Theatre
What’s up Wilma?
Hello dears! Welcome to my first weekly round-up of what’s hot on the West End theatre scene. It’s been a very exciting week in theatre-land so let’s jump right in with what’s been happening.
Still Wickedly good
Wicked celebrated 11 years since it first opened on Broadway in 2003. Now in its eighth year in London’s West End, the musical isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Last week Broadway star Jennifer DiNoia took over from Kerry Ellis in the role of Elphaba for a limited run until February 2015, when understudy Emma Hatton will take on the role full time.
Don’t miss you chance to see Jennifer DiNoia in action, book tickets here now.
It’s going to be a White Christmas
The cast of White Christmas officially opened the Christmas windows at Fenwick of Bond Street. The cast, led by Aled Jones, Tom Chambers, Wendi Peters, Graham Cole, Rachel Stanley and Louise Bowden, performed the London premiere of the title number from the show to crowds on Bond Street. White Christmas will be at the Dominion Theatre in London from 8 November until 3 January 2015 and you can get tickets to the show here.
Bend It Like Beckham
The 2002 film production of Bend It Like Beckham has been transformed into a new British musical and it was announced this week that it will open at the Phoenix Theatre from 15 May 2015, replacing Once the Musical, which ends its West End run on 17 March 2015. Ronan Keating will take over the role of Guy from David Hunter from 17 November to complete the show’s two-year run. Once will then take the show on a European tour. Tickets for Bend It Like Beckham go on sale on Friday. Casting hasn’t been confirmed, but Samantha Barks and Frances Ruffelle are rumoured to be in the running for a role.
Taken at Midnight
Mark Hayhurst’s new play, Taken at Midnight, which premiered at the Chichester Festival Theatre in September, will transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 15 January 2015, following the National Theatre’s production of Great Britain. The production stars Penelope Wilton as the mother of legendary German lawyer Hans Litten, who risked her own life to rescue her son after he called Adolf Hitler to the witness stand in a 1931 murder trial. Taken at Midnight will run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a very limited time from 15 January to 15 March 2015.
A new Audience for Kristin Scott Thomas
Kristin Scott Thomas will play the Queen in a new version of Peter Morgan’s The Audience. Stephen Daldry’s production previews at the Apollo Theatre from 21 April and is booking up to 25 July 2015. Tickets are on sale now. The Audience received its world premiere in February 2013 at the Gielgud Theatre with Helen Mirren leading the cast. Mirren will re-create the role on Broadway in February 2015. Urinetown is currently playing at the Apollo Theatre and booking until 24 January.
The 2014 Wilma Awards
The hottest event of this week is undoubtedly going to be the 2014 Wilma Awards, taking place on Friday afternoon at Freedom Bar in Soho. Almost 2,500 people voted online for the winners of the ten theatre awards and the winners will be unveiled at a special ceremony over afternoon tea. Check back for next week’s blog to find out who won what, who wore what and, most importantly, whether I made it through the whole thing without falling over!
Until next week dears.
