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Post by Raven on Nov 5, 2016 16:08:16 GMT
Saw the show on Tuesday and really enjoyed it. Definitely agree with everyone regarding the first few rows; I saw sat in D and even then felt I could have been a row back yet but would not sit any further forward as the stage is very high. The small theatre worked well for this intimate, gritty musical though. Victoria is the stand-out, really loved her acting and vocals.
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Post by Raven on Sept 17, 2016 16:13:13 GMT
Leon was replaced by Muriel's Kitchen, which also opened a branch in Leicester Square and was quite nice. I know it has closed again in Leicester Square but I'm actually not sure if it's still in Old Compton Street. I believe Muriel's Kitchen is still open on Old Compton Street. Does anyone have any recommendations for Italian restaurants that are relatively close to the theatre area at all? I've already mentioned a few in my last post that I frequent when I make a trip and I have also been to Bella Italia (for the sake of a quick bite) and Spaghetti House. Just curious for a few more places to try when I'm next down in November.
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Post by Raven on Sept 16, 2016 19:26:21 GMT
As I often have a proper sit-down dinner prior to a show I tend to go for restaurants close to the theatre. But just i case anyone is interested in a few ideas here are a few of my most visited:
Strada (Tavistock Street & Panton Street) Jamie's Italian (Upper St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden) Fire & Stone (Maiden Lane) Wildwood (Bow Street)
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Post by Raven on Sept 10, 2016 21:56:03 GMT
I've booked Murder Ballad and School of Rock for my last trip to London until next year. Then I'll be looking forward to booking Dreamgirls and (hopefully) Finding Neverland.
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Post by Raven on Sept 10, 2016 21:34:56 GMT
Rosalie Craig definitely won't be involved in this as she's just announced on Twitter that she's expecting a baby. The Threepenny Opera cast threw her a surprise baby shower today.
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Post by Raven on Sept 10, 2016 18:53:05 GMT
A minority of at least 2. I liked the music for the Leicester version. I felt the problems were more with the book & was very disappointed that they completely dumped the first score. I could have understood if they're re-done some of the songs but I thought they ditched some really lovely melodies. I really liked inv the blink of an eye and the big act two number Rosalie Craig sang, and a couple of others, but I also remember thinking that realistically the songs weren't commercial enough for wide appeal. Shame there is no cast recording. Talking of Rosalie, has she been ruled out for this? She's not done a long West end run since Lord of the Rings that I can remember. I would love to see Rosalie in this as Sylvia, however I think in previous interviews regarding her role in The Threepenny Opera and The Light Princess she mentioned she's more interested in newer projects and not so much established musicals. In this case, Finding Neverland has had a year long run on Broadway so not sure she would go for the role but perhaps because she's been involved with a previous production of Finding Neverland (as it was pretty much all scrapped and re-done since Leicester) she might consider it. I think she'd be a good fit for this.
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Post by Raven on Sept 4, 2016 18:59:17 GMT
Personally, I'd love to see Rosalie Craig as Satine. Not sure who I'd pick for Christian though.
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Post by Raven on Sept 4, 2016 18:15:47 GMT
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Post by Raven on Aug 30, 2016 14:14:46 GMT
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Post by Raven on Aug 30, 2016 13:08:29 GMT
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) are the two best known cruise liners who usually have big proper musicals onboard. NCL has had Rock of Ages, Legally Blonde and Priscilla. Royal Caribbean have had Cats, Grease, Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You.
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Post by Raven on Aug 28, 2016 17:55:19 GMT
I believe the age guidance for The Threepenny Opera is 15+ due to its themes of prostitution, corruption and murder. I know the violence is not gory but don't think it is suitable at all for younger children.
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Post by Raven on Aug 25, 2016 18:48:39 GMT
The producers are leaving things awfully late for announcing any cast members, are they not? Two months until previews starts and we still don't even know the name of the two leads.
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Post by Raven on Aug 24, 2016 19:33:35 GMT
Newsies Hunchback of Notre Dame Anastasia - I'd love a musical that is based on the story/music of the 1997 film
I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them right now.
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Post by Raven on Aug 22, 2016 20:40:57 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if the Shaftsbury theatre became available soon. I thought Motown was thriving though? Yeah, I was under the impression that this was selling surprisingly well. It's not a musical that appeals to me so I've never booked it but having a look online at the seat maps it does actually look like it is selling reasonably well considering how big the Shaftesbury is.
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Post by Raven on Aug 22, 2016 15:53:57 GMT
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Post by Raven on Aug 21, 2016 19:09:52 GMT
Brown Lindiwe Mkhize has been playing Rafiki in The Lion King for years! I'm pretty sure she was Rafiki when I saw the show back in 2008 so that would be 8 years, if so.
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Post by Raven on Aug 21, 2016 18:00:50 GMT
Katie Rowley Jones in Wicked. She was the original Nessarose and had her first contact 2006-2008 and then she returned in 2012 and is due to continue as Nessarose until January 2017.
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Post by Raven on Aug 13, 2016 18:26:30 GMT
I second the recommendation for "The Play That Goes Wrong". It's hilarious and makes for a good evening. The vast majority of the musicals in London are also currently showing on Broadway, however The Bodyguard and Groundhog Day are both ones that are not currently on Broadway.
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Cats
Aug 10, 2016 19:48:35 GMT
Post by Raven on Aug 10, 2016 19:48:35 GMT
I saw the UK tour last night, sadly the Rum Tum Tugger rap is still in there. My question is have they stopped the going up at the interval for an autograph? I remember doing it in Eastbourne many years ago and am sure I saw it in London (and possibly Paris). The safety curtain was down the whole interval though :-( That's odd. Perhaps they only do it at select shows throughout the week? I saw Cats when it was in Edinburgh in July and they did the interval signing with Old Deuteronomy then.
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Post by Raven on Aug 8, 2016 18:22:58 GMT
A lot of the issues that Hamilton on Broadway is having is a huge rise in ticket touts who are purchasing the tickets with the sole intention of reselling them online at websites like StubHub for triple the price and higher. I'm sure I read somewhere that the highest priced ticket on StubHub was in excess of $20,000 for Lin-Manuel Miranda's final performance! Bearing in mind the top price ticket is in the region of $180 (approx £130). Inevitably, unless there is a huge crackdown, I fear touts are going to take advantage of the hype that currently surrounds Hamilton's arrival here.
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Post by Raven on Aug 8, 2016 17:50:05 GMT
I watch the Olympics for the swimming, gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic) and the occasional equestrian event and diving. I'll watch the tennis sometimes too, particularly if Murray is playing.
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Post by Raven on Aug 7, 2016 12:46:54 GMT
Is the line in Grease ' the chicks will cream?'. Ghastly. I was going to mention this lyric! Makes me cringe every time.
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Post by Raven on Aug 6, 2016 15:32:11 GMT
The London page of the official website says it's coming in January, also said by Harvey and Gary - which suggests to me, although I know producers sometimes advertise like this to get some interest when nothing is actually official, that it will come and they have a theatre. Another possibility is the Aldwych, if Beautiful closed at the end of its booking period (November?). I was under the impression it was planned for Spring, so possibly March/April? Funnily enough, the Aldwych did spring to mind for me. I don't know how well Beautiful is still selling but it never struck me as a musical that would stick around for years but perhaps that's only because it has never appealed to me. The Aldwych would be a good size. Well both Waitress and Finding Neverland are eying up the West End, they are in Nederlander theatres on Broadway so if they want to stick to Nederlander theatres here, the options are Aldwych, Dominion or Adelphi.
I can't imagine Kinky Boots giving it up quite yet.
If An American in Paris doesn't sell well (as I suspect it may not) then the Dominion is an option but it is a huge theatre and I doubt, much as I would like it too, that Finding Neverland could sustain a theatre of that size for that long.
Aldwych I never imagined would run too long. I could see it leaving in the not too distant future, in which case I would assume they would bring in Finding Neverland first.
I can't see An American In Paris performing well here at all but like you would hope Finding Neverland doesn't take the Dominion as it would definitely not sell out that huge space. I think out of those three theatres, logically it would be the Aldwych. I suppose it's just a waiting game until someone decides to officially announce the theatre and cast.
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Post by Raven on Aug 6, 2016 15:16:07 GMT
My bet would be the Aldwych after Beautiful. Funnily enough, the Aldwych did spring to mind for me. I don't know how well Beautiful is still selling but it never struck me as a musical that would stick around for years but perhaps that's only because it has never appealed to me. The Aldwych would be a good size.
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Post by Raven on Aug 6, 2016 15:08:37 GMT
Now that it's been announced that 42nd Street is going into the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and looking at the list of what's on when on the general board, it looks like the only theatre that will be free for Finding Neverland is the Harold Pinter. It's a small theatre with only 796 seats however. I think Finding Neverland would work well in a smaller theatre (but perhaps not that small). Plus, I don't think there would be enough stage space for the production. Is there anywhere else we can presume this may go?
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Post by Raven on Aug 5, 2016 16:20:23 GMT
Jersey Boys Motown Sunny Afternoon Beautiful Thriller Stomp
Just have never had any interest in seeing any of the above and interesting to see these shows are the ones creeping up the most with other people.
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Post by Raven on Jul 31, 2016 20:53:36 GMT
Going to agree with Memphis, I think this would translate quite well to the screen. It probably won't ever happen since the original movie wasn't at all popular and had a cult following but I would like Newsies to be re-done but with Katherine included as a character. Also, Kinky Boots being filmed as an actual musical would be great.
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Post by Raven on Jul 31, 2016 20:47:04 GMT
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Post by Raven on Jul 30, 2016 21:02:29 GMT
1. Les Miserables 2. Kinky Boots 3. Matilda 4. Memphis 5. Wicked
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Post by Raven on Jul 30, 2016 19:13:50 GMT
I think the transfer deal must have fallen through. Disney's now concentrating on Aladdin and Broadway's Frozen. I think this is the closest we are to getting to see Newsies unless we fly over to the States sometime when there is another US tour. Personally, I'm really excited to finally see this even if it is just on screen. I love the cast recording and the fact Jeremy and Kara are both confirmed is a bonus!
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