What We’ve Learnt This Week 9.02.15 – 15.02.15

As we all know, last night was The WhatsOnStage Awards 2015, the only major theatre awards to be voted for by the public. Whilst the play awards tended to be shared out between many productions, the musical awards were dominated by Miss Saigon. It had an almost clean sweep (only losing Lighting Design to Coriolanus) winning a record nine awards including Best Musical Revival and Best West End Show. Memphis took the award for Best New Musical, Shakespeare In Love claimed Best New Play and Coriolanus received Best Play Revival. You can see the full list of winners here.

Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick

A film about the relationship of two people opened over the weekend. No, not that film, I’m talking about The Last Five Years, the film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown’s musical opened in the US on Friday starring Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick. The film seems to be getting mixed reviews in the US, and has yet to have a UK release date set, but I still plan on seeing it soon. In further JRB news, Parade is returning to the Lincoln Center on February 16th for a one night only engagement, with Brown conducting. The starry cast includes Jeremy Jordan, Laura Benanti, Ramin Karimloo and Andy Mientus among others. Events like this are why I should be living in America! In other stateside news, the revival of On the Twentieth Centuary began previews on February 13th. The Roundabout Theatre Company (Violet, Cabaret, Anything Goes) production stars Kristen Chenoweth and Peter Gallagher and will play at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway until July.

Tom Cruise and the Cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Over here in the UK, previews of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical started on February 10th. Starring Katie Brayben as Carole King, the musical will have its press night on 25th February. The cast got a surprise visit from Tom Cruise on Friday 13th. I myself will be seeing the show this Wednesday 18th, and I will post my review of it for you to read. It’s also been announced that Carrie: The Musical will be coming to the Southwark Playhouse. Originally a flop with poor reviews and plagued with disaster in 1988, the show was revised and shown Off-Broadway in 2012. Carrie: The Musical will open on 1st May.

Photo credits: Dan Wooller, Variety, BroadwayWorld

What We’ve Learnt This Week 2.02.15 – 9.02.15

As this is my first post it covers slightly more than a week

This week has been a rather big one in the theatre world. The freshest news came today that Michael Gambon will be retiring from the stage. Gambon, best known in recent years for playing Dumbledore in the latter six Harry Potter films, has stated that due to memory loss, he is finding it increasingly difficult to remember his lines, therefore live theatre just isn’t an option any more. Whilst this is a great shame, he will continue with his screen work though, and can be seen in the Sky Atlantic series Fortitude.

The Original Cast of Kinky Boots

Following the announcement that Made In Dagenham will be closing and leaving the Adelphi Theatre on 11^th April, we now know what will be filling the stage, or should I say boots! Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Firestein’s Kinky Boots, another film-to-stage musical set in a British factory, will begin previews on 21^st August with press night on 15^th September. Another Broadway import opening this year is Elf: The Musical, which will open at the Dominion Theatre on 5^th November following previews from 24^th October. It will be a limited run lasting 10 weeks and closing on 2^nd January 2016.

Rory Kinnear

Other prolific shows that have been announced are The Trial, The Car Man and Beautiful Thing. Kafka’s The Trial will star Rory Kinnear and run at the Young Vic from 19^th June to 8^th August. Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man starring Jonathan Olliver and Zizi Strallen will tour the UK for 16 weeks, beginning in Bromley on 16^th April. Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing will tour the UK for 18 weeks, beginning in Canterbury on 23^rd March, with a 5 week stop at London’s Arts Theatre from 3^rd June. It has also been announced that John Owen-Jones will play the role of Pirelli in the ENO’s upcoming production of Sweeney Todd, joining Emma Thompson, Bryn Terfel and Philip Quast.

Photo credits: The Standard, Fan Share, O&M Co.