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Private Lives
Ghost Stories
Disconnect
The Dead School
Ghosts
Off The Endz
Serenading Louie
Measure for Measure
A Midsummer Night's Dream
--->
Really Old, Like Forty Five
Enron-updated: new venue, some new cast members
The Little Dog Laughed
Six Degrees of Separation
The Caretaker
The Misanthrope
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Nation
. . .Past reviews and features are archived in two master indexes: Reviews . . . Features
New and Noteworthy
Harold Prince and Susan Stroman will direct an all-American cast including Kate Baldwin, John Cullum, Shuler Hensley, Judy Kaye and Mandy Patinkin, in the world premiere of Paradise Found, based on the novel The Tale of the 1002nd Night by Viennese author Joseph Roth. Paradise Found will have music by Johann Strauss II, adapted and arranged by Jonathan Tunick, and book by Richard Nelson and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh. Previews from 19 May with an official opening night on 26 May 2010 at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London SE1 . Further casting TBA
More often than not, when a show is a hit in London, it's a case of wait and see for New Yorkers hoping to see it on their side of the pond. It's wait and see as to IF it will transfer and if it does, whether the London actors will come along. Not so the new production of New York City born and Yale and Oxford educated David Hirson's 1991 play La Bête which will play at the Comedy Theatre in the West End from 26 June to 28 August, and then immediately transfer to Broadway's Shumbert Theater. Both productions will be directed by Matthew Warchus and star Mark Rylance, David Hyde Pierce and Joanna Lumley. The play is a comic tour de force about Elomire (Pierce), a high-minded classical dramatist who loves only the theatre, and Valere (Rylance), a low-brow street clown who loves only himself. When the fickle princess (Lumley) decides she’s grown weary of Elomire’s royal theatre troupe, he and Valere are left fighting for survival as art squares off with ego in a literary showdown for the ages.
The Mountaintop, American actress/playwright Katori Hall's Olivier Award Best New Play nominee will get a Broadway production in the upcoming 2010-11 Broadway Season. The producers are in negotiations with Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun) to direct this American premiere.
The nominations for the Olivier Awards are in, with winners to be presented 21st of March at which time we'll add an asterisk before the winners of the following nominations list:
Best Actress
Gillian Anderson for A Doll's House at the Donmar Warehouse
Lorraine Burroughs for The Mountaintop at Trafalgar Studios 1
Imelda Staunton for Entertaining Mr Sloane at Trafalgar Studios 1
Juliet Stevenson for Duet for One at the Almeida and Vaudeville
Rachel Weisz for A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar
Best Actor
James Earl Jones for Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Novello
Jude Law for Hamlet, Donmar at Wyndham's
James Mcavoy for Three Days Of Rain at the Apollo
Mark Rylance for Jerusalem at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now At the Apollo
Ken Stott for A View From The Bridge at the Duke Of York's
Samuel West for Enron at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward
Best Actress In A Supporting Role
Hayley Atwell for A View From The Bridge at the Duke Of York's
Michelle Dockery for Burnt By The Sun at the Lyttelton
Alexandra Gilbreath for Twelfth Night at the Duke Of York's
Keira Knightley for The Misanthrope at the Comedy
Rachael Stirling for The Priory at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court
Ruth Wilson for A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar
Best Actor In A Supporting Role
Mackenzie Crook for Jerusalem at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo
Rory Kinnear for Burnt By The Sun at the Lyttelton
Tim Pigott-Smith for Enron at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward
Eddie Redmayne for Red at the Donmar
Best New Play
Enron by Lucy Prebble, at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward
Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth, at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now At the Apollo
The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, at Trafalgar Studios 1
Red by John Logan, at the Donmar Warehouse
Best New Comedy
Calendar Girls by Tim Firth, at the Noël Coward
England People Very Nice, by Richard Bean at the Olivier
Parlour Song, by Jez Butterworth, at the Almeida
The Priory By Michael Wynne, at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court
Best Musical Revival
Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by Herbert And Dorothy Fields, at the Young Vic
Hello, Dolly! Book By Michael Stewart, music and lyrics By Jerry Herman, based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, at the Open Air
A Little Night Music music and lyrics By Stephen Sondheim, book By Hugh Wheeler, suggested by a film by Ingmar Bergman, originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince, at the Garrick
Lionel Bart's Oliver! Based on the original production by Sam Mendes, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Best New Musical
Dreamboats And Petticoats Book By Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, at the Savoy
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – The Musical Book By Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, based On The Latent Image/Specific Films motion picture distributed By Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc, at the Palace
Spring Awakening Music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, based on the play By Frank Wedekind, at the Novello
Sister Act Music By Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner, at the London Palladium
Best Entertainment
Arturo Brachetti: Change Written and directed by Sean Foley, original concept by Serge Denoncourt, based on the repertoire of Arturo Brachetti, at the Garrick
Derren Brown: Enigma Written By Derren Brown and Andy Nyman, at the Adelphi
Morecambe By Tim Whitnall, at the Duchess
Best Actress In A Musical Or Entertainment
Melanie C for Blood Brothers at the Phoenix
Patina Miller for Sister Act at the London Palladium
Samantha Spiro for Hello, Dolly! at the Open Air
Hannah Waddingham for A Little Night Music at the Garrick
Charlotte Wakefield for Spring Awakening at the Novello
Best Actor In A Musical Or Entertainment
Rowan Atkinson for Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Aneurin Barnard for Spring Awakening at the Novello
Bob Golding for Morecambe at the Duchess
Alexander Hanson for A Little Night Music at the Garrick
Tony Sheldon for Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – The Musical at the Palace
Best Supporting Performance In A Musical Or Entertainment
Sheila Hancock for Sister Act at the London Palladium
Maureen Lipman for A Little Night Music at the Garrick
Kelly Price for A Little Night Music at the Garrick
Iwan Rheon for Spring Awakening at the Novello
Best Director
Rupert Goold for Enron at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward
Michael Grandage for Hamlet, Donmar at Wyndham's
Lindsay Posner for A View From The Bridge at the Duke Of York's
Ian Rickson for Jerusalem At the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo
Bijan Sheibani for Our Class at the Cottesloe
Best Revival
Arcadia, directed by David Leveaux at the Duke Of York’s
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen at the Novello
The Misanthrope, directed By Thea Sharrock at the Comedy
A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Rob Ashford at the Donmar Warehouse
A View From The Bridge Directed by Lindsay Posner at the Duke Of York's
Three Days Of Rain Directed By Jamie Lloyd at the Apollo
Best Theatre Choreographer
Matthew Bourne for Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Bill T Jones for Spring Awakening at the Novello
Anthony Van Laast for Sister Act at the London Palladium
Stephen Mear for Helly, Dolly! at the Open Air
Best Lighting Design
Burnt By The Sun Designed by Mark Henderson at the Lyttelton
Enron Designed by Mark Henderson at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward
Spring Awakening Designed by Kevin Adams at the Novello
Three Days Of Rain Designed by Jon Clark at the Apollo
Best Set Design
England People Very Nice Designed by Mark Thompson at the Olivier
Enron Designed By Anthony Ward at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward
Jerusalem Designed By Ultz at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo
Red Designed by Christopher Oram at the Donmar Warehouse
Best Costume Design
Hello, Dolly! Designed by Peter Mckintosh at the Open Air
Madame De Sade Designed by Christopher Oram at Donmar At Wyndham’s
The Misanthrope Designed by Amy Roberts at the Comedy
Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert- The Musical designed by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner at the Palace
Best Sound Design
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Designed by Christopher Shutt at the Olivier
Jerusalem Designed by Ian Dickinson for Autograph at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo
Mother Courage And Her Children Designed by Andrew Bruce and Nick Lidster for Autograph at the Olivier
Spring Awakening Designed by Brian Ronan at the Novello
The Audience Award For Most Popular Show
Billy Elliot Music By Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, at the Victoria Palace
The Phantom Of The Opera Music And book by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, book And additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe, at His Majesty's
War Horse Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford, at the New London
We Will Rock You Based On The Songs Of Queen, By Ben Elton in collaboration with Brian May And Roger Taylor, at the Dominion
Wicked Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, at the Apollo Victoria
Outstanding Achievement In An Affiliate Theatre
Soho Theatre/Tiata Fahodzi for Iya Ile (The First Wife)
The Tricycle Theatre for The Great Game
The Royal Court for Cock at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Best New Opera Production
The Royal Opera's Der Fliegende Holländer at the Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera's Lulu at the Royal Opera House
English National Opera's Peter Grimes at the London Coliseum
The Royal Opera's Tristan Und Isolde at the Royal Opera House
Outstanding Achievement In Opera
Anja Kampe for her performance In Royal Opera's Der Fliegende Holländer at the Royal Opera House
Stuart Skelton for his Performance In English National Opera’s Peter Grimes at the London Coliseum
Nina Steme for her Performance In The Royal Opera’s Tristan Und Isolde at the Royal Opera House
Michael Volle for his Performances In The Royal Opera's Lulu and Tristan And Isolde at the Royal Opera House
Best New Dance Production
Russell Maliphant's Afterlight at Sadler’s Wells
Birmingham Royal Ballet's E=Mc² at Sadler’s Wells
Goldberg: The Brandstrup Rojo Project, Roh2 at the Royal Opera House
Rambert Dance Company's A Linha Curva at Sadler’s Wells
Fabulous Beast Dance's The Rite Of Spring at the London Coliseum
Outstanding Achievement In Dance
Colin Dunne for his performance In Out Of Time at the Pit
Michael Hulls for his lighting designs For Russell Maliphant's Two:Four:Ten at the London Coliseum; and for Russell Maliphant's Afterlight and for Ex Machina & Sylvie Guillem's Eonnagata at Sadler's Wells
Rambert Dance Company for an outstanding year of new work
Comes 28th of March and it's down with the curtain for the smash hit Hairspray at the Shaftsbury Theatre. But the show goes on with a UK tour.
THE CRITICS’ CIRCLE THEATRE AWARDS 2009
WINNERS
Best New Play: Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court, London
award presented to Jez Butterworth by Kate Bassett: Independent on Sunday
The Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical (new or revival): Spring Awakening
Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, London, followed by transfer to Novello Theatre, London
award presented to the producers of Spring Awakening by Ian Shuttleworth: Financial Times & Theatre Record
Best Actor: Mark Rylance in Jerusalem
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court, London
award presented to Mark Rylance by Benedict Nightingale: The Times
Best Actress: Rachel Weisz in A Streetcar Named Desire
Donmar Warehouse, London
award presented to Rachel Weisz by Fiona Mountford: Evening Standard
The John and Wendy Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance: Jude Law in Hamlet
Donmar at Wyndham’s Theatre, London
award presented to Jude Law by Claire Allfree: London Metro
Best Director: Rupert Goold for Enron
Headlong at Minerva Theatre, Chichester & Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court, London
award presented to Rupert Goold by Charles Spencer: Daily Telegraph
Best Designer: Christopher Oram for Red
Donmar Warehouse, London
award presented to Christopher Oram by Susannah Clapp: The Observer
Most Promising Playwright: Alia Bano for Shades
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court, London
award presented to Alia Bano by Michael Billington: The Guardian
The Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer (other than a playwright): Tom Sturridge in Punk Rock
Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, London and Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
award presented to Tom Sturridge by David Benedict: Variety
New Olivier award. The prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards- have created a new category :Favourite long-running show to be voted for by the general public. The award is for shows which opened before January 1, 2009 and ran throughout 2009. All other categories are limited to shows that opened during 2009. Productions in the running for the new award: Blood Brothers, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, La Cage Aux Folles, War Horse, Les Misérables, The 39 Steps, Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage, The Woman in Black, The Mousetrap, Avenue Q, Grease, Stomp, Billy Elliot - The Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, The Lion King, Chicago and We Will Rock You. Voters have until 12 noon on 1st of February to clock in with their choices at this web site: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/olivier_awards/vote.
Samuel Beckett's Waiting For Godot, returns to the Haymarket Theatre, opening 27 Jan 2010, following previews from 21 Jan - booking to 3 April 2010. (The production originally ran at the Haymarket Theatre from from 30 April 2009 to 9 Aug 2009.) Ian McKellen (Estragon) and Ronald Pickup (Lucky) are returning with the show, Roger Rees (Vladimir) and Matthew Kelly (Pozzo), replace former cast members Patrick Stewart & Simon Callow. It is again directed by Sean Mathias.
Evening Standard Award Winners
Update: The Evening Standard have published their long list of nominees for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2009 from productions shown in London from November 2008 to October 2009. An asteriks has now been placed before the winners
BEST PLAY
BEST ACTOR
THE NATASHA RICHARDSON AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS
THE NED SHERRIN AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST DESIGN
The Charles Wintour Most Promising Playwright award was given to Alia Bano for Shades, (Royal Court)
Lenny Henry won the Best Newcomer prize for his lead role in Othello at the Trafalgar Studios in London.
A brand new production of the The Fantasticks is coming to London, opening in May 2010 at the Duchess Theatre. Directed by Amon Miyamoto, it is expected to invigorate this much-loved musical with fresh visual, emotional and musical energy. Designer Rumi Matsui joins Miyamoto on The Fantasticks following their previous collaboration on the Broadway production of Pacific Overtures for which Matsui's work was Tony Award nominated. Lighting design will be provided by 2009 Tony Award winner Rick Fisher. The Fantasticks first played in New York nearly fifty years ago and has since become the longest running show of any kind in the United States and the longest running musical in the world. It has played in over 2000 cities and towns in the States, and internationally, it has been staged in 67 countries.
London's Royal Court Theatre has announced a slate of seven premieres for its spring season of productions running from February to July 2009. Female playwrighting voices take centerstage, with four of the seven plays written by women, including a debut play from 17-year-old Anya Reiss, as well as second Royal Court plays from Bola Agbaje, Anupama Chandrasekhar and Laura Wade. The plays to be staged are as follows:
The mainhouse season in the Royal Court's Jerwood Theatre Downstairs is launched with Bola Agbaje's Off the Endz, beginning performances 11th of Feb. The play looks at two young men's aspirations for a better life and how to go about achieving it. Ashley Walters stars.
Beginning 9th of April, there's Laura Wade's Posh featuring Oxford young bloods intent on restoring their right to rule, it is inspired by the legendary Bullingdon club. In the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, which will be specially reconfigured for this production, Roy Williams' Sucker Punch begins 11th of June which takes a look back on what it was like to be young and black in the '80s and asks if the right battles have been fought, let alone won, as two former friends step into the ring and face up to who they are:
In the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Anupama Chandrasekhar's Disconnect features bright young graduates in a Chennai call centre working to claw back cash spent by Americans crippled by debt. It begins performances 17th of Feb.
DC Moore's The Empire follows, beginning performances 31st of March . Described in press materials as dissecting the politics of occupation, home and abroad, it is set in Helmand in the height of the summer as Gary, a British soldier, and Hafizullah, his Afghan colleague, guard an injured young prisoner, Zia, found in the heat of battle.
Nick Grosso's Ingredient X begins performances 20th of May 20. It's a tough new comedy about addiction.
Finally, Anya Reiss' debut play Spur of the Moment begins performances 14th of July 14 it examines the chasms in middle-class family life and a young girl on the brink of adolescence, and revolves around pre-teen Delilah who enjoys High School Musical, swim parties and ogling the lodger.
Jez Butterworth's hit play Jerusalem (our review at the Royal Court)" will transfer to London's West End in January with an eye toward Broadway.
The National Theatre's War Horse has caught the imagination of the audience and thanks to its record breaking sales will gallop on at the New London Theatre into October 2010.
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