NEWS ROUNDUP: 24 - 30 March

Though I was not able to attend more than a single theatre performance last week, there was still plenty of stagey news to keep us occupied, here are the highlights from the past seven days.

BURLESQUE

West end transfer announced

The original company of Burlesque (credit: Johan Persson)

Following successful runs in both Manchester and Glasgow in 2024, it has been revealed that new musical "Burlesque" will transfer to the west end in the summer. With a book by Steven Antin, and music and lyrics by a variety of artists, including Christina Aguilera and Sia, as well as additional material its two stars Jess Folley and Todrick Hall, Burlesque made its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House in June 2024, which was followed by a run at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal and a return run in Manchester, to huge critical acclaim.

The show is based on the 2010 film starring Aguilera and Cher, and will open on the 10th of July at the Savoy Theatre in London, with a gala performance on the 22nd of July, running until the 6th of September. Tickets are now on sale for all public performances, with further information, including full casting, to be revealed at a later date.

MRS WARREN' S PROFESSION

Full principal cast announced for London revival

(L-R) Reuben Joseph, Imelda Staunton, Bessie Carter

Full principal casting has been revealed for the upcoming west end revival of George Bernard Shaw’s play “Mrs Warren’s Profession”, with previously announced Imelda Staunton and Bessie Carter being joined by Kevin Doyle (Before The Dawn) as Rev Samuel Gardner, Robert Glenister (The Seagull) as Sir George Crofts, Reuben Joseph (Hamilton) as Frank Gardner, and Sid Sagar (Ballet Shoes) as Mr. Praed.

Mrs Warren’s Profession will open at London's Garrick Theatre on the 10th of May, with press night on the 22nd of May, and performances playing until the 16th of August in a strictly limited run; tickets are now on sale from the Nimax website, and further casting will be revealed at a later date.

DEATH BECOMES HER

Cast recording to be released

Official artwork for Death Becomes Her

It has been revealed that the current broadway production of Julia Mattison and Noel Carey musical “Death Becomes Her” will release a full cast album on the 17th of April, with four tracks already available to stream or download now. Death Becomes Her began previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on broadway in October 2024, with an opening night on the 21st of November 2024, and it is currently booking until the 2nd of November.

STEREOPHONIC

Full cast announced for west end premiere

The complete London cast for Stereophonic

The full cast for the west end transfer for David Adjmi’s play “Stereophonic” has been revealed; previously announced are Eli Gelb as Grover, Andrew R Butler as Charlie, and Chris Stack as Simon, all of whom are reprising their roles from the Golden. Joining them are Zachary Hart (An Enemy of the People) as Reg, Lucy Karczewski (The Seagull) as Diana, Jack Riddiford (Duchess of Malfi) as Peter and Nia Towle (A View From The Bridge) as Holly, whilst Sam Denia, Rima Georges, Lucy Gray and Steve Shirley complete the cast as understudies.

Stereophonic ran on broadway from the 2nd of April 2024 until the 12th of January 2025, and at the 77th Tony Awards broke the record previously held by “Slave Play” for the most nominated play of all time with 13 nominations, winning 5 awards including best play, making it the most successful production at thatyear's ceremony. Not long before it closed, the producers announced the show would transfer to the west end, where it will run at the Duke of York’s theatre from the 24th of May until the 20th of September, with tickets now on sale.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Full cast announced for UK tour

The touring cast for The Addams Family

They’re creepy and they’re kooky! The principal cast has been announced for the upcoming tour of the Andrew Lippa musical “The Addams Family”, with Ricardo Afonso (We Will Rock You) playing Gomez, Alexandra Burke (Sister Act) as Morticia, Jacob Fowler (Heathers) as Lucas, Dickon Gough (Fiddler on the Roof) as Lurch, Lauren Jones (Scissorhandz) as Wednesday, Lesley Joseph (Sister Act) as Grandma, Kara Lane (Rebecca) as Alice, Nicholas McKean (Kinky Boots) as Pugsley, Dale Rapley (Kyoto) as Mal, and Clive Rowe (The Baker’s Wife) as Uncle Fester.

The production will play a three-day run in Birmingham before a four week run at Leicester Curve, with the tour rounded out by runs in Salford, Canterbury and Blackpool. Tickets are now on sale, and further casting will be revealed at a later date.

SUNNY AFTERNOON

New UK tour announced

Original production of Sunny Afternoon (credit: Kevin Cummins)

The Olivier winning musical "Sunny Afternoon" is set to tour the UK in 2025-26, kicking off at the Manchester Palace Theatre on the 6th of October, before playing three London venues, at Wimbledon New Theatre, Richmond Theatre and the Alexandra Palace. Other stops on the tour will be Birmingham, Glasgow, Sunderland, York, Woking, Swansea, Brighton, Canterbury, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Leeds, Malvern, Torquay, Oxford, Stoke, Stockton, Leicester, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Inverness, Liverpool, Cardiff.

Sunny Afternoon first premiered in April 2014 at London's Hampstead Theatre, before transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre later that year, where it ran for two years, winning four Olivier Awards, including best new musical and acting prizes for John Dagleish and George Maguire, in the process. Full tour dates can be found on the official website.

YOUR LIE IN APRIL

Original cast album to be released

Official artwork for Your Lie In April

The waiting is over! It has been announced that Frank Wildhorn’s musical “Your Lie In April” will release its full original cast recording next weekend, with a taster from the show already available to stream and download. Your Lie In April, following two sold out concert performances at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, ran at the Harold Pinter theatre from the 28th of June until the 11th of August, initially slated to close on the 21st of September but, tragically, and perhaps poetically, closed early due to poor ticket sales.

The show tells the story of young pianist Kōsei, his inability to play following the death of his tyrannical mother, and the forming of an unlikely friendship with violinist Kaori, who inspires him to start playing again. It’s a classic romantic tearjerker from Japanese manga. A teaser single from the album “Catch a Shooting Star”, sung by the show’s two leads Mia Kobayashi and Zheng Xi Yong, was released on the 28th of March, and is now available to stream and download; the full album will be be released on the 4th of April.