Andrew Lloyd Webber to find new Superstar
February 2, 2012
SOCIAL MEDIA ROUND-UP
Andrew Lloyd Webber has defected from the BBC to ITV for his next TV talent search, this time casting a Jesus and Judas for his new, arena production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
[If you are reading this on a mobile device, visit this story here: http://storify.com/westendtheatre/lloyd-webber-finds-new-superstar]
The Wizard of Oz tickets special offer: Save £22.50 on tickets to see this smash-hit show
December 22, 2011
SPECIAL OFFER: Save up to £22.50 on tickets to see The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
At last, we present our first ticket offer on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s major production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. Starring Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford, Westendtheatre.com readers can save up to £22.50 off tickets to see the show this winter.
The multi-million pound production, which features songs from the Oscar-winning movie plus specially written new songs by Lloyd -Webber and Tim Rice, opened on 1 March 2011 and continues to delight audiences of all ages at the Palladium.
The show stars Danielle Hope, winner of the BBC talent show Over the Rainbow as Dorothy in the new production. Also starring in the show is theatre veteran Michael Crawford as The Wizard of Oz, Marianne Benedict (Crazy for You) as the Wicked Witch of the West, Paul Keating (Tommy) as Scarecrow, Edward Baker Duly (Copacabana) as Tin Man, David Ganly (Chicago) as Cowardly Lion and Emily Tierney (All the Fun of the Fair) as Glinda.
The cast also includes Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans covering the part of Dorothy on Tuesdays and when Ms Hope is on holiday.
The team behind the 2006 revival of The Sound of Music has created the show, including director Jeremy Sams, designer Robert Jones and choreographer Arlene Phillips.
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SPECIAL OFFER: Save up to £22.50 on tickets to see The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
VIDEO: Promo for Evita on Broadway starring Ricky Martin and Elena Roger
October 30, 2011
Tickets are now on sale for the Broadway production of Evita, which starts previews on 12 March 2012 at the Marquis Theatre in New York.
Ricky Martin as Che in Evita
Produced by Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders, the classic musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber will star world renowned music artist Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger as Eva Perón and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón.
Michael Grandage will direct the show, joined by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford who will choreograph the musical. Grandage will shortly step down as artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse in London and returns to Evita after directing an acclaimed production in London in 2006, also starring Elena Roger.
VIDEO
Evita on Broadway – promotional video
PHOTOS
LINKS
Michael Crawford To Continue As The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz!
July 30, 2011
MICHAEL CRAWFORD is to continue in his starring role of The Wizard in ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’s new production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.
Michael has been thrilling audiences since the show opened at the LONDON PALLADIUM on 1 March 2011 and now he will star in the iconic role until Sunday 5 February 2012.
In addition to the eponymous role, Michael also plays the characters of The Wizard in disguise as both the doorman and the tour guide in the Emerald City, as well as Professor Marvel, for whom a new song has been specially written, The Wonders of the World. This is one of several brand new songs by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER and TIM RICE, which also include Red Shoes Blues, a solo for The Wicked Witch of the West and Dorothy’s opening number Nobody Understands Me.
THE WIZARD OF OZ combines these new musical numbers, which mark the first time Andrew and Tim have worked together in over 30 years on a new production, with all the much-loved songs from the Oscar-winning movie score.
MICHAEL CRAWFORD is internationally renowned for originating the title role in The Phantom of the Opera and loved by millions for his role as the hapless Frank Spencer in the classic British sitcom, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em. His hugely successful career spans four decades, and includes his triumphant performance in the hit show Barnum at the London Palladium. He is a multi Olivier and Tony-award winning star whose acclaim encompasses theatre, television and film and he was appointed an OBE in 1988.
Michael stars alongside DANIELLE HOPE, the winner of the BBC smash hit talent show Over The Rainbow, who is Dorothy, EDWARD BAKER-DULY (Tin Man), DAVID GANLY (Lion), PAUL KEATING (Scarecrow), EMILY TIERNEY (Glinda) and HANNAH WADDINGHAM (as The Wicked Witch of the West).
The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum is directed by Jeremy Sams, choreographed by Arlene Phillips, music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E Y Harburg, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, set and costumes designs by Robert Jones, and produced by Bill Kenwright and the Really Useful Group.
Release issued by: Target Live
LINKS
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
Tim Rice & Lee Menzies present From Here To Eternity, a new musical version
May 27, 2011
Tim Rice, Lee Menzies for Eternity Productions present From Here To Eternity, a brand new musical theatre version of James Jones’ classic 1951 novel
- Stuart Brayson, Tim Rice and Bill Oakes collaborate on music lyrics and book
- Tamara Harvey directs
Today producers Tim Rice and Lee Menzies announced plans to stage a new musical theatre version of the classic FROM HERE TO ETERNITY for 2012.
The production was inspired by the music and lyrics of young writer/composer Stuart Brayson, to which the talents of Bill Oakes (book) and Tim Rice (additional lyrics) have been added. It tells an extraordinary story of passion and honour, which takes place on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, in 1941, shortly before and during the Pearl Harbour attack of 7 December.
The production will be directed by Tamara Harvey. Tamara is currently an Associate Director at the Bush Theatre. Her recent work includes the Menier Chocolate Factory production of Smash, the touring production of Tell Me On A Sunday, Dancing at Lughnasa at Birmingham Rep Theatre, Plague Over England at the Duchess Theatre, Bash at the Trafalgar Studios and The Contingency Plan and tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ! at the Bush.
Published in 1951, From Here To Eternity was James Jones’ début novel. It won him the National Book Award for fiction in 1952. It is loosely based on Jones’s experiences in the pre-World War II Hawaiian Division’s 27th Infantry and the unit in which he served. The 1953 film and subsequent TV mini-series were adapted from the novel. It has recently been announced that the novel will be re-released with previously unpublished material included.
In 1953 the novel was adapted into a film directed by Fred Zinnemann and produced by Buddy Adler, starring Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Montgomery Clift, Ernest Borgnine, Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed. The film won 8 Academy Awards out of 13 nominations.
Release issued by: The Corner Shop
The Wizard of Oz – Reviews Round-up
March 2, 2011
A round-up of reviews of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
The Wizard of Oz cast, left - right Edward Baker-Duly, David Ganly, Paul Keating and Danielle Hope
Finally it’s here! The build-up to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz has been nothing but intense, from the BBC talent show Over The Rainbow to find a new Dorothy to star in the musical, to the return of Michael Crawford to the stage, to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice reuniting at last to provide four new musical numbers.
And the reaction from the critics is good, which must come as a relief to Lord Lloyd Webber, who has had a rough 12 months with a series of headaches over the launch of his new Phantom sequel Love Never Dies, his failed attempt to sell some of his theatres, and his personal battle with cancer. He deserved to have a hit, and with Love Never Dies taking 7 Olivier Award nominations last month, and a positive reaction from the critics about The Wizard of Oz, things are looking up!
Danielle Hope, who makes her West End stage debut as Dorothy, gives it her all and impresses the critics with a fine performance. And the new songs go down well, adding to the original score of the stage show and movie. But the real critical superlatives are reserved for Robert Jones and his lavish costumes and set, and Hannah Waddingham, who wows the critics with her performance as the Wicked Witch of the West.
See review round-ups below from the Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Evening Standard and Independent.
LINKS
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium
The Wizard of Oz – News and features
Olivier Audience Award short list announced
February 27, 2011
The short list for this year’s Olivier Audience Award was announced today by Elaine Paige on her BBC Radio 2 show.
Gareth Gates in Les Miserables - on the short list for the Olivier Audience Award
The short list of shows are Billy Elliot the Musical, Jersey Boy, Les Misérables and We Will Rock You. They received more votes than the 14 other eligible shows in the Audience Award category, and were voted for by members of the theatregoing public.
Voting has now reopened to choose the winner, until 9 March 2011. The winner will be announced at the Olivier Awards at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 13 March.
Queen musical We Will Rock You and Billy Elliot both made it on to the short list last year but were beaten by Wicked as the Audience Award winner 2010. Wicked was not included in the awards line-up this year. The nomination of Les Misérables follows the show’s recent win at the Whatsonstage Awards for its 25th anniversary O2 concert and UK touring production. Jersey Boys is the biographical musical telling the story and featuring the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, which opened at the Prince Edward theatre in 2008.
Also on Elaine Paige’s show this Sunday, a new song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for the new London Palladium production of The Wizard of Oz was given its world premiere. Red Shoes Blues was sung by Hannah Waddingham, who plays the Wicked Witch of the West in the show alongside Danielle Hope as Dorothy and Michael Crawford as the Wizard.
LINKS
LISTEN: Red Shoes Blues from The Wizard of Oz, sung by Hannah Waddingham
LISTEN: Elaine Paige announces the Olivier Audience Award short list
The Wizard of Oz starts tonight
February 7, 2011
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s major new production of The Wizard of Oz starts previews tonight at the London Palladium, starring Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford.
Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford, stars of The Wizard of Oz
The multi-million pound production, which features songs from the Oscar-winning movie plus specially written new songs by Lloyd -Webber and Tim Rice, gets its official opening night on 1 March 2011.
The show stars Danielle Hope, who won the BBC talent show Over the Rainbow to become Dorothy in the new production.
Director the show, Jeremy Sams, said earlier this week that newcomer Danielle Hope is “marvellous” as Dorothy and, “she makes total sense on the stage. She is the calmest professional I have ever worked with.”
Also starring in the show is theatre veteran Michael Crawford, who is reuniting with Andrew Lloyd Webber 24 years after playing the original Phantom of the Opera to play The Wizard of Oz, Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods) as the Wicked Witch of the West, Paul Keating (Tommy) as Scarecrow, Edward Baker Duly (Copacabana) as Tin Man, David Ganly (Chicago) as Cowardly Lion and Emily Tierney (All the Fun of the Fair) as Glinda.
The cast also includes Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans covering the part of Dorothy on Tuesdays and when Ms Hope is on holiday.
The team behind the 2006 revival of The Sound of Music is creating the show, including director Jeremy Sams, designer Robert Jones and choreographer Arlene Phillips.
Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.
LINKS
Photos: The Wizard of Oz rehearsals
BBC Radio 2 – The Musical
September 9, 2010
Don’t miss this excellent new series on BBC Radio 2 all about the musical.
Sian Phillips, presenter of episode one of The Musical
The eight part series started on Monday, 6 September 2010, at 10pm UK time (listen again here) and each week will cover a different aspect of the world of musical theatre and its 80 year history.
The Musical is presented by a different name in musical theatre each week – with this Monday’s show voiced by award-winning actress Sian Phillips.
This first programme, “Stories with Songs”, revealed the importance of a good book – or story – in a musical, and the contradiction between this and why so few musicals choose to adapt existing stories rather than originate their own. Shows used to demonstrate include The Boy Friend, A Chorus Line, Chess, Starlight Express and Sunday In The Park With George, with lots of showbiz contributions from the likes of Stephen Sondheim, Patti Lupone, John Barrowman, Elaine Stritch, Maria Friedman, Sandy Wilson, Ruthie Henshall, Tim Rice, Elaine Paige, Marvin Hamlisch and Michael Grandage.
Episode two, “Drawn From Life” will be presented by musicals star, Sondheim aficionado and current artistic director of Sheffield Theatres, Daniel Evans, and covers some of the life-stories of real people used in musicals, from Gypsy and Evita to The King and I.
The Musical is produced by Malcolm Prince, who also produces Elaine Paige’s Sunday show on Radio 2.
A number of other theatrical documentaries will come to Radio 2 this autumn including a look at the history of the London Palladium in its centenary year.
LINKS
Listen to The Musical – Episode 1
ELENA ROGER in Passion
July 31, 2010
Argentinean actress continues to forge acclaimed career
Elena Roger
By the time 2012 is out, Elena Roger is going to be considerably more famous than she is now.
That’s because Michael Grandage’s 2006 production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Evita is to be revived on Broadway in Spring 2012 starring Roger as Eva Peron, and joined by Latino superstar Ricky Martin as Che.
The Argentinean actress won an Olivier award for her role in the show – and if the reaction to her London performance in that role is anything to go by, America is going to fall in love with her.
She followed Evita in London with a 2009 Olivier Award win for her performance as Edith Piaf in the Jamie Lloyd directed Piaf at the Donmar Warehouse and in the West End.
And she is about to return to the Donmar to star in a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion alongside Scarlett Strallen and David Thaxton, again directed by Jamie Lloyd.
The show is part of the Donmar’s celebration of Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday, that will also include concert performances of Merrily We Roll Along and Company at the Queen’s Theatre, featuring members of the original Donmar productions including Anna Francolini, Adrian Lester, Clive Rowe, Michael Simkins and Sophie Thompson in Company and Daniel Evans, Julian Ovenden and Samantha Spiro in Merrily We Roll Along.
Elena Roger in Evita
Elena Roger’s other credits include Matthew Warchus’s Boeing Boeing, and in her native Buenos Aires she played Nine, Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables, Saturday Night Fever and Mina, che cosa sei, with director Valeria Ambrosio.
Links:
News: West End Evita to transfer to Broadway
