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.
Do you know what happened in New Orleans on 24 June 1973? Why should we remember? Watch Faves founder Terri Paddock's post-show Q&A with Tyrone Huntley, Andy Mientus and Cedric Neal, three of the stars of the European premiere of THE VIEW UPSTAIRS...
2019
Get your glass slippers ready. Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA is coming to London. The Broadway version of the screen-to-stage fairytale musical gets its UK premiere in a concert version, directed by Jonathan O'Boyle and accompanied by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, at Cadogan Hall for one night only on Sunday 20 October 2019.
2019
Cast is yet to be announced but our minds here at #StageFaves can't stop racing with ideas. In what may be the last professional production in London before the much-anticipated screen version, Guy Retallack revives Jonathan Larson's tick, tick... BOOM! at the Bridge House Theatre in October.
2019
This’ll get you tumbling out of bed (but carefully please!)… There’s a new Judy and a new trailer as Casualty star Chelsea Halfpenny takes over from Amber Davies in the West End cast of 9 to 5 THE MUSICAL. Watch with Dolly Parton here!
How appropriate that Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ rockin’ Royal Tudor musical Six is going to make history. Two years to the day the show was first seen as a student production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it’s announced that the hit West End production will invade Broadway, officially opening at New York’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 12 March 2020. Do you feel a trip to NYC coming on?
2019
Toby Marlow, one of the writers of smash-hit West End musical Six, saved the day at the weekend when he donned high heels and leather hotpants to play the sixth Queen Catherine Parr. With just a few hours notice, the two performances initially threatened by cast illness went ahead.
Ready to step in time? Amy Griffiths, Claire Moore, Claire Machin, Jack North and Barry James are doing just that as they join Zizi Strallen, Charlie Stemp, Joseph Millson and Petula Clark in the new production of Mary Poppins which returns to its original West End home, the Prince Edward Theatre, from 23 October 2019.
2019
As The Phantom of the Opera heads into its incredible 34th year in the West End, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh have announced that Australian singer and performer Josh Piterman will make his West End debut as The Phantom from 9 September 2019, with Britt Lenting as Carlotta Giudicelli and Richard Woodford as Monsieur André. Do you feel the music of the night calling you back to Her Majesty’s Theatre?
2019
Disney’s hit West End musicals The Lion King, Aladdin, the eagerly-anticipated Frozen, and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins will all take centre stage in the Disney in the West End Summer Pop-Up, set to open its doors to fans of all ages in Covent Garden from 23 July to 1 September 2019. It could open up a whole new world.
2019
Rev up that flux capacitor because it’s time to find out more casting details for the world premiere production of Back to The Future The Musical with Hugh Coles as George McFly, Rosanna Hyland as Lorraine Baines and Cedric Neal as Goldie Wilson.They join the previously announced Olly Dobson as Marty McFly in the show which opens at the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 before transferring to the West End. Plus have a listen Cedric’s rendition of new song, ‘Gotta Start Somewhere’.
2019
In the second of our two-part interview, Bare: A Pop Opera star Darragh Cowley shares his Shakespeare ambitions and dishes the dirt on co-star and drama school peer Lizzie Emery as well as director Julie Atherton.
2019
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.
Sometimes it’s hard for dreamers but it’s paid off for the team behind the successful touring production of Amélie The Musical as it journeys to London’s The Other Palace for a festive season, running from 29 November 2019 to 1 February 2020, with Audrey Brisson reprising the title role.
2019
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening night of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical at the Ambassadors Theatre. Described by one cast member as ‘the Pixar of British stage musicals’, Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary’s inspiring show gives Perry goosebumps so he is thrilled to catch up several members of the cast: both the grown-ups and children. Will the musical be a big hit? Perry thinks so!
2019
The flags have been flying this weekend for Pride In London 2019 and West End performers and shows have been playing their part. Are you ready for a colourful collaboration between 9 To 5 The Musical and Waitress, for example? Enjoy our Twitter round-up below.
It’s to the classroom for Noel Sullivan as from 19 August 2019 he picks up his briefcase and guitar in order to take on the iconic role of Dewey Finn in the West End production of School of Rock at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre. Will you be rockin’ along to see him in action?
2019
Just weeks prior to the just announced UK premiere of Ghost Quartet at Soho's new Boulevard Theatre, another hit New York musical by Tony Awards-lauded composer and lyricist Dave Malloy, the Rachmaninoff-inspired PRELUDES gets its UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse.
2019
In the first of our two-part interview, Bare: A Pop Opera star Darragh Cowley discusses playing ‘the golden boy’ and why 2019 is the right time to revive Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere's coming-of-age musical about Catholic school.
2019
The stagiest weekend of the year may be over, but don’t worry, you can relive West End Live 2019 all over again by checking out StageFaves vlogger Perry O'Bree’s selfies, backstage interviews & video excerpts. Just look at the line up: Rachel Tucker, Lucie Jones, David Hunter, Grace Mouat, Bonnie Langford, Oliver Tompsett, Alistair Brammer, Trevor Dion Nicholas, and that’s just a few!
Stagey weekend alert. There’s only ‘One Day More’ until a glorious selection of West End and touring musicals will congregate in one place – London’s Trafalgar Square – to entertain in a free event that grows ever popular year after year. So have you planned your tactics for getting the most out of the experience? One Woman West End Show (@OneWomanWEShow) offers Ten Top Tips to boost your enjoyment, whether you are a West End Live first-timer or an old hand. Although the most important thing is obviously to have fun!