Blog / First Night Takeovers

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.

10 Mar
2020

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the opening of Pretty Woman The Musical at London’s Piccadilly Theatre. Perry lives the dream, enjoying every minute of this new addition to the West End, and chats to lead players Aimie Atkinson, Danny Mac, Rachael Wooding and Bob Harms. Oh, and did we mention, he was sitting next to Six The Musical’s Natalie May Paris?

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the opening of The Prince Of Egypt at London’s Dominion Theatre. In the same week that the run of this epic production was extended by seven weeks, until 21 October 2020, Perry was busy catching up with the stars on the Red Carpet (Kerry Ellis, Jay McGuiness, Elaine Paige) as well as the creative team, including legendary composer Stephen Schwartz and his son Scott, the show’s director.

25 Feb
2020

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the opening of Be More Chill at London’s The Other Palace. After the UK premiere production received a well-deserved standing ovation, Perry got the chance to catch up with the show’s producers, composer and lyricist Joe Iconis, director Stephen Brackett and cast members Scott Folan, Blake Patrick Anderson, Stewart Clarke, Miracle Chance, Renee Lamb, Millie O’Connell and Eloise Davies. Here’s the chance to hang out with all of them.

23 Dec
2019

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the opening of Curtains at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre. Perry is wowed by the incredible dance numbers, fabulous vocals & on the edge of his seat as he tries to solve such an entertaining musical whodunnit. Plus he gets to chat post-show to the stars including Jason Manford, Carley Stenson, Rebecca Lock, Samuel Holmes and lan Burkitt. It’s certainly a musical to lift your spirits.

05 Dec
2019

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the opening of White Christmas at London’s Dominion Theatre. Check out who Perry chatted to on the Red Carpet (including several of TV’s Loose Women) and watch his post-shows interviews with all the stars of the fabulously festive show including Danny Mac, Dan Burton, Danielle Hope, Brenda Edwards and Michael Brandon. Not feeling in a Christmassy mood? This show could do the trick.

26 Nov
2019

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the opening of & Juliet at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre, the Shakespeare-style tale with a twist featuring oodles of iconic Max Martin tunes. Read on to see who Perry caught up with on the Red Carpet and watch his awesome post-shows interviews with Max Martin, Jessie J and all the cast, including Juliet herself, Miriam-Teak Lee.

24 Sep
2019

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the gala night for Mamma Mia! The Party, the immersive theatrical and dining experience being staged at The O2 London. It was an epic evening with star after star saying hi on the ‘Blue Carpet’ including ABBA’s very own Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson as well as cast members Steph Parry, Joanna Monro, Fed Zanni, Julia Imbach and AJ Bentley. Get watching!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening night of The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical at the Ambassadors Theatre. Described by one cast member as ‘the Pixar of British stage musicals’, Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary’s inspiring show gives Perry goosebumps so he is thrilled to catch up several members of the cast: both the grown-ups and children. Will the musical be a big hit? Perry thinks so!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the London premiere of Broadway musical The Light In The Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall. Perry gets goosebumps from the beauty and style of the show and has the added bonus of catching up with several members of the cast afterwards including Dove Cameron, Rob Houchen, Celinde Schoenmaker and Liam Tamne. Oh and did we mention that he bumped into Tony Award-winner Ben Platt too?

10 May
2019

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of AMOUR at the Charing Cross Theatre. Perry was there taking in the intimate atmosphere of Michel Legrand’s musical fantasy and of course fitting in some post-show chats with cast members Anna O’Byrne, Elissa Churchill and Claire Machin. It was a ‘chocolate box of delightful joy’ and Perry seems to have loved every bite!

01 Apr
2019

After a sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Trevor Nunn's critically acclaimed revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has transferred to the West End's Playhouse Theatre for a limited season. Continuing our #FirstNightTakeover series, Faves vlogger Perry O'Bree was there. Amongst the opening night audience, he rubbed elbows with husband-and-wife West End stars Michael Jibson and Caroline Sheen and with onstage father and daughter stars Andy Nyman and Harriet Bunton. Watch what happened here!

11 Mar
2019

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of the delicious WAITRESS at the Adelphi Theatre. Perry was there on the Red Carpet – rubbing shoulders with Carrie Hope Fletcher and Cuba Gooding Jr – plus post-show there was a chance to chat to cast members Peter Hannah and Shaun Prendergast. And did we mention Perry squeezed in meeting awesome Waitress composer Sara Bareilles too? It’s amazing what a little baking can do.

21 Feb
2019

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of Tony Award-winning Canadian musical Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Rachel Tucker and Jenna Boyd, plus he also caught up with original stranded passenger Kevin Tuerff, and Janice Goudie – one of the islanders who expressed such love and compassion to the 7,000 people diverted to their hometown during the wake of 9/11. Welcome to the Rock…

19 Feb
2019

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of Dolly Parton’s 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at the Savoy Theatre, continuing in the West End to 31 August 2019. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Caroline Sheen, Amber Davies, Natalie McQueen, Brian Conley and Bonnie Langford. Watch out for Brian describing Perry as one of the best theatre vloggers around & some expert video-bombing fromOlivier Award winner Michael Jibson!

22 Jan
2019

Paul Taylor-Mills’ plans for MT Fest UK, a two-week festival of new musical theatre, already sounded exciting, but a bonus comes in the shape of Night Caps, an informal late-night concerts series as part of the event featuring some of the country’s eminent musical theatre stars.

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the London opening of ASPECTS OF LOVE at Southwark Playhouse. Dressed appropriately (you’ll see what we mean), Perry is wowed by the beautiful setting for Jonathan O'Boyle’s acclaimed chamber revival, the gorgeous score and the stunning performances. Plus he gets to chat with several of the cast including Jerome Pradon, Madalena Alberto, Felix Mosse, Kelly Price and Eleanor Walsh. Does love change everything? Read on and find out…

20 Dec
2018

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O’Bree attending the West End opening of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE at the Playhouse Theatre, continuing in the West End to 9 February 2019 following sell-out seasons at Chichester and Hampstead. Perry was there at the after-party to catch up with several members of the cast including Sharon D Clarke (who “blew the roof off the Playhouse”), Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Alastair Brookshaw, Me’sha Bryan and Lauren Ward. It turned out to be quite an emotional night!

StageFaves’ Perry O’Bree attended the West End charity gala opening of The Band at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, a special night raising money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Perry was there on the Red Carpet to chat to all the talented cast – one confessed to being a big fan of Perry – as well as Take That’s Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams too! Are you ready to see them ‘Shine’?

04 Sep
2018

Is there a bigger American TV tradition than Saturday Night Live!? The show not only brings the funny every week, it peppers in plenty of sketches for the Musical Theatre geek! It's been a few years now since this sketch, but we think it's as funny as ever. From the Phantom trying to run the meeting to Elphaba lamenting her narrow casting bracket, this is worth a watch for any musical geek!

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree at the world premiere of wacky American musical It Happened in Key West at London's Charing Cross Theatre. How much love is there for this life-and-death romantic comedy? What did stars Alyssa Martyn and Wade McCollum profess? (And spot #stagey blogger Charlotte O'Growney with Perry at the interval!)