Happy 2022 readers. I hope you've all enjoyed a nice start to the new year after the festive season. A new year brings a bundle of theatre news for the months ahead. Here are some of the latest updates including tour castings, tour dates, a tribute night to one of the acting greats, and sad closures due to the uncertainty posed by the continuing COVID pandemic.
Full Casting Announced for The Osmonds: A New Musical UK and Ireland Tour
Georgia Lennon, Charlie Allen, and Nicola Bryan will play Marie, George, and Olive Osmond respectively in the World Premiere of The Osmonds: A New Musical, joining the previously announced Ryan Anderson as Merrill Osmond, Jamie Chatterton as Alan Osmond, Alex Lodge as Jay Osmond, Danny Nattrass as Wayne Osmond, and Joseph Peacock as Donny Osmond. The UK & Ireland Tour begins at Curve, Leicester on 3 February 2022 and will run through to 3 December 2022.
Georgia Lennon, Charlie Allen, and Nicola Bryan will play Marie, George, and Olive Osmond respectively in the World Premiere of The Osmonds: A New Musical, joining the previously announced Ryan Anderson as Merrill Osmond, Jamie Chatterton as Alan Osmond, Alex Lodge as Jay Osmond, Danny Nattrass as Wayne Osmond, and Joseph Peacock as Donny Osmond. The UK & Ireland Tour begins at Curve, Leicester on 3 February 2022 and will run through to 3 December 2022.
Completing the cast are Alex Cardall, Henry Firth, Alex Hardford, Katy Hards, Aidan Harkins, Luke Hogan, Lotus Lowry, Stephanie McKenzie, Jay Osborne, Samuel Routley and Tristan Whincup. Alfie Murray, Jasper Penny, and Joey Unitt will play Young Merrill Osmond; Jack Jones, Harvey Loakes, and Charlie Stripp will play Young Alan Osmond; James Flintoff, Charlie Tumbridge, and Tom Walsh will play Young Jay Osmond; Alfie Jones, Austin Redwood, and Thomas Ryan will play Young Wayne Osmond; Matthias Green, Osian Salter, and Nicholas Teixeira will play Young Donny Osmond; and Fraser Fowkes, Austin Riley, and Harrison Skinner will play Young Jimmy Osmond.
The Osmonds: A New Musical with story by Jay Osmond tells the true story of the five brothers from Utah who were pushed into the spotlight as children and went on to create smash hits, decade after decade. From their star residency on The Andy Williams Show from 1962 to 1969, to pop stars and ‘Osmondmania’ from 1971 to 1975, to the arrival of The Donny & Marie Show, a popular variety TV show, from 1976 to 1979, The Osmonds lived a remarkable life recording chart-topping albums, selling out vast arena concerts and making record-breaking TV shows - until one bad decision cost them everything.
Head to TheOsmondsMusical.co.uk for tour dates and booking information.
The Hope Theatre Announced Spring Season
Under new Artistic Director Phil Bartlett, The Hope Theatre in Islington has announced its spring season.
Under new Artistic Director Phil Bartlett, The Hope Theatre in Islington has announced its spring season.
The season opens with the world-premiere of Measured, Emma O’Brien’s witty and moving play about the hidden consequences of living with an eating disorder, which is accompanied by Measured Festival, a selection of electric late-evening events celebrating mental health awareness, including stand-up, improv and comedy.
Other world-premieres include A Good Time Was Had By All, a dark satire about a group of friends who discover disturbing information about one of their group, and Up in Town, a new stage adaptation which marks the twentieth anniversary of the cult TV series about an older woman’s desire to be visible.
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| The Hope and Anchor Pub - home to the Hope Theatre. |
Much of the programme looks outside of London, with Emma Zadow’s new play Fridge focussed on two sisters reuniting in Norfolk, and If. Destroyed. Still. True., the debut script from Jack Condon, exploring male friendship in rural Essex. The season closes with 100 Paintings, a dystopian comedy about a young artist and his mother which comes to the Hope after a successful shorter run at the Bread and Roses Theatre last year.
There is also the return of the popular Sunday-Monday programme, which offers emerging theatre-makers the opportunity to present their work without having to commit to a full three-week run.
Ticket prices will rise from £15 (£12 concessions) to £16 (£13 concessions) for performances taking place from April 2022 onwards. This reflects the rise in national living wage and the theatre’s ongoing commitment to ensuring all performers, stage management and box office staff are paid a legal wage.
Ticket prices will rise from £15 (£12 concessions) to £16 (£13 concessions) for performances taking place from April 2022 onwards. This reflects the rise in national living wage and the theatre’s ongoing commitment to ensuring all performers, stage management and box office staff are paid a legal wage.
Head to https://www.thehopetheatre.com/ for booking and further details.
Bring It On - UK and Ireland Tour Dates Cancelled
The producers of the forthcoming touring production of Bring It On have sadly taken the decision to cancel the remaining tour dates due to the impact of rising COVID-19 cases and self-isolation cases. The musical is currently playing at London's Southbank Centre and finishes its run on Saturday 22nd January 2022 - these dates remain unaffected.
The producers of the forthcoming touring production of Bring It On have sadly taken the decision to cancel the remaining tour dates due to the impact of rising COVID-19 cases and self-isolation cases. The musical is currently playing at London's Southbank Centre and finishes its run on Saturday 22nd January 2022 - these dates remain unaffected.
Customers who have purchased tickets for any of the touring venues will be contacted by their point of purchase.
BBC Four Celebrates the life of the late great Sir Antony Sher.
BBC Arts have announced they are dedicating an evening of programmes celebrating the life of the acclaimed actor who passed away in December 2021. The evening on BBC Four will take place on Sunday 16th January 2022 from 7pm.
BBC Arts have announced they are dedicating an evening of programmes celebrating the life of the acclaimed actor who passed away in December 2021. The evening on BBC Four will take place on Sunday 16th January 2022 from 7pm.
At 7pm, the channel will show Antony Sher and Greg Doran in Conversation with Sue MacGregor. The programme originally broadcast in 2015 see's the pair discuss their shared passion for Shakespeare and their stage work together.
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| Sir Antony Sher as Falstaff in Henry IV Part One. Photo by Kwame Lestrade |
At 10.45pm, there will be another chance to see Mark Lawson Talks To Antony Sher which was originally broadcast in 2009. Antony discusses growing up in South Africa, working with Greg Doran and bringing Shakespeare to life.
Sheila Ferguson joins the UK and Ireland Touring cast of Chicago
Soul sensation Sheila Ferguson will star as ‘Mama Morton’ in the acclaimed UK and Ireland tour of the international smash hit musical CHICAGO. Sheila joins the recently announced Russell Watson as ‘Billy Flynn’, Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’, Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’, Jamie Baughan as ‘Amos Hart’ and B.E. Wong as ‘Mary Sunshine’.
Soul sensation Sheila Ferguson will star as ‘Mama Morton’ in the acclaimed UK and Ireland tour of the international smash hit musical CHICAGO. Sheila joins the recently announced Russell Watson as ‘Billy Flynn’, Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’, Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’, Jamie Baughan as ‘Amos Hart’ and B.E. Wong as ‘Mary Sunshine’.
The cast will appear at the Liverpool Empire from Monday 7 February 2022, with full tour schedule available at www.chicagothemusical.com
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| Sheila Ferguson as Mama Morton. Photo by Matt Crockettt |
The cast is completed by Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billie Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens, and Harrison Wilde.
The Last Quiz On Earth Announced Spring 2022 Tour and Casting
Box of Tricks announces that the postponed 2020 tour of the critically-acclaimed immersive play The Last Quiz Night on Earth by Alison Carr will visit venues this Spring from 23 February - opening at The Derby Brewery Arms, Manchester - and offer audiences a very different experience of live performance. Meriel Scholfield will reprise her role as landlady Kathy and will be joined by new cast members Chris Hoyle, Matthew Khan, and Tilly Sutcliffe.
An asteroid is heading towards Earth, so what you would do? Head to your local pub for a quiz of course!
It’s the final countdown. Landlady Kathy invites audiences to the last quiz night on earth with Quizmaster Rav. He’s the host with the most. But with time ticking, some unexpected guests turn up out of the blue. Bobby wants to settle old scores, and Fran wants one last shot at love. Expect the unexpected to the bitter end and plenty of drama as the show gets quizzical!
The explosive preapocalyptic comedy - which was cancelled midway through its 2020 tour due to Covid19 restrictions - will be staged in urban and rural venues across the country, including theatres, village halls, community spaces, and local pubs – enabling the play to connect with audiences right at the heart of their communities. The immersive play smashes the fourth wall as audiences are plunged into the drama of the show.
Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) Closes on Sunday 6th February
The critically acclaimed production of Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) which is running at London's Criterion Theatre has announced it's closing on Sunday 6th February 2022. This is due to the impact of the COVID pandemic meaning a lack of audience throughout the West End since the government's implementation of Plan B restrictions.
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| Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) at London's Criterion Theatre Photo by Matt Crockett |
Producer David Pugh is delighted to announce the production will go on a 60 week UK and Ireland tour beginning at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh in September before returning to the West End.
Keep an eye on https://
Stagedoor Candle Company releases limited-edition Valentine's collection.
Stagedoor Candle Company, the home fragrance company inspired by Broadway’s favorite characters, is celebrating Valentine's Day in a big way with a brand new limited-edition set of candles. The set comes packaged in a beautiful gift box and includes a special enamel pin with lyrics from the internationally famous musical.
Stagedoor Candle Company, the home fragrance company inspired by Broadway’s favorite characters, is celebrating Valentine's Day in a big way with a brand new limited-edition set of candles. The set comes packaged in a beautiful gift box and includes a special enamel pin with lyrics from the internationally famous musical.
For a limited time, the gift sets along with a full selection of products are also available in midtown NYC at the Broadway Makers Marketplace, a Broadway-themed gift shop located in the Turnstyles shops at Columbus Circle. The shop is a collaboration with 30 other Broadway makers and is operating until mid-February.
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