Blog / Stephen Sondheim Society
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.
The world-famous film producer Harvey Weinstein has been hit with allegations from many women and has been fired from his own company. But Weinstein wasn't just a producer of films. His Broadway show FINDING NEVERLAND has been due for a West End debut for years but now its future seems even more uncertain. Joanne Sadler from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society discusses the future of the musical in light of the recent allegations...
Who'd have thought history could be so...tuneful? There are certainly a lot of fantastic musicals based on true past events and with HAMILTON about to open in London's West End, we wouldn't be surprised if there were many more to follow! But if we're getting our history from Musicals, shouldn't we know how accurate they are? Lauryn Clarke, from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society takes a look at some of the most popular musicals based on historical events and sees how they measure up with the truth...
2017
She's currently stealing the show in WAR PAINT across the pond, but as that show posts its closing notice, Patti Lupone is setting her sight on a new project - on the West End!! It has been announced that Patti will star in a new production of COMPANY that will hit the West End in Autumn 2018...
2017
Here at StageFaves we LOVE to geek out about our favourite musicals and if there's one thing we know from office rants (our editor is constantly listing the reasons WICKED is one of the the greatest shows ever...) and heated musical theatre-themed debates it's that everyone has their own opinions on what shows are the best, the most underrated, or just plain unlistenable! We've compiled our #TopFive videos...of Top 5 lists!
Panto season is coming round again and this year's big West End production is DICK WHITTINGTON with an all-star cast of StageFaves. Becky Wallis from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society shares her excitement for the Christmas production at the London Palladium and talks about how celebrity casting is becoming as much of a tradition as panto itself!
2017
Very rarely does a show come along that receives unanimous praise and adulation, after all, appealing to the wide ranging tastes of both audience and critics is a tough ask. The National Theatre's production of FOLLIES however, is one of those shows! It's been ages since we've seen such glowing reviews pouring in from far and wide and it's great to see the Sondheim classic 1971 musical still feels as fresh as ever! You can't be a true musical theatre lover without a bit of Sondheim, and we reckon FOLLIES is the perfect way to clock in a few hours of one of the greatest American composers...We've rounded up the best reviews and features so you can get your FOLLIES fix all in one place!
There are certain unspoken habits and traditions all musical theatre fans must abide by. Whether it's the "guess where I am" stage shot or the delicate way you handle your programmes, all theatre geeks spend time and energy on every aspect of their Musical Theatre experience. So, for the first time, Katie Rose from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society has put together the 10 commandments of a theatre lover! Tell us, how many do you follow?
2017
We reckon it's going to be one of the biggest shows of the season, but the National Theatre's run of FOLLIES has just become even more exciting! On Tuesday 22 August, the man himself, Stephen Sondheim will chat to Jeremy Sams about the legendary musical, chocked full of StageFaves from Imelda Staunton to Janie Dee. It's in the Dorfman so tickets are extremely limited, but you can enter a ballot to win the chance to get them...sign us up right now!
We all know the theatre can be political, just look at what HAMILTON and RENT did, not just for Broadway but America as a whole! Occasionally though, it's the controversy offstage that makes the headlines Joanne Sadler from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society assesses the future of the Great Comet and discusses the recent issues regarding the shortening of a black actor's contract, to be replaced by a more established white one...
The theatre has often been a safe space for LGBT+ performers and audiences alike and can serve to educate others on the issues faced by marginalised communities and humanise a group who have historically been persecuted. Lauren Philpott from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society discusses how Musical Theatre can both educate their audiences and empower people within the LGBTQ+ community...
It's been a triumphant run, but Gary Barlow's THE GIRLS has now left London's West End. The show, which found a home at the Phoenix Theatre for six wonderful months will head on tour next summer, but the hole it's left in London's theatre district has been felt strongly by thousands of fans. Becky Mary from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society, shares her thoughts on its closing...
They may have finished their West End run earlier this month but it's far from the end of the line for THE GIRLS. This August will see the fab cast embark on a 42-venue tour, sharing their wonderful story with the rest of the UK. Most of the coverage for the show has focussed on the leading ladies but there is also an injection of youth to the cast which shouldn't be forgotten. Becky Mary, from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society met the younger cast and had a chat about the run and their experiences as young actors in the business...
We all love Musical Theatre here at #StageFaves, but let's be honest - it's a tough career! The life of a performer is often full of uncertainty, fear, huge highs and dragging lows. Every aspect can be very rewarding, but also draining and, yup...stressful! For those of you looking forward to a time at drama school, George Fairclough from our wonderful friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society offers some tips and tricks on managing stress and getting the most out of life as a performer...
She tried to suppress it, but it was only a matter of time until Lauren Philpott from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciate Society fell under the Hamilton spell! Here's the story of how she fell hard for the #Hamiltonhype (look out for the puns!)...
It's been a little over a week since the biggest night in American Theatre - The Tony Awards - dominated theatre headlines worldwide. DEAR EVAN HANSEN dominated the affair with HELLO, DOLLY! Also picking up awards for itself and its star Bette Midler. But what about the shows that didn't win? Or the shows that never even got anomination? Joanne Sadler from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society asks whether or not a Tony Award defines success...
They were written a century apart, but Opera classic LA BOHEME and Musical Theatre groundbreaker RENT have more in common than you might think. In fact, RENT was actually based on Puccini's Italian masterpiece. Lauryn Clarke - from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society - delves into the differences and similarities between the two shows...
Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES makes its National Theatre debut in September, care of director Dominic Cooke. Who'll be joining Imelda Staunton, Philip Quast, Janie Dee and other previously announced principals in the 37-strong cast...
Fans of MAMMA MIA! were recently hit with the news that a sequel is in the works for 2018, and people have been having a lot of feelings about it! Sophie Wood and our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society discuss whether studio exects are right to take a chance on a new film or if we should all be shouting SOS...
In recent years, the world of musical theatre has received an extra dose of LOLs with well-known comedians taking to the stage and appearing to take the new challenge in their stride. With Miranda Hart coming into the role of Miss Hannigan in the new production of much loved musical Annie opening soon at the Piccadilly Theatre, and with her name plastered across the advertising, Becky Wallis from the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society asks if comics can really make it work on the West End...
It's nearly summer holidays! If that's not enough to shout about, SOLT are returning with Kids Week, giving millions of free tickets to some amazing West End shows! Let's see which StageFaves favourites are on the list this year...