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.

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!

A second Sondheim addition for our #StageFavesSongOfTheWeek list, this time with a little twist. The new production of COMPANY stars Rosalie Craig as the lead character, usually played by a man. We couldn't be more excited for this gender-swap version, but just in case you're feeling any trepidation about the change, allow us to put your mind at ease. Check out Rosalie absolutely nailing "Being Alive"...

If 2018 is year of the woman (and it is!), then it all seems to be coming together now. This September, there are a host of fantastic musicals with women right in the centre of the action. Even more exciting, they all bring something totally new to the theatre scene, telling stories we rarely get to hear in commercial productions. Here are our Top 5 Feminist Picks opening over the next month...

In February 2019 the popular actors will join the cast as Ben and Sally in the award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies opposite Janie Dee and Peter Forbes who reprise their roles as Phyllis and Buddy.

Yes, the magical characters from Dr Seuss will be making a return to London with Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s larger-than-life feelgood musical from 22 November to 29 December 2018.

There is no arguing the place of Stephen Sondheim atop any list of modern Musical Theatre composers. Our first #StageFavesSongOfTheWeek from him, is one of the most iconic songs from INTO THE WOODS. Watch this clip of Bernadette Peters absolutely slaying "Last Midnight" from this wonderful show...

Sondheim classic INTO THE WOODS gets a 21st-century twist in an in-the-round production directed by and starring Tim McArthur, which runs at London's Cockpit Theatre 23 May to 24 June 2018, with a press night on 25 May. Full casting here...