ONCE The Musical – Reviews Round-up

A round-up of reviews of ONCE The Musical at the Phoenix Theatre in London

This Tony Award-winning musical has now charmed the London theatre critics following its opening at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End.

This old-fashioned love story about an Irish busker who falls in love with a young Czech mother through their shared passion for music and song writing, stars Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić.

Once is written and directed by John Carney, who created the much-loved film on which the musical is based, with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, and a book by celebrated Irish playwright Enda Walsh.

Read reviews below from the Guardian, Telegraph, FT and more.

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Photos: Once at the Phoenix Theatre

Production photos of Once at the Phoenix Theatre

The London production of Once will open this month at the Phoenix Theatre (from 16 March 2013).

Based on the much-loved Oscar-winning film, Once is a celebration of love, friendship and music. When an Irish busker and a young Czech mother meet through a shared love of music, their songwriting sparks a deep connection and a tender, longing romance that neither of them could have expected.

With a book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh and based on the successful movie written and directed by John Carney, ONCE features music and lyrics are by Academy Award® winning Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who, for Falling Slowly, won the Oscar for Best Original Song.

The cast includes Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić as Guy and Girl respectively, joined by Valda Aviks, Ryan Fletcher, Aidan Kelly, Gareth O’Connor, Michael O’Connor, Miria Parvin, Jos Slovick, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Jez Unwin and Gabriel Vick. Alternating the role of Girl’s young daughter Ivanka will be Poppy-Lily Baker, Mia-Jai Bryan, Pacha Anna Green and Nancy Ann Jeans.

The show has won eight Tony awards on Broadway including Best New Musical and has been named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards.

Photos by Manuel Harlan

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Declan Bennett And Zrinka Cvitešić To Lead Cast In West End Production Of Eight Time Tony Award-Winning Once

The Producers of the eight time Tony award-winning musical Once today announce that Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić will lead the cast as Guy and Girl respectively in John Tiffany’s West End production of the Broadway hit musical opening at the Phoenix Theatre in Spring 2013.

The London production of Once will open at the Phoenix Theatre on 9 April, with previews from 16 March 2013 and is currently booking to 30 November 2013. Prior to its West End opening Once will run at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from 22 February – 9 March 2013.

Once has book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh. Based on the 2007 motion picture written and directed by John Carney, music and lyrics are by Academy Award® winning Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who, for Falling Slowly, won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Scenic and costume designs are by Bob Crowley, with lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Clive Goodwin, musical supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe and movement by Steven Hoggett.

Having received the most nominations (35) in the 2012 theatre award season, Once went on to become the recipient of 21 awards, the most on Broadway that year. As well as winning eight Tony awards including Best New Musical, Once was named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards. The New York production of Once, the fastest Broadway musical to recoup in 16 years, opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in March 2012 where it continues to break box office records. Once will begin a US national tour launched by The Road Company in the summer of 2013.

Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić will be joined by Valda Aviks, Ryan Fletcher, Aidan Kelly, Gareth O’Connor, Michael O’Connor, Miria Parvin, Jos Slovick, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Jez Unwin and Gabriel Vick. Alternating the role of Girl’s young daughter Ivanka will be Poppy-Lily Baker, Mia-Jai Bryan, Pacha Anna Green and Nancy Ann Jeans.
Based on the much-loved Oscar-winning film, Once is a celebration of love, friendship and music. When an Irish busker and a young Czech mother meet through a shared love of music, their songwriting sparks a deep connection and a tender, longing romance that neither of them could have expected.

Actor singer songwriter Declan Bennett (Guy) has appeared on Broadway and in the West End. His theatre credits include Rent and American Idiot on Broadway, Taboo at the Venue Theatre and It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow and Our Day Out for the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. Following success as a member of the band Point Break, he released his first solo album The Painters Ball in 2005. Bennett’s most recent album Record: Breakup was released in April 2011 preceded by An Innocent Evening of Drinking in 2008. His film credits include Inside Llewyn Davis, Contagion and Downtown Express.

Croatian born Zrinka Cvitešić (Girl), a theatre, film and television actor, has been a member of the Croatian National Theatre since 2005 where her roles included Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Irina in Three Sisters, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gwendoline in The Importance of Being Ernest, Lulu in Shopping and Fucking and Jenny in The Threepenny Opera. For her performance in What is a Man Without a Moustache? she won several awards including The Heart of Sarajevo Award and Best Actress Awards at the Sarajevo Film Festival, the Golden Arena Festival and the Pula Film Festival. For her performance as Luna in the award-winning On the Path she was named the Croatian Shooting Star at the 2010 Berlin Film Festival and also received a nomination in the Best Actress category at the 2010 European Film Awards. Her other film credits include The Horseman and most recently she won the Bernhard Wicki Award for Best Actress at the 2012 Münich Film Festival for her role in My Beautiful Country. In 2010 Cvitešić won Ples sa zvijezdama, the Croatian version of Dancing with the Stars.
Valda Aviks’ (Baruska) theatre credits include Sweeney Todd for Chichester Festival Theatre and at the Adelphi Theatre, Into the Woods at Regent’s Park Theatre, Caroline or Change and Jerry Springer The Opera for the National Theatre, The Witches of Eastwick at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Beauty and the Beast at the Dominion Theatre and The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Her television credits include The Trip, Doctor Who and Bad Penny and on film her credits include Nightbreed.

Ryan Fletcher’s (Svec) theatre credits include Blackwatch, Wolves in the Walls, The Wheel, Nobody Will Ever Forgive Us and Cockroach all for the National Theatre of Scotland, The Infamous Brothers of Davenport for the Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Beautiful Burnout for Frantic Assembly and The Last Witch for the Traverse Theatre Company. On television his credits include Gary: Tank Commander, Scottish Killers and Filthy Rich. His film credits include Meal Deal and Mary’s Ride.

Aidan Kelly’s (Billy) theatre credits include Troilus and Cressida, Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice all for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Blasted and Have I None for the Lyric Hammersmith, The Man Who Had All The Luck for the Donmar Warehouse, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Antigone for the Gate Theatre and Doubt for the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. On television his credits include Ashes to Ashes, Murphy’s Law, Proof and On the Edge. His film credits include The Physician, Eden and Michael Collins.

Michael O’Connor’s (Da) theatre credits include Animal Farm for Theatr Clwyd, The Seafarer and The Weir for Bolton Octagon, Peribanez for the Young Vic, Ghetto, Sunday in the Park with George and The Shaughraun for the National Theatre, The Tempest for the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Terrible Voice of Satan and The Knock for the Royal Court. His television credits include EastEnders, Law and Order, Dunkirk and Fallout. On film his credits include National Treasure and Book of Secrets.

Miria Parvin’s (Ex Girlfriend) theatre credits include the international tour of Mamma Mia, Our House on tour, Footloose on tour and in the West End and Starlight Express on tour. She has performed in several productions with the Finnish National Opera including The Magic Flute.

Jos Slovick’s (Andre) theatre credits include Lost in Yonkers for the Palace Theatre Watford, The Human Comedy for the Young Vic, Love Story for Chichester Festival Theatre and Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and in the West End. His film credits include Les Miserables and The Addicted.

Flora Spencer-Longhurst’s (Reza) theatre credits include The Importance of Being Earnest for the Theatre Royal Windsor, The Beggar’s Opera for Regent’s Park Theatre, Ghosts for the Young Vic and The Children’s Hour for the Royal Exchange Theatre. On television her credits include Father Brown, Leonardo, Unforgiven, Wallander, Losing It, The Family Man and Dalziel and Pascoe. Her film credits include Walking with the Enemy.

Jez Unwin (Bank Manager) can currently be seen in the National Theatre production of The Magistrate. His West End credits include Ghost at the Piccadilly Theatre, Evita at the Adelphi Theatre and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the New London Theatre. His other theatre credits include The Light in The Piazza at the Curve, Martin Guerre for the Watermill Theatre and Pacific Overtures for Leicester Haymarket. Unwin has recently recorded his first album, Music for a While, a collection of new arrangements of classic Jazz songs.

Gabriel Vick’s (Emcee) theatre credits include Chariots of Fire at the Gielgud Theatre, The Tempest for the Theatre Royal, Bath, Murder in the Cathedral for Oxford Playhouse, La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse, A Little Night Music for the Menier Chocolate Factory, Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre and Avenue Q at the Noel Coward Theatre. His television credits include White Van Man, EastEnders and My Family. On film his credits include Les Miserables and The Invisible Woman.

Gareth O’Connor (Eamon) is making his West End debut in Once. His previous theatre credits include Irish tours of The Bus and Doughnuts. His television credits include Fair City and he is soon to feature in Channel 4’s The Intern. He can be seen in the film Agnes Browne.

Enda Walsh is an Irish playwright living in London. He is the winner of numerous international awards and his work has been translated and produced worldwide. His recent plays include Misterman, Penelope, The New Electrical Ballroom and The Walworth Farce. His other plays include Chatroom, The Small Things, Bedbound and Disco Pigs. On film his work includes Hunger which was the winner of the Camera d’Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival as well as being BAFTA nominated. Walsh was awarded with the Tony Award and the Outer Critic Circle Award for his work on Once.

John Tiffany won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle Awards for his work on Once. For his production of Black Watch he won the Laurence Olivier and Critics’ Circle Best Director Awards as well as a Scotsman Fringe First, a Herald Angel and a Critics’ Award for Theatre in Scotland. Tiffany was Associate Director for the National Theatre of Scotland from 2005 to 2012 where his productions included Macbeth, Enquirer, Peter Pan, The House of Bernarda Alba, Transform Caithness: Hunter, Be Near Me, Nobody Will Ever Forgive Us, The Bacchae, Black Watch, Elizabeth Gordon Quinn and Home Glasgow. His other work includes The Glass Menagerie (A.R.T.), Jerusalem for West Yorkshire Playhouse, Las Chicas del Tres y Media Floppies at the Granero Theatre, Mexico City and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, If Destroyed True, Mercury Fur and The Straits for Paines Plough, and Gagarin Way, Abandonment, Among Unbroken Hearts, Perfect Days and Passing Places for the Traverse, Edinburgh. From 1997-2001 Tiffany was Literary Director at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, and from 2001 to 2005 was Associate Director at Paines Plough Theatre Company. During 2010-11 Tiffany was a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard University.

Glen Hansard’s film credits are The Commitments and Once. His albums include Strict Joy, the Academy Award® winning soundtrack of Once, The Swell Season, The Cost, Burn the Maps, Set List: Live in Dublin, For the Birds, Dance the Devil, Fitzcarraldo and Another Love Song.

Markéta Irglová’s film credit is Once. Her albums include The Swell Season, the Academy Award® winning soundtrack of Once, Strict Joy and Anar.

Once was originally developed at the American Repertory Theater (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in April 2011. A developmental run of Once at New York Theatre Workshop began performances in November 2011. The production went on to break box office records and concluded a sold out engagement including a two week extension. The Oscar winning independent Irish film was shot in 17 days and was made for $150,000. It went on to gross $20m worldwide becoming a critically acclaimed international smash. The soundtrack was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

The original cast recording of Once is available via Masterworks Broadway, a label of Sony Masterworks – www.MasterworksBroadway.com

The Producers of the West End production are Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf and Michael Rose Limited in association with New York Theatre Workshop.

Release issued by: Premier PR

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Midnight Tango’s Success Continues With Its Third Record-Breaking Year Of Performances Beginning On 30 January At The Phoenix Theatre In London Followed By Its Final Nationwide Tour

Fresh from her victory on BBC 1’s Strictly Come Dancing in December, Flavia Cacace is reunited with her professional dance partner, Vincent Simone, for the third consecutive year, in their highly successful, record-breaking show, MIDNIGHT TANGO. Since the show first began in April 2011, it has sold nearly 500,000 tickets throughout the UK and Ireland, meaning almost half a million people to date have been seduced by Vincent and Flavia’s hot and sensual show.

Flavia’s former celebrity dance partner, Russell Grant, will be joining her and Vincent as a special guest during the West End run, playing the role of the bar owner, Carlos, with the press night at the Phoenix Theatre taking place on Russell’s birthday, Tuesday 5 February. Russell will be learning the Argentine tango especially for MIDNIGHT TANGO, having never had the opportunity to perform it on Strictly.

The West End run of Olivier Award-nominated MIDNIGHT TANGO will begin on 30 January and will finish on 2 March. The nationwide tour will begin at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne on 13 March and will run until 3 August at the Grand Theatre, Leeds.

MIDNIGHT TANGO is set in a late-night bar in downtown Buenos Aires. Vincent and Flavia both star in and have choreographed the show, which brings to life all the drama, sensuality and elegance of the tango. They are joined on stage by some of the finest tango dancers in the world, and, between them, they take the audience on a journey into the heart of this intoxicating city, as danger and excitement, joy and jealousy, pain and passion combine into a spectacular and explosive evening.

MIDNIGHT TANGO is directed by Olivier Award-winning choreographer Karen Bruce, who has choreographed for both Strictly Come Dancing and So You Think You Can Dance on BBC 1, and whose theatre credits include Pacific Overtures (Donmar Warehouse) and Footloose (West End and UK Tour). Choreography is by Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, design by Morgan Large and lighting by James Whiteside. The live music will be provided by top tango band, Tango Siempre, featuring vocalist Miguel Angel.

MIDNIGHT TANGO is produced in London and on tour by Arlene Phillips and Adam Spiegel.

Press release issued by: Amanda Malpass PR

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Russell Grant on stage with Vincent and Flavia in Midnight Tango

RUSSELL GRANT TO BE REUNITED WITH VINCENT AND FLAVIA WHEN HE JOINS THEM ON STAGE IN “MIDNIGHT TANGO” AT THE PHOENIX THEATRE OPENING ON TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2013 FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON

Russell Grant will once again find himself sharing the dance floor with his favourite partner, Flavia Cacace, along with Vincent Simone, when he joins them to star in the West End run of Olivier Award-nominated MIDNIGHT TANGO, which runs for a strictly limited season at the Phoenix Theatre from 30 January to 2 March 2013. And the producers, Arlene Phillips and Adam Spiegel, will be throwing Russell a huge birthday party by moving the press night to his birthday, Tuesday 5 February.

Arlene Phillips said of the casting, “I’m delighted that Russell Grant will be performing and dancing in MIDNIGHT TANGO with Vincent and Flavia. Russell’s partnership with Flavia is well known, but I too have had a dance partnership with Russell, which began with his appearance in the title role of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, followed by playing Teen Angel in the current national tour of Grease, and I’m delighted we now have a third partnership.”

MIDNIGHT TANGO is set in a late-night bar in downtown Buenos Aires, which is owned by Carlos, who will be played by Russell. Vincent and Flavia both star in and have choreographed the show, which brings to life all the drama, sensuality and elegance of the tango. They are joined on stage by some of the finest tango dancers in the world, and, between them, they take the audience on a journey into the heart of this intoxicating city, as danger and excitement, joy and jealousy, pain and passion combine into a spectacular and explosive evening.

MIDNIGHT TANGO is directed by Olivier Award-winning choreographer Karen Bruce, who has choreographed for both Strictly Come Dancing and So You Think You Can Dance on BBC 1, and whose theatre credits include Pacific Overtures (Donmar Warehouse) and Footloose (West End and UK Tour). Choreography is by Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, design by Morgan Large and lighting by James Whiteside. The live music will be provided by top tango band, Tango Siempre, featuring vocalist Miguel Angel.

The West End run of MIDNIGHT TANGO will be followed by a nationwide tour, which will begin at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne on 13 March 2013 and will run until 3 August 2013 at the Grand Theatre, Leeds.

Release issued by: Amanda Malpass PR

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Once at the Phoenix Theatre

Winner of 8 Tony Awards on Broadway in 2012 – including best musical – the show that everyone is talking about has finally arrived in London.

Once is a brand new musical based on the much-loved Oscar-winning film and is now playing at the Phoenix Theatre in London.

This old-fashioned love story about an Irish busker who falls in love with a young Czech mother through their shared passion for music and song writing, is an original and irresistibly joyous celebration of love, friendship and music.

Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić take the starring roles of Guy and Girl respectively in the show.

The musical is brought to vibrant life by a hugely talented cast of actors, singers and musicians who unleash the exhilaration of an Irish ceilidh live on stage.

All of the songs from the film are featured in the show, including the Oscar-winning “Falling Slowly”. A tremendously talented creative team includes a book by Irish playwright Enda Walsh, music and lyrics by Glen Hansard (The Commitments) and Markéta Irglová, and Once is written and directed by John Carney who created the film.

Other cast members include Valda Aviks, Ryan Fletcher, Aidan Kelly, Gareth O’Connor, Michael O’Connor, Miria Parvin, Jos Slovick, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Jez Unwin and Gabriel Vick.   Alternating the role of Girl’s young daughter Ivanka will be Poppy-Lily Baker, Mia-Jai Bryan, Pacha Anna Green and Nancy Ann Jeans.

This dazzlingly inventive production is an absolute must-see musical for 2013.

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BROADWAY REVIEWS

“The show wins its standing ovations the old-fashioned way: with a love story, great songs, compelling characters and inventive stagecraft.” New York Post

“Once uses song and dance in a way I’ve never experienced in an American musical. When the violins begin to play – and the accordion and the mandolin and the guitars and the cello – the instruments swell into a collection of distinctive voices melded into a single, universal feeling. once massages that feeling until it hurts quite exquisitely.” New York Times

“★★★★★! Once is the most romantic show on Broadway. It speaks volumes about the power of music and connection.” Daily News

“A love story played with fierce sincerity and unexpected honesty. Go!” Wall Street Journal

“Original and emotionally exhilarating, once is the sort of revivifying breeze nowhere more necessary than on Broadway.” The Washington Post

“Unbridled joy!” Vogue

 

Tony Award-winner ONCE to open at Phoenix Theatre in London

THIS SHOW IS NOW BOOKING – CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Broadway musical Once to make its West End debut at the Phoenix Theatre this March.

It was the surprise hit at this year’s Tony Awards, sweeping up 8 gongs including Best Musical. And now the Broadway production of Once, based on the movie, will open in the West End this Spring.

John Tiffany’s production will open at the Phoenix Theatre on 16 March 2013, produced by Bond movie producer Barbara Broccoli amongst others.

The show will make a stop at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from 22 February until the 9 March 2013 en route to the West End.

The show has a book by Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh, with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová based on the movie written and directed by John Carney. Set and costumes will be by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Clive Goodwin, musical supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe and movement by Steven Hoggett.

Casting is still under way for the show.

Once is billed as a celebration of love, friendship and music and charts an Irish busker who meets a young Czech mother through their shared love of music. Their songwriting sparks a deep connection and a tender, unexpected romance.

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Tony Award 2012 winners

Goodnight Mister Tom at the Phoenix Theatre

Olivier Award-winner Oliver Ford Davies stars as Mister Tom in Michelle Magorian’s uplifting World War II tale Goodnight Mister Tom. Following a sell-out season at Chichester and on tour, this glorious new adaptation of the children’s modern classic comes to London for a limited season.

Blood Brothers to close after 24 years in the West End

Tell Me It’s Not True! After 24 years of emotional finales Willy Russell’s modern classic Blood Brothers is to bow out of the West End this year.

The long-running show will have notched up over 10,000 performances in London by its close on 27 October 2012, making it the third longest-running musical in town after Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera.

The show started life at the  Liverpool Playhouse in 1983 before opening at the Lyric Theatre in London for a criminally short run. Bill Kenwright then stepped in and revived the show at the Albery Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre) on 27 August 1988. It transferred to its current home at the Phoenix Theatre in 1991.

Blood Brothers has subsequently travelled the world and recently undertook a major tour of the UK. The show is set to continue to tour after its London run finishes this October.

Willy Russell’s musical is set in Liverpool and tells the tale of two twins who are separated at birth and later reunited by a twist of fate.

The current London cast includes Vivienne Carlyle as Mrs Johnstone, Philip Stewart as Narrator, Mark Rice Oxley as Mickey, Paul Christopher as Eddie, Abigail Jaye as Mrs Lyons and Louise Clayton as Linda.

The starring role of the mother, Mrs Johnstone, has been played by countless actresses over the last 24 years in the West End, including Barbara Dickson, Stephanie Lawrence, Clodagh Rodgers, Kiki Dee, Lyn Paul, Siobhan McCarthy, Katie Scott, four of the Nolan sisters (Linda, Bernie, Denise and Maureen), Spice Girl Melanie C and Niki Evans.

Blood Brothers has won many awards including an Olivier Award for Best Musical and a Best Actress in a Musical gong for the show’s star Barbara Dickson. Also Con O’Neill won Best Actor in a Musical in 1988 and Mel C was nominated this year for Best Actress in a Musical.

Blood Brothers joins a wave of West End shows exiting this Autumn including long-runner Chicago on 1 September, and big musicals The Wizard of Oz (2 September) and Ghost The Musical (6 October).

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