NEWS UPDATE – 25th NOVEMBER 2024

• Wicked – the movie has set a number of box office records as it storms to a solid opening box office weekend. In the US and Canada, the film has landed with a $114 million haul, setting the record for the biggest opening for a musical adaptation of a stage show ever. It had to beat Into the Woods, which had an opening week tally of around a third of that, so it wasn’t a high bar – but is a very nice thing to be able to shout about. In the UK, the first half of the stage adaptation earned an estimated single-day amount of $4.9M according to Deadline. Social chatter has that figure closer to £5m, which would be significantly higher than the Deadline number, and would mean Wicked has achieved the biggest single-day box office earnings of 2024 on these shores (ahead of Deadpool and Wolverine or Inside Out 2). True figures for the weekend should land in the next day or two. Overall for the weekend should come in around $15m across the UK. A big driver for the film’s box office success is IMAX: Wicked delivered the highest-grossing opening Friday in the format for a PG film. Overall, this will amount to a $165 million global tally – again, set to be the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway/West End adaptation, ahead of Les Miserables ($103M). Considering that a few regions haven’t premiered the film yet, it’s looking very positive for Universal. This means Wicked holds the record for the highest opening weekend for any non-Disney musical. Worth bearing in mind: if you take out remakes of existing films, Wicked would rank in second place after Frozen II. This is all before Moana 2 sails into cinemas next weekend, which might wash out all competition if the pre-sale figures are an indicator of the film’s appeal.
• The Little Prince – based on the best-selling novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is heading to the London Coliseum from 12 to 16 March 2025. The UK premiere, marking the title’s 80th anniversary since its publication in French, follows stagings in Paris, Sydney, Dubai and on Broadway. It is directed and choreographed by Anne Tournié. The Little Prince has sold more than 200 million copies and is available in 250 languages, making it the second-most translated book in modern history. It follows a young prince who visits a variety of planets, including Earth, and explores themes of love, loss, loneliness and friendship. The production incorporates dance, aerial acrobatics, and video mapping technology. The creative team includes libretto adaptater and co-director Chris Mouron, composer Terry Truck, video designer Marie Jumelin, costume designer Peggy Housset, lighting designer Stéphane Fritsch, and sound designer Tristan Viscogliosi. Hair and makeup is by Carmen Arbues Miro, with video projection by Etienne Beaussart and props by Aurélie Gandilhon. Produced by Broadway Entertainment Group, The Little Prince will be performed in French with English subtitles.
• Coraline – A Musical – Leeds Playhouse will host the world premiere of the musical, based on Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel. It runs in Leeds from 11 April to 11 May 2025, before it embarks on a UK tour. The family-friendly production, suitable for audiences aged nine and above, explores the darkly imaginative world where Coraline encounters the sinister “Other Mother.” Coraline – A Musical has a book by Zinnie Harris (Macbeth – An Undoing) and music and lyrics by Louis Barabbas (songwriter and member of The Bedlam Six). The musical is a co-production between Leeds Playhouse, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Birmingham Rep, and HOME. Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director and Chief Executive James Brining will direct the production, reuniting with set and costume designer Colin Richmond after their work together with Oliver!. Puppet designer and director Rachael Canning and choreographer EJ Boyle will also join the creative team. The musical will feature performances in Leeds Playhouse’s Courtyard Theatre before touring to HOME in Manchester from 15 May to 7 June, Birmingham Rep from 12 to 22 June, and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh from 26 June to 19 July.
• & Juliet – The Wanted band member and 2015 Strictly Come Dancing winner Jay McGuiness will star as Shakespeare, replacing Matt Cardle on the second leg of the tour which resumes in Bristol on 14^th January 2025. With a book by David West Read, the show has choreography by Jennifer Weber and set design by Soutra Gilmour. The musical’s tunes are crafted by Martin and his collaborators, while costume design is by Paloma Young, and musical supervision, orchestration, and arrangements by Bill Sherman.
• If/Then – Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s Broadway musical will be coming to the West End for one night only on the 10^th February at the Savoy Theatre. Originally premiering on Broadway in 2014, the musical explores the impact of choices and chance through the story of Elizabeth, a 38-year-old city planner returning to New York after a divorce. Her story branches into two parallel paths, each showing how a single decision can shape an entirely different future. Kerry Ellis will star as Elizabeth in the show which will be directed by Bill Buckhurst (Sister Act, The Time Traveller’s Wife), with musical staging by Olivier Award nominee Alistair David (Kiss Me, Kate, Show Boat), and music direction by Michael England (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables). The production has casting by Pearson Casting. The video production team is composed of director Thom Southerland, musical supervisor Michael England, director of photography and editor Ben Hewis, production designer James Turner, lighting designer Aaron J Dootson, and sound designer Keegan Curran.
• The Smeds and The Smoos – Tall Stories’ stage adaptation of is set to land in the West End next summer.The show will run at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, from 18 July to 7 September 2025. Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s best-selling picture book, the production promises music, humour, and an intergalactic adventure suitable for audiences aged three and up. The story follows the young Smed and Smoo, who defy their families’ rivalry by falling in love and escaping into space together. Tall Stories, the company behind stage adaptations of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, brings this tale to life with puppetry and an inventive design inspired by the book’s alien worlds.
• Glorious! The True Story of The Worst Singer in the World – Hope Mill Theatre has announced that Wendi Peters will play Florence Foster Jenkins in a revival of the play, written by Peter Quilter and directed by Kirk Jameson, that tells the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a 1940s New York socialite who aspired to be an opera star despite her poor singing voice. Her off-key recitals gained a following, including admirers like Enrico Caruso and Cole Porter, and culminated in a sold-out show at Carnegie Hall. The play premiered at Birmingham Rep Theatre before moving to London’s West End in 2005, starring Maureen Lipman. It earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Comedy and has been performed in 36 countries. Florence’s life was also depicted in a 2016 film starring Meryl Streep. The production will open at Hope Mill Theatre on 27 February 2025 and run until 30 March 2025.
• Here and Now – Steps, the UK pop group, has announced that their musical will tour the UK and Ireland from August 2025 to May 2026. This follows its current run at the Alexandra in Birmingham, where it plays to 30 November 2024. Set in a seaside superstore, the musical explores themes of love and betrayal. Written by Shaun Kitchener and featuring Steps’ well-known hits such as “Tragedy,” “Stomp,”, “5,6,7,8,” and “One for Sorrow,” the show is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and choreographed by Matt Cole. The tour will begin at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (29 to 30 August 2025) before moving to (deep breath) Manchester Opera House (2 to 13 September), Glasgow King’s Theatre (16 to 20 September), Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (23 September to 4 October), Southend Cliffs Pavilion (7 to 11 October), and Woking New Victoria Theatre (14 to 19 October). Additional stops include Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre (21 to 26 October), Newcastle Theatre Royal (28 October to 2 November), London New Wimbledon Theatre (4 to 9 November), Nottingham Theatre Royal (11 to 16 November), Sheffield Lyceum (18 to 22 November), Liverpool Empire Theatre (25 to 29 November), Theatre Royal Brighton (2 to 13 December) and Stockton Globe (15 to 28 December) and then continues into 2026 with Southampton Mayflower Theatre (20 to 24 January), Belfast Grand Opera House (27 to 31 January), Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre (3 to 7 February), York Grand Opera House (10 to 15 February), Oxford New Theatre (17 to 22 February), Edinburgh Playhouse (24 February to 1 March), Wolverhampton Grand (10 to 15 March), Theatre Royal Plymouth (24 to 28 March), Milton Keynes Theatre (31 March to 4 April), Blackpool Opera House (8 to 12 April), Norwich Theatre Royal (14 to 19 April), Hull New Theatre (21 to 26 April), Leicester Curve (28 April to 3 May), and Leeds Grand Theatre (5 to 10 May). The musical is presented by Steps in collaboration with ROYO, Pete Waterman, and Fascination Management. The creative team includes Kavanaugh (director), Cole (choreographer), Matt Spencer-Smith (musical supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements), Tom Rogers (set design), Gabriella Slade (costume design), Howard Hudson (lighting design), Adam Fisher (sound design), Sam Cox (wigs, hair, and makeup design), Phij Adams (music technology), and Will Burton for Grindrod Burton Casting (casting). Production management is handled by Setting Line.
• Tammy Faye – the Elton John/Jake Shears musical having premiered in the UK at the Almeida Theatre in London, where it ran from 13 Oct to 2 Dec 2022, moved to Broadway where it started previews on 19^th October and opened on 14^th November, 5 days later it was announced that the show would close on 8^th December having accumulated losses in excess of $25million. The show stars Katie Brayben as Tammy Faye Bakker, Christian Borle as Jim Bakker, and Michael Cerveris as Jerry Falwell. The show has a score by legendary musicians Elton John (music) and Jake Shears (lyrics), a book by James Graham, choreography by Lynne Page, and direction by Rupert Goold.

NEWS UPDATE –18th NOVEMBER 2024

• Alfred Hitchcock Presents – The Musical – the world premiere will be staged at Theatre Royal Bath next spring – and a wave of casting has been revealed. Weaving together episodes from the popular television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the production promises a unique theatrical journey inside the mind of Alfred Hitchcock. It will be directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle (Company) and will feature an original, jazz-infused score by Steven Lutvak (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) and a book by Jay Dyer (Californication). Appearing will be Scarlett Strallen, Sally Ann Triplett, Nicola Hughes, Gary Milner, Liam Tamne, Joaquin Pedro Valdez, Alistair Brammer, Mark Meadows and Damian Humbley. Hitchcock is the cinematic mind behind such movies as Psycho, The Birds, Vertigo, North by Northwest, and Rear Window, among others. Produced by Theatre Royal Bath Productions in association with Universal Theatrical Group, Alfred Hitchcock Presents – The Musical will run from 22 March to 12 April 2025, with a press night set for 27 March. The show’s creative team includes set designer David L Arsenault, costume designer Jonathan Lipman, lighting designer Johanna Town, music supervisor Catherine Jayes, orchestrator Jason Carr, casting director Ginny Schiller, and musical director Benjamin Holder.
• Pirates! The Penzance Musical – will run from 4 April to 22 June at the Todd Haimes Theatre. Ramin Karimloo and David Hyde Pierce will star in Roundabout Theatre Company’s newly retitled production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. Karimloo will play the Pirate King, with Pierce as the Major General (and W S Gilbert). They’re joined by Jinkx Monsoon as Ruth, Nicholas Barasch (Frederic), Preston Truman Boyd (Sullivan/Police Sergeant), and Samantha Williams (Mabel Stanley), as well as Kelly Belarmino, Maria Briggs, Eddie Cooper, Cicily Daniels, Ninako Donville, Alex Dorf, Rick Faugno, Niani Feelings, Tommy Gedrich, Alex Gibson, Afra Hines, Dan Hoy, Ryo Kamibayashi, Tatiana Lofton, Nathan Lucrezio, Shina Ann Morris, Cooper Stanton, and Bronwyn Tarboton. The production will be directed by Scott Ellis, choreographed by Warren Carlyle and features an adaptation by Rupert Holmes, set in New Orleans, “sizzling with Caribbean rhythms and French Quarter flair.” Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters provide orchestrations, with Joubert serving as musical director. Sets are by David Rockwell, costumes are by Linda Cho, lighting is by Donald Holder, sound is by Mikaal Sulaiman, and dance arrangements are by John O’Neill.
• Scissorhandz: A Musical Reinvented – opens at Southwark Playhouse Elephant on 23 January 2025. The new musical will star Jordan Kai Burnett as Scissorhands, reprising the role she originated in Los Angeles. She will be joined by WhatsOnStage Award-winner Emma Williams as Peg. Scissorhandz will run for a ten-week engagement, closing on 29 March, with the official opening night set for 30 January. Burnett and Williams will be joined by Dionne Gipson as the Inventor, Lauren Jones as Kim, Annabelle Terry as Esmeralda, Ryan O’Connor as Helen, and Richard Carson as Jim. The ensemble includes Candida Mosoma, Luke Cairns, and Grace Towning. Described as a reinvention of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, Scissorhandz is a musical parody with a soundtrack that includes songs by artists like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Alanis Morissette. The show previously enjoyed a successful run in Hollywood, and the London production marks its European debut. The creative team includes Bradley Bredeweg as writer and director, with choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, musical direction by Gregory Nabours, and set design by James Pearse Connelly. Costume design is by Abby Clarke, lighting by Adam King, and sound by Yvonne Gilbert. Harry Blumenau handles casting, with production management by James Anderton and general management by Wildpark Entertainment. Further casting announcements are expected.
• Wild Rose – the world premiere stage adaptation of the piece written by BAFTA Award winner Nicole Taylor (Three Girls) is based on the BAFTA Award-winning film of the same name, John Tiffany (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) is set to direct the piece. It will feature songs from such country music favourites as Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Wynonna Judd, Chris Stapleton, Caitlyn Smith, The Chicks, and Patty Griffin, as well as the film’s original song “Glasgow (No Place Like Home).” Wild Rose follows the trials and tribulations of Rose-Lynn Harlan, fresh out of jail for past misdemeanors and dreaming of a career as a singer in Nashville – except she is faced with the realities of raising two young children in Glasgow. Set to lead the show is Olivier nominee Dawn Sievewright, who received critical acclaim for her performance in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, which ran in Scotland and London. Other credits include No Love Songs and The Welkin. Joining her will be Blythe Duff (Taggart) as Marion, the mother of Sievewright’s Rose-Lynn Harlan. Choreography is by Steven Hoggett (a long-term collaborator of Tiffany’s) and Vicki Manderson, with set design by Chloe Lamford, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound design by Tony Gayle, music supervision, orchestration and arrangements by Sarah Travis and Davey Anderson, and casting by Charlotte Sutton. Co-presented by Caledonia Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions, Wild Rose will run from 6 March until 5 April 2025.
• Road Show – the musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman, will open at Upstairs at the Gatehouse where it will run from 12 December 2024 to 12 January 2025, presented by Chromolume. Directed and choreographed by Amanda Noar, the production tells the true story of the Mizner brothers, tracing their journey through the highs and lows of early 20th-century America, from the Gold Rush to the Florida real estate boom. It was first seen in 2003 (under its original title Bounce), with an off-Broadway production coming in 2008 and a Menier Chocolate Factory run in 2011. Noar is joined by associate director Isaac Bernier-Doyle and musical director Harry Style. The creative team includes set designer Ruby Boswell-Green and costume designer Holly Louise Chapman, while orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick. The cast will include Reece Richardson as Wilson Mizner, Oliver Sidney as Addison Mizner, Robert Finlayson as Papa, Katherine Strohmaier as Mama and Rhys Lambert as Hollis Bessemer, with an ensemble of Folarin Akinmade, Madeleine Morgan and Emily Friberg. This production follows Chromolume’s previous success with You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown in London and Shanghai.
• 13 Going On 30 – premiering next autumn at the Manchester Opera House, opening on 21 September 2025 for a limited season to 12 October, the show is based on the 2004 film by Revolution Studios, the musical brings to life the story of Jenna Rink, a 13-year-old who wishes to escape high school difficulties and finds herself transformed overnight into a 30-year-old magazine editor with an unexpected perspective on life. The show’s book has been adapted by the original screenwriters, Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, who have collaborated with songwriters Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary, known for their work on First Date and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Directing the production is Andy Fickman, whose previous theatre credits include Heathers. The producers for the show include ROYO, Revolution Studios, Wendy Federman, and Phil Kenny. Lucie Jones will star as Jenna in the show (now her second appearance as a Jenna in a musical based on a much-loved ’00s film).

NEWS UPDATE – 11th NOVEMBER 2024

• 101 Dalmatians The Musical – will transfer to London next summer opening at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on Friday 18 July 2025 following the conclusion of its UK tour. The musical is based on Dodie Smith’s classic story and features music and lyrics by Douglas Hodge, with a book by Johnny McKnight and stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris. Directed by Bill Buckhurst, the production includes set design by David Woodhead, costumes by Sarah Mercadé, and choreography by Lucy Hind. The creative team also includes musical supervisor Alfonso Casado Trigo, orchestrator Jack Hopkins, puppet designer Jimmy Grimes, lighting designer James Whiteside, and sound designer Chris Whybrow. Leigh Stanford Thompson serves as musical director, and casting is by Lucy Casson. The show continues to tour the UK with Faye Tozer and Kerry Ellis alternating in the role of Cruella de Vil in selected cities.
• Miss Saigon – will return for a UK tour next year. Following a recent production at Sheffield Crucible, producer Michael Harrison and Sir Cameron Mackintosh took a fresh look at the musical and decided to create a modern version. Telling the story of a young girl, Kim, who falls in love with an American GI, the show has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyrics by Richard Maltby Jnr and Alain Boublil, adapted from original French text by Alain Boublil with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler. Directing this exciting new production is Jean-Pierre van der Spuy, who recently directed the acclaimed Australian Opera production of Miss Saigon. The tour will open at the Newcastle Theatre Royal, where it plays from Saturday 4 to Saturday 25 October. After that, it will then head to the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh (Tuesday 28 October to Saturday 1 November), Palace Theatre, Manchester (Tuesday 4 to Saturday 15 November), the Alexandra in Birmingham (Tuesday 18 to Saturday 29 November), Leeds Grand Theatre (Tuesday 2 to Saturday 13 December) and New Theatre, Oxford (Tuesday 16 December 2025 to Saturday 3 January 2026), with more dates to be announced.
• My Fair Lady – as part of its line-up for 2025, The Mill At Sonning has announced that there will be a new production of Lerner and Loewe’s musical. It will open on 20 November and run until 17 January 2026. It will be directed by Joseph Pitcher.
• Dirty Dancing – has been selected as the opening production at London’s newest theatre the Capital Theatre at Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush on 23^rd October 2025. The theatre will feature a purpose-built, 620-seat auditorium, designed by the same team responsible for notable London venues including the Bridge Theatre and the transformed Kit Kat Club, home of Cabaret. Covering 35,000 square feet, the venue will include an intimate auditorium where no seat is more than nine rows from the stage. Facilities include rehearsal rooms, offices, and technical support areas, along with a foyer café and an on-site box office. The opening production has enjoyed a decade of sold-out runs across the UK. Capital Theatre is a collaboration between producers Karl Sydow and Adam Kenwright. Sydow has produced Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage since 2004.
• Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – New Adventures has announced the schedule for its 30th-anniversary tour. The anniversary tour will feature a cast of Harrison Dowzell, Jackson Fisch, and Rory Macleod making their debuts as the Swan/the Stranger. Meanwhile, James Lovell, Leonardo McCorkindale, and Stephen Murray will perform as the Prince. The Queen will be portrayed by Nicole Kabera and Ashley Shaw, with Katrina Lyndon and Bryony Wood taking on the roles of the Queen and the Girlfriend, respectively.The company is completed by Matthew Amos, Benjamin Barlow Bazeley, Alistair Beattie, Ben Brown, Carla Contini, Jade Copas, Anna-Maria de Freitas, Perreira de Jesus Franque, Jamie Duncan-Campbell, Alexander Fadayiro, Savannah Ffrench, Cameron Flynn, Louis Fukuhara, Louis Harris, Kurumi Kamayachi, Sebastien Kapps, Aristide Lyons, Callum Mann, Eleanor McGrath, Jarrod McWilliams, Maisie Mwebe, Mukeni Nel, Eve Ngbokota, George-Murray Nightingale, Harry Ondrak-Wright, Barnaby Quarendon, Molly Shaw-Downie, Nikolas Shikkis, Xavier Andriambolanoro Sotiya, Tom Standing, and Christina Walters. The tour opens at Theatre Royal Plymouth followed by a two-week run at the Lowry in Salford. It will then continue to London for New Adventures’ annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells, where it will run from 3 December 2024 to 26 January 2025, marking the company’s 22nd consecutive Christmas season at the venue. The tour will then continue to His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (4 to 8 February), Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (11 to 15 February), and Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (18 to 22 February). Further dates include Birmingham Hippodrome (25 February to 1 March), Nottingham Theatre Royal (4 to 8 March), Liverpool Empire (11 to 15 March), and Bristol Hippodrome (18 to 22 March). The production will also appear at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (25 to 29 March), Norwich Theatre Royal (1 to 5 April), Theatre Royal Newcastle (8 to 12 April), Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (15 to 19 April), Milton Keynes Theatre (22 to 26 April), and Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (29 April to 3 May). The final stops are at Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (6 to 10 May), Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (13 to 17 May), and Theatre Royal, Glasgow (20 to 24 May). Originally staged at Sadler’s Wells in 1995, Bourne’s version of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake redefined the dance theatre landscape by replacing the traditional female corps-de-ballet with an all-male ensemble. Directed and choreographed by Bourne, this production of Swan Lake is complemented by set and costume design from Lez Brotherston, lighting design by Paule Constable, video and projection design by Duncan McLean, and sound design by Ken Hampton.
• The Great Gatsby – the Broadway production will open at the London Coliseum on 11 April 2025, with playing dates through to 7 September 2025. The show, currently playing on Broadway with Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada, is based on F Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel about a self-made millionaire and his quest for the American Dream (in the arms of the married woman living across the bay). The Great Gatsby features a book by Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones), an original score by Tony Award nominees Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square), and direction by Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical). The production is choreographed by Dominique Kelley, with Tony Award-winning costume design by Linda Cho and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning scenic and projection design by Paul Tate de Poo III. The team is completed by lighting designer Cory Pattak, sound designer Brian Ronan, hair and wig designers Drama Desk Award winner Charles G LaPointe and Rachael Geier. Arrangements are by Jason Howland, orchestrations are by Howland and Kim Scharnberg and the music producer is Grammy Award winner Billy Jay Stein for Strike Audio. UK casting is by Jill Green Casting.
• Arts Council England – has launched a new initiative called Incentivising Touring, aimed at bolstering touring theatre and dance productions across England. The scheme will provide repayable grants to help producers tour larger-scale productions to regional venues. This new funding model, developed in consultation with over 65 organisations, seeks to address financial challenges in regional touring and aims to increase public access to theatre and dance across England. The Incentivising Touring scheme offers grants of up to 25 per cent of a production’s initial capitalisation costs, with a maximum cap of £500,000 per production. This model intends to reduce financial risks for producers, encouraging boards and investors to back touring productions and attracting additional investment. The programme’s total budget of £5 million will be split across two funding rounds, with the pilot phase intended to test the model’s viability for a longer-term rollout. Tours supported by the scheme must visit at least four venues in England outside of inner London, though additional stops in London, other UK regions, and international venues are permitted. If a supported production achieves commercial success, producers are expected to return the investment to Arts Council England, which will then reinvest the funds into other tours. This “recycling” of funds aims to create a sustainable funding mechanism to support more large-scale touring projects in the future. Feedback and evaluation from the pilot will inform the development of a potential longer-term programme.

NEWS UPDATE – 4th NOVEMBER 2024

• Hercules – Disney’s new musical has confirmed that it will open at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by David Zippel, and a new book by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah, the production is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw with Tanisha Scott as co-choreographer. Disney’s 1997 animated Hercules follows the titular Greek hero as he battles to claim his birthright and strength, while pitted against the villainous Hermes. Numbers in the film include “Go The Distance”, “Zero to Hero” and “I Wont Say (I’m In Love)”. The production will star Grammy nominee Luke Brady who will take on the title role in the show, which will begin previews on 6 June 2025, with an opening night set for 24 June 2025. The show is currently booking through 10 January 2026. Hercules has scheduled a captioned performance on 15 September, a signed performance on 23 September, a relaxed performance on 15 November, and an audio described performance on 29 November.
• Scissorhandz: A Musical Reinvented – will have its European premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant where it will run from 23 January to 29 March 2025. The musical is a reinterpretation of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, presenting it as a pop-musical parody that explores themes of individuality and self-expression. With a soundtrack featuring popular songs by artists such as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Alanis Morissette, the production previously enjoyed a sold-out run in Hollywood. It is produced by Bradley Bredeweg (who is also the writer and director), Kelley Parker and Brian Pendleton, along with co-producers Lance Bass and Michelle Visage. The show has choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, musical direction by Gregory Nabours, set design by James Pearse Connelly, costume design by Abby Clarke, lighting design by Adam King, sound design by Yvonne Gilbert, casting by Harry Blumenau Casting, production management by James Anderton and general management by Wildpark Entertainment.
• Clueless – has announced lead casting for its West End premiere which will take place at Trafalgar Theatre on 15 February 2025. Based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma, the piece is adapted from the 1995 movie of the same name starring Alicia Silverstone. It follows Cher Horowitz, the most popular student at Beverley Hills High, who revels in setting up relationships and generally meddling with her fellow classmates’ lives. Featuring a book by Amy Heckerling (the writer and director of Clueless), the show is scored by the multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall (writer and performer of such celebrated hits as “Suddenly I See” and “Black Horse and The Cherry Tree”). The lyrics are by Grammy Award winner Glenn Slater (Sister Act, Tangled) while direction is by Rachel Kavanaugh (Half a Sixpence), with choreography by Kelly Devine (Come From Away). Playing Cher will be Emma Flynn, who will be joined by Keelan McAuley as Josh. A previous version of the show, which used jukebox tunes, played off-Broadway in 2018 – though this version is completely new. A try-out run took place at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley earlier this year.
• 13 Going On 30 – will have its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House on 21 September 2025 where it will play until 12 October. Based on the 2004 film by Revolution Studios, the musical brings to life the story of Jenna Rink, a 13-year-old who wishes to escape high school difficulties and finds herself transformed overnight into a 30-year-old magazine editor with an unexpected perspective on life. The show’s book has been adapted by the original screenwriters, Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, who have collaborated with songwriters Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary, known for their work on First Date and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Directing the production is Andy Fickman, whose previous theatre credits include Heathers. The producers for the show include ROYO, Revolution Studios, Wendy Federman, and Phil Kenny.
• The Illusionist – with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is being co-created with Chris Terrio, who wrote the Oscar-winners Argo and Justice League. It is partly based on the 2006 film of the same name, and is eyeing a London premiere, though a New York opening has not been ruled out. The score is said to be “operatic”. British songwriter Bruno Major is also part of the project, while there will be magic elements in the show. Set in 1900 Vienna, it follows a disruptive magician in an imperial city undermining the status quo. The musical is being pco-produced with Michael Harrison, who also co-produced the critically lauded Sunset Boulevard and Starlight Express. Jamie Lloyd (Sunset Boulevard, Evita) will direct the production, which has eyes on a 2026 bow. Lloyd will also be directing “a version” of Evita for a 2025 run. Lloyd previously directed the piece at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2019, though it is unconfirmed if the next staging will be the same version as the one seen five years ago, or a new production.
• Dear Evan Hansen – the first UK tour of the hit musical has added new dates. The touring production is directed by Nottingham Playhouse’s artistic director Adam Penford, and co-produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Nottingham Playhouse, Alongside the original score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Dear Evan Hansen features a book by Steven Levenson. The piece follows a teenager who causes a calamity after pretending to be a deceased classmate’s friend. Leading the cast is Ryan Kopel as Evan Hansen, alongside Lauren Conroy (Into the Woods) as Zoe Murphy, Alice Fearn as Evan’s mum, Heidi, Helen Anker (Mamma Mia!) as Cynthia Murphy, Richard Hurst (The Lion King) as Larry Murphy, Killian Thomas Lefevre (Bat Out Of Hell) as Connor Murphy, Tom Dickerson (Heathers) as Jared Kleinman, Vivian Panka (9 to 5 the Musical) as Alana Beck and Sonny Monaghan (discovered via TikTok) as alternate Evan. This is also the first production of Dear Evan Hansen in the UK to perform the show with an ensemble – made up of Lara Beth-Sas, Will Forgrave, Daniel Forrester, Jessica Lim, Sonny Monaghan, and Elise Zavou.
• The Parent Agency – a new musical adaptation of David Baddiel’s best-selling book will premiere at Storyhouse Chester on Saturday 15 February where it will run until Sunday 2 March 2025. The production, with book and lyrics by Baddiel and music and additional lyrics by Dan Gillespie Sells (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), is directed by Tim Jackson (Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)). Produced by John Berry and Anthony Lilley of Scenario Two, The Parent Agency follows 11-year-old Barry Bennett, who wishes for new parents after growing tired of his own. Barry’s wish transports him to an alternate universe, “Youngdon” in the “United Kid-dom,” where children can select their ideal parents with the help of the Parent Agency. The production marks the tenth anniversary of Baddiel’s book, which has sold over 355,000 copies worldwide and been translated into 30 languages. Originally released in 2014, The Parent Agency went on to win the Laugh Out Loud Award. The creative team also includes choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (Six, Dear Evan Hansen), costume designer Sarah Mercadé (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Spongebob Musical), lighting designer Zoe Spurr (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Bonnie and Clyde), and assistant director Francesca Hsieh (Vanya). Casting is by Jill Green and Amy Beadel.
• Kilworth House Theatre – has announced its 2025 season, presenting two well-known musicals: 42nd Street and Grease. Producer Celia Mackay will once again work with director and choreographer Lee Proud for both productions, marking their third consecutive season together following productions of Hairspray in 2023 and Singin’ in the Rain in 2024. Opening the season on 3 June, 42nd Street follows an aspiring Broadway performer catapulted into the limelight. Known for songs like “We’re in the Money” and “Lullaby of Broadway,” the production will run through 13 July 2025. The season’s second show, Grease, will run from 29 July to 7 September 2025. Set in the world of 1950s Rydell High, the production features classic numbers such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning,” and “You’re the One That I Want.”