including productions of new work. Next year’s season will see the transfer Aspects of Love from Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester; the one-man musical Stay Awake, Jake in its first full-length run and the world premiere of new musical The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A trio of treats!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of COMPANY at the Gielgud Theatre, probably the most eagerly-anticipated musical theatre opening of 2018. Perry was there on the Red Carpet and at the after-party to grab selfies (with Patti LuPone, no less) and chat to stars of Marianne Elliott’s gender-bending production, including those important guys: Ben Lewis, Richard Fleeshman, Matthew Seadon-Young, Jonathan Bailey, Alex Gaumond & Gavin Spokes. We’ll drink to that!