Rehearsals are now underway for the West End production of Waitress ahead of performances beginning at the Adelphi Theatre on 8 February. Joining new addition Shaun Prendergast and US stars Katharine McPhee and Jack McBrayer are Laura Baldwin, Peter Hannah, David Hunter and Marisha Wallace. Pie anyone?

Following the announcement that at the end of January 2019 Layton Williams takes over the role of Jamie New & Shane Richie will play Hugo/Loco Chanelle in the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at London’s Apollo Theatre, there is news today that Hayley Tamaddon is stepping into the role of Miss Hedge. Now we have a good excuse to plan a return visit!

Don’t be sad that all the presents have been unwrapped and the mince pies are running out, as there is already festive theatre news! Nativity! The Musical returns to Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo for a third year running from 11 to 29 December 2019 and Simon Lipkin will be back as Mr Poppy too.

Best known as Kenneth in 30 Rock, US film and television actor Jack McBrayer is crossing the pond to take on the role of Ogie in Waitress at London’s Adelphi Theatre. He will join an already impressive line-up led by Katharine McPhee and also featuring Marisha Wallace, Laura Baldwin, Peter Hannah and David Hunter. Service please…

From Monday 11 to Saturday 23 February 2019 MT Fest UK at The Other Palace will showcase emerging and established writers. The programme includes a Taster Menu series of eight new musicals alongside talks and concerts from some of the most celebrated industry figures currently working in musical theatre. Could this be just the boost new writers need?

Kaisa Hammarlund must have enjoyed performing the work of Jeanine Tesori because she stars in Violet, having only recently appeared in the American composer’s Fun Home at the Young Vic. The award-winning musical, with book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, opens at the Charing Cross Theatre on 14 January 2019. Will you be joining Violet on her journey?

It’s farewell Alfie Moon and hello drag artist Hugo/Loco for Shane Richie as he joins Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre from 28 January until 4 May 2019 alongside another new recruit, Layton Williams’ in the title role.

Meet the four new principals – Marisha Wallace, David Hunter, Laura Baldwin and Peter Hannah – joining the much-anticipated London production of Sara Bareilles’ Tony Award-nominated musical Waitress. Katharine McPhee makes her West End debut starring as Jenna, having played the role on Broadway earlier this year. More pie anyone?

Fifty years after the release of the original concept album, a brand new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s first major musical collaboration, will be back in the West End in June 2019. So who do you want to wear the coat of many colours?

It’s a dream come true for Caroline Flack as the former Strictly Come Dancing champion and Love Island host prepares to play Roxie Hart in Chicago at London’s Phoenix Theatre from 10 December 2018 until the end of the show’s run on 5 January 2019.

It premiered in the West End in 1978 and features a chart-topping score, now Jamie Lloyd will direct a brand new production of Evita which will bring Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s 2019 season to close. Could it be as big a hit as Superstar and who do you see picking up those iconic lead roles?

Known to many for her breakout performance in NBC’s Smash, Katharine McPhee will return to the role of expert pie maker Jenna which she played on Broadway earlier this year. With preview performances beginning at the Adelphi Theatre on 8 February 2019, there’s not to go before Sara Bareilles’ Waitress is open for business. Are you excited?

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

Yes, it’s true, the West End production of the award-winning Kinky Boots is being filmed later this month for future worldwide screening and from 26-28 November original cast members Killian Donnelly and Matt Henry are going to revisit their roles of Charlie and Lola. It’s going to be emotional…

Following the success of shows like Chess and Sunset Boulevard, the fifth collaboration between the ENO and Grade Linnit will be multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Man Of La Mancha and what a cast already: Emmy award-winning Kelsey Grammer and international opera star and soprano Danielle de Niese. Will you be booking your tickets for April 2019?

Following on from successful productions of Jeanine Tesori’s Fun Home and Caroline, Or Change, London audiences are going to get to experience her collaboration with Brian Crawley, Violet, playing at the Charing Cross Theatre from 14 January Saturday to 6 April 2019. Will you be joining the journey?

Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel’s lyrical and romantic Broadway musical The Light in the Piazza will shine brightly at the Royal Festival Hall from 14 June 2019 for just 20 performances, directed by Daniel Evans and featuring the Orchestra of Opera North. And with opera singer Renée Fleming and film and TV star Dove Cameron leading the cast, it’s going to be lush…

Todrick Hall may be a YouTube sensation, but he is also no stranger to Broadway, having played Billy Flynn in Chicago and Lola in Kinky Boots. Now he reprises the role of the slick, manipulative lawyer at the Phoenix Theatre from 19 November 2018 until 5 January 2019 when the show closes. That’s showbiz folks…

Newbury’s Watermill Theatre will host Amélie The Musical, an adaptation of the much-loved 2001 French movie hit, from 11 April to 18 May 2019 before the production embarks on a major UK tour from 20 May. So who do you see playing the title role?

Everybody is definitely talking about Layton Williams, best known to musical theatre fans for his roles in Rent and Hairspray, who will take over as Jamie New in the award-winning Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre from 28 January 2019. Now we are left wondering if John McCrea will be heading to Broadway with the show?