Avenue Q, Sister Act close tonight

The West End bids farewell to long-running shows Avenue Q and Sister Act tonight, 30 October 2010.

Patina Miller, Simon Webbe and Sally Dexter will perform for the last time tonight, Saturday 30 October, at the London Palladium as a packed house will cheer out Sister Act after 17 months in town.

The hit musical, based on the movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, opened on 2 June 2009 with Patina Miller as nightclub singer Deloris van Cartier and Sheila Hancock as Mother Superior. Whoopi Goldberg also played the role of Mother Superior for short stints in August and October this year, alongside regular Superior – Sally Dexter.

The show will vacate the Palladium leaving a three month gap before The Wizard of Oz opens at the theatre in February 2011.

Sister Act will move to Broadway following its London closure, with Broadway veteran Jerry Zaks (The Addams Family) taking the director helm. The show will open at the Broadway Theatre on 20 April 2011.

And over at the Wyndham’s Theatre, cult Broadway show Avenue Q will also bow out of London today, after opening on 1 June 2006 at the Noel Coward Theatre.

The musical had been scheduled to close at the Noel Coward in March 2009 but a surprise surge in bookings led producer Cameron Mackintosh to keep it going, transferring the show to the Gielgud Theatre. It made a further move to the Wyndham’s Theatre, its current home, in March this year.

The show won three Tony Awards on Broadway and continues to run off-Broadway in New York. The London cast saying farewell tonight include Delroy Atkinson, Cassidy Janson, Rachel Jerram, Sion Lloyd, Tom Parsons, Paul Spicer, Jacqueline Tate, Irene Alano-Rhodes, Alan Pearson, Amanda Posener, Jaygann Ayeh, Sam Harrison and Maria Lawson.

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Book tickets to Broadway shows

Avenue Q, the magic will live on

One of the furry characters from Avenue Q has knocked out a new project to keep him busy after the show closes at the Wyndham’s Theatre on 30 October.

Trekkie Monster is releasing a much-needed self help book on a subject close to his…  heart, “Masturbation: The Medicine of Life”.

Learning from a master, the 1,500 page book will offer valuable advice and guidance based on decades of careful, clinical and rigorous research.

Trekkie commented, “Me feel that this really digs to the soul of Trekkie.  Me believe my techniques will help people and monsters all over the Earth”.

The book is available wherever books are sold*.

Special Offer: Save up to £13.50 on tickets to Avenue Q at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London

*er, possibly not true.

LINKS

Avenue Q: Masturbation: The Medicine of Life

Avenue Q

The Broadway hit musical that features humans and puppets in a furry, funny adults-only musical about life on a city street.

Avenue Q to close

Cult Broadway musical to close in London

Avenue Q, the cult Broadway show, will finally close in the West End on 30 October after over four years in town.

The musical had been scheduled to close at the Noel Coward Theatre in March 2009 but a surprise surge in bookings led producer Cameron Mackintosh to keep it going, transferring the show to the Gielgud Theatre. It made a further move to the Wyndhams Theatre, its current home, in March this year.

The funny, furry musical follows life in a New York street inhabited by both humans and puppets and is a witty mix of satire and comedy songs including The Internet Is For Porn and If You Were Gay.

The show won three Tony Awards on Broadway and continues to run off-Broadway in New York. The London cast includes Delroy Atkinson, Cassidy Janson, Rachel Jerram, Sion Lloyd, Tom Parsons, Paul Spicer, Jacqueline Tate, Irene Alano-Rhodes, Alan Pearson, Amanda Posener, Jaygann Ayeh, Sam Harrison and Maria Lawson.

SPECIAL OFFER: Enjoy discount tickets to Avenue Q at the Wyndhams Theatre in London

Avenue Q celebrates 4th birthday

Quirky comic musical Avenue Q will celebrate its 4th birthday tonight, 28 June 2010, at the Wyndhams Theatre in London.

The Cameron Mackintosh-produced show has proved consistently popular with audiences since it opened four years ago at the Noel Coward Theatre.

Cameron Mackintosh said earlier this year when the show moved to the Wyndhams: “Little did I think when I fell in love with Avenue Q in New York, that it would come to London in one of my theatres. It is just fabulous that audiences are still hysterical with laughter into our fifth year, with its witty and timely songs being as pertinent as ever.”

A new cast has recently joined the show including Paul Spicer, (Notes from New York, Taboo, Fame) as Princeton/Rod, Jacqueline Tate (Phantom of the Opera) as Christmas Eve, the award-winning Delroy Atkinson (Jihad! The Musical) as Gary and Sion Lloyd as Brian.

Avenue Q is a mischievous, charming musical about characters on a downtown New York street trying to make sense of life’s burning issues: love, work, relationships and, above all, just how are you supposed to pay the bills with a BA in English?

The hilarious show features songs performed by a cast of talented performers and puppets, including It Sucks To Be Me, The Internet Is For Porn and If You Were Gay. The puppet musical won the 2004 Tony Awards for Best New Musical, Best Book Of A Musical and Best Original Score.

The Wyndham’s theatre is the third London home for Avenue Q, which opened at the Noël Coward theatre in 2006 before transferring to the Gielgud theatre in 2009. The show is directed by Jason Moore, with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and a book by Jeff Whitty.

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £10 on tickets to see Avenue Q at the Wyndhams Theatre in London

Big crowds for West End Live 2010

Over 250,000 people gather in Leicester Square for free West End theatre event.

View VIDEOS of West End Live 2010

West End Live, a free event held in the West End this weekend, showcased the best of London theatre and attracted over a quarter of a million people.

Now in its sixth year and the largest free theatre festival in the world, the event featured the casts of some of London’s biggest shows including Thriller Live, Disney’s The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys.

An array of West End stars performed at the event including Ramin Karimloo (Love Never Dies), Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Patina Miller (Sister Act), Daniel Boys (Wolfboy) and Ryan Molloy (Jersey Boys).

Councillor Robert Davis of Westminster City Council, who organised the event, said: “Without doubt, this has been our biggest and best West End LIVE. We’ve seen spectacular performances from some of the nation’s favourite shows.”

Nica Burns, President of the Society of London Theatre said: “London has the best theatre in the world and West End LIVE is a fantastic opportunity for people to sample some of the West End’s most popular shows for free.” The success of the past weekend suggests that a quarter of a million satisfied theatre fans agree.

View VIDEOS of West End Live 2010

West End Live this weekend

A free event will be held in London this weekend, showcasing the best of West End theatre.

West End Live will feature the casts of some of London’s biggest shows, performing at a free event this weekend in Leicester Square. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June 2010, hundreds of West End performers will gather to showcase the best of London theatre. Careful juggling by the organisers has enabled the casts of over 25 shows to appear live on a stage in Leicester Square in between performing their matinee and evening performances.

Download and print the West End Live timetable of events.

The line-up for the celebration has now been confirmed, with Brazil! Brazil! launching the weekend at 11am on Saturday.

Shows which have agreed to participate in the family event include Thriller Live, Disney’s The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys.

West End stars will be out in force to entertain audiences at the event,  including Daniel Boys (Wolfboy), who will be hosting proceedings from 12 noon to 6pm on Sunday 20 June, Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Kerry Ellis (Oliver!), Patina Miller (Sister Act) and Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods).

Saturday’s full line up* is as follows: 11.00am Brazil! Brazil!; 11.15am Dirty Dancing; 11.25am Burn the Floor; 11.35am Wicked; 11.45am We Will Rock You; 12.05pm Billy Elliot; 12.15pm Love Never Dies; 12.30pm Chicago; 12.45pm HAIR; 13.05pm Jersey Boys; 13.25pm Sweet Charity; 13.35pm Grease; 13.50pm Mamma Mia!; 14.00pm Sister Act; 14.10pm Thriller Live; 14.30pm Julie Atherton; 14.40pm Avenue Q; 15.00pm Into the Woods; 15.20pm Fireman Sam; 15.30pm Sylvia Young Theatre School; 15.50pm Burn the Floor; 16:00pm The Big Dance; 16:20pm London Gay Men’s Chorus; 16:35pm Burn The Floor; 16.45pm The Gleeks; 17.10pm Royal Albert Hall; 17.35pm All the Fun of the Fair; 17.45pm STOMP.

On Sunday* there’s more theatrical thrills and spills with: 12.00pm Tap Dogs; 12.15pm Stomp; 12.30pm Thriller Live; 12.55pm Jersey Boys; 13.10pm Priscilla Queen of the Deasert; 13.25pm Legally Blonde; 13.35pm Disney’s The Lion King; 13.50pm Mamma Mia!; 14.00pm West End Kids; 14.15pm Daniel Boys; 14.30pm National Youth Music Theatre; 14.45pm Into the Woods; 15.10pm Mark Jermin Stage School; 15.30pm Fireman Sam; 15.45pm Jack Day; 16.00pm T Mobile Big Dance; 16.20pm West End Gospel Choir; 16.40pm Burn the Floor; 16.50pm SOLT competition; 17.00pm 1916 the Musical; 17.15pm Burn the Floor; 17.25pm Dover Street.

* Timetable and acts subject to change – check West End Live site for details.

To get the party started early, the cast of Wicked will also be performing on Friday 18 June 2010 at Cardinal Place, Victoria between 12.30 and 1pm for a pre West End LIVE performance.

The weekend event will feature exhibits and activities including the London Film Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum, Little Angel Puppet theatre and Forbidden Planet.

Over a quarter of a million people attended last year’s event in Leicester Square.  Running in a variety of formats for a number of years, including the Society of London Theatre’s Fair in the Square events in the 1990s, this year’s two-day event is organised by Westminster City Council.

Saturday 19 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 20 June, 12noon to 6pm in Leicester Square.

Download and print the West End Live timetable of events.

LINKS: West End Live website

Free West End event scheduled

The casts of London’s biggest shows are being allowed out of their theatres again this year to perform at the West End’s annual live event in Leicester Square.

West End Live is a weekend of free entertainment on 19 and 20 June that promises to showcase the best of London’s Theatreland.

Running in a variety of formats for a number of years, including the Society of London Theatre’s Fair in the Square events in the 1990s, this year’s two-day event initiated by Westminster City Council will see 23 shows perform on a stage in Leicester Square.

Shows which have agreed to participate in the family event include Thriller Live, The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing, The Fantasticks and Jersey Boys.

West End stars will be out in force to entertain audiences at the event,  including Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Kerry Ellis (Oliver!), Patina Miller (Sister Act) and Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods). More stars are expected to be announced shortly.

Last year’s event attracted around 250,000 people.

Saturday 19 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 20 June, 12noon to 6pm in Leicester Square.

LINKS: West End Live website

Avenue Q extends

Avenue Q, now in it’s fourth year in the West End after transferring from the Noel Coward Theatre, has extended its run at its present home, the Gielgud Theatre, until January 2010.

Cameron Mackintosh was originally due to close the show but a sudden surge of bookings led him to transfer the musical instead to make way for Calendar Girls at the Noel Coward.

Described as “Pant Wettingly Funny” Avenue Q ingeniously combines a cast of humans and puppets who tackle subjects such as dating, racism, internet porn, being gay and finding your purpose in life. The show has enjoyed enormous success, both in London and on Broadway, where the show closes this week but follows the West End trend by transferring to an off-Broadway theatre.

Avenue Q has music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and directed by Jason Moore.

Book discount tickets to Avenue Q now

Related articles

Hold Final Curtain: ‘Avenue Q’ Moves to off-B’way (abcnews.go.com)

Avenue Q at the Gielgud Theatre review (telegraph.co.uk)

Transfer News: Juliet Stevenson, Avenue Q, Prunella Scales and War Horse

It’s all change in the West End as a number of shows close to make way for transfers from other theatres. In an increasingly risk-averse climate for producers, a hit in a small venue or success in a limited run could mean money if it transfers into the West End.  The subsidised National Theatre and Almeida are bringing in War Horse and Duet for One respectively, Cameron Mackintosh decides to keep Avenue Q running and Carrie’s War and Saturday Night transfer from smaller venues.

Duet For One

The Almeida’s recently acclaimed production Duet for One will transfer to the West End in May.

Tom Kempinski’s two-hander stars Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman and centres on a concert violinist (Stevenson) who goes to a psychiatrist (Goodman) in the wake of a tragedy.

Directed by Matthew Lloyd, it will transfer to the Vaudeville Theatre from 7th May.

BOOK TICKETS TO DUET FOR ONE

Avenue Q

There’s nothing like the threat of missing out to boost a show. Avenue Q - which has already run for 3 years at the Noel Coward Theatre, had announced its closure to make way for Calendar Girls.

But a new demand for tickets to catch the show before it exits London has promoted Cameron Mackintosh to transfer it to another one of his theatres – this time the Gielgud. It will reside there from 1 June.

Avenue Q will replace Enjoy starring Alison Steadman and David Troughton.

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Carrie’s War

Heart-warming family drama Carrie’s War – about two young evacuees during the Second World War and based on the classic kid’s novel by Nina Bawden is transferring from Sadler’s Wells into the West End.

Much loved actress Prunella Scales stars in the play, which will begin on 18 June at the Apollo Theatre. The show also stars Sarah Edwardson, who reprises the role of Carrie, and Amanda Symonds and James Beddard.

Carrie’s War will replace Three Days of Rain at the Apollo, currently starring James McAvoy.

SAVE £16.50 ON TICKETS TO CARRIE’S WAR

SAVE £14 ON TICKETS TO THREE DAYS OF RAIN

War Horse

From World War II to the First World War – and the opening this month in the West End of the National Theatre’s critically smash-hit War Horse – galloping across the river from the National to the New London Theatre from next week – 28th March.

The award-winning adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel, set during World War I,is directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, and is told using the  puppetry of the South African Handspring Puppet Company – including life-size horses and a tank!

BOOK TICKETS TO WAR HORSE

Sondheim’s Saturday Night

Stephen Sondheim’s first Broadway musical Saturday Night will at long last enjoy a West End premiere, despite being penned by Sondheim in the 1950s.

After selling out run the Jermyn Street Theatre, it will come to the Arts Theatre for a short run from 25 March. Set it New York just before the Wall Street crash of 1929, the show stars Helena Blackman, who was runner up in the BBC1 talent show “How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?”

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