The show won Best Musical Revival at the Whatsonstage.com Awards, held at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, while former cast member Hannah Waddingham won in the Best Supporting Actress in a Musical category. Hannah then performed the Wicked Witch’s rousing number, ‘Red Shoes Blues’ at the ceremony - a new song written for this production of The Wizard of Oz by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Producer Bill Kenwright was also on hand at the ceremony, picking up the Best Musical Revival award, which he dedicated to the show’s West End home – the world-famous London Palladium.

The Whatsonstage.com Awards are the only major prize-giving event for the theatre industry in the UK voted for purely by the ticket-buying public. This year a record 70,000 people took part in the voting process.

For the full list of award winners, visit the Whatsonstage.com website. For more information on The Wizard of Oz – and to get your tickets to see London’s Best Musical Revival – visit the official show website.

All images c. Dan Wooller for Whatsonstage.com.

An antidote to landfill indie and the R&B-goes-to-Ibiza choking the charts, it’s a full on celebration of pop. The album contains a dozen uptempo slices of electro-pop which they have concocted with Richard X.

‘Tonight’ will be the first single from the album and is all about the primal and atavistic pull that all good pop music exerts, about how the unadulterated thrill of a great band or gig can sometimes feel like a hotline straight to your heart.The track is produced by Xenomania lynchpin Tim Powell (Girls Aloud, Kylie, Sugababes), and mixed by Richard X.

The new album will mix perfectly into a new live set with the band’s classic hits such as He’s On The Phone, Only Love Can Break Your Heart and Nothing Can Stop Us.

CLICK HERE to buy tickets to Saint Etienne at the London Palladium, or call 0844 811 0051. Visit www.saintetienne.com for full information on the tour.

Cameron Mackintosh announced today full casting for the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA premiering at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in March 2012, with previews from 27 February.

 Simon Bailey will star as ‘Raoul’, Angela M. Caesar as ‘Carlotta’, Andy Hockley as ‘Monsieur Firmin’, Simon Green as ‘Monsieur Andre’, Elizabeth Marsh as ‘Madame Giry’, Vincent Pirillo as ‘Ubaldo Piangi’, Hannah Cadec as ‘Meg Giry’ and Olivia Brereton as ‘Christine’ at certain performances. They join the previously announced John Owen-Jones and Earl Carpenter, who will share the role of ‘The Phantom’ and Katie Hall who will play the role of ‘Christine’. See below for the full tour schedule with casting details and on sale dates. 

Simon Bailey’s West End credits include ‘Lieutenant Torrasso/Count Ludovic’ in “Passion” at the Donmar Warehouse, ‘Raoul’ in “The Phantom of the Opera” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, ‘Enjolras’ in “Les Miserables” at the Queen’s Theatre, ‘Britney’ in “We Will Rock You” at the Dominion Theatre and ‘Pharaoh’ in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” at the New London Theatre. Simon is also a founder member of ‘Theatreland’s First Supergroup’ Teatro. Angela M. Caesar’s West End credits include ‘The Moon’ in “Caroline, or Change” at the National Theatre. Andy Hockley’s theatre credits include ‘Rudolph Reisenweber’ in “Hello Dolly” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, ‘Marcellus’ in “The Music Man” at Chichester Festival Theatre and ‘The Chaplain’ in “Mother Courage and Her Children” at the National Theatre. Television credits include “Life On Mars”, “Heartbeat”, “Emmerdale” and “Doctors”. Simon Green’s West End credits include ‘Jules/Bob Greenberg’ in “Sunday In The Park With George” at the Wyndham’s Theatre, ‘Lumiere’ in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the Dominion Theatre, ‘Young Ben’ in “Follies” at the Shaftesbury Theatre and ‘Torasso’ in “Passion” at the Queen’s Theatre. Simon has also appeared in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at Her Majesty’s Theatre, and as ‘Monsieur Lefevre’ in the recent 25^th Anniversary celebrations of “Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall”. Elizabeth Marsh’s recent credits include ‘Myra Yerkes’ in the European premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s “Road Show” at the Menier Chocolate Factory, “Sleeping Beauty” at the Birmingham Rep, and “Afterlife” and “The Threepenny Opera” at the National Theatre. Vincent Pirillo recently appeared in “Sweeney Todd” at Chichester Festival Theatre. Other recent credits include ‘Mr Goodfellow’ in “Inherit the Wind” at The Old Vic, ‘Rabbi’ in “Imagine This” at the New London Theatre, ‘Rabbi/Avram’ in “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Savoy Theatre, ‘Signal Man’ in “The Woman in White” at the Palace Theatre and ‘Grandfather’ in “Ragtime” at the Piccadilly Theatre. Olivia Brereton recently graduated from the Guildhall School of Acting where she appeared in ‘The Light in the Piazza’, Into the Woods’ and ‘The Boyfriend’. ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ marks Olivia’s professional debut.

The company also includes Alistair Barron, Rosie Bell, James Bisp, Greg Castiglioni, Cindy Corinne Ciunfrini, Caroline Crawley, Rachel Crocker, Michael Diana, Liesl Dowsett, A C Garcia, Hannah Grace, Henry Grant Kerswell, Sam Harrison, Sophie Hartley, Kirk Jameson, Sarah Joyce, Lauren Lotz, Lee Ormsby, Siani Owen, David Phipps-Davis, Claire Platt, James Pullum, Leigh Rhianon Coggins, Emma Roberts-Simms, Ben Sleep and Richard Woodford.

This spectacular new production is Directed by Laurence Connor, with Choreography by Scott Ambler, Set Design by Paul Brown, Costume Design by Maria Björnson, Lighting Design by Paule Constable with Video and Projection Design by Nina Dunn for Knifedge, Sound Design by Mick Potter and Musical Supervision by John Rigby. The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder “Cats”.  This coincided with the Broadway and the US national touring company celebrating an unprecedented 20,000 performances in the United States. In October 2010 the London production celebrated its 10,000th performance.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has won over 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End.  It won the ‘Most Popular Musical Audience Award’, voted by the public, in the 2002 Laurence Olivier Awards.  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 starred Michael Crawford as ‘The Phantom’ and Sarah Brightman as ‘Christine.’ It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh by arrangement with The Really Useful Group.

Worldwide, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over £3.2 billion. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including “Titanic”, “ET”, “Star Wars” and “Avatar”. It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 130 million people.  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Kyoto.

www.thephantomoftheoperatour.com

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA UK TOUR

 27 FEBRUARY – 31 MARCH 2012
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 01752 230440 | www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE NOW

5 APRIL – 19 MAY 2012
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 847 2295 | www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

23 MAY – 30 JUNE 2012
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 871 3012 | www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk
ON SALE NOW

5 JULY – 4 AUGUST 2012
DUBLIN GRAND CANAL THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0818 719 377 | www.grandcanaltheatre.ie
ON SALE NOW

9 AUGUST – 15 SEPTEMBER 2012
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 848 2706 | www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
ON SALE NOW

19 SEPTEMBER – 20 OCTOBER 2012
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom (19 – 29 September)
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom (1 – 20 October)
Box Office 0844 847 1660 | www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk
ON SALE NOW 

24 OCTOBER – 24 NOVEMBER 2012
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 871 7652 | www.atgtickets.com/Milton-Keynes-Theatre
ON SALE SOON

4 DECEMBER 2012 – 12 JANUARY 2013
CARDIFF WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 02920 63 64 64 | www.wmc.org.uk
ON SALE 1 MARCH 2012

 22 JANUARY – 16 FEBRUARY 2013
SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 02380 711 811 | www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE 30 JANUARY 2012

FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED

The interview will also air on WLIW/Long Island Channel 21 on Friday 17th February at 7pm EST, and on NJTV on Sunday 19th February at 8.30pm EST.

For those who are unable to watch the interview, it will be available to view on the PBS NYC Arts website after the broadcast. Click here for a preview, and to watch the feature after its inital broadcast.

FINAL CASTING ANNOUNCED

Rehearsals began yesterday, Thursday, February 9, for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.  Directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Artistic Director and 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR opens March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52^nd Street).

The cast features Paul Nolan as Jesus Christ, Josh Young as Judas Iscariot, Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene, Tom Hewitt as Pontius Pilate, Bruce Dow as King Herod, Marcus Nance as Caiaphas and Aaron Walpole as Annas.

Also in the cast: Matt Alfano as Thaddeus, Mary Antonini as Elizabeth, Karen Burthwright as Ruth, Jacqueline Burtney as Mary (Martha’s Sister), Mark Cassius as Matthew, Ryan Gifford as Bartholomew, Kaylee Harwood as Sarah, Jeremy Kushnier as James the Lesser/Priest, Mike Nadajewski as Peter, Melissa O’Neil as Martha/Maid by the Fire, Laurin Padolina as Rachel, Katrina Reynolds as Esther, Jaz Sealey as Thomas, Jason Sermonia as John, Julius Sermonia as James, Lee Siegel as Simon Zealotes, Jonathan Winsby as Phillip, Sandy Winsby as Andrew, and Nick Cartell, Krista Leis, Matthew Rossoff and Matt Stokes as swings.

In addition to Mr. McAnuff as Director, the creative team includes Choreographer Lisa Shriver, Musical Director Rick Fox, Set Designer Robert Brill, Costume Designer Paul Tazewell, Lighting Designer Howell Binkley, Sound Designer Steve Canyon Kennedy and Video Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is produced by The Dodgers and the Really Useful Group. 

Tickets for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR are available at the Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52^nd Street.  Box office hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.  Tickets also available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929.  Group sales (of 15 or more) are on sale now and available by calling 1-877-536-3437.

www.SuperstarOnBroadway.com

www.jesuschristsuperstar.com

This is a ‘Relaxed Performance’ for children with sensory and communication needs who require a more relaxed environment.

For more information on the performance, and to find out how to book, CLICK HERE.

In the latest Wizard of Oz video blog, Resident Director Kate Golledge catches up with Martin in a break from rehearsals to find out a bit about his background and what he’s most looking forward to about being a part of the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Get your tickets to see Martin and the new Oz cast in action on the official show website.

AS THE FASTEST SHOW ON EARTH RETURNS TO THE UK!

STARLIGHT EXPRESS TOURS THE UK FROM MAY 2012

Bill Kenwright presents one of the best loved and longest running musicals in theatrical history, as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensational Starlight Express explodes back onto the stage with a new production for 2012, set to take the UK by electrifying storm.

Starlight Express races to its first destination, New Wimbledon Theatre, from Thursday 10 May 2012.

Starlight Express opened to packed houses at the Apollo Victoria in London’s West End in 1984 where it ran for over 7000 performances. It is one of the most successful musicals ever with the German production still running in Bochum after 25 years.

Light years ahead of the rest, this futuristic tale about love and hope in the face of adversity promises to take you on the ride of a lifetime – with two hours of speed, spectacle, energy, daredevil stunts and turbo charged excitement, combined with an electrifying sound track, dazzling sets and costumes, extraordinary roller-choreography and some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most memorable musical hits.

Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote Starlight Express originally for his own children. His extensive credits include The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Cats. He pioneered television casting for musical theatre with the Emmy Award-winning BBC series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? His awards include seven Tonys, three Grammys including Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem, seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, two International Emmys, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre and the Kennedy Center Honor. He currently owns seven London theatres, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Palladium.

Internationally renowned choreographer and popular television judge Arlene Phillips is back on board as Director and Choreographer, choreographed the original West End production and directed and choreographed several subsequent productions of the show.  Her extensive credits also include Saturday Night Fever, The Sound of Music, Grease, We Will Rock You and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Buckle up; the race is truly back on!

Click here for tour dates and how to book.

Tuesday 29 May – Saturday 16 June
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Website: www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
Box Office: 01274 432 000

Tuesday 19 – Saturday 30 June
The Lowry, Salford Quays
Website: www.thelowry.com
Box Office: 0843 208 6000

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 14 July
Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh
Website: www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk
Box Office: 0844 871 3014

Tuesday 17 – Saturday 28 July
Liverpool Empire Theatre
Website: www.liverpoolempire.org.uk
Box Office: 0844 871 3017

Tuesday 31 July – Saturday 18 August
BIC Windsor Hall, Bournemouth
Website: www.bic.co.uk
Box Office: 0844 576 3000

Tuesday 21 August – Saturday 1 September
Concert Hall, Nottingham
Website: www.trch.co.uk
Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Tuesday 4 – Saturday 15 September
Southend Theatres
Website: www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Box Office: 01702 351135

Monday 17 – Saturday 29 September
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Website: www.venuecymru.co.uk
Box Office: 01492 872000

Tuesday 2 – Saturday 13 October
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
Website: www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
Box Office: 01224 641122

Tuesday 16 – Saturday 27 October
Hull New Theatre
Website: www.hull.gov.uk/hullnewtheatre
Box Office: 01482 300 300

Tuesday 29 January – Saturday 9 February 2013
Millennium Forum, Londonderry
Website: www.millenniumforum.co.uk
Box Office: 028 7126 4455

FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED

Making its first appearance in the United States, NCM Fathom and Omniverse Vision present Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, the long awaited continuation to The Phantom of the Opera, in a fully-staged production pre-recorded at The Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. This exclusive showing of Love Never Dies will be broadcast to select U.S. movie theaters for two nights only beginning with the premiere event on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. local time; followed by an encore presentation on Wednesday, March 7. This exclusive event will include an in-depth interview with Andrew Lloyd Webber as well as behind-the-scenes footage following Lloyd Webber on set as he provides creative direction to the cast and crew of Love Never Dies.

Tickets for Love Never Dies are available now at participating theater box offices and online at www.fathomevents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom website (theaters and participants are subject to change). The event will be broadcast to more than 500 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.

“I’m incredibly proud and honoured to be able to bring this production to U.S. cinemas nationwide,” said Lloyd Webber. “I hope very much that audiences take Love Never Dies to their hearts in the same way they have The Phantom of the Opera.” 

Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies is a mesmerizing follow-up to the award winning Phantom of the Opera, featuring a 21-piece orchestra and an impressive cast of 36 including actors Ben Lewis as the Phantom and Anna O’Byrne as Christine Daaé. The cinematic production, directed by Brett Sullivan, will enchant audiences bringing them into a world of passion, obsession and romance. The captivating love story of the Phantom and Christine continues in New York’s playground, Coney Island. After his disappearance from the Paris Opera house, the Phantom begins a new life in New York amongst the freaks and side shows. The only thing missing from his new life is musical protégée Christine.  In an effort to win back his love, the Phantom lures Christine and her family to this new sparkling unknown world. 

“The very best of Broadway is coming to local movie theaters again in this once-in-lifetime opportunity to see the next chapter in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom saga, Love Never Dies,” said Dan Diamond, senior vice president of Fathom. “This Fathom event gives fans their first chance to see this highly anticipated musical long before it opens in the U.S.” 

Recently, Fathom and Omniverse Vision presented The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall in select theaters last October and Les Misérables in Concert – The 25th Anniversary Event in November 2010. The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall will be available in the USA and Canada on DVD in February.

Love Never Dies will also be screened at select movie theaters in Canada on 11th and 21st April. Tickets for the Canadian screenings are onsale from 24th February. Click here for information.

Click here for a list of participating theaters in the USA.

The Des McAnuff production set a new record for the website, which invites theatre fans to vote for their favourite shows across a range of categories. Jesus Christ Superstar – which opens on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre in March 2012 – won in the Best Musical category, and there were also wins for actors Josh Young and Chilina Kennedy, and Director Des McAnuff.

The show’s 11 BroadwayWorld.com Toronto Awards are listed in full below:

Best Direction of a Musical
Des McAnuff – Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Leading Actor (Musical)
Josh Young – Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Leading Actress (Musical) Chilina Kennedy – Jesus Christ Superstar- Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Musical
Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Musical Direction
Rick Fox – Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Original Choreography
Lisa Shriver – Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Original Costume Design
Paul Tazewell – Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Original Lighting Design
Howell Binkley – Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Original Set Design
Robert Brill – Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Original Sound Design
Jim Neil – Jesus Christ Superstar – Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Best Performance by a Female in a Feature Role/Ensemble (Musical)
Melissa O’Neil – Jesus Christ Superstar- Stratford Shakespeare Festival

For more information on Jesus Christ Superstar, visit the official website.

Cathy Rich produced the first Buddy Rich Memorial Concert in 1988 at Carnegie Hall in New York and thus began the story of these incredible events. Now it’s London’s turn… 

Taking place on the exact date of the 25th anniversary of Buddy’s passing – 2nd April 1987 – at the world-famous London Palladium, the show will feature members of the US-based Buddy Rich Big Band reinforced by prominent session musicians from the UK, many of whom performed with Buddy during his career. 

Fronted by some of the biggest names on the international drum scene, the show will be co-hosted by Cathy Rich herself who will present Lifetime Achievement Awards to three rock legends. 

Full line-up to be announced. Confirmed so far are: US – Dave Weckl, Gregg Bissonette and John Blackwell, and UK – Ian Paice, Gavin Harrison and Elliott Henshaw (subject to availability). Special guests, including singing supremo Tony Christie, will also be appearing.

CLICK HERE to buy tickets for The Buddy Rich 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert at the London Palladium on Monday 2nd April or call the Box Office on 0844 412 4657.

The new cast members join the continuing cast onstage next week, from Tuesday 7th February, with Sophie Evans as Dorothy. Click here for more information on the show and to buy tickets.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright joined The Wizard of Oz cast after their final bows to lead the show’s audience in a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday.’ Michael was also presented with a cake and, in his speech to the audience, remembered a previous birthday he had spent at the London Palladium some years before, when he was appearing in Barnum.

Watch the video below and visit the official Wizard of Oz website for more information about the show. You only have a few days left to catch Michael and Danielle Hope as Dorothy in the production!

With a full line-up of saxophones, trumpets, trombones, a rhythm section and top singers, The Nick Ross Orchestra will faithfully recreate the wonderful sounds of such Big Bands as those led by Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Harry James and Tommy Dorsey.

Through such numbers as “Moonlight Serenade”, “In the Mood”, “A String of Pearls”, “Begin the Beguine”, and “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” memories of the Blitz will no doubt be flooding back to life.

The Nick Ross Orchestra present Sounds of the Glenn Miller era takes place at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Sunday 30 September 2012. CLICK HERE to buy tickets.

Cats was released to high schools and colleges in September 2011 and has proved popular thanks to its evocative score, interesting characters and the opportunity for dance – not to mention its reputation for being one of the longest-running musicals in the world. All these factors also make it ideal for Youth Groups to perform.

Evita, another juggernaut show from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, tells the story of the rise of Eva Peron from Argentine peasant girl to wife of the country’s leader.  In 2006 the original score was updated with Argentine tango flavours for the London production and the show remains one of the most iconic British musicals ever; a hugely enjoyable challenge for anyone prepared to take it on.

If you are a Youth Group in the UK/Eire with members all aged 21 or under, click here to visit the StageAMusical website and find out more.

Last week, on Thursday, January 26 at 10:00 AM, Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR opened its theatre Box Office. Directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Artistic Director Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will open March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).

The cast will feature Paul Nolan as Jesus Christ, Josh Young as Judas Iscariot, Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene, Tom Hewitt as Pontius Pilate, Bruce Dow as King Herod, Marcus Nance as Caiaphas and Aaron Walpole as Annas.

Also in the cast: Matt Alfano as Thaddeus, Mary Antonini as Elizabeth, Karen Burthwright as Ruth, Jacqueline Burtney as Mary (Martha’s Sister), Mark Cassius as Matthew, Ryan Gifford as Bartholomew, Kaylee Harwood as Sarah, Jeremy Kushnier as James the Lesser/Priest, Mike Nadajewski as Peter, Melissa O’Neil as Martha/Maid by the Fire, Laurin Padolina as Rachel, Katrina Reynolds as Esther, Jaz Sealey as Thomas, Jason Sermonia as John, Julius Sermonia as James, Lee Siegel as Simon Zealotes, Jonathan Winsby as Phillip, Sandy Winsby as Andrew, and Krista Leis and Matthew Rossoff as swings.

In addition to Mr. McAnuff as Director, the creative team includes Choreographer Lisa Shriver, Musical Director Rick Fox, Set Designer Robert Brill, Costume Designer Paul Tazewell, Lighting Designer Howell Binkley, Sound Designer Steve Canyon Kennedy and Video Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis.

This ground-breaking rock opera, which reinvented musical theatre for the modern age, tells the story of the last week of Christ’s life. The score includes such chart-topping songs as “I Don’t Know How To Love Him,” “Everything’s Alright” and “Superstar.”

The Los Angeles Times wrote “O ye of little faith. To all those who made snarky comments when it was announced that Jesus Christ Superstar was being resurrected by Des McAnuff, I say unto you, “Go down to La Jolla Playhouse and observe the benevolent gift of this revival, which has had the miraculous effect of turning even an Andrew Lloyd Webber denier like me into a momentary believer.”

Variety wrote “In Des McAnuff’s Broadway-bound revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, costume designer Paul Tazewell dresses the title character in solid white, as if offering a blank canvas on which the world is invited to paint for the next 2,000 years and beyond. The usefulness of the carpenter from Nazareth to serve everyone’s select purposes is the theme here, surely the most thoughtful and scintillating reading of the Webber/Rice rock opera since its 1969 recording.”

The Globe and Mail wrote, “This production is an absolute miracle,” while the Toronto Star called it “the best show you’ll see this year.” “A sparkling production literally pulsing with life,” wrote the Toronto Sun; and Variety enthused, “McAnuff has managed to come up with a vision that is faithful to the original but manages to make it seem fresh to an audience in 2011.”

Tickets for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR are available at the Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52nd Street, beginning Thursday, January 26. Box office hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Tickets also available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929. Group sales (of 15 or more) are on sale now and available by calling 1-877-536-3437.

Ticket Pricing:

Ticket prices (including the $2 facility fee) range from $62-$99 for previews (March 1-March 21), $62-$142 for performances March 22 onward.

# # #

For more information, visit www.SuperstarOnBroadway.com.

Andrew will be talking with presenter Gayle King about his current American projects, including the forthcoming film release of the Australian production of Love Never Dies and the North American DVD and Blu-Ray release of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, as well as the upcoming Broadway productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

Andrew also appeared on today’s episode of ‘The View’ with Barbara Walters. American viewers who missed the broadcast can catch up with the episode here.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall is released in the USA and Canada on 7th February.

Our wonderful Wizard of Oz stars take their final bow on Sunday 5th February, paving the way for Russell Grant and Sophie Evans to take over the roles.

Russell Grant made his name as Britain’s best-loved astrologer and is now adored by the nation after starring in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing. He takes over the eponymous role from Michael Crawford from Tuesday 14 February for a limited 12-week season.

Having captured the public’s heart on the BBC hit Saturday night show, Russell will be working with Arlene Phillips, the show’s choreographer, to bring the new dance moves he’s learned to the stage of the London Palladium!

Russell will star alongside SOPHIE EVANS, runner up in BBC’s Over the Rainbow, who despite just missing out on the top spot, charmed the millions who tuned in to watch her, ensuring they would never forget the red-headed girl from Wales.

Russell began his career as an actor, before gaining national recognition as Britain’s favourite TV astrologer, regularly appearing on UK television throughout the 1980′s and 90’s. But it was as dance partner to Flavia Cacace in last year’s BBC smash hit dance show Strictly Come Dancing that catapulted him back to national fame.

Russell said of his new role: “I am thrilled to be back where I’m at my happiest – in showbiz! I want to thank the great British public for their kindness in supporting me in Strictly: without them, I wouldn’t be back in the West End again”.

In addition to the eponymous role, Russell will also play the character of Professor Marvel, for whom a new song has been specially written, The Wonders of the World. This is one of several brand new songs by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER and TIM RICE.

Alongside Russell and Sophie are EDWARD BAKER-DULY (Tin Man), MARTIN CALLAGHAN (Lion), PAUL KEATING (Scarecrow), EMILY TIERNEY (Glinda) and MARIANNE BENEDICT (The Wicked Witch of the West).

The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum is directed by Jeremy Sams, choreographed by Arlene Phillips, music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E Y Harburg, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, set and costumes designs by Robert Jones, and produced by Bill Kenwright and the Really Useful Group.

Tickets are available from The London Palladium Box Office on 0844 412 2957 or by visiting the official show website.

February 2012

7th – Philippines
8th – Australia
8th – Italy
8th – New Zealand
9th – Austria
9th – Germany
9th – Switzerland
9th – Thailand
14th – Hong Kong
14th – Macau
21st – Korea
22nd – Japan
29th – Bahrain
29th – Egypt
29th – Jordan
29th – Kuwait
29th – Lebanon
29th – Oman
29th – Qatar
29th – Saudi Arabia
29th – Syria
29th – UAE
29th – Yemen

March 2012

7th – India
8th – Poland
12th – UK – You can click here to order the UK DVD in our online shop, and here to order the Blu-Ray.
14th – Belgium
14th – Netherlands
19th – Botswana
19th – Indian Ocean Islands
19th – Lesotho
19th – Namibia
19th – South Africa
19th – Swaziland
19th – Zambia
19th – Zimbabwe
22nd – Iceland

April 2012

4th – Denmark
4th – Finland
4th – Norway
4th – Sweden
18th – Spain
25th – Brazil

May 2012

1st – China
10th – Hungary
14th – Malaysia
21st – Romania
29th – USA and Canada

June 2012

6th – Argentina
6th – Ecuador
6th – Paraguay
6th – Peru
6th – Uraguay
13th – Chile
13th – Columbia

*Please note – all release date information is subject to change. The DVD will be released in the relevant territory’s appropriate region code on the dates given above. The Blu-Ray disc is region-free, however the DVD featured in the Blu-Ray Double Play pack will be encoded to the relevant region.

Pre-order DVD through Amazon

Pre-order Blu-Ray through Amazon

A new website, www.jesuschristsuperstarthemusical.com, has launched, giving fans of  Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary rock opera the chance to keep up-to-date with the very latest news about productions of the show around the world.

So, whether you’re looking for news on the new Broadway show, want to view images from previous productions, or if you’re interested in finding out how you can audition for ‘Superstar’ - make sure you take a look…

“Beautiful and haunting. This new production is ASTOUNDING” Baz Bamigboye, Daily Mail
 
The ultimate love story continues in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spellbinding follow-up musical to the phenomenal Phantom of the Opera, LOVE NEVER DIES; released on Blu-ray™ and DVD* on 12 March 2012 from Universal Pictures UK.

From musical theatre’s most captivating composer, based on the book by Ben Elton, and featuring the new highly acclaimed Australian production filmed in Melbourne, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies on Blu-ray and DVD showcases a spectacular show that is the perfect gift for Mother’s Day.   The production was described by Andrew Lloyd Webber as “one of the finest productions I’ve ever seen of my work, anywhere”.

Be transported to New York’s playground Coney Island where the masked phantom has been hiding amongst the freaks and side shows for 10 long years, yearning for his one true love and musical protégée, Christine Daaé.  Lured by the bright lights and financial rewards of Coney, Christine and her family flee Manhattan to perform on stage for one last time, but Christine soon discovers the true identity of her mysterious impresario and that all is not what it seems. 

Andrew Lloyd’s Webber’s Love Never Dies features a 21 strong piece orchestra and an impressive cast of 36 including highly praised musical actors Ben Lewis as the Phantom and Anna O’Byrne as his Christine.  Ben Lewis has a long history on the Australian stage and has starred in a number of successful stage musicals including the smash hit Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Monty Python’s Spamalot.   Anna O’Byrne’s big break came when she was cast in the Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera, where she covered and performed the role of Christine Daaé opposite Anthony Warlow’s Phantom.  She is also an experienced performer in many operatic productions.

A dazzling production that takes audiences on a thrilling rollercoaster ride of intrigue, obsession and romance, don’t miss the magnificent Love Never Dies on Blu-ray and DVD out on 12 March 2012 – an ideal gift for Mother’s Day.

To pre-order your copy of the UK DVD in our online shop, click here, or go here for the Blu-Ray. Alternatively you can pre-order the DVD and BluRay on Amazon.co.uk.

* Please note, the DVD released in the UK on 12th March 2012 will be region-2 only. The Blu-Ray disc is all-regions. For full information on all currently available international release dates, click here.

Book your tickets to see The Stars in Our Eyes at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Sunday 18th March by CLICKING HERE, or call the Box Office on 0844 412 4657.

Speaking about the release, David Robinson, Head of Licensing at The Really Useful Group said, “We announced in the Autumn of 2011 that we’d be making strides to release as many of Andrew’s works as possible, for amateur and school performances. I am thrilled that we are moving on apace with that project by, today, releasing Whistle Down The Wind for amateur societies.”

Based on the novel by Mary Hayley Bell and subsequent film produced by Richard Attenborough, Whistle Down The Wind follows a group of children who discover an escaped prisoner in a barn, whom they take to be Jesus and vow to protect. The fight between children and adults over the fate of the fugitive is a struggle between bigotry and innocence, updated from the original setting to 1960’s American Deep South.

The sensational score, for 14 players, travels through the rousing gospel opening of The Vaults of Heaven through pulsating rock songs such as Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts, via the lilting melody of the title track Whistle Down the Wind and the song which became a No 1 hit for Boyzone No Matter What.

If you are a Amateur Society in the UK, visit StageAMusical.com to find out more about how to apply.

The singer-songwriter, who released his critically-acclaimed album ‘Ashes & Fire’ on PAX-AM/Columbia in October 2011, will play seven shows across the country. The dates are Adams’ first since last autumn’s four sold out UK appearances.

To buy tickets for Ryan Adam’s London Palladium performances, CLICK HERE.

For details on the other April tour dates, visit Ryan Adams’ website here.

The winner’s life-changing prize will be the leading role in a new arena tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar which will open at London’s O2 arena.

Superstar will be television’s first ‘school of rock’, helping talented singers achieve their potential. Andrew Lloyd Webber hopes the British public will help him discover an extraordinary new voice to fill the country’s largest arenas.

Andrew Lloyd Webber says: “Presenting a new, 2012 version of Jesus Christ Superstar for arenas is truly exciting. Some of the best performances of this show have been in rock venues and I’m thrilled to see the show return to its roots. ITV is providing the perfect platform for us to find a new, British Superstar.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber has previously discovered brilliant new stars for West End productions of The Sound of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Oliver! and The Wizard of Oz. Theatre audiences have grown, there has been an increase in musical theatre licensing by amateur societies and a surge in applications at stage schools.

“It is the public who lead the casting process and they’ve got it absolutely right four times already. It’s been wonderful to see the careers of so many of the contestants blossom, so it will be especially fascinating to see who the public chooses as their Superstar!” says Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Auditions will take place across the country during February-March in London, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff. The UK’s most promising new talent will perform on stage in the hope of impressing the casting panel for a place in the final live shows.

The casting team will whittle down the numbers for the live shows featuring those they believe have potential to become a superstar.

Lloyd Webber will be joined by a carefully selected panel of judges to help him in his search. But ultimately it will be up to the British public to decide who they want to be his Superstar and play Jesus.

Elaine Bedell, ITV’s Director of Entertainment & Comedy, says: “We are asking ITV viewers to help us find a new superstar - in every sense of the word. We’re looking for the kind of performer who can fill arenas – and produce a rocking performance to match.”

Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV Studios says: “Live primetime entertainment is at the heart of ITV Studios and we’re delighted to be working with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber to bring this nationwide search to ITV1.”

Superstar is executive produced by Peter Davey with Katharine Begg as series producer.

Superstar is an ITV Studios production for ITV1.

How to Apply:

Please go to www.itv.com/superstar for full details on how to apply and audition. Anyone can apply over the age of 18 yrs, be it professional or amateur.

To get the very latest news on Jesus Christ Superstar, make sure you sign up for the Really Useful Group newsletter – just follow the instructions in the top right-hand corner of this page.

Click on the thumbnails below to view a selection of images from the college’s production, and visit StageAMusical.com to find out how you can stage your own production of Joseph.

LAS VEGAS – After more than six years and nearly 2,700 performances, Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular will end its historic run at the Venetian-Resort-Hotel-Casino on September 2, 2012.  This stunning theatrical spectacle will never be seen again once the final curtain closes in Las Vegas.  Tickets for all remaining performances are on sale now.

“All involved are very proud of the success that Phantom has achieved here in Las Vegas at The Venetian,” says Scott Zeiger, co-CEO of BASE Entertainment, the show’s co-producer. “Since opening night, critics and fans alike have recognized this production of Phantom is unlike any they have ever seen, or will ever see again. We’ve had a triumphant run by any measure.”

Featuring every beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber song from the original, this lavish production of Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular thrills audiences six nights a week at The Venetian, in a unique and magnificent custom built replica of the famed Paris Opera House. The production is directed by 21-time Tony Award winner Hal Prince, the show’s original director, and guided by Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

“The Las Vegas production of Phantom took all of the classic elements of the show and added unique aspects that created a whole new experience,” said Lloyd Webber. “It enjoyed remarkable success in Las Vegas, was enjoyed by millions of fans and proved that a timeless love story told in a fantastic theater will always be in vogue.”

“For six years Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular has provided guests and fans with an amazing experience in our exceptional theatre,” said John Caparella, president and COO of The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo.  “The Venetian has always been committed to bringing our visitors top-notch entertainment and Phantom certainly fit that bill.  We look forward to sharing our new entertainment offerings with everyone very soon.”

The Toronto Sun said, “Even if you think you’ve seen The Phantom of the Opera before, believe me, you’ve never seen it like this.” USA Today called it, “An only-in-Vegas thrill ride!” The Arizona Republic described Phantom as, “Bigger than ever. An over-the-top, 95-minute spectacle.”

Phantom at The Venetian is produced by The Really Useful Theatre Company Inc. and BASE Entertainment.

Phantom performs at The Venetian Resort – Hotel – Casino on Monday and Saturday at 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm; Tuesday – Friday at 7 p.m.; and is dark on Sunday. Tickets are available by calling the Venetian Box Office at 866-641-7469 or 702-414-9000, or online at www.Venetian.com. For groups of 10 or more, please call (702) 785-5394.  For more information please visit www.phantomlasvegas.com.

 # # #

 Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular by the Numbers

 When the cast takes their final bow on September 2, 2012 after the 7:00 p.m. performance, Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular will have: 

• Enchanted audiences with more than 600,000 unbelievable special effects
• The breathtaking, $5-million chandelier will have “crashed” the distance equal to six times the height of Mount Everest
• Held 2691 performances
• Been seen by millions of fans
• “The Phantom” will have spent approximately 3,000 hours in the make-up chair to transform into the haunting character each night
• The beautiful “Christine Daae” will have had more than 30,000 costume changes
• More than 130,000 romantic kisses will have been shared on stage between Christine Daae, Raoul and “The Phantom”
• 35,000 elaborate set changes will have been executed by the crew

Broadway casting has been announced for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Artistic Director Des McAnuff which will open March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52^nd Street).

The cast will feature Paul Nolan as Jesus Christ, Josh Young as Judas Iscariot, Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene, Tom Hewitt as Pontius Pilate, Bruce Dow as King Herod, Marcus Nance as Caiaphas and Aaron Walpole as Annas.

Also in the cast: Matt Alfano as Thaddeus, Mary Antonini as Elizabeth, Karen Burthwright as Ruth, Jacqueline Burtney as Mary (Martha’s Sister), Mark Cassius as Matthew, Ryan Gifford as Bartholomew, Kaylee Harwood as Sarah, Jeremy Kushnier as James the Lesser/Priest, Mike Nadajewski as Peter, Melissa O’Neil as Martha/Maid by the Fire, Laurin Padolina as Rachel, Katrina Reynolds as Esther, Jaz Sealey as Thomas, Jason Sermonia as John, Julius Sermonia as James, Lee Siegel as Simon Zealotes, Jonathan Winsby as Phillip, Sandy Winsby as Andrew, and Krista Leis and Matthew Rossoff as swings.

In addition to Mr. McAnuff as Director, the creative team includes Choreographer Lisa Shriver, Musical Director Rick Fox, Set Designer Robert Brill, Costume Designer Paul Tazewell, Lighting Designer Howell Binkley, Sound Designer Steve Canyon Kennedy and Video Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis.

This ground-breaking rock opera, which reinvented musical theatre for the modern age, tells the story of the last week of Christ’s life.  The score includes such chart-topping songs as “I Don’t Know How To Love Him,” “Everything’s Alright” and “Superstar.”

The Los Angeles Times wrote “O ye of little faith. To all those who made snarky comments when it was announced that ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ was being resurrected by Des McAnuff, I say unto you, “Go down to La Jolla Playhouse and observe the benevolent gift of this revival, which has had the miraculous effect of turning even an Andrew Lloyd Webber denier like me into a momentary believer.”

Variety wrote “In Des McAnuff’s Broadway-bound revival of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ costume designer Paul Tazewell dresses the title character in solid white, as if offering a blank canvas on which the world is invited to paint for the next 2,000 years and beyond. The usefulness of the carpenter from Nazareth to serve everyone’s select purposes is the theme here, surely the most thoughtful and scintillating reading of the Webber/Rice rock opera since its 1969 recording.”

 The Globe and Mail wrote, “This production is an absolute miracle,” while the Toronto Star called it “the best show you’ll see this year.” “A sparkling production literally pulsing with life,” wrote the Toronto Sun; and Variety enthused, “McAnuff has managed to come up with a vision that is faithful to the original but manages to make it seem fresh to an audience in 2011.”

Tickets for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR are available through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929.  Group sales (of 15 or more) are on sale now and available by calling 1-877-536-3437.

Ticket Pricing:
Ticket prices (including the $2 facility fee) range from $62-$99 for previews (March 1-March 21), $62-$142 for performances March 22 onward.

Cast

Thaddeus                                  Matt Alfano
Elizabeth                                  Mary Antonini
Ruth                                         Karen Burthwright
Mary (Martha’s sister)               Jacqueline Burtney
Matthew/Priest                         Mark Cassius
King Herod                                Bruce Dow
Bartholomew                              Ryan Gifford
Sarah                                       Kaylee Harwood
Mary Magdalene                                    Chilina Kennedy
Pontius Pilate                            Tom Hewitt
James the Lesser/Priest               Jeremy Kushnier
Peter                                         Mike Nadajewski
Caiaphas                                  Marcus Nance
Jesus Christ                               Paul Nolan
Martha/Maid by the Fire           Melissa O’Neil
Rachel                                      Laurin Padolina
Esther                                       Katrina Reynolds
Thomas                                     Jaz Sealey
John                                          Jason Sermonia
James                                        Julius Sermonia
Simon Zealotes                          Lee Siegel
Annas                                      Aaron Walpole
Phillip                                      Jonathan Winsby
Andrew/Priest                          Sandy Winsby
Judas Iscariot                             Josh Young
Swings                                      Krista Leis, Matthew Rossof

Biographies

Andrew Lloyd Webber (Music) is the composer of The Likes of Us, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, By Jeeves, Evita, Song & Dance, Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, The Woman in White and, most recently, Love Never Dies, which continues the story of the Phantom and Christine. He also composed the film scores of Gumshoe and The Odessa File, and the classical work Requiem. Besides many of his shows, his credits as producer include Daisy Pulls It Off, Lend Me a Tenor, Shirley Valentine, La Bête, the groundbreaking Bollywood musical Bombay Dreams, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and the film of The Phantom of the Opera. He pioneered television casting for musical theatre with the Emmy Award-winning BBC series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?. He repeated his success with Any Dream Will Do, which cast the title role of Joseph…Dreamcoat, and I’d Do Anything, which cast the roles of Nancy and Oliver for Oliver! In the 2010 BBC series Over the Rainbow, Danielle Hope was cast in the role of Dorothy for his new production of The Wizard of Oz. His awards include seven Tonys, three Grammys (including Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem), seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, two International Emmys, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre and The Kennedy Center Honor. He was knighted in 1992 and created an honorary life peer in 1997.

Tim Rice (Lyrics) was born in 1944, and began songwriting in 1965. That same year he met fellow budding songwriter Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose musical ambitions were in theatre rather than rock or pop. They teamed and wrote four musicals together from 1965 to 1978. The first, The Likes of Us, was performed for the first time in 2005. The other three, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita were more immediate successes. After the pair went their separate ways, Rice wrote Blondel (1983) with Stephen Oliver, which ran for a year in London and was followed in 1986 by Chess, in collaboration with ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. In the 1990s Rice worked primarily for the Disney company, writing lyrics for the movies Aladdin and The Lion King and for the stage shows Beauty and the Beast, King David, The Lion King and Elton John’s Aida. Between Disney commitments he wrote the words for Cliff Richard’s theatrical blockbuster Heathcliff, which toured the U.K. in 1995-96. For Dreamworks, he joined forces again with Elton John to write the score for the 2000 animated film The Road to El Dorado. His awards include a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, three Oscars, four Tonys, five Grammys and thirteen Ivor Novello Awards. The first volume of his autobiography, Oh What a Circus, was published in 1999.

Des McAnuff (Director/Artistic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival/Director Emeritus of La Jolla Playhouse)  Two-time Tony, Olivier and Dora award-winning director Des McAnuff attended Ryerson University and was part of Toronto’s burgeoning theatre scene in the 1970s. During his tenure as Artistic Director, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival has mounted 60 productions and Mr. McAnuff has directed 7 productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, Twelfth Night (2010) The Tempest starring Christopher Plummer, As You Like It, Macbeth starring Colm Feore, A Funny Thing…, Romeo and Juliet, and Caesar and Cleopatra starring Christopher Plummer. In 2012, his fifth season as Artistic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, he will direct Henry V and Christopher Plummer’s one-man show A Word or Two. He is director emeritus of La Jolla Playhouse, where over 18 years as Artistic Director he directed more than 30 productions of Shakespeare and other classics, new plays and musicals.  His adventurous leadership won La Jolla a Tony for Outstanding Regional Theatre and sent fifteen productions to Broadway, beginning with Big River in 1985, which received Tony awards for Best Director and Musical, and A Walk in the Woods in 1988. Broadway: Guys & Dolls, Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention, Jersey Boys (Tony and Olivier awards: best musical), Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Tony Award), How to Succeed…, The Who’s Tommy (director/co-author with Pete Townshend, Tony and Olivier awards: best director; Olivier: best musical), A Walk in the Woods, Big River (Tony awards: best director and musical). Other New York: Crazy Locomotive, Mary Stuart, his play Leave It to Beaver is Dead. Australia: new musical Dr. Zhivago (February 2011) Opera: Faust at NY’s Metropolitan Opera (2011) and English National Opera (2010) and Wozzeck at San Diego Opera. Film: Cousin Bette and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (director), The Iron Giant (producer) and Quills (executive producer). Stratford’s Caesar and Cleopatra and The Tempest were also filmed for wide Canadian theatrical release to sold-out audiences across the country. In June 2011 he was honored with a doctorate from Ryerson University and in 2005 he received the prestigious Julia Hansen Award for lifetime achievement in directing.

Paul Nolan (Jesus Christ)
Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Orlando in As You Like It, The Winter’s Tale, Tony in West Side Story, Valvert in Cyrano, Bobby in Cabaret, Slim in Oklahoma!, King Lear. Elsewhere: Beast in Beauty and the Beast (Persephone); Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (Stage West Calgary, Sunshine Festival); Curly in Oklahoma! (Aquarius); Henry in Jasper Station (Lighthouse Festival); Danny in Grease (Stage West Mississauga); Bill in Kiss Me, Kate (Sunshine Festival); Huck in Big River (Drayton); Young Hercules in Hercules (Disney); Lucentio in Romancin’ the One I Love (Winter Garden); Rafe in One Night Stand (London, England); Mamma Mia! (Mirvish). Recent travels included a trip home to Saskatchewan, where he created a concert of musical theatre songs with Chilina Kennedy in support of Regina’s Golden Apple Theatre Company. Film/TV: The Gospel of John, Shapeshifter, Strike!, Cruel Intentions 2, On My Mind. Training: Birmingham Conservatory (2009), Randolph Academy. Awards: John Hirsch Guthrie Award (2010).

Josh Young (Judas Iscariot)
Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Connie Rivers in The Grapes of Wrath, Che in Evita, Paul in Kiss Me, Kate. Elsewhere: Les Misérables (Marius, U.S. tour); West Side Story (Tony, 50th-anniversary international tour); A Little Night Music (Henrik, Baltimore Center Stage). Training: Pennsylvania Governors School for the Arts; BFA, Syracuse University. Awards: 2010 Broadway World Toronto Award (best actor in a musical) for Che in Evita. Website: Visit www.josh-young.com, iTunes or the Playhouse gift shop to pick up Josh’s self-titled debut album or the brand-new Still Dreaming of Paradise, a mix of re-imagined Broadway songs and pop classics.

Chilina Kennedy (Mary Magdalene)
Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Lois Lane in Kiss Me, Kate, Eva Perón in Evita, Maria in West Side Story, Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She is a proud member of the 2009/10 Birmingham Conservatory. Elsewhere: Chilina recently reprised Philia in Forum at the Canon Theatre in Toronto. Other credits include Guest Artist for an evening with Jason Robert Brown at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio; The President (Lydia), Wonderful Town (Eileen), Summer and Smoke (Nellie), Mack and Mabel, Gypsy, Major Barbara, Follies – In Concert (Shaw Festival); Reprise Concerts (St. Lawrence Centre); Variations on a Nervous Breakdown (TIFT); The Lord of the Rings (Mirvish); Mamma Mia! (Sophie, U.S. first national tour); Anne of Green Gables, Emily (Charlottetown Festival); On Albert Street, Seussical – The Musical (Aquarius); A Chorus Line, The Last Resort (Stage West). Recordings: Chilina is featured on CBC’s Celebrate the Seasons and has recorded with Burt Bacharach.

Tom Hewitt (Pontius Pilate).
Broadway:  Billy Flynn in Chicago, title role in Dracula, The Musical, Frank ‘N’ Furter in The Rocky Horror Show (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), The Boys From Syracuse, Scar in The Lion King, The Sisters Rosensweig.  He also appeared in the National Tours of   Urinetown, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Touring Broadway Award) and Peter Pan.  Off-Broadway credits include Treasure Island, Jeffery, Beau Jest (Outer Critics Circle nominations), Richard III and Othello.  Recent regional credits:  Kiss Me Kate (Reprise!, Muny), A Flea In Her Ear, (Williamstown), Private Lives and Travesties (Long Wharf, CT Critics Award), Compleat Female Stage Beauty (Old Globe), Uncle Vanya (Arena Stage), Racing Demon and Blithe Spirit (Guthrie), Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare Theater) and Zhivago (La Jolla Playhouse).  Mr. Hewitt has performed throughout Japan, Europe and the US with the Suzuki Company of Toga.  His TV/film credits include “Law & Order,” “Third Watch,” “Frasier,” “All My Children,” narration for the Discovery, History and National Geographic channels and Julie Taymor’s Fool’s Fire.  Training:  PTTP currently at U. of Delaware.

Bruce Dow (King Herod)
La Jolla Playhouse: Robert in Jane Eyre. Broadway/NYC: Robert in Jane Eyre; Jacey Squires in The Music Man; Bishop Dobson in Anything Goes (benefit, Lincoln Center Theater); Prismatic in Grenadine, Neil Wechsler’s 2008 Yale Drama Award Winner (reading, tctnyc.org). Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Trinculo in The Tempest, starring Christopher Plummer; Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Emcee in Cabaret; Dromio of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors; Baker in Into the Woods; Luther Billis in South Pacific; Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls; Speed in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Film/TV: Murdoch Mysteries (Shaftesbury/Granada); Rick Mercer Report (CBC); The Tempest (Bravo!, Melbar). Recordings: Keepin’ Out of Mischief, Lucky to Be Me (available in lobby, at iTunes and Amazon). Cabaret: Cabaret West, Chicago Cabaret Professionals, MACnyc. Training: BFA Acting, MFA Directing, UBC. Website: www.brucedow.com.

 Marcus Nance (Caiaphas)
Broadway/Off-Broadway: Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème; Kismet, Of Thee I Sing (Encores!); Cinderella (City Opera). Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Jesus Christ Superstar, Moby Dick, The Music Man, My One and Only. Regional: Four Saints in Three Acts (Chicago Opera Theater); Beauty and the Beast (Grand Theatre, Western Canada Theatre); Dark Star Requiem (Luminato); Floyd Collins, Pal Joey (Shaw Festival); Porgy and Bess (Toronto Symphony); Annie Get Your Gun (Massey Hall); Elsewhereless (Tapestry Opera); Show Boat (Livent); Tosca (Hawaii Opera); Rigoletto (Tacoma Opera); The Barber of Seville (Monterey Opera). Film: The Producers. Recordings: debut solo CD The Voice Next Door (available in the theatre store); La Bohème, Ragtime, Show Boat (cast recordings). Awards: Metropolitan Opera National Council. Training: BA, voice, Fresno State University. Website: marcusnance.com.

Aaron Walpole (Annas)
Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Angie the Ox/Nicely and Big Jule understudy (Guys and Dolls), Quartet Tenor #2 (Anything Goes). Elsewhere: Lonny in Rock of Ages (Mirvish); Big Bopper in The Buddy Holly Story; Herman in Sweet Charity; Bouley in Damn Yankees;, ensemble in One Hit Wonders; Canadian Explosion, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Stage West); Eddie/Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Show (Theatre New Brunswick); Hank in Nursery School Musical (Berkeley Street Theatre); Parker in Rock and Roll (Grand Theatre); Aaron in The Compleat Works…, Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk (Gayety Theatre); Roger in Grease (Citadel Theatre); Moose in Crazy for You (Huron Country Playhouse). Film/TV: Breakout Kings (A&E series); feature films: Felling Shadows, Silent but Deadly, Deacons for Defense; Canadian Idol, season 3 (third-place finalist). Recordings: debut self-titled album available in stores across Canada through Sony/BMG Canada. Training: Sheridan College Music Theatre Performance Program. Website: www.aaronwalpole.com.

Last Christmas they gave it away – but who will end up with the poor old Tin Man’s heart this year?

Danielle Hope (Dorothy) was on holiday during the filming of this clip, but she sends seasonal greetings to you all!

For more information on The Wizard of Oz and to get your tickets to see the show, click here.

The spectacular 25th Anniversary performance was released last week in the UK on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and Download – visit the Phantom online store to order your copy, and click here for information on worldwide release dates.

For more information on the DVD release, click here, or visit the official website for information on the Australian production of Love Never Dies.

Lloyd Webber sanctioned the non-equity tour that features the original direction, choreography, scenic, lighting and costume design from the London and Broadway productions. Richard Stafford re-created Trevor Nunn’s direction and Gillian Lynne’s choreography for the tour. John Napier designed the original physical production, which had lighting by David Hersey.

Based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” the musical became an international phenomenon and has continuously toured the U.S. for 30 years in various union and non-union productions. In 1991 Cats became the longest-running continuous tour in U.S. history. Cats produced the stand-out single “Memory.”

Cats opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre Oct. 7, 1982, where it ran for 7,485 performances before closing Sept. 10, 2000. It held the title of Broadway’s longest-running musical, but was surpassed by Lloyd Webber’s other hit, The Phantom of the Opera, which currently holds the title. Cats won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.

The current 28-stop tour also incorporates the characters of Coricopat and Tantomile, the “psychic twin” cats, which were last represented on stage in the Broadway production.

The cast includes Felipe Barbosa Bombonato, Ashley Chasteen, Molly Emerson, Erica Leigh Hansen, Amanda Lamotte, Madison Mitchell, Hillary Porter, Daniel J. Self, Chris Stevens, Brad Trump, Rachel Boone, Craig Donnelly, Blayne Gregg-Miller, Katharine Heaton, Larry A. Lozier, Jr., Nathan Morgan, Kristen Quartarone, Clinton James Sherwood, Daniel Switzer, Robert Burke, Jordan Dunlap, Melissa Grohowski, Jamie Joseph, Candace Lyn Luther, Louie Napoleon, Elizabeth Ruff, Christopher E. Sidoli, Lucas Thompson and Chaz Wolcott.

J. Michael Duff is musical director for the tour. Kristen Blodgette is musical supervisor. Original orchestrations are by Lloyd Webber and David Cullen.

As originally published on Playbill.com.

The current North American tour schedule for Cats follows:

Dec. 27-Jan. 1, 2012 (San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose, CA)
Jan. 10-15, 2012 (Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA)
Jan. 17-22, 2012 (Segestrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA)
Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2012 (Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, TX)
Feb. 13, 2012 (Heymann Performing Arts Center, Lafayette, LA)
Feb. 15, 2012 (Historic Fox Theatre, Hutchinson, KS)
Feb. 17-19, 2012 (Orpheum Theatre, Omaha, NE)
Feb. 22-26, 2012 (Northern Alberta Jubilee, Edmonton, AB)
Mar. 5, 2012 (Wicomico Center, Salisbury, MD)
Mar. 6, 2012 (Colonial Theatre, Keene, NH)
Mar. 8, 2012 (Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Johnstown, PA)
Mar. 9-10, 2012 (American Musical Theatre, Lancaster, PA)
Mar. 11, 2012 (Forum Theatre, Binghamton, NY)
Mar. 13-14, 2012 (Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON)
Mar. 16-18, 2012 (Overture Center, Madison, WI)
Mar. 19, 2012 (Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL)
Mar. 21, 2012 (Eisenhower Theatre, State College, PA)
Mar. 24-25, 2012 (TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK)
Mar. 27-29, 2012 (Conexus Arts Centre, Regina, SK)
Mar. 30-Mar. 31, 2012 (Centennial Centre, Winnipeg, MB)
Apr. 10-15, 2012 (Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC)
Apr. 17-22, 2012 (Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA)
May 1-6,2012 (Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago, IL)
May 9-10, 2012 (Hamilton Place Theatre, Hamilton, ON)
May 13, 2012 (Southern Kentucky PAC, Bowling Green, KY)
Jun. 15-17, 2012 (DeVos Hall, Grand Rapids, MI)

In this video clip, members of the cast and crew hear about their nominations from Resident Director Kate Golledge and share their thoughts…

For more information about The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, and to buy tickets, visit the official show website.

The spectacular 25th Anniversary performance was released last week in the UK on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and Download – visit the Phantom online store to order your copy, and click here for information on worldwide release dates.

John Owen-Jones and Katie Hall both leave the production at Her Majesty’s Theatre to prepare for their roles in the spectacular new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA premiering at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in March 2012, prior to its national tour.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA continues to star Sofia Escobar as ‘Christine’, Killian Donnelly as ‘Raoul’, Wendy Ferguson as ‘Carlotta’, Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin’, Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André’, Cheryl McAvoy as ‘Madame Giry’, Jeremy Secomb as ‘Piangi’ and Anna Forbes as ‘Meg Giry’.

Earl Carpenter’s recent credits include ‘Perón’ in the European Tour of “Evita”, ‘Commander Khashoggi’ in the UK Tour of “We Will Rock You” and ‘Javert’ in both the West End production and the 25th Anniversary Tour of “Les Misérables”. He has previously played ‘The Phantom’ in the West End production of “The Phantom of the Opera” as well as the starring role of ‘Darryl Van Horne’ in “The Witches of Eastwick” at the Prince of Wales Theatre, also in the West End. His other touring credits include ‘Joe Gillis’ in “Sunset Boulevard”.

Peter Jöback is a platinum-selling Swedish recording artist and performer. No stranger to the London stage, Peter played ‘Chris’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s original production of “Miss Saigon”, and created the role of ‘Michael’ in “The Witches of Eastwick”, both at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Peter also took part in the recent 25th Anniversary celebrations of “Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall”, performing alongside Sarah Brightman during the spectacular curtain call. Peter Jöback also created the role of ‘Robert’ in the Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson musical “Kristina från Duvemåla” (The Emigrants), which was seen by over 1 million Swedes. As a recording artist, Peter has been awarded gold and platinum discs for all of his releases as well as several Grammy nominations.

Katy Treharne made her professional stage debut in the ensemble of “The Phantom of the Opera” in 2009.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder “Cats”. This coincided with the Broadway and the US national touring company celebrating an unprecedented 20,000 performances in the United States. In October 2010 the London production celebrated its 10,000th performance.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has won over 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End. It won the ‘Most Popular Musical Audience Award’, voted by the public, in the 2002 Laurence Olivier Awards. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 starred Michael Crawford as ‘The Phantom’ and Sarah Brightman as ‘Christine.’ It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company Limited.

Worldwide, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over £3.2 billion. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including “Titanic”, “ET” and “Star Wars”. It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 130 million people. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Kyoto.

Performance times for “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” are Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets are priced from £20.75-£62.50 and are available from Her Majesty’s Theatre box office on 0844 412 2707 or visit “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” website www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

This exclusive video clip gives us a behind the scenes glimpse of rehearsals before Simon Bowman, Earl Carpenter (who takes over the role in the West End production this Monday), John Owen Jones and Ramin Karimloo chat to Andrew Lloyd Webber as they prepare to take to the stage.

Scenic and Costume Design by CHRISTOPHER ORAM, Lighting Design by NEIL AUSTIN,  Sound Design by MICK POTTER

Opening Night April 5, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre. Previews begin March 12. Tickets onsale at Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

New York, NY – Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders have announced additional casting and the creative team for the new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s landmark musical EVITA, opening April 5, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). Previews begin Monday, March 12, 2012. Joining the previously announced stars of EVITA – world renowned music artist Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Perón and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón – are Max Von Essen as Magaldi, Rachel Potter as the Mistress, and Christina DeCicco as the alternate/standby for Eva Perón. Alternate performances to be announced.

Rounding out the cast are Ashley Amber, George Lee Andrews, Wendi Bergamini, Eric L. Christian, Kristine Covillo, Colin Cunliffe, Margot de La Barre, Bradley Dean, Melanie Field, Jennie Ford, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Constantine Germanacos, Laurel Harris, Nick Kenkel, Brad Little, Erica Mansfield, Emily Mechler, Sydney Morton, Jessica Lea Patty, Aleks Pevec, Kristie Dale Sanders, Timothy Shew, Michaeljon Slinger, Johnny Stellard, Alex Michael Stoll, Daniel Torres and Matt Wall.

The creative team includes Tony Award-winning Scenic and Costume Designer Christopher Oram (Red), Tony Award-winning Lighting Designer Neil Austin (Red), Olivier Award-winning Sound Designer Mick Potter (Woman In White), Wig and Hair Designer Richard Mawbey (Frost/Nixon), Projection Designer Zachary Borovay (Rock of Ages), and Music Supervisor/Director Kristen Blodgette (Mary Poppins), Orchestrations are by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Cullen (Sunset Boulevard), and dance arrangements are by David Chase (Billy Elliot). As previously announced, Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage will direct and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford will choreograph. This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway over 30 years ago.

Eva Perón used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. She won international acclaim and adoration from her own people as a champion of the poor, while glamour, power and greed made her the world’s first major political celebrity.

EVITA tells Eva’s passionate and tragic story through Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most dazzling and beloved score, which includes “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” and “High Flying Adored,” together with “You Must Love Me,” the Oscar-winning hit from the film EVITA.

After researching the life of Eva Perón for many years, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber released EVITA in 1976 as a concept album with Julie Covington as Evita and it became a world-wide hit. Soon after, the production debuted on stage in London’s West End starring Elaine Paige and directed by Hal Prince. The production transferred to Broadway and opened in 1979 starring Patti LuPone, who went on to win one of the seven 1980 Tony Awards the show earned. A major 1996 film of the musical was made starring Madonna as Evita and Antonio Banderas as Ché. Michael Grandage’s production of EVITA, which opened in 2006, took London by storm and garnered critical acclaim for the show and its leading lady, Elena Roger.

Tickets to EVITA are on sale now, and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or calling 1-800-745-3000.
www.EvitaOnBroadway.com.

Los Angeles Times – Charles McNulty

Variety – Bob Verini

North Country Times – Pam Kragen 

San Diego.com – Welton Jones

Backstage – Les Spindle

The San Diego Union-Tribune – James Hebert

San Diego Magazine - Erin Meanley

San Diego Gay and Lesbian News – Jean Lowerison

The spectacular 25th Anniversary performance was released last week in the UK on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and Download – visit the Phantom online store to order your copy, and click here for information on worldwide release dates.

The BroadwayWorld UK Awards are the largest ticket buyer-driven awards program of their kind, inviting West End theatre fans to cast their votes online for their favourite shows and UK productions. Tens of thousands of fans took part in this year’s awards, with 5,000 votes cast on the last day alone.

The Phantom of the Opera - which this year celebrated 25 years in London’s West End – won in the Best Long Running West End Show category, while the show’s incredible 25th Anniversary performance at the Royal Albert Hall was voted Theatrical Event of the Year.

The Wizard of Oz, currently continuing to delight audiences at the London Palladium, won five awards: Best Choreography – Arlene Phillips, Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Michael Crawford, Best Leading Actress in a Musical – Danielle Hope, Best Musical (tied with Rock of Ages) and Best Orchestrations – David Cullen.

Click here to see the full list of winners.

Today’s news comes after both The Phantom of the Opera and The Wizard of Oz were last week shortlisted in the UK’s Whatsonstage.com Awards. Voting in the Whatsonstage.com awards is open until 31st January 2012 and the winners will be announced in February. Click here for more information.

The Wizard of Oz gained four nominations – Best Musical Revival, London Newcomer of the Year for Danielle Hope (Dorothy), Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for former Wicked Witch Hannah Waddingham and Best Set Designer for Robert Jones.

The London production of The Phantom of the Opera is nominated for Best West End Show, and this year’s 25th Anniversary celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall are shortlisted in the Theatre Event of the Year category.

10,000 theatregoers cast their nominations in the opening phase of the 12th annual Whatsonstage.com Awards, and voting is NOW OPEN at whatsonstage.com/vote for theatre fans to choose their winners.

Voting closes on 31st January 2012 and the winners will be announced at a special ceremony on 19th February 2012.

Click here for more information and to cast your vote.

Love Never Dies will also be released on DVD in February 2012. For more information on the Australian production, visit the official show website.

The spectacular 25th Anniversary performance was released last week in the UK on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and Download – visit the Phantom online store to order your copy, and click here for information on worldwide release dates.

Click on the thumbnail images below to view larger pictures of the production. All images c. Simon Rostron Photography.

The spectacular 25th Anniversary performance was released last week in the UK on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and Download – visit the Phantom online store to order your copy, and click here for information on worldwide release dates.

Sir Tim, who began work on Joseph with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1967, is himself a former Lancing College pupil and was delighted to see students at his old school perform the show, which had its very first live performance on 1st March 1968 at another school - Colet Court at St Paul’s Junior School in London.

After the performance, Tim met Lancing College’s current staff and students and complimented them on their production.

View images from the gala performance below – click on a thumbnail to view an larger image.

Rebecca’s debut single ‘Nothing’s Real But Love’ is released this Sunday, 20th November. She will perform on The X Factor on the same day.

The single is taken from Rebecca’s extraordinary debut album ‘Heaven’, released through Sony Music on December 5th.

CLICK HERE to buy tickets to see Rebecca Ferguson at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 23th March 2012, or call the Box Office on 0844 811 0051.

The full tour dates are:

Mon 20-Feb Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Tue 21-Feb Gateshead Sage 1
Fri 24-Feb Oxford New Theatre
Sat 25-Feb Sheffield City Hall
Mon 27-Feb Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Tue 28-Feb Portsmouth Guildhall
Thu 01-March Birmingham Symphony Hall
Fri 02-March York Barbican
Sat 03-March Blackpool Opera House
Thu 08-March Cardiff St Davids Hall
Fri 09-March Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Mon 12-March Bristol Colston Hall
Tue 13-March London Theatre Royal Drury Lane

The spectacular 25th Anniversary performance was released last week in the UK on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and Download – visit the Phantom online store to order your copy, and click here for information on worldwide release dates.

The first Amateur Stage Expo takes place at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington on 31st March and 1st April 2012 and will be the largest event ever staged for amateur theatre participants and enthusiasts in the UK.

The two day event will feature live performances from theatre groups, exhibitors, educational performance and management workshops and open discussion groups covering all manner of topics.

Event Co-ordinator, Douglas Mayo said “We are delighted that Really Useful Group has come on board to support this event. As the organisation behind Andrew Lloyd Webber, the UK’s most prolific musical theatre composer ever, their involvement is invaluable”.

David Robinson, Head of Licensing at The Really Useful Group said “It is great to be involved in this exciting new event for amateur and school theatre. Thousands of youngsters in the UK perform Andrew’s shows each year and we’ll be releasing more shows in the coming months. For that reason it is important that we support the community of amateur performers and wish the inaugural Amateur Stage Expo the best possible start.”

Sponsorship of the educational performance workshops follows The Really Useful Group’s recent release of Cats and The Phantom Of the Opera to schools and youth groups in the UK and Eire.

Further information on the Expo can be found at www.amateurstageexpo.co.uk.

Find out how to licence a Really Useful Group show at www.stageamusical.com.

In the week leading up to their Children in Need performance, the cast were also busy collecting at the London Palladium and, together with a generous donation from our Wizard Michael Crawford’s charity, the total amount raised was £10,000. Thank you to all those who donated!

CLICK HERE and scroll to 10.57 to watch The Wizard of Oz’s Children in Need performance on BBC iPlayer – and check out our exclusive video of the cast, Company Manager Roger and Resident Driector Kate as they geared up for their performance on Friday at BBC’s Television Studios, below.

For more information on The Wizard of Oz, visit the official show website.

The spectacular 25th Anniversary performance was released last week in the UK on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and Download – visit the Phantom online store to order your copy, and click here for information on worldwide release dates.

Tune in to watch the cast on BBC1 from 7.30pm this Friday, 18th November. The cast will then make their way back to the London Palladium for an 8pm start to the evening’s show.

Click here for more information on Children in Need, and visit the official Wizard of Oz website to find out more about the show. 

The spectacular 25th Anniversary performance was released this week in the UK on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and Download – visit the Phantom online store to order your copy, and click here for information on worldwide release dates.

To see the show for yourself, visit the official Wizard of Oz website for ticket information.

50 schools from across Germany competed for the chance to take part in this youth project and class 8C, from the August-Claas-school in Harsewinkel, were selected as the winners. 22 pupils from the school arrived in Bochum for several days’ training from Starlight Express‘s make-up artists, skating technicians, sound and lighting specialists and the creative team. Twelve children pulled the strings behind the scenes, while ten took to the stage alongside members of the cast.

The students started work immediately. Yasemin (15) in the costume department, said: “I have a lot of fun here. I want to be a designer after all.” In the circle, José Antonio followed his classmates onstage, training his spotlight on them: “It’s great – something you can never do at home!” said the 15-year-old. And 13-year-old Cornelia stands nervously at the door of the singing rehearsal – she is supposed to play Ashley: “I practiced singing every day in the last weeks,” she said, “and I’m still really excited.”

On the last night, the student’s fellow pupils, teachers, parents, friends and siblings arrived in nine buses. The atmosphere in the theatre was one of extreme excitement, as the announcement came: “Lights off and spot on!”

Alternating with the current cast, the students presented their very own show. “The children will never forget this experience,” said their teacher Mrs. Schulze. “They have learned for life here!”

Watch our VIDEO CLIP below to see the students in action:

Directed by Jonathan Kent
Designed by Anthony Ward
Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
From an adaptation by Christopher Bond

Originally directed on Broadway by Harold Prince
Original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Originally produced on Broadway by Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, Martin Richards in association with Dean and Judy Manos

• The hit Chichester Festival Theatre production transfers to the Adelphi Theatre in March 2012
• Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton reprise their roles as Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett
• Tickets are NOW ONSALE – click here to book

Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent’s acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd transfers to London’s West End for a limited season from 10 March 2012.  Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd stars distinguished musical performer Michael Ball as the eponymous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as the devoted Mrs Lovett. 

Set amongst London’s seedy side streets and laced with Sondheim’s characteristically brilliant wit and dark humour, the musical depicts Sweeney Todd’s savage quest for justice and retribution after years of false imprisonment.  Aided and abetted by the pie-shop owner, Mrs Lovett, he sets out to avenge the wrongs done to him and his family.

Combining a brutal sensibility with elements of English music hall, the production offers a fascinating portrait of a man driven to madness by injustice.

Sweeney Todd is directed by Jonathan Kent, designed by Anthony Ward and choreographed by Denni Sayers with lighting design by Mark Henderson. The Musical Director is Nicholas Skilbeck, with orchestration by Jonathan Tunick and sound design by Paul Groothuis.

The cast includes:  John Bowe, Peter Polycarpou, Robert Burt, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Lucy May Barker, Luke Brady, James McConville, and Simeon Truby.   The ensemble includes:  Valda Aviks, Will Barratt, Josie Benson, Emily Bull, John Coates, Daniel Graham, Robine Landi, Tim Morgan, Aoife Nally, Adam Pearce, Wendy Somerville, Kerry Washington and Annabelle Williams. 

Presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

Buy your tickets by clicking here.

www.sweeneytoddwestend.com
Box Office: 0844 811 0053

For a little preview of the DVD, check out our exclusive video footage below – and visit the Phantom website for information on worldwide release dates.

AND you can also get a glimpse of what’s in store from March 2012, in the new trailer for The Phantom of the Opera UK tour… watch below, and visit the Phantom UK tour website for full information.

LOVE NEVER DIES has been extensively reworked by an Australian creative team put together by Tim McFarlane – one of the few instances of a major West End musical being given a complete makeover  by an Australian creative team. Andrew Lloyd Webber described the new look production as “one of the finest productions I’ve ever seen of my work, anywhere.”

And NBC Universal Pictures International Entertainment has filmed the Australian production for global BLU-RAY™ and DVD to be released in Australia in February 8, 2012.

The roles of The Phantom and Christine in LOVE NEVER DIES are played by Ben Lewis and Anna O’Byrne. They are joined by three of Australian music theatre’s most eminent performers, Maria Mercedes, Simon Gleeson and Sharon Millerchip, who take Principal roles.

Maria is Madame Giry; Sharon is Meg, her daughter, (the role she created in the original Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera); and Simon is Christine’s husband, Raoul.

LOVE NEVER DIES, follows the Phantom’s story from his escape from the Paris Opera to New York’s spectacular Coney Island at the turn of the 20th Century. There, among the screaming joy rides and freak-shows, the Phantom, still obsessively in love with Christine, lures her and her family…

For more information on Love Never Dies in Australia, visit the official show website.

For more information on The Wizard of Oz and to book tickets, visit the official show website.

For more information on The Wizard of Oz, and to get your tickets to see the show in London, visit the official show website.

On Saturday 5th November, the winners of this year’s English Heritage Angel Awards were revealed on BBC 2’s Culture Show in a special ceremony, hosted by presenters Clare Balding and Graham Norton and held at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End. Michael Winner and Danielle Hope helped to present the awards.

The English Heritage Angel Awards scheme was launched by Andrew Lloyd Webber earlier this year to celebrate the work of individuals and groups who have saved a significant historic building or place that was at risk of being lost forever. The awards were judged by Andrew and Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, Charles Moore of the Telegraph, historian Bettany Hughes and the Bishop of London, the Right Revd Richard Chartres.

The 2011 winners across the five categories were:

Best craftsmanship employed on a heritage rescue – Graham A. Forge, for works to The Smythe Barn, Westenhanger

Best rescue of an industrial site – The Friends of Pleasley Pit for rescuing Pleasley Colliery, Mansfield

Best rescue or repair of a place of worship – Left Bank Leeds, for rescuing the former Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Leeds

Best rescue of any other entry on the Heritage at Risk Register – Joint winners: St Stephen’s Restoration and Preservation Trust, for the rescue of St Stephen’s, Rosslyn Hill and Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust and Bristol City council for the rescue of Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol

The favourite as voted for by English Heritage Members and Telegraph Subscribers – The National Trust in partnership with City of Bath College and Nimbus Conservation Ltd. for the craftsmanship employed on the rescue of Tyntesfield Orangery, North Somerset

For more information on the Awards and this year’s winners, click here.

Watch highlights from the English Heritage Angel Awards on BBC 2’s Culture Show via BBC iPlayer here. The Angel Awards feature, narrated by Chief Executive of English Heritage Simon Thurley, begins at 29.21.

Image courtesy of English Heritage. Picture shows some of the judges and presenters of the Awards, from (l-r) Melvyn Bragg, Bettany Hughes, Michael Winner, Danielle Hope, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Moore, Simon Thurley.

For more information on The Wizard of Oz and to get your tickets to see Marianne in action, visit the official show website.

Due to unprecedented demand, the show will be broadcast across an extra 50 cinemas, having initially achieved the biggest result for any non-feature film big screen release in the UK to date.

For those wishing to relive the epic performance again and again, the concert will be released on Universal UK DVD, Blu-ray™, CD and download on Monday 14^th November.

The breathtaking event, a once in a lifetime performance in celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the world’s greatest musical, brought together a cast and orchestra of 200 led by Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom) and Sierra Boggess (Christine), both of whom were returning to roles for which they received international critical acclaim. They most recently shared the stage as ‘The Phantom’ and ‘Christine’ in the West End production of Love Never Dies.

The live, sell-out performance marked the climax of a three performance, gala production at the Royal Albert Hall that reunited original leads Michael Crawford (The Phantom) and Sarah Brightman (Christine Daae), in a memorable final curtain call.

In a night to remember, the special show streamed live via satellite to cinemas across the globe, bringing audiences to their feet for standing ovations. Showings in the UK saw the film leap to No. 1 on 2nd October and No. 3 in the total weekend box office chart, a result particularly notable given that the broadcast was limited to 255 screens.

New York, NY – Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders announced today the official opening night and first preview dates as well as the public on-sale date for the new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s landmark musical EVITA.  The show will open on Broadway Thursday, April 5, 2012 at The Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway, previews begin Monday, March 12, 2012 and tickets go on sale this Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM via www.ticketmaster.com / 1-800-745-3000.  The stars of EVITA –  world renowned music artist Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Perón and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón – recently gathered in a studio in New York City for a photo shoot with celebrity photographer Frank Ockenfels.  The first photo released of the stars of EVITA is now available for media at http://www.thehartmangrouppr.com/show-evita.php.   As previously announced, Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage will direct and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford will choreograph.  This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway over 30 years ago. 

Eva Perón used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentinato the presidential mansion as First Lady. She won international acclaim and adoration from her own people as a champion of the poor, while glamour, power and greed made her the world’s first major political celebrity. 

 EVITA tells Eva’s passionate and tragic story through Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most dazzling and beloved score, which includes “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” and “High Flying Adored,” together with “You Must Love Me,” the Oscar-winning hit from the film EVITA.

After researching the life of Eva Perón for many years, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber released EVITA in 1976 as a concept album with Julie Covington as Evita and it became a world-wide hit.  Soon after, the production debuted on stage in London’s West End starring Elaine Paige and directed by Hal Prince.  The production transferred to Broadway and opened in 1979 starring Patti LuPone, who went on to win one of the seven 1980 Tony Awards the show earned.  A major 1996 film of the musical was made starring Madonna as Evita and Antonio Banderas as Ché. 

In 2006, after a lengthy search, Argentinean actress Elena Roger became an overnight sensation starring in the title role in Michael Grandage’s widely hailed production of EVITA in the West End, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination.  The London Evening Standard declared that Roger was giving “a socking great star performance” and The Independent called her “simply sensational.”  “The evening belongs to the big-lunged Argentinean Elena Roger, who zooms through with more than ‘just a little touch of star quality’” stated The London Sunday Times.  A complete unknown to the rest of the world, Roger starred in multiple theatrical productions and television shows in her native Argentina.  In London, Roger won the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance as Edith Piaf in The Donmar’s production of Piaf, starred as Gabriella in Matthew Warchus’s production of Boeing Boeing and was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance as Fosca in Passion, again at The Donmar Warehouse.

Already a Latin music superstar, Ricky Martin, made his Broadway debut as Marius in the original production of Les Misérables.   In 1999, he burst onto the global stage with his spectacular performance of La Copa de la Vida (“The Cup of Life”) at the 41^st Annual Grammy Awards.  The New York Times said the famed GRAMMY moment “put a match to the tinder of the pop-music world” and instantly established Martin as “the symbol of Latin culture’s new mainstream status in the United States.”  Over the course of his two decade solo career, Martin has now sold over 60 million albums and performed to sold-out stadium and arena audiences throughout the world. Declared “an international pop icon and Latin Music’s Global Ambassador” by Billboard and recognized by the Latin Recording Academy as it’s youngest “Person of the Year” honoree, Martin has been the recipient of dozens of prestigious international awards saluting both his musical achievements and far-reaching philanthropic efforts. As essential a part of his persona as his love of performing, Martin is equally dedicated to extensive charitable work through the efforts of the Ricky Martin Foundation – which advocates for the well being of children around the globe in critical areas such as social justice, education and health. Over the course of the last year, Martin’s critically praised autobiography “ME” debuted as a New York Times Bestseller, while his latest album “Musica+Alma+Sexo” posted the strongest chart debut for a Spanish language album in the last 15 years and was nominated for three Latin Grammy Awards.  Before beginning rehearsals for EVITA, look out for Martin performing on the November 10^th live broadcast of the  12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards and then return home to Puerto Rico for a special final performance of his critically-praised Musica+Alma+Sexo World Tour.

From his “magnificent” Sweeney Todd to his “captivating, mesmerizing and enthralling” Hedwig and his Tony Award winning performance as John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Michael Cerveris has been giving electrifying performances each time he’s graced the stage since his Broadway debut as the title character in The Who’s Tommy.  A four-time Tony Award nominee, Cerveris’ Broadway, West End and regional theatre credits include In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), Hedda Gabler, LoveMusik, Titanic, Cymbeline, King Lear, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard II and Sunday in the Park With George.  He has also appeared in the films Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, The Mexican and Stakeland and on TV most recently and notably as The Observer on “Fringe,” as well as a recurring role in HBO’s “Treme.”  An exceptional musician and song-writer, he has also toured with Bob Mould and Pete Townshend and released a solo album, Dog Eared.  He is currently working on a musical called Nine Lives, based on Dan Baum’s bestselling post-Hurricane Katrina book “Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death and Life in New Orleans.”

Broadway veteran choreographer, director and performer, Rob Ashford, won a Tony Award for his inspired choreography in Thoroughly Modern Millie, his Broadway debut as a choreographer.  Since then, Ashford has earned Tony Nominations for his work on Promises, Promises; The Wedding Singer; Curtains and Cry Baby, Olivier Nominations for Thoroughly Modern Millie, Evita, Guys & Dolls and Parade, for which he also received a nomination for his direction, and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the 81^st Annual Academy Awards.   Ashford is currently on the board of The Joyce Theatre, on the Board of SDC, is an Associate Director for the Donmar Warehouse in London and was most recently nominated for two 2011 Tony Awards for his direction and choreography of the new Broadway production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe.   

Tony and Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage is in his final season as Artistic Director of the Internationally acclaimed Donmar Warehouse in London where he has presented an extensive repertoire of work over the last decade. His Donmar work in the U.S. has included Frost/Nixon, Hamlet with Jude Law, Red (for which he won the 2010 Tony Award) and most recently King Lear at BAM starring Derek Jacobi.  His work for the Donmar in England includes Guys & Dolls and Grand Hotel both of which won the Olivier for Outstanding Musical Production and Merrily We Roll Along which won the Olivier for Best New Musical. From 2000-2005, as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres in the UK, his high profile productions included Edward II with Joseph Fiennes, Richard III with Kenneth Branagh and Don Carlos with Derek Jacobi.  His new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni is currently running at the Metropolitan Opera for the 2011-2012 Season.

 Additional creative team members and casting will be announced at a later date.

We caught up with Gareth to find out more about the gala and ask him a few quickfire questions…

Gareth, how is it going with the charity gala?
Some of our actors, David Moore (Papa), Ben Draper (Flat Top), myself and the Musical Director Steve White are organising the running order and all the rehearsals for the gala. We’ve invited some special guest stars – Anna Montanaro, Carolin Fortenbacher and Alex Melcher – and have been driving to different theatres to get all the costumes and wigs, so everything is pretty well organised. We’re looking forward to November 20^th!

Moving on to our Q&A… how long have you been in the show in Bochum?
I’ve been in the show four years and four months now.

Had you seen Starlight Express before appearing in the show?
Yes, I did and I loved it!

How does playing in Bochum differ to playing the show elsewhere in the world?
Well, we sing the show in German in a really big theatre! German isn’t my first language, and it was hard at first to learn phonetically and then understand the text from an acting point of view. But it keeps it interesting.

What is it like playing in the specially-built Starlighthalle?
Amazing! Lots of fun!

What are the Bochum audiences like?
Great! They love Starlight Express over here.

How far does the skating element of the show make Starlight Express different from performing in other musical theatre productions?
It is a world apart from any other production, I’m sure! It’s like singing a musical whilst running a marathon – in a heavy shiny costume.

Did you know how to skate before you appeared in Starlight?
No, so I had to take part in the usual skate school – which was very hard, very funny and very painful!

What are you like on your roller skates now?
Like a glittery whirling dervish.

Have you experienced any skating-related injuries?
Surprisingly no – just general pain!

How do you get about offstage during the show – do you keep your skates on?
Yes, it’s so much quicker to get around.

Have you any disasters onstage – skating-related or otherwise?
I’ve been involved in many – skating related, technically related, musically related…

What is your favourite song of the show?
‘Hilf mir versteh’n’ (‘Make Up My Heart’).

What is your favourite part of the show?
The Act 1 skate-around.

What do you like most and least about performing this role?
I love feeling like an 80’s rockstar every day but I worry in all three races, every show, that my wheels might fall-off…

Are there any other roles in the show that you would like to play?
I would like to play Ashley (the smoking car)

What inspired you to pursue a career in musical theatre?
The musical The Phantom of the Opera.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
Betty Laine.

What would your dream role be?
Rum Tum Tugger in Cats.

Do you miss anything about home when you are performing in Bochum?
Yes. I miss my family, friends and food.

How would you spend your perfect day off?
Making music, art and food – but at the moment I’m totally involved in arranging the Charity Gala. We plan to perform a lot of famous songs as a journey through musical history. It’s a lot of fun, but also hard work! We a lot to practise, and I’m sure it will be a great night!

For more information on Starlight Express in Bochum, visit the official show website.

Evita premiered on the November 27th 2009 in Tallinn, at the Nokia Concerthall, before moving to the Vanemuine Grand Building on January 23rd 2010. The Vanemuine production of Evita was directed by Georg Malvius (Sweden), musical director and conductor Tarmo Leinatamm, designer Ellen Cairns (Scotland), lighting designer Palle Palmé (Sweden) and choreographer Igor Barberic (Croatia). The role of Eva Peron was played by Maarja-Liis Ilus.

“We are glad to see that the hit musical Evita has conquered the hearts of Estonians twice – first with the 2002 Vanemuine production and now again in 2010,” said the general manager of the theatre, Paavo Nõgene.

Altogether four Vanemuine productions managed to settle in the TOP 6 of the most visited productions. Furthermore, Vanemuine was the most visited theatre in Estonia in 2010 – the annual number of visitors was 168,821 and including the theatre’s program of concerts and events addressed to children and young people, the total number of visitors reached 187,361.

New York, NY– Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders have announced that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s landmark musical EVITA will open on Broadway in the spring of 2012 at The Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway. The production will star world renowned music artist Ricky Martin as Ché, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger making her Broadway debut as Eva Perón—a role that earned her critical acclaim in the 2006 production in London‘s West End—and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón. Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford will direct and choreograph, respectively. This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway more than 30 years ago.

“I‘ve been blessed with the opportunity to perform on many of the world‘s largest concert stages, but I‘ve never lost my love for the intimacy of the theatre,” said Ricky Martin. “I’m delighted to know that after I‘ve had the chance to share new music and tour over the coming year, that I will then return once again to Broadway. I‘m looking forward to playing such an essential part in Michael Grandage‘s wonderful production and the chance to work with the tremendously talented Elena Roger.”

“It is very exciting to bring this new production of EVITA to Broadway with an Argentinean woman in the title role for the very first time,” said Michael Grandage. “With Ricky Martin joining the company, we now have an opportunity to make the production even more authentic and to celebrate Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s brilliant achievement as it comes to New York for the first time in over a quarter of a century.”

Eva Perón used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums ofArgentinato the presidential mansion as First Lady. She won international acclaim and adoration from her own people as a champion of the poor, while glamour, power and greed made her the world‘s first major political celebrity.

EVITA tells Eva’s passionate and tragic story through Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most dazzling and beloved score, including ‘Don‘t Cry for Me Argentina,’ ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’ and ‘High Flying Adored,’ together with ‘You Must Love Me,’ the Oscar-winning hit from the film EVITA.

After researching the life of Eva Perón for many years, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber released EVITA in 1976 as a concept album with Julie Covington as Evita and it became a world-wide hit. Soon after, the production debuted on stage in London’s West End starring Elaine Paige and directed by Hal Prince. The production transferred to Broadway and opened in 1979 starring Patti LuPone, who went on to win one of the seven 1980 Tony Awards the show earned. A major 1996 film of the musical was made starring Madonna as Evita and Antonio Banderas as Ché. Michael Grandage‘s production of EVITA, which opened in 2006, took London by storm and garnered critical acclaim for the show and its leading lady, Elena Roger.

In 2006, after a lengthy search, Argentinean actress Elena Roger became an overnight sensation starring in the title role in Michael Grandage‘s widely hailed production of EVITA in the West End, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination. The London Evening Standard declared that Roger was giving “a socking great star performance” and The Independent called her “simply sensational.” “The evening belongs to the big-lunged Argentinean Elena Roger, who zooms through with more than “just a little touch of star quality,” stated The London Sunday Times. A complete unknown to the rest of the world, Roger starred in multiple theatrical productions and television shows in her native Argentina. In London, Roger won the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance as Edith Piaf in The Donmar’s production of Piaf. Starred as Gabriella in Matthew Warchus’s production of Boeing Boeing and was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance as Fosca in Passion, again at The Donmar Warehouse.

Already a Latin music superstar, Ricky Martin, made his Broadway debut as Marius in the original production of Les Misérables. In 1999, he burst onto the global stage with his spectacular performance of La Copa de la Vida (“The Cup of Life”) at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. The New York Times said the famed GRAMMY moment “put a match to the tinder of the pop-music world” and instantly established Martin as “the symbol of Latin culture’s new mainstream status in the United States.” Over the course of his two decade solo career, Martin has now sold over 55 million albums and performed to sold-out stadium and arena audiences throughout the world. Declared “an international pop icon and Latin Music’s Global Ambassador” by Billboard and recognized by the Latin Recording Academy as it‘s youngest “Person of the Year” honoree, Martin has been the recipient of dozens of prestigious international awards saluting both his musical achievements and far-reaching philanthropic efforts. As essential a part of his persona as his love of performing, Martin is equally dedicated to extensive charitable work through the efforts of the Ricky Martin Foundation – which advocates for the well being of children around the globe in critical areas such as social justice, education and health. Over the course of the last year, Martin’s critically praised autobiography “ME” debuted as a New York Times Bestseller, while his latest album “Musica+Alma+Sexo” posted the strongest chart debut for a Spanish language album in the last 15 years. Before beginning rehearsals for EVITA, Martin is currently in the midst of an extensive world tour, once again filling arena and stadium concerts across The United States, Europe,Latin America and more.

From his “magnificent” Sweeney Todd to his “captivating, mesmerizing and enthralling” Hedwig and his Tony Award winning performance as John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Michael Cerveris has been giving electrifying performances each time he’s graced the stage since his Broadway debut as the title character in The Who’s Tommy (The New York Times). A four-time Tony Award nominee, Cerveris’ Broadway, West End and regional theatre credits include In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), Hedda Gabler, LoveMusik, Titanic, Cymbeline, King Lear, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard II and Sunday in the Park With George. He has also appeared in the films Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, The Mexican and Stakeland and on TV most recently and notably as The Observer on ‘Fringe,’ as well as a recurring role in HBO‘s ‘Treme.’ An exceptional musician and song-writer, he has also toured with Bob Mould and Pete Townshend and released a solo album, Dog Eared. He is currently working on a musical called Nine Lives, based on Dan Baum’s bestselling post-Hurricane Katrina book “Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death and Life in New Orleans.”

Broadway veteran choreographer, director and performer, Rob Ashford, won a Tony Award for his inspired choreography in Thoroughly Modern Millie, his Broadway debut as a choreographer. Since then, Ashford has earned Tony Nominations for his work on Promises, Promises; The Wedding Singer; Curtains and Cry Baby, Olivier Nominations for Thoroughly Modern Mille, Evita, Guys & Dolls and Parade, for which he also received a nomination for his direction, and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Ashford is currently on the board of The Joyce Theatre, on the Board of SDC, is an Associate Director for the Donmar Warehouse in London and was most recently nominated for two 2011 Tony Awards for his direction and choreography of the new Broadway production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe.

Tony and Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage is in his final season as Artistic Director of the Internationally acclaimed Donmar Warehouse in Londonwhere he has presented an extensive repertoire of work over the last decade. His Donmar work in the U.S.has included Frost/Nixon, Hamlet with Jude Law, Red (for which he won the 2010 Tony Award) and most recently King Lear at BAM starring Derek Jacobi. His work for the Donmar in England includes Guys & Dolls and Grand Hotel both of which won the Olivier for Outstanding Musical Production and Merrily We Roll Along which won the Olivier for Best New Musical. From 2000-2005, as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres in the UK, his high profile productions included Edward II with Joseph Fiennes, Richard III with Kenneth Branagh and Don Carlos with Derek Jacobi. He will direct a new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera for the 2011-2012 Season.

Additional creative team members and casting will be announced at a later date.

www.evitaonbroadway.com

For more information on The Wizard of Oz, visit the official show website.

John Owen-Jones and Earl Carpenter to share the role of ‘The Phantom’ and Katie Hall to play ‘Christine’

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to present a spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera premiering at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in March 2012, with previews from 27 February and a press night on 13 March 2012. The Phantom of the Opera will star John Owen-Jones and Earl Carpenter, who will share the role of ‘The Phantom’ and Katie Hall who will play the role of ‘Christine’. Full tour schedule with casting details and on sale dates attached. 

Cameron Mackintosh said “After 25 phenomenal years and a glorious celebration of the show’s success at the Royal Albert Hall at the start of this month, I’m delighted to  announce that a spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical will open its National Tour next March in Plymouth. With an exciting new design and staging, retaining Maria Björnson’s amazing costumes, be the first to surrender to the music of the night and fall in love with the Phantom in his new guise all over again”

John Owen-Jones is currently playing the role of ‘The Phantom’ in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End. He has appeared on Broadway and in the West End as ‘Jean Valjean’ in Les Misérables and also played the role in the recent 25th Anniversary tour of the show.  Earl Carpenter recently played the role of ‘Javert’ in the West End production of Les Misérables and also played the role in the 25th Anniversary tour of the show. He has also played ‘The Phantom’ in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera as well as the starring role of ‘Darryl Van Horne’ in The Witches of Eastwick at the Prince of Wales Theatre, also in the West End. His touring credits include ‘Joe Gillis’ in Sunset Boulevard. Katie Hall was a boot camp contestant for the BBC1’s search for ‘Nancy’ in I’d Do Anything and was a final round contender for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for the Eurovision entry, Your Country Needs You, also for BBC1. After leaving the I’d Do Anything competition she was immediately cast to cover the role of ‘Christine’ in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre and is now the alternate ‘Christine’ in the production. Katie has also played the role of ‘Cosette’ in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre in the West End, on the 25th Anniversary tour and also at the O2.

This spectacular new production is directed by Laurence Connor, with choreography by Scott Ambler, Set Design by Paul Brown, Costume Design by Maria Björnson, Lighting Design by Paule Constable and Sound Design by Mick Potter. The production is overseen by Cameron Mackintosh and Matthew Bourne.

The Phantom of the Opera became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder Cats.  This coincided with the Broadway and the US national touring company celebrating an unprecedented 20,000 performances in the United States. In October 2010 the London production celebrated its 10,000th performance.

The Phantom of the Opera has won over 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End.  It won the ‘Most Popular Musical Audience Award’, voted by the public, in the 2002 Laurence Olivier Awards.  The Phantom of the Opera, which opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 starred Michael Crawford as ‘The Phantom’ and Sarah Brightman as ‘Christine.’ It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh by arrangement with The Really Useful Group.

Worldwide, The Phantom of the Opera has grossed over £3.2 billion. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including “Titanic”, “ET”, “Star Wars” and “Avatar”. It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 130 million people.  The Phantom of the Opera is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Kyoto.

www.thephantomoftheoperatour.com

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA UK TOUR

27 FEBRUARY – 31 MARCH 2012
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 01752 230440 | www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE 27 OCTOBER 2011

4 APRIL – 19 MAY 2012
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 847 2295 | www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk
ON SALE 9 NOVEMBER

22 MAY – 30 JUNE 2012
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 871 3012 | www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk
ON SALE 10 NOVEMBER

4 JULY – 4 AUGUST 2012
DUBLIN GRAND CANAL THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0818 719 377 | www.grandcanaltheatre.ie
ON SALE SOON

8 AUGUST – 15 SEPTEMBER 2012
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 848 2706 | www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
ON SALE 9 FEBRUARY 2012

19 SEPTEMBER – 20 OCTOBER 2012
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom (19 – 29 September)
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom (1 – 20 October)
Box Office 0844 847 1660 | www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk
ON SALE 10 FEBRUARY 2012

24 OCTOBER – 24 NOVEMBER 2012
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 871 7652 | www.atgtickets.com/Milton-Keynes-Theatre
ON SALE SOON

4 DECEMBER 2012 – 12 JANUARY 2013
CARDIFF WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 02920 63 64 64 | www.wmc.org.uk
ON SALE 1 MARCH 2012

22 JANUARY – 16 FEBRUARY 2013
SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 02380 711 811 | www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE 30 JANUARY 2012

FURTHER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED

Some restrictions will apply as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat continues to tour the UK & Eire and we have future plans for professional activity for Jesus Christ Superstar, but the limited release of these two  popular shows follows last month’s addition of The Phantom of the Opera and Cats to our licensing catalogue for academic schools and colleges.

For information about all our shows available for licence, and for details on how to apply, vist our specialist licensing website at http://www.stageamusical.com/

Get your tickets to see the show – and to hear the orchestra in action – by clicking here.

The annual BroadwayWorld UK Awards gives theatregoers the chance to nominate and then vote for their favourite West End productions and performers and – after nominations opened in September – both Phantom and The Wizard of Oz now need your votes…

The London production of The Phantom of the Opera is up for Best Long Running West End Show and Understudy of the Year for Scott Davies, whilst our 25th Anniversary celebration is in the running for the Theatrical Event of the Year.

Meanwhile, The Wizard of Oz has an incredible 11 nominations including Best Musical. Our nominations in full are:

Best Musical
Best Direction of a Musical – Jeremy Sams
Best Leading Actress in a Musical – Danielle Hope
Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Michael Crawford
Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Paul Keating
Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Hannah Waddingham
Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Emily Tierney
Best Choreography  – Arlene Phillips
Best Costume Design – Rob Jones
Best Orchestrations – David Cullen
Best Scenic Design – Rob Jones

Additionally, both The London Palladium (home to The Wizard of Oz) and Her Majesty’s Theatre (where Phantom has been playing in London’s West End since 1986) are nominated in the Theatrical Venue of the Year category.

To see the full list of nominations and to cast your vote, visit the BroadwayWorld website here.

Voting in the awards closes on 30th November 2011.

All performances of stage musicals that are protected by copyright need to be approved and licensed by the holder of the copyright. All of our shows are copyright works and therefore any proposed production requires our prior approval and licence.

It is therefore extremely important that you do not make any plans or preparations for a production until you have checked with the Music Licensing Department or one of our agents and have secured a performance licence!

For full information go to our Licensing website – www.stageamusical.com

In this exclusive video clip, we go behind-the-scenes at the Royal Albert Hall as composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, producer Cameron Mackintosh, choreographer Gillian Lynne and Sierra Boggess (Christine) and Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom) prepared for the final 25th Anniversary performance on Sunday 2nd October 2011, which was also screened live to cinemas around the world.

In the video clip, Andrew visits Sierra and Ramin in their dressing rooms before the show. After the performance – which included a suitably fabulous Phantom finale – we also see members of the Cast and Creative Team leaving the stage after the performance, and get a little glimpse of the crowd waiting for them outside the Stage Door…

You can also watch footage of the Phantom 25 curtain calls and interviews with members of the creative team and cast on the official Phantom website, and view images from the curtain call and after party here.

For more information on The Wizard of Oz and to get your tickets to see the munchkins in action, visit the official show website.

PREVIEW PERFORMANCES BEGIN MARCH 1, 2012

OPENS MARCH 22, 2012 AT BROADWAY’S NEIL SIMON THEATRE

It was confirmed today that The Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Festival’s Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will open at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway on Thursday, March 22, 2012.  Previews will begin Thursday, March 1, 2012.

Dodger Properties and the Really Useful Group will present the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

The production opened in Canada on June 3, 2011 to critical acclaim and will continue there through November 6, 2011.  Following that, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will play the La Jolla Playhouse November 18, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

The Toronto Globe and Mail raved, “This production is an absolute miracle,” while the Toronto Star called it “the best show you’ll see this year.”

“A sparkling production literally pulsing with life,” wrote the Toronto Sun; and Variety enthused, “McAnuff has managed to come up with a vision that is faithful to the original but manages to make it seem fresh to an audience in 2011.”

For more information, visit http://www.superstaronbroadway.com/.

Follow JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR on Twitter: @SuperstarBway or on Facebook.

If you missed this weekend’s performances, get more information about purchasing the DVD, Blu-Ray, CD or download recordings of the event here.

The show’s choreographer Arlene Phillips also stops by the munchkin dressing room and Stage Manager Jo Miles is back to take the Orange and Yellow teams into rehearsal…

For more information on The Wizard of Oz, visit the official show website.

Image shows Anna O’Byrne (Christine) and Ben Lewis (The Phantom), who also appear onstage in the video below. Photo: Jeff Busby.

For more information on Love Never Dies, including the forthcoming DVD release, visit the website for the Australian production.

It’s the roaring 20’s and silent movie stars are the biggest names in the world.  Don Lockwood has it all, a string of hit films and a studio-engineered romance with the most beautiful actress in town.  But with the new phenomenon of the talking picture on the way and a chance meeting with a talented young chorus girl set to steal his heart, things are about to change for Don and for Hollywood forever

With all the charm, romance, comedy and tinsel town glamour of one of the world’s best-loved films, Jonathan Church’s brand new production features a glorious score including the classics Good Morning, Make ‘em Laugh, Moses Supposes and the legendary Singin’ in the Rain.
 
Adam Cooper, Daniel Crossley and Scarlett Strallen are a joyous trio, dazzling in the roles made famous by Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. They lead a multi-talented cast which also features Katherine Kingsley as the hilarious blonde bombshell Lina Lamont, Michael Brandon as the highly-strung studio boss trying to win Hollywood’s biggest prize, the first hit ‘talkie’ and Sandra Dickinson as gossip columnist Dora Bailey.
 
With stylish, soaring choreography from Andrew Wright and Simon Higglett’s sumptuous set design, Singin’ in the Rain will shower you with everything you could ever want in a hit West End musical!
 
Hailed by critics as the ultimate feel-good show, Singin’ in the Rain “genuinely makes you feel better about life” (Charles Spencer, The Daily Telegraph).

 BUY TICKETS for Singin’ in the Rain by clicking here.

The London Palladium opened on Boxing Day 1910 and since then has hosted Music Hall, Variety, Revue, Pantomime and spectacular musicals with equal success. Made famous worldwide through television’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium, it has also hosted more Royal Variety Performances than any other theatre.

With displays of memorabilia throughout the building celebrating its rich heritage and the major stars that have appeared on stage, the tour will also take in areas not usually open to the public as well as the new facilities and areas recently refurbished as part of the centenary celebrations. The route may vary according to the building’s daily activities and the walk will involve several long flights of stairs.

The 2012 London Palladium tours will take place at 11.30am on the second Friday of each month.

Each tour lasts a minimum of 2 hours. Tickets for the tour are £10. Total capacity per tour is 30 people. As there are lots of stairs, the tour is not recommended for the infirm and ladies are advised to wear flat shoes.

The 2012 dates are:

Friday 13 January 2012
Friday 10 February 2012
Friday 9 March 2012
Friday 13 April 2012
Friday 18 May 2012
Friday 8 June 2012
Friday 13 July 2012
Friday 3 August 2012
Friday 14 September 2012
Friday 12 October 2012

To BOOK a London Palladium tour, call the theatre box office on 0844 412 2957 or CLICK HERE to buy online.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber are delighted to announce full principal casting for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL on Saturday 1st October at 7.30pm and Sunday 2nd October at 1.30pm and 7.00pm.

The cast will feature Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul’, Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta’, Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master’ and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry’. They join the previously announced Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom’, Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine’, Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin’, Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André’, Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry’ and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi’, together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances.

Hadley Fraser is currently playing ‘Javert’ in “Les Misérables” at the Queen’s Theatre, and recently appeared in the “Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert” at the O2, where he played ‘Grantaire’. His other credits include “The Far Pavillions” at the Shaftesbury Theatre, “The Fantasticks” at the Duchess Theatre, “The Pirate Queen” on Broadway and ‘Marius’ in “Les Misérables” at the Palace Theatre.

American soprano Kiera Duffy is recognised for both her gleaming high soprano and repertoire that encompasses Handel, Praetorius, Bach, Mozart, and Verdi to the modern sounds of Alban Berg, Elliott Carter, and John Zorn. Kiera made her London Symphony Orchestra debut singing the role of ‘Cunegonde’ in a concert performance of “Candide” with Kristjan Järvi conducting. Other roles include the New York Philharmonic as ‘Venus’ in György Ligeti’s “Le Grand Macabre”, Los Angeles Philharmonic in Arnold Schoenberg’s “Pierrot Lunaire”, the San Francisco Symphony in Mozart’s “Requiem” and Feldman’s “Rothko Chapel” under Michael Tilson Thomas, after having debuted as soprano soloist in Handel’s “Messiah” in December 2010.

Sergei Polunin was born in the Ukraine, and joined The Royal Ballet School aged 13. His awards include gold medal in the Prix de Lausanne and the Sixth Lifar International Ballet Competition, and in 2007 Young British Dancer of the Year and the Youth American Grand Prix. In 2007, he joined The Royal Ballet and was promoted to Principal in 2010; that year he was also given the Outstanding Performance (Classical) award by the Critics’ Circle. His repertory includes ‘Albrecht’, ‘Lensky’, ‘Solor’ and ‘Bronze Idol’, ‘Hans-Peter’/’Nutcracker’ and ‘The Prince’ (“The Nutcracker”, “Cinderella”, “The Sleeping Beauty”), as well as leading roles in “Dances at a Gathering”,” L’Invitation au Voyage”, “Volunataries”, “DGV: Danse a grande vitesse”, “The Judas Tree”, “Symphony in C” and “Theme and Variations”. He created the role of ‘Jack/the Knave of Hearts’ in Christopher Wheeldon’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. Sergei Polunin appears by kind permission of Monica Mason, Director of The Royal Ballet.

Daisy Maywood most recently covered and played the role of ‘Eponine’ in “Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, and also performed in the company of the “Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert” at The O2. Forthcoming theatre credits include playing the lead role of ‘Peggy Sawyer’ in “42nd Street” at Leicester Curve Theatre.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL will be directed by Laurence Connor with Musical Staging and Choreography by Gillian Lynne. The Royal Albert Hall will be transformed with a spectacular and unique design by Matt Kinley inspired by Maria Björnson’s original design. Lighting is by Patrick Woodroffe and Andrew Bridge and Sound by Mick Potter. The original London production was directed by Hal Prince.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder “Cats”. This coincided with the Broadway and the US national touring company celebrating an unprecedented 20,000 performances in the United States. In October 2010 the London production celebrated its 10,000th performance.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has won over 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End. It won the ‘Most Popular Musical Audience Award’, voted by the public, in the 2002 Laurence Olivier Awards. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 starred Michael Crawford as ‘The Phantom’ and Sarah Brightman as ‘Christine.’ It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company Limited.

Worldwide, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over £3.2 billion. The box office revenues are higher than any film or stage play in history, including “Titanic”, “ET”, “Star Wars” and “Avatar”. It has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries and played to over 130 million people. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas, and Kyoto.

For the latest ticket information, visit Phantom25th.com.

FINAL TICKET RELEASE – only 300 seats remain across the following agents: The Royal Albert Hall, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, Encore Tickets, Ticketmaster, Superbreak and Omega Holidays. For information on how to book tickets via any of these agents, visit Phantom25th.com.

The 25th Anniversary celebrations will also be screened live in around 25 cinemas across the UK at 7pm on October 2nd and in over 500 screens in North America, with further additional broadcasts to follow.

Canada will broadcast on Oct 3 with additional screening on Oct 22nd. Australia has a special premiere screening at the State Theatre in Sydney on October 8th, followed by screenings from October 13th – 23rd.

Other International markets including Europe and Japan will hold event cinema screenings during October.

For further information on cinema screenings , click here.

Christine Dolen, Miami Herald

26th January, 2004

A Broadway veteran’s performance as Jesus makes Superstar at the Jackie Gleason Theater more powerful and poignant.

These days, it’s Mel Gibson’s yet-to-be released The Passion of the Christ that’s generating controversial buzz. But in 1971, the buzz was all about Jesus Christ Superstar, the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera about the last seven days in a life that ended at 33.

Superstar itself is now 33, though you’d never know it from the brash, flashy revival that’s playing Miami Beach’s Jackie Gleason Theater this week.

Though this is the same production that stopped at the Broward Center last season, some key cast changes — particularly the presence of Broadway veteran Eric Kunze in the title role instead of rocker Sebastian Bach — make the current company both more powerful and more poignant.

With Gale Edwards’ staging of the 2000 Superstar Broadway revival as a template, director Kevin Moriarty juxtaposes contemporary visuals and energy onto the familiar Biblical story of farewell, betrayal, torture and crucifixion.

Clambering over catwalks and massive pillars, Jesus’ subversive disciples — who would look right at home in a production of Rent — sport camouflage pants and cans of graffiti-enabling spray paint. The Man Himself wears khakis, work boots and a white shirt that’s more Gap than Galilee. Caiaphas and his posse of priests resemble a cross between Star Wars storm troopers and villains who crib their style from the Matrix movies. When he’s in uniform, Pilate looks like a fashion-forward Mussolini.

None of the glitz — which includes a salty, vaudeville-style King Herod (backed by three curvy gals in sparkling pink Barbie-glam gowns) exhorting Jesus to ”. . . walk across my swimming pool” (inoffensive this show isn’t) — would matter if this company didn’t have so many performers of substance to pull it off.

Kunze has a gorgeously effective range, one that easily moves from a tender tenor to booming baritone. His solo on Gethsemane is heart-breakingly beautiful, and his strength and subtlety as a singing actor (vs. a thundering rocker) make the crucifixion scene discomfitingly vivid.

Also new to the production, Lawrence Clayton is an equally strong Judas, convincing from the outset as a man who knows hell all too well. Natalie Toro’s honey-voiced Mary Magdalene is a passionate rock chick who soothes the man she idolizes with calming song and a fleeting round of aromatherapy; most impressively, she finds a way to make the show’s biggest hit, I Don’t Know How To Love Him, her own.

Christine Dolen is The Herald’s theater critic.

Rohan Preston, Star Tribune

21st October, 2004

When the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar rolled into town in January 2003, its star needed more than a prayer to fly. Miscast and out of his depth, metal rocker Sebastian Bach showed Jesus’ passion in a disturbing and unique way: He howled like a cat hurled from a 10-story window. And while Carl Anderson, who originated the role of Judas Iscariot nearly 30 years earlier, was strong in that production, he could not make up for Bach. (Anderson died in February of this year.)

So, with understandable trepidation, I went to Tuesday’s performance at the Orpheum Theatre, directed again by Kevin Moriarty with new leads. Boy was I surprised. The time-tested Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical still has a problematic book that shows a lack of imagination. Yet at a performance level, the production brought me happy chills.

The principals for this tour are outstanding: Lawrence Clayton as an R&B hot-throb Judas singing a mocking version of “Superstar”; Eric Kunze as pure rocker Jesus; and Natalie Toro, who was in the earlier production, as the beautiful and touching Mary Magdalene, who confesses “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” With their gorgeous performances, these players drew us deeply into the show instead of causing us to wince.

And it wasn’t only the leads who were noteworthy in a show that has beautiful scenic design by Peter Davison and was brightly conducted by Flint Hawes. Terrific singer Raymond Patterson played Pilate as a black Mussolini, his sternness matching his fascist costumes and his voice terrifying in his scene with Christ. Daniel Guzman was a stitch as King Herod in the glitzy, song salute to old Broadway. And Lawson Skala, who played the evil Caiaphas, was memorable on “This Jesus Must Die.” He seemed to pull a super-low, darkly frightening voice from the bottom of his feet, then play with it as if it were a yo-yo.

More than 30 years after it premiered, “Superstar” is still contentious. It plays with sacred images and beliefs in ways that continue to push boundaries. This story of how Jesus comes to cleanse the world of its sins of money and sex and is then betrayed by Judas has a lot of hipswiveling, sexy fun with the sinful parts. And it continues with a simplistic, black-white story line that is almost cartoonish.

The local presenters announced that they were doing a promotional ticket giveaway for “Superstar.” On Tuesday, over 700 showed up, many whistling after the show, “Jesus Christ, Superstar…”

Rohan Preston is at rpreston@startribune.com