Blog / Royal Exchange Theatre

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.

29 Dec
2017
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Celinde Schoenmaker is a West End name and superstar StageFave with a CV chock-full of West End credits but this year she's spending Christmas at the Menier Chocolate Factory alongside Marcus Brigstocke in BARNUM. Our friends at the Musical Theatre Review chatted to Celinde about rehearsals, the showbiz story and fitting such a big show into a smaller theatre...

15 Dec
2017

After success with their young amateurs’ productions including The Secret Garden and 13 at the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre, the British Theatre Academy (BTA) has announced its summer 2018 season, which will include a major London run of BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL as well as stagings of Spring Awakening and, not to be outdone with today’s big-budget West End announcement, Chicago.

16 Oct
2017

It was a big night for EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE last night as the show won the "Best Musical Production" category at the UK Theatre Awards with StageFave John McCrea taking the Best Performance category! But it wasn't just Jamie's night, with the fabulous TOMMY tour and Bristol Old Vic's THE GRINNING MAN picking up awards too...

14 Oct
2017

HAMILTON mania may be hitting the UK right now ahad of its long awaited (and now postponed) West End opening, but we could never forget the joy of Lin-Manuel Miranda's first, Tony Award-Winning show IN THE HEIGHTS. It may have closed last year but the British Theatre Academy are bringing it back for an exclusive three-performance run this October in Stockwell...

13 Oct
2017
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The world-famous film producer Harvey Weinstein has been hit with allegations from many women and has been fired from his own company. But Weinstein wasn't just a producer of films. His Broadway show FINDING NEVERLAND has been due for a West End debut for years but now its future seems even more uncertain. Joanne Sadler from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society discusses the future of the musical in light of the recent allegations...

02 Oct
2017
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Who'd have thought history could be so...tuneful? There are certainly a lot of fantastic musicals based on true past events and with HAMILTON about to open in London's West End, we wouldn't be surprised if there were many more to follow! But if we're getting our history from Musicals, shouldn't we know how accurate they are? Lauryn Clarke, from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society takes a look at some of the most popular musicals based on historical events and sees how they measure up with the truth...

20 Sep
2017
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Panto season is coming round again and this year's big West End production is DICK WHITTINGTON with an all-star cast of StageFaves. Becky Wallis from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society shares her excitement for the Christmas production at the London Palladium and talks about how celebrity casting is becoming as much of a tradition as panto itself!

We've known our Mack and our Mabel for a while, but the London Musical Theatre Orchestra have now announced the full cast for the one-night-only concert at the Hacknew Empire on 23 September 2017. And to celebrate the first day of rehearsal, they've released a video of David Bedella singing ‘I Won’t Send Roses’ - oh, and don't forget to enter our MACK AND MABEL competition to win tickets!

01 Sep
2017

The London Musical Theatre Orchestra are going from strength to strength and this Autumn will be no exception! Their next show MACK AND MABEL will take place at the Hackney Empire and casting has now been announced! David Bedella will join Natasha J Barnes and Tiffany Graves for the concert that will take place on 23 September...

31 Aug
2017
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There are certain unspoken habits and traditions all musical theatre fans must abide by. Whether it's the "guess where I am" stage shot or the delicate way you handle your programmes, all theatre geeks spend time and energy on every aspect of their Musical Theatre experience. So, for the first time, Katie Rose from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society has put together the 10 commandments of a theatre lover! Tell us, how many do you follow?

29 Aug
2017

This summer, the British Theatre Academy took over the West End with a double run of shows at the Ambassadors Theatre. One of the two shows showcasing a fantastically talented young cast was 13 THE MUSICAL, which ran until 23 August. We've got some fantastic production photos from the run which looked positively wonderful...

11 Aug
2017
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We all know the theatre can be political, just look at what HAMILTON and RENT did, not just for Broadway but America as a whole! Occasionally though, it's the controversy offstage that makes the headlines Joanne Sadler from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society assesses the future of the Great Comet and discusses the recent issues regarding the shortening of a black actor's contract, to be replaced by a more established white one...

07 Aug
2017
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The theatre has often been a safe space for LGBT+ performers and audiences alike and can serve to educate others on the issues faced by marginalised communities and humanise a group who have historically been persecuted. Lauren Philpott from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society discusses how Musical Theatre can both educate their audiences and empower people within the LGBTQ+ community...

25 Jul
2017
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It's been a triumphant run, but Gary Barlow's THE GIRLS has now left London's West End. The show, which found a home at the Phoenix Theatre for six wonderful months will head on tour next summer, but the hole it's left in London's theatre district has been felt strongly by thousands of fans. Becky Mary from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society, shares her thoughts on its closing...

24 Jul
2017
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This year, West End Bares goes over the rainbow with a Wizard Of Oz theme and West End superstar Rebecca Trehearn will lead the cast in RUBY STRIPPERS this October at the Novello Theatre...

21 Jul
2017
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They may have finished their West End run earlier this month but it's far from the end of the line for THE GIRLS. This August will see the fab cast embark on a 42-venue tour, sharing their wonderful story with the rest of the UK. Most of the coverage for the show has focussed on the leading ladies but there is also an injection of youth to the cast which shouldn't be forgotten. Becky Mary, from our friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society met the younger cast and had a chat about the run and their experiences as young actors in the business...

19 Jul
2017
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We all love Musical Theatre here at #StageFaves, but let's be honest - it's a tough career! The life of a performer is often full of uncertainty, fear, huge highs and dragging lows. Every aspect can be very rewarding, but also draining and, yup...stressful! For those of you looking forward to a time at drama school, George Fairclough from our wonderful friends at the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society offers some tips and tricks on managing stress and getting the most out of life as a performer...

19 Jul
2017

Theatre Royal Stratford East has long been a champion of musical theatre and the team there are now embarking on their Musical Theatre Workshop 2017 which has just begun its two-week development period with six new musicals. They've spent months picking a top-class bunch of creatives and we're certain they'll come up with something magic...

12 Jul
2017
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The bond between performers and fans has always been a strong one and in the age of social media, it's easier than ever to keep up with your favourite actors. Many fans love waiting at stage door to catch a few seconds with their heroes and it can be disappointing when you don't get to meet them after a show. But recently there have been incidents of fans taking to social media to air their grievances and personally attack the actors. Ben Platt, Tony Award-winning actor in DEAR EVAN HANSEN recently responded to these attacks, and Lisa Martland of Musical Theatre Review explains why his priorities are in the right place...

Producers are still looking for the stars to play Berger, Hud and Margaret Mead in HAIR's upcoming 50th anniversary season in London but initial cast is now announced - and demand is already so high, they've extended booking into the new year. (Yes, that IS a true hair extension.) Scroll down for a reminder to watch the show performance at West End Live last month too...