Blog / Manchester Royal Exchange
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.
2020
We are taking a moment to step away from all the current stories of theatre closures to seek some distraction in celebrating legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday. So we’ve picked FIVE of our favourite performances from previous concerts, from the divine Barbara Cook’s rendition of ‘Losing My Mind’ to Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters giving an iconic rendition of ‘Move On’ from Sunday In The Park With George. Oh, and Patti LuPone, Elaine Stritch and Simon Russell Beale might make an appearance too. Hope you enjoy and do let us know your favourites too.
2019
Great Scott! Time to meet the full cast for the world premiere of Back To The Future The Musical, opening at the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 for a strictly limited 12-week season, prior to transferring to the West End.
As the RSC's much-anticipated musical adaptation of David Walliams' children's novel THE BOY IN THE DRESS starts performances, check out what Walliams revealed to Faves founder Terri Paddock during rehearsals... including his love of Matilda and desire to play Miss Trunchbull! (Can you see it?)
Surely we are not heading towards awards season yet again? We had better hurry up then and check out the musical theatre nominees in this year’s UK Theatre Awards. Who will you be rooting for?
It’s a pretty exciting combination: Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Mark Ravenhill all creating a brand new musical adaptation of David Walliams’ novel The Boy In The Dress for the RSC in November 2019, directed by Gregory Doran. But now we know some of the casting too with Rufus Hound, Irvine Iqbal, Natasha Lewis and Forbes Masson all taking lead roles in the much-anticipated production.
It’s a pretty exciting combination: Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Mark Ravenhill all creating a brand new musical adaptation of David Walliams’ novel The Boy In The Dress for the RSC in November 2019, directed by Gregory Doran. But now we know some of the casting too with Rufus Hound, Irvine Iqbal, Natasha Lewis and Forbes Masson all taking lead roles in the much-anticipated production.
2019
Rev up that flux capacitor because it’s time to find out more casting details for the world premiere production of Back to The Future The Musical with Hugh Coles as George McFly, Rosanna Hyland as Lorraine Baines and Cedric Neal as Goldie Wilson.They join the previously announced Olly Dobson as Marty McFly in the show which opens at the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 before transferring to the West End. Plus have a listen Cedric’s rendition of new song, ‘Gotta Start Somewhere’.
Great Scott! It was and remains a classic movie from the 1980s and now it’s going to be reinvented as a stage musical. Grab your hoverboard because Back To The Future The Musical is introducing itself at the Manchester Opera House on 20 February 2020 for a 12-week season before the cast (including Olly Dobson as Marty) and crew squeeze into the DeLorean to travel to the West End.
2019
Following the critically-acclaimed Broadway hit run of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King & I and its record-breaking season at the London Palladium, Bartlett Sher’s production will head off on a major UK tour from spring 2019, starring Jose Llana and Annalene Beechey in the lead roles. Shall we dance along?
2018
CBBC regular Jade Johnson’s audition via Instagram must have been pretty successful because now she has a starring role in the world premiere of part-immersive, part-musical clubbing experience Club Mex at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre in early 2019. Plus there’s a chance to view that new song below…
2018
With the new Mary Poppins film coming to cinemas this Christmas (starring ultimate StageFave and honorary Brit Lin-Manuel Miranda!) and a West End return announced for next year, we thought we'd go back in time to 2015 when the cast of the touring production performed at the Royal Variety Performance. It was practically perfect in every way...
Cast changes see Hayden Tee playing Miss Trunchbull alongside Rob Compton and Holly Dale Spencer as Mr and Mrs Wormwood in the RSC’s Matilda The Musical with Gina Beck continuing as Miss Honey. There are also two new Matildas joining the cast, but where have they got to?
2018
The Sherlock star and Sunset Boulevard leading man are the first stars confirmed for Tony-nominated composer Andrew Lippa’s new show at London’s Royal Festival Hall in May.
Performances from Danny Mac & Sheridan Smith in the touring productions of Sunset Boulevard (also named Best Musical) & Funny Girl come out on top with judges at the ‘most important theatrical prize-giving outside London’.
We all wish for that magical night we get called onto stage to spontaneously perform the lead role. Musical Theatre Appreciation Society's Dawn Bush wonders if being an understudy is just the same thing...
We all wish for that magical night we get called onto stage to spontaneously perform the lead role. Musical Theatre Appreciation Society's Dawn Bush wonders if being an understudy is just the same thing...
The Olivier Awards 2016 with MasterCard – the most prestigious event in the UK’s theatrical calendar – has revealed further details of the star-studded ceremony, hosted by two-time Olivier Award winner Michael Ball on Sunday 3 April at the Royal Opera House.