| From This Week In Texas Theater/Symphony
New & Coming Up… Fan favorite
Grease opened at the Piccadilly Theatre on August 8, 2007, cast through the reality TV show
Grease Is The Word, the British version of the American television show
You’re the One That I Want.
Hairspray opened in London at the Shaftsbury Theatre on October 30, 2007. Based on the film, which starred actress-turned-host
Ricki Lake as teenager Tracy, the musical has already won eight Tony Awards and a Grammy for the cast recording for the Broadway production.
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story opened at the Duchess Theatre on August 7, 2007 and is booking through June 28, 2008. The musical returns to the West End, and features greatest hits including "Peggy Sue" and "That'll Be The Day".
Desperately Seeking Susan opened at the Novello Theatre on November 15, 2007. Based on the hit 80s romantic comedy, this new musical features the back catalogue of
Blondie tracks woven into then much-loved story, as well as a new song written by
Deborah Harry, Moment Of Truth. The musical is due to run until December 15, 2007.
Rent opened in London at the Duke of York’s Theatre on October 15, 2007, and is currently booking through April 5, 2008. This new contemporary version has been re-orchestrated and reworked by
William Baker and
Steve Anderson, known for their collaboration with singer
Kylie Minogue. Multi-award-winning play,
The History
Boys, returns to the West End following successful runs on tour and on Broadway. Opening at the Wyndhams Theatre on December 20, 2007, The History Boys will run through April 26, 2008. In this recreated production,
Desmond Barrit plays the eccentric English teacher Hector, the role originally created by
Richard Griffiths.
Edward
Bond’s dark comedy,
The Sea, is set to run at the Haymarket Theatre from January 17 through April 19, 2008. The cast will include
Eileen Atkins and
David Haig. The play, set in Edwardian England, tells the tale of a storm shaking a small seaside village, which changes the lives of the residents.
Gone With The Wind is set to open as a lavish musical, adapted and directed by
Trevor Nunn. It will open at the New London Theatre on April 22, 2008, and is currently booking through September 27, 2008.
Gone with the Wind, published in 1936, is one of the best selling novels of the 20th century and won
Margaret Mitchell the Pulitzer Prize. In 1939, the film adaptation made box office history as the highest grossing film of all time and is still regarded as one of the greatest American classics. Fans of the British boy band,
Take That, will surely want to make plans to see the new musical
Never Forget when it opens on May 21, 2008 at the Savoy Theater. Telling the story of young hero ‘Ash’ and his mates pursuing their dreams, the musical features all the classic Take That songs including "Relight My Fire", "Pray", "Back For Good", "Babe" and, of course, "Never Forget".
Still Playing…
Billy Elliot – The Musical has a musical score by
Sir Elton John, and has been adapted for stage by the team who produced the successful film. Showing at the Victoria Palace Theatre,
Billy Elliot tells the tale of a young boy growing up in a mining town enthralled by the grace and wonder of ballet.
www.billyelliotthemusical.com
The Lion King, with music by
Elton John and
Tim Rice, continues to entertain crowds at the Lyceum theater and is booking until March 30, 2008.
Evita has returned to London's West End after 21 years, with music by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lyrics by Tim Rice. Playing at the Adelphi theater from June 21, 2006, the cast includes
Elena Roger as
Eva Peron. This new production features the Oscar-winning song 'You Must Love Me' for the first time on stage, following its success in the film version starring
Madonna.
www.evitathemusical.com Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical,
The Sound of Music, opened at the London Palladium on November 14, 2006. There is an interesting take on casting as the lead role was chosen through a reality TV show through a public vote last summer!
Dirty Dancing the musical came to London last fall (opening October 24, 2006) in a new stage show at the Aldwych Theatre. Fans of the movie starring
Patrick Swayze can sing along to hits such as "Hungry Eyes" and "Do You Love Me?" .
Early Heads Up
Jude Law takes on the role of Shakespeare’s most famous leading man when
Hamlet opens at The Wyndhams theater on June 3, 2009. The play will be directed by
Kenneth Branagh, with Jude Law reviving his stage career following his appearances in
Dr. Faustus and
‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore at the Young Vic. Hamlet will run through August 22, 2009.
Vanessa Redgrave will reprise her Tony-nominated solo performance at the National Theatre in London in
The Year of Magical Thinking. It will be directed by
David Hare and will likely open in spring 2008.
Joan Didion's
The Year of Magical Thinking is based on the author's best-selling memoir. The one-woman show received its world premiere on Broadway in 2007.
Harold
Pinter’s
The Homecoming opens at The Almeida Theatre on February 7, 2008 and will run through March 22. The cast includes
Kenneth Cranham,
Neil Dudgeon,
Jenny Jules,
Nigel Lyndsay and
Anthony O’Donnell, as well as TV and film actor Danny Dyer whose film credits include
Human Traffic. To purchase tickets online to these shows and so many others, go to:
www.visitbritain.us or
www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk. |
Othello