Casting Announced for U.K. Premiere of Simon Stephens' Carmen Disruption by Mark Shenton

Casting has been announced for the U.K. premiere of Simon Stephens' Carmen Disruption that begins performances at London's Almeida Theatre April 10 prior to an official opening April…

SOURCE: Playbill at 7:48am on March 3, 2015☆⚑

Casting Now Complete for London Coliseum Sweeney Todd, Starring Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel by Mark Shenton

Final casting has been announced for Lonny Price's production of Sweeney Todd that begins performances at the London Coliseum March 30, prior to an official opening March 31, for a run t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 7:44am on March 3, 2015☆⚑

Mark Shenton: Is Hamilton the next The Book of Mormon? by Mark Shenton

"History is happening in Manhattan," says a character in Hamilton, the new musical about a particular chapter in American constitutional history that

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 2:00am on March 3, 2015☆⚑

London's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Will Welcome New Willy Wonka by Mark Shenton

Jonathan Slinger is to take over as Willy Wonka in the London production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, beginning performances May 4.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:11am on March 2, 2015☆⚑

Mel Brooks to Play West End's Prince of Wales Theatre by Mark Shenton

Mel Brooks is to present his first-ever solo U.K. show, Mel Brooks Live in London, at the West End's Prince of Wales Theatre for one-night only March 22.

SOURCE: Playbill at 8:43am on March 2, 2015☆⚑

Alan Ayckbourn to Premiere 79th Play and Direct Revival of Confusions by Mark Shenton

Alan Ayckbourn is to premiere his 79th play, Hero's Welcome, as part of the 60th anniversary season at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre that he used to run, and which ha…

SOURCE: Playbill at 8:31am on March 2, 2015☆⚑

Imelda Staunton Will Have a New Herbie When Gypsy Transfers to the West End by Mark Shenton

Peter Davison will join the company of Gypsy in the role of Herbie when Chichester Festival Theatre's production transfers to the West End; he will star opposite Imelda Staunton…

SOURCE: Playbill at 7:11am on March 2, 2015☆⚑

Lorna Luft, Louise Dearman and More Will Star in U.K. Tour of Judy The Life and Music of a Hollywoo by Mark Shenton

Lorna Luft will star in Judy — The Life and Music of a Hollywood Legend, which will begin performances May 8 at Edinburgh's Playhouse Theatre ahead of a U.K. tour. Also in the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 6:56am on March 2, 2015☆⚑

Mark Shenton: Why Barbara Cook is worth the trip to New York by Mark Shenton

For passionate theatre fans, the other great theatre city in the English-speaking world after London is surely New York. I’ve been visiting

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 2:00am on March 2, 2015☆⚑

Lock Up Your Quarters: London's Menier Chocolate Factory Hosts Pickpocket Play by Mark Shenton

"Pickpocket entertainer" James Freedman will reveal the tricks of his dicey trade in his solo show Man of Steal for six performances only, April 12-27, at London's Menier C…

SOURCE: Playbill at 8:58am on February 28, 2015☆⚑

Adventure and Danger in New Southwark Playhouse Musical Teddy This June by Mark Shenton

Tristan Bernays' new musical Teddy, with a score by Dougal Irvine, is to premiere at London's Southwark Playhouse, beginning performances June 4 prior to an official opening June 8, …

SOURCE: Playbill at 8:49am on February 28, 2015☆⚑

Starry Casting for Productions at Shakespeare's Globe This Summer by Mark Shenton

Charles Edwards, who recently starred opposite Angela Lansbury in the West End and in the L.A., San Francisco and Washington DC runs of Blithe Spirit is to play the title role in William Sha…

SOURCE: Playbill at 8:41am on February 28, 2015☆⚑

Atomic Bomb Is Born in Oppenheimer, Transferring to West End by Mark Shenton

Tom Morton-Smith's Oppenheimer, which tells the story of ‘the father of the atomic bomb’ J.Robert Oppenheimer, is to transfer to the West End's Vaudeville The…

SOURCE: Playbill at 8:27am on February 28, 2015☆⚑

Mark Shenton's theatre picks: February 27 by Mark Shenton

In last week’s print edition of The Stage, I highlighted Islington in a feature as a hotbed of theatre, and it is

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 2:00am on February 27, 2015☆⚑

Michael Frayn's Matchbox Theatre Will Premiere in April by Mark Shenton

Hampstead Theatre is to premiere Matchbox Theatre, described as "an evening of short entertainments" by Michael Frayn, beginning performances April 25 prior to an official opening …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:54am on February 27, 2015☆⚑

Michael Ball Will Star in Chichester Mack & Mabel; Rob Ashford, Lenny Henry and Jonathan Kent Also P by Mark Shenton

Chichester Festival Theatre has announced its line-up for the 2015 summer season, which will include a major new production of Mack & Mabel starring Michael Ball, Rob Ashford dir…

SOURCE: Playbill at 8:29am on February 26, 2015☆⚑

Mark Shenton: Is Chichester's 2015 season announcement a glimpse of what's to come for the West End? by Mark Shenton

Few announcements are more keenly awaited in theatre than what's being promised for Chichester Festival Theatre's annual season. This is not just

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 2:00am on February 26, 2015☆⚑

Kevin Spacey to Receive Special Olivier Award by Mark Shenton

Kevin Spacey is to receive a Special Award at the 2015 Olivier Awards, being presented April 12 at London's Royal Opera House, to acknowledge his "extraordinary contribution" t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 7:00pm on February 25, 2015☆⚑

Mary Poppins to Embark on New U.K. Tour, Kicking Off in October by Mark Shenton

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's hit West End and Broadway stage musical Mary Poppins, based on the film of the same name, is to embark on a new U.K. national tour, beginning performances…

SOURCE: Playbill at 6:30am on February 25, 2015☆⚑

Stephen Merchant to Make West End Stage Debut in Richard Bean's The Mentalists by Mark Shenton

BAFTA Award-winning writer, comedian and actor Stephen Merchant, best known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais, including "The Office," "Extras" and "Life…

SOURCE: Playbill at 5:50am on February 25, 2015☆⚑

Mark Shenton: The Diary of a Mad Theatre Critic by Mark Shenton

One of my favourite theatre books of all time is James Kirkwood’s Diary of a Mad Playwright, his astonishing report from the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 2:00am on February 25, 2015☆⚑

Ralph Fiennes Opens in Shaw's Man and Superman at U.K.'s National Theatre Tonight by Mark Shenton

Ralph Fiennes stars in a new production of George Bernard Shaw's Man and Superman, officially opening Feb. 25 at the National's Lyttelton Theatre following previews that began Feb. 1…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on February 25, 2015☆⚑

Beautiful   The Carole King Musical Opens at West End's Aldwych Theatre Tonight by Mark Shenton

The West End production of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical opens officially Feb. 24 (following previews that began Feb. 10) at the Aldwych Theatre. It is currently booking thro…

SOURCE: Playbill at 6:37am on February 24, 2015☆⚑

Mark Shenton: Naming and shaming London's least comfortable theatres by Mark Shenton

There are occupational hazards to any job, I know, but some jobs are clearly more risky than others. I’d rather not be

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 2:00am on February 24, 2015☆⚑

West End's Di and Viv and Rose, Featuring Tony Nominee Jenna Russell, Will Close Early by Mark Shenton

The West End run of Amelia Bullmore's Di and Viv and Rose, which transferred from runs at London's Hampstead Theatre in 2012 and 2013 to open officially at the Vaudeville Theatre Jan…

SOURCE: Playbill at 3:48pm on February 23, 2015☆⚑