NEWS ROUNDUP: 26 May - 1 June
- James Tradgett
- Jun 2
- 5 min read
It may have been a comparatively quiet week on the news front, but the stagey announcements we've had have been good ones, here's a roundup of the highlights.
BURLESQUE
Lead cast announced for London transfer
Initial casting for the west end transfer of “Burlesque: The Musical” has been revealed. Jess Folley, Todrick Hall and George Maguire will all return to their respective roles they originated in Manchester and Glasgow (with Hall also serving as director and choreographer), and will be joined by broadway star Orfeh (Chicago) as Tess, Paul Jacob French (Midnight Cowboy) as Jackson, and Asha Parker Wallace (pro debut) as Nikki.
Burlesque premiered at the Manchester Opera House in summer 2024, with a subsequent return run in October-November, and a run in Glasgow in between. It will open at the Savoy Theatre on the 10th of July, and will play until the 6th of September. Full casting will be revealed at a later date, and tickets are now on sale from the ATG website.
13 GOING ON 30
Full cast announced for world premiere
The full cast for the world premiere of “13 Going On 30: The Musical” has been revealed, previously announced Lucie Jones will be joined by David Hunter (Waitress) as Matt, Grace Mouat (Mean Girls) as Lucy, Caleb Roberts (Passing Strange) as Richard, Andrew Berlin (Oklahoma!) as Kyle, Dominic Andersen (Mrs Doubtfire) as Alex, Ross Dawes (Newsies) as Wayne, Suzie McAdam (Much Ado About Nothing) as Bev, Iván Fernández González (Heathers) as Darius Mark, Rose Galbraith (Spend, Spend, Spend) as Paige and Jenna Innes (Les Miserables) as Wendy.
The cast is completed by Tia Antoine-Charles, George Bray, Elliot David Parkes, Sarah Drake, Henry Lawes, Rachel Moran, Amy Parker, Jack Rowell, Rebecca-Daisy Wellington and Kevin Yates. 13 Going On 30 will premiere at the Manchester Opera House on the 21st of September, running until the 12 of October in a strictly limited three-week run, and tickets are now on sale from the ATG website.
NEXT TO NORMAL
UK cinema release announced for proshot
Following its filmed recording, and subsequent release on PBS in the US, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's Pulitzer winning musical "Next To Normal" is finally set to receive its UK premiere in cinemas later this year. The show made its UK premiere in 2023 at the Donmar Warehouse, later transferring to Wyndham's Theatre the following year. Its cast comprised Caissie Levy as Diana, Jamie Parker as Dan, Jack Wolfe as Gabe, Eleanor Worthington-Cox as Natalie, Jack Ofrecio as Henry, and Trevor Dion Nicholas as Dr Madden/Dr Fine.
Next To Normal first performed on broadway in 2009, and played at Wyndham's Theatre in the west end from the 18th of June until the 21st of September 2024, during which it was filmed towards the end of this run, airing on PBS to USA audiences on the 9th of May. It will play at various Cineworld, Vue and independent cinemas across the country on the 112th and 14th of September this year.
ALMEIDA THEATRE
"American Psycho" to return as part of new season
As part of the final Almeida Theatre season under artistic director Rupert Goold, the venue is set to see a return of one of its most renowned hits. Duncan Sheik and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa musical "American Psycho" first premiered at the Almeida in 2013, with a star studded cast that included Matt Smith, Lucie Jones and Katie Brayben, later transferring to broadway, albeit experiencing less success on the other side of the Atlantic than in London.
American Psycho is based on the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, which was also turned into a 2000 film starring Christian Bale. Telling the story of Patrick Bateman, a young, rich investment banker with a bloody secret, American Psycho has reached cult classic status. The new revival of the musical will run at the Almeida from the 24th of January until the 14th of March 2026; further details, including full cast and creatives, will be revealed at a later date, and tickets will go on sale in the autumn. You can find more information about the show and the full season on the Almeida Theatre website.
TOP HAT
Full cast announced for UK tour
The full cast for the upcoming revival production of Irving Berlin's musical "Top Hat" has been revealed, with the company being led by Phillip Attmore (Hello, Dolly!) as Jerry Travers, Lucy St. Louis (Wicked) as Dale Tremont, Clive Carter (Moulin Rouge) as Horace, and Sally Ann Triplett (Cabaret) as Madge. Also joining the cast are James Clyde (Matilda) as Bates and Alex Gibson-Giorgio (Zorro) as Beddini.
The cast is completed by Lindsay Atherton, Rhiannon Bacchus, Jeremy Batt, Freddie Clements, Pedro Donoso, Bethan Downing, Autumn Draper, Tilly Ducker, Laura Hills, Connor Hughes, James Hume, George Lyons, David McIntosh, Jordan Oliver, Emily Ann Potter, Molly Rees Howe, Kirsty Sparks and Toyan Thomas-Browne. "Top Hat" opens at the Chichester Festival Theatre on the 14th of July, and will run until the 6th of September, after which it will embark on a UK tour.
WEST END LIVE 2025
Full lineup announced for summer festival
The shows performing at this year’s “West End Live”, taking place on the 21st - 22nd of June in Trafalgar Square, has been revealed, with an eclectic mix of new faces and old favourites making appearances. Returning are mainstays such as Hamilton, Six, Operation Mincemeat, Les Miserables, Moulin Rouge, Back To The Future, Showstopper! and Choir of Man.
New shows recently opened or soon opening in the west end, that will be making their inaugural appearance, include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Great Gatsby, Brigadoon, The Frogs, Hercules, Starlight Express, Clueless, The Devil Wears Prada and many more. You can find the full list of acts on the West End Live website, and the exact schedule will be confirmed at a later date.
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