We can hardly contain ourselves with excitement over today's news about the St James Theatre's rebirth as 'The Other Palace'. Under the ownership of Andrew Lloyd Webber and the artistic direction of Paul Taylor Mills, this is undoubtedly a new mecca for musical lovers. We think #StageFaves fans will be spending an inordinate amount of time here in the months and years to come. It officially launches in February 2017 and the inaugural season is announced today...

Good things come to those who wait. After more than 15 years in development (did we really read that right?), homegrown musical MY LAND'S SHORE at last receives a full-scale, world-premiere production with a run in the new year at Walthamstow's Ye Olde Rose & Crown, care of All Star Productions...

The tiny, 50-seat Hope Theatre in Islington is best known for its acclaimed play productions. But, as its artistic director Matthew Parker turns his attention to the rarely seen Bryony Lavery musical HER ACHING HEART and brings onboard a West End co-producer, we wonder: could there be more musicals, and more transfers on the cards?

You don't have to tell us here at #StageFaves what an absolutely amazing job understudies do. They're as big as the stars they cover, as far as we're concerned. So we wholeheartedly second the case that Dries Janssens makes here, care of our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society...

Join #StageFaves founder Terri Paddock at Lazarus Theatre's THE BEGGAR'S OPERA on Tuesday 15 November 2016 for a post-show debate on John Gay's ground-breaking, 18th-century musical satire and its enduring political and artistic legacy to this day...

Oh what a sad night. The New York production of JERSEY BOYS, which tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, recently announced that it will be closing in January after more than 11 years on Broadway. And now the London production has confirmed that it will follow suit, closing in March after nine years in the West End...

Following this week's #Wicked10, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will be the next long-running West End musical blockbuster to mark a major milestone. The Andrew Lloyd Webber classic celebrates its 30th anniversary with a gala at Her Majesty's Theatre on 10 October...

Londoners only have a few more weeks to see Sheridan Smith in her acclaimed turn as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL, but audiences across the country can rest easier. Sheridan will be reprising the role for selected dates on the UK-wide tour launching in February 2017. And further #StageFaves casting is still to be announced...

Here come THE GIRLS! What a wonderful assemblage of #StageFaves divas who will be strutting on and stripping off in Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s new British musical. Based on the true story, the film and the award-winning play by Tim Firth, Calendar Girls, THE GIRLS opens in the West End in the new year. Full casting now unveiled...

A role in the London premiere of David Bowie's posthumous musical is a pretty good way to follow up an Olivier Award nomination. Amy Lennox (nominated for Kinky Boots, pictured with her then co-star Killian Donnelly) is amongst the Brits #StageFaves who will complete the cast of LAZARUS, which starts performances next month at King's Cross Theatre...

HALF A SIXPENCE and SHOW BOAT are both in the running for UK Theatre Awards as are #StageFaves Charlie Stemp, Emmanuel Kojo, Rebecca Trehearn, Clare Burt, Jennifer Saayeng, Nina Toussaint-White and Allyson-Ava Brown. Full shortlists for the 2016 awards, presented at a ceremony on Sunday 9 October, are announced today...

When you know someone can do the job, why wouldn't you ask them back? After Rachel Tucker's current tenth birthday return run in WICKED, another popular former 'Elphaba', Dutch star Willemijn Verkaik, flies back into the show - along with 'Madame Morrible' returnee Sue Kelvin and new 'Nessarose' Sarah McNicholas - in the new year...

On Friday, Haydn Oakley was announced for the UK premiere of An American in Paris in the West End. Five days later, he's announced to star in another UK premiere of another Broadway musical, SIDE SHOW, in which he'll star next month alongside 'conjoined twins' Louise Dearman and Laura Pitt Pulford at Southwark Playhouse. Busy man! Full SIDE SHOW casting is announced today...

Best known for its radically modern adaptations of classic plays from the canon, Lazarus Theatre company makes its #StageFaves debut as it turns to musicals. The company, under artistic director Ricky Dukes, will re-imagine THE BEGGAR'S OPERA, John Gay's ground-breaking 1728 musical satire of London, which went on to inspire Brecht's The Threepenny Opera and The Busker's Opera, both staged in London this year...

You're never too old to become a #StageFave. At the age of 70, Jane Asher is adding her West End musical debut to an extraordinary list of credits in a career spanning six decades. She'll play Madame Baurel in the Broadway transfer of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. She joins the show's already-announced Broadway stars and a host of other #StageFaves, including Haydn Oakley, Zoe Rainey, David Seadon-Young and Ashley Day...

David Fynn is swapping his TV comedy roles in the likes of The Inbetweeners, Sherlock, Game of Thrones and Undateable to play Dewey Finn (a distant, fictional relation?) in the Broadway transfer of Andrew Lloyd Webber's SCHOOL OF ROCK. He's joined by a band of #StageFaves stalwarts and 39 child actor-musicians found after a nationwide search...