Blog / Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Check here for the latest musical news with links to all your #StageFaves performers, shows and theatres. Also look out for our regular #GetSocial features and contributions from our syndicate media partners including MyTheatreMates.com and the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society.
Actress Rosalie Craig and director Marianne Elliott celebrated their wins at the 64th Evening Standard Theatre Awards, while Best Musical went to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical and leading man Jamael Westman received the Emerging Talent Award
2018
A stream of A-listers including Paul McCartney, Bryan Cranston, Judi Dench, Henry Cavill, Whoopi Goldberg, Jack Black, Steve Martin and more have contributed to a music video for ‘The Hero – A West End & Friends Tribute’ alongside stars of London’s West End (Charlie Stemp, Marisha Wallace, Cleve September, Kerry Ellis and oodles more #StageFaves). Everyone involved wished to pay thanks to servicemen and women around the world and to raise money for the UK charity, Help For Heroes.
2018
Following sell-out performances in 2016 and 2017, the London Musical Theatre Orchestra returns to the Lyceum Theatre for three performances of Alan Menken, Lynn Ahrens & Mike Ockrent’s A Christmas Carol on 10 and 17 December 2018 & just look at the cast – full of #StageFaves. There’s no ‘Bah, humbug!’ from us!
2018
Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of COMPANY at the Gielgud Theatre, probably the most eagerly-anticipated musical theatre opening of 2018. Perry was there on the Red Carpet and at the after-party to grab selfies (with Patti LuPone, no less) and chat to stars of Marianne Elliott’s gender-bending production, including those important guys: Ben Lewis, Richard Fleeshman, Matthew Seadon-Young, Jonathan Bailey, Alex Gaumond & Gavin Spokes. We’ll drink to that!
David Thaxton’s Arthur and Savannah Stevenson’s Guenevere will not only be joined by the likes of Celinde Schoenmaker, Emmanuel Kojo & Oliver Savile in London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s special forthcoming concert version of Camelot on 6 October 2018, internationally renowned opera star Charles Rice has also been cast as Lancelot. How can we resist?
Fifteen years after its critically-acclaimed stage premiere, Mary Poppins is flying back to its original West End home, the Prince Edward Theatre, when Disney’s Aladdin ends its run in August 2019. We can't wait to see Zizi Strallen & Charlie Stemp step in time!
The gang of four join the previously announced Adrian Lester, Jason Manford, Meow Meow, Clive Rowe & Joe Stilgoe in the much-anticipated semi-staged concert of the classic musical, directed by Stephen Mear and running for three performances from 19-20 October 2018.
A second Sondheim addition for our #StageFavesSongOfTheWeek list, this time with a little twist. The new production of COMPANY stars Rosalie Craig as the lead character, usually played by a man. We couldn't be more excited for this gender-swap version, but just in case you're feeling any trepidation about the change, allow us to put your mind at ease. Check out Rosalie absolutely nailing "Being Alive"...
2018
If 2018 is year of the woman (and it is!), then it all seems to be coming together now. This September, there are a host of fantastic musicals with women right in the centre of the action. Even more exciting, they all bring something totally new to the theatre scene, telling stories we rarely get to hear in commercial productions. Here are our Top 5 Feminist Picks opening over the next month...
In yet another twist for the much-anticipated production of the Sondheim and George Furth classic, opening at the West End’s Gielgud Theatre from 26 September 2018, Jonathan Bailey will play Jamie (originally written as Amy) and Alex Gaumond is his devoted boyfriend. But don’t worry, the song ‘Not Getting Married’ today remains!
2018
In February 2019 the popular actors will join the cast as Ben and Sally in the award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies opposite Janie Dee and Peter Forbes who reprise their roles as Phyllis and Buddy.
2018
Yes, the magical characters from Dr Seuss will be making a return to London with Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s larger-than-life feelgood musical from 22 November to 29 December 2018.
2018
Yes, the magical characters from Dr Seuss will be making a return to London with Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s larger-than-life feelgood musical from 22 November to 29 December 2018.
There is no arguing the place of Stephen Sondheim atop any list of modern Musical Theatre composers. Our first #StageFavesSongOfTheWeek from him, is one of the most iconic songs from INTO THE WOODS. Watch this clip of Bernadette Peters absolutely slaying "Last Midnight" from this wonderful show...
Fresh from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Chris Jarman joins the West End cast of Wicked from 23 July 2018 alongside current cast member Rosa O’Reilly who takes over the role of Nessarose.
Fresh from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Chris Jarman joins the West End cast of Wicked from 23 July 2018 alongside current cast member Rosa O’Reilly who takes over the role of Nessarose.
Ex EastEnder David Witts has been wooed back from three years in LA to play Fiyero in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre this summer.
2018
Sondheim classic INTO THE WOODS gets a 21st-century twist in an in-the-round production directed by and starring Tim McArthur, which runs at London's Cockpit Theatre 23 May to 24 June 2018, with a press night on 25 May. Full casting here...
Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown arrives at the National Theatre prior to a Broadway run in 2019, followed by the Olivier Award-winning revival of Sondheim & Goldman’s Follies.
2018
After a sold-out run in 2014, All Star Productions – winner of the Best Producer in the Off-West End Awards 2018 – teams up in May with Trilby Productions and The Cockpit to stage a fresh new adaptation of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.