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Something Rotten!

Something Rotten! is the hilarious, brand-new musical directed and choreographed by theatre legend Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin). Set in the 1590’s, Something Rotten! follows brothers Nick and Nigel as they try to top Shakespeare’s plays with their own acting troupe. When a soothsayer mistakes Hamlet for Omelette the Musical, chaos ensues, resulting in a very funny conclusion. Premiering on Broadway, the musical received mixed views from audiences and critics alike, and came away from the Tony Awards with only one win, despite nine nominations. A London transfer is predicted for the future and the show is also embarking on a US tour.

Something-Rotten_Playbill

Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell

Kevin McCollum

Casey Nicholaw

Casey Nicholaw

Productions
Something-Rotten_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

St. James Theatre - Opened 22 Apr 2015, closed 1 Jan 2017

Cast: Brian d’Arcy James (Nick Bottom), Christian Borle (William Shakespeare), John Cariani (Nigel Bottom), Heidi Blickenstaff (Bea), Brad Oscar (Nostradamus), Kate Reinders (Portia), Brooks Ashmanskas (Brother Jeremiah), Peter Bartlett (Lord Clapham/Judge), Gerry Vichi (Shylock), Michael James Scott (Minstrel) Replacements: Rob McClure (Nick), Will Chase (Shakespeare), Josh Grisetti (Nigel), Leslie Kritzer (Bea), Catherine Brunell (Portia), David Beach (Brother Jeremiah), Edward Hibbert (Lord Clapham), Andre Ward (Minstrel)



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

A raucous musical that sees Shakespeare’s classic Hamlet become mightily confused with Omelette the Musical.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Set in the 1590’s, William Shakespeare is a local celebrity, known as “The Bard” and loved by all. The Minstrel narrates the inventions and customs of the Renaissance and introduces Nick Bottom and Nigel, who run a theatre troupe. Rehearsing for Richard II whilst Shakespeare is opening Romeo and Juliet, Lord Clapham (a patron who raises funds for the troupe) arrives and announces that Shakespeare is also going to be doing Richard II. Outraged, Nick says that Shakespeare has already done Richard III and should not be going backwards. Ranting about his hatred for Shakespeare, Lord Clapham leaves, threatening to cut the troupe off unless they have a new play tomorrow.

On the way home, Nick encounters Shylock the Jew, who wants to help the troupe. Unfortunately, Shylock’s Jewish background would be illegal. Back at home, Bea, Nick’s wife, serves up dinner and ensures they are saving for a better life. She claims that she could help out with the troupe and goes out to do “jobs meant for men”, despite Nick’s protestations. As Nigel sleeps, Nick realises how much he hates Shakespeare and wishes there was a way to top him. Stealing money from his and Bea’s moneybox, he finds a soothsayer Nostradamus, who says that the next big thing in theatre will be a musical.

Later, Nigel meets Portia, a Puritan and daughter of Brother Jeremiah. Nick tells him he should not pursue her as she is Puritan. Nick tells Nigel about the musical idea, but tells him he thought of it by himself. Nigel wants to do “The Brothers from Cornwall”, but Nick says it should be “The Black Death”. Lord Clapham arrives to watch the troupe perform the opening song, and hates it. Nigel begins to write a new play but is distracted by Portia. Soon, an invitation arrives for Nigel to go to “Shakespeare in the Park”. He tells Portia that he sent one of his sonnets to the Bard for feedback, and is now invited to his party. He asks if Portia will be his plus one.

At the after-party, Portia gets drunk and Shakespeare asks to read more of Nigel’s poems. Nick runs in and yells at the Bard for trying to steal Nigel’s work and at Nigel for going to the party. Brother Jeremiah enters to find a drunk Portia and admonishes her and Nigel. Nick goes back to Nostradamus with his remaining money. He asks him to predict Shakespeare’s next hit, and Nostradamus sees “Hamlet”, which he pronounces “Omelette”. He sees the main character as a Danish prince, but only the Danish part, which Nick takes to mean a Danish pastry. Getting excited about future dreams, he goes into a fantasy where he wins over Shakespeare.

Act II begins with the Minstrel, who recaps the stress the Bottom brothers and Shakespeare face. A spy tells Shakespeare that Nick and Nigel are trying to steal his latest play, so he jumps at the chance to find out what it is. He disguises himself as Toby Belch and goes to audition for the brothers’ troupe. Meanwhile, the troupe are practising Omelette the Musical and Shylock has become their new investor and producer (although they have no name for that yet). Some of the actors are suspicious of Nostradamus, but Nick says he is a fellow actor. Shakespeare auditions and is hired, surprised to find out their musical is about eggs.

Nigel sneaks away to meet Portia, reading her another love poem. He worries about their future, but she reassures him that everyone will soon change their minds. He tells her he does not like Omelette the Musical. Brother Jeremiah arrives and takes Portia away to be shut in a tower for her sins. Saddened, Nigel becomes inspired to write a whole new play, which turns out to be Hamlet.

Nigel goes to the theatre the next day to tell Nick he does not like Omelette the Musical and is writing something else. Shakespeare takes this as an opportunity to get his hit play. On the street, Bea finds Nigel and tells him to trust Nick. Nick himself is having mixed feelings about Omelette, but learns that the whole town has lined up for tickets. Performing a huge number, Shakespeare reveals himself and sues the brothers. Quickly the troupe discover that Nostradamus is a soothsayer, and everyone is horrified.

At the courtroom, Shylock, Nigel, Nick and Nostradamus are being tried and Nick is sentenced to be beheaded. Bea enters, disguised as a lawyer, and forces Nick to confess that he stole from the moneybox and that he should not be beheaded as he has already lost his head. She makes a deal with Shakespeare that they will all be exiled to America. Portia arrives, having escaped, and joins the Bottoms in exile. Arriving in America, Nick hears about the opening of Hamlet. Nostradamus replies “I was this close”.

Songs

Act I

  • “Welcome to the Renaissance” – Minstrel and Company
  • “God, I Hate Shakespeare” – Nick, Nigel and the Troupe
  • “Right Hand Man” Bea and Nick
  • “God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)” – Nick
  • “A Musical” – Nostradamus, Nick and Company
  • “The Black Death” – The Troupe
  • “I Love the Way” – Portia and Nigel
  • “Will Power” – The Bard and Company
  • “Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top” – Nick, The Bard and Company

Act II

  • “Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise)” – Minstrel
  • “Hard to Be the Bard” – The Bard and Company
  • “It’s Eggs!” – Nick and the Troupe
  • “We See the Light” – Portia, Nigel, Brother Jeremiah, Nick and Company
  • “To Thine Own Self” – Nigel, Nick, The Bard and the Troupe
  • “Right Hand Man (Reprise)” – Bea
  • “Something Rotten!” – The Troupe
  • “Make an Omelette” – Nick and Company
  • “To Thine Own Self (Reprise)” – Nick
  • “Finale” – Company
Awards

2015 Tony Awards: Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Christian Borle)

2015 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Christian Borle)

Licensing

UK: Musical Theatre International

USA: Musical Theatre International

Jersey Boys

Jersey Boys is the hit Broadway musical that transferred to the West End in 2008 and made its home in London. Documenting the highs and lows of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys follows how the boys went from a downtown band to an uptown success. Narrated by Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio, Nick Massi and Frankie Valli, the musical tells their story, featuring many of the hit songs from the band’s back catalogue, including “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, “My Eyes Adored You”, “Sherry” and “Who Loves You”. Winning both Tony and Olivier Awards, Jersey Boys is an international success, touring across the UK and US, as well as opening all over the world in countries such as Tokyo, Singapore, Melbourne and Utrecht.

Jersey-Boys_Playbill

Bob Gaudio

Bob Crewe

Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice

Dodger Theatricals

Des McAnuff

Sergio Trujillo

Productions
Jersey-Boys_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

August Wilson Theatre - Opened 6 Nov 2005, closed 22 Jan 2017

Cast: John Lloyd Young (Frankie Valli), Christian Hoff (Tommy DeVito), Daniel Reichard (Bob Gaudio), J. Robert Spencer (Nick Massi), Jennifer Naimo (Mary Delgado), Peter Gregus (Bob Crewe), Mark Lotito (Gyp DeCarlo), Michael Longoria (Joe Pesci), Donnie Kehr (Norm Waxman), Erica Piccininni (Lorraine), Sara Schmidt (Francine Valli) Replacements: Ryan Molloy, Dominic Scaglione, Jr. (Frankie) Andy Karl, Richard H. Blake (Tommy), Sebastian Arcelus, Quinn VanAntwerp (Bob), Michael Lomeda (Nick), Cara Cooper (Mary), Jon Hacker (Joe), Miles Aubrey (Norm), Jessica Rush (Lorraine)

Jersey-Boys_London

Original London Production

Prince Edward Theatre, Piccadilly Theatre - Opened 18 Mar 2008, closed 16 Apr 2017

Cast: Ryan Molloy (Frankie Valli), Glenn Carter (Tommy DeVito), Stephen Ashfield (Bob Gaudio), Philip Bulcock (Nick Massi), Suzy Bastone (Mary Delgado), Simon Adkins (Bob Crewe), Stuart Milligan (Gyp DeCarlo), Jye Frasca (Joe Pesci), Joseph Prouse (Norm Waxman), Amy Pemberton (Lorraine), Michelle Francis (Francine Valli) Replacements: Matt Corner (Frankie) Simon Bailey (Tommy), Declan Egan (Bob), Matt Hunt (Nick), Nicola Brazil (Mary), Mark Dugdale (Bob Crewe), Mark Heenahan (Gyp), Will Haswell (Joe), Joe Maxwell (Norm), Nicky Griffiths (Lorraine), Helen Ternent (Francine)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Each of The Four Seasons narrate the band’s rise to fame, accompanied by hit songs from Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons’ back catalogue.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Jersey Boys opens with a performance of a rap song released in 2000. Tommy DeVito appears and explains that the song is a cover of one of The Four Seasons’ hit tracks. He begins to narrate the story of the band, detailing how the group began as “The Variety Trio” with Nick DeVito and Nick Massi. When they discovered Frankie Castelluccio, they took him under his wing and taught him everything he knows. During the early years of the band, Tommy went in and out of prison, Frankie changed his last name to Valli and the pair also developed a friendship with mob boss Gyp DeCarlo. Frankie also falls in love with a married Mary Delgado. As the band continue to struggle with their name and sound, Joe Pesci introduces them to Bob Gaudio.

Bob Gaudio becomes the narrator and informs the audience that Tommy did not “find” him, as he already had a hit with “Short Shorts”. Bob and Joe go to watch the band and are impressed with Frankie’s voice. Bob performs a song he’s recently written, with Frankie, Nick and Tommy joining in with vocals, bass and guitar. The four negotiate an agreement and Tommy becomes sceptical that Bob will be good for the band. Eventually, the four get producer Bob Crewe involved, who insists that they need to make a firm decision with their name and sound. After a night at The Four Seasons bowling alley, they name themselves and with Bob’s songs they are propelled into stardom. As they begin to tour, Bob loses his virginity and Frankie’s marriage to Mary comes to an end. They continue to huge success, but are soon approached by a loan shark who has come to claim money owed by Tommy.

Act II begins with Nick Massi as the narrator. He explains that Bob was so focused on writing for the band that he couldn’t see they were in trouble. Tommy racked up numerous debts and a forgotten bill lands the boys in jail for the weekend, straining the relationship between Tommy and Bob. Tommy becomes increasingly jealous of Frankie’s success and his relationship with Bob and attempts to seduce Frankie’s new girlfriend, Lorraine, destroying their friendship. When the loan shark reappears, Frankie foes to Gyp DeCarlo for help. Gyp and the loan shark come to an agreement and Tommy is sent to Las Vegas, where the mob can keep an eye on him. The band cover the debt, but Nick declares that he wants out.

Frankie then becomes the narrator and explains that he never understood why Nick wanted to leave. Frankie and Bob find replacements to keep the band a quartet, but Bob announces that Frankie should go solo as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Frankie’s relationship with daughter Francine becomes strained when he breaks up with Lorraine, but his musical career continues with smash-hits. As Frankie and Bob continue to release hits and pay off Tommy’s debts, disaster falls as Francine dies from an overdose. Bob Crewe then appears to describe The Four Seasons’ 1990 induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, reuniting the original Seasons back to the stage. Each member explains his pride at being part of the band.

Songs

Act I

  • “Ces soirées-là (Oh What a Night) – Paris, 2000” – French Rap Star Yannick and Backup Group
  • “Silhouettes” – Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, Nick DeVito and Frankie Valli
  • “You’re the Apple of My Eye” – Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Nick DeVito
  • “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” – Frankie Valli
  • “Earth Angel” – Tommy DeVito and Company
  • “A Sunday Kind of Love” – Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Nick’s Date
  • “My Mother’s Eyes” – Frankie Valli
  • “I Go Ape” – The Four Loves
  • “(Who Wears) Short Shorts” – The Royal Teens
  • “I’m in the Mood for Love/Moody’s Mood for Love” – Frankie Valli
  • “Cry for Me” – Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi
  • “An Angel Cried” – Hal Miller and The Rays
  • “I Still Care” – Miss Frankie Nolan and The Romans
  • “Trance” – Billy Dixon and The Topix
  • “Sherry” – The Four Seasons
  • “Big Girls Don’t Cry” – The Four Seasons
  • “Walk Like a Man” – The Four Seasons
  • “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” – Bob Gaudio and Company
  • “My Boyfriend’s Back” – The Angels
  • “My Eyes Adored You” – Frankie Valli, Mary Delgado and The Four Seasons
  • “Dawn (Go Away)” – The Four Seasons
  • “Walk Like a Man (Reprise)” – Company

Act II

  • “Big Man in Town” – The Four Seasons
  • “Beggin’” – The Four Seasons
  • “Stay” – Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli and Nick Massi
  • “Let’s Hang On! (To What We’ve Got)” – Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli
  • “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘bout Me)” – Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli and The New Seasons
  • “Bye Bye Baby” – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
  • “C’mon Marianne” – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
  • “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” – Frankie Valli
  • “Working My Way Back to You” – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
  • “Fallen Angel” – Frankie Valli
  • “Rag Doll” – The Four Seasons
  • “Who Loves You” – The Four Seasons and Company
Awards

2008 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical

2007 Grammy Awards: Best Musical Show Album

2006 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (John Lloyd Young), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Christian Hoff), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Howell Binkley)

2006 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Musical (John Lloyd Young), Outstanding Sound Design (Steve Canyon Kennedy)

Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! is the smash-hit musical based on classic songs from pop band ABBA. Continuing to play to packed-out audiences in the West End, Mamma Mia! combines the hit songs with a heart-warming story of Sophie, a young girl about to be married. Wishing to be walked down the aisle by her father, she first needs to find out who her father is, and invites them all to her mother’s tavern on a Greek island. Ever-popular, Mamma Mia! is also a 2008 film starring Meryl Streep, including the famous songs such as “Waterloo”, “Dancing Queen” and “Voulez-Vous” amongst many, many more. A popular show for ABBA fans, Mamma Mia! continues to huge success, combining some smashing songs with a story of family and true love.

Mamma-Mia_Playbill

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus

Catherine Johnson

ABBA's greatest hits

Catherine Johnson

Judy Craymer and Richard East

Phyllida Lloyd

Anthony Van Laast

Productions
Mamma-Mia_London_2

Original London Production

Prince Edward Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre, Novello Theatre - Opened 6 Apr 1999, closed 4 Mar 2017

Cast: Original London Cast: Siobhan McCarthy (Donna Sheridan), Jenny Galloway (Rosie), Louise Plowright (Tanya), Hilton McRae (Sam Carmichael), Nicolas Colicos (Bill Austin), Paul Clarkson (Harry Bright), Lisa Stokke (Sophie Sheridan), Andrew Langtree (Sky)

Mamma-Mia_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Winter Garden Theatre, Broadhurst Theatre - Opened 18 Oct 2001, closed 12 Sep 2015, 5773 performances

Cast: Original Broadway Cast: Louise Pitre (Donna Sheridan), Judy Kaye (Rosie), Karen Mason (Tanya), David W. Keeley (Sam Carmichael), Ken Marks (Bill Austin), Dean Nolen (Harry Bright), Tina Maddigan (Sophie Sheridan), Joe Machota (Sky)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

ABBA’s legendary musical is an all-night celebration of their hits, alongside a moving story of friendship, family and love.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Set on an exotic Greek island, Mamma Mia! follows 20 year-old Sophie, who is preparing to marry her fiancé Sky. More than anything, Sophie wishes to be walked down the aisle by her father, but must first find out who he is. In her mother’s old diary she discovers three men who could fit the description. Inviting Sam, Bill and Harry to her wedding, she hopes to figure out who it is when she meets them – the only problem is that she hasn’t quite told Donna, her mother, that they are coming!

Donna’s best friends Tanya and Rosie arrive at the island for the celebrations and reminisce about their prior lives as girl group “Donna and the Dynamos”. Sophie’s potential fathers also arrive and she tells them not to tell Donna that she invited them. Donna sees her ex-lovers and leaves in tears. Meanwhile, Sophie thought that she would recognise her father on seeing him and attempts to tell Sky, but he tells her that he is the only man she could ever need.

At Sophie’s hen party, Donna and the Dynamos make a reappearance and perform “Super Trouper”. Sam, Bill and Harry walk into the party and the guests persuade them to stay. Sophie pulls Sam away for a chat, but when he asks why he has been invited, Sophie runs away to talk to Harry. Harry asks if he is Sophie’s father, and she tells him about inviting them all. When she talks to Bill, it is revealed that he has an Aunt Sophia who left all her money to Donna’s family. Bill finds out that Donna built the Greek tavern with money she inherited from a friend, and both think that means Bill is Sophie’s father.

Sophie asks Bill to walk her down the aisle, but he wants to talk to Donna first. No one yet knows that not even Donna knows who Sophie’s father is. Sophie pleads with the three not to tell Donna anything and they agree. After the party, Sam pulls Sophie aside and tells her that he thinks he is her father and promises to walk her down the aisle. Harry approaches Sophie and offers the same thing, also convinced that he is her father. Sophie leaves the party, more confused than ever.

Act II begins with Sophie having a nightmare that her three fathers fight over the right to walk her down the aisle. Sophie is upset and Donna assumes that she wants to cancel the wedding. Sophie tells her that her own children will never grow up without knowing who their father is and storms from the room. When she leaves, Sam enters and tries to tell Donna that Sophie may have invited them. Donna reveals that she has always loved Sam, despite him leaving her to get married.

Back at the beach, one of the bartenders, Pepper, begins to flirt with Tanya, and she rebuffs him with “Does Your Mother Know”. Sky discovers that Sophie invited Sam, Harry and Bill and accuses her of only wanting a large white wedding so that she can find out who her father is. He leaves, hating that she kept a secret from him. Sam enters and attempts to give Sophie some fatherly advice, telling her of his own failed marriage.

Harry offers to pay for the wedding, and Donna and Harry reminisce about their fling. Donna helps Sophie dress and cannot believe how grown up she seems. She admits that her own mother disowned her when she was pregnant, and the pair reconcile, with Sophie asking Donna to walk her down the aisle. Sam once more appears and Donna asks him to leave, telling him that he broke her heart when she found out that he was engaged. It is revealed that the two are still very much in love.

As Rosie makes final preparations for the wedding, she comes across Bill, who is upset not to be walking Sophie down the aisle. Bill affirms his commitment to single life, but Rosie urges him to change his mind, with the pair ending up locked in a passionate embrace. As the wedding begins, Donna walks Sophie down the aisle and tells everyone that Sophie’s father is present, realising that it was her who invited them all. Everyone agrees that it really doesn’t matter who the father is, as Sophie loves all three. Harry is revealed to be in a committed gay relationship.

Sophie admits she is not ready to be married, and Sky agrees. Sam proposes to Donna and finds out that he called off the wedding to his fiancé because of Donna. Donna accepts his proposal and Sky and Sophie depart on a round-the-world trip. Mamma Mia! ends with a rousing reprise of “Mamma Mia!”, “Dancing Queen” and “Waterloo”, with Donna and the Dynamos appearing in ABBA style costumes.

Songs

Act I

  • “Overture/Prologue” – Sophie
  • “Honey, Honey” – Sophie, Ali and Lisa
  • “Money, Money, Money” – Donna, Tanya, Rosie, Pepper and Company
  • “Thank You for the Music” – Sophie, Sam, Harry and Bill
  • “Mamma Mia” – Donna and Company
  • “Chiquitita” – Tanya, Rosie and Donna
  • “Dancing Queen” – Tanya, Rosie and Donna
  • “Lay All Your Love on Me” – Sky, Sophie and Male Ensemble
  • “Super Trouper” – Donna, Rosie, Tanya and Female Ensemble
  • “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” – Female Ensemble
  • “The Name of the Game” – Sophie and Bill
  • “Voulez-Vous” – Company

Act II

  • “Entr’acte” – Orchestra
  • “Under Attack” – Sophie and Company
  • “One of Us” – Donna
  • “S.O.S.” – Donna and Sam
  • “Does Your Mother Know” – Tanya, Pepper and Company
  • “Knowing Me, Knowing You” – Sam
  • “Our Last Summer” – Harry and Donna
  • “Slipping Through My Fingers” – Donna and Sophie
  • “The Winner Takes It All” – Donna
  • “Take a Chance on Me” – Rosie and Bill
  • “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” – Sam, Donna and Company
  • “I Have a Dream” – Sophie
Awards

2003 Touring Broadway Award: Best Musical Score

2002 Theatre World Awards: Outstanding Debut Stage Performance (Louise Pitre)

2000 Olivier Awards: Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Jenny Galloway)

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

Sunny Afternoon

Sunny Afternoon is the hit West End musical, originally premiering at the Hampstead Theatre before transferring to London’s Harold Pinter Theatre for an extensive run. Winning the sought-after 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Sunny Afternoon features a huge back catalogue of some of The Kinks’ greatest hits, including “Lola”, “Waterloo Sunset” and “Dedicated Follower of Fashion”. Written by Joe Penhall, with music from Ray Davies, the musical documents brothers Ray and Dave Davies as they encounter the highs and lows on the way to becoming one of Britain’s best bands of the 1960’s.

Sunny-Afternoon_London

Ray Davies

Ray Davies

Joe Penhall

The Kinks

Sonia Friedman Productions

Edward Hall

Adam Cooper

Productions
Sunny-Afternoon_London_2

Original London Production

Harold Pinter Theatre - Opened 28 Oct 2014, closed 29 Oct 2016

Cast: John Dagleish (Ray Davies), George Maguire (Dave Davies), Ned Derrington (Pete Quaife), Adam Sopp (Mick Avory), Vince Leigh (Larry Page), Ben Caplan (Eddie Kassner), Lillie Flynn (Rasa), Dominic Tighe (Robert Wace), Tam Williams (Greenville Collins), Ashley Campbell (Gregory Piven), Philip Bird (Mr Davies/Allen Klein), Elizabeth Hill (Mrs Davies/Marsha) Replacements: Danny Horn (Ray), Oliver Hoare (Dave), Tom Whitelock (Pete), Damien Walsh (Mick), Christopher Brandon (Larry), Jason Baughan (Eddie), Megan Leigh Mason (Rasa), Gabriel Vick (Robert), Charlie Tighe (Greenville)

Sunny-Afternoon_Tour

UK Tour (2016)

UK Tour - Opened 19 Aug 2016, closed 6 May 2017

Cast: Ryan O’Donnell (Ray Davies), Mark Newnham (Dave Davies), Garmon Rhys (Pete Quaife), Andrew Gallo (Mick Avory), Jayne Ashley, Victoria Anderson, Nathanael Campbell, Marcelo Cervone, Tomm Coles, Deryn Edwards, Sophie Leigh Griffin, Sam Haywood, James Hudson, Richard Hurst, Cleo Jaeger, James Lorcan, Joseph Richardson, Robert Took, Alex Wadham, Libby Watts, Michael Warburton, Lucy Wilkerson, Lisa Wright



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Ray Davies brings the hit music from British band The Kinks to the stage, following the true story of their rise to fame.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Set in London, during the battle of classes in a conservative 50s and upcoming, liberal 60s, Sunny Afternoon follows the true story of The Kinks and their rise to fame. Act I opens with the band featuring as backing for Robert Wace as The Ravens. Wace sings a toned-down version of “You Still Want Me”, which Dave Davies soon tires off and the band start their own rock riff with “I Gotta Move”.

A stunt move, the band are soon snapped and signed, with their manager convincing them to change their name to something more sexy and memorable, eventually coming up with The Kinks. They are redesigned, refashioned and given an image that reflects their upbringing in Muswell Hill. Negotiating contracts, Ray doesn’t understand why much of his money is handed out to agents and managers when it’s him that’s writing the songs.

They begin to grow a firm fan-base and also begin to attract many female fans, and Ray meets Rasa after a particularly rollicking concert. As the musical continues, Ray struggles to cope in a world where money is the precedent and Dave spirals rapidly out of control, drinking a lot and trashing hotels. Rasa becomes pregnant and the pair marry, but their relationship is jeopardised by Ray Davies’ wayward mind. Soon, the band go from creating a unique sound to arguing through riotous gigs, with Dave Davies and Pete Quaife regularly falling out.

Soon, Ray and Rasa’s relationship is in tatters, Ray and Dave have completely fallen out and Pete wants to leave the band. Woven throughout the musical are The Kinks’ hit songs, as well as the Davies’ rivalry, management issues, Ray’s marriage to Rasa and their being banned from America due to a dispute with the musicians’ union. Based on the real story of The Kinks, Sunny Afternoon discovers how the band rose to, and almost fell from, fame.

Songs

Act I

  • “You Still Want Me” – Robert Wace and The Ravens
  • “I Gotta Move/You Really Got Me” – Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Company
  • “Just Can’t Go to Sleep” – Ray and Dave
  • “Denmark Street” – Robert, Greenville Collins, Eddie Kassner, Larry Page and Company
  • “A Well Respected Man” – Ray, Robert and Greenville
  • “Dead End Street” – Mr and Mrs Davies and Company
  • “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” – Ray, Dave and Company
  • “You Really Got Me”- The Kinks
  • “(This Time Tomorrow into) Set Me Free” – The Kinks
  • “Till the End of the Day” – Dave and Company
  • “This Strange Effect” – Ray and Rasa
  • “Stop Your Sobbing” – Ray and Company
  • “This is Where I Belong” – Ray and Dave
  • “Where Have All the Good Times Gone/All Day and All of the Night” – The Kinks

Act II

  • “This Time Tomorrow” – Ray and Company
  • “Maximum Consumption” – Ray
  • “Sitting in My Hotel” – Ray
  • “I Go to Sleep” – Rasa
  • “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” – The Kinks
  • “Too Much on My Mind/Tired of Waiting for You” – Ray, Rasa and Company
  • “The Moneygoround” – Ray, Dave and Mick Avory
  • “Sunny Afternoon” – Ray and Company
  • “A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy” – Ray, Pete Quaife, Dave, Mick, Rasa and Company
  • “Days” – Robert, Greenville, Dave, Ray and Mick
  • “A Long Way from Home” – Ray and Dave
  • “Waterloo Sunset” – Ray and Company
  • “Lola” – Ray, Dave and Company
Awards

2015 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (John Dagleish), Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (George Maguire), Outstanding Achievement in Music (Ray Davies)

Motown the Musical

Motown the Musical is the Broadway and West End musical that has enjoyed rave audience reviews since first opening in 2013. Documenting Berry Gordy’s founding of the Motown sound, the musical includes hit songs from artists such as Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5 and Marvin Gaye amongst many others. As the Motown sound hits the streets, Gordy’s artists make it big, ensuring that Motown will remain famous forever. Featuring over 50 songs, from full-length to short snippets, Motown the Musical includes hits such as “ABC”, “War”, “I’ll Be There” and “Dancing in the Street” as well as many others.

Motown_Playbill

Motown artists

Motown artists

Berry Gordy, Jr.

Berry Gordy's founding of the Motown movement

Kevin McCollum and Doug Morris

Charles Randolph-Wright

Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams

Productions
Motown_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - Opened 14 Apr 2013, closed 18 Jan 2015, 738 performances

Cast: Brandon Victor Dixon (Berry Gordy), Valisia LeKae (Diana Ross), Charl Brown (Smokey Robinson), Bryan Terrell Clark (Marvin Gaye)

Motown_London

Original London Production

Shaftesbury Theatre - Opened 11 Feb 2016, closed 28 Oct 2017

Cast: Cedric Neal (Berry Gordy), Lucy St. Louis (Diana Ross), Charl Brown (Smokey Robinson), Sifiso Mazibuko (Marvin Gaye) Replacements: Obioma Ugoala (Smokey Robinson)

Motown_US-Tour

Broadway Revival (2016)

Nederlander Theatre - Opened 12 Jul 2016, closed 31 Jul 2016

Cast: Chester Gregory (Berry Gordy), Allison Semmes (Diana Ross), Jesse Nagar (Smokey Robinson), Jarran Muse (Marvin Gaye)

Motown_Poster

US Tour (2017)

US Tour - Opened 17 Jan 2017, closed 20 Aug 2017

Cast: Chester Gregory (Berry Gordy), Allison Semmes (Diana Ross), Jesse Nagar (Smokey Robinson), Jarran Muse (Marvin Gaye)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Featuring an abundance of smash-hit songs from the Motown era, Motown the Musical charts Berry Gordy’s founding of the musical movement.

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Motown the Musical documents the real story of the Motown sound that hit the airwaves in 1959, changing music culture forever. Following the life of Berry Gordy, credited as the founder of Motown, the musical charts his journey from boxer to music mogul, discovering talents such as Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5 and Smokey Robinson.

Opening in 1983 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, stars are gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Motown with performances of popular songs founded in the era. Quickly, the musical rewinds to see a very young Berry Gordy watching his neighbours dancing in the streets of Detroit. In 1957, Gordy forms his own record label, alongside Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson. As the musical continues, Gordy gradually begins to discover The Supremes and Diana Ross, with whom he begins a tumultuous relationship.

Towards the end of the musical, Gordy begins to falter as Motown becomes a second-class sound after the emerging era of pop. Struggling to get his records played at local record stations, Gordy also finds that his popular acts such as Diana Ross are straining to break free from his management. When Motown begins to fall apart, Gordy does all he can to keep it together.

Popular numbers from artists such as The Miracles, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson, Diana Ross and The Temptations feature throughout the musical, as well as original songs created specifically for a the production.

Songs

Motown the Musical contains over 50 snippets of Motown songs, listed below in alphabetical order:

  • “ABC” – The Jackson 5
  • “A Breathtaking Guy” – The Supremes
  • “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Diana Ross
  • “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” – The Temptations
  • “Baby I Need Your Loving” – The Four Tops
  • “Ball of Confusion” – The Temptations
  • “Brick House” – The Commodores
  • “Buttered Popcorn” – Diana Ross and the Supremes
  • “Bye Bye Baby/Two Lovers” – Mary Wells
  • “Can I Close the Door” – Original Song
  • “Cruisin’” – Smokey Robinson
  • “Dancing in the Street” – Martha and the Vandellas
  • “Do You Love Me” – The Contours
  • “Get Ready” – The Temptations
  • “Give It to Me Baby” – Rick James
  • “Good Morning Heartache” – Diana Ross
  • “Got a Job” – The Miracles
  • “Happy Birthday” – Stevie Wonder
  • “Hey Joe (Black Like Me)” – Original Song
  • “I Can’t Get Next to You” – The Temptations
  • “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” – The Four Tops
  • “I Got the Feeling” – The Four Tops
  • “I Hear a Symphony” – The Supremes
  • “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye
  • “(I Know) I’m Losing You” – The Temptations
  • “I Want You Back” – The Jackson 5
  • “I’ll Be There” – The Jackson 5
  • “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” – Marvin Gaye
  • “It’s What’s in the Grooves That Counts” – Original Song
  • “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” – Teena Marie
  • “Lonely Teardrops” – Jackie Wilson
  • “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone” – Diana Ross and the Supremes
  • “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” – Marvin Gaye
  • “Money (That’s What I Want)” – Barrett Strong
  • “My Girl” – The Temptations
  • “My Guy” – Mary Wells
  • “My Mama Done Told Me” – The Miracles
  • “Please Mr Postman” – The Marvelettes
  • “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” – Diana Ross
  • “Reach Out I’ll Be There” – The Jackson 5
  • “Reet Petite” – Jackie Wilson
  • “Remember Me” – Diana Ross
  • “Shop Around” – The Miracles
  • “Shotgun” – Jr. Walker and the All Stars
  • “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” – Stevie Wonder
  • “Square Biz” – Teena Marie
  • “Stop! In the Name of Love” – The Supremes
  • “Stubborn Kind of Fellow” – Marvin Gaye
  • “Super Freak” – Rick James
  • “The Happening” – Diana Ross and the Supremes”
  • “The Love You Save” – The Jackson 5
  • “To Be Loved” – Marvin Gaye
  • “War” – Edwin Starr
  • “What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye
  • “Where Did Our Love Go” – The Supremes
  • “Who’s Lovin’ You” – The Miracles
  • “You’re All I Need to Get By” – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
  • “You’re Nobody til Somebody Loves You” – Diana Ross and the Supremes
  • “You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me” – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Awards

2013 Tony Awards: Nominated for four Tony Awards

Matilda the Musical

Matilda the Musical is the Olivier and Tony Award-winning musical that began its life in Stratford-Upon-Avon as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s season. With award-winning music and lyrics by comedienne Tim Minchin and an award-winning book by Dennis Kelly, Matilda is one of the West End’s most successful musicals. With an abundance of now memorable songs including “Naughty”, “Quiet” and “Revolting Children”, the musical has since proved a smash-hit in Australia, winning a record-breaking number of awards. Based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book of the same name, Matilda the Musical follows five year-old Matilda, who discovers that she can do very strange things with her mind!

Matilda_Playbill

Tim Minchin

Tim Minchin

Dennis Kelly

Roald Dahl's children's book

Robin Swicord and Nicholas Kazan

Royal Shakespeare Company

Matthew Warchus

Peter Darling

Productions
Matilda_London

Original London Production

Cambridge Theatre - Opened 24 Nov 2011, closed 28 May 2017

Cast: Cleo Demetriou, Eleanor Worthington Cox, Sophia Kiely, Kerry Ingram (Matilda Wormwood), Bertie Carvel (Miss Trunchbull), Lauren Ward (Miss Honey), Paul Kaye (Mr Wormwood), Josie Walker (Mrs Wormwood), Peter Howe (Michael Wormwood), Melanie La Barrie (Mrs Phelps), Michael Rouse (Rudolpho), Matthew Malthouse (The Escapologist), Emily Shaw (The Acrobat) Replacements: David Leonard, Alex Gaumond, Craige Els (Miss Trunchbull), Haley Flaherty, Lara Denning, Miria Parvin (Miss Honey), Steve Furst, James Clyde, Michael Begley (Mr Wormwood), Annette McLaughlin, Kay Murphy, Rebecca Thornhill (Mrs Wormwood)

Matilda_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Shubert Theatre - Opened 11 Apr 2013, closed 1 Jan 2017

Cast: Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro (Matilda Wormwood), Bertie Carvel (Miss Trunchbull), Lauren Ward (Miss Honey), Gabriel Ebert (Mr Wormwood), Leslie Margherita (Mrs Wormwood), Taylor Trensch (Michael Wormwood), Karen Aldridge (Mrs Phelps), Phillip Spaeth (Rudolpho), Ben Thompson (The Escapologist), Samantha Sturm (The Acrobat) Replacements: Craig Bierko, Chris Hoch, Ben Thompson, Christopher Sieber (Miss Trunchbull), Jill Paice, Alison Luff, Allison Case (Miss Honey), Matt Harrington, Rick Holmes (Mr Wormwood), Amy Spanger (Mrs Wormwood)

Matilda_Tour

US Tour (2015)

US Tour - Opened 7 Jun 2015, closed 12 Feb 2017

Cast: Gabby Gutierrez, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Mabel Tyler (Matilda Wormwood), Bryce Ryness (Miss Trunchbull), Jennifer Blood (Miss Honey), Quinn Mattfeld (Mr Wormwood), Cassie Silva (Mrs Wormwood), Danny Tieger (Michael Wormwood), Ora Jones (Mrs Phelps), Jaquez Andres Sims (Rudolpho), Justin Packard (The Escapologist), Wesley Fauncher (The Acrobat) Replacements: David Abeles (Miss Trunchbull)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Tim Minchin adapts Roald Dahl’s well-known story of a very small girl with a very big mind.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Matilda the Musical opens at a children’s party, with the children and their parents obsessing over the miracles that they possess. Meanwhile, Mrs Wormwood is rushed to hospital before she jets off to Spain to compete in ballroom dancing. Thinking she is fat, she asks the doctor what is wrong and he tells her that she is about to have a baby. Giving birth, both Mrs Wormwood and Mr Wormwood make it very clear that the child is not wanted, especially because she’s a girl.

Five years later, Matilda is super intelligent, an avid book reader and lives unhappily with her parents and brother. The Wormwoods frequently shout at her and Matilda often questions their morality. When Mr Wormwood attempts to sell some very used cars at a very disproportionate price, she retaliates by adding her mother’s peroxide to her father’s hair gel, leaving Mr Wormwood with luminescent green hair. Matilda regularly attends the library and talks to Mrs Phelps, telling her stories about an Acrobat and Escapologist.

Matilda attends her first day of school, and the older children warn everyone that school is not what it seems. Matilda and her friends meet Miss Honey, who is in awe of Matilda’s intelligence and goes to the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, to tell her that she thinks Matilda should be in the top class. Upon entering, Miss Trunchbull tells her how much she hates children, dismissing Miss Honey’s request by lecturing her on the importance of rules.

Back at home, Mr Wormwood blames his loss of sale on Matilda and rips up one of her library books, causing her to superglue his hat. At school, Matilda and her friends learn of Miss Trunchbull’s scary punishments, including the chokey. After being accused of pouring treacle on Miss Trunchbull’s chair, Nigel is scared and hides from her. Matilda sticks up for him, telling Miss Trunchbull that Nigel suffers from narcolepsy and has been asleep for an hour, so it can’t have been him. Miss Trunchbull takes her anger out on young Amanda, spinning her by her pigtails and hammer-throwing her across the field.

Miss Honey visits the Wormwood family to inform them that Matilda is very talented. Mrs Wormwood introduces her to her dance partner, Rudolpho, and tells her that she needs to lighten up. Miss Honey realises that the Wormwood’s do not care about their daughter. Meanwhile, Matilda returns to the library to tell Mrs Phelps more about the Acrobat and Escapologist. The Acrobat’s sister is a hammer-throwing champion who hates children and forces the acrobat to perform, even though she is pregnant. Matilda stops the story there. Returning to school, Bruce Bogtrotter has stolen a slice of Miss Trunchbull’s cake and she is out for blood. Punishing him by forcing him to eat the whole cake, the entire student body cheers him on, including Miss Honey. He eats the whole cake, enraging Miss Trunchbull, who drags him away to the chokey.

Act II begins with Mr Wormwood telling the audience of the dangers of reading and Matilda’s friend Lavender letting the audience know that she plans to put a newt in Miss Trunchbull’s water jug. The schoolchildren gather together and dream of what life will be like when they are grown-ups. Matilda returns to the library to tell Mrs Phelps more of her story. The Acrobat performs the trick, despite her pregnancy, and injures herself, staying awake just long enough to give birth to their child. The Escapologist invites the Acrobat’s sister to move in and help him look after his daughter, but she is very cruel to the little girl. Matilda realises that she does not know how the story ends and promises to return to Mrs Phelps with more.

When Mr Wormwood returns from work, pleased to have sold his worn-out cars to Russian dealers, Matilda scolds him for his deceit and he locks her in her bedroom. Matilda continues her story of the Acrobat and Escapologist, revealing that one night the Escapologist returns home to find his daughter weeping at the extent of the abuse. He promises that he will protect her, but the next morning he is gone.

Back at school, Miss Trunchbull subjects the children to a gruelling lesson of physical education, in an attempt to discover who is rebelling against her. When she finds the newt that Lavender placed in the jug, she accuses Eric and begins to punish him. Matilda colds Miss Trunchbull, who begins to shout at her and Matilda soon discovers that she can move objects with her mind, tipping the water jug over and onto Miss Trunchbull. Terrified of the newt, Miss Trunchbull leaves and Miss Honey sends the children home. After Matilda shows Miss Honey her powers, Miss Honey invites her over for tea.

At Miss Honey’s small and humble home, she tells Matilda of her childhood and the abusive aunt who looked after her when her parents died. As she tells the story, she produces a scarf that Matilda recognises from her own tales of the Acrobat and the Escapologist. She realises that her story is in fact true, and is the story of Miss Honey’s childhood, with the wicked aunt being Miss Trunchbull. Soon, she realises that Miss Trunchbull must have killed Magnus, Miss Honey’s father, out of fear of what he might do.

Matilda returns to school, and Miss Trunchbull conducts a spelling test, informing the children that if they misspell a word, they will be sent to the chokey. She issues made-up words to ensure that they will spell them wrong. All the children begin to misspell words, telling her that she can’t take them all to the chokey. Matilda begins to use her powers to write on the blackboard, writing that it is the ghost of Magnus returning and demanding that she gives Miss Honey back her house. Miss Trunchbull runs away, never to be heard of again. A few days later, the will of Miss Honey’s parents is found, leaving all of their money to her. Miss Honey becomes headmistress and asks the Wormwoods if Matilda can live with her.

Songs

Act I

  • “Overture” – Orchestra
  • “Miracle” – Children, Entertainer, Doctor, Mrs Wormwood, Mr Wormwood and Matilda
  • “Naughty” – Matilda
  • “School Song” – Children and Company
  • “Pathetic” – Miss Honey
  • “The Hammer” – Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey and Children
  • “Loud” – Mrs Wormwood, Rudolpho and Company
  • “This Little Girl” – Miss Honey
  • “Bruce” – Children

Act II

  • “Telly” – Mr Wormwood, Michael
  • “Entr’acte – Orchestra
  • “When I Grow Up” – Children, Miss Honey, Matilda and Company
  • “I’m Here” – Matilda and Escapologist
  • “The Smell of Rebellion” – Miss Trunchbull and Children
  • “Quiet” – Matilda
  • “My House” – Miss Honey, Escapologist
  • “Revolting Children” – Children and Company
  • “When I Grow Up (Reprise)” – Company
Awards

2014 WhatsOnStage Awards: Best West End Show

2013 Tony Awards: Best Book of a Musical (Dennis Kelly), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Gabriel Ebert), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rob Howell), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Hugh Vanstone), Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre (Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro)

2013 Outer Critics’ Circle Awards: Outstanding Book of a Musical, Outstanding Set Design (Rob Howell)

2013 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Dennis Kelly), Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Bertie Carvel), Outstanding Lyrics (Tim Minchin), Outstanding Set Design (Rob Howell)

2013 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards: Best Musical

2013 Theatre World Awards: Theatre World Award (Bertie Carvel)

2012 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Bertie Carvel), Best Actress in a Musical (Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram, Eleanor Worthington Cox, Sophia Kiely), Best Director (Matthew Warchus), Best Theatre Choreographer (Peter Darling), Best Set Design (Rob Howell), Best Sound Design (Simon Baker)

2012 WhatsOnStage Awards: Best New Musical, London Newcomer of the Year (Tim Minchin), Best Choreographer (Peter Darling), Best Set Designer (Rob Howell)

2011 Evening Standard Awards: Best Musical

2011 Theatre Awards UK: Best Musical, Best Performance (Bertie Carvel)

2011 Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards: Best Musical

Licensing

UK: Musical Theatre International

USA: Musical Theatre International

Murder Ballad

Murder Ballad is the startling Off Broadway musical that makes its way to London’s West End. Written and conceived by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash, Murder Ballad is the dark rock musical that documents a deadly love triangle in the heart of New York. Narrated by a bartender, Murder Ballad follows Sara as she struggles to choose between her racy relationship with the devilish Tom and her reliable husband Michael. When the illicit affair is discovered, it is certain that blood must be spilled. But whose? Making its West End premiere at London’s Arts Theatre, the original cast included Kerry Ellis, Ramin Karimloo, Norman Bowman and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt.

Murder-Ballad_Playbill

Juliana Nash

Juliana Nash, Julia Jordan

Julia Jordan

Daniel Hinchcliffe and Johnny Wood for Soundcheck Productions

Sam Yates

Productions
Murder-Ballad_London

Original London Production

Arts Theatre - Opened 30 Sep 2016, closed 29 Oct 2016

Cast: Kerry Ellis (Sara), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Narrator), Ramin Karimloo (Tom), Norman Bowman (Michael)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash’s passionate, treacherous musical Murder Ballad follows a doomed love triangle with a deadly climax.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Set in the dark streets of New York, Murder Ballad centres on an illicit love triangle that leaves one lover much worse off than the others. Following Sara, the musical focuses on her love-struck relationship with edgy ex-boyfriend Tom and safe, reliable husband, Michael. Narrated by a darkly sexy bartender, she documents Sara’s torrid affair with the dangerous Tom.

Accompanied by a range of rock songs, the Narrator takes the audience between Sara’s passionate relationships with Tom, to a more intimate, love-filled lust after quiet poet Michael. An actor and bartender, Tom is much more gritty and she is instantly drawn back to him. When the relationship ultimately splits, Sara finds herself back in the safe arms of Michael.

But Sara quickly begins to long for the danger her old life brought and begins to struggle with her downtown past and uptown future. Is it worth risking everything for the one that got away? Struggling to decide between the two men, the musical leads to a treacherous, murderous and bloody climax.

Songs

Act I

  • “Murder Ballad” – Narrator, Sara, Michael and Tom
  • “Narrator 1” – Narrator, Sara and Tom
  • “I Love NY” – Sara and Tom
  • “Narrator 2” – Narrator
  • “Little by Little” – Michael and Sara
  • “Troubled Mind/Promises” – Michael and Sara
  • “Narrator 3” – Narrator
  • “Turning into Beautiful” – Michael and Sara
  • “Crying Scene Theme” – Narrator
  • “I Love NY (Reprise 1)/Narrator 4” – Tom and Narrator
  • “Prattle 1/Narrator 5” – Michael, Sara and Narrator
  • “Coffee’s On” – Sara and Narrator
  • “Prattle 2” – Michael and Sara
  • “Narrator 6” – Narrator
  • “Sara” – Tom, Narrator and Sara
  • “Narrator 7” – Narrator
  • “Mouth Tattoo” – Sara, Tom and Narrator
  • “Narrator 8” – Narrator, Sara and Tom
  • “Sugar Cubes and Rock Salt” – Michael
  • “Prattle 3” – Michael, Sara and Tom
  • “My Name” – Tom and Sara
  • “The Crying Scene” – Narrator
  • “Coffee’s On (Reprise)” – Michael, Sara and Tom
  • “Built for Longing” – Sara, Michael, Tom and Narrator
  • “Answer Me” – Sara, Tom and Michael
  • “You Belong to Me” – Tom and Sara
  • “Narrator 9” – Narrator
  • “Troubled Mind (Reprise)” – Sara and Michael
  • “I Love NY (Reprise 2)” – Tom and Narrator
  • “Prattle 4” – Sara and Michael
  • “I’ll Be There” – Tom and Narrator
  • “Prattle 5” – Michael, Tom and Sara
  • “Little by Little (Reprise)” – Michael and Sara
  • “Narrator 10/You Belong to Me (Reprise)” – Sara, Narrator, Michael and Tom
  • “Crying Scene (Reprise)” – Narrattor
  • “Narrator 11” – Narrator
  • “Walk Away/Promises (Reprise)” – Sara and Michael
  • “Clubs and Diamonds/Prattle 6” – Narrator and Sara
  • “Finale” – Narrator, Michael, Sara and Tom
Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

Waitress

Waitress is the smash-hit, new Broadway musical, written by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles. Based on the 2007 film of the same name, Waitress follows Jenna, who works in a diner and bakes pies that reflect her life and emotions. Featuring a folk-inspired score that has been praised by audiences and critics alike, Waitress has taken Broadway by storm. With songs such as “What’s Inside”, “Bad Idea” and “She Used to Be Mine”, the musical stars Jessie Mueller in the lead role, after she previously starred as Carole King in Beautiful. When Jenna realises that she is pregnant with her controlling husband’s baby, she quickly realises that she needs a way out. Meeting her new physician, Dr Pomatter, Jenna begins to think that life might just be better than it seems.

Waitress_Playbill

Sara Bareilles

Sara Bareilles

Jessie Nelson

Adrienne Shelly's 2007 film

Adrienne Shelly

Barry and Fran Weissler, Norton and Elayne Herrick

Diane Paulus

Lorin Latarro

Productions
Waitress_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Brooks Atkinson Theatre - Opened 24 Apr 2016, closed 11 Jun 2017

Cast: Jessie Mueller (Jenna Hunterson), Drew Gehling (Dr Jim Pomatter), Nick Cordero (Earl Hunterson), Keala Settle (Becky), Kimiko Glenn (Dawn), Dakin Matthews (Joe), Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), Eric Anderson (Cal), Claire Keane and McKenna Keane (Lulu) Replacements: Jenna Ushkowitz (Dawn)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Sara Bareilles’ colourful new musical Waitress, based on the 2007 film of the same name, makes a smash-hit on Broadway.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Based on Adrienne Shelly’s 2007 film of the same name, Waitress follows Jenna, a waitress working in Joe’s Pie Diner in southern America. Trapped in a controlling marriage with husband Earl, she lives her life baking and selling pies with unusual titles. Jenna dreams of running away from her marriage, slowly gathering up the money to do so. Pinning her hopes of winning a large sum on the annual pie contest in a nearby town, she begins to dream big. Quickly her dreams are dashed when she discovers that she is pregnant with her husband’s baby.

With Jenna’s only friends being co-waitresses Becky, Dawn and regular customer Joe, her life changes when she meets her new physician Dr Jim Pomatter. Dr Pomatter has moved to the new town to accommodate his wife, who is completing her residency at the local hospital. Instantly, the pair are attracted to each other, and over the course of pre-natal appointments, Jenna and Dr Pomatter develop an attraction towards each other. On an unlikely evening, Jenna initiates an affair. When she is given a journal, Jenna begins to document her life and begins to reveal her thoughts through baking some increasingly peculiarly-named pies.

Meanwhile, after some persuasion, her fellow waitresses decide to embark upon romance themselves. Dawn meets Ogie, who both become so smitten with each other that they almost immediately vow eternal devotion. And whilst Becky’s marriage is not entirely fulfilling, due to her much older husband being very ill, her endless disputes with Joe’s Diner’s manager Cal lead to a more interesting romance of her own.

After Jenna gives birth to her baby girl, she gains the courage to leave her husband and begins to believe in herself a bit more. When leaving the hospital, Dr Pomatter chases after her, but she decides to end that too. She begins to serve brightly-coloured pies to her customers at a new diner where she works.

Songs

Act I

  • “What’s Inside” – Jenna and Company
  • “Opening Up” – Jenna, Becky, Dawn, Cal and Company
  • “The Negative” – Jenna, Becky and Dawn
  • “What Baking Can Do” – Jenna
  • “Club Knocked Up” – Jenna and Company
  • “Pomatter Pie” – The Waitress Band
  • “When He Sees Me” – Dawn and Company
  • “It Only Takes a Taste” – Dr Pomatter and Jenna
  • “You Will Still Be Mine” – Earl and Jenna
  • “A Soft Place to Land” – Jenna, Becky and Dawn
  • “Never Ever Getting Rid of Me” – Ogie and Company
  • “Bad Idea” – Jenna, Dr Pomatter and Company

Act II

  • “I Didn’t Plan It” – Becky
  • “Bad Idea (Reprise)” – Company
  • “You Matter to Me” – Dr Pomatter and Jenna
  • “I Love You Like a Table” – Ogie, Dawn and Company
  • “Take It From an Old Man” – Joe and Company
  • “Dear Baby” – Jenna
  • “She Used to Be Mine” – Jenna
  • “Contraction Ballet” – Jenna and Company
  • “Everything Changes” – Jenna and Company
  • “Opening Up (Finale)” – Company
Awards

2016 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Christopher Fitzgerald)

2016 Outer Critics’ Circle Awards: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Christopher Fitzgerald)

Hamilton

Hamilton is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, written and composed by the legendary Lin-Manuel Miranda, who starred as the title role for the show’s opening year. Inspired by rap and hip-hop, Hamilton follows the story of America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton, documenting his tumultuous relationship with Eliza Schuyler and his untimely death at the hands of Aaron Burr. Based on Ron Chernow’s book ‘Alexander Hamilton’, Miranda uses his real life story with a pinch of dramatic license to create one of Broadway’s biggest musicals. Unlike standard shows, Hamilton is composed of rap, ballads, hip-hop and musical theatre to create a smash-hit, record-breaking production.

Hamilton_Playbill

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Ron Chernow's novel 'Alexander Hamilton'

Jeffrey Seller, The Public Theater, Sander Jacobs and Jill Furman

Thomas Kail

Andy Blankenbuehler

Productions
Hamilton_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Richard Rodgers Theatre - Opened 6 Aug 2015, closed 21 May 2017

Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Leslie Odom, Jr (Aaron Burr), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Schuyler), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Jonathan Groff (King George III), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison) Replacements: Javier Munoz (Hamilton), Lexi Lawson (Eliza), Rory O’Malley (King George), Brandon Victor Dixon (Burr), Mandy Gonzalez (Angelica)

Hamilton_Tour

US Tour (2017)

US Tour - Opened 2 Mar 2017, closed 29 Nov 2018

Cast: Miguel Cervantes (Alexander Hamilton), Joshua Henry (Aaron Burr), Ari Asfar (Eliza Schuyler), Karen Olivo (Angelica Schuyler), Chris Lee (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Jonathan Kirkland (George Washington), Alexander Gemignani (King George III), Samantha Marie Ware (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Jose Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Wallace Smith (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash-hit rap and hip-hop inspired Broadway musical Hamilton follows the life of American founding father.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Based on the real life of America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton, the musical opens with the company giving an introduction to Hamilton’s early life as an orphan in the Caribbean. In 1776, Hamilton seeks out Aaron Burr but rebuffs his philosophy, instead joining the company of three revolutionaries: John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette and Hercules Mulligan. Impressing them with his speech skills, the quartet begin dreaming of their cause.

Meanwhile, the Schuyler sisters roam the streets of New York as the spirit of revolution builds in the air. A message arrives from King George in England, reminding them that he is willing and able to fight for the cause of the colonists. When the revolution begins, Hamilton, Burr and their friends join the army, who end up retreating from New York City. George Washington realises he needs help and enlists Hamilton as his right hand man, despite Hamilton wanting to fight on the front lines.

In 1780, the men attend a ball, where Eliza Schuyler instantly falls in love with Hamilton, as does Angelica. Angelica swallows her feelings for the sake of her younger sister, and Eliza and Hamilton soon marry. Burr privately admits to Hamilton that he’s having an affair with the wife of a British officer and Hamilton advises him to take action. Burr chooses to wait and see what his life has in store for him.

As revolution is rife, Hamilton asks Washington to give him command, which is given to Charles Lee instead. This proves catastrophic at the Battle of Monmouth, where Lee orders a retreat. Lafayette is promoted to replace Lee, which causes him to spread rumours about Washington. Hamilton is offended and Laurens offers to duel Lee for him. Washington finds out that Lee has been injured and orders Hamilton to return home to Eliza, who tells him that she is pregnant with his child. Lafayette convinces France to join the American cause, and the war begins to play in their favour. They realise that they need Hamilton and reluctantly order him back to cut off the British navy at Yorktown.

After days of fighting, the British surrender at Yorktown, and King George asks how the rebels expect to successfully govern their people. Soon, Hamilton’s son Philip is born and Burr’s daughter, Theodosia, is also born. Hamilton and Burr return to New York to pursue careers as lawyers and Burr becomes increasingly annoyed by Hamilton’s constant success. When Hamilton is chosen as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Burr refuses to assist him. Hamilton is soon chosen to be Treasury Secretary for the newly appointed President Washington.

In 1789, Thomas Jefferson returns to the US as Secretary of State. Madison asks for Jefferson to help him stop Hamilton’s financial plan, which Madison believes will give the government too much control. Washington pulls Hamilton aside to force him to figure out a compromise. When he returns home, Angelica advises Hamilton to convince Jefferson that his plan is a good idea. Angelica and Eliza ask him to accompany them on a vacation, but he refuses, saying he needs to work.

When alone, Hamilton is visited by Maria Reynolds, who seduces him and they begin an affair. Her husband soon finds out and begins to blackmail Hamilton, who continues the affair. Hamilton discusses his financial plans with Jefferson and Madison, resulting in the Compromise of 1790, which moved the US capital from New York to Washington D.C. Burr is envious of Hamilton’s power and wishes he had the same. Burr switches political parties and beats Eliza’s father in a race for his seat in the Senate, causing Hamilton and Burr to fall out. Burr, Jefferson and Madison become irritated that Washington continues to back Hamilton, and they look for a way to damage Hamilton’s reputation.

Washington informs Hamilton that Jefferson has resigned to run for president, and he will be stepping down in the role. King George receives the news and gets ready for the US to fall under John Adams’ leadership. Adams and Hamilton fall out and destroy their party, whilst Burr, Jefferson and Madison believe that they have discovered Hamilton embezzling government money. In reality, the money comes from his affair with Maria Reynolds and Hamilton tells them of his affair, begging them not to tell anyone. Concerned that they know his secret, Hamilton publishes a public admission about the affair in hopes to save his political legacy. However, his reputation is destroyed and Eliza burns all of their letters, ruining Hamilton’s chance of being redeemed in the future.

After a number of years, Hamilton’s son Philip challenges a man to a duel after hearing him slander his father, but is shot. Philip dies and Hamilton begs for Eliza’s forgiveness. In 1800, Jefferson and Burr are tied in the race for president and Hamilton throws his support behind Jefferson, who ends up winning by a landslide. Burr challenges Hamilton to a duel and shoots him in the chest. Burr laments that even though he survived the duel, he is cursed to be the villain, only to be remembered as the man who killed Alexander Hamilton.

As the musical draws to a close, the company summarise Hamilton’s life, noting that no one has any control over how they will be remembered. Washington, Jefferson and Madison all praise Hamilton’s work. Eliza reveals that she fought to save her husband’s legacy, by opening an orphanage. As she dies, Hamilton shows her everyone that will care for her and protect her legacy, as she did for him.

Songs

Act I

  • “Alexander Hamilton” – Company
  • “Aaron Burr, Sir” – Hamilton, Burr, Laurens, Lafayette and Mulligan
  • “My Shot” – Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan, Burr and Company
  • “The Story of Tonight” – Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan
  • “The Schuyler Sisters” – Angelica, Eliza, Peggy, Burr and Company
  • “Farmer Refuted” – Seabury and Hamilton
  • “You’ll Be Back” – King George
  • “Right Hand Man” – Washington, Hamilton, Burr and Company
  • “A Winter’s Ball” – Burr, Hamilton and Company
  • “Helpless” – Eliza, Hamilton and Company
  • “Satisfied” – Angelica, Eliza, Hamilton and Company
  • “The Story of Tonight (Reprise)” – Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan, Hamilton and Burr
  • “Wait For It” – Burr and Company
  • “Stay Alive” – Hamilton, Washington, Lee, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan, Eliza, Angelica and Company
  • “Ten Duel Commandments” – Laurens, Hamilton, Lee, Burr and Company
  • “Meet Me Inside” – Washington, Hamilton and Company
  • “That Would Be Enough” – Eliza and Hamilton
  • “Guns and Ships” – Lafayette, Burr, Washington and Company
  • “History Has Its Eyes on You” – Washington and Company
  • “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” – Hamilton, Lafayette, Laurens, Mulligan, Washington and Company
  • “What Comes Next?” – King George
  • “Dear Theodosia” – Burr and Hamilton
  • “Non-Stop” – Hamilton, Burr, Eliza, Angelica, Washington and Company

Act II

  • “What’d I Miss” – Jefferson, Burr, Madison, Washington, Hamilton and Company
  • “Cabinet Battle #1” – Jefferson, Hamilton, Washington and Madison
  • “Take a Break” – Eliza, Philip, Hamilton and Angelica
  • “Say No to This” – Hamilton, Maria Reynolds, James Reynolds and Company
  • “The Room Where It Happens” – Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison and Company
  • “Schuyler Defeated” – Philip, Eliza, Hamilton and Burr
  • “Cabinet Battle #2” – Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton and Madison
  • “Washington on Your Side” – Burr, Jefferson and Madison
  • “One Last Time” – Washington, Hamilton and Company
  • “I Know Him” – King George
  • “The Adams Administration” – Burr, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison and Company
  • “We Know” – Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson and Madison
  • “Hurricane” – Hamilton and Company
  • “The Reynolds Pamphlet” – Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Burr, Angelica and Company
  • “Burn” – Eliza
  • “Blow Us All Away” – Philip, Hamilton, Eacker, Dolly, Martha and Company
  • “Stay Alive (Reprise)” – Philip, Hamilton, Eliza, Doctor and Company
  • “It’s Quiet Uptown” – Angelica, Hamilton, Eliza and Company
  • “The Election of 1800” – Jefferson, Madison, Burr, Hamilton and Company
  • “Your Obedient Servant” – Burr and Hamilton
  • “Best of Wives and Best of Women” – Eliza and Hamilton
  • “The World Was Wide Enough” – Burr, Hamilton and Company
  • “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” – Eliza, Washington, Burr, Jefferson, Madison, Angelica, Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan and Company
Awards

2016 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Best Original Score (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Best Actor in a Musical (Leslie Odom, Jr), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Daveed Diggs), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Renee Elise Goldsberry), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Paul Tazewell), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Howell Binkley), Best Direction of a Musical (Thomas Kail), Best Choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler), Best Orchestrations (Alex Lacamoire)

2016 Drama League Awards: Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off Broadway Musical, Distinguished Performance (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2016 Pulitzer Prize: Drama (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2016 Grammy Awards: Best Musical Theater Album

2016 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards: Best Choreographer (Andy Blankenbuehler)

2016 Dramatists Guild of America Awards: Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2016 Edward M. Kennedy Prize: Drama Inspired by American History (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2015 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Renee Elise Goldsberry), Outstanding Director of a Musical (Thomas Kail), Outstanding Music (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding Lyrics (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding Book of a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (Nevin Steinberg), Special Award (Andy Blankenbuehler)

2015 Outer Critics’ Circle Awards: Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding New Score (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

2015 New York Critics’ Circle Awards: Best Musical

2015 Off Broadway Alliance Awards: Best New Musical

2015 Theatre World Awards: Outstanding Debut Performance (Daveed Diggs)

2015 Clarence Derwent Awards: Most Promising Female Performer (Phillipa Soo)

2015 Obie Awards: Best New American Theatre Work (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler, Alex Lacamoire

2015 Lucille Lortle Awards: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Director (Thomas Kail), Outstanding Choreographer (Andy Blankenbuehler), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (Leslie Odom, Jr), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (Phillipa Soo), Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Daveed Diggs), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Renee Elise Goldsberry), Outstanding Costume Design (Paul Tazewell), Outstanding Lighting Design (Howell Binkley), Outstanding Sound Design (Nevin Steinberg)

Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland is the Broadway musical written by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy. Featuring a parade of stars as the Scottish writer J. M. Barrie, including Matthew Morrison and Alfie Boe, Finding Neverland is based on the 2004 film starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. Following the story of J. M. Barrie and his unlikely friendship with Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her sons, the musical documents the inspiration behind his ever-successful play Peter Pan. When Barrie befriends the boys, he begins to write about their adventures. Being particularly inspired by the youngest Llewelyn Davies boy, Peter, his legendary play slowly begins to take form.

Finding-Neverland_Playbill

Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy

Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy

James Graham

Marc Forster's 2004 film starring Johnny Depp

David Magee

Harvey Weinstein

Diane Paulus

Mia Michaels

Productions
Finding-Neverland_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - Opened 15 Apr 2015, closed 21 Aug 2016

Cast: Matthew Morrison (J. M. Barrie), Laura Michelle Kelly (Sylvia Llewelyn Davies), Kelsey Grammar (Charles Frohman/James Hook), Teal Wicks (Mary Barrie), Alex Dreier, Hayden Signoretti and Noah Hinsdale (Michael Llewelyn Davies), Hayden Signoretti, Christopher Paul Richards and Alex Dreier (Jack Llewelyn Davies), Sawyer Nunes, Christopher Paul Richards and Jackson Demott Hill (George Llewelyn Davies), Aidan Gemme, Christopher Paul Richards and Jackson Demott Hill (Peter Llewelyn Davies), Carolee Carmello (Mrs du Maurier), Melanie Moore (Peter Pan), Tyley Ross (Lord Cannan) Replacements: Alfie Boe, Tony Yazbeck (J. M. Barrie), Anthony Warlow, Terrence Mann, Marc Kudisch, Paul Slade Smith (Charles Froham/James Hook), Dana Costello (Mary Barrie), Sandy Duncan, Sally Ann Triplett (Mrs du Maurier)



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

With songs composed by Gary Barlow, Finding Neverland brings the magic of the boy who would never grow up to the stage.

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Based on the 2004 film of the same name, Finding Neverland follows famous Scottish writer J. M. Barrie, his friendship with Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and close relationship with her four sons. After a less than successful opening of his latest play Little Mary, Barrie meets widowed Sylvia and her sons in Kensington Gardens and they all soon develop a strong bond.

M. Barrie proves to be a great friend and father figure to the boys, and his antics with the children quickly begin to inspire him to write a play about boys who never wish to grow up, with youngest son Peter provides particular inspiration. Soon, people begin to question his relationship with Sylvia, although it remains fiercely platonic. His wife Mary divorces him and Sylvia’s mother starts to object at the amount of time Barrie spends with the family.

Sylvia becomes increasingly weak after an illness, but Barrie continues to play with the boys, taking the adventures they experience and turning them into Peter Pan. Presenting his idea to Producer Charles Frohman, Frohman reluctantly agrees to put on the play, despite believing that it will not appeal to his upper-class theatregoers. Barrie takes it on himself to disperse children from a local orphanage throughout the audience, which causes the surrounding adults to delight in the play. Proving a huge success, Peter Llewelyn Davies arrives to watch the show and realises that it is about him and his brothers; George, Michael and Jack.

Too ill to attend the theatre, Barrie puts on a production for Sylvia in her home, gathering the actors, props and musicians in her house. At the end, Peter Pan points to the doors to signify that she should go to Neverland. She takes the hand of her boys and walks into Neverland, implying her death. At Sylvia’s funeral, Barrie discovers that her will reads that he should take care of the Llewelyn Davies boys, which he is overjoyed at. Barrie and Peter form a bond unlike any other.

Songs

Act I

  • “Prologue” – Orchestra
  • “If the World Turned Upside Down” – J. M. Barrie
  • “All of London is Here Tonight” – Frohman, J. M. Barrie, Mary and Ensemble
  • “The Pirates of Kensington” – George, Jack, Peter and Michael
  • “Believe” – J. M. Barrie, Sylvia, Boys and Ensemble
  • “We Own the Night” – Mary, Mrs du Maurier, Lord Cannan, Frohman, Sylvia, J. M. Barrie, Boys and Servants
  • “All That Matters” – Sylvia and Mrs du Maurier
  • “Sylvia’s Lullaby” – Sylvia
  • “Neverland” – J. M. Barrie and Sylvia
  • “Circus of Your Mind” – Frohman, Mary, Mrs du Maurier and Ensemble
  • “Live by the Hook” – James Hook and Ensemble
  • “Stronger” – J. M. Barrie, James Hook and Ensemble

Act II

  • “The World is Upside Down” – J. M. Barrie, Frohman and the Acting Troupe
  • “What You Mean to Me” – J. M. Barrie and Sylvia
  • “Play” – Frohman, Sylvia and the Acting Troupe
  • “We’re All Made of Stars” – George, Jack, Peter and Michael
  • “When Your Feet Don’t Touch the Ground” – J. M. Barrie and Peter
  • “Something About This Night” – Frohman, the Acting Troupe, J. M. Barrie and Peter
  • “Neverland (Reprise)” – J. M. Barrie, Sylvia, Mrs du Maurier, Boys and the Acting Troupe
  • “Finale (When Your Feet Don’t Touch the Ground)” – Mrs du Maurier, J. M. Barrie and Ensemble
Awards

2015 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards: Favourite New Musical, Favourite New Song “Believe”

Licensing

UK: Musical Theatre International

USA: Musical Theatre International

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is the Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical that has been entertaining audiences since 2014. A smash-hit both on Broadway and in the West End, Beautiful has been commended by Carole King herself. Featuring some of her best-known songs such as “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Beautiful” and “I Feel the Earth Move”, the musical continues in London to rave reviews and packed out audiences. Following the real life of Carole King, the show documents her development from songwriter to singer, as well as her tumultuous relationship with collaborator and husband Gerry Goffin.

Beautiful_Playbill

Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann

Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann

Douglas McGrath

The real life of Carole King and her music

Paul Blake, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Jeffrey A. Sine, Richard A. Smith, Mike Bosner, Jeremiah J. Harris

Marc Bruni

Josh Prince

Productions
beautiful-tour

Original Broadway Production

Stephen Sondheim Theatre - Opened 12 Jan 2014, closed 8 Jan 2017

Cast: Jessie Mueller (Carole King), Jake Epstein (Gerry Goffin), Anika Larsen (Cynthia Weil), Jarrod Spector (Barry Mann), Jeb Brown (Don Kirshner), Liz Larsen (Genie Klein), Rebecca LaChance (Betty), Kevin Duda (Neil Sedaka/Bobby Hatfield/Lou Adler), Rashidra Scott (Janelle Woods), Ashley Blanchett (Little Eva), Carly Hughes (Lucille), Sara King (Marilyn Wald), Josh Davis (Bill Medley/Nick), Alysha Deslorieux (“Uptown” Singer) Replacements: Chilina Kennedy (Carole King), Scott J. Campbell (Gerry Goffin), Jessica Keenan Wynn (Cynthia Weil), Ben Jacoby (Barry Mann), Paul Anthony Stewart (Don Kirshner), Tamika Lawrence (Janelle Woods)

Beautiful_London

Original London Production

Aldwych Theatre - Opened 25 Feb 2015, closed 18 Feb 2017

Cast: Katie Brayben (Carole King), Alan Morrissey (Gerry Goffin), Lorna Want (Cynthia Weil), Ian McIntosh (Barry Mann), Gary Trainor (Don Kirshner), Glynis Barber (Genie Klein), Joanna Woodward (Betty), Ed Currie (Neil Sedaka/Bobby Hatfield/Lou Adler), Tanisha L. Spring (Janelle Woods), Lucy St. Louis (Little Eva), Danielle Steers (Lucille), Vivien Carter (Marilyn Wald), Dylan Turner (Bill Medley/Nick), Tanya Nicole-Edwards (“Uptown” Singer) Replacements: Cassidy Janson (Carole King), Diane Keen (Genie Klein)

Beautiful_Broadway

US Tour (2016)

US Tour - Opened 9 Aug 2016, closed 31 Dec 2017

Cast: Abby Mueller (Carole King), Liam Tobin (Gerry Goffin), Becky Gulsvig (Cynthia Weil), Ben Fankhauser (Barry Mann), Curt Bouril (Don Kirshner), Suzanne Grodner (Genie Klein)



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Smash-hit musical follows the life and times of legendary artist Carole King, including some of her well-known hits.

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Beautiful opens on stage at Carole King’s legendary Carnegie Hall concert in 1971, with Carole singing “So Far Away”. The musical then quickly rewinds to 1958 and to a 16-year-old Carole telling her mother, Genie, that she wants to become a songwriter. Genie is opposed to her daughter’s desires, but Carole goes ahead with her plans to try and sell a song to music publisher Don Kirshner. At 1650 Broadway, she sings her new song “It Might As Well Rain Until September”, and Don says he will take it and hopes she has others.

At Queen’s College, Carole meets lyricist Gerry Goffin, and together the pair begin to collaborate both musically and romantically, which reaps the rewards for both of them. When Don asks to hear their new song, Carole confesses to Gerry that she is pregnant and Gerry asks her to marry him. After this, their new song “Some Kind of Wonderful” takes on a whole new meaning, and The Drifters record a hit.

Carole and Gerry get an office at 1650 Broadway, where Carole meets lyricist Cynthia Weil, who is looking for a composer. Whilst Gerry and Carole practice “Take Good Care of My Baby”, composer Barry Mann enters, meets Cynthia and the pair begin their own collaboration. As they begin to work, sparks fly and Don asks both of the couples to present him with a song for The Shirelles. Carole and Gerry present “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and Cynthia and Barry perform “He’s Sure the Boy I Love”. Don chooses the former and the song rockets to the top of the charts. Soon, the couples are firing out an amazing selection of songs, despite being quite competitive. When Gerry and Carole tape a TV special of their new song with Janelle Woods, Gerry confesses that he is restless in the pair’s marriage and wants to sleep with Janelle. Not wanting to lie about it, he leaves Carole stunned and she moves to sing Janelle’s song.

Act II begins with Carole in a recording studio, performing a demo of “Chains”, whilst Gerry is away with Janelle. Nick, a guitarist, asks Carole to come and sing for him, but she declines as she does not want to be a singer. Carole talks to Cynthia about Gerry, as she is also having problems with Barry and Carole decides to split from Gerry. After their meeting, Gerry appears and has a breakdown which sends him to hospital. He tells Carole he will end the affair with Janelle, and Carole suggests they make a new start in the suburbs.

Don, Barry and Cynthia arrive to visit the couple and play them their new song, which makes Gerry realise that he needs to go back to the city. Once he has gone, Barry and Cynthia reveal that they have seen him with singer Marilyn Wald. Carole goes to Marilyn’s house and Gerry is there. She makes the decision to end her marriage. Soon, Carole begins to sing and decides to move to Los Angeles to pursue a new career, leaving her friends behind.

In Los Angeles, she records her legendary album “Tapestry”, including “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, which she originally wrote with Gerry. The album is a smash-hit and the action flashes forward to Carole King’s Carnegie Hall concert. Gerry knocks on the door with an apology for the way he treated her and wishes her well. Carole sits at the piano and performs “Beautiful”.

Songs

Act I

  • “Overture” – Orchestra
  • “So Far Away” – Carole
  • “Oh! Carol” – Neil Sedaka
  • “1650 Broadway Medley” – Ensemble
  • “It Might as Well Rain Until September” – Carole
  • “Be-Bop-A-Lula” – Ensemble
  • “Some Kind of Wonderful” – Carole, Gerry and The Drifters
  • “Happy Days Are Here Again” – Cynthia Weil
  • “Take Good Care of My Baby” – Carole and Gerry
  • “Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) – Barry Mann
  • “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” – Carole
  • “He’s Sure the Boy I Love” – Cynthia and Barry
  • “Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Reprise)” – The Shirelles
  • “Up on the Roof” – Gerry and The Drifters
  • “On Broadway” – The Drifters
  • “The Locomotion” – Little Eva and Ensemble
  • “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” – The Righteous Brothers
  • “One Fine Day” – Janelle, Carole and Ensemble

Act II

  • “Chains” – Carole and Ensemble
  • “Walking in the Rain” – Barry and Cynthia
  • “Pleasant Valley Sunday” – Marilyn Wald, Gerry, Carole and Ensemble
  • “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” – Barry
  • “Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Reprise)” – Carole
  • “Uptown” – Ensemble
  • “It’s Too Late” – Carole
  • “You’ve Got a Friend” – Carole, Barry, Cynthia and Don
  • “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” – Carole and Ensemble
  • “Beautiful” – Carole and Ensemble
  • “I Feel the Earth Move” – Carole and Ensemble
Awards

2014 Tony Awards: Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Jessie Mueller), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan)

2014 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Jessie Mueller), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Anika Larsen), Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (Brian Ronan)

2015 Grammy Awards: Best Musical Theater Album

2015 Olivier Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Katie Brayben), Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Lorna Want)

Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls is the smash-hit, Tony Award-winning musical which premiered on Broadway in 1982, starring award-winning actress Jennifer Holliday as the iconic Effie White. Since its premiere, Dreamgirls has enjoyed several revivals across the world, including tours in the US, South Africa, Malaysia, Australia and Colombia. Never before seen in London, the production opens at the West End’s Savoy Theatre in 2016, starring Glee’s Amber Riley. In 2006, the musical was made into a film starring Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson and Jamie Foxx. Including well-known songs such as “One Night Only”, “Cadillac Car”, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and “I Am Changing”, Dreamgirls is one of the world’s best-known and best-loved musicals.

Dreamgirls_Playbill

Henry Krieger

Tom Eyen

Tom Eyen

Rumoured to be based on Diana Ross and the Supremes

Bill Condon

Michael Bennett, Bob Avian, Geffen Records, The Shubert Organization

Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett and Michael Peters

Productions
Dreamgirls_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Imperial Theatre - Opened 20 Dec 1981, closed 11 Aug 1985, 1521 performances

Cast: Jennifer Holliday (Effie White), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena Jones), Loretta Devine (Lorrell Robinson), Ben Harney (Curtis Taylor, Jr), Cleavant Derricks (James “Thunder” Early), Obba Babatunde (C.C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle Morris), Vondie Curtis-Hall (Marty Madison), Tony Franklin (Wayne)

dreamgirls-tour

US Tour (1983)

US Tour - Opened 20 Mar 1983, closed 6 Jul 1984

Cast: Jennifer Holliday (Effie White), Linda Leilani Brown (Deena Jones), Arnetia Walker (Lorrell Robinson), Larry Riley (Curtis Taylor, Jr), Clinton Derricks-Carroll (James “Thunder” Early), Lawrence Clayton (C.C. White), Deborah Burrell (Michelle Morris), Weyman Thompson (Marty Madison), Maurice Felder (Wayne)

dreamgirls-1987

Broadway Revival (1987)

Ambassador Theatre - Opened 28 Jun 1987, closed 29 Nov 1987, 177 performances

Cast: Lillias White (Effie White), Alisa Gyse (Deena Jones), Arnetia Walker (Lorrell Robinson), Weyman Thompson (Curtis Taylor, Jr), Herbert Lee Rawlings, Jr (James “Thunder” Early), Kevyn Morrow (C.C. White), Susan Beaubian (Michelle Morris), Roy L. Jones (Marty Madison), Milton Craig Nealy (Wayne)

dreamgirls-1997

US Tour (1997)

US Tour - Opened 30 Sep 1997, closed 26 Apr 1998

Cast: Roz White (Effie White), La Tanya Hall (Deena Jones), Tonya Dixon (Lorrell Robinson), Brian Everett Chandler (Curtis Taylor, Jr), Kevin-Anthony (James “Thunder” Early), Gary E. Vincent (C.C. White), Kimberly JaJuan (Michelle Morris), Ron Kellum (Marty Madison), Milton Craig Nealy (Wayne) Directed and choreographed by Tony Stevens

Dreamgirls_Broadway-2

Broadway Concert Revival (2001)

Ford Center for the Performing Arts - Opened 24 Sep 2001, closed 24 Sep 2001, 1 performances

Cast: Lillias White (Effie White), Audra McDonald (Deena Jones), Heather Headley (Lorrell Robinson), Norm Lewis (Curtis Taylor, Jr), Billy Porter (James “Thunder” Early), Darius de Haas (C.C. White), Tamara Tunie (Michelle Morris), James Stovall (Marty Madison), Bobby Daye (Wayne)

dreamgirls-2004

US Tour (2004)

US Tour - Opened 9 Jan 2004, closed 29 Feb 2004

Cast: Frenchie Davis (Effie White), Angela Robinson (Deena Jones), Ramona Keller (Lorrell Robinson), David Jennings (Curtis Taylor, Jr), Harrison White (James “Thunder” Early), Andre Garner (C.C. White), Rosena M. Hill (Michelle Morris), Regi Dais (Marty Madison), Christopher L. Morgan (Wayne) Directed by Mark S. Hoebee and choreographed by Brenda Braxton

dreamgirls-2009

US Tour (2009)

US Tour - Opened 22 Nov 2009, closed 26 Dec 2010

Cast: Moya Angela (Effie White), Syesha Mercardo (Deena Jones), Adrienne Robinson (Lorrell Robinson), Chaz Lamar Shepherd (Curtis Taylor, Jr), Chester Gregory (James “Thunder” Early), Trevon Davis (C.C. White), Margaret Hoffman (Michelle Morris), Milton Craig Nealy (Marty Madison), Terrance Lemar Thomas (Wayne) Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom

Dreamgirls_London

Original London Production

Savoy Theatre - Opened 21 Nov 2016, closed 11 Mar 2017

Cast: Amber Riley (Effie White), Liisi LaFontaine (Deena Jones), Ibinabo Jack (Lorrell Robinson), Joe Aaron Reid (Curtis Taylor, Jr), Adam J. Bernard (James “Thunder” Early), Tyrone Huntley (C.C. White), Lily Frazer (Michelle Morris), Karen Mav and Ruth Brown (Effie Alternates) Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Broadway’s smash-hit musical following girl group The Dreamettes as they make it big and become Deena Jones and the Dreams.

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Set in the heart of Chicago in 1962, and widely speculated to be based on the real journey of Diana Ross and the Supremes, Dreamgirls follows a trio of young girls as they enter a talent competition in the hopes of making it big. The Dreamettes feature best friends Effie White, Deena Jones and Lorrell Robinson, with Effie as lead singer. Singing a song written by Effie’s brother C.C., the group unfortunately lose the contest, but are met by Curtis Taylor, Jr, a used-car salesman.

Once Curtis becomes the group’s manager, he convinces James “Thunder” Early to let them be his backing singers, becoming a huge success. Soon, Curtis persuades Jimmy and the Dreamettes to move away from Rhythm and Blues and over to pop, where they are usurped by white groups. Curtis begins to bribe DJs to play Jimmy’s next single, which becomes a major hit.

However, things begin to get slightly more complicated once Effie and Curtis begin dating, and Jimmy and Lorrell begin an illicit affair. Curtis soon replaces Marty as Jimmy’s manager, who also helped write the songs for the group. Quickly, Curtis tries to transform Jimmy into a Perry Como-esque singer, whilst establishing the Dreamettes as their own act. Renaming the girls The Dreams, Curtis puts Deena as lead singer, due to her more appealing looks and pop vocals. Effie is hurt, but C.C. convinces her to go along with the plan. The Dreams make their debut in Ohio, with Curtis informing Deena that he’s going to make her the star.

Over the years, Deena becomes a superstar and The Dreams become a huge pop success, but Effie starts to miss rehearsals, becoming temperamental and suspecting Deena and Curtis of an affair. Lorrell attempts to keep the peace, but the group soon splits and Curtis replaces Effie with Michelle Morris. The Dreams leave Effie behind, despite her heartbroken appeal.

In Act II, the action moves forward to 1972, where Deena Jones and the Dreams have become the country’s leading pop group. Deena has married Curtis and C.C. is in love with Michelle, although Jimmy has long since disappeared. Effie is back in Chicago and it is revealed that she was missing shows and rehearsals due to being pregnant with Curtis’ child, who she now looks after by herself. Marty has become her manager and is attempting to help her make a comeback.

Deena decides that she wants to pursue an acting career, without Curtis as her manager. C.C. has become annoyed by Curtis’ constant rearrangements of his songs and the tension begins to build. Whilst waiting to perform at a fundraiser, Deena Jones and the Dreams meet Jimmy Early once more, and Jimmy finds himself locked in another argument with Lorrell. With Lorrell in tears and Deena attempting to comfort her, Michelle convinces C.C. to reconcile with Effie, and Jimmy’s set falls apart on stage.

C.C. and Effie meet at a recording studio, and C.C. apologises to Effie for hijacking her career. Effie records C.C.’s emotional “One Night Only” ballad, which begins to climb the charts, much to the chagrin of Curtis, who threatens legal action. As Curtis makes arrangements to ruin Effie’s career, Effie and Deena reconcile too, and Deena learns that Effie and Curtis share a child. Realising the kind of man Curtis really is, Deena finds the courage to leave him. Once “One Night Only” has become a hit, Deena leaves The Dreams to become an actress. For the final number of The Dreams’ farewell concert, Effie joins the girls on stage.

Songs

Act I

  • “I’m Lookin’ for Something” – The Stepp Sisters, Marty and Company
  • “Goin’ Downtown” – Little Albert and The Tru-Tones
  • “Takin’ the Long Way Home” – Tiny Joe Dixon
  • “Move (You’re Steppin’ on My Heart)” – Effie, Deena and Lorrell
  • “Fake Your Way to the Top” – Jimmy, Effie, Deena and Lorrell
  • “Cadillac Car” – Curtis, Jimmy, C.C., Marty, Effie, Deena and Lorrell
  • “Cadillac Car (One the Road)” – Company
  • “Cadillac Car (In the Recording Studio)” – Jimmy, Effie, Deena and Lorrell
  • “Cadillac Car (Reprise)” – Dave and the Sweethearts
  • “Steppin’ to the Bad Side” – Curtis, Jimmy, C.C., Wayne, Lorrell, Effie, Deena and Company
  • “Party, Party” – Effie, Curtis, Jimmy, Lorrell and Company
  • “I Want You Baby” – Jimmy, Effie, Deena and Lorrell
  • “Family” – Effie, C.C., Jimmy, Effie, Deena and Lorrell
  • “Dreamgirls” – Deena, Lorrell and Effie
  • “Press Conference” – Deena, Curtis and Company
  • “Only the Beginning” – Curtis and Effie
  • “Heavy/Stop Bringing Us Down” – Deena, Lorrell, Effie and Curtis
  • “Drivin’ Down the Strip” – Jimmy
  • “It’s All Over” – Effie, Curtis, C.C., Deena, Lorrell, Jimmy and Michelle
  • “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” – Effie
  • “Love Love Me Baby” – Deena, Lorrell and Michelle

Act II

  • “Act II Opening” – Deena, Lorrell, Michelle, Curtis, C.C. and Jimmy
  • “I Am Changing” – Effie
  • “One More Picture Please” – Lorrell, Michelle, C.C., Curtis and Company
  • “When I First Saw You” – Curtis and Deena
  • “Got to Be Good Times” – The Five Tuxedos
  • “Ain’t No Party” – Lorrell and Jimmy
  • “I Meant You No Harm” – Jimmy
  • “Quintette” – Lorrell, Deena, C.C. and Michelle
  • “The Rap” – Jimmy
  • “Firing of Jimmy” – Jimmy, Curtis, Lorrell and Company
  • “I Miss You Old Friend” – Les Styles, Marty, C.C. and Effie
  • “One Night Only” – Effie and Company
  • “One Night Only (Disco)” – Deena, Lorrell, Michelle, Curtis and Company
  • “I’m Somebody” – Deena, Lorrell and Michelle
  • “Chicago/Faith in Myself” – Effie, C.C., Curtis, Deena and Marty
  • “Listen” – Deena and Effie
  • “Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love” – Deena, Lorrell and Michelle
  • “Dreamgirls (Reprise)” – Effie, Deena, Lorrell and Michelle
Awards

1982 Tony Awards: Best Book of a Musical (Tom Eyen), Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Ben Harney), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Jennifer Holliday), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Cleavant Derricks), Best Choreography (Michael Bennett and Michael Peters), Best Lighting Design (Tharon Musser)

1982 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Book of a Musical (Tom Eyen), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Jennifer Holliday), Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Cleavant Derricks), Outstanding Set Design (Robin Wagner), Outstanding Lighting Design (Tharon Musser)

1983 Grammy Awards: Best Cast Show Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (Jennifer Holliday)

Licensing

UK: Tams-Witmark

USA: Tams-Witmark

Aladdin the Musical

Aladdin the Musical is the award-winning musical that continues to wow audiences on Broadway and the West End, with its memorable music, spectacular sets and glittering performances. Based on the 1992 Disney animated film of the same name, Aladdin the Musical is the well-known story of a street urchin who is persuaded to find a magic lamp, which contains an even more magic Genie! Including famous songs such as “Friend Like Me”, as well as the Academy Award-winning “A Whole New World”, composed by Disney mastermind Alan Menken, Aladdin the Musical is a smash-hit success. James Monroe Iglehart and Trevor Dion Nicholas, who play Genie in the US and UK respectively, have been earning praise from audiences and critics alike.

Aladdin_Playbill

Alan Menken

Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin

Chad Beguelin

101 Arabian Nights and Disney's 1992 animated film

John Musker, Ron Clements, Roger Allers, Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio

Disney Theatrical Productions

Casey Nicholaw

Casey Nicholaw

Productions
Aladdin_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

New Amsterdam Theatre - Opened 20 Mar 2014, closed 12 Mar 2017

Cast: Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Courtney Reed (Jasmine), Brandon O’Neill (Kassim), Brian Gonzales (Babkak), Jonathan Schwartz (Omar), Clifton Davis (Sultan), Don Darryl Rivera (Iago) Replacements: Steel Burkhardt (Kassim), Brad Weinstock (Omar)

Aladdin_London

Original London Production

Prince Edward Theatre - Opened 9 Jun 2016, closed 11 Feb 2017

Cast: Dean John-Wilson (Aladdin), Don Gallagher (Jafar), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Genie), Jade Ewen (Jasmine), Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Kassim), Nathan Amzi (Babkak), Rachid Sabitri (Omar), Irvine Iqbal (Sultan), Peter Howe (Iago)



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Disney’s timeless story of a street urchin who finds and befriends a magic Genie and has his life completely transformed!

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Based on the tales of 101 Arabian Nights, Aladdin the Musical is the spectacular Broadway musical adapted from the smash-hit award-winning 1992 Disney classic of the same name. Following street urchin Aladdin, who is used to stealing from the market place, he only wishes that he could make his mother proud by doing something more worthwhile. With help from his friends; Kassim, Omar and Babkak, Aladdin attempts to earn some money by dancing in the streets, where he bumps into a disguised Princess Jasmine.

Jasmine is confined within the palace walls day after day, and longs to be free to explore her city. With her father, the Sultan, attempting to organise an arranged marriage between her and a rich Prince, she just wants to run away. Disguising herself, she escapes to the market place, where she runs into Aladdin. The pair immediately fall under each other’s spell, but when some angry guards appear, they are forced to flee to Aladdin’s humble home. Together, they dream of a better life where they are free to do as they wish.

Meanwhile, evil Jafar and his sidekick Iago are plotting ways to overthrow the Sultan, and they come across the story of a magic lamp locked away in the Cave of Wonders. Inside this lamp is rumoured to be a magical Genie who can grant any wish, but the only person that can enter the legendary cave is an alleged Diamond in the Rough. Iago asks the spirits to show him the mysterious Diamond, and Aladdin is revealed.

Jafar and Iago go to the market place and quickly persuade Aladdin to help them, by telling him that it will finally be a way to make his mother proud, and they will make him rich for his efforts. Aladdin goes into the Cave of Wonders and discovers the magic lamp. Although he has been told not to touch anything else in the cave, his curiosity gets the better of him and he picks up some golden treasures. When the cave entrance slams shut, Aladdin has nothing to do and ends up rubbing the magic lamp. Soon, Genie appears and says he will grant Aladdin any three wishes his heart desires.

Aladdin first wishes to be free from the cave, followed by a wish to become a Prince to win the heart of Princess Jasmine. Disguised as Prince Ali, Aladdin enters the palace and impresses the Sultan, much to the annoyance of Jafar. Unfortunately, Aladdin comes across as far too cocky in his new guise, and Jasmine is less than impressed. Attempting to woo her, Aladdin takes her on a magic carpet ride, revealing his true identity.

Unfortunately, Jafar soon realises Prince Ali’s true identity, and stealing the lamp, has Aladdin and his friends locked up in the palace dungeon. But they all work together to overthrow the nasty Jafar, and the Sultan agrees that Aladdin can marry Jasmine as thanks for saving the city. As his third and final wish, Aladdin wishes that Genie can be free of living in the lamp!

Songs

Act I

  • “Overture” – Orchestra
  • “Arabian Nights” – Genie and Company
  • “One Jump Ahead” – Aladdin and Company
  • “One Jump Ahead (Reprise)” – Aladdin
  • “Proud of Your Boy” – Aladdin
  • “These Palace Walls” – Jasmine and Female Attendants
  • “Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim” – Aladdin, Kassim, Omar, Babkak, Jasmine and Company
  • “A Million Miles Away” – Aladdin and Jasmine
  • “Diamond in the Rough” – Jafar, Iago and Aladdin
  • “Friend Like Me” – Genie and Company
  • “Act One Finale” – Genie and Aladdin

Act II

  • “Prince Ali” – Genie, Kassim, Omar, Babkak and Company
  • “A Whole New World” – Aladdin and Jasmine
  • “High Adventure” – Kassim, Omar, Babkak and Company
  • “Somebody’s Got Your Back” – Genie, Aladdin, Kassim, Omar and Babkak
  • “Proud of Your Boy (Reprise)” – Aladdin
  • “Prince Ali (Sultan Reprise)” – Sultan and Company
  • “Prince Ali (Jafar Reprise)” – Jafar
  • “Finale Ultimo” – Company
Awards

2014 Tony Awards: Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (James Monroe Iglehart)

2014 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (James Monroe Iglehart)

An American in Paris

An American in Paris is an all-new dance musical, based on the 1951 Academy Award winning film of the same name, starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. Originally premiering in Paris, the production officially opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway and is set to transfer to the West End for a run at the expansive Dominion Theatre. Following a soldier who remains in Paris after the victorious Second World War, An American Paris is a beautiful love story of an artist and dancer uniting in a post-war France. Featuring several well-known songs from hit musical duo George and Ira Gershwin, this Tony Award-winning musical includes “I Got Rhythm” and “An American in Paris” in its sumptuous score.

An-American-in-Paris_Playbill

George Gershwin

Ira Gershwin

Craig Lucas

Vincente Minnelli's 1951 Academy Award-winning film

Alan Jay Lerner

Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan, Roy Furman, Stephanie McClelland, Darren Bagert, James Nederlander, Five Cent Productions

Christopher Wheeldon

Christopher Wheeldon

Productions
an-american-in-paris-official-broadway-poster

Original Broadway Production

Palace Theatre - Opened 12 Apr 2015, closed 9 Oct 2016

Cast: Robert Fairchild (Jerry Mulligan), Leanne Cope (Lise Dassin), Veanne Cox (Madame Baurel), Jill Paice (Milo Davenport), Brandon Uranowitz (Adam Hochberg), Max Von Essen (Henri Baurel) Replacements: Dimitri Kleioris (Jerry Mulligan)

An-American-in-Paris_Broadway

US Tour (2016)

US Tour - Opened 14 Oct 2016, closed 20 Aug 2017

Cast: Garen Scribner (Jerry Mulligan), Sara Etsy (Lise Dassin), Etai Benson (Adam Hochberg), Emily Ferranti (Milo Davenport), Gayton Scott (Madame Baurel), Nick Spangler (Henri Baurel)

An-American-in-Paris_London

Original London Production

Dominion Theatre - Opened 21 Mar 2017, closed 30 Sep 2017

Cast: Robert Fairchild (Jerry Mulligan), Leanne Cope (Lise Dassin)



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

A magical story of a soldier and dancer united in a celebratory post-war France, filled with wonderful dance and timeless classics.

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Set during the end of a viscous World War II, An American in Paris follows American soldier Jerry Mulligan, who decides to abandon his backpack and remain in Paris to nurture his passion for painting. Helped by friend and ex-soldier Adam Hochberg, who dreams of being a composer, as well as Henri Baurel, a son of wealthy French industrialists, Jerry begins to dream of a brighter future without fighting.

Soon, he meets a mysterious French girl, Lise Dassin, and is convinced that he made the right decision to stay in France. After completely falling for her, Jerry discovers that she is the very same girl that Adam and he have been encouraging a smitten Henri to propose to. Stuck in a dilemma, Jerry makes friends with a headstrong American philanthropist, Milo Davenport, who plunges him deep into the Paris art scene that is exploding with new life and a celebratory post-war energy.

Meanwhile, Lise struggles to choose between a comfortable life with Henri and her true love, Jerry. As each man involved begins to come to terms with his own fate, it is revealed that Lise’s obligation to Henri comes from that fact that he and his family saved her life during the occupation. When it is realised that this bond is no longer strong enough, Lise and Henri agree that it is time to let go.

As the curtain falls on the miraculous opening night of a French ballet, Lise finally claims her place as a free, accomplished and successful artist in France, and quickly realises that she is meant to be with Jerry. Rushing to him, the pair reunite at the River Seine and walk off, arm in arm, into the Paris night.

Songs

Act I

  • “Concerto in F” – Company
  • “I Got Rhythm” – Jerry, Henri, Adam and Company
  • “Second Prelude” – Lise and Girls
  • “I’ve Got Beginners Luck” – Jerry
  • “The Man I Love” – Lise
  • “Liza” – Jerry
  • “S Wonderful” – Jerry, Henri, Adam and Company
  • “Shall We Dance?” – Milo
  • “Second Rhapsody” – Company
  • “Cuban Overture” – Company

Act II

  • “Entr’acte” – Orchestra
  • “Fidgety Feet” – Jerry and Company
  • “Who Cares?” – Milo, Henry and Adam
  • “For You, For Me, For Evermore” – Lise, Jerry, Henri and Milo
  • “But Not for Me” – Adam and Milo
  • “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise” – Henri, Adam and Company
  • “An American in Paris” – Company
  • “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” – Jerry, Henri and Adam
Awards

2015 Tony Awards: Best Choreography (Christopher Wheeldon), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Natasha Katz), Best Orchestrations (Christopher Austin, Don Sebesky, Bill Elliot), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Bob Crowley, 59 Productions)

2015 Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Robert Fairchild), Outstanding Choreography (Christopher Wheeldon), Outstanding Orchestrations (Christopher Austin), Outstanding Set Design (Bob Crowley)

2015 Drama League Awards: Outstanding Production of a Musical

2015 Outer Critic’s Circle Awards: Outstanding New Broadway Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Robert Fairchild), Outstanding Choreography (Christopher Wheeldon), Outstanding Director of a Musical (Christopher Wheeldon)

2015 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards: Best Female Dancer (Leanne Cope), Best Male Dancer (Robert Fairchild), Best Choreographer (Christopher Wheeldon)

Licensing

USA: Samuel French

School of Rock

Based on the smash-hit cult classic film School of Rock starring Jack Black, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Julian Fellowes adapted the story of wannabe rock star Dewey Finn into a rock ‘n’ roll musical. Originally opening at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway in 2015, starring Alex Brightman and Sierra Boggess, School of Rock – The Musical follows the story of Dewey as he becomes a substitute teacher at a prestigious school. Earning praise from audiences and critics alike, the musical went on to be nominated for an impressive four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, as well as five Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical.

School-of-Rock_Playbill

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Glenn Slater

Julian Fellowes

School of Rock (2003 film)

Mike White

The Really Useful Group, Warner Music Group, Access Industries, The Schubert Organization, The Nederlander Organization

Laurence Connor

Joann M. Hunter

Productions
School-of-Rock_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Winter Garden Theatre - Opened 6 Dec 2015, closed 28 May 2017

Cast: Alex Brightman (Dewey Finn), Sierra Boggess (Rosalie Mullins), Spencer Moses (Ned Schneebly), Mamie Parris (Patty Di Marco), Taylor Caldwell (Shonelle), Evie Dolan (Katie), Jersey Sullivan (James), Corinne Wilson (Sophie), Carly Gendell (Marcy), Ethan Khusidman (Mason), Dante Melucci (Freddy), Bobbi MacKenzie (Tomika), Brandon Niederauer (Zack), Luca Padovan (Billy), Jared Parker (Lawrence), Isabella Russo (Summer), Shahadi Wright Joseph (Madison), Steven Booth (Doug; Mr Spencer), Emily Cramer (Ms Sheinkopf), Alan H. Green (Snake; Mr Mooneyham), John Arthur Greene (Theo), Michael Hartney (Stanley; Mr Williams), John Hemphill (Gabe Brown; Mr Sanford; Jeff Sanderson), Merritt David Janes (Bob; Mr Hamilton), Jaygee Macapugay (Mrs Hathaway)

School-of-Rock_London

Original London Production

New London Theatre - Opened 24 Oct 2016, closed 12 Feb 2017

Cast: Not yet announced.



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash-hit new musical follows down-on-his-luck wannabe rock star Dewey Finn as he discovers a newfound love of teaching the power of rock.

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


Based on the hit 2003 film starring Jack Black, School of Rock is the hilarious new musical that follows failed wannabe rock-star Dewey Finn as he poses as a substitute teacher. When Dewey’s band “No Vacancy” decide that they want to get rid of him as their lead singer, his dreams of becoming a famous frontman are shattered. Resorting to endless days sleeping in at his apartment, which he lives in thanks to substitute teacher and best friend Ned Schneebly and his uptight girlfriend Patty, Dewey becomes a complete slob.

After endless nagging from a vicious Patty, who encourages him to give up his dreams and get a normal job otherwise he will be thrown out, Dewey decides that it may be time to take action. When private school Horace Green phones the apartment asking for Ned and offering a whacking $950 sum a week, Dewey can’t resist taking up the offer for himself – posing as Ned! Out of place in a school of straight ties, straight-laces and straight faces, Dewey soon finds out that there may be more to this teaching malarkey than he thought.

Meeting the beautiful, yet extremely uptight headmistress Rosalie Mullins, Dewey becomes aware that he has his work cut out for him. At first, he takes zero interest in the snotty children around him, but when he overhears the potential talent coming from the music room, he hatches a cunning plan. With the upcoming Battle of the Bands, Dewey begins to teach the children a lesson they will never forget and gives them a complete education in the power of rock music.

Soon, the children begin to have more fun than they’ve ever had at Horace Green, learning new talents and finally working together. Rosalie begins to relax a bit more in the company of Dewey, and when the two take a trip to a grotty pub, she reveals that she has always had a love for rock music. Taking his opportune moment, Dewey asks if he can take the children to a concert, secretly covering his alternative motives to take them to compete in Battle of the Bands against “No Vacancy”.

Unfortunately, Patty cottons on to Dewey’s mysterious employment and calls the police on him at a parent’s evening. When it is revealed to the parents, kids and Rosalie that Dewey is not in fact Ned, he is forced to leave the school just before the epic Battle of the Bands concert. Luckily, the kids want to rock ‘n’ roll just as much as Dewey does, and sneak to his apartment to take him to the concert!

Songs

Act I

  • “I’m Too Hot for You”
  • “When I Climb to the Top of Mount Rock”
  • “Horace Green Alma Mater”
  • “Here at Horace Green”
  • “Variation 7”
  • “Children of Rock”
  • “Mount Rock (Reprise)”
  • “Queen of the Night”
  • “You’re in the Band”
  • “If Only You Would Listen”
  • “In the End of Time (A Cappella Version)”
  • “Faculty Quadrille”
  • “Stick it to the Man”

Act II

  • “Time to Play”
  • “Where Did the Rock Go?”
  • “Dewey’s Confession”
  • “School of Rock (Teacher’s Pet)”
  • “Finale”
Awards

2016 Tony Awards: Nominated for 4 awards, including Best Musical

Licensing

UK: Really Useful Group

USA: R & H Theatricals

Thriller Live

Adrian Grant’s Thriller Live originally opened as a jukebox musical dedicated to the greatest hits of Michael Jackson. When the pop legend unexpectedly died, Thriller Live rocketed in the West End, becoming the ultimate tribute act of one of entertainment’s biggest stars. More of a concert than a traditional musical, Thriller Live documents the famous songs and dance routines of Michael Jackson, from the cutesy Jackson 5 to making his name as the King of Pop. Expect a tirade of Jackson’s best-known songs in an electrifying live performance.

Thriller_London

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Adrian Grant

Derek Nicol, Paul Walden

Gary Lloyd

Gary Lloyd

Productions
Thriller_London_2

Original London Production

Lyric Theatre, London - Opened 21 Jan 2009, closed 23 Apr 2017

Cast: Haydon Eshun, Trenyce Cobbins, David Jordan, Tyrone Lee, Rory Taylor, Zuriel Kabasomi-Williams, Kyle Johnson, Daniel Odejinmi, Ramon Mariqueo Smith (Lead Vocalists)



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Experience the music of legendary pop icon Michael Jackson in a spectacularly visual show that you will never forget.

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Thriller Live is the record-breaking concert celebrating the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson. A spectacularly extravagant production that takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of the singer’s greatest hits, this is the ultimate jukebox musical on the West End.

Conceived by super-fan and close friend of the Jackson family Adrian Grant, Thriller Live takes the audience on an electrifying visual and audio journey through the magic of Michael Jackson’s 45-year musical history! Featuring smash-hits from his back-catalogue of numbers, the musical pays homage to his legendary live performance, including the innovative dance routines that sky-rocketed him to fame.

With thumping live music, famous costumes and a good dose of the moonwalk, Thriller Live has entertained audiences for a spectacular 8 years. Expect hit numbers such as “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “Man in the Mirror”, “Bad” and “Thriller”, which document Jackson’s career from budding pop-singer in The Jackson 5 to global megastar.

More of a concert than a traditional musical, Thriller Live is the opportunity for audiences to get the full Michael Jackson experience, bringing back to life his famous songs, dances and costumes to create a show that you will never forget.

Songs

Act I

  • “Overture: History”
  • “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough/Billie Jean”
  • “Who’s Lovin’ You”
  • “I’ll Be There”
  • “I Want You Back”
  • “ABC”
  • “Rockin’ Robin”
  • “Blame It on the Boogie”
  • “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”
  • “Remember the Time”
  • “Human Nature”
  • “This Place Hotel”
  • “Dangerous”
  • “She’s Out of My Life”
  • “Off the Wall”
  • “Get on the Floor”
  • “Rock with You”
  • “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (Reprise)”
  • “Can You Feel It”

Act II

  • “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’/Workin’ Day and Night”
  • “Dancing Machine”
  • “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
  • “Beat It”
  • “The Way You Make Me Feel”
  • “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”
  • “Smooth Criminal”
  • “Dirty Diana”
  • “Man in the Mirror”
  • “They Don’t Care About Us”
  • “Earth Song”
  • “Billie Jean”
  • “Thriller”
  • “Bad”
  • “Black or White”

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the smash-hit musical based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book, directed by Hollywood’s Sam Mendes (Skyfall). Adapted by Grammy Award-winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, with a book by David Grieg, this musical has been wowing West End audiences since 2013. Transferring to Broadway in 2017, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory follows young Charlie Bucket as he wins the opportunity to take a peek behind the gates of Willy Wonka’s mysterious Chocolate Factory. Inside, Charlie and his Grandpa Joe take a mind-blowing journey through a chocolate garden, an army of squirrels and the peculiar singing Oompa-Loompas.

Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory_London

Marc Shaiman

Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman

David Greig

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions, Neal Street Productions

Sam Mendes

Peter Darling

Productions
Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory_London

Original London Production

Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London - Opened 25 Jun 2013, closed 7 Jan 2017

Cast: Douglas Hodge, Alex Jennings, Jonathan Slinger (Willy Wonka), Jack Costello, Tom Klenerman, Isaac Rouse, Louis Suc (Charlie Bucket), Nigel Planer, Barry James (Grandpa Joe), Clive Carter (Mr Salt), Polly Allen, Tia Noakes, Ellie Simons (Veruca Salt), Jasna Ivir (Mrs Gloop), Harrison Slater, Jenson Steele, Regan Stokes (Augusus Gloop), Paul J. Medford (Mr Beauregarde), India Ria Amarteifio, Adrianna Bertola, Jade Johnson, Mya Olaye (Violet Beauregarde), Iris Roberts, Josefina Gabrielle (Mrs Teavee), Jay Heyman, Adam Mitchell, Luca Toomey (Mike Teavee), Roni Page (Grandma Josephine), Myra Sands (Grandma Georgina), Billy Boyle (Grandpa George), Jack Shalloo, Richard Dempsey (Mr Bucket), Alex Clatworthy (Mrs Bucket)

Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory_Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London - Opened 1 Mar 2017, closed 1 Mar 2018

Cast: Christian Borle (Willy Wonka), Alan H. Green (Mr Beauregarde), Kathy Fitzgerald (Grandma Josephine)



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

A deliciously delectable tale about Charlie Bucket and his mysterious visit to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

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Based on Roald Dahl’s popular children’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the delicious tale of little Charlie Bucket, who is a huge fan of Willy Wonka’s chocolate and his mysterious Chocolate Factory. Living in a crowded, dilapidated shack with his mother, father and four funny grandparents, Charlie dreams of making it as an acclaimed inventor.

After keeping his gates firmly closed for years, it is announced that Willy Wonka will open his gates for five lucky children, who will all have the opportunity to take a look inside and win a fabulously tasty surprise – all you have to do is find a golden ticket in your Wonka bar! As Charlie’s birthday comes up, he is treated to a marvellous chocolatey surprise – but is disappointed when he cannot find the ticket.

Soon, it is announced that four children have won a sought-after ticket; the ever-hungry Augustus Gloop, the vile Veruca Salt, the bubble-gum champion Violet Beauregarde and the gaming-obsessed Mike Teavee. Charlie thinks he has definitely lost out, but purely by chance gets his hands on the shiny ticket!

Taking his Grandpa Joe with him to the factory, Charlie soon finds out that the other children, and the mystical Wonka himself, are not quite what they seem. As they travel around the gargantuan factory, the children experience a garden made from chocolate, a gobstopper machine, worker-squirrels and a very strange group of Oompa-Loompas who like to sing when something goes wrong…

As the children are whittled down one by one, Charlie has the chance to prove just how much he loves chocolate. Taking a trip in a magic, flying elevator, Charlie realises that his family are all he could possibly need in the world.

Songs

Act I

  • “Opening”
  • “Almost Nearly Perfect”
  • “The Amazing Fantastical History of Mr Willy Wonka”
  • “A Letter from Charlie Bucket”
  • “News of Augustus”
  • “More of Him to Love”
  • “News of Veruca”
  • “When Veruca Says”
  • “News of Violet”
  • “The Double Bubble Duchess”
  • “News of Mike”
  • “It’s Teavee Time”
  • “If Your Mother Was Here”
  • “Don’cha Pinch Me Charlie”
  • “It Must be Believed to be Seen”

Act II

  • “Strike That, Reverse It”
  • “The Chocolate Room”
  • “Simply Second Nature”
  • “Augustus’ Downfall”
  • “Auf Wiedersehen Augustus Gloop”
  • “Gum!”
  • “Juicy!”
  • “Veruca’s Nutcracker Sweet”
  • “Vidiots”
  • “Pure Imagination”
  • “A Little Me”
  • “It Must be Believed to be Seen (Reprise)”
Awards

2014 WhatsOnStage Awards: Best Set Designer (Mark Thompson), Best Choreographer (Peter Darling)

2014 Olivier Awards: Best Costume Design (Mark Thompson), Best Lighting Design (Paul Pyant)

Les Misérables

Les Misérables is a sung-through musical by Boubil and Schonberg based on the epic Victor Hugo novel of the same name. After receiving notoriously poor reviews from the critics when it premiered at the Barbican in 1985 Les Miserables went on to become the most successful musical the world has ever seen. The RSC’s production directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird is the longest running musical in the world, although it has moved locations twice first to the Palace Theatre and then to the Queens theatre where it continues to play to this day.

Set in early 19th century France the musical tells the story of John Valjean a peasant sentenced to 19 years enslavement for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sisters starving child. After breaking his parole and trying to turn his life around he is relentlessly pursued by policeman Javert. Along the way he meets various characters, adopts a daughter ‘Cosette’ and becomes caught up in the students revolution.

In 2012 Les Misérables the musical was made into a successful film starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Les Mis Musical heaven

Claude-Michel Schonberg

Original French: Alain Boubil English translation: Herbert Kretzmer

Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil

Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables

Cameron Mackintosh

Trevor Nunn and John Caird

Productions
Les Miserables logo 100x150

Les Misérables original London production

The Barbican Theatre - Opened 8 Oct 1985, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Colm Wilkinson, Roger Allam, Patti LuPone, Frances Ruffelle, Alun Armstrong, Susan Jane Tanner, Michael Ball Rebecca Caine and David Burt.

Les Mis First Broadway play bill

Les Misérables Original Broadway Production

The Broadway Theatre - Opened 12 Mar 1987, closed 18 May 2003

Cast: Colm Wilkinson, David Bryant Judy Kuhn Michael Maguire Frances Ruffelle Jennifer Butt Leo Burmester Randy Graff and Terrence Mann.

Les Mis second Broadway Play Bill

Les Misérables First Broadway revival

Broadhurst Theatre - Opened 9 Nov 2006, closed 6 Jan 2008

Cast: Alexander Gemignani, Norm Lewis, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Celia Keenan-Bolger Aaron Lazar Adam Jacobs, Ali Ewoldt, Gary Beach Jenny Galloway

Les Mis Third Broadway Play Bill

Les Misérables Second Broadway Revival

Imperial Theatre - Opened 1 Mar 2014, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Ramin Karimloo, Will Swenson, Caissie Levy, and Nikki M. James , Andy Mientus, Samantha Hill, Kyle Scatliffe, Cliff Saunders and Keala Settle.



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

An ex-convict is pursued relentlessly by a policeman. They and other characters become caught up in the Paris student revolts of 1832.

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Act 1

Prologue

In France 1815 prisoners are forced to work in a chain gang “Work Song”. After 19 years enslavement for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sisters starving child Jean Valjean aka prisoner 24601 is released on parole by policeman Javert. Valjean must display a yellow ticket-of leave which identifies him as an ex-convict and condemns him to be shunned by society “On Parole”. The only person to treat him kindly is the Bishop of Digne and Valjean embittered by his years of misery repays him by stealing the silver. Valjean who is subsequently caught by the police and brought back to the Bishop is astonished when the Bishop covers for him and gifts him the rest of the silver. “Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven” Inspired by this act of kindness Valjean decides to turn his life around “Valjean’s Soliloquy”/”What Have I Done?” Hoping to free himself from his criminal past he tears up his yellow ticket therefore breaking his parole.

The musical then jumps forward eight years to 1823 Valjean has adopted a new name Monsieur Madeleine and has become the proprietor of a factory and mayor of Montreuil-Sur-Mer. Fantine a single mother working in Valjean’s factory is discovered to have an illegitimate child Cosette, who lives with an innkeeper and unknown to Valjean the other factory workers call for her dismissal “At the End of the Day”. Fantine reflects on her broken dreams “I Dreamed a Dream”.

Desperate for money to support her daughter Fantine sells her locket and her hair before being forced into prostitution “Lovely Ladies”. She gets into a fight with a customer and is to be arrested by Javert who is now an inspector in the area when Val Jean wracked with gulit for his involvement in her plight rescues her and takes her to a hospital. “Fantine’s Arrest”

Shortly after Valjean rescues a man pinned by a runaway cart “The Runaway Cart”. Javert who has not recognised him up until this point is reminded of the incredible strength of prisoner 24601 and becomes suspicious. However it turns out that another man has been arrested as Valjean. Unwilling to see an innocent man go to prison for him Valjean confesses his true identity to the court “Who Am I?—The Trial”.

Valjean promises Fantine on her death bed that he will look after her daughter Cosette “Come to Me”/”Fantine’s Death”. Javert arrives to arrest Valjean but he manages to escape “The Confrontation”.

In Montfermeil Cosette has been in the care of exploitative innkeepers the Thénardiers who treat her like a slave while indulging their own daughter Éponine. Cosette dreams of a better life “Castle on a Cloud”. The Thénardiers rip off their customers “Master of the House”. Valjean makes a deal with the Thénardiers and adopts Cosette “The Bargain” and they leave together for Paris “The Waltz of Treachery”.

The action then skips forward again nine years to 1832. Paris is in a state of unrest because of the impending death of the last man in Government who cares for the poor, General Lamarque. Among the crowds are student revolutionaries Marius Pontmercy and Enjolras, a street gang lead by Thenarider and his wife, their daughter Éponine who is all grown up and hopeessly in love with an oblivious Marius and streetwise young urchin Gavroche “Look Down”.

The Thénardiers gang attempt to rob Valjean and Cosette but are rescued by Javert who again fails to recognise Valjean even though he has pursued him all these years. Cosette bumps into Marius, and the pair fall in love at first sight “The Robbery”. Tipped off by Thénardier Javert realises too late who Valjean is and makes a vow to capture him “Stars”. Meanwhile, Marius persuades Éponine to help him find Cosette “Éponine’s Errand”.

At a café Enjolras rallies a group of idealistic students to prepare for revolution while a love sick Marius thinks about Cosette “The ABC Café—Red and Black”. When Gavroche brings the news of General Lamarque’s death the students see the opportunity to incite the people to revolt “Do You Hear the People Sing?”.

Cosette is overwhelmed with feelings for Marius and wishes to know why Valjean keeps secrets about both their pasts “Rue Plumet—In My Life”. A heartbroken Éponine leads Marius to where Cosette lives and they confess their love to each other while she watches on “A Heart Full of Love”. Éponine thwarts a plan by her father Thénardier and his gang to rob Valjean’s house by screaming a warning “The Attack on Rue Plumet”. Valjean believes the intruders to be sent by Javert and resolves to leave the country. On the eve of the 1832 Paris uprising the characters anticipate what the dawn will bring “One Day More”.
Act 2

The students build a barricade. Javert who has disguised himself as a rebel in an attempt to spy upon the rebels, volunteers to “spy” on the government troops. Marius discovers that Éponine has disguised herself as a boy in order to join the rebels and sends her away to deliver a letter to Cosette. “Building the Barricade—Upon These Stones”. Valjean intercepts the letter and learns about Marius and Cosette’s romance. Éponine walks the streets of Paris alone imagining that Marius is with her, she resolves that her love will never be reciprocated “On My Own”.

The French army demands the surrender of the students “At the Barricade—Upon These Stones”. Javert tells the students the government won’t attack that night “Javert’s Arrival” but is exposed as a spy by Gavroche “Little People”.

Éponine is shot by soldiers as she crosses the barricade trying to find Marius and dies in his arms “A Little Fall of Rain”.

Valjean arrives at the barricade in search of Marius “Night of Anguish”. The rebels initially suspicious of Valjean are won over by him when he saves Enjolras. In return he asks if he can be the one to execute Javert which they grant. When they are alone together Valjean frees Javert who swears he will never give up his pursuit of Valjean “The First Attack”.

The students settle in for the night and reminisce “Drink with Me”. After they’re asleep Valjean prays to God to protect Marius “Bring Him Home”.
As dawn approaches, Enjolras realises that the people of Paris have failed to join them in revolution and they are on their own but resolves to fight anyway “Dawn of Anguish”. Gavroche is killed “The Second Attack/Death of Gavroche”. The rebels refuse to surrender and are all killed apart from Valjean who escapes to the sewers carrying an unconscious Marius “The Final Battle”.

Valjean collapses from the exhaustion of carrying Marius and Thénardier who has been looting bodies “Dog Eats Dog” steals a ring from Marius before fleeing when Valjean regains consciousness. Valjean carries Marius out of the sewers to find Javert waiting for him. Valjean pleads with Javert to let him take the boy to a doctor and Javert reluctantly agrees. Valjeans act of mercy has shattered Javert’s view of the world and he commits suicide by throwing himself into the Seine “Soliloquy – Javert’s Suicide”.

In the aftermath of the failed revolution, women mourn the deaths of the students “Turning” and a wounded Marius despairs at the loss of his friends “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”.

Unaware of who rescued him Marius recovers in Cosettes care. Valjean give the pair his blessing “Every Day” and confesses to Marius everything about his criminal past but makes him promise never to tell Cosette and insists on going away “Valjean’s Confession”. Later at Marius and Cosette’s wedding “Wedding Chorale” their reception is gate crashed by the Thénardiers who attempt to blackmail Marius informing him that Cosette’s father is a murderer and that Thénardier saw him carrying a corpse in the sewers after the barricades fell producing Marius’s own stolen ring as proof. Marius finally realises that it was Valjean who rescued him from the barricade. After punching Thénardier in the face he and Cosette go to find Valjean. The Thénardiers remain defiant “Beggars at the Feast”.

Marius and Cosette find Valjean dying in a convent Marius thanks him for saving his life and Cosette finally learns the truth about her past. “Epilogue – Valjean’s Death” The spirit of Fantine appears to him and tells him that he has been forgiven and she and Éponine guide him to heaven. They are joined by all those who perished at the barricade “Finale”.

Songs

Act 1

  • Prologue: Work Song Chain Gang……………………………………………. Javert and Valjean
  • Prologue: On Parole………………………… Valjean, Farmer, Labourer, Innkeeper’s Wife, Innkeeper and Bishop of Digne
  • Prologue: Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven…………………………………….Constables and Bishop of Digne
  • Prologue: What Have I Done? ……………………………………..Valjean
  • At the End of the Day……………………………………… Poor, Foreman, Workers, Factory Girls, Fantine and Valjean
  • I Dreamed a Dream…………………………………….Fantine
  • Lovely Ladies…………………………………….Sailors, Old Woman, Fantine, Crone, Whores and Pimp
  • Fantine’s Arrest ……………………………………Bamatabois, Fantine, Javert and Valjean
  • The Runaway Cart …………………………………………Townspeople, Valjean, Fauchelevant and Javert
  • Who Am I? /The Trial …………………………………………………Valjean
  • Fantine’s Death: Come to Me ………………………………..Fantine and Valjean
  • The Confrontation …………………………………………..Javert and Valjean
  • Castle on a Cloud…………………………………………….. Young Cosette and Madame Thénardier
  • Master of the House ………………………………………….Thénardier, Madame Thénardier and Customers
  • The Well Scene……………………………………………….. Valjean and Young Cosette
  • The Bargain (Waltz of Treachery) ………………….Thénardier, Valjean, Madame Thénardier and Young Cosette
  • Look Down ……………………………………..Gavroche, Beggars, Old Woman, Prostitute, Pimp, Enjolras, and Marius
  • The Robbery …………………………………..Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Marius, Éponine and Valjean
  • Javert’s Intervention ………………………………………..Javert and Thénardier
  • Stars ……………………………………..Javert
  • Éponine’s Errand………………………………………… Éponine and Marius
  • Red and Black (The ABC café) ………………………………Enjolras, Marius, Grantaire, Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Gavroche and Students
  • Do You Hear the People Sing?…………………………………… Enjolras, Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Feuilly Students and Townspeople
  • Rue Plumet – In My Life ………………………………………. Cosette, Valjean, Marius and Éponine
  • A Heart Full of Love …………………………………………….Marius, Cosette and Éponine
  • The Attack on the Rue Plumet ……………………………….. Thénardier, Thieves (Montparnasse, Brujon, Babet, Claquesous), Éponine, Marius, Valjean and Cosette
  • One Day More ……………………………………..Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Éponine, Enjolras, Javert, Thénardier, Madame Thénardier and Company

Act 2 

  • At the Barricade (Upon These Stones) …………………………………….. Enjolras, Javert, Marius, Éponine and Valjean
  • On My Own ……………………………………….. Éponine
  • Building the Barricade (Upon These Stones) …………………………………………..Enjolras, Students and Army Officer
    Javert’s Arrival …………………………………………………….Javert and Enjolras
  • Little People …………………………………………..Gavroche, Students, Enjolras and Javert
  • A Little Fall of Rain ………………………………….. Éponine and Marius
  • Night of Anguish ………………………………Enjolras, Valjean, and Students
  • The First Attack ……………………………………… Enjolras, Grantaire, Students, Valjean and Javert
  • Drink with Me …………………………………..Grantaire and Marius
  • Bring Him Home …………………………………………….. Valjean
  • Dawn of Anguish ………………………………………..Enjolras and Students
  • The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche) ……………………………….. Enjolras, Marius, Valjean, Grantaire, Gavroche and Students
  • The Final Battle …………………………………………………Army Officer, Grantaire, Enjolras and Students
  • Dog Eats Dog (The Sewers) …………………………………….. Thénardier
  • Soliloquy (Javert’s Suicide) ……………………………………..Valjean and Javert
  • Turning ……………………………………..Women of Paris
  • Empty Chairs at Empty Tables ……………………………….Marius
  • Every Day / A Heart Full of Love (Reprise) ……………………………Cosette, Marius and Valjean
  • Valjean’s Confession ………………………………………Valjean and Marius
  • Wedding Chorale ………………………..Guests, Thénardier, Marius and Madame Thénardier
  • Beggars at the Feast ………………………………..Thénardier and Madame Thénardier
  • Epilogue: Valjean’s Death …………………………Valjean, Fantine, Cosette, Marius and Éponine
  • Finale: Do You Hear the People Sing (Reprise) ……………………………………………Full Company
Awards

1985 Olivier Awards: Best Actress in a musical (Patti LuPone)

1987 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael Maguire), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Frances Ruffelle), Best Direction of a Musical Trevor Nunn and John Caird, Best Scenic Design John Napier Best Lighting Design David Hersey.

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is one of the most successful musicals of recent years. It premiered on Broadway in 2011 (where it is still going strong) and became the recipient of nine Tony Awards at that years ceremony. The show is a satire of the Mormon faith and tells the story of two naïve and optimistic young Mormon missionaries Elder Price and Elder Cunningham who are sent to a remote village in Uganda in hope of converting the local population. However they discover that the locals are being threatened by a local War Lord and have bigger problems to contend with such as AIDS, poverty and famine than worrying about religion. The Book of Mormon is written by South Park creators Tray Parker and Matt Stone and one half of the team behind musical Avenue Q Robert Lopez. Parker and Stone had previously included musical elements in South Park and numerous references to Mormons, when they met Lopez who expressed a similar interest in Mormons collaborating on the musical seemed like an obvious choice. Although slightly controversial due to its content The Book of Mormon conforms to the classic book musical structure.

Book of Mormon musical heaven

Tray Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez

Tray Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez

Tray Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez

Scott Rudin

Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw

Casey Nicholaw

Productions
Book of Mormon play bill

Original Broadway Production

Eugene O’Neil Theatre - Opened 24 Feb 2011, closed 27 Dec 2015

Cast: Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Nikki M. James, Rory O’Malley, Michael Potts, Lewis Cleale and Brian Tyree Henry.

Book of Mormon 150x100

Original London production

The Prince of Wales Theatre - Opened 25 Feb 2013, closed 22 Aug 2015

Cast: Gavin Creel, Jared Gertner, Alexia Khadime, Stephen Ashfield, Giles Terera, Haydn Oakley and Chris Jarman



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

A devote Mormon is paired with a hapless partner and sent to Africa where they and the other missionaries must try and convert the local population to the Mormon faith.

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Act 1
The show opens with devout poster boy missionary Elder Kevin Price leading his classmates in a door to door attempt to convert people to the Mormon faith “Hello!”. One of the missionaries, Elder Arnold Cunningham, overweight and a tad incompetent seems unable to stick to the approved script. Price’s dream is to be sent to Orlando Florida for his two year mission. He is horrified to find that he is to be paired with the hapless Elder Cunningham and sent to Uganda. “Two By Two”. Before boarding their flight at Salt Lake City Airport Elder Price, now fully committed to his given mission, speaks of how he hope to change the world and help the people of Uganda with minimal input from Elder Cunningham who thanks to rule #72 he now cannot be parted from “You and Me (But Mostly Me)”.

As soon as they arrive in Uganda the pair are robbed at gunpoint by local War Lord General Butt Fucking Naked. They are then welcomed to the village by the chief Mafala Hatimbi and the he and the villagers tell them about their plight contending with Aids, famine, poverty and the tyrannical General. The villagers sing a song “Hasa Diga Eebowai” to make themselves feel better which the Elders initially join in with however they are horrified to find out it translates as “Fuck You God”.

Hatimbi’s daughter Nabulungi introduces the disillusioned pair to the other Mormon missionaries who have so far not managed to convert anyone. Elder McKinley the district leader teaches them how to get rid of unwanted thoughts connected to Mormon Life including his own repressed homosexuality advising them to “Turn It Off” like a light switch. Elder Cunningham succeeds in comforting Elder Price that he will succeed “I Am Here For You”.

Price determined to triumph where the others have failed, sets out to teach the villagers about the founder of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Joseph Smith, through the song “All American Prophet”. However it goes somewhat array when it turns into a song about himself leaving the villagers unimpressed and irritated. General Butt Fucking Naked arrives and announces that all of the women in the village must be circumcised by the end of the week. When one of the villagers protests the General kills him in cold blood. Nabulungi inspired by Price’s speech of an earthly paradise dreams of a better life “Sal Tlay Ka Siti”.

The Mormon missionaries are sent into panic when the Mission President requests an update on their so far unsuccessful mission. Price requests a transfer to Orlando and loyal Cunningham announces he will stick with him no matter what “I Am Here For You (Reprise)” however Price cruelly dumps Cunningham as a mission partner.

Elder Cunningham is left crushed but when Nabulungi comes to him with members of the village all wanting to learn more about the Book of Mormon he summons courage for the first time ever “Man Up”.

 

Act 2
Having never actually read the Book of Mormon and sensing he’s losing his crowd Elder Cunningham begins to embellish the bits of Mormon doctrine he does know with elements of the real lives of the African villagers and bits of popular fiction. His conscience personified by various characters including his dad, Joseph Smith, Hobbits and Yoda warn him about lying “Making Things Up”. However he decides as long as he’s helping the villagers it’s ok to bend the truth slightly.

Elder Price reflects on his childhood and the reoccurring nightmares of hell he had when he did something wrong “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream”. Terrified by the nightmare Price decides to return to his mission. Cunningham has managed to get 10 locals interested in the church but is reluctant to let Price back in as he is still upset about being ditched. Price sets off to prove himself by converting the General with the Book of Mormon. “I Believe”.

Cunningham continues with his unique style of preaching and succeeds in getting the villagers to agree to be baptized with Nabulungi being his first “Baptize Me”. The villagers begin to except Mormonism and the Mormons celebrate “I Am Africa”. After an unsuccessful conversion of the General Price is seen having the Book of Mormon removed from his anus. The General feels threatened by the villagers converting to Mormonism and resolves to kill them all.

Price drowns his sorrows over copious cups of coffee where Elder Cunningham finds him and informs him they need to at least pretend to work together as the Mission President and other senior Mormons are coming to congratulate their mission. After he leaves Elder Price reflects on the broken promises of the Mormon Church “Orlando”.

Price and Cunningham are congratulated by the head of the mission for their great success. Nabulungi and the villagers then perform a pageant based on their understanding of the Book of Mormon, as taught to them by Elder Cunningham “Joseph Smith American Moses”. The president is horrified and declares that the Africans are not real Mormons and orders the Elders to go home. Nabulungi is distressed as she wanted to reach paradise and curses God “Hasa Diga Eebowai Reprise”.

Cunningham is left distraught however Price realises that Cunningham has had the right idea all along and it’s not about the detail of scripture but about helping people. The pair are reconciled and set off to rescue the villagers from the General “You and Me (But Mostly Me) Reprise”.

Meanwhile Nabulungi, still angry with Cunningham, tells the rest of the village that he has been eaten by a lion. The general arrives and Nabulungi is ready to give in to his demands. She tells the villagers that Cunningham’s stories were all lies. To her surprise they reply that they had known all along that the stories were not literally true but rather metaphorical. Cunningham returns and everyone believes he has risen after being eaten by lions. Price and Cunningham work together to scare the General away and Price rallies the Mormons and Ugandans to work together and create their own faith. In the final scene the villagers, ex-communicated Mormons and newly converted General are seen going door to door to preach ‘The Book of Arnold’. “Tomorrow is a Latterday, ”Hello Reprise” and “Finale”.

Songs

Act I

 

  • Hello……………….. Elder Price, Elder Cunningham and Mormon Boys
  • Two by Two …………………… Elder Price, Elder Cunningham and Mormon Boys
  • You and Me (But Mostly Me)……………………………Elder Price and Elder Cunningham
  • Hasa Diga Eebowai ……………. Mafala, Elder Price, Elder Cunningham, Nabulungi and Ugandans
  • Turn It Off…………………………… Elder McKinley and Missionaries
  • I Am Here for You…………..Elders Cunningham and Price
  • All American Prophet… Elder Price, Elder Cunningham, Joseph Smith, Angel Moroni and Company
  • Sal Tlay Ka Siti……………………………………………………… Nabulungi
  • I Am Here for You (Reprise) ……………………………… Elder Cunningham
  • Man Up …………………………………. Elder Cunningham, Nabulungi, Elder Price and Company

 

Act 2

  • Making Things Up Again …………. Elder Cunningham, Cunningham’s Dad, Joseph Smith, Mormon, Moroni, Uhura, Hobbits and Ugandans
  • Spooky Mormon Hell Dream …………………………………Elder Price and Company
  • I Believe ………………………………………………………………. Elder Price and Company
  • Baptize Me ……………………………………………… Elder Cunningham and Nabulungi
  • I Am Africa ……………………………Elders McKinley, Cunningham and Missionaries
  • Orlando …………………………………………………Elder Price
  • Joseph Smith American Moses ………………….. Nabulungi, Mafala and Ugandans
  • Hasa Diga Eebowai (Reprise) ……………………………………….. Nabulungi
  • You and Me (But Mostly Me) Reprise…………………… Elders Price and Cunningham
  • Tomorrow Is a Latter Day ………….. Elders Price, Cunningham and McKinley, Nabulungi and Company
  • Hello (Reprise) ……………………………… Company
  • Finale ……………………………………………………Company
Awards

2011 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a musical, Best Original Score, Best featured actress in a musical (Nikki M. James), Best Direction, Best Orchestrations, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design.

2014 Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Gavin Creel), Best Performance in a supporting role in a musical (Stephen Ashfield) and Best Choreographer.

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd 90 x 90

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1979 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler. Described as a musical/opera the show was based on the play by Christopher Bond. It tells the story of Benjamin Barker aka Sweeney Todd who after 15 years of unjust incarceration returns to wreak revenge on the Judge who sentenced him. However his thoughts of revenge soon turn to wider society and he begins slaughtering his customers and with the aid of his doting land lady Mrs Lovett making them into pies. One of Sondheim’s darkest scores the musical has grown in popularity and is now considered a classic.

Sweeney Todd Play Bill 1

Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim

Hugh Wheeler

Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Christopher Bond

Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, Martin Richards in association with Dean and Judy Manos

Hal Prince

Larry Fuller

Productions
Sweeney Todd original Play bill

Sweeney Todd Original Broadway Production

The Uris Theatre - Opened 1 Mar 1979, closed 29 Jun 1980, 557 performances

Cast: Len Cariou, Angela Lansbury, Merle Louise, Victor Garber, Edmund Lyndeck, Jack Eric Williams, Sarah Rice, Ken Jennings, Joaquin Romaguera and Robert Ousley

Sweeney Todd Original West End play Bill

Sweeney Todd Original West End Production

Theatre Royal Drury Lane - Opened 2 Jul 1980, closed 14 Nov 1980, 157 performances

Cast: Denis Quilley, Sheila Hancock, Andrew C. Wadsworth, Mandy More, Michael Staniforth, Austin Kent, Dilys Watling, David Wheldon-Williams, Oz Clarke, and John Aron.

Sweeney Todd Broadway revival 1

Sweeney Todd First Broadway Revival

Circle in the Square Theatre - Opened 14 Sep 1989, closed 5 Feb 1990, 189 performances

Cast: Bob Gunton, Beth Fowler, SuEllen Estey, David Barron, Jim Walton, Michael McCarty, Gretchen Kingsley-Weihe, Eddie Korbich, Bill Nabel and Tony Gilbert

Sweeney Todd NT

Sweeney Todd First West End Revival

National Theatre - Opened 2 Jun 1993, closed 1 Jun 1994

Cast: Alun Armstrong/Denis Quilley, Julia McKenzie, Sheila Reid, Adrian Lester, Denis Quilley/Christopher Benjamin,Barry James, Carol Starks, Adrian Lewis Morgan and Nick Holder

Sweeney Todd second London revival

Sweeney Todd Second London Revival

Ambassadors Theatre - Opened 13 Oct 2004, closed 5 Feb 2005

Cast: Paul Hegarty, Karen Mann, David Ricardo-Pearce, Rebecca Jackson, Colin Wakefield, Michael Howcroft, Rebecca Jenkins, Sam Kenyon and Stephanie Jacob

Sweeney Todd Second Broadway Revival

Sweeney Todd Second Broadway Revival

Eugene O'Neill Theatre - Opened 3 Nov 2005, closed 3 Sep 2006, 384 performances

Cast: Michael Cerveris, Patti LuPone, Benjamin Magnuson, Diana DiMarzio, Mark Jacoby, Alexander Gemignani,Lauren Molina, Manoel Felciano, Donna Lynn Champlin and  John Arbo

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Sweeney Todd 2012 London Revival

Adelphi Theatre - Opened 10 Mar 2012, closed 22 Sep 2012

Cast: Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton, Luke Brady, Gillian Kirkpatrick, John Bowe, Peter Polycarpou, Lucy May Barker, James McConville

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Sweeney Todd 2015 London Revival

The London Coliseum - Opened 30 Mar 2015, closed 12 Apr 2015

Cast: Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson  



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Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Seeking revenge Sweeney Todd returns to London he begins slaughtering his clients and with the aid of his land lady making them into pies.

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The prologue sees Sweeney Todd rise from the grave to tell his story of revenge as the ensemble sing (“The Ballad of Sweeney Todd”).

The action then returns to 1846 where Sweeney Todd has just been rescued from the sea by young sailor Anthony Hope. The pair return to London (“No Place Like London”). Todd seeks to educate the naïve Anthony by telling him a cautionary tale of a man exiled by a Judge who was after his wife. (“The Barber and His Wife”). Todd then ventures to a pie shop on Fleet street owned by Mrs Lovett who tells him of her struggle (“Worst Pies in London”). Todd enquires about the flat above her shop. Mrs Lovett recognises Todd but does not let on, she replies that she does not let it as bad things occurred there. She then recounts the tale of Benjamin Barker who was sentenced to false charges so the evil Judge Turpin could have his way with Barker’s wife Lucy. She informs him that Lucy was raped by the Judge with the aid of his loyal servant Beadle Bamford. (“Poor Thing”). Todd’s reaction to her tale confirms her suspicions that he is infact Benjamin Barker. She then informs him that his wife poisoned herself and his daughter was adopted by the Judge. Mrs Lovett reunites him with his silver shaving razor that she’s kept hold of all these years and tells him he can have the room above her shop to return to the barber trade. Still plotting his revenge Todd accepts and announces that his left arm feels complete again (“My Friends”/“The Ballad of Sweeney Todd Reprise”).

At Judge Turpin’s house Joanna is imprisoned and gazing out of the window. (“Green Finch and Linnet Bird”) her song draws Anthony to her window and unaware that she is Todd’s daughter he falls instantly in love. He is harassed by the beggar woman who informs him that that Judge Turpin keeps her shut away (“Ah Miss”). The Judge and Beadle return and warn Anthony to stay away from her but Anthony vows to rescue her (“Joanna”).

In the market place pretend Italian barber Pirelli and his assistant Tobias boast about their miraculous cure for hair loss (“Pirelli’s miracle Elixir). Todd Exposes the Elixir for a sham and challenges Pirelli to a somewhat drawn out shaving contest which he wins easily. (“The Contest/Pirelli’s Entrance/Shaving Scene/Tooth-Pulling Scene”) He nominates Beadle as the Judge and impressed by Todd’s efforts he promises to come to his shop. (“The Ballad of Sweeney Todd Reprise”).

The Judge decides he is going to Marry Joanna himself (“Johanna Judge’s Song: Mea Culpa”) Todd becomes impatient when the Judge and Beadle fail to visit and Mrs Lovett informs him that good things come to those who (“Wait”). Anthony informs Todd of his plan to run away with Joanna and asks if he can use the shop as a safe house to which Todd agrees longing to see his daughter again. Pirelli and Tobias arrive and Mrs Lovett takes Tobias downstairs for a pie. Pirelli then reveals that he knows Todd’s true identity with the intention of black mailing him. In a panic Todd strangles him and then slits his throat with his razor. (“Pirelli’s Death/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd reprise”) Joanna and Anthony make plans to elope (“Kiss Me”) while the Beadle convinces the Judge that a shave from Todd will help him to win Joanna’s affections (“Ladies in their Sensitivities”)

Mrs Lovett learns of Pirelli’s murder and removes his coin purse. She and Todd plan to dispose of the body when the Judge enters. Todd plays with him lulling him into a false sense of security (“Pretty Women”) but just when Todd is about to kill him Anthony bursts in and tells Todd of his and Joanna’s plans, not realising who the Judge is. On hearing this the Judge storms out and vows never to return. Todd is furious and drives Anthony away. He then descends into madness where he makes the decision to wreak revenge on society by killing his rich and corrupt customers. (“Epiphany”) Mrs Lovett then helpfully suggests they use the victims bodies as filling for her pies (“A Little Priest”).

At the opening of Act II we see Mrs Lovett’s pie shop has become a thriving business with customers demanding more pies (“God That’s Good”). Tobias now works for Mrs Lovett as a waiter and spends a lot of his time chasing away the old beggar woman who keeps referring to Mrs Lovett as the devil. Sweeney Todd now has a nifty automated chair that allows him to kill his victims and send them straight down in a chute to Mrs Lovett’s kitchen. Todd has resided himself to never seeing Joanna again and busies himself killing anyone he’s sure will not be missed. Anthony has not given up on her though and searches London for her, while the begger woman complains of the foul smells coming from Mrs Lovett’s bakehouse (“Joanna Quartet”).

Anthony finds Joanna when he hears her singing from within the asylum but is quickly chased away by Beadle. Mrs Lovett tries to convince Todd to run away with her for a simple life (“By the Sea”) but it is clear that Todd still has designs on murdering the Judge. Anthony begs Todd to help him free Joanna from the asylum and Todd hatches a plan for Anthony to dress as a wigmaker and claim he wants to purchase the inmates hair (Wigmaker sequence/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd reprise”). When Anthony has gone Todd sends a secret letter to the Judge informing him of the plan in the hopes of luring him to the shop, the contents of which are sung aloud by members of the company (“The Letter”).

Tobias grows suspicious of Todd and states that he wants to protect Mrs Lovett (“Not While I’m Around”). He then realises she has Pirelli’s coin purse, she distracts him by showing him the bakehouse and locks him in. She then comes across Beadle Bamford who has been sent round to investigate the weird smells emitted by her chimney. Todd offers the Beadle his long awaited free shave and Mrs Lovett plays the harmonium loudly to cover the sounds of his murder (“Parlour Songs”).

In the basement Tobias has discovered a hair and a human fingernail in a pie when the Beadle’s body appears in the basement he is left with little doubt of what has been going on. Mrs Lovett informs Todd that Tobias has discovered their secret and they plot to kill him.

Anthony rescues Joanna from the insane asylum but is stopped by the proprietor Mr Fogg. When Anthony is unable to kill him Joanna does instead and they escape. All the inmates roam the streets of London (“City on Fire/Searching”).

Joanna disguised in a sailors uniform arrives at Todd’s empty shop with Anthony. As Anthony leaves to find a coach they confirm their love for each other (“Ah Miss, Reprise”). Alone in the shop Joanna hears the beggar woman crying for the Beadle and hides just as she bursts in. On finding the beggar woman in his shop Todd slits her throat and sends her down the chute just as the Judge enters (“Beggar Woman’s Lullaby”). Todd assures the Judge that Joanna is sorry and the Judge asks for Todd to spruce him up before he is reunited with her. Once the Judge is in his chair Todd mocks him before revealing his true identity and slitting his throat (“The Judge’s Return”). Todd leaves to deal with Tobias but finds Joanna, not recognising her he nearly slits her throat but as Mrs Lovett discovers the Judge and the Beggar woman in the basement and lets out a scream Todd is momentarily distracted and Joanna makes her escape.

As Todd enters the basement he sees Mrs Lovett trying to drag the beggar woman’s body into the oven he realises in horror that she is infact his wife Lucy who had not killed herself as Mrs Lovett had said but had been driven insane and forced to live on the streets. Mrs Lovett confesses she concealed Lucy’s survival as she was in love with Todd. He pretends everything is fine and then dances Mrs Lovett into the fire, burning her to a crisp. Todd then embraces his dead wife and laments the fact that he killed her (“Final Sequence/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd Reprise”). Tobias who has been driven mad by shock picks up Todd razor and kills him just as Joanna, Anthony and the police enter.

In the Epilogue the company sing (“The Ballad of Sweeney Todd”) while the ghosts of Todd and Mrs Lovett conclude that the revenge was sufficient. Todd then exits slamming the door on Mrs Lovett.

 

Songs

Prologue

  • Organ Prelude/The Ballad of Sweeney Todd

Act I

  • No Place Like London
  • The Barber and His Wife
  • The Worst Pies in London
  • Poor Thing
  • My Friends
  • The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Reprise)
  • Green Finch and Linnet Bird
  • Ah, Miss
  • Johanna
  • Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir
  • The Contest/Pirelli’s Entrance/Shaving Scene/Tooth-Pulling Scene
  • The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Reprise 2)
  • Johanna (Judge’s Song): Mea Culpa
  • Wait
  • Pirelli’s Death
  • The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Reprise 3)
  • Kiss Me (Part I)
  • Ladies in their Sensitivities
  • Kiss Me (Part II/Quartet)
  • Pretty Women
  • Epiphany
  • A Little Priest

Act II

  • God, That’s Good!
  • Johanna (Quartet)
  • By the Sea
  • Wigmaker Sequence
  • Wigmaker
  • The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Reprise 4)
  • Wigmaker (Reprise)
  • The Letter
  • Not While I’m Around
  • Parlor Songs
  • Sweet Polly Plunkett
  • Tower of Bray
  • Sweet Polly Plunkett (Reprise)
  • Final Sequence
  • The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Reprise 5)
  • Fogg’s Asylum
  • City on Fire/Searching Ah, Miss (Reprise)
  • Beggar Woman’s Lullaby
  • The Judge’s Return
  • The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Reprise 6)
  • Final Scene

Epilogue

  • The Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Reprise 7)

 

Awards

1979 – Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Score, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Director, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design

1980 – Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical

1994 – Olivier Awards: Best Musical Revival, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Director of a Musical

2006 – Tony Awards: Best Director of a Musical, Best Orchestrations

2013 – Olivier Awards: Best Musical Revival, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical

 

Licensing

UK: Musical Theatre International

USA: Musical Theatre International