Oscars 2013: Stage set for tribute to Musicals

Excitement is mounting for this year’s Oscars, with the 85th Academy Awards held this Sunday 24 February 2013 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles.

And this year the awards show will include a special celebration of Musicals of the last decade, which will provide an ideal opportunity to celebrate the global success of the Les Miserables movie, and experience a show-stopping segment that will feature a who’s who of musicals talent.

Cameron Mackintosh and his team have flown to LA to oversee the Les Mis segment of the show, with the movie up for 8 awards including Best Picture, Best Actor in a leading role for Hugh Jackman and Best Actress in a supporting role for Anne Hathaway.

The producers of the musicals celebration are Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who have put together the tribute to include special highlights from Chicago, Dreamgirls and Les Misérables.

Performers of the musicals will include Jennifer Hudson, Barbra Streisand, Dame Shirley Bassey and Norah Jones. Chicago cast members Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones will reunite for the musical segment alongside the cast of Les Miserbales including Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks and Helena Bonham Carter.

Kristin Chenoweth will also join Oscars host Seth MacFarlane for a special musical number as a finale to the show.

And to continue the musicals theme, Michael Feinstein – often dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook” – will take the stage on Sunday at the Academy’s official post-Oscar bash, the Governors Ball.

Presenters of this year’s Oscars will include Jennifer Aniston, Michael Douglas, Jamie Foxx, Paul Rudd, Salma Hayek Pinault, Melissa McCarthy, Liam Neeson, John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Wahlberg, Ted and “Marvel’s THE AVENGERS” cast members Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo, Jean Dujardin, Christopher Plummer, Octavia Spencer and Meryl Streep, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron.

The producers of the musicals celebration, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, have produced a breathtaking variety of movies and TV shows, with films including The Bucket List, Footloose, Hairspray, and Chicago which won six Oscars including Best Picture. For TV they produced Steel Magnolias, Life with Judy Garland and A Raisin in the Sun, plus Smash and Drop Dead Diva. And on Broadway they produced the successful revivals of Promises, Promises with Kristin Chenoweth and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with Daniel Radcliffe.

The biggest open question that remains is, will Beyonce, Anika Noni Rose and Eddie Murphy join already confirmed Jennifer Hudson and Jamie Foxx for the Dreamgirls tribute? We will have to wait and see!

VIDEO

Oscar Conversations: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne and the cast of Les Miserables interviewed ahead of the Academy Awards

LINKS

Official Oscars website

ABC Oscars website

West End Live Timetable: Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Back for its 8th year,  West End Live – the spectacular celebration of West End theatre – returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.

WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE

Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Time on Stage	Show
12.00PM	STOMP
12.15PM	THE WIZARD OF OZ
12.25PM	SHREK THE MUSICAL
12.35PM	HAVANA RUMBA!
12.50PM	DISNEY’S THE LION KING
13.00PM	THRILLER LIVE
13.25PM	ROCK OF AGES
13.35PM	BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
13.40PM	MATILDA THE MUSICAL
13.50PM	HORRIBLE HISTORIES
14.05PM	EVERYTHING’S ROSIE
14.10PM	MAMMA MIA!
14.25PM	LOUISE DEARMAN
14.40PM	MARK EVANS
14.55PM	ALEX GAUMOND
15.05PM	DANIEL BOYS
15.15PM	JERSEY BOYS
15.40PM	ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL
15.55PM	BIG ZUMBA DANCE
16.10PM	MARK JERMIN STAGE SCHOOL
16.25PM	WEST END KIDS
16.40PM	THE IN-BETWEEN
16.55PM	NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
17.10PM	WEST END GOSPEL CHOIR
17.30PM	CONGO FAITH HEALERS
18.00PM	SHOW ENDS

LINKS

West End Live 2012 – Timetable for Saturday 23 June 2012

Photos of last year’s West End Live event

West End Live Timetable: Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Back for its 8th year,  West End Live – the spectacular celebration of West End theatre – returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.

WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE

Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Time on Stage	Show
11.00AM	TOP HAT
11.10AM	RAGTIME
11.20AM	WICKED
11.35AM	BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
11.45AM	SWEENEY TODD
11.50AM	SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
12.00PM	THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
12.10PM	LES MISERABLES
12.25PM	GHOST THE MUSICAL
12.35PM	CHICAGO
12.50PM	WE WILL ROCK YOU
13.10PM	MAMMA MIA!
13.25PM	JERSEY BOYS
13.45PM	ROCK OF AGES
14.05PM	THRILLER LIVE
14.25PM	BLOOD BROTHERS
14.35PM	DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS
14.45PM	MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT
15.00PM	THE IN-BETWEEN
15.10PM	ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL
15.25PM	HORRIBLE HISTORIES
15.40PM	BIG ZUMBA DANCE
15.55PM	EVERYTHING’S ROSIE
16.05PM	SYLVIA YOUNG THEATRE SCHOOL
16.20PM	NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
16.35PM	DAN AND LAURA CURTIS
16.50PM	BIG DANCE
17.05PM	DRAG DIVAS
17.15PM	THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET
17.30PM	ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS – THE CRAZE
17.45PM	STOMP
18.00PM	SHOW ENDS

 LINKS

West End Live 2012 – Timetable for Sunday 24 June 2012

Photos of last year’s West End Live event

West End Live 2012 timetable of performances announced

The timetable has been published for West End Live, the free annual theatre event that returns to London next weekend, on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June 2012.

Back for its 8th year,  this spectacular celebration of West End shows returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.

West End musicals taking part in the weekend include new shows Top Hat, Ragtime, Singin’ in the Rain, Spamalot, Horrible Histories, One Man, Two Guvnors, Matilda The Musical and Sweeney Todd.

They will be joined by long-running shows including Rock of Ages, Ghost The Musical, The Wizard Of Oz, Shrek The Musical, Stomp, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys, Thriller Live, Chicago, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Blood Brothers, Dreamboats and Petticoats, and We Will Rock You.

Stars will be out in force for the event, with performances promised by some of the West End’s top talent including Ghost’s Mark Evans, We Will Rock You’s Alex Gaumond, West End favourites Louise Dearman and Daniel Boys, and the casts of all the top shows.

There will also be performances from the West End Gospel Choir, the National Youth Music Theatre, Drag Divas and much more.

Organised by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre, in association with MasterCard, this year’s event will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 23 June and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday 24 June.

 WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE

Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Time on Stage	Show
11.00AM	TOP HAT
11.10AM	RAGTIME
11.20AM	WICKED
11.35AM	BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
11.45AM	SWEENEY TODD
11.50AM	SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
12.00PM	THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
12.10PM	LES MISERABLES
12.25PM	GHOST THE MUSICAL
12.35PM	CHICAGO
12.50PM	WE WILL ROCK YOU
13.10PM	MAMMA MIA!
13.25PM	JERSEY BOYS
13.45PM	ROCK OF AGES
14.05PM	THRILLER LIVE
14.25PM	BLOOD BROTHERS
14.35PM	DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS
14.45PM	MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT
15.00PM	THE IN-BETWEEN
15.10PM	ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL
15.25PM	HORRIBLE HISTORIES
15.40PM	BIG ZUMBA DANCE
15.55PM	EVERYTHING’S ROSIE
16.05PM	SYLVIA YOUNG THEATRE SCHOOL
16.20PM	NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
16.35PM	DAN AND LAURA CURTIS
16.50PM	BIG DANCE
17.05PM	DRAG DIVAS
17.15PM	THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET
17.30PM	ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS – THE CRAZE
17.45PM	STOMP
18.00PM	SHOW ENDS

 

Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Time on Stage	Show
12.00PM	STOMP
12.15PM	THE WIZARD OF OZ
12.25PM	SHREK THE MUSICAL
12.35PM	HAVANA RUMBA!
12.50PM	DISNEY’S THE LION KING
13.00PM	THRILLER LIVE
13.25PM	ROCK OF AGES
13.35PM	BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
13.40PM	MATILDA THE MUSICAL
13.50PM	HORRIBLE HISTORIES
14.05PM	EVERYTHING’S ROSIE
14.10PM	MAMMA MIA!
14.25PM	LOUISE DEARMAN
14.40PM	MARK EVANS
14.55PM	ALEX GAUMOND
15.05PM	DANIEL BOYS
15.15PM	JERSEY BOYS
15.40PM	ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL
15.55PM	BIG ZUMBA DANCE
16.10PM	MARK JERMIN STAGE SCHOOL
16.25PM	WEST END KIDS
16.40PM	THE IN-BETWEEN
16.55PM	NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
17.10PM	WEST END GOSPEL CHOIR
17.30PM	CONGO FAITH HEALERS
18.00PM	SHOW ENDS

LINKS

Photos of last year’s West End Live event

Chicago The Musical at the Garrick Theatre – Save £36

Chicago The Musical at the Garrick Theatre – Save £36

Ann Reinking signs up for Kander & Ebb charity gala

Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera to star in Chicago

Ugly Betty star to make UK stage debut in Chicago at the Garrick Theatre.

Chicago The Musical returns to the West End with a bang this Autumn as the star of international hit TV show Ugly Betty makes her West End theatre debut.

From 7 November for eight weeks only, America Ferrera will perform as  Roxie Hart in the show, alongside current star of the Broadway production of Chicago, Amra-Faye Wright, asVelma Kelly.

Chicago’s return to London will herald its record-breaking 15th year in the UK. The show is already the most successful Broadway export ever and notched up the accolade as the West End’s longest running revival ever when it played at the Cambridge Theatre until earlier this year.

America Ferrera is one of the most well known TV actresses in the world and has won Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for her role as Betty in the hit ABC show.

LINKS

SPECIAL OFFER: Save on tickets to Chicago at the Garrick Theatre in London

“Ugly Betty” Star America Ferrera To Make British Stage Debut When “Chicago”, The World’s Longest Running American Musical

RE-OPENS AT THE GARRICK THEATRE ON MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2011

“CHICAGO” TURNS 14 ON 18 NOVEMBER

Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner America Ferrera, known across the world as Ugly Betty from the hit TV series of the same name, swaps her trademark braces for fishnets from 7 November for eight weeks only, when she makes her British stage debut as the alluring publicity-seeker Roxie Hart in the smash hit musical CHICAGO.

Ferrera, who in 2007, was named by Time Magazine as one of “The Most influential People in the World”, makes her West End debut in CHICAGO at its new West End home, the Garrick Theatre. Ferrera will help usher in the show’s record-breaking 15th year in London when it celebrates its birthday
on 18 November.

Now the most successful Broadway export ever, CHICAGO had its final performance at the Cambridge Theatre on 27 August, establishing the record for the longest running American musical. During its 5-year run there, the multi award-winning musical played to over 2 million people, notched up numerous records and became in the process the West End’s longest running revival ever.

Opening at the Garrick Theatre alongside Ferrera, as fellow murderess Velma Kelly, is Amra-Faye Wright, currently starring in the Broadway production.

CHICAGO originally opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’ as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for ‘Best Musical’. CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie. The West End production of CHICAGO is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team. CHICAGO is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler.

Further casting for the production at the Garrick Theatre will be announced shortly.

Release issued by Amanda Malpass PR

LINKS

Book tickets to Chicago at the Garrick Theatre in London

Chicago, The World’s Longest Running American Musical To Re-Open At The Garrick Theatre On Monday 7 November 2011

BOX OFFICE OPENS TODAY

Last week, CHICAGO took the crown of the world’s longest running American musical from “A Chorus Line”, which had held the record for the past 21 years. Now, the show’s producers, Barry and Fran Weissler, are delighted to announce that CHICAGO has a new home in London. On Monday 7 November, the award-winning musical will open at the Garrick Theatre. Barry Weissler said of the show’s ongoing success and new London home, “Last week, and in spite of nature’s attempts to spoil the party, we were delighted to see CHICAGO become the longest running American musical of all time, finally beating A Chorus Line’s record set way back in 1990. And this week it brings me huge pleasure and personal pride to be able to announce that London’s longest running revival will, thanks to Nica Burns and Nimax Theatres, return to the West End at the Garrick Theatre.” The box office for the Garrick Theatre is now open.

CHICAGO closed at the Cambridge Theatre on 27 August. During its 5-year run there, CHICAGO played to over 2 million people and became the longest running revival ever. The show opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. CHICAGO won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’ as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for ‘Best Musical’. CHICAGO transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.

CHICAGO, which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. CHICAGO is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie. The West End production of CHICAGO is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team.
Casting for the production at the Garrick Theatre will be announced shortly.

Release issued by: Amanda Malpass PR

LINKS

Book tickets to CHICAGO THE MUSICAL at the Garrick Theatre in London

Last few days for Chicago as it closes at the Cambridge Theatre

Chicago The Musical is making its final razzle dazzle at the Cambridge Theatre this month before closing on Saturday 27 August 2011.

There are still special offer tickets available for the final few performances at the Cambridge Theatre, currently starring Jonathan Wilkes.

Supermodel Christine Brinkley recently made her debut in the London show after wowing Broadway with her performance as Roxie Hart.

Chicago opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 and won the 1998 Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’. The show transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006.

On the same day that the show closes in London, the original Broadway production will celebrate its 6,138 performance on the Great White Way, beating A Chorus Line’s record to make it the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history.

Chicago is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins and has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The show’s entire original Broadway creative team staged the West End production including choreography by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and direction by Walter Bobbie.

LINKS

SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre in London

VIDEO MEMORIES

Ute Lemper & Ruthie Henshall Perform ‘Hot Honey Rag’

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