The King’s Speech’s Colin Firth to star in My Fair Lady movie?
February 18, 2011
Movies are a fickle business.
Hugh Grant was the man most recently tipped to play Henry Higgins in the big screen remake of My Fair Lady, alongside Cary Mulligan as Eliza, despite producer Cameron Mackintosh pushing for Colin Firth.
One small movie and a few awards later, and The King’s Speech star Firth is now all lined up to take over where Rex Harrison left off.
Movies of hit plays and musicals are the thing of the moment, with Daniel Radcliffe in The Woman in Black, Spielberg filming War Horse, Will Smith working on a new film of Annie and Wicked set for a movie version.
RUMOUR CHECK-LIST
- Movie: My Fair Lady
- Casting: Cary Mulligan, Colin Firth
- Producer: Sony, Cameron Mackintosh, Duncan Kenworthy
- Date of release: 2012?
- Screenplay: Emma Thompson
- Director: TBC
Source: Daily Mail (18/02/11)
New cast of Love Never Dies?
February 17, 2011
Following the news that Sierra Boggess, currently playing Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre, will leave the role on 5 March to head to Broadway, more rumours are circulating over the cast changes for the show.
Celia Graham is widely tipped to replace Boggess on 7 March, following roles including Christine in Phantom and Sierra’s current understudy in Love Never Dies.
Also, David Thaxton is rumoured to be replacing Joseph Millson as Raoul. Thaxton was a hit in Passion at the Donmar Warehouse last year alongside Elena Roger, earning an Olivier Award nod for best actor in a new musical in the recent nominations.
Summer Strallen, who plays Meg in the show, will also be leaving to take on a stage adaptation of classic movie musical Top Hat, joining Tom Chambers to recreate the on-screen roles made famous by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
RUMOUR CHECK-LIST
- Show: Love Never Dies
- Theatre: Adelphi Theatre
- Casting: Celia Graham, David Thaxton
- Producer: Really Useful Group
- Date of new cast: 7 March?
- Director: Jack O’Brien
Source: New York Times (14/02/11), BroadwayWorld (16/02/11)
David Thaxton
Sierra Boggess to play Broadway
February 14, 2011
Sierra Boggess, who is currently starring as Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre, is to go to Broadway in the Spring. She will star alongside Tyne Daly (Cagney and Lacey) in a revival of Terence McNally’s play Master Class about the great opera diva Maria Callas.
Last week Sierra received an Olivier Award nod for Best Actress in a Musical for her work in Love Never Dies.
RUMOUR CHECK-LIST
- Show: Master Class
- Theatre: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, New York
- Director: Stephen Wadsworth
- Casting: Sierra Boggess, Tyne Daly
- Producer: Manhattan Theatre Club
- Opening: 24 May 2011
Source: Playbill (14/02/11)
Free Hotel Rooms in London
January 10, 2011
Celebrate winter with our great new hotel and theatre promotion, with blockbuster shows including Love Never Dies, Legally Blonde, Priscilla, Jersey Boys and Billy Elliot.
Westendtheatre.com has partnered with 18 top London shows and a range of Central London hotels to offers visitors to the city a fabulous winter treat.
Running until the end of March 2011, you can book a free room in a central London hotel when buying a top-price theatre ticket to one of a selection of shows.
Prices start at just £45 ($70 USD / €55 Euros) per person for a three star hotel, continental breakfast and a best seat to a major West End show, based on two people sharing.
An amazing selection of big-budget West End musicals are featured in the promotion including: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to the Phantom of the Opera – Love Never Dies; Legally Blonde, based on the smash-hit movie; Tony award-winning Elton John musical Billy Elliot; a new musical adaptation of Love Story; fabulous, spectacular show Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Jersey Boys featuring the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons; Dirty Dancing; sexy, sassy Kander and Ebb show Chicago; joyous 1960s musical Dreamboats and Petticoats; Grease The Musical; Willy Russell’s powerful musical Blood Brothers; theatre, dance and percussion show Stomp; and Michael Jackson tribute show Thriller Live.
Comedy and drama included in the promotion ranges from a riotously funny adaptation of The 39 Steps, to Samantha Bond in Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, terrifying thriller The Woman in Black, and classic comedy When We Are Married.
BOOK NOW
See all shows in the promotion and book now
Terms and conditions of the promotion:
Prices are per person and based on two people sharing a twin or double room in one of our chosen Central London 3* hotels. Valid for select performances and subject to availability. Once booked, the package is non transferable and cannot be exchanged or refunded. All prices include VAT and all other transaction and booking fees. Selected shows are subject to a £5 supplement. For full terms and conditions visit www.westendtheatre.com/theatre-breaks
Love Never Dies girls make plans
December 5, 2010
It seems that the women in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies are busy planning their next moves.
First we heard that the lovely Sierra Boggess, who plays LND’s Christine, is lining up to star in a new musical based on Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Boggess would play Mrs de Winter in the Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay musical, which would play at the Shaftesbury Theatre when Flashdance departs next year.
And now Summer Strallen, who plays Meg Giry in the Phantom sequel at the Adelphi Theatre, is also planning her next steps. This comes in the form of a new stage production of classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat, featuring Irving Berlin’s classic songs including Isn’t This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain), Cheek To Cheek, No Strings, Piccolino and, of course, Top Hat (White Tie And Tails).
The show will be directed by Matthew White, choreographed by Bill Deamer and produced by Kenny Wax. Actor Tom Chambers, who won Strictly Come Dancing a few years back, and is currently appearing in that other Berlin classic White Christmas, is rumoured to be her co-star.
Summer Strallen
Sierra Boggess in Love Never Dies
VIDEO: Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre
November 1, 2010
Andrew Lloyd Webber presents his greatly anticipated sequel to The Phantom of the Opera – LOVE NEVER DIES.
Book tickets to Love Never Dies
More information about the show
More information about the Adelphi Theatre
VIDEO
Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre
VIDEO
Katherine Jenkins sings Love Never Dies title song
LINKS
Watch more videos on West End Theatre TV
Baz and Love: The saga continues
October 29, 2010
I feel bad for Baz Bamigboye, the Daily Mail’s showbiz guru.
He loved Loved Never Dies and feels as disappointed and betrayed as a scorned lover (see 30 July: Baz falls out of love with Love).
We’ve been following the highs and lows (mostly lows) and this week’s Daily Mail is yet further tales of LND woe.
It somewhat reminds us of Private Eye’s Glenda Slag column: Love Never Dies, it’s the greatest musical we have ever heard, it deserves to win every award known to showbiz, its love will never die (geddit?!). Love Never Dies, what a pile of poo, the love is dead as a door-nail (geddit?!!).
He wants to love it, and wants to love Andrew Lloyd Webber, but would ruin his significant street cred if he loved the show. A rock and a hard place for poor Baz.
Our favourite line in his gut-wrenching piece relates to the forthcoming changes to the show (see 22 October: Love Never Dies but it does take rests) by theatre impresario Bill Kenwright; “No disrespect to Bill Kenwright, but no A-list director of international repute would touch Love Never Dies after O’Brien’s departure.”
So there!
Baz says that his real beef is with the fact that no good can come out of an artist (Andrew Lloyd Webber) turning themselves into a corporation (Really Useful Group) and that’s what’s done it in for the show. However, said corporation has done pretty well so far, as has that other big beast Cameron Mackintosh Limited, which is as slick a money-making company as you could find. The problems lie deeper but are not beyond rescue. We await the changes to the production with some interest.
Love never dies but does take rests
October 22, 2010
Are Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright best buddies or what? It’s like a true West End bro-mance.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright with Sophie Evans
Bill and Andy have been commercial partners for a while now, with Bill producing national tours of Andrew’s shows, notably Evita and Joseph – which has made millions for the two men.
Plus Bill is helping Andrew out producing his next biggie, The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium next February, starring Danielle Hope. Their announcement that Sophie Evans will be Dorothy First Reserve for the show at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff in July, was a nice two-hander that demonstrated how close the two rivals have become (see photo).
And now we hear that Bill is assisting the Lord in doing a bit of light tinkering with Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre. Most who’ve seen the show seem to enjoy it, but Andrew has been unhappy since the opening and his creative team – Hairspray’s Jack O’Brien and Jerry Mitchell – have fled back to Broadway to work on Catch Me If You Can (quite apt!)
So ALW has pressed on with some changes of his own – including some revised lyrics by Phantom lyricist Charles Hart, Ben Elton has been involved in adding his thoughts, and Bill is going to have a stab at making the ending more satisfying.
The show will take a four day break from 22 November for the changes to take place.
Will the critics be invited to review the show all over again we ask?
SPECIAL OFFER: Save on tickets to Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre in London
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies – Ticket Offer Save £29.50
August 23, 2010
Our first offer on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s multi-million pound spectacular LOVE NEVER DIES
SPECIAL OFFER: Save £29.50 on tickets to Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre
Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre
Westendtheatre.com is proud to present our first ticket offer on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera – LOVE NEVER DIES.
This spectacular, multi-million pound show is a roller coaster ride of obsession and intrigue starring an acclaimed cast including Ramin Karimloo as The Phantom, Celia Graham as Christine, David Thaxton as Raoul, Liz Robertson as Madame Giry and Haley Flaherty as Meg.
Ten years after the mysterious disappearance of The Phantom from the Paris Opera House, Christine Daaé accepts an offer to come to America and perform at New York’s fabulous new playground of the world – Coney Island.
Arriving in New York with her husband Raoul and their son Gustave, Christine soon discovers the identity of the anonymous impresario who has lured her from France to sing.
Music and memory can play cruel tricks… and The Phantom sets out to prove that, indeed, LOVE NEVER DIES.
“This is Lloyd Webber’s finest show since the original Phantom, with a score blessed with superbly haunting melodies and a yearning romanticism that sent shivers racing down my spine.” (Daily Telegraph)
SPECIAL OFFER: Save £29.50 on tickets to Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre
Historic year for West End theatres
August 20, 2010
An historic number of West End theatres celebrate important anniversaries this year, including 80th birthdays for three theatres in September.
A boom in theatre building in the Art Deco 1930′s has resulted in six West End theatres celebrating their 80th anniversaries in 2010.
September proves a particularly important month, with three theatres celebrating their 80th: the Cambridge Theatre on Earlham Street on 4 September; Charing Cross Road’s Phoenix Theatre on 24 September; and the Trafalgar Studios on Whitehall, formerly known as the Whitehall Theatre, on 29 September.
Already this year the Prince Edward Theatre has celebrated its 80th birthday on 3 April, and later in the year the Apollo Victoria Theatre will mark its 80th on 15 October and the Adelphi Theatre on 3 December.
London Palladium in 1912, courtesy of The Theatres Trust
Celebrations will include a charity gala for the Apollo Victoria on 10 October featuring the cast of the venue’s current show, Wicked, and past productions including Starlight Express.
Advisory Body, The Theatres Trust, commented on the anniversaries: “The West End theatres that celebrate their 80th anniversaries this year are among the UK’s best examples of art deco and moderne style venues. Each is distinctive and unique, built to appeal to a public eager for entertainment, plays, films, variety and musicals. It is a mark of their quality that they continue to do so to this day.”
2010 also marks theatrical milestones for a number of other venues, notably the 100th anniversary of the famous London Palladium on 26 December. A special Facebook page has been set up for the London Palladium’s centenary allowing theatregoers and theatre professionals to remember the historic venue. Also, on Radio 2 this autumn a two-part documentary series, The London Palladium Story, will tell the story of the theatre, narrated by Michael Grade.
Also this year the Peacock Theatre, originally called the Royalty Theatre, will celebrate its 40th birthday in June, and the former Leicester Square Theatre, now the Odeon West End cinema, will turn 80.
QUICK THEATRE FACTS
Adelphi Theatre
Opened: 3 December 1930
Designed: Ernest Schaufelberg, incorporating parts of the former Sans Pareil theatre
Location: Strand, London, WC2E 7NA Adelphi Theatre Map
First production: Ever Green by Benn W. Levy and Lorenz Hart
Current production: Love Never Dies
Apollo Victoria Theatre
Opened: 15 October 1930
Designed: E. Wamsley Lewis and W E Trent
Location: 17 Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LL Apollo Victoria Theatre Map
First production: originally opened as a cinema (film: George Arlis in Old English)
Current production: Wicked
Cambridge Theatre
Opened: 4 September 1930
Designed: Wimperis, Simpson and Guthrie with Serge Chermayeff
Location: Earlham Street, London, WC2 9HU Cambridge Theatre Map
First production: Charlot’s Masquerade by Ronald Jeans
Current production: Chicago
London Palladium
Opened: 26 December 1910
Designed: Frank Matcham
Location: London Palladium, Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TF London Palladium Map
First production: A Variety Show and one act play called The Conspiracy.
Current production: Sister Act
Peacock Theatre
Opened: June 1960
Designed: Lewis Solomon and Kaye and Partners
Location: Portugal Street, London, WC2A 2HT Peacock Theatre Map
First production: opened as a cinema
Current productions: include La Boheme, Euridice
Phoenix Theatre
Opened: 24 September 1930
Designed: Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Bertie Crew, and Cecil Masey, with Theodore Komisarjevsky
Location: Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0JP Phoenix Theatre Map
First production: Noel Coward’s Private Lives
Current production: Blood Brothers
Prince Edward
Opened: 3 April 1930
Designed: Edward A. Stone with Marc-Henri and Laverdet and Gaston Laverdet
Location: Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4HS Prince Edward Theatre Map
First production: Rio Rita by Harry Tierney
Current production: Jersey Boys
Trafalgar Studios
Opened: 29 September 1930
Designed: Edward A. Stone with Marc-Henri and Laverdet and Gaston Laverdet
Location: Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DY Trafalgar Studios Map
First production: The Way To Treat A Woman by Walter Hackett
Current productions: include Shirley Valentine, Educating Rita, State Fair
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