NEWS ROUNDUP: 20 - 26 July

It's the end of another week, so you know what that means: time to round up the biggest stagey news stories from the past week, with everything from cast announcements, new musicals and UK premieres to report, so let's get to it...

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BEETLEJUICE

Summer Strallen to join west end cast for limited run

The netherworld is set for a fresh arrival, as four-time Olivier nominee Summer Strallen is set to take over the role of Delia Deetz for a limited time, whilst Aimie Atkinson is over in New York performing as Katherine Howard in “Six” on broadway. Strallen joins the cast led by David Fynn as Beetlejuice, Hannah Nordberg as Lydia Deetz, David Hunter as Adam Maitland, Chelsea Halfpenny as Barbara Maitland, and Alasdair Harvey as Charles Deetz, performing from the 3rd of August until the 2nd of November, in a strictly limited 13-week engagement.

Atkinson returns to the role on the 3rd of November, having originated it in the west end from the 20th of May; the show currently runs at the Prince Edward Theatre, with performances concluding on the 17th of April 2027; you can find out more about the show, as well as book tickets, via the official Beetlejuice website.

NERO

Brand new musical to open in London, broadway star to feature

A brand new musical from the team behind Spring Awakening is set to premiere in London, starring the Jimmy Award winner Andrew Barth Feldman (Little Shop of Horrors; Dear Evan Hansen), in what will be his London stage debut. Entitled “NERO”, this new musical has music by Duncan Sheik, and lyrics & book by Steven Sater, and tells the story of the titular dictator, and his life of art, performance, and reluctance to ascend to the highest office of the Roman Empire before he became the notorious tyrant we have come to know.

It is set to open this autumn, running at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from the 2nd of November until the 5th of December, with a press night on the 6th of November. Tickets are now on sale from the venue’s website, where you can also find more information about the production and its cast/creatives.

MONA LOSER

Full cast announced for workshop presentation of new musical

The full cast for the upcoming workshop run of new Jim Barne and Kit Buchan (Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York) musical “Mona Loser” has been announced. Set to feature will be Ako Mitchell (Mean Girls), Annabel Marlow (Saturday Night Live UK), Carla Dixon-Hernandez (Something Rotten!), Chad Saint Louis (50 First Dates), Kayna Montecillo (Ride the Cyclone), Nic Myers (Brigadoon), Obioma Ugoala (Frozen), and Steven Webb (The Book of Mormon). The show previously released a video of one of the songs entitled "Dead or Alive", performed by Melanie-Joyce Bermudez (watch here).

The show will run at Southwark Playhouse Borough from the 2nd - 5th of September, with tickets now on sale for all performances via the official Mona Loser website, as well as via the venue, where you can also find further information about the production.

POLICE COPS

Comedy musical to return for workshop performances

It’s official, the police cops are back for another comedic outing in London! After the original play, written and performed by Zachary Hunt, Nathan Parkinson and Tom Roe, returned to the stage last year, it has been revealed that their musical, which originally performed at Southwark Playhouse Elephant back in 2023, is set to have a strictly limited workshop presentation at Battersea Arts Centre this autumn. The book & lyrics are by Hunt, Parkinson and Roe, and music is by Ben Adams.

Performances will take place from the 25th of September until the 3rd of October, with tickets now on sale from the Battersea Arts Centre website.

SCHMIGADOON!

Tony-winning broadway musical to release cast recording

Following an enormously successful launch on broadway, during which it won 4 Ton Awards including for best new musical, the Cinco Paul musical "Schmigadoon!", based on the Emmy winning and Grammy nominated TV series of the same name, is set to release a full cast album from the stage show. The musical had its world premiere in Washington D.C. at the Eisenhower Theater in 2025, following which it transferred to the Nederlander Theatre on broadway the following year, where it is currently playing until January 2027.

The album will release on the 21st of August, and will feature the original broadway cast, including Sara Chase as Melissa, Alex Brightman, as Josh, McKenzie Kurtz as Betsy, Ana Gasteyer as Mildred, Brad Oscar as Mayor Menlove, Maulik Pancholy as Reverend Layton/Leprechaun, Ann Harada as Florence, Isabelle McCalla as Emma, Max Clayton as Danny, Ivan Hernandez as Doc Lopez, and Ayaan Diop as Carson. Head on over to the official Schmigadoon! website for more info about the show, as well as to book tickets on broadway.

YOU & IT

Korean musical to have London premiere, cast revealed

A brand new stage production of the Korean musical “You & It” is set to open in London this summer, with lead casting having also been revealed. The show had its world premiere in Daegu, South Korea back in 2018, before having its European premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe two years ago; this staging marks the show’s London debut. Written by Seoeun Oh and Q Lee, the story tells of a grieving widower, and an AI avatar built in his wife’s image, forcing him to “confront grief, memory, and what it means to be human”

Leading the production will be Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie & Clyde) as Mina, and Zachary Pang (Dear Evan Hansen) as Gyujin, with Lucy Park (My Neighbour Totoro) acting as an understudy. The show will play at the King’s Head Theatre from the 20 August to 26 September, with tickets on sale from the venue's website, as well as from their box office.

BURLESQUE

Musical postpones London run, first tour stop

It has been revealed by the producers that, due to a plethora of issues, including budget constraints and challenging working conditions, the upcoming London and touring runs of "Burlesque" a musical with a book by Steven Antin, and music/lyrics by various artists, including Sia, Jess Folley and Todrick Hall, has had to delay the opening of both its London and touring productions. The show was set to open at the Arts at Marble Arch in September, with the UK tour originally planning a launch in Woking this weekend, however both runs have had to be postponed, with the tour now set to commence in Sunderland next month, and the London production aiming for a 2027 opening, with exact details yet to be confirmed.

It is believed that the London production, executive produced by original film actor Christina Aguilera, is seeking a new home for its second run, with a far grander production than originally intended, cited by producers as being a "strategic delay". You can find out more about the touring production, including the dates still on sale, via the Burlesque website, where you can also sign up for news updates regarding the show's London run.