270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 27, 2023 11:54:33 GMT
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 27, 2023 8:15:19 GMT
A one hour version of Austentatious is to be performed at Hampton Court Palace on Sunday 11th June at 11am - 12pm, as part of the Queen’s Reading Room Festival.
The award-winning smash-hit comedy, as seen in the West End and heard on Radio 4. The all-star Austentatious cast will improvise a hilarious new Jane Austen novel, inspired entirely by a title dreamt up by HM The Queen Consort…. Performed in period costume with live musical accompaniment, it’s a riotous, razor-sharp show where swooning is guaranteed. This special, short edition of Austentatious is hosted by TV and Radio broadcaster, Professor John Mullan; with Director of Jane Austen House Lizzie Dunford and a collection of some very special Austen treasures… Casting not announced but special guests teased.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 24, 2023 12:55:50 GMT
The show will not be on tour during the London run. The London run is part of the tour schedule. We don’t yet know if there will be two casts or one cast.
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 24, 2023 10:31:08 GMT
The cast can technically still do Broadway, Los Angeles, the UK tour and the London run. If they miss anything it will probably be the tour. I booked for Liverpool as it’s a large theatre; so they may appear there simply to fill the seats.
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 22, 2023 19:13:25 GMT
Apparently the legroom should be adequate but not amazing. I rang ATG (spent 25 mins on hold) and managed to swap mine to row A. I am a theatrecard member with free exchanges though.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 22, 2023 16:45:23 GMT
9 seats in row B will no longer have extra legroom as they are reinstating the 9 seats that were missing for The Woman in Black. Gutted as I booked seats in row B for the extra legroom.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 22, 2023 7:42:57 GMT
I wouldn’t call Giulietta a smaller role. I would call the maid a smaller role. Giulietta would definitely be considered for supporting role awards.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 13, 2023 12:26:37 GMT
Will it Tour? Will there be a cast recording? How high is the stage? Will Michael Ball sign my autograph? Will it tour? - maybe, but unlikely that Michael Ball would do the tour after an extensive London run. Will there be a cast recording? - unknown at this time but maybe. How high is the stage? - unknown at this time but front row is £90 per ticket, so I should hope the view is good for that. Will Michael Ball sign my autograph? - depends on the day. You would have the highest chance before a matinee or after the evening show. You can also write to Michael at the theatre or BBC Radio 2.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 9, 2023 22:22:10 GMT
Saw this in Liverpool and it was a refreshing change from seeing Crossroads pantos which tend to use the same comedy scenes and TwinFX contraptions every year.
This panto was a much more old school affair albeit with references to current political events, but its star (the 83 year old legendary thespian Sir Ian McKellen) bounces around the stage as if he’s 18. His comic timing and chemistry with John Bishop is superb. He’s not afraid to make a fool of himself and the audience loves him even more for it.
There are so many references to famous plays and musicals throughout the panto that it’s a theatre fan’s dream; especially Anna-Jane Casey leading One and Don’t Rain on my Parade in act two.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 9, 2023 6:42:39 GMT
It is New Year’s Eve, 1942, and a skinny 27-year-old Italian-American singer is about to step onto the stage of New York’s Paramount Theatre and give a performance that will change music history. As Frank Sinatra’s career suddenly skyrockets, he struggles with balancing the love of his wife, Nancy, against the demands and temptations of being the most popular singer in America. But when he begins a torrid affair with movie goddess Ava Gardner, his records stop selling and the press turns against him, sending his career into a tailspin. Driven by his devotion to his family, Sinatra employs his peerless artistry and dogged determination to stage the greatest comeback in showbiz history. This latest Rep production is bought to the stage by a world class creative team including writer and two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro (What’s New Pussycat? and Memphis) and Olivier Award-winner and three-time Tony Award-winner, Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes and The Pajama Game). The first show of its kind to explore Frank’s life off stage and on, discover stories you don’t yet know, alongside songs you love, in this world premiere musical about his renowned life and enduring legacy. Songs include many of Sinatra’s classics including All of Me, Come Fly with Me, The Best is Yet to Come, One for My Baby and the incomparable New York, New York. www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/sinatramusical/
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Mar 3, 2023 16:26:21 GMT
I guess they couldn’t get their first choice of actor but they’ve assembled a good cast of thespians.
Kerry Ellis as Titania Jonathan Hyde as Bottom Milly Zero as Hermia
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jan 25, 2023 18:52:20 GMT
I’d love to see Orlando Bloom’s Bottom
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jan 25, 2023 17:43:33 GMT
Stafford Gatehouse have teased that an actor who appeared in The Lord of the Rings trilogy will appear in A Midsummer’s Night Dream from 23rd June to 9th July. There has been a lot of buzz about this production in the local area, with the show’s producer saying it could put Stafford on the map - www.gatehousetheatre.co.uk/whatson-event/a-midsummer-nights-dream/
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jan 18, 2023 17:55:04 GMT
Songs include Iain Farrington’s new orchestral arrangement of songs like My Dearest Dear, Waltz of My Heart, My Life Belongs To You and Why Is There Ever Goodbye.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Aug 25, 2022 6:41:09 GMT
yes I had to re-read the whatonstage info, but there we go. at least Mrs Pearce sings doesn't she? She sings in I Could Have Danced All Night and has a solo line, “I understand dear, it's all been grand dear, but now it's time to sleep”. Seems like such a small role for her. I wouldn’t be surprised if she missed performances.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Aug 7, 2022 9:17:20 GMT
Last night I saw Hollywood star Amy Adams as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie. Before the show starts, Amy and her fellow cast members sit at the side of the stage. Amy removes her coat to reveal her first costume and speaks to her fellow cast members. The play is a “memory” play, for it recounts the memories of Amanda’s son who remembers having to try and get his “crippled” sister married under the command of his mother. The crippled sister is played by Lizzie Annis who has cerebral palsy in real-life. For her professional stage debut, Lizzie oozed confidence and was moving to watch.
There are only five actors in the show. Amanda, her son (as the old man recounting what happened and the young man at the time of the events), her daughter and a gentleman caller. Everyone gets lots of stage time and dialogue to deliver. One entire scene is just between the daughter and the gentleman caller. Another between Amanda and her son when he was young. The older version of the son is like a puppeteer, keeping everything moving along.
Although the play was written in 1944, it tells of a mother’s desire to get her children good jobs and marriages; so is extremely relatable to both parents and children in the audience today.
I previously saw Cherry Jones as Amanda and Cherry got more laughs out of the script but Amy really got to the emotional heart of it. Her confidence and projection grew as the show progressed. Enchanted fans will be delighted when Adams says “Enchanted” and dances around in a flouncy dress whilst singing a few lines. The gentleman caller also refers to himself as “Superman”, other famous Adams films.
A great cast, a great play, I was transfixed.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Aug 6, 2022 18:08:33 GMT
Sister Act is the classic story of a wannabe Donna Summer, named Deloris van Cartier, who hides from her gangster boyfriend in a convent after witnessing a murder and teaches the nuns how to sing. Who better to play Deloris than Britain’s greatest singer Beverley Knight. Bev knows her voice inside and out and how to use it to make songs reach another level. Acting wise, she’s funny, she gets emotional, she makes it her own.
Jennifer Saunders, as Mother Superior, maximises the comedy out of every moment. However, she doesn’t know how to use her voice and bizarrely tries to sing everything in a soprano way. At times she manages to hit angelic notes but she does try to reach the rafters a bit too much. During her solo, Here Within These Walls, she’s given nothing to do and thus resorts to waving her arms around randomly.
Lesley Joseph gets the laughs as Mary Lazarus and it’s a joy to see her rapping. Lizzie Bea and Keala Settle are a great double act and the way they move comedically during the group songs has to be seen to be believed.
When I heard Clive Rowe was playing Eddie Souther back in 2020, I knew the audience would be in for a treat if he sang the great song I Could Be That Guy. And he sang it and it was completely worth the wait. He’s such a great singer and actor.
This is a fun-filled trip to the theatre that leaves you with a spring in your step. Beverley Knight is worth making a special trip to London for.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jul 26, 2022 17:34:18 GMT
Where to start with Gypsy at Buxton Opera House…
Joanna Riding was every inch the stagey mum. Jazz hands aplenty, this Mama Rose loves the spotlight and takes every opportunity to be in it. Very self-aware, she is always peering into mirrors. About 7 years ago, I was fortunate to see Imelda Staunton as Mama Rose and I think Imelda captured Mama’s desperation and descent into madness a bit more prominently than Joanna but Jo gave an extremely heartfelt and powerful performance too. Also, at first I was surprised by Jo as I knew she wasn’t using her voice to its full potential, but she was saving it; my goodness was she saving it for Rose’s Turn. In that eleven o’clock number, she perfectly showed Mama’s fantasy to be a world famous Burlesque Queen like her daughter, flashing her garters, before finally coming back to reality with a bang.
Monique Young, as Louise, has what I consider one of the most complex characters in musical theatre. Monique captured Louise’s childhood innocence and shyness so well, yet also stole the limelight in jaw-dropping Burlesque scenes as the confident superstar Gypsy Rose Lee.
It was such a joy to see David Leonard as Herbie, as he was my favourite Miss Trunchbull from Matilda the musical. He’s a great character actor and brought an Emelius Browne-esque (from Bedknobs) quality to Herbie. This, I felt, made Herbie into a fully formed character and I felt like it was a definitive performance.
The same with Tiffany Graves as Burlesque dancer Tesse Tura. Tiffany is only onstage for a couple of scenes but it felt like a lot longer because she made the most of every moment. She put on a hilarious voice and the way she said lines like “wait till you’ve refined it” were bang on the money.
Other standouts include Rebecca Lisewski in her roles as Burlesque dancer Mazeppa and a disgruntled theatre employee; plus Liam Dean who tap danced up a storm as Tulsa.
The scenery and props were not quite West End standard but considering the show was only performed around 8 times in total that wouldn’t have made sense financially. However, the show did boast a large orchestra who played the score so well.
All in all, a fabulous day seeing a fabulous production of a fabulous musical in an quiet little spa town in Derbyshire.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jul 7, 2022 14:49:26 GMT
Tom Scanlon also following the show. He’d be good as one of the drag performers in Make Me A Woman.
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jul 7, 2022 14:47:26 GMT
Gareth Snook follows Mrs Doubtfire UK on Twitter. I then assumed he'd be a little old for the role (although have no idea how old he is). Scott Garnham also follows the Twitter account. Stuart Dunmire? Gareth could play Mr Jolly maybe?
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jul 6, 2022 11:43:41 GMT
My friend said I should audition for Sandy. I hope it’s because I look good in black lycra and not because I’m a b@*ch.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jul 3, 2022 21:34:34 GMT
Yesterday I saw The Drifters Girl for the second time. This show has a cast of six who all work incredibly hard: Four guys play lots of different members of the four person band The Drifters. Beverley Knight plays the lady who managed them and there is a girl who Beverley is narrating the story to.
I previously saw Beverley’s understudy, a fantastic actress called Vanessa Ela Young. Beverley plays the role with a much thicker South American accent, which some people don’t like but I rather enjoyed. Beverley has by far the stronger singing voice and raises the roof at the end of her six or so songs, from the lively Nobody but Me but to the eleven o’clock number Harlem Child.
But most of the songs go, rightfully, to The Drifters. This time I saw Matt Henry as the group’s founding member (having previously seen his understudy Curtis Scott). Matt won an Olivier Award for playing Drag Queen Lola in Kinky Boots and he gets chance to show off his feminine side in this role too. Matt has such a wonderful singing voice. Although, I have to say that Curtis was en par with Matt.
Last time I saw the show, Tosh Wanogho-Maud was the standout. Tosh gets to sing one of the main solos, Stand by Me, and he sang it exactly as Ben E. King would have. His performance as Rudy Lewis was so heartwrenching. Tosh’s understudy Ashford Campbell does an excellent job and if you’d not seen Tosh in the role then I’m sure you would come away thinking his performance was one of the best.
Having now seen the full principal cast, I can say that Tosh is my favourite but Tarinn Callendar, who goes from singing deep parts of The Drifters’ songs to high parts, is also one of those performers that you can’t take your eyes off.
This is such a feel good show, packed full of songs that lift the spirits. The talent on the stage is incredible to watch. I even became more invested in the book this time.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jul 1, 2022 16:32:30 GMT
From Beverley’s Twitter it looks like Tosh is not performing tomorrow for her final shows. Sad as he was my favourite cast member last time but still excited to finally see Bev as Faye tomorrow.
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jun 30, 2022 19:07:14 GMT
Beverley Knight has teased that she will return to The Drifters Girl, presumably after finishing her run in Sister Act.
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jun 26, 2022 6:14:44 GMT
It looks like the stage production of Spitting Image, that was previously reported to be coming to London this year, is to play at Birmingham Rep Theatre with an announcement expected at 12pm on Monday 27th June. Image above is the Rep’s teaser artwork for the show being announced and the image below is the previously revealed image for Spitting Image Live (https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/20/spitting-image-live-to-run-in-west-end-as-show-says-its-kind-on-tv-15797662/amp/)
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Post by ilovewemusicals on Jun 8, 2022 15:36:39 GMT
Claire Machin has just teased me on Twitter. Could she be Felicia? Mary Poppins does not have a Monday evening performance until 27th June so she would be available.
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Post by ilovewemusicals on May 29, 2022 11:34:56 GMT
Cast, looks to include Beverley Knight as Deloris, to perform for the first time on the Britain’s Got Talent final (Sunday 5th June).
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270 posts
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Post by ilovewemusicals on May 28, 2022 11:25:44 GMT
Hate to argue but I went when Beverley was not on, some audience members did not know. When Faye turned around and it was Vanessa in the role a lot of people looked at each other as if to say they were slightly disappointed. So I think a lot of people do know who Beverley is. She appears on quite a few variety shows and television programmes singing.
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Post by ilovewemusicals on May 27, 2022 14:32:48 GMT
Rebecca Lisewski - Mazeppa Aiesha Naomi Pease - Electra Tiffany Graves - Tessie Tura Liam Dean - Tulsa James Rockey - Uncle Jocko
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Post by ilovewemusicals on May 26, 2022 15:32:39 GMT
Didn’t expect this. Buxton Opera House just replied to my comment on their status. David Leonard is playing Herbie. I saw him in Matilda in London as Miss Trunchbull.
Monique Young is Louise and Hannah Everest is June.
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