This week we’ve had some exciting UK theatre news, some sad Broadway closure news and some sensational West End casting and concert news. It’s been a busy one, so we’ve collected some of the biggest headlines from the last 7 days.
Next to Normal UK premiere announced at Donmar Warehouse
In news that many of us have been waiting for, the UK premiere of Next to Normal has finally been announced. The central London location will play host to this exciting premiere as part of its 2023 season of shows.
Next to Normal will run from 12 August to 7 October 2023. Casting and creative team are to be revealed. The 2008 musical follows a mother struggle with bipolar disorder, and was first seen on Broadway in 2009 – going on to win three Tony Awards including Best Musical. It also won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. To celebrate its 30th birthday later this year, the venue will provide 3000 £10 tickets for audiences under 30, with the scheme then running throughout 2023. Further ticket details and casting is set to be announced.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane announces UK and Ireland touring cast
The acclaimed National Theatre production based on popular fantasy novel by Neil Gaian has revealed casting for the upcoming UK and Ireland tour. The touring cast includes (in alphabetical order) Daniel Cornish (as alternate Boy), Trevor Fox (as Dad), Emma-Jane Goodwin (as understudy), Paolo Guidi (as ensemble), Millie Hikasa (as Lettie Hempstock), Lewis Howard (as understudy), Kemi-Bo Jacobs (as Ginnie Hempstock), Ronnie Lee (as ensemble), Aimee McGoldrick (as ensemble), Laurie Ogden (as Sis), Keir Ogilvy (as Boy), Domonic Ramsden (as ensemble), Joe Rawlinson-Hunt (as understudy), Risha Silvera (as understudy) and Finty Williams (as Old Mrs Hempstock), with further casting still to be announced.
The tour is set to head all over the UK and Ireland, launching at The Lowry in Salford from 12 Decembet 2022, and visiting various locations across the country right up until 30 September 2023. The full list of tour locations and ticketing details can be found on the National Theatre website: nationaltheatre.org.uk
Ariana DeBose to appear in concert in the West End
© Fourth Wall Live
The Academy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Ariana DeBose will be heading to The London Palladium for an exciting concert performance on 1 April 2023. Best known for her performance in Steven Spielbergs 2021 adaptation of West Side Story, DeBose has also starred in Netflix’s The Prom and on stage in Hamilton and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, amongst many others. This show is set to be a sell out, with further ticket details set to be announced soon.
Cast Announced for Ikaria London Production
Simon doesn’t want to leave his room. But then he meets Mia. Ikaria is an exciting, new piece of writing from Philippa Lawford. The piece explores the themes of depression within the world of a university campus, while also studying love and finding salvation in another person. Written and directed by Philippa Lawford (Fracture), the play will star Amaia Aguinaga (Athena) will as Mia and James Wilbraham (In My Skin, Tom Jones) as Simon. The show will run from 8 November 2022 to 19 November 2022 at the Old Red Lion Theatre. Tickets are on sale now from www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk.
Idina Menzel Disney Plus documentary announced
© Allison Stock
Which Way to the Stage? is a brand new feature documentary chronicling Menzel’s career in theatre and film and culminating in her headlining concert at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The documentary will be released on Disney Plus on 9 December, and will focus on career highlights such as her Broadway debut at Maureen Johnson in Rent and her role voicing Elsa in Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2.
Matthew Modine to star in To Kill a Mockingbird in the West End with new casting revealed
© The Other Richard
The Stranger Things star and Golden Globe winner is set to take on the role of famous lawyer Atticus Finch from 21 November 2022. Also joining the cast from this date is Cecilia Noble (Nine Night, Downstate) who will join the show as Calpurnia. Modine and Noble are joined by Cheryl Burniston, Colin R Campbell (Mr Roscoe/Dr Reynolds), Jack Crumlin, Alan Drake, Max Ferguson, Phillipa Flynn, Ellis Howard (Dill Harris), Jason Hughes (Bob Ewell), Niamh James, Julie Legrand, Nigel Lister, Sam Mitchell (Jem Finch), and George Telfer.
Remaining in the company are Harry Attwell (Mr Cunningham/Boo Radley), Helen Belbin (Miss Stephanie/Dill’s Mother), Niall Buggy (Judge Taylor), John Hastings (Bailiff), Rebecca Hayes (Mayella Ewell), Simon Hepworth (Link Deas), Tom Mannion (Sheriff Heck Tate), Anna Munden (Scout Finch), Tiwai Muza, Itoya Osagiede, Jude Owusu (Tom Robinson), Oyin Oyija, David Sturzaker (Horace Gilmer), and Natasha Williams (Mrs Dubose’s Maid). Candida Caldicot (on organ), Ciyo Brown and Jack Benjamin (on guitar) also continue with the production. Tickets for the show are on sale now.
A Wrinkle in Time to be adapted into a musical
Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, A Wrinkle in Time, is currently expected to be adapted into a stage musical for the first time. Featuring a score by Obie Award winning composer Heather Christian, a book by Horton Foote Prize winner Lauren Yee and direction from two-time Obie Award winner Lee Sunday Evans, the adaptation is also beig produced by Charlotte Jones Voiklis – L’Engle’s granddaughter and director of her literary estate. Dates for future productions, as well as additional creative team members, will be announced in 2023.
Full-length trailer for Matilda released
The Matilda-verse is getting closer and closer to being a reality as the official full-length trailer has been released for the upcoming movie adaptation of Matilda the Musical, which will be available in cinemas on 25 November in the UK and Ireland. Based on the popular stage musical (which is, itself, based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel), Matilda the Musical features a Tony-nominated original score by Tim Minchin.
Craig Revel Horwood and Paul O’Grady to share role of Miss Hannigan in Annie UK and Ireland tour
Director Nikolai Foster’s much-loved revival will open at Curve, Leicester on Saturday 25 February 2023. Horwood is set to appear in Leicester, Birmingham, Oxford, Dartford, Stoke, Llandudno, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Nottingham, Woking, Cardiff, Bradford, Southend, Bromley and Norwich, while O’Grady will perform the role in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Southampton, Liverpool, Dublin and Bristol. Tickets are available for select dates, with further ticket details expected to be released soon.
Glee docuseries to go behind the scenes on controversial musical show
Calling all Gleeks! Discovery Plus and ID have ordered a three-part documentary from Ample Entertainment that will explore the alleged behind-the-scenes drama at Glee, the wildly popular Fox series about a high school glee club that ran from 2009 – 2015. Featuring interviews with crew, cast members, and their family members, the untitled series will touch on major controversies related to the show. Further details are expected to be released soon.
Cast for new musical Elixir at The Other Palace revealed
Another exciting workshop is heading to The Other Palace studio later this month. Stefan Abingdon (The Midnight Beast) and Liam George’s (Plaster) musical follows two fresh recruits at a multi-level marketing firm who have to fight their way to the top. The score is set to be inspired by contemporary pop and rock music, along the lines of Spring Awakening, Dear Evan Hansen and Heathers.
Joining the workshop company are Julie Armstrong (Follies) Maria Coyne (The Phantom of the Opera), Ryan Downey (Company), Siubhan Harrison (Ocean at the End of the Lane), Sam Oladeinde (Come From Away), Lizzy Parker (Heathers), Marc Pickering (Zorro) and Yuki Sutton (Ride).
The show runs from 19 to 23 October, with tickets on sale now.
A Strange Loop to close on Broadway
© Marc J Franklin
The award winning production has announced that it will play its final performance at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre on January 15 2023, following 301 regular and 13 preview performances. Telling the story of a Broadway usher who is writing a musical about a Broadway user, the show transforms the insecurities of one man into one big Black and queer American Broadway extravaganza. We’re crossing our fingers for a West End transfer in the near future.
Wilton’s Music Hall unveils 2023 season, including the return of Buffy Revamped
© James Perry
The iconic East London venue has announced exciting details for its upcoming 2023. Returning will be the much loved Buffy Revamped (9 to 13 January), which parodies seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in just 70 minutes. This will be followed by Told by an Idiot’s production of Charlie and Stan (18 January to 4 February), an homage to Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel featuring a live piano score by composer Zoe Rahman and song arrangements by Sophie Cotton.
Dead Poets Live returns to Wilton’s from 7 to 9 February with An Evening of Sylvia Plath, starring Denise Gough. The Faction are also scheduled with a reimagining of a Shakespearean classic. Performed entirely by two actors, Macbeth / Partners of Greatness runs from 14 to 18 February. Additional shows include The City and the Town (21 to 25 February), Jarman (7, 9 and 10 March), Naked Hope (8 and 11 March), Ruddigore (14 to 25 March) and Paris from Piaf to Pop (28 March to 1 April). Tickets are on sale for all shows now.
