Blog / Openings
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.
It’s taken a while to travel across the pond, but now Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman’s Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of Robert James Waller’s bestselling novel The Bridges of Madison County will have its European premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 12 July to 14 September 2019, directed by Trevor Nunn. It could be a bit of a tearfest.
It was the role that won Michael Ball an Olivier Award… No, we don’t mean Sweeney Todd! The actor and singer will be back as Edna Turnblad when Hairspray the Musical arrives at the London Coliseum for a special, strictly limited season in April 2020. It’s a show with big hair and big hearts – and we can’t wait!
Featuring the Oscar-winning song ‘When You Believe’ and 10 new songs from Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, new stage musical The Prince of Egypt will arrive at London’s Dominion Theatre on 5 February 2020 and is due to stick around for a 32-week season. Are you ready for a royal visit?
Something special is coming: The Pet Shop Boys and Jonathan Harvey are collaborating once more, this time on the world premiere of cabaret show MUSIK at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Frances Barber back in the role of Billie Trix from the writers’ musical Closer To Heaven. Plus we are going to get to hear FOUR new Pet Shop Boys songs written especially for the show.
Our day in Falsettoland is finally here thanks to Selladoor Worldwide who is presenting the European premiere of William Finn and James Lapine’s Falsettos at The Other Palace from 30 August to 23 November 2019. It’s the first time UK audiences will have had the chance to see March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland professionally produced together here. We can’t wait.
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…
Is it ever too early to feel festive? Not for Danny Mac and Dan Burton who will star in the Curve Leicester production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical when it transfers to the Dominion Theatre for a festive West End season from 15 November 2019 to 4 January 2020. Let it snow?
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.
Wrap up warm because Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Jennifer Lee’s stage adaptation of the Disney favourite Frozen is on its way with the West End production named as the first to open at the newly refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane in autumn 2020. Are you ready to let it go?
2019
Romance is in the air as West End performer, Strictly Come Dancing favourite and TV actor Danny Mac joins the UK touring company of Amélie The Musical, based on the much-loved film, opposite French-Canadian stage and screen star Audrey Brisson as Amélie Poulain. Danny will portray the sweet daydreamer Nino Quincampoix from 22 May 2019, with Chris Jared playing the part during performances at the Watermill Theatre from 11 April to 18 May.
Did you hear the gossip? The multi-talented Peter Polycarpou – well-known for his stage, film and TV performances – has been cast in the role of Don Quixote’s squire, Sancho Panza, alongside Kelsey Grammer’s Don Quixote in the first West End production of Man of the Mancha for 50 years, running at the London Coliseum from 26 April to 8 June 2019. Could that be double trouble?
It’s shaping into quite a cast and we still have several months to wait before the opening! Joining Zizi Strallen’s Mary and Charlie Stemp’s Bert will be Joseph Millson, as Mr George Banks, and the music and stage legend that is Petula Clark, as the Bird Woman (and rumour is Petula’s role may be extended in this staging). Mary Poppins returns home to the West End’s Prince Edward Theatre from 23 October 2019 to 29 March 2020 so get ready.
2019
Bringing sun, songs and 90s nostalgia, Summer Street – The Hilarious Aussie Soap Opera Musical! is heading to the Brighton Fringe before transferring to Waterloo East Theatre this May. As four Aussie soap stars try to resurrect their careers, there are hilarious and unexpected consequences – and, of course, plenty of songs to tap your foot to.
2019
Date is confirmed for a recovered Louise Redknapp to re-join the West End cast of 9 To 5 The Musical
That 9 To 5 The Musical clock has been ticking and now Louise Redknapp is ready to return to the Savoy Theatre, playing the role of Violet Newstead from 25 March to 29 June 2019. After suffering a nasty injury shortly before the West End opening, Louise was forced to withdraw for a few weeks to recover. In her absence Caroline Sheen stepped in last minute to play the sassy office supervisor. So here’s an excuse to see the show again!
2019
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of the delicious WAITRESS at the Adelphi Theatre. Perry was there on the Red Carpet – rubbing shoulders with Carrie Hope Fletcher and Cuba Gooding Jr – plus post-show there was a chance to chat to cast members Peter Hannah and Shaun Prendergast. And did we mention Perry squeezed in meeting awesome Waitress composer Sara Bareilles too? It’s amazing what a little baking can do.
2019
Two years on from a workshop at Live at Zédel, Alex James Ellison and Tom Lees’ new British musical Fiver is having its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse in July 2019 and the cast so far – Daniel Buckley, Hiba Elchikhe and Kayleigh McKnight – has plenty of West End credentials. So if you have ever looked at a £5 note and wondered ‘Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?’, this is the show for you!
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?
The matches have been made and the performers chosen to join Andy Nyman and Judy Kuhn in the West End transfer of Menier Chocolate Factory’s Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Trevor Nunn and playing at a reconfigured Playhouse Theatre from 21 March until 15 June 2019.
2019
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of Tony Award-winning Canadian musical Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Rachel Tucker and Jenna Boyd, plus he also caught up with original stranded passenger Kevin Tuerff, and Janice Goudie – one of the islanders who expressed such love and compassion to the 7,000 people diverted to their hometown during the wake of 9/11. Welcome to the Rock…
2019
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of Dolly Parton’s 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at the Savoy Theatre, continuing in the West End to 31 August 2019. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Caroline Sheen, Amber Davies, Natalie McQueen, Brian Conley and Bonnie Langford. Watch out for Brian describing Perry as one of the best theatre vloggers around & some expert video-bombing fromOlivier Award winner Michael Jibson!