NEWS ROUNDUP: 14th - 20th September

It feels like the year is flying by like Beverly Bass, as we are already on approach to the festive period, so before we undoubtedly start hearing the same ten songs playing on repeat everywhere we go, let's revel in the post summer influx of new shows, cast announcements and other exciting news about what is to come, as well as a touching tribute to one of the all time greats...

-----

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

Staged concert to be performed in the west end

A brand new staged concert performance of Jule Styne and Leo Robin’s musical “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is planned for next spring, with Megan Hilty (Death Becomes Her) and Rachel Tucker (Thelma & Louise) set to star as Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw respectively. Originally opening on Broadway in 1949 starring stage and screen legend Carol Channing, the show is best known for its movie adaptation of 1953, featuring Oscar winner Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei, and Jane Russell as Dorothy.

This new concert staging will perform three shows in total, at the London Palladium on the 26th and 27th of March 2027, and is to be directed and choreographed by Tony winner Warren Carlyle. Tickets for all performances are now on sale via the LW Theatres website, with further details, including full cast, to be revealed at a later date.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT

UK & Ireland tour of musical adds extra dates

Following its first highly successful run of UK & Ireland tour dates, the producers of SpitLip’s musical “Operation Mincemeat”, written by David Cumming, Felix Hagen, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts, has announced that it will take a second leg around the country for further performances, with a fresh series of dates that take us through to November 2027. The tour originally kicked off at the Lowry in February this year, with a cast featuring original west end cast members Christian Andrews (Hester Leggatt & others), Seán Carey (Charles Cholmondeley & others) and Holly Sumpton (Ewen Montagu & others), along with Charlotte Hanna-Williams (Jean Leslie & others) and Jamie-Rose Monk (Johnny Bevan & others).

The show also runs in both London and New York, as well as a US tour that kicked off this weekend in Providence, Rhode Island, with tours of Australia and China also in the works, of which further details will be revealed at a later date. You can visit the official Operation Mincemeat website for further details, with pre-sale opening on the 23rd of September for all venues except Sheffield Lyceum and Southampton Mayflower, with exact details about the Dublin stop to also be revealed at a later date.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

Barbican Theatre production cancels summer 2027 run

Following the announcement that both of its leads had pulled out, producers of the Barbican Theatre revival of the James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim musical “Sunday In The Park With George” have announced that the production will no longer go ahead. The show was scheduled to run during summer 2027, however the withdrawal of lead stars Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande, originally slated to play George and Dot respectively, the decision has been made to postpone the run, with a view to staging it in summer 2028.

The musical has not been seen in London since the Menier Chocolate Factory production ran at Wyndham's Theatre in 2006, in a 5-time Olivier winning production led by Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell, later transferring to broadway.

LEGALLY BLONDE

UK touring production to run in the west end for limited time

Omigod you guys! Elle Woods is heading back to London, as the current touring production of “Legally Blonde” is to run at the London Coliseum for a limited season next spring. Amber Davies will reprise the role of Elle she is currently playing on tour, with further casting to be revealed at a later date. Based on the 2001 film of the same name, the musical had its world premiere in San Francisco in 2007, later transferring to broadway’s Palace Theatre, and this new London run, its first ever major revival, marks the show’s 20th anniversary. It will open on the 22nd of March, and run until the 22nd of May, with a press night on the 30th of March.

TITANIQUE

West end production to close, UK tour to open next year

The west end production of “Titanique” has announced its final voyage at the Criterion before decommissioning, but this is not the end, as the show will be embarking on a brand new UK tour in the autumn of next year. Originally premiering off-broadway in 2022, the show later opened in the west end in December 2024, and will give its final performance in London on the 3rd of January 2027, after a run of just over 2 years. In addition, William Hanson will also return to the show for its final two months from the 10th of November, playing the role of Ruth.

Initial casting has also been announced for the tour, with Myra Dubois reprising the role of Mother Ruth that she is currently playing in the west end; further casting, as well as more venues and dates, will be revealed in due course, head on over to the Titanique website to find out more about all productions.

DUNCAN SHEIK

"Spring Awakening" composer passes away at 56

It is with sadness that we report the death of American composer and songwriter Duncan Sheik, who has passed away at the age of 56 due to heart and organ failure. The Tony and Grammy winning writer is best known for his partnership with Steven Sater, who was among a plethora of those sending their deepest condolences upon hearing the news this week. The pair helped shape the face of modern broadway with their groundbreaking musical "Spring Awakening", which not only won a total of 8 Tony Awards among a flurry of other accolades, but broke the mould as to what musical theatre could accomplish thematically.

Sheik is survived by wife Nora Ariffin and daughter Ines, and leaves behind a lasting legacy that also includes the musicals "Alice By Heart", "American Psycho" and "The Secret Life of Bees" among others.

NERO

Full cast announced for Southwark Playhouse run

The full cast of the world premiere production of “Nero” has been revealed, the show had a series of workshop presentations back in 2006 and 2008, in San Francisco and New York, and its fully staged debut is now finally set to open. Andrew Barth Feldman (Little Shop of Horrors) is to play the title role, alongside Stephen Carlile (Hercules) as Seneca, Sally Dexter (The Children) as Agrippina, Nabi Brown (The Last Man) as Octavia, Waylon Jacobs (Hadestown) as Tigellinus, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Six) as Poppea, Timo Tatzber (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry) as Britannicus, and Liam Wrate (Brigadoon) as Narcissus, with an ensemble featuring Izzy Formby-Jackson, Jodie Knight, Rory Maguire, Zach Parkin and Amy Punter.

Written by Stephen Sater and Duncan Sheik, the team behind "Spring Awakening", new musical “Nero” tells of the young man and Roman emperor to be, as a budding artist and performer who has the power of an empire thrust upon him reluctantly. The show, to be directed by Lindsay Posner, will open at Southwark Playhouse Elephant on the 2nd of November, where it will run until the 5th of December, in a strictly limited 5-week run. You can find out more, as well as book tickets, via the Southwark Playhouse website.