Category Archives: S

Musicals staring with letter S

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.

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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

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



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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.

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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)

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.

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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

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

Sweeney - Logo 100x150

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

Sweeny Todd small image

Sweeney Todd 2015 London Revival

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

Cast: Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson  



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

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.

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


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

Show Boat

Show Boat is a two act musical by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, originally opening in 1927. The musical follows the lives of workers and passengers on a steamship in the Mississippi River named ‘Cotton Blossom’ from 1880 – 1927. The show is one of the earliest examples of a book musical and was regularly revived and performed in various versions throughout the twentieth century. Controversy now surrounds the show due to its depiction of racial issues, something that changes from production to production. Songs from the musical such as ‘Ol Man River’ and ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man’ have become famous in their own right and have been covered by various pop artists in the billboard charts. A stunning Hal Prince revival was the last Broadway production.

Show Boat

Jerome Kern

Oscar Hammerstein II

Oscar Hammerstein II

the novel by Edna Ferber

Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.

Zeke Colvan

Sammy Lee

Productions
Showboat Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Ziegfeld Theatre - Opened 27 Dec 1927, closed 4 May 1929

Cast: Jules Bledsoe, Alan Campell, Bert Chapman, Laura Clairon, Jack Daley, Ted Daniels, Dorothy Denese, Charles Ellis, Robert Farley, Estelle Floyd, Thomas Gunn, Annette Harding, Annie Hart,  Aunt Jemima, J. Louis Johnson, Tana Kamp, Francis X Mahoney, Howard Marsh, Helen Morgan.

Showboat Original London

Original London Production

Theatre Royal Drury Lane - Opened 3 May 1928, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Edith Day, Paul Robeson and Alberta Hunter

Showboat First Broadway Revival

First Broadway Revival

Casino Theatre - Opened 19 May 1932, closed 22 Oct 1932

Showboat Second Broadway Revival

Second Broadway Revival

Ziegfeld Theatre - Opened 5 Jan 1946, closed 4 Jan 1947

Showboat First London Revival Adelphi

First London Revival

Adelphi Theatre - Opened 1 Jul 1971, closed 1 Jan 1970

Showboat Third Broadway Revival

Third Broadway Revival

Uris Theatre - Opened 24 Apr 1983, closed 26 Jun 1983

Showboat Fourth Broadway Revival

Fourth Broadway Revival

George Gershwin Theatre - Opened 2 Oct 1994, closed 5 Jan 1997

Showboat Second London Revival

Third London Revival

Prince Edward Theatre - Opened 1 Apr 1998, closed 1 Sep 1998



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

Synopsis

The show boat “Cotton Blossom” arrives in Mississippi in 1887, and locals flock to see the new musical revue that is visiting their town. Cap’n Andy greets the crowd warmly, until his leading man, Steve, gets into a fight with Pete, an engineer who has been eyeing Steve’s leading lady and wife, Julie. As the fight is broken up, Pete vows revenge and claims he knows a secret about Julie that will destroy their lives. Cap’n Andy convinces the crowd this is all part of their act, and invites them along to the main show.

Gaylord Ravenal, a riverboat gambler, arrives at the ship and spots Cap’n Andy’s daughter Magnolia. He tries to woo her and they agree to “Make Believe” they are in love. Magnolia finds Gaylord exciting and asks one of the African-American deckhands, Joe, for his advice. He warns her that there are a lot of men like him on the Mississippi, and he and his co-workers sing that “Ol’ Man River” keeps rolling along, not stopping for anyone.

Magnolia tells Julie that she is in love with the handsome stranger, Gaylord. When Julie suggests that he may not have any money at all, Magnolia replies that she would just stop loving him. Julie explains that love is not that simple, and begins to sing “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.” Joe’s wife, Queenie, hears her singing and is surprised to hear a white woman singing what a song she has only heard black women sing, but joins in nonetheless. Meanwhile, fellow actors Ellie and Frank reflect on “Life Upon the Wicked Stage.”

That night, Steve and Julie are warned that the Sheriff is on his way to arrest them, and Steve cuts Julie’s hand and drinks a drop of her blood. Pete arrives with the Sherriff and announces that Julie is mixed race, and their marriage is therefore illegal due to the prejudiced miscegenation laws of the day. Steve is able to claim that he has black blood in him and their marriage is therefore valid. Nevertheless, they can no longer continue to star on the Show Boat as they are now considered African-American. Cap’n Andy fires Pete for his betrayal and sadly bids Steve and Julie farewell. He hires Gaylord to be his new leading man, and chooses to have him star opposite Magnolia.

Gaylord and Magnolia slowly fall in love for real (“You Are Love”), much to Magnolia’s mother Parthy’s dismay. The couple decide to get married while Parthy is out of town, but she arrives just in time to interrupt the service after discovering Gaylord has killed a man, but it turns out he was found not guilty, and they manage to get married in the end.

Six years later, Gaylord and Magnolia are living in Chicago, where Gaylord is making a living as a gambler. They are still very much in love (“Why Do I Love You?”), and ten years later they have a daughter named Kim. Gaylord’s gambling has spiralled out of control, and they end up living in a filthy tenement. Finally unable to cope with getting his family into this situation, Gaylord leaves Magnolia. With a young child to feed, Magnolia seeks a job and runs into Frank and Ellie, who are working in Chicago at the Trocodero club, and they manage to get her an audition. Meanwhile, Julie is also singing at the club, but has become an alcoholic after Steve left her. She hears Magnolia auditioning for a job with the song “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” and immediately recognises her voice. She decides to quit in secret so that Magnolia can take over her job.

Cap’n Andy and Parthy come to visit Magnolia and Kim in Chicago. Andy visits her at the club, where she has a disastrous performance. He manages to rally the crowd into singing along to “After the Ball,” and Magnolia manages to become a major star. Twenty years later, Andy happens to run into Gaylord and encourages him to reconnect with Magnolia. Kim, meanwhile, has become a Broadway star, and Gaylord and Magnolia watch her with pride as they decide to rekindle their long lost love.

Songs

Act I

  • “Cotton Blossom” – Stevedores and Townspeople
  • “Cap’n Andy’s Ballyhoo” – Cap’n Andy and Chorus
  • “Where’s the Mate for Me?” – Gaylord Ravenal
  • “Make Believe” – Gaylord and Magnolia
  • “Ol’ Man River” – Joe and Stevedores
  • “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” – Julie, Queenie, Joe, Magnolia and Ensemble
  • “Life Upon the Wicked Stage” – Ellie and Townswomen
  • “Till Good Luck Comes My Way” – Gaylord, Pete, Frank and Townsmen
  • “Ol’ Man River” (reprise) – Joe
  • “I Might Fall Back on You” – Ellie, Frank and Girls
  • “C’mon Folks (Queenie’s Ballyhoo”) – Queenie, Stevedores and Gals
  • “Olio Dance” – (instrumental)
  • “You Are Love” – Gaylord and Magnolia
  • Act I “Finale (Wedding Scene)” – Magnolia, Ravenal, Cap’n Andy, and Chorus

Act II

  • “At the Fair” – Sightseers, Barkers, and Dandies
  • “Dandies on Parade” – City Folk
  • “Why Do I Love You?” – Magnolia, Ravenal, Cap’n Andy, Parthy Ann Hawks and Company
  • “In Dahomey” – Jubilee Singers and Dahomey Dancers
  • “Bill” (lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse and revised by Hammerstein) – Julie
  • “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” (reprise) – Magnolia
  • “Nuns’ Processional” – Nuns
  • “Make Believe” (reprise) – Ravenal
  • “Goodbye, My Lady Love” (music and lyrics by Joseph E. Howard) – Frank and Ellie
  • “After the Ball” (from A Trip to Chinatown; music and lyrics by Charles K. Harris) – Magnolia and Ensemble
  • “Ol’ Man River” (reprise) – Joe
  • “Hey, Feller” – Jubilee Singers and Queenie
  • “You Are Love” (reprise) – Gaylord
  • “Why Do I Love You?” (reprise) – Kim and Flappers
  • “Finale Ultimo (Ol’ Man River)” – Joe and Chorus
Awards

1995 Tony Awards: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Choreography.

 

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is a musical based on the popular children’s book of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Set in Yorkshire at the start of the 20th Century, the story has become a timeless classic. After the original Broadway production the show enjoyed success in both Australia and the UK, where it was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Rebecca Luker and Mandy Patinkin were in the original Broadway cast and feature on the soundtrack. Songs such as ‘Lilly’s Eyes’ have become Broadway standards and are regularly performed out of context.

The Secret Garden Original Playbill

Lily Simon

Marsha Norman

Marsha Norman

the children's book by Frances Hodgson

Heidi Landesman, Rick Steiner, Frederic H. Mayerson, Elizabeth Williams, Jujamcyn Theaters, TV Asahi and Dodger Theatricals

Susan H. Schulman

Michael Lichtefeld

Productions
The Secret Garden Broadway

Original Broadway Production

St. James Theatre - Opened 25 Apr 1991, closed 3 Jan 1993, 709 performances

Cast: John Babcock, Michael DeVries, Teresa De Zarn, Frank Di Pasquale, Daisy Eagan, Alison Fraser, Betsy Friday, Paul Jackel, Nancy Johnston, Rebecca Judd, Rebecca Luker, Mandy Patinkin

The Secret Garden London

Original London Production

Aldwych Theatre - Opened 1 Feb 2001, closed 1 Jun 2001



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

Synopsis

Mary Lennox is a 10 year-old English girl, who was born and raised in India, is shipped back to her relatives in Yorkshire when her parents die of cholera. She arrives at a large manor house owned by her uncle, Archibald Craven. His own wife, Lily, died many years ago, and he is afflicted with a hunchback. He has become a recluse while his brother Neville manages the estate, which remains haunted by ghosts including Lily and Mary’s parents.

Mary is greeted by the solemn housekeeper Mrs. Medlock and begins her new life at “The House Upon the Hill.” She remains frightened and alone on her first night in the creaking manor (“I Heard Someone Crying”). The next morning, she befriends a chambermaid named Martha, who encourages Mary to explore the grounds of the estate. She finds the garden which is designed by a maze, and meets Martha’s brother Dickon and the head gardener, Ben. Ben tells Mary about a secret garden that Archibald has ordered to remain locked as it reminds him of Lily. Dickon teaches her to talk to the animals, and she follows a robin to the hiding place of the secret garden’s key (“Show Me the Key”).

Archibald finally agrees to meet Mary, and he is taken aback when she asks for “A Bit of Earth” to plant a new garden. She immediately reminds him of Lily, who designed the large garden on the grounds. Neville also notes she has “Lily’s Eyes,” and reflects on his unspoken love for her. That night, Mary is again awoken by crying and follows the noise to find Colin, her cousin, who has been kept in bed since his birth because his father was concerned he too would grow a hunchback. They talk of his dream of “A Round-Shouldered-Man” who reads him stories, but Mrs. Medlock discovers them and tells Mary she is never to see Colin again. Frightened, Mary runs out of the house in the midst of a storm and happens upon the door to the secret garden.

Mary hopes to rebuild the garden so she has a place to explore, and dreams of growing up well (“The Girl I Mean to Be”). Archibald tells Neville that he has dreamed of Mary and Lily together in the garden. Neville hopes to be Archibald’s heir, and as a result continues to advise that Colin remain bedridden. He encourages Archibald to head to mainland Europe for a while and leave him in charge. Archibald agrees, and reads a story to his beloved Colin before leaving (“Race You to the Top of the Morning”).

The secret garden has fallen in disrepair after not being used for a decade, and Mary asks Dickon to help her grow it again. After weeks of hard work, the garden is in a much better state, and Mary encourages a reluctant Colin to leave the house in a wheelchair to see it. Neville is furious and tells Mary he will send her to a boarding school. She is devastated at the prospect of leaving the house, but Martha encourages her to “Hold On.” Mary decides to write a letter to Archibald to ask him to return (“Letter Song”).

On receiving Mary’s letter, Archibald feels lost and helpless (“Where in the World”), but Lily’s ghost arrives to convince him to go back to England (“How Could I Ever Know”). He does, and upon his return, he finds Colin up and running through the secret garden. He recognises the transformative power Mary has had on his home and adopts her as his own child.

Songs

Act I 

  • Opening — Lily, Fakir, Company
  • There’s a Girl — Company
  • The House Upon the Hill — Company
  • I Heard Someone Crying — Lily, Mary. Archibald
  • If I Had A Fine White Horse — Martha
  • A Girl in the Valley — Archibald, Lily
  • It’s a Maze — Mary, Ben, Dickon
  • Winter’s on the Wing — Dickon
  • Show Me the Key — Mary, Dickon
  • A Bit of Earth — Archibald, Mary
  • Storm I — Company
  • Lily’s Eyes — Archibald, Neville
  • Storm II — Mary, Company
  • Round-Shouldered Man — Colin
  • Final Storm — Mary, Company

Act II

  • The Girl I Mean to Be — Mary
  • Quartet — Archibald, Lily, Neville, Rose
  • Race You to the Top of the Morning — Archibald
  • Wick — Dickon with Mary
  • Come to My Garden — Lily
  • Lift Me Up — Colin
  • Come Spirit, Come Charm — Mary, Dickon, Martha, Lily, Fakir, Company
  • A Bit of Earth (Reprise) — Lily, Rose, Albert
  • Disappear — Neville
  • Hold On — Martha
  • Letter Song — Archibald, Mary, Martha
  • Where in the World — Archibald
  • How Could I Ever Know — Archibald, Lily
  • Finale — Company
Awards

1991 Tony Awards: Best Book, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design

 

Salad Days

Salad Days features a score by Julian Slade with lyrics by Dorothy Reynolds. The musical had humble beginnings in Bristol before transferring to the West End’s Vaudeville Theatre where it broke records for running for over 2,200 performances. The show is not often performed in London or New York, but remains famous thanks to Producer Cameron Mackintosh who accredits it as the reason he got into the theatre industry. A successful London fringe production helped open the show up to new audiences once again and was revived at the Riverside Studios in December 2012.

Salad Days

Julian Slade

Dorothy Reynolds

Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade

Productions
Salad Days Bristol

Original Production

Theatre Royal Bristol - Opened 1 Jun 1954, closed 1 Jan 1970

Salad Days Original London

Original London Production

Vaudeville Theatre - Opened 5 Aug 1954, closed 1 Jan 1970, 2283 performances

Salad Days New York

Original New York Production

Barbizon Plaza - Opened 10 Nov 1958, closed 1 Jan 1970, 80 performances

Salad Days New York

London Revival

Duke of York's Theatre - Opened 1 Apr 1976, closed 1 Jan 1970, 133 performances



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

Synopsis

Jane and Timothy are in love and deciding which path to take with their lives after graduating from university. They will miss their friends and student days, but agree to think of the future (“We Said We Wouldn’t Look Back”). Jane’s parents want her to find a husband quickly, while Timothy’s parents hope he will find a job (“Find Yourself Something to Do”). They end up eloping together and agree that Timothy will take the first job he is offered.

While sitting in the park one day, Timothy and Jane are approached by a tramp pushing an old piano. He offers them £7 a week to take care of it for a month, and being the first job Timothy has been offered, they accept. The tramp begins to play the piano, and the couple find that it possesses a power to make people around it dance (“Oh, Look at Me!”).

Timothy agrees to seek a position at the Foreign Office at the request of his parents, but he soon returns to the park and the piano, now named Minnie. No one is able to resist the urge to dance when it is played, and soon they are all “Out of Breath.”

Nigel, who has long-admired Jane and is unaware that she is now married, invites her to a nightclub called the “Cleopatra.” They run into Timothy while leaving the club, and the married couple persuade Nigel that “It’s Easy to Sing.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Pleasure and Pastime becomes aware of Minnie’s effect and tries to shut it down for the public’s well-being. Jane and Timothy try to hide Minnie, but they discover that the piano has already disappeared (“We’re Looking for a Piano”). Jane acknowledges that she’s having a great adventure (“The Time of My Life”). They find the tramp again who does not seem concerned that it has gone missing. They then come across Timothy’s Uncle Ned, who is a scientist and helps them search for Minnie on his flying saucer (“The Saucer Song”). Meanwhile, Jane and Timothy’s mothers are worried about them (“We Don’t Understand Our Children”).

Jane and Timothy finally find Minnie, but their month with the piano is up, and the tramp arrives to inform them that another young couple in love must look after it, and it turns out the next couple is Nigel and his new girlfriend.

Songs
  1. The Things That Are Done By A Don – Company
  2. We Said We Wouldn’t Look Back – Jane and Timothy
  3. Find YOurself Something To Do – Timothy’s Father, Mother & Aunt Prue
  4. I Sit In the Sun – Jane
  5. Oh, Look At Me! – Jane & Timothy
  6. Hush-Hush – Uncle Clam, Fosdyke & Timothy
  7. Out Of Breath – Company
  8. Cleopatra – The Manager
  9. Sand In My Eyes – Asphynxia
  10. It’s Easy To Sing – Jane, Timothy & Nigel
  11. We’re Looking For a Piano – Company
  12. The Time Of My Life – Jane & the Tramp
  13. The Saucer Song – Uncle Zed, Jane & Timothy
  14. We Don’t Understand Our Children – Jane’s Mother & Timothy’s Mother
Licensing

UK: Tams-Witmark

USA: Tams-Witmark

 

Scrooge

Scrooge is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ short story ‘A Christmas Carol’ and is based on the film musical of the same name. The original production opened in 1992 in Birmingham and enjoyed moderate success on UK tours. The show stopped off at the London Palladium in 2005 where aged stage veteran Tommy Steele took on the leading role. The production continued to tour as part of Bill Kenwright theatricals and is set to open at the London Palladium once again for the 2012/13 Christmas season. The musical features all the songs from the film, including the Oscar nominated song ‘Thank You Very Much’, written by Leslie Bricusse.

Scrooge_Poster

Leslie Bricusse

Leslie Bricusse

Leslie Bricusse

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and the film of the same name

Bill Kenwright

Bob Tomson

Lisa Kent

Productions
Scrooge Original London

Original Production

Alexandra Theatre Birmingham - Opened 9 Nov 1992, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Anthony Newley, Stratford Johns, Tom Watt, Jon Pertwee and Jerome Wallington

Scrooge UK tour

Original London Production

London Palladium - Opened 9 Nov 2005, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Tommy Steele

Scrooge London Palladium

London Revival

London Palladium - Opened 24 Oct 2012, closed 12 Jan 2013

Cast: Tommy Steele, Barry Harwood, Sarah Earnshaw



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

Synopsis

The musical begins on Christmas Eve in Victorian London. Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner Jacob Marley has just died, leaving him alone in his accountancy firm. Scrooge despises Christmas and refers to it with his catch phrase ‘Bah, Humbug’. He refuses to donate to a charity when they ask for money for the poor and is rude to his nephew who invites him over for Christmas dinner. His clerk Bob Cratchit is overworked and underpaid and Scrooge resents giving him Christmas Day as a holiday.

As Scrooge returns home that evening his is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley who warns him against being a miser. He shows him chains that he earned in life by being mean hearted, saying he has come to give Scrooge a chance to redeem himself. Marley tells him that he will be visited by three ghosts that evening; the ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

The first ghost to arrive is the Ghost of Christmas Past who is the spirit of a young child. She takes him to scenes from his youth where he is growing up at school. She shows him how he was with other children and his heart begins to melt. This vision helps explore the roots of the miser’s hatred of Christmas, as all the other children leave for the holidays the young Scrooge was intent on working through them and staying alone.

The second spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Present who is a jolly giant. He welcomes Scrooge and shares his passion and love for life. Together they wander the streets of London and see how much joy the season brings to so many people that Scrooge encounters on a daily basis. They visit the house of Scrooge’s nephew who are having a jolly dinner and begin to make a joke out of Scrooge’s negative attitude. Scrooge is hurt to hear how people talk about him, including relatives.

They then visit the house of Bob Cratchit who is enjoying a very modest Christmas dinner with his family. Despite his horrible conditions, Bob refuses to be mean about his employer and is thankful for his job and regular income. The family settle down to enjoy a small goose when Scrooge notices Cratchitt’s son Tiny Tim who is seriously ill but cannot be treated as the family cannot afford to pay for it. Scrooge can’t believe how positive the family are despite their circumstances.

The final spirit is the sinister Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come who doesn’t speak to Scrooge, just shows him visions of the future. Scrooge asks if these are definite views of the future or premonitions of what could happen if he doesn’t change his ways. Scrooge is shown the death of Tiny Tim and finally his own neglected gravestone. Scrooge hears people talking about his death and sees a parade down the street on his coffin with everyone giving thanks for his death. He is shocked to hear how hated he is and begs to return to the present.

Scrooge wakes up in his own room and is a changed man. The evening has taught him that he needs to change his ways. He rushes to the window and yells to a boy on the street, realising he has made it back in time for Christmas Day. He rushes off with joy in his heart and takes gifts to his Nephew and surprises everyone with his new outlook on life. Finally he goes to Bob Cratchit’s house and takes them the biggest Turkey he can find. The show ends with a joyous message of Christmas cheer for all.

Songs

Act 1

  • Sing a Christmas Carol” – Company
  • “M.O.N.E.Y” – Scrooge
  • “Christmas Children” – Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Kathy Cratchit and Company
  • “Miser Christmas” – Tom Jenkins and Company
  • “I Hate People” – Scrooge and Company
  • “Make the Most of this World” – Jacob Marley and Phantoms
  • “It’s Not my Fault!” – Scrooge
  • “Sing A Christmas Carol” (Reprise) – Scrooge and Children
  • “December the Twenty-Fifth” – Fezziwigs and Company
  • “Happiness” – Ebenezer, Isabel, Scrooge and Christmas Past
  • “You…You” – Scrooge and Ebenezer
  • “Love While You Can” – Christmas Past
  • “It’s Not My Fault” (Reprise) – Scrooge
  • “I Like Life” – Christmas Present, Scrooge and Company
Act II 
  • The Milk of Human Kindness” – Scrooge and Company
  • “The Beautiful Day” – Tiny Tim and Cratchits
  • “The Minister’s Cat” – Company
  • “Happiness” (Reprise) – Scrooge
  • “A Better Life” – Scrooge
  • “Thank You Very Much” – Scrooge, Tom Jenkins and Company
  • “The Beautiful Day” (Reprise) – Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit
  • “I’ll Begin Again” – Scrooge
  • “Finale” – Scrooge and Company
  • “I’ll Begin Again” (Reprise) – Scrooge and Company
  • “Curtain Calls” – Company
  • “Thank You Very Much” (Reprise) – Company
Licensing

UK: Samuel French

USA: Samuel French

 

Singin’ in the Rain

Singin in the Rain

Nacio Herb Brown

Betty Comden and Adolph Green

The MGM Musical film of the same name

Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Tommy Steele

Peter Gennaro

Productions
Singin in the Rain Original London

Original London Production

London Palladium - Opened 30 Jun 1983, closed 1 Sep 1985

Cast: Tommy Steele as Don, Roy Castle as Cosmo Brown, Danielle Carson as Kathy Seldon, and Sarah Payne as Lina Lamont.

Singing in the Rain original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

George Gershwin Theatre - Opened 2 Jul 1985, closed 1 Jan 1970

Singin in the Rain National Theatre

London Revival

Royal National Theatre - Opened 2 Jun 2000, closed 1 Jan 1970

Singin' in the Rain Palace 2012

London Revival

Palace Theatre - Opened 16 Feb 2012, closed 31 Aug 2013

Cast: Adam Cooper, Scarlet Strallen



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

Synopsis

The show starts at the premiere of Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont’s latest Hollywood blockbuster as crowds gather to see the celebrity couple who are the toast of the silent movie industry. The production company Monumental Pictures tells the crowd they are linked romantically in order to increase their appeal. Whilst this would suit Lina, it does not please Don. Whilst trying to escape fans, Don jumps into the car of Kathy Seldon. She is initially shocked and pretends not to recognise him or be impressed by his job. She tells him she is a professional actress and acts cold towards him.

Don continues to a party hosted by the studio boss R.F Simpson who begins by showing them the future of cinema with a talking movie. The guests are sceptical and do not feel threatened by the talkies’ arrival. A cake is wheeled on for the celebrations, and Kathy pops out of it as part of the entertainment troupe, much to her embarrassment when she sees Don. She is furious that she has been caught out as an out of work actor and when Don teases her she throws a cake at him, which mistakenly hits Lina in the face. Lina is furious and Kathy escapes, angry at Don.

Don enlists the help of his best friend Cosmo who also works at the studio as part of the music department. Together they try to track down Kathy. She arrives at the studio for an audition and Don spots her and they settle their differences. Lina is still angry at her outburst and wants Kathy to be fired.

A rival studio have a huge success with a talking picture, ‘The Jazz Singer’ which prompts R.F Simpson to compete in the same field and offer a rival talking picture. The studio is not set up for such a project and does not have the same level of expertise. Lockwood and Lamont’s latest film ‘The Dueling Cavalier’ is ready to be filmed and R.F decides to turn it into their first talking picture. The main difficulty is Lina’s voice, which is both grating and irritating and doesn’t match the beautiful persona her silent films have projected to her fans. Despite enlisting the help of various dialect coaches, Lina does not improve and her voice threatens to ruin the production. The production crew don’t know where to position any of the microphones to pick up the dialogue, and experiment placing them on the character’s body and in props.

The film is made and screened to a test audience, which is a disaster. The soundtrack does not run in sync with the picture and the audience are left in stitches. Cosmo suggests dubbing Lina’s voice with Kathy’s, and the trio convince R.F that the movie should become a musical version called ‘The Dancing Cavalier’. After they stay up all night to plan, Don and Kathy grow closer and closer and begin to fall in love. Lina is furious at the news and tells R.F that he needs to cancel Kathy’s screen credits and promotion, and he falls to her demands. Filming begins on the production which includes a contemporary ‘Broadway Melody’.

At the premiere of the movie, the musical is a roaring success. The audience cheer for Don and Lina and demand a live song from Lina. Cosmo improvises a plan to have Kathy lip sync behind a curtain as Lina performs to the audience, and as she does so they raise the curtain to reveal Kathy as the true voice of the picture. Lina is embarrassed when her fraud is exposed and as Kathy tries to run away Don presents her to the audience. They eventually kiss.

Songs

Act I 

  • Overture – Orchestra
  • Fit As A Fiddle – Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown
  • The Royal Rascal – Orchestra
  • You Stepped Out Of A Dream – Don Lockwood & Company
  • All I Do Is Dream Of You – Kathy Selden and Girls of the Coconut Grove
  • You Stepped Out Of A Dream (Reprise) – Don Lockwood
  • Make ‘Em Laugh – Cosmo Brown
  • Beautiful Girls – Production Tenor and Female Chorus (including Kathy Selden)
  • You Are My Lucky Star – Kathy Selden
  • You Were Meant For Me – Don Lockwood & Kathy Selden
  • Moses Supposes – Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown
  • Moses Supposes (Reprise) – Company
  • Good Morning – Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown, Kathy Selden
  • Singin’ In The Rain – Don Lockwood

Act II

  • Entr’acte – Orchestra
  • Good Morning (Reprise)- Company
  • Would You? – Kathy Selden
  • What’s Wrong With Me? – Lina Lamont
  • The Broadway Ballet (aka Broadway Rhythm) – Cosmo Brown, Don Lockwood and Full Company
  • Would You? (Reprise)- Kathy Selden (Voicing for Lina) & Cosmo Brown
  • You Are My Lucky Star (Reprise) – Kathy Selden and Don Lockwood
  • Singin’ In The Rain (Finale) – Full Company
  • Exit Music – Orchestra
Awards

1983 Olivier Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical

1986 Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Book of a Musical, Best Featured Actor

2001 Olivier Awards: Best Musical Revival

2012 Olivier Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical, Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

 

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was based on the successful MGM movie staring Howard Keel and Jane Powell. After the success of the film, is seemed a natural progression to bring the show to the Broadway stage, but the original production flopped – playing for only 5 regular performances. Despite the updated score and impressive choreography, audiences didn’t warm to it onstage. A more successful London production opened in 1985 at the Old Vic Theatre, along with a West End Revival in 2005/6 that has enjoyed numerous years on tour. The show continues to be a very popular choice for amateur groups and fringe companies due to the diverse casting opportunities. The original score by Johnny Mercer was expanded to include a number of new songs and dance arrangements, and has been captured on CD in the Original London Cast Recording.

Seven Brides

Gene de Paul

Johnny Mercer

Lawrence Kasha and David Landay

”The Sobbin’ Women” by Stephen Vincent Benet

Kaslan Productions, Inc.

Lawrence Kasha

Jerry Jackson

Productions
Seven Brides Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Alvin Theatre - Opened 8 Jul 1982, closed 11 Jul 1982, 5 performances

Cast: Debby Boone, David-James Carroll, Jeanne Bates, Jeff Calhoun, Laurel van der Linde, Lara Teeter, Stephanie Stromer, Clark Sterling, Marykatherine Somers

Seven Brides Original London

Original London Production

Old Vic Theatre - Opened 2 Jul 1985, closed 1 Jan 1970, 45 performances

Seven Brides London Revival

London Revival

Theatre Royal Haymarket - Opened 18 Aug 2006, closed 16 Nov 2006



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

Synopsis

The show begins in 1850s Oregon with a group of brothers who live disconnected away from the town. Eldest brother Adam travels into town to find him a wife, who he wants to take care of the family, wash, clean, cook and sew. He looks around town and comes across Milly working as a waitress in a restaurant. He decides she is suitable and makes her an offer. They rush into marriage and he takes her back up the mountains to their remote ranch. Milly is disgusted by the way they all live and Adam becomes boorish and mean towards her, encouraging his brothers to be the same. Milly tries to reform them and teaches them how to treat girls. She makes them wash, shave and gives them new clothes to go to a town barn raising. She teaches then how to court women and they each find a girl in town who is impressed with their new looks. Conflict arises between them and their girl’s town suitors and the barn raising ends in a huge fight. They return home and can’t stop thinking about the girls they have left behind. Adam tells them the tale of ‘The Rape of the Sabine Women’ in which the men just stole the women they wanted. He encourages them to go and kidnap the girls and bring them home.

As the boys steal the girls in the dead of night an avalance causes them to be trapped up the mountain. The suitors will have to wait until Spring to save them. Milly is shocked at their behaviour and makes all the men sleep outside in the barn. The girls are shocked and upset but Milly looks after them. Adam is furious with Milly and goes to live on his own in his hunting lodge. By the time Spring arrives the girls have fallen in love with the brothers and they seem happy. Milly has given birth to a baby girl and Adam returns, much softer now he is a father. As the suitors travel up the mountain they are shocked to see that their girls are now in love with the brothers. The show ends with many happy marriages.

Songs

Act 1

  • Bless Your Beautiful Hide – Adam
  • Wonderful, Wonderful Day – Milly and Brides
  • One Man – Milly
  • Goin’ Courtin’ – Milly and Brothers
  • Social Dance – Milly, Adam, Brides, Brothers, Suitors and Townspeople
  • Love Never Goes Away – Adam, Milly and Gideon
  • Sobbin’ Women – Adam and Brothers

Act 2

  • The Townsfolk’s Lament – Suitors and Townspeople
  • A Woman Ought To Know Her Place – Adam
  • We Gotta Make It Through The Winter – Brothers
  • We Gotta Make It Through The Winter (Reprise) – Milly and Brides
  • Spring Dance – Brides and Brothers
  • A Woman Ought To Know Her Place (Reprise) – Adam and Gideon
  • Glad That You Were Born – Milly, Brides, Brothers
  • Love Never Goes Away (Reprise) – Milly and Adam
  • Wonderful, Wonderful Day (Reprise) – Milly and Adam
  • Wedding Dance – Milly, Adam, Brides, Brothers and Townspeople
Awards

1983 Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Original Score

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

 

 

 

Song and Dance

Song and Dance features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Don Black. The show was unique at the time as it combined a one woman musical with a danced second half. The first half, which went on to be called ‘Tell Me on a Sunday’ focuses on an English girl looking for love in New York. The second half involved a ballet choreographed to ‘Variations’ which was written for Andrew’s cellist brother Julian, based on the A Minor Caprice No. 24 by Paganini. The show was very popular with audiences and went on to be a success on Broadway, after some Americanization and changes to the script. Bernadette Peters played the role of The Girl for over a year, winning a Tony Award for her performance. The whole show has not been performed in recent years, instead the ‘Song’ section has been revived in a solo form, which opened in 2003 in London’s West End.

Song and Dance

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Don Black & Richard Maltby Jr.

Richard Maltby Jr.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Variations On Paganini’s A-Minor Caprice and Tell Me On A Sunday

Cameron Mackintosh, Shubert Organization & FWM Producing Group

Richard Maltby Jr.

Peter Martins

Productions
Song and Dance London

Song and Dance - Original London

Palace Theatre - Opened 26 Mar 1982, closed 1 Jan 1970, 781 performances

Cast: Marti Webb (succeeded by Gemma Craven, Lulu, and Liz Robertson). Sarah Brightman starred in the video. Wayne Sleep and Jane Darling were featured in the Dance section. 

Song and Dance Broadway

Song and Dance - Original Broadway

The Royale Theatre - Opened 11 Sep 1985, closed 1 Jan 1970, 474 performances

Cast:  Bernadette Peters (succeeded by Betty Buckley) Dance featured Christopher d’Amboise and Gregg Burge.



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

Synopsis

An English girl moves to New York in search of love and a new life. She walks in to an argument with her boyfriend and the two decide to break up. She frequently writes to her mother in England with news of her travels. She meets a man named Sheldon Bloom and the pair move out to LA, as he is a Hollywood producer. Although initially excited at the new style of living, she realises it isn’t for her and that she is used as a ‘trophy girlfriend’. She ends their relationship and moves back to New York. She goes on to meet a younger man and falls in love once again. As he has to move away for work she learns of his infidelity from a girlfriend and she finds herself alone once again. In New York she becomes depressed and begins dating a married man. Although she knows this is morally wrong, he is in love with her but she realises she has just been using him. She comes to the conclusion that it isn’t the end of the world to have no one.

In the ‘Dance’ section of the show we see one of the men and examine their character. At the end, the man and girl come together and they make up, joining in the Song and Dance.

Songs
  • Overture
  • Take That Look Off Your face
  • Let Me Finish
  • So Much to Do in New York
  • First Letter Home
  • English Girls
  • Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad
  • You Made Me Think You Were in Love
  • Capped Teeth (reprise)
  • So Much to Do (II)
  • Second Letter
  • Unexpected Song
  • Come Back With the Same Look in Your Eyes
  • Take That Look (reprise)
  • Tell Me on a Sunday
  • So Much to Do (reprise)
  • Married Man
  • Third Letter
  • Nothing Like You’ve Ever Known
  • Finale
Awards

1986 Tony Awards: Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Bernadette Peters)

Licensing

UK: Really Useful Group

USA: Really Useful Group

 

Street Scene

Street Scene is sometimes referred to an American Opera, along the similar lines to Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’. The score was created by Kurt Weill, including lyrics by Langston Hughes with book by Elmer Rice. The musical is based on Rice’s earlier play of the same name which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. The original production enjoyed modest success although it was partly a commercial failure. The show has not been revived on Broadway, although it is a popular choice for Opera companies in both the USA and UK. A successful revival by The Opera Group at the Young Vic in 2008 brought the show to the attention of West End audiences and has gone on to further productions around the world.

Street Scene - Poster

Kurt Weill

Langston Hughes

Elmer Rice

Dwight Deere Wiman & The Playwrights Co.

Charles Friedman

Anna Sokolow

Productions
Street Scene Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Adelphi Theatre - Opened 9 Jan 1947, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Norman Cordon, Anne Jeffreys, Polyna Stoska, Brian Sullivan, Hope Emerson, Sheila Bond, Danny Daniels, Don Saxon & Juanita Hall

Street Scene Original London

Original London Production

London Coliseum - Opened 9 Jan 1989, closed 1 Jan 1970

Street Scene Young Vic

London Revival

Young Vic - Opened 1 Jul 2008, closed 1 Jan 1970



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Synopsis

It is a hot summer day in a tenement on Manhattan’s East Side in 1946. The neighbours sit on their porches complaining about the heat before the gossip turns to Mrs. Maurrant, who is suspected to be having an affair with the milkman, Steve Sankey (“Get a Load of That”). Mrs. Maurrant arrives to chat with the neighbours, who quickly hush all talk of the alleged affair. Young Sam Kaplan comes out of his house and enquires after Mrs. Maurrant’s daughter, Rose, but is told she has not returned form work.

Mrs. Maurrant’s husband, Frank comes home and they fight over the fact that Rose is not back from work (“She Shouldn’t Be Staying Out Nights”). He storms into the house, just as Steve Sankey arrives. The women are very suspicious, particularly when Mrs. Maurrant follows him when he leaves. Mrs. Olsen arrives to claim she has just seen them standing together nearby. Mrs. Maurrant returns and Frank asks her where she’s been, and she says she’s been looking for their son, Willie. Frank gets into a fight with his neighbour Mr. Kaplan over their parenting styles, and Frank wishes people would “Let Things Be Like They Always Was.”

Sam arrives with Willie, who has been in a fight with a local youth. Sam stepped in to prevent Willie from being hurt, and Mrs. Maurrant takes Willie upstairs while Frank heads to a local bar, threatening that there will be trouble if Rose isn’t home when he gets back. With the family gone, the neighbours return to gossiping about the Maurrants, and Sam vehemently defends them. Most of the neighbours then retire for the evening, and Sam returns to his “Lonely House.” Rose arrives with her boss, Harry Easter, who walked her home after work. He makes a pass at her, promising she will be a Broadway star if they ran away together (“Wouldn’t You Like to Be on Broadway?”). She rejects his advances and sends him away when she sees her father coming home. He is furious that she has stayed out dancing and storms into their house.

One of the teenaged neighbours, Vincent, begins catcalling and harassing Rose, prompting Sam to rush to her defence. Vincent manages to knock Sam out, but retreats when he hears his mother calling him. Sam is embarrassed, but Rose is impressed. They share a kiss before Rose heads to bed.

The next morning, the children are playing outside before getting into a fight. Rose calls from her window for them to stop, and Sam comes outside to break it up. Rose tells Sam she has to head to the funeral of the head of her real estate firm. Mrs. Maurrant and Rose confront Frank about his behaviour and he flies into a rage. When Mrs. Maurrant asks how long he’ll be away on his next business trip, Frank accuses her of having an affair, which she denies. As he storms off, Rose and Mrs. Maurrant worry that “There’ll Be Trouble.”

Rose tells Sam about Harry’s offer of running away together, and he gets upset before suggesting that the he and Rose should be running off together instead. Rose agrees, and they plan to escape their humdrum lives (“We’ll Go Away Together”). She heads off to the funeral, and Sam watches as Steve arrives and heads up to the Maurrant house. Mrs. Maurrant pulls the shades down, just as Frank arrives having reconsidered his business trip. Sam pleads with Frank not to enter the house, but he pushes his way in. A scream is heard before two gunshots ring out. Steve appears in the window before being shot by Frank.

The neighbours congregate to see what the commotion is and Frank appears covered in blood brandishing a pistol as he makes his escape. The police arrive as does Rose, returning from the funeral. Sam tries to prevent her from seeing the tragic scene, but she too pushes her way in. She asks the police if her father has been found, but he has not. Sam has sent Willie to stay with an aunt.

The police finally find Frank in a nearby basement. He asks to speak to his daughter before being taken away, and they agree. Frank and a devastated Rose share a moment (“He Loved Her Too”) before he is arrested. Rose informs Sam that she is going away, and he pleads with her to stay as he loves her. She replies that her parents have proved to her that love does not exist and that she must go alone. The neighbours congregate and gossip about Rose being seen with Harry last night before conversation returns to the sweltering heat.

Songs
  • Ain’t It Awful, The Heat?
  • Boy Like You, A
  • Catch Me If You Can
  • Don’t Forget The Lilac Bush
  • Get A Load Of That
  • I Got A Marble And A StarI Loved Her Too
  • Ice Cream Sextet
  • Let Things Be Like They Always Was
  • Lonely House
  • Lullaby
  • Moon Faced, Starry Eyed
  • Remember That I Care
  • Somehow I Never Could Believe
  • There’ll Be Trouble
  • We’ll Go Away Together
  • What Good Would The Moon Be?
  • When A Woman Has A Baby
  • Woman Who Lived Up There, The
  • Wouldn’t You Like To Be On Broadway?/Don’t Forget The Lilac Bush
  • Wrapped In A Ribbon And Tied In A Bow
Awards

Evening Standard Award 2008 for Best Musical

 

 

She Loves Me

She Loves Me is a musical based on the frequently adapted play ‘Parfumerie’ by Hungarian Miklos Laszlo, which was also the basis of the 1998 film ‘You’ve Got Mail’ starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The show features two shop workers in Budapest who are unknowingly each other’s secret pen pals, despite being constantly at odds with each other in real life. The musical features music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, the team behind ‘Fiddler on the Roof’. The book is adapted from the play by Joe Masteroff. Originating on Broadway in 1963, the show has had successful productions all around the world, with award winning revivals in the West End and Broadway throughout the 1990s.

She Loves Me Playbill

Jerry Bock

Sheldon Harnick

Joe Masteroff

Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo

Lawrence Kasha

Harold Prince

Carol Haney

Productions
She Loves Me Original Broadway

She Loves Me - Original Broadway

Eugene O'Neill Theatre - Opened 23 Apr 1963, closed 1 Jan 1970, 302 performances

Cast: Daniel Massey, Barbara Cook, Barbara Baxley, Jack Cassidy , Nathaniel Frey, Ralph Williams, and Ludwig Donath.

She Loves Me Original London

She Loves Me - Original London

Lyric Theatre - Opened 29 Apr 1964, closed 1 Jan 1970, 189 performances

She Loves Me Broadway Revival

She Loves Me - Broadway Revival

Brooks Atkinson Theatre - Opened 10 Jun 1993, closed 19 Jun 1994, 354 performances

Cast: Boyd Gaines, Judy Kuhn, Sally Mayes, Howard McGillin, Lee Wilkof, Brad Kane, and Louis Zorich 

She Loves Me London Revival

She Loves Me - London Revival

Savoy Theatre - Opened 12 Jul 1994, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Ruthie Henshall



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Synopsis

The show begins on bright morning in Budapest in the late 1930s. The employees of Mr Maraczek’s Parfumerie arrive at work and gossip about the daily arrivals, (“Good Morning, Good Day”). Arpad Laszlo the delivery boy greets Ladisov Sipos, a middle aged Jewish salesman. They are joined by the sexy Ilona Ritter and her part-time boyfriend Steven Kodaly along with the manager Georg. The team go into full sales mode as Maraczek arrives. Georg is smitten with a pen pal he has made and shares his romantic letters with the team as Maraczek advises him to get married, (“Days Gone By”).

A new musical cigarette box arrives in the store that Maraczek believes will sell out. He sets them a challenge to sell one in the first hour. Amalia Balash, a shy young lade enters trying to get a job, but Georg tells her they are not hiring. She promises she has sales skills and convinces Maraczek to hire her after selling a music box to a customer, (“No More Candy”).
Georg and Amalia argue constantly at work, kept going by their mutual anonymous romantic pen pals, not realising that they are writing to each other, (“Three Letters”). Both of them have arranged to meet their pen pals and Sipos observes that they continue to bicker because they in fact like each other very much. Maraczek gets continually frustrated with Georg as he thinks it is he who is having an affair with his wife. On the night of his date Georg makes him stay late to hang Christmas decorations. Amalia says she cannot stay, and Georg is not excused and decides to quit. Amalia sets out to meet her date in a restaurant armed with a copy of ‘Anna Karenina’ with a flower in it. Kodaly starts to seduce “Ilona” and just as she falls for him he realises he can still go to another date that he has planned. Ilona is angry saying she will never fall for him again, (“I Resolve”).

Maraczek orders a private investigator to find out about his wife’s affair, and he reveals that it is Kodaly who is having an affair with his wife and not Georg. His wife calls and tells him she has to stay out late. Upset, he puts a gun to his head but Arpad enters just in time. Meanwhile Amalia is waiting patiently at the restaurant where the waiter is trying to maintain a “Romantic Atmosphere”. Georg arrives and realises his pen pall is Amalia, asking Sipos for help. He is forced in to see her, but doesn’t tell her that it is he she is waiting for. He tells her a “Tango Tragique” about a woman who was murdered on a blind date. As they argue, Amalia is left alone hoping her “Dear Friend” will rescue her.

The next day Maraczek wakes up after surviving his suicide attempt. He is impressed with Arpad’s work and promotes him to the position of a clerk, (“Try Me”). Georg also visits and Maraczek apologises for his anger and reinstates him as manager, telling him to fire Kodaly.

Georg goes to visit Amalia who has called in sick to work but pretends she is simply late, (“Where’s My Shoe?”). Georg takes her back to bed and leaves her Vanilla ice cream as a gift. He makes up a story to comfort her about her failed blind date. Amalia is taken with Gerog’s conversation and thinks about how kind he has been “Vanilla Ice Cream”. On the street Georg rejoices that “She Loves Me”.

Back in the store Ilona tells Sipos that she has been on a date with an optometrist who she met on “A Trip to the Library”. Kodaly is fired and bids everyone farewell, (“Grand Knowing You”). The busy Christmas shoppers keep the store alive and Maraczek returns in good health. As they all leave for a fun Christmas, Amalia arrives and discovers that Georg is her ‘dear friend’. They kiss as the curtain falls.

Songs
  • Opening
  • Good Morning, Good Day
  • Sounds While Selling
  • Days Gone By
  • No More Candy
  • Thank You, Madam
  • Three Letters
  • Tonight at Eight
  • I Don’t Know His Name
  • Perspective
  • Goodbye, Georg
  • Will He Like Me?
  • Ilona
  • I Resolve
  • A Romantic Atmosphere
  • Tango Tragique
  • Mr Nowack Will You Please?
  • Dear Friend
  • Entr’acte
  • Try Me
  • Where’s My Shoe?
  • Vanilla Ice Cream
  • She Loves Me
  • A Trip To the Library
  • Grand Knowing You
  • Twelve Days To Christmas
  • Finale
  • Bows
  • Thank You
  • Exit
Awards

Nominated for 7 Tony Awards in 1964 – Jack Cassidy won for SUPPORTING OR FEATURED ACTOR (MUSICAL).

The Revival in 1994 was nominated for 16 Tony Awards – Boyd Gaines won for   ACTOR (MUSICAL).

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

The Sound of Music

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most loved musical The Sound of Music has enchanted audiences all over the world. Since opening on Broadway in 1959 the show quickly became known for its recognisable score that features songs such as ‘My Favourite Things’, ‘Climb Every Mountain’, ‘Do Re Me’ and ‘The Lonely Goatherd’. The final show in the R&H cannon is perhaps their most successful, thanks in part to the 1965 film adaptation starring Julie Andrews that has been seen and enjoyed by generations all over the world. Based on ‘The Von Trapp Family’ the show tells the story of governess Maria who is sent to Captain Von Trapp’s family in Austria to look after his children during the rise of the Nazi party in Europe. The show holds records for the highest advance ticket sales in the West End when the 1981 revival opened starring Petula Clarke, and was similarly successful in 2006 at the London Palladium.

The Sound of Music

Richard Rodgers

Oscar Hammerstein II

Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse

suggested by The Story Of Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp

Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Leland Hayward & Richard Halliday

Vincent J. Donehue

Joe Layton

Productions
The Sound of Music Lunt Fontanne 1959

Original Broadway Production

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - Opened 16 Nov 1959, closed 15 Jun 1963, 1443 performances

Cast: Mary Martin, Theodore Bikel, Patricia Neway, Max Detweiler, Marion Marlowe, Brian Davies, Lauri Peters.

The Sound of Music Palace 1961

Original London Production

The Palace Theatre - Opened 18 May 1961, closed 1 Jan 1970, 2385 performances

Cast: Jean Bayless, Sonia Rees, Roger Dann, Constance Shacklock, Eunice Gaysor, Harold Kasket, Barbara Brown, Nicholas Bennett, Olive Gilbert.

The Sound of Music Apollo Victoria 1981

First London Revival

Apollo Victoria Theatre - Opened 1 Jan 1981, closed 1 Jan 1970

The Sound of Music Martin Beck 1998

Broadway Revival

Martin Beck Theatre - Opened 12 Mar 1998, closed 1 Jun 1999

Sound of Music Palladium 2006

Second London Revival

London Palladium - Opened 15 Nov 2006, closed 1 Feb 2009

Cast: Connie Fisher, Alexander Hanson, Lesley Garrett,

The Sound of Music Open Air 2013

The Sound of Music - Open Air Revival

Open Air Regent's Park - Opened 25 Jul 2013, closed 7 Sep 2013



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

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

A cold Captain enlists the help of a fun novice to care for his 7 children who wins them over with goatherds and dresses made from curtains

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In Salzberg, Austria we are introduced to a convent where Maria Rayner is currently a novice. She is continually late for prayers and gets distracted on the hills. Many of the Nuns want her to leave the convent, but instead Mother Abbess sends her to a nearby Captain’s house who has requested a new governess for his seven children. Maria is initially alarmed at the prospect, but upon meeting the Von Trapp children is instantly charmed, despite their hostility. Captain Von Trapp is an extremely cold father and brings the children up alone. The children play a number of tricks on Maria, who begins to win them over through songs, dance and dresses made from curtains. The eldest daughter Lisel is secretly dating the delivery boy Rolf, and confides in Maria who offers advice. Von Trapp speaks of his concern at the growth of the Nazi party, but is told by his new girlfriend the Baroness that it is inevitable. The two become engaged.

Maria introduces song and laughter back into the children’s life, and gradually starts to change the Captain’s opinions on how their life should be. They begin to get closer and closer, and as the children perform at a party, Maria and Von Trapp dance together. Maria realises she has feelings for her employer, and runs back to seek solace at the convent. Mother Abbess convinces her to be secure in her work and ask for comfort in God, teaching her to ‘Climb Every Mountain’.

As the children prepare to sing on-stage they are upset without Maria in their lives. As she arrives back at their house, they are delighted to see her. The Captain is concerned at the Anschluss, but The Baroness Elsa tells him there is ‘No Way to Stop It’. She calls off the engagement, allowing Von Trapp to realise his true feelings for Maria, and the two are wed.

Pressure grows on the Captain to join the Nazi army and the family come up with a plan. During a singing competition they appear on stage together as ‘The Von Trapp Family Singers’, causing a diversion for them to escape into the Alps. They are aided by the Nuns who stalls the army, allowing them to escape and ‘Climb Evr’y Mountain’.

Songs

Act I

  • Preludium
  • Sound of Music, The
  • Maria
  • My Favorite Things
  • Do-Re-Mi
  • Sixteen Going On Seventeen
  • Lonely Goatherd, The
  • How Can Love Survive?
  • The Sound Of Music (reprise)
  • Grand Waltz (The Party)
  • Landler
  • So Long, Farewell
  • Climb Ev’ry Mountain

Act II

  • Entr’acte (Opening Act II)
  • My Favourite Things (reprise)
  • No Way To Stop It
  • An Ordinary Couple
  • Change Of Scene (Gaudeamus Domino)
  • Processional
  • Sixteen Going On Seventeen (reprise)
  • Do-Re-Mi (reprise)
  • Edelweiss
  • So, Long Farewell (The Concert)
  • Finale Ultimo: Climb Ev’ry Mountain

Movie

  • I Have Confidence (from the Movie)
  • Something Good (from the Movie)
Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: R & H Theatricals

 

The Scottsboro Boys

The Scottsboro Boys was one of the last collaborations between John Kander and Fred Ebb before Ebb’s death. The musical features a book by David Thompson and is based on the Scottsboro Boys trial. The piece is set up like a minstrel show, in which the cast tell the story led by a white Interlocutor. The original Broadway production was directed by Susan Stroman and opened at the Lyceum Theatre in 2010, after various off-Broadway tryouts. The show was critically successful although closed early after only 49 regular performances. The show went on to be nominated for 12 Tony Awards, although failed to win in any category. The harrowing story of the black boys accused of raping two white women on a train is based on historical events, and was both emotional and harrowing. The musical has gone on to enjoy a life in regional theatres across America.

The Scottsboro Boys

John Kander

Fred Ebb

David Thompson

The trial of the Scottsboro boys

Barry & Fran Weissler, Jacki Barlia Florin, Janet Pailet/Sharon Carr/Patricia R. Klausner, Nederlander Presentations, Inc.

Susan Stroman

Susan Stroman

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Lyceum Theatre - Opened 31 Oct 2010, closed 12 Dec 2010, 49 performances

Cast: Joshua Henry, John Cullum, Josh Breckenridge, Derrick Cobey, Colman Domingo, Jeremy Gumbs, Rodney Hicks, Kendrick Jones, James T Lane, Forrest McClendon.



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Synopsis

A lady is waiting a bus stop and begins to remember what happened to the Scottsboro Boys. Minstrels arrive (“Minstrel March”), and the Interloculator arrives to narrate the story.

In 1931, nine African-American boys are waiting at a train station. One of them, Haywood Patterson is ready to set off on an adventure “Commencing in Chattanooga.” When a train stops at the platform, two girls who have run away from home jump off, trying to escape being sent back (“Alabama Ladies”). To distract their pursuers, the girls, Ruby Bates and Victoria Price, falsely accuse all nine boys of rape, and they are promptly arrested.

At trial, they are given “Nothin’” in the way of legal counsel and as a result, they are found guilty and sentenced to death. The youngest, Eugene is frightened of the “Electric Chair,” and all of the boys wish they could just “Go Back Home.” As they are about to be executed, the Supreme Court rules that the boys did not receive adequate legal counsel, and the verdict is overturned.

A year passes by before the next trial, during which Haywood teaches himself to write. By 1933, the trial has become a major news story in the North, where it is considered a severe case of injustice given the all-white jury. A New York lawyer, Samuel Leibowitz, arrives to defend the boys as their new trial begins. The alleged victim, Ruby Bates, decides it is “Never Too Late” to tell the truth and confirms that the boys are innocent, but the prosecution then accuses the defence of paying her for her testimony.

The boys anticipate gaining their freedom as they do not believe that they can be convicted yet again for a crime that has not occurred. They dream of heading to the North, but the Interloculator reminds them to remember the South will always be home (“Southern Days”). Shockingly, the boys are found guilty again and return to prison. As his mother lies dying, Haywood escapes but is quickly recaptured.

Leibowitz remains steadfast in his defence of the boys and continues to appeal, but the they are found guilty in each retrial. Victoria Price begins to feel remorse for their continued imprisonment (“Alabama Ladies – Reprise”). In 1937, the four youngest boys have been released, and Haywood is brought up for parole, which will be decided by the Alabama governor (“It’s Gonna Take Time”). Though some suggest he should just plead guilty to get out of jail, Haywood refuses to tell a lie and is returned to prison (“Zat So?/You Can’t Do Me”). He dies in prison two decades later.

The Interloculator encourages “The Scottsboro Boys” to perform a finale. As the song ends, the lady on the bench from the introduction is revealed to be Rosa Parks, as she boards a bus and refuses to move to the back for a white man to sit down.

Songs
  1. Minstrel March – Orchestra
  2. Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey! – Company
  3. Commencing in Chattanooga – Haywood and Scottsboro Boys
  4. Alabama Ladies – Victoria Price and Ruby Bates
  5. Nothin’ – Haywood
  6. Electric Chair – Guards, Eugene, Electrofied Charlie, and Electrofied Issac
  7. Go Back Home – Haywood, Eugene, and Scottsboro Boys
  8. Shout! – Scottsboro Boys
  9. Make Friends with the Truth – Haywood, Billy, and Scottsboro Boys
  10. That’s Not the Way We Do Things – Samuel Leibowitz
  11. Never Too Late – Ruby Bates and Scottsboro Boys
  12. Financial Advice – Attorney General
  13. Southern Days – Scottsboro Boys
  14. Alabama Ladies (Reprise) – Victoria Price
  15. It’s Gonna Take Time – Interlocutor
  16. Zat So – Governor of Alabama, Samuel Leibowitz, and Haywood
  17. You Can’t Do Me – Haywood
  18. The Scottsboro Boys – Scottsboro Boys
Awards

2011 Tony Award Nominations: Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Choreography, Best Direction, Best Orchestrations, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, Best Performance.

Sweet Charity

Sweet Charity is a popular musical that has enjoyed successes in both London and New York, as well as the big screen. The show features music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields and includes show standards such as ‘Big Spender’, ‘If They Could See Me Now’ and ‘The Rhythm of Life’. Neil Simon’s book is loosly based on Fellini’s screenplay for ‘Nights or Cabiria’ which follows the romantic toils of an optimistic prostitute from a Times Square dance hall. The original production was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse and starred his wife Gwen Verdon. The show has been revived on Broadway and in the West End numerous times, with many famous actresses taking the central role of Charity Hope Valentine, such as Shirley MacLaine, Christina Applegate and Tamsin Outhwaite.

Sweet Charity Original Playbill

Cy Coleman

Dorothy Fields

Neil Simon

the film Nights Of Cabiria

Robert Fryer, Lawrence Carr, Sylvia Harris, and Joseph Harris

Bob Fosse

Bob Fosse

Productions

Original Broadway Production

January 29 1966 – July 15, 1967; Palace Theatre

Cast: Gwen Verdon, John McMartin, Helen Gallagher, Thelma Oliver, James Luisi, Arnold Soboloff, and Sharon Ritchie.

Original London Production

October 1967; Prince of Wales Theatre (476 performances)

Broadway Revival

April 27 1986 – March 15, 1987; Minskoff Theatre

Cast: Debbie Allen (Charity), Bebe Neuwirth (Nickie) Michael Rupert (Oscar)

London Revival

19 May 1998 – 15 August 1998; Victoria Palace Theatre

Broadway Revival

February 17 2005 – December 31 2005; Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Cast: Christina Applegate (Charity)

London Revival

21 November 2009 – 7 March 2010; Menier Chocolate Factory. 23 April – 8 Jan 2011 (transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket)



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

Synopsis

Charity Valentine is a young woman in New York who works as a taxi dancer at the Fandango Ballroom, meaning gentleman pay her to dance with them by the hour. One evening she meets up with her deadbeat boyfriend Charlie, who she imagines is a lot more complimentary than he is in real life (“You Should See Yourself”). Shockingly, he ends up stealing her purse and pushing her into the lake. She is saved by a passerby and returns empty-handed to the Fandango.

The other girls are unsurprised that Charity has had her heart broken yet again, and encourage her to get more street smarts. They hit the dancefloor, looking for another “Big Spender” to spend a little time with. Charity’s friends Helene and Nickie try to help her through her heartbreak in “Charity’s Soliloquy.”

Leaving work, Charity gives all of her money away to beggars and realises she now won’t be able to eat. Suddenly a film star, Vittorio Vidal chases his girlfriend, Ursula, past Charity. When Ursula refuses to return to him, Vittorio impulsively grabs Charity instead, and she is thrilled with her luck. Vittorio and Charity head to the swanky Pompeii Club, where the clientele are dancing the “Rich Man’s Frug.” Famished after her long day, Charity faints, and encourages Vittorio to bring her to his apartment to rest.

Charity thinks she has all the luck and sings “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” before Ursula arrives to reconcile with Vittorio. Vittorio hides Charity in a closet, where she ends up staying overnight. Vittorio sneaks her out the next morning, and she returns to the Fandango, where she and the girls agree “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This.”

In another twist of fate, Charity finds herself stuck in an elevator with a tax accountant named Oscar Lindquist, and she allays his fears with “I’m the Bravest Individual.” They are eventually rescued, and Oscar persuades Charity to visit his hippie church, where they sing “The Rhythm of Life.” When Oscar tries to guess Charity’s profession, he decides she works for a bank and she claims he is correct. Besotted once again, Charity agrees to start dating Oscar, who now calls her “Sweet Charity.”

Charity continues not to reveal her true profession. When she’s cheated out of a client by the new girl she decides to quit Fandango, though she wonders what the future will hold for her (“Where Am I Going?”). She meets up with Oscar and confesses that she is a taxi dancer, to which he confesses that he had followed her one night and already knew. Oscar assures her he doesn’t care what she does for a living and wants to marry her. Charity is thrilled and agrees, singing “I’m a Brass Band.”
Charity returns to the Fandango Ballroom to say goodbye to her friends, who “Love to Cry at Weddings.” Oscar and Charity walk through Central Park, where Oscar suddenly announces that his jealousy of the men she dances for has caused him to decide he cannot go through with the wedding. He pushes her into the lake, just as her previous boyfriend did, but Charity realises at least he didn’t steal her purse and asserts herself with a reprise of “I’m the Bravest Individual.”

Songs

ACT I

  • Overture
  • You Should See Yourself
  • Big Spender
  • Charity’s Soliloquy
  • Rich Man’s Frug
  • If My Friends Could See Me Now
  • Too Many Tomorrows
  • If My Friends Could See Me Now (Reprise)
  • There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This
  • I’m The Bravest Individual

ACT II

  • Entr’acte
  • Rhythm Of Life, The
  • Baby Dream Your Dream
  • Sweet Charity
  • Big Spender (Reprise)
  • Where Am I Going?
  • I’m A Brass Band
  • I Love To Cry At Weddings
  • Finale
Awards

1966 Tony Awards: Best Choreographer (Bob Fosse)

1986 Tony Awards: Best Revival, Best Featured Actor & Actress in a Musical, Best Costume Design

1986 Drama Desk: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

2005 Drama Desk: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark

Sunday in the Park With George

Stephen Sondheim’s 1984 musical Sunday in the Park With George is regarded by many as his finest and most autobiographical work. The composer collaborated with James Lapine, inspired by the painting ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’ by French painter Georges Seurat, and came up with a complex musical that switches between two time frames. Act One concerns the character of Georges and the characters of his painting, which Act Two set in modern day New York. Sondheim composed the score in a similar way to Seurat’s painting style, pointalism, only using notes that are clustered together in the scale. The musical won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, along with numerous Drama Desk and Olivier Awards. The last major revival opened in London at the Menier Chocolate Factory and transferred to Broadway in 2008.

Sunday in the Park With George

Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim

James Lapine

the Shubert Organization & Emanuel Azenberg

James Lapine

Productions

Original Broadway Production

Booth Theatre - Opened 2 May 1984, closed 13 Oct 1985, 604 performances

Cast: Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Charles Kimbrough, Barbara Bryne, Dana Ivey, William Parry & Robert Westenberg

Original London Production

National Theatre - Opened 15 Mar 1990, closed 1 Jan 1970, 117 performances

London Revival

Menier Chocolate Factory and Wyndham's Theatre - Opened 14 Nov 2005, closed 2 Sep 2006

Broadway Revival

Studio 54 - Opened 21 Feb 2008, closed 29 Jun 2008



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

Synopsis

In 1884 Paris, George Seurat is making sketches to prepare for his famous painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” His partner, Dot, is modeling for him despite her frustrations. The scene shifts to an art gallery where Georges’ artist friend Jules and his wife Yvonne remark that his work has “No Life.”

Back at Georges’ studio, Dot is eagerly preparing for their trip to the Follies, but once again Georges chooses his painting over Dot and they do not go.  Back on the island, Dot turns up with a new beau Louis, which prompts two girls, both named Celeste, to “Gossip” about them. The girls set their sights on a pair of sailors who have arrived. Jules berates Georges for what he views is his poor artistic skills. Dot laments losing Georges, but decides that being with Louis was the right choice (“Everybody Loves Louis”). The Celestes fight over the soldiers, with each of them wanting “The One on the Left.”

As everyone leaves the island, Georges is sad to have lost Dot, but realizes that art will always take precedence for him (“Finishing the Hat”). Dot arrives at his studio to reveal she is carrying his child but will soon be moving to America with Louis. Yvonne and Jules arrive to convince Georges to give up his unconventional method of painting, but he refuses. After they leave, Dot and Georges finally agree they will never work as a couple (“We Do Not Belong Together”). At the park again, all of Georges’ subjects are squabbling before he finally asserts his control and paints the simple harmonious scene he wants as the characters form their famous tableau (“Sunday”). The subjects in the painting remark on how they dislike being stuck in the same spot (“It’s Hot Up Here”), before revealing their sadness at Georges’s premature death at the age of 31.

In 1984 New York City, Georges and Dot’s great-grandson George is also an artist and reveals his latest creation, “Chromolume #7” which was inspired by Georges’ famous painting. George’s grandmother (Georges and Dot’s daughter) Marie arrives to help with his presentation. The art critics are very impressed with the work, but George still finds it difficult to maintain a career in art (“Putting It Together”). Marie reflects on her pride at the family’s legacy (“Children and Art”).

A few weeks later, Marie has died, and George has arrived in Paris to present his work on the island that inspired Georges’ painting. He reads from a book Dot passed down to Marie and reflects on his similarities to his ancestor. A vision of Dot appears and encourages George to continue to pursue art (“Move On”). The characters from the painting resume their positions in the tableau (“Sunday”) before disappearing, leaving only a blank canvas with unlimited possibilities. 

Songs

Act I

  • “Sunday in the Park with George” – Georges & Dot
  • “No Life” – Jules, Yvonne
  • “Color and Light” – Dot, Georges
  • “Gossip” – Celeste #1, Celeste #2, Boatman, Nurse, Old Lady, Jules, Yvonne
  • “The Day Off” – Company
  • “Everybody Loves Louis” – Dot
  • “The One on the Left” – Soldier, Celeste #1, Celeste #2, Georges
  • “Finishing the Hat” – Georges
  • “We Do Not Belong Together” – Dot, Georges
  • “Beautiful” – Old Lady, Georges
  • “Sunday” – Company

Act II

  • “It’s Hot Up Here” – Company
  • “Chromolume #7″ – Orchestra
  • “Putting It Together” – Company
  • “Children and Art” – Marie
  • “Lesson #8″ – George
  • “Move On” – George, Dot
  • “Sunday” (Reprise) – Company
Awards

Winner of the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Tony Awards Won

  • Best Scenic Design (Tony Straiges)
  • Best Lighting Design (Richard Nelson)
Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

 

Starlight Express

Starlight Express is a modern rock musical by British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, featuring lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. The musical became one of the longest running shows in West End history after playing at the Apollo Victoria for over 7,400 performances. The show follows a young boy’s dream of his toy train set coming to life, and the show follows the story of a group of railway trains including Rusty, Greaseball, Diana and Electric. The score features a wide style of music from rap to country and western, and has been revised multiple times before each new production. The show became known for its staging and choreography by Arlene Phillips, as the full cast performed on roller skates, in a set by John Napier that travelled around the whole auditorium. Race sequences played out over the audience’s heads and around the whole theatre. Newer productions have used 3D technology to get around this staging problem, and have been equally effective.

Starlight Express

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Richard Stilgoe

Richard Stilgoe

The Really Useful Theatre Company Ltd, Martin Starger and Lord Lew Grade

Trevor Nunn

Arlene Phillips

Productions

Original London Production

Apollo Victoria Theatre - Opened 27 Mar 1984, closed 12 Jan 2002

Original Broadway Production

George Gershwin Theatre - Opened 15 Mar 1987, closed 8 Jan 1989



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

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Boy’s train set comes to life as the rusty underdog fights to become the world train racing champion to win the love of a fellow carriage. 

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


The show opens with the voice of ‘Control’ who is playing with his toy train set. He begins to fall asleep as the “Overture” begins, and as the music builds, the “Entry of the National Trains” begins. The trains speed around the stage, and are rudely interrupted by Greaseball and his gang of thugs who sing “Rolling Stock”. Greaseball challenges any train to a race, saying he cannot be beaten.

Rusty the steam train enters and is shunned by other trains. He wants to compete in the race, but the coaches are unsure that he will be safe racing against faster machines. The coaches introduce themselves as Dinah the food car, Buffy the buffet car, Ashley the smoking car and Pearl who had previously agreed to race alongside Rusty. Greaseball and his cronies try to impress the gathered crowd to show how strong they are and to prove the supremacy of Diesel engines, (“Pumping Iron”). Rusty brings on the freight trains who tell everyone that “Freight is Great”.

As the first race is about to start and the trains line up, the lights go dark and Electra arrives onstage singing “AC/DC” and impresses everyone by being an electric train. He has his pick of all the carriages, and Pearl dumps Rusty in order to connect with Electra, (“He’ll Whistle At Me”). In the first heat, Greaseball and Dinah cheat to win, but Dinah is not very happy and as she tries to protest Greaseball knocks her to the floor.

Poppa enters and teaches everyone how to sing the blues, (“Poppa’s Blues”) as Rusty enters and looks downhearted. Poppa tells him to believe in himself and that he can race with Belle the Sleeping car. In the second heat Rusty loses to Electra and Pearl and Poppa tells Rusty to believe in the power of the Starlight Express. Rusty rejects his help, but they hear that heat three needs an extra racer to take the place of the British train who has broken down. Poppa jumps into the race and wins narrowly, proving the power of the Starlight Express. Rusty finally believes and sings to it for guidance and help “Starlight Express”.

Act II begins with “The Rap” as Poppa pulls out of the race and Rusty takes his place in the finals. Greaseball dumps Dinah in favour of Pearl, and Dinah mourns the loss of her partner in “U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D”.

Rusty suffers from nerves once again, and speaks to the Starlight Express who convinces him he can win, and to look inside himself to realise he can win. In a heated final race, Electra and Greaseball fight between themselves over who will win. As Greaseball dumps Pearl mid-race, Rusty steps in to save her, and as the two fight between themselves he crosses the finishing line first. Pearl realises that she should have been with Rusty from the beginning and sings “Only He”. The rest of the cast celebrate and sing “Light at the End of the Tunnel”.

Songs

Act I

  • Overture
  • Rolling Stock – Greaseball and the Gang
  • Taunting Rusty – Rusty, Greaseball, Gang
  • Call Me Rusty – Rusty, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy and Ashley
  • Rusty, You Can’t Be Serious – Rusty, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy and Ashley
  • A Lotta Locomotion – Dinah, Ashley, Buffy and Pearl
  • Pumping Iron – Greaseball, Pearl, Ashley, Dinah, Buffy, 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers
  • Freight – Pearl, Ashley, Dinah, Buffy, Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III, C.B, Dustin, Flat-Top
  • Entry of the National Trains – National Engines and Marshals
  • AC/DC – Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta and Company
  • Hitching and Switching – The Company
  • Pearl, You’ve Been Honoured – Purse, Pearl, Rusty
  • He Whistled at Me – Pearl
  • Race: Heat One – Greaseball and Dinah, Espresso and Buffy, Hashamoto and C.B.
  • That was Unfair – Dinah, Greaseball, C.B.
  • There’s Me – C.B.
  • Poppa’s Blues – Poppa, Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rusty
  • Belle the Sleeping Car – Belle
  • Starlight Express Introduction – Poppa, Rusty, Belle
  • Race: Heat Two – Electra and Pearl, Weltschaft and Joule, Rusty and Belle
  • Boy, Boy, Boy – Poppa, Rusty, Belle, Trucks
  • Race: Heat Three – Poppa and Dustin, Turnov and Wrench, Bobo and Ashley
  • Laughing Stock – The Company
  • Starlight Express – Rusty
Act II 
  • The Rap – The Company
  • Pearl Twirl – Greaseball, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy, Ashley
  • U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D. – Dinah
  • Rolling Stock (Reprise) – Dinah, Belle, Ashley and Buffy
  • C.B. – C.B, Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta
  • Race: Uphill Final – Electra and Dinah, Rusty and C.B., Greaseball and Pearl
  • I Was Robbed – C.B., Rusty, Greaseball, Electra, Pearl, Trucks
  • Right Place, Right Time – Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III
  • I Am The Starlight – Rusty, Starlight Express, Dustin
  • He Whistled at Me (Reprise) – Dinah, Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Volta, Joule, C.B.
  • Race: Downhill Final – Rusty and Dustin, Electra and C.B, Greaseball and Pearl
  • No Comeback – Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta
  • One Rock & Roll Too Many – Greaseball, C.B.
  • Only He (Has The Power to Move Me) – Pearl, (Rusty)
  • Only You – Pearl, Rusty
  • Light at the End of the Tunnel – The Company
  • Light at the End of the Tunnel (Reprise)
Awards

1987 Tony Awards: Best Costume Design (John Napier) 

Licensing

UK: Really Useful Group

USA: Really Useful Group

 

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening is a groundbreaking rock musical by Duncan Sheik and Stephen Sater based on the 1871 play by Frank Wedekind that caused much controversy in Germany when first published. The show deals with issues of sex, abortion, masturbation, homosexuality and abuse and is famous for its eclectic score and memorable production. The musical started out as an Off-Broadway hit, before transferring to Broadway and becoming the most popular musical of the season. The show took home a whole host of Tony Awards including the award for Best New Musical. Despite this success, the show was not a hit in the UK and ran for just over two months, closing early after bad ticket sales. The show starred a young Lea Michelle and Jonathan Groff, who would later go on to be on-screen lovers in the hit comedy ‘Glee’.

Spring Awakening

Duncan Sheik

Stephen Sater

Stephen Sater

Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind

Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Atlantic Theater Company, Jeffrey Sine, Freddy DeMann,Max Cooper, Mor

Michael Mayer

Bill T Jones

Productions

Original Broadway Production: December 10, 2006 – January 18, 2009; Eugene O’Neill (888 performances)

Original Broadway Cast: Jonathan Groff, Lea Michelle, John Gallagher Jr, Lauren Pritchard.

Original London Production:  March 21, 2009 – May 30, 2009; Novello Theatre



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

Synopsis

It’s late 19th Century Germany and Wendla Bergmann, a teenager is angry at her mother for not teaching her what she needs to know in life, (“Mamma Who Bore Me”). She asks to learn about where babies are from but her mother cannot bring herself to tell her, saying it happens only when a woman loves her husband very much.

At school a group of teenage boys are studying Latin. Moritz Stiefel is a nervous boy and is yelled at by his teacher for getting a line wrong. His friend Melchior Gabor jumps to his defence but the teacher hits him with a cane. Melchior discusses the wrongs with society, (“All That’s Known”). Moritz tells Melchior about dreams he has been having that he thinks makes him insane. Melchior explains to him that these erotic dreams are normal and all boys experience them. Moritz asks Melchior to write down all the information in a book as he is scared of discussing it, (“The Bitch of Living”).
A group of girls fantasise about marrying boys they know, especially Melchior, (“My Junk”). Hanschen masturbates whilst looking at an erotic picture and Georg has fantasies about his piano teacher. Moritz has used the book Melchior made for him, but admits that it has only fuelled his imagination further. The boys and girls sing about their desire to be intimate, “Touch Me”.

Wendla finds Melchior in the woods and they sit together. They discuss the possibility of giving in to their desires but decide not to, (“The Word of Your Body”). Moritz looks at his school marks to see that he has passed his midterms, but is failed by his teacher anyway. Martha tells her friends that her father sexually abuses her and that her mother does nothing to stop it. The girls are shocked but promise not to tell anyone. She doesn’t want to end up like Ilse, an old friend who has been kicked out of the house (“The Dark I Know Well”). Wendla tells Melchior about the abuse and asks him to hit her with a stick and he reluctantly does, enjoying it the more he hits her. He runs away and Wendla finds his diary.

Mortiz’s parents are disgusted to learn their son has failed his exams and are worried about what other people will think. Moritz writes to Melchior’s mother and asks for money to run away to America, and begins to contemplate suicide when she refuses. Wendla meets Melchior in a hay loft where Melchior is disturbed at the thought of being stuck between adulthood and childhood (“The Mirror Blue Night”). He begins to kiss Wendla who doesn’t understand his advances and soon they are having sex, and it is unsure if Wendla consents, (“I Believe”).

Melchior and Wendla reflect on their post-coital feelings, (“The Guilty Ones”). Moritz begins to wonder around the woods after being thrown out of his home. He is carrying a pistol and meets Ilse on the road, (“Don’t Do Sadness”). Ilse is in love with Moritz but he refuses her advances, (“Don’t Do Sadness”) and as they come close to kissing she leaves. Moritz realises his feelings and tries to call to her but she has disappeared. He shoots himself.

At his funeral the school children gather around his grave (“Left Behind”). The school teachers go through his belongings and find the book written by Melchior and blame him for Moritz’s death and expel him, “Totally Fucked”. Hanschen meets his classmate Ernst and the two kiss (“Word of Your Body Reprise”).

Wendla is taken to the doctors and her mother is told that she is pregnant. She does not know how it has happened and realises that her mother has lied to her about where babies come from. She tells her mother who the father is and it ends with a certain degree of optimism, (“Whispering”). Melchior’s parents begin to discuss sending him to reform school but argue about what to do with him. They find out he is the father of Wendla’s child and send him away. Wendla and Melchior communicate with each other through letters and Melchior escapes to find her but doesn’t realise that she has been taken to have an abortion clinic. He tries to find her and comes across Mortiz’s grave. Melchior then sees the grave of Wendla and realises she has died from a botched abortion. As he is about to kill himself, the spirits of Moritz and Wendla come to offer him strength, (“Those You’ve Known”). The whole company arrive and sing “The Song of Purple Summer”.

Songs

Act I

  • Mama Who Bore Me” – Wendla
  • “Mama Who Bore Me” (Reprise) – Wendla and Girls
  • “All That’s Known” – Melchior
  • “The Bitch of Living” – Moritz, Melchior and Boys
  • “My Junk” – Girls and Boys
  • “Touch Me” – Boys and Girls
  • “The Word of Your Body” – Wendla and Melchior
  • “The Dark I Know Well” – Martha, Ilse and Boys
  • “And Then There Were None” – Moritz and Boys
  • “The Mirror-Blue Night” – Melchior and Boys
  • “I Believe” – Boys and Girls

Act II

  • The Guilty Ones” – Wendla, Melchior, Boys and Girls
  • “Don’t Do Sadness” – Moritz
  • “Blue Wind” – Ilse
  • “Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind” – Moritz and Ilse
  • “Left Behind” – Melchior, Boys and Girls
  • “Totally Fucked” – Melchior and Full Company (except Moritz)
  • “The Word of Your Body” (Reprise) – Hanschen, Ernst, Boys and Girls
  • “Whispering” – Wendla
  • “Those You’ve Known” – Moritz, Wendla and Melchior
  • “The Song of Purple Summer” – Ilse and Full Company
Awards

2007 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Lighting Design.

2010: Oliver Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Performance in a Supporting Role, Best Sound Design.

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

 

Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark

Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark is the controversial Broadway musical that holds the record for the most expensive musical production in history. Since its initial creation, controversy surrounded the production, with a preview period of 182 performances before the official press night. The show was regularly in the news before the official opening due to the size and scale of the aerial stunts, in which many cast members were injured throughout the initial performances. Originally directed by Julie Taymor, she was later let go from the production and sued the company for damaged in a long, ongoing legal battle. The musical features music by Bono and The Edge. 

Spiderman

Bono and The Edge

Bono and The Edge

Julie Taymor, Glen Berger and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

The Spiderman Comics

Michael Cohl & Jeremiah J. Harris, Land Line Productions, Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle/Tony Adams, Sony Pictures Enterta

Julie Taymor

Daniel Ezralow

Productions
Spiderman Foxwoods 2011

Original Broadway Production

Foxwoods Theatre - Opened 14 Jun 2011, closed 1 Sep 2013

Cast: Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, Patrick Page, T. V. Carpio, Michael Mulheren, Ken Marks, Isabel Keating, Jeb Brown, Matt Caplan



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

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

A boy falls from the sky in this superhero adventure as Spiderman takes on the Green Goblin in order to protect his city and get the girl. 

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


At a Midtown Manhatten High School Peter Parker is giving a book report about Arachne, the Goddess of the Weavers. During the report Arachne tumbles onto the stage and takes over telling her own story. She tells how she once was a skilled weaver and battled with Athene. She was then turned into the world’s first spider and forced to wander the universe spinning webs. Peter is bullied at school by a gang of kids that includes his ex-best friend Flash Thompson. Peter has a crush on Mary Jane who lives next-door and they bond over having mutually unhappy lives. Mary lives with an abusive father and Peter lives with his aunt and uncle after his parents dies in a plane crash.

The school go on a trip to a genetics lab, which is thrown into disarray when a genetically modified spider escapes and bites Peter. He begins to develop spider-like powers and muscular physique, discovering he can emit webs from his wrists. He utilises these powers to defeat the school bullies and impress Mary Jane by winning a wrestling tournament. His Uncle is shot by a carjacker and he is distraught at his recent selfishness. Guided by his Aunt and Arachne, he decides to use his gift to fight evil in the world. He vows to avenge his Uncle.

Peter makes his iconic costume and becomes Spider-Man, fighting criminals and saving people’s lives. ‘The Daily Bugle’ begins to report on his antics, and Peter is hired by them as a photographer. He then shares a romantic encounter with Mary Jane. Meanwhile Norman Osborn is jealous of Spider-Man, thinking that his research has been stolen. He rushes his research causing a power surge, which mutates him into the Green Goblin.
The Green Goblin then uses his research to mutate other humans and creates a company of villains from his former employees. They go on a rampage through New York and come into battle with Spider-Man who defeats them, but the Green Goblin escapes. The Goblin visits the Daily Bugle and convinces them to print bad news about Spider-Man which affects his reputation. Peter sees Arachne in a vision who reminds him that being a hero is his destiny.

Mary suggests that her and Peter take a break, as Spider-Man commitments begin to get in the way of their relationship. Peter decides to give up being Spider-Man and gives his costume away and proposes to her. The Green Goblin sends a message to say that he will target Spider-Man’s loved ones, which forces Peter to break up with Mary to protect her. He realises that he needs to be a hero for the whole world, not just for Mary. He finds his costume again and rushes off to take on the Green Goblin.

At the top of the Chrysler Building the Goblin threatens Mary-Jane, which results in a huge battle over the audience. Spider-Man ties the Goblin to a piano which falls from the sky, sending him to his death. Mary Jane has now guessed Spider-Man’s identity and the pair contemplate their life together.

Songs

Act One 

  • “The Myth of Arachne” – Peter
  • “Behold and Wonder” – Arachne, Ensemble
  • “Bullying by Numbers” – Peter, Bullies, High School Students
  • “No More” – Peter, Mary Jane
  • “D.I.Y. World” – Norman, Emily, Peter, High School Students, Lab Assistants
  • “Venom” – Bullies
  • “Bouncing Off the Walls” – Peter, High School Students
  • “Rise Above” – Peter, Arachne, Ensemble
  • “NY Debut” – Orchestra
  • “Pull the Trigger” – Norman, Emily, Viper Executives, Soldiers
  • “Picture This” – Peter, Mary Jane, Norman, Emily

Act Two 

  • “A Freak Like Me Needs Company” – Green Goblin, Ensemble
  • “If the World Should End” – Mary Jane, Peter
  • “Sinistereo” – Reporters
  • “Spider-Man!”– Citizens of New York
  • “Turn Off the Dark” – Arachne, Peter
  • “I Just Can’t Walk Away (Say It Now)” – Mary Jane, Peter
  • “The Boy Falls from the Sky”– Peter
  • “I’ll Take Manhattan”– Green Goblin
  • “Finale – A New Dawn”– Full Company
Awards

Winner of no major awards