Blog / West End Calling
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.
Judy, Judy, Judy! All three Judy Garlands - Helen Sheals, Belinda Wollaston and Lucy Penrose - wowed us in Through the Mill at Southwark Playhouse last year. Now the renamed bio-musical, JUDY!, with its trio of leading divas gets its West End debut this May at the Arts Theatre...
#StageFaves founder Terri Paddock recently hosted a post-show Q&A at the UK premiere of LIZZIE, with a panel including the four stars Eden Espinosa (finally making her UK debut), Bjorg Gamst, Jodie Jacobs and Bleu Woodward. Listen to the raucous and insightful podcast here...
2017
As #StageFaves legends go, Peter Straker is right up there. Now he returns to one of the show's that helped launch his career: The Who's TOMMY. The rock opera is revived care of Ramps On the Moon, the consortium of seven major theatres that puts deaf and disabled artists centre stage, and it comes to London's Stratford East in June...
Homegrown musical MISS NIGHTINGALE, set in London during the Second World War, finally gets an extended London season after five successful UK tours. It runs for eight weeks this spring at The Vaults (which is near-enough to a bomb shelter?)...
2017
Musical theatre meets rock concert in LIZZIE, the tragic tale of American murderess Lizzie Borden. LIZZIE is four women fronting a six-piece rock band. LIZZIE is rage, sex, betrayal, and bloody murder. And LIZZIE is opening tonight at the Greenwich Theatre! Count down until curtain up with these ten tweets...
Who's joining Samantha Barks and Arthur Darvill in the London Musical Theatre Orchestra stellar concert presentation of Broadway musical HONEYMOON IN VEGAS? This is one night at the London Palladium not to be missed. (And you could win tickets through #StageFaves if you're lucky!)
Lots of #StageFaves musicals and performers have been nominated in this year's third annual #AlsoRecognised Awards, run by our sister site MyTheatreMates. Public voting has now opened and continues until 26 March 2017...
Lots of #StageFaves musicals and performers have been nominated in this year's third annual #AlsoRecognised Awards, run by our sister site MyTheatreMates. Public voting has now opened and continues until 26 March 2017...
2017
The true-life story of a Yorkshire chapter of the Women’s Institute who posed nude for a charity calendar 18 years ago has already been a hit film and a record-breaking stage play. But, far from being tapped out, the tale of love and friendship and coping has, according to critics, now found its ideal form in Tim Firth and Gary Barlow’s musical adaptation THE GIRLS, officially opened last night in the West End. Here’s a round-up…
On the back of sensational reviews for its West End premiere, THE GIRLS has extended its booking period at the Phoenix Theatre and added an extra weekly matinee - rather perfect for Yorkshire (and other) ladies of a certain age...
After looking back at the musical theatre successes of 2016, Musical Theatre Review opened the year by previewing some of the 2017 musical theatre openings we know about so far in the West End, on the London Fringe and across the UK. Here are some of the big ones coming up fast. Where are we up to?
After looking back at the musical theatre successes of 2016, Musical Theatre Review opened the year by previewing some of the 2017 musical theatre openings we know about so far in the West End, on the London Fringe and across the UK. Here are some of the big ones coming up fast. Where are we up to?
2017
V for victorious West End gala! Gary Barlow wowed the audience last night at the West End's Phoenix Theatre, when he took to the stage along with Tim Firth and the original Calendar Girls for the curtain at the star-studded gala night for THE GIRLS musical, held in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent and HRH The Countess of Wessex. Access gala night video and pics here...
2017
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the gala night (on 20 February 2017) of the premiere of THE GIRLS, Tim Firth and Gary Barlow's musical adaptation of the story of Yorkshire's Calendar Girls, at the West End's Phoenix Theatre.
After West End success with Half a Sixpence and, transferring later this year, The Wind in the Willows, the Stiles & Drewe juggernaut continues this Easter with the 20th anniversary production of HONK!, the story of the Ugly Duckling, at London's Union Theatre, where the pair's Soho Cinders was revived in November...
Opening tonight (20 February 2017), Tony Award winner Frances Ruffelle leads the cast as Queenie in the UK premiere of Michael John LaChiusa’s musical version of THE WILD PARTY. Our friends at Musical Theatre Review talked to Frances about party preparations during rehearsals and how she feels about her career to date...
2017
Michele Dotrice has had to temporarily withdraw from THE GIRLS under doctor's, but it's a dream come true for her 67-year-old understudy who takes a starring role in the new Gary Barlow and Tim Firth musical ahead of next week's official opening and star-studded gala...
It's the age of Aquarius... again! The ultimate 1960s hippy musical, HAIR, transfers to London as it hits the grand old age of 50, transferring - care of the mighty Katy Lipson and Aria Entertainment - after an acclaimed run at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre...
Miranda Hart has 'a spring in her step' - thanks to being cast as villainess Miss Hannigan in the new West End production of ANNIE, which comes to the Piccadilly Theatre in May. We reckon she'll be as big a success on the musical stage as she is in comedy world...
2017
After its current premiere of new British musical My Land's Shore, All Star Productions will continue its 2017 season at east London's Ye Olde Rose & Crown in Walthamstow with a rarely seen 1963 musical 110 IN THE SHADE in May...