Category Archives: T

Musicals starting with letter T

Thriller Live

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

Thriller_London

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Adrian Grant

Derek Nicol, Paul Walden

Gary Lloyd

Gary Lloyd

Productions
Thriller_London_2

Original London Production

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

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



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

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

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

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


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

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

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

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

Songs

Act I

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

Act II

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

Titanic the Musical

Titanic the Musical was a surprise hit on Broadway, from the pen of composer Maury Yeston and Peter Stone. Based on the disaster itself, and not the famous film, the show won 5 Tony Awards alone with the trophy for Best Musical. The original production featured an enormous cast who between them depicted the various classes of passengers aboard the ship, crew and captains. The show integrates a number of different stories together, culminating in the disaster in the second act of the show. The challenge of making the ship sink onstage proved difficult throughout previews, and many technical problems happened throughout the show. The musical opened with mainly negative reviews, but thanks to good audience word of mouth and the Rosy O’Donnell talk show, it managed to build stronger advances. After the 1997 James Cameron film was released the show received a welcome boost and managed to play into 1999, closing after 804 performances. The show has not been seen professionally in London, although ambitious amateur theatre companies often produce the show in the UK.

Titanic

Maury Yeston

Maury Yeston

Peter Stone

Dodger Endemol Theatricals, Richard S. Pechter and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Richard Jones

Lynne Taylor-Corbett

Productions
Titanic Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Lunt Fontanne - Opened 23 Apr 1997, closed 21 Mar 1999, 804 performances

Cast: Adam Alexi-Malle, Becky Ann Baker, Matthew Bennett, Judith Blazer, John Bolton, Bill Buell, Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Mindy Cooper, Allan Corduner, David Costabile, Alma Cuervo, John Cunningham, Lisa Datz, David Elder, David Garrison, Jody Gelb, Kimberly Hester, Erin Hill, Robin Irwin, Brian d’Arcy James, Larry Keith, Joseph Kolinski, Charles McAteer, Theresa McCarthy, Martin Moran, Michael Mulheren, Stephanie Park, Jennifer Piech.



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Synopsis

The Titanic’s architect, Thomas Andrews states that “In Every Age” humankind has been able to achieve something great, and he is pleased his ship will be included in history books. The crew including lookout Frederick Fleet, coal stoker Fred Barrett, and telegraph operator Harold Bride arrive and board the ship excitedly. Next, Andrews, the ship’s Captain E.J. Smith, and its owner J. Bruce Ismay board the largest moving object ever made. Finally, the passengers arrive as the ship prepares to set sail. The second and third class passengers are thrilled to be on board (“I Must Get on that Ship”), while the “First Class Roster” boasts a veritable who’s-who of high society.

On board, Ismay encourages Smith to increase the ship’s speed so they can make a surprise arrival in New York a day earlier. Smith reluctantly agrees, and Barrett, now at work in the boiler room, believes this is the wrong decision (“Barrett’s song). Second class passenger Alice Beane wishes she could experience the opulence of the first class cabins, whilst her husband Edgar is enjoying being on the ship in the first place. Charles Clarke is eloping to America with his fiancée Caroline Neville against her father’s wishes. Meanwhile in class, everyone is delighted with how much their colleagues have been able to achieve (“What a Remarkable Age This Is!”). In third class, Irishwoman Kate McGowan falls for Jim Farrell who is travelling in her group to a better life in America.

Ismay insists on the ship going faster, despite Andrews’ protestations, and Captain Smith gives in. He praises 1st Officer Murdoch’s skills as he leaves him at the ship’s helm, but Murdoch worries he is not yet ready “To Be a Captain.” Barrett meets Bride in the wireless room and asks him to send a message proposing to his girlfriend.

The following evening, Alice sneaks into the first class and joins them dancing “The Latest Rag.” Edgard is mortified and retrieves her. The brisk April night is very cold and in the lookout, Fleet worries about his decreased visibility (“No Moon”). Kate brings Jim to the top deck to reveal that she needs to get married as she is carrying the child of a married man. He immediately agrees to marry her. As an elderly couple, Isidor and Ida Strauss talk about their hopes and dreams, the first class passengers enjoy the evening’s festivities. Out of nowhere, Fleet spots an iceberg and warns Murdoch, who tries to turn the ship in time. He is too late, and the Titanic collides with the iceberg.

The ship’s crew begins to wake up the passengers and urge them to put on their life vests (“Wake Up, Wake Up”). Captain Smith reaches the bridge and sends Andrews to look at the damage to the “unsinkable” ship. Bride begins sending distress calls to local ships. Andrews is devastated to report that the damage is too much for the ship to endure, and it will sink, reminding Smith and Ismay that there are only enough lifeboats for half the passengers on board.

The first class passengers are irritated at being woken up and firmly believe that nothing is wrong (“Dressed in Your Pyjamas in the Grand Salon”), further compounded by the crew’s reassurance. Suddenly items in the dining room begin rolling to one side, signalling that the ship has started to sink. The crew begins to facilitate the evacuation, leading the first class to the lifeboats first.

Kate, Jim, and their friends are desperate to find a way out of the lower levels of the ship, and Barrett leads them up “The Staircase” to safety. Bride sadly tells Smith that the only ship in the area is the Carpathia, which will not arrive before the ship sinks. Ismay, Andrews, and Smith argue over who should accept “The Blame” for the disaster. Women and children have begun rushing “To the Lifeboats,” leaving the men behind. Murdoch tells Fleet and Barret to board the last boat to row, but as Barrett cannot row a boat, he insists that Jim take his place.

Many passengers are forced to say tearful goodbyes to their family members (“We’ll Meet Tomorrow”), and finally those that remain on board are forced to accept that they are doomed. Ida and Isidor Strauss who have remained on board, relish that until their final moments, they “Still” have each other. Andrews continues to look at the designs of the ship to find where he went wrong as the ship sinks out of sight.
The Carpathia arrives and rescues the survivors, who are devastated at their losses. They wonder what could have been done differently, but hope that their shaken dreams of a better world will come true one day.

Songs

Act I 

  • “Overture” – Orchestra
  • “In Every Age” – Andrews
  • “How Did They Build Titanic?” – Barret
  • “Fare-thee-well” – Barret, Bride & Fleet
  • “There She Is” – Barret, Bride, Fleet, Hartley, Sailor, Stoker & Stevedore
  • “The Largest Floating Object in The World” – Ismay,Andrews &Smith
  • “I Must Get On That Ship” – Ensemble
  • “The First Class Roster” – Pitman and Alice
  • “Godspeed Titanic” – Pitman & Full company
  • “Barrett’s Song” – Barret
  • “What A Remarkable Age This Is” – Etches, 1st-Class & Serving Staff
  • “To Be A Captain” – Murdoch
  • “Lady’s Maid” – The Three Kates & Ensemble
  • “The Proposal / The Night Was Alive” – Barret & Bride
  • “God Lift Me Up (Hymn)” – 1st-Class passengers
  • “Doing The Latest Rag” – Hartley, Bricoux, Taylor & Ensemble
  • “I Have Danced” – Alice & Edgar
  • “No Moon” – Ensemble
  • “Autumn” – Hartley
  • “Finale Act One” – Orchestra
Act II 
 
  • “Entr’acte” – Orchestra
  • “Wake Up, Wake Up!” – Etches, Stewards, 1st-, 2nd-, & 3rd-class passengers
  • “Dressed In Your Pyjamas In the Grand Salon” – Ensemble
  • “The Staircase” – The Three Kates & Farrell with Barret
  • “The Blame” – Ismay, Andrews & Smith
  • “To the Lifeboats” – Ensemble
  • “We’ll Meet Tomorrow” – Barret, Bride, Charles & Company
  • “To Be A Captain (Reprise)” – Etches
  • “Still” – Ida & Isidor
  • “Mr. Andrews’ Vision” – Andrews
  • “The Foundering” – Bride & Survivors
  • “Finale – In Every Age/ Godspeed, Titanic (Reprise)” – Company
Awards

1997 Tony Award: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Scenic Design, Best Orchestrations.

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Jeanine Tesori

Dick Scanlan

Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan

Richard Morris’ Original Story and Screenplay

Michael Mayer

Rob Ashford

Productions
Thoroughly Modern Millie Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Marquis Theatre - Opened 18 Apr 2002, closed 20 Jun 2004, 903 performances

Cast: Sutton Foster (Millie), Marc Kudisch (Trevor), Angela Christian (Miss Dorothy), Gavin Creel (Jimmy), Harriet Sansom Harris (Mrs. Meers), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Muzzy Van Hossmere), Ken Leung (Ching Ho), Francis Jue (Bun Foo), Anne L. Nathan (Miss Flannery).

Thoroughly Modern Millie London

Original London Production

Shaftesbury Theatre - Opened 21 Oct 2003, closed 26 Jun 2004

Cast: Amanda Holden (who missed many performances) and Donna Steele (Millie), Maureen Lipman / Marti Webb / Anita Dobson (Mrs. Meers), Sheila Ferguson (Muzzy Van Hossmere).



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

Synopsis

Millie Dillmount arrives in 1922 New York City from a little town in rural Kansas. She hated her humdrum life back home and, deciding she’ll have it all in New York, rips up her return ticket. She adopts a new look in the flapper style that’s all the rage and resolves to be a “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” However, minutes after her makeover, she is mugged on the street. In the ensuing chaos, she accidentally trips Jimmy Smith, who tells her she should just go home because there are all ready plenty of girls in New York who haven’t been successful. Millie decides she’s the exception to the rule, and finds a room at the Hotel Priscilla for Single Women.

The hotel is run by Mrs. Meers, who is secretly engaged in the white slavery trade by shipping orphan girls who stay at her hotel to China, a fate that befalls upon Millie’s hallmate, Ethel Peas. When Millie has not paid the rent after a week, Mrs. Meers confronts her and tells her she has just a few minutes to pack her things and go. Just at that moment, Millie meets Miss Dorothy, a wealthy Californian woman who wants to try living rough to see “How the Other Half Lives.” Millie suggests that she move in with her at the Hotel Priscilla, provided she can pay Millie’s rent, and Dorothy happily agrees. Mrs. Meers informs them that Dorothy can move into Ethel’s room and claims Ethel has taken an acting job in the Far East. Meanwhile, Ching Ho and Bun Foo are helping Mrs. Meers with the slavery ring in order to save enough money to have their mother sent over from Hong Kong for a better life.

Millie begins her job search by looking for company’s where the city’s most eligible bachelors live. She settles on Trevor Graydon III, who runs Sincere Trust, and manages to get a job as a secretary. Mrs. Meers sends Ching Ho to kidnap Dorothy by giving her a poisoned apple, but when Millie walks in, they are forced to abandon the plan. Ching Ho in the meantime has fallen in love with Dorothy at first sight and plans to rescue her. Millie announces to Dorothy that she has found a man to marry and they head to a speakeasy to celebrate, where they run into Jimmy. He slowly becomes enamoured by Millie’s charms (“What Do I Need With Love”).

Jimmy invites Millie to a fashionable party at the home of eccentric singer Muzzy van Hossmere, and Millie reflects the past few whirlwind days could happen “Only in New York.” At the party, she explains to Jimmy her plan to marry Trevor and reprimands him for his womanising ways. He suddenly kisses her before running off, leading her to realise she is actually in love with “Jimmy.” However, she returns to the hotel to find Jimmy apparently sneaking out of Dorothy’s room and vows never to speak to him again.

At work, Millie is still in love with Jimmy despite his actions, but her co-workers encourage her to “Forget About the Boy.” She plans to seduce Trevor until Dorothy arrives at work and immediately gets his attention. Trevor and Dorothy decide to go on a date, and Millie is devastated until Jimmy arrives and convinces her to give him another chance. When she begins to suspect Jimmy is poor, she has second thoughts and asks Muzzy’s opinion when they run into each other at a nightclub. Muzzy instructs her to always choose love over money, and Millie finally agrees.

Millie runs back to tell Jimmy how she feels, but they are interrupted by Trevor, who reveals that Dorothy stood him up for their date. He says he asked Mrs. Meers where she was and was told she had checked out of the hotel. Millie begins to find the number of people mysteriously “checking out” of the hotel suspicious, and they convince Muzzy to pose as an orphan to catch Mrs. Meers in the act. Sure enough, Mrs. Meers attempts the same scam, but this time she is caught by the police. Meanwhile, Ching Ho arrives after having saved Dorothy, and they are both in love.

Jimmy proposes to Millie, and she gladly accepts. He reveals he is actually an heir to a fortune and Dorothy’s brother. They had both gone into hiding to find people who would marry them for love, not money, and this was why he was sneaking out of her hotel room that night. Millie is thrilled that she has the fortune she dreamt of, as well as the love of her life.

Songs
Act I
  • Overture — Orchestra
  • Not for the Life of Me — Millie
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie — Millie and Ensemble (Lyrics by Sammy Cahn, Music byJimmy Van Heusen)
  • Not for the Life of Me (Tag) — Millie and the Hotel Girls
  • How the Other Half Lives — Millie and Miss Dorothy
  • How the Other Half Lives (reprise) – Millie and Miss Dorothy
  • Not for the Life of Me (Reprise) — Bun Foo and Ching Ho
  • The Speed Test — Trevor Graydon, Millie, Stenographers, Office Singers (music from the patter song ”My Eyes Are Fully Open” from Gilbert and Sullivan’sRuddigore)
  • They Don’t Know — Mrs. Meers
  • The Nuttycracker Suite (derived from music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
  • What Do I Need with Love? – Jimmy
  • Only in New York — Muzzy
  • Jimmy — Millie (Lyrics by Jay Thompson (and Scanlan), Music by Thompson (and Tesori))
Act II
  • Entr’acte — Orchestra
  • Forget About the Boy — Millie, Miss Flannery, Women Office Singers, Stenographers
  • Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life/Falling in Love with Someone — Trevor Graydon and Miss Dorothy (Lyrics by Rida Johnson Young, Music by Victor Herbert from Naughty Marietta)
  • I Turned the Corner/Falling in Love with Someone (Reprise) — Millie, Jimmy, Miss Dorothy, Trevor Graydon (“I’m Falling in Love with Someone” from Victor Herbert’s Naughty Marrietta)
  • Muqin — Mrs. Meers, Bun Foo, Ching Ho (Lyrics by Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young,Walter Donaldson and Scanlan, Music by Donaldson)
  • Long as I’m Here with You — Muzzy and Muzzy’s Boys (Incorporates “Not For the Life of Me”)
  • Gimme Gimme — Millie
  • The Speed Test (Reprise) — Millie, Trevor Greydon, Jimmy
  • Ah! Sweet Mystery (Reprise) — Miss Dorothy and Ching Ho
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie (Reprise) — Company
Awards

2002 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Featured Actress (Harris), Best Actress (Foster), Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Costume Design.

2002 Drama Desk: Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Foster), Outstanding Director, Outstanding Featured Actress, Outstanding Orchestrations.

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International