Olivier Awards nominations announced

The nominations for the 2013 Olivier Awards were announced today at the May Fair Hotel in London.

Presented by Olivier Award winners Ruth Wilson and Elaine Paige live on BBC Radio 2′s Ken Bruce show, the announcement also featured a performance from last year’s big Olivier winner Matilda The Musical.

The shows dominating this year’s awards include the National Theatre’s The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Hollywood musical Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre and recent Chichester and Adelphi Theatre production of Sweeney Todd.

In the publicly voted Audience Award, the shows now vying for the award are Billy Elliot The Musical, Matilda The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera and Wicked.

The National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time leads the list with eight nominations, followed by new musical Top Hat with seven, and the West End transfer of Chichester Festival Theatre’s revival of Sweeney Todd with six. Other stand-out nominations include The Audience starring Helen Mirren and the recent Chichester and Old Vic revival of Kiss Me, Kate each receiving five nominations, and Constellations, The Bodyguard and Twelfth Night with four.

A wealth of star names have been given the nod for awards this year including Helen Mirren and Richard McCabe in The Audience, Heather Headley and Debbie Kurup in The Bodyguard, Leigh Zimmerman in A Chorus Line, Luke Treadaway in The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Rupert Everett in The Judas Kiss, James McAvoy in Macbeth and Kristen Scott Thomas in Old Times.

Billie Piper, Helen McCrory, Imelda Staunton, Hannah Waddingham, Michael Ball, Tom Chambers, Adam Garcia, Mark Rylance, Rafe Spall and Will Young have also been singled out for award nominations..

Voting for the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award is well underway, with 65,000 votes already recorded, and the shortlist now announced as Billy Elliot The Musical, Matilda The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera and Wicked.

New writing is at the forefront of this year’s nominations, leading the way across many categories from The Effect, Constellations and This House to Cinderella (at St James’s Theatre) and Goodnight Mr Tom.

Dance nominations are split between The Royal Ballet and Sadler’s Wells, with notable opera nominations including three out of four nominations for English National Opera for Best New Opera Production, and The Stage Management Teams at ENO London Coliseum and the Royal Opera House nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Opera.

As previously announced, former Olivier Award winners Gillian Lynne CBE and Michael Frayn are to be honoured with Special Awards for their outstanding contributions to theatre.

The Olivier Awards will take place at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 28 April, hosted by Hugh Bonneville and Sheridan Smith. The ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 from 6.30pm and exclusive red carpet interviews with the stars as they arrive before the big night. A full television highlights package will also be broadcast on ITV later in the evening.

LINKS

Full list of Olivier Award nominations

Olivier Awards micro-site

 

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

 

The Phantom of the Opera Christmas Ticket Sale – Save up to £16 on tickets

48 HOUR SALE: Save up to £16 on tickets to The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre this Christmas

The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre – 48 Hour Sale – Save over 25% off tickets

48 HOUR SALE: Save up to £17 on tickets to The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London

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

The Phantom of the Opera UK Tour – back to London?

Will Andrew Lloyd Webber’s brand new 25th anniversary tour of The Phantom of the Opera make it’s way back to London?

Cameron Mackintosh pulled off a hat trick for the Les Miserables 25th anniversary by featuring the original London production, the new UK touring production AND a special O2 Arena concert version in London all at the same time.

If the Phantom tour, directed by the Les Mis tour director Laurence Connor rather than the show’s original director Hal Prince, is successful, then maybe Mackintosh, who is the producer of Phantom, will be tempted to bring it in to town.

The Phantom tour kicks off at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in March 2012.

LINKS

Book tickets to The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London

The Phantom of the Opera UK tour website

 

RAMIN KARIMLOO in Les Miserables

West End star Ramin Karimloo in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre

Ramin Karimloo is the stuff that Glee is made of. As a sporty, hockey-playing teenager, not dissimilar to Glee’s Finn Hudson, he was dragged along to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. And so a musical theatre star was born.

“From that moment, I thought that’s what I am going to do. It wasn’t a desperate aim. It was a fact,” he told the Daily Telegraph in February this year.

Ramin went on to realise his dream and to star as the Phantom in the hit show, before moving from Her Majesty’s Theatre to the Adelphi Theatre to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom sequel, Love Never Dies.

Born in Iran and raised in Canada, Ramin started his career as an actor after singing in rock bands and playing cruise ships. Once in England, he turned to musical theatre, playing a wide range of roles including Enjolras in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, Chris in Miss Saigon and Sunset Boulevard.

Ramin also featured in the O2 Arena concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables, returning to the role of Enjolras.

And now it is to Les Miserables that he is returning, playing Jean Valjean in the show until 3 March 2012.

LINKS

SPECIAL OFFER: Save on tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London

More news on Ramin Karimloo

Hal Prince happy with new Phantom touring show?

We would love to know how Hal Prince feels about Cameron Mackintosh’s new touring production of The Phantom of the Opera, celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary.

Hal directed the original 1986 production of Lloyd-Webber’s show, which is still playing in London and New York and has grossed over $5 billion worldwide.

If you cast your mind back to 2010, Mackintosh suffered a very public falling-out with Trevor Nunn over the “re-imagining” of the 25th anniversary touring production of Les Miserables. Nunn, co-director John Caird and designer John Napier were said to be furious that new directors, Laurence Connor and James Powell, and designer Matt Kinleywere, hired to give the show a touring makeover, including ditching the revolving barricades as these were too costly and complex to tour. Presumably the same will happen to the falling chandelier in Phantom.

As with the Les Mis tour, Mackintosh has recruited director Laurence Connor to stage the new version of Phantom and has even cast his Les Mis touring leads, John Owen-Jones and Earl Carpenter, to share the role of the Phantom.

Mackintosh has been careful to suggest in the press that the tour has Prince’s blessing, with Variety in March revealing than an “agreement” had been struck with Prince for the all-new version. But a September interview with Prince in the Huffington Post asked him whether he would change anything about the show if he had the chance to revisit it. “No, I would leave it alone”, he said, “it works”.

The UK touring production, directed by Laurence Connor, will feature choreography by Scott Ambler, set design by Paul Brown and costume design by original designer Maria Björnson. The production will be overseen by Cameron Mackintosh and Matthew Bourne and will premiere at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in March 2012. In addition to John Owen-Jones and Earl Carpenter sharing the Phantom role, Katie Hall will play Christine.

LINKS

Book tickets to The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre

The Phantom of the Opera UK tour information

 

 

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