NEWS ROUNDUP: 22 - 28 June

We have somehow managed to survive the extreme heat of the past week to be able to recap some of the most exciting news stories, that have been (hopefully) keeping us distracted from the elevated temperatures, and though it has been a relatively quiety week news wise, let's round them up...

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JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Sam Ryder led production to tour the UK

Following two separate runs in London’s west end, the first having just launched at the London Palladium, the Sam Ryder-fronted production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”, with music by Andrew Llopyd Webber and lyrics & book by Tim Rice, is set to hit the road early in the new year. Performances begun last week at the Palladium, where the show will run until 5th of September, and then subsequently run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from the 16th of October until the 9th of January.

The tour will commence at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on the 12th of February 2027, followed by runs in Cardiff, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Oxford, Norwich, Southend, Blackpool, Birmingham, Belfast, Bradford, Nottingham, Woking, Milton Keynes, Plymouth, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Hull and Bristol. Further details, including full cast, will be revealed at a later date, and you can find out more about the production, including how to book tickets for both the west end and touring productions, via the official Jesus Chris Superstar website.

WARRIORS

Broadway premiere set for new Lin-Manuel Miranda musical

After an enormously successful launch of the concept album in autumn 2024, it has been revealed that the musical adaptation of "Warriors", co-written by Eisa Davis and Lin-Manuel Miranda, has finally announced that the musical will be fully staged on broadway, opening in the spring of 2027. Based on the 1979 film "The Warriors", itself adapted from the novel of the same name by Sol Yurick, which was inspired by the Ancient Greek story "Anabasis" by Xenophon, the story follows an all-female gang trying to survive the treacherous journey through New York, following the murder of a gang leader.

The original concept album was released in October 2024, and featured an all-star list of personnel that included broadway stars Amber Gray, Joshua Henry, Mykal Kilgore, Billy Porter and Philippa Soo, as well as hip hop & rap legends Busta Rhymes, Ghostface Killah, Nas and Chris Rivers. The musical will have its premiere at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on broadway in March of 2027, with an official opening night in April, and it has been revealed that the musical will be performed over one act. Further details are yet to be revealed, but you can sign up to the mailing list for future updates via the official Warriors website.

DARREN CRISS

Broadway star to return to London this autumn

Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe winner and Grammy nominee Darren Criss, star of the hit US musical comedy drama series “Glee”, is set to perform his first London solo concert in three years this autumn. He first came to prominence as one of the founders of StarKid Productions, and his parody show “A Very Potter Musical”, with Criss in the title role, became a viral sensation on YouTube, its popularity allowing the group to continue to create new shows. Criss has recently concluded his second stint as Oliver in the Broadway sensation “Maybe Happy Ending”, a show heavily rumoured to be making the journey across to London, for which he was also one of the producers, winning two Tony Awards in the process.

His concert will see him dig into his musical history, with songs from Glee, and from stage shows such as “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “Little Shop of Horrors”. The concert will take place at 7pm on the 18th of October at the Royal Albert Hall, with the event described as part concert, part celebration and part personal scrapbook, with tickets now on sale from the venue's website.

WILD ABOUT YOU

New musical to have its full world premiere next year

Following a highly successful series of concerts at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane back in the spring of 2024, new musical "Wild About You" is set to have its full premiere in London in the early part of next year. The show has music & lyrics by Chilina Kennedy, and a book by Dani Stoller, and will have direction by Kristin Hanggi, with further creatives, as well as casting, to be confirmed at a later date. The show will be presented by Keaka Productions LLC and Charing Cross Productions with Eric McCormack, Michael Scott and Second Set LLC, and producer Brian Spector has been quoted saying that the story is freshly updated for its fully staged debut.

Telling the story of a young adult named Billy who, on the day of his high school graduation, finds a trunk of letters from his late mother, "Wild About You" will open at the Charing Cross Theatre on the 18th of January 2027, and will run until the 10th of April. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased via the Charing Cross Theatre website.

BILLY ELLIOT

Lead casting revealed for UK tour and west end return

These lads will walk proudly onto the stage, as we now know who’ll be leading the upcoming UK tour and west end revival of Lee Hall and Elton John’s “Billy Elliot: The Musical”, to open in the autumn. The show will perform in Sunderland, Manchester and Edinburgh, before opening at the Adelphi Theatre on the 12th of February 2027, for a strictly limited 25 week run.

Leading the line as Billy will be Noah Mannion (12 years old from Stockport), Rafferty Smale (12 years old from Leigh-on-Sea), Spencer Collins (13 years old from Los Angeles) and William Gurney (12 years old from Berkshire). Additionally, it has been revealed that Liam Mower, one of three original Billy performers from the west end, will return to play the older version of the character. You can find out more and book tickets via the official website and social pages.

BURLESQUE

Full casting revealed for upcoming UK tour

The final cast for the touring production of "Burlesque: The Musical", based on the 2010 film of the same name, has been revealed. Previously announced Gracie O'Brien as Ali, and Faye Brookes as Tess, will be Ryan Carter (Bat out of Hell) as Sean and Ms Loretta, Davide Fienauri (Kiss of the Spider Woman) as Vince, Tyler Davis as Jackson, and Vanessa Ela Young (The Drifter's Girl) as Nikki. Also featured are Macy Dermody Blythe as Queenie, Freya Baddeley as Peaches, Leah Pugh as Daphne, Keith Alexander as Dash, Owen Stringer as Joe / Trucker, and Darnell Mathew-James as Trey / Chardonnay, with Cecilia Petrush as alternate Ali.

The cast is completed by an ensemble, on/offstage swings and standbys Emily Fitton, Emma Lloyd, Alexander O’Reilly, Callum Rose, and Rhys West. "Burlesque" will begin performances in Woking on the 25th of July, with full tour dates available via the official Burlesque website.

MEL BROOKS

Legendary entertainment behemoth celebrates 100th birthday

Today we celebrate the centennial of the legendary actor, comedian, filmmaker and playwright Mel Brooks, with tributes pouring in throughout today, including from the current west end revival of "The Producers", the musical that has become his magnum opus. With a career spanning 9 different decades, Brooks is one of a handful of entertainment figures to have won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). As well as "The Producers", the film and subsequent stage adaptation, he is also known for other major comedy exponents such as "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein", "Spaceballs" and "High Anxiety".

Along with the entire theatrical community, it is a joy to wish the great man a very happy 100th birthday, and hope that he has had the most wonderful day.