West End Eurovision acts announced

Charity TheatreMAD has announced the first acts to play this year’s WEST END EUROVISION 2013.

The entertainment industry charity The Make A Difference Trust has announced the first West End shows to sign-up for its annual West End Eurovision contest, to be held at the Dominion Theatre on Thursday 23 May from 11.30pm.

Now in its 6th year, the show sees 10 West End shows go head-to-head in fully costumed and choreographed versions of past Eurovision Song Contest entries.

Shows now signed-up to take part include Viva Forever!, Top Hat, Mamma Mia!, The Phantom of the Opera and A Chorus Line.

Last year’s show saw Sweeney Todd take the crown.

TV astrologer and Strictly Come Dancing’s Russell Grant will lead a panel of celebrity judges, and Richard Gauntlett will host.

LINKS

Make A Difference Trust website
Book tickets

VIDEO

2012 West End Eurovision trailer

 

Viva Forever! a new musical based on the songs of the Spice Girls at Piccadilly Theatre

Viva Forever! is the brand new musical at the Piccadilly Theatre featuring the music of the Spice Girls.

Featuring 16 of the Spice Girls’ greatest hits, the team behind the worldwide smash-hit musical Mamma Mia! have produced the show, written by Ab Fab’s Jennifer Saunders.

Viva Forever! follows the highs and lows of a mother and daughter as they work their way through a TV reality singing contest, the show is set against the unforgettable songs of the world’s greatest ever girl band, including Spice Girls hits Wannabe, Say You’ll Be There, Mama, Stop and of course the title song, Viva Forever.

A talented cast includes Sally Ann Triplett, Hannah John-Kamen, Bill Ward, Sally Dexter, Lucy Montgomery, Simon Slater, Tamara Wall, Siobhan Athwal, Lucy Phelps and Dominique Provost-Chalkley.

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Theatre: Piccadilly Theatre

 

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

Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre

The ultimate feel-good show, featuring the songs of ABBA – Mamma Mia! is now playing at the Novello Theatre in London’s West End.

Over 30 million people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show!

Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives! The show features 27 of Abba’s best known songs including Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You, Super Trouper and Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! originally opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in London on 6 April 1999 (closed 27 May 2004), then moving to the Prince of Wales Theatre (previewed 3 June 2004, opened 9 June 2004, closed 1 Septemner 2012) and is now playing at the Novello Theatre (opened 6 September 2012).

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More information

Theatre: Novello Theatre

 

Mamma Mia! The Smash Hit Musical Moves To New West End Home Next Autumn

Flagship production of the worldwide phenomenon transfers to the Novello Theatre in September 2012

Following record-breaking runs at the Prince Edward and Prince of Wales Theatres in London’s West End, the flagship production of the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! will move to the Novello Theatre in September 2012.

To date, MAMMA MIA! has been seen by more than 50 million people in 34 productions in 14 different languages grossing more than $2 billion at the box office. MAMMA MIA! the Movie is the highest grossing musical film and one in four households in the UK have the DVD.

MAMMA MIA!’s original creator and producer, Judy Craymer, said the following about the next step for the pioneering London production:

“I am delighted that the original production of MAMMA MIA! will move to the stage of the beautiful Novello Theatre. It is a perfect space for the musical. The Novello is a gem of a theatre that perfectly suits the creative needs of MAMMA MIA!, and provides a comfortable and friendly experience for audiences in the heart of Theatreland.”

From West End to global phenomenon, the London production of MAMMA MIA! has now been seen by more than 1 in 10 of the entire UK population. It’s one of only 5 musicals in history to have run for more than 10 years on both Broadway and in the West End.
MAMMA MIA! has also recently become the first Western musical ever to be staged in the People’s Republic of China – in Chinese. The show opened in Shanghai in July this year with a Mandarin-speaking cast and heralded a new era of musical theatre in China.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

Release issued by: Amanda Malpass PR

LINKS

Book tickets to MAMMA MIA!

Mamma Mia! Now Booking To October 2012 At London’s Prince Of Wales Theatre

The global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre has announced a new booking period with tickets for the show now on sale until 20 October 2012.

The new booking period will take MAMMA MIA! through into its 14th playing year in London. From the West End to global phenomenon, MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise.

MAMMA MIA! currently has eight productions running simultaneously around the world; it has opened in more cities (over 300) faster than any other show in theatrical history; over 50 million people have seen it worldwide; the London production has now been seen by more than 1 in 10 of the UK population; and the show has grossed over $2 billion. Since opening in London in 1999, MAMMA MIA! has been translated into 14 languages and has become the first ever global musical produced in Chinese. The show opened in Shanghai in July and was a landmark production, beginning a new era of musical theatre in China. The Broadway production celebrates its 10th Anniversary in October.

The London cast is currently led by Sally Ann Triplett as ‘Donna Sheridan’, Joanna Monro as ‘Rosie’ and Kim Ismay as ‘Tanya’, with William Tapley as ‘Sam Carmichael’, Oliver Senton ‘Harry Bright’, Mark Gillis ‘Bill Austin’, Dani De Waal ‘Sophie Sheridan’, Craig Fletcher ‘Sky’, Hannah Fairclough ‘Ali’, Rachel Sargent ‘Lisa’, Warren Sollars ‘Pepper’ and Alex Jessop ‘Eddie’. At certain performances, the role of ‘Donna Sheridan’ will be played by Melissa Jacques.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

Release issued by: Amanda Malpass PR

LINKS

Book tickets to Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London

West End Live 2011: Mamma Mia!, Million Dollar Quartet, Shrek The Musical and We Will Rock You

West End Live 2011 photos the casts of Mamma Mia!, Million Dollar Quartet, Shrek The Musical and We Will Rock You

LINKS

More News on West End Live

Book tickets to Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre

Book tickets to Million Dollar Quartet at the Noel Coward Theatre

Book tickets to Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Book tickets to We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre

View West End Live photos of Rock of Ages and Betty Blue Eyes

View West End Live photos of The Wizard of Oz and Crazy For You

View West End Live photos of Ghost The Musical, Wicked and Jersey Boys

View West End Live photos of Legally Blonde and Lend Me A Tenor

View West End Live photos of Billy Elliot and Love Never Dies

View West End Live photos of Chicago, The Lion King, Priscilla Queen of the Desert

 

 

A New London Cast For “Mamma Mia!” At The Prince Of Wales Theatre From Monday 13 June

The new London cast for the global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! at the Prince of Wales Theatre will start performances on Monday 13 June. The cast will be headed by Sally Ann Triplett as ‘Donna Sheridan’, with Joanna Monro as ‘Rosie’ and Kim Ismay as ‘Tanya’. William Tapley will play ‘Sam Carmichael’, Oliver Senton ‘Harry Bright’, Mark Gillis ‘Bill Austin’, Dani De Waal ‘Sophie Sheridan’, Craig Fletcher ‘Sky’, Hannah Fairclough ‘Ali’, Rachel Sargent ‘Lisa’, Warren Sollars ‘Pepper’ and Alex Jessop ‘Eddie’. At certain performances, the role of ‘Donna Sheridan’ will be played by Melissa Jacques.

From the West End to global phenomenon, MAMMA MIA!, which has just celebrated its 12th Anniversary in London, is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise.

MAMMA MIA! has more productions running simultaneously around the world than any other show (currently 8), it has opened in more cities (280) faster than any other show in theatrical history, 45 million people have seen it, the London production has now been seen by more than 1 in 10 of the UK population, and the show has grossed over $2 billion. Since opening in London in 1999, MAMMA MIA! has been translated into 14 languages and will become the first ever global musical produced in Chinese. The show which opens in Shanghai in July will be a landmark production beginning a new era of musical theatre in China. The Broadway production celebrates its 10th Anniversary in October.

MAMMA MIA! The Movie, the film inspired by the stage show and produced by Judy Craymer, starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried, is the highest grossing musical film of all time. The film grossed over £69m at the UK Box Office and one in four homes across the UK has the DVD.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

Release issued by: Amanda Malpass Media

LINKS

SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London

 

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