Theatre Openings: from w/c January 9

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LAST UPDATED: January 12 2023

Upcoming openings in London, the regions, and on Broadway from January 9 onwards

2023

THIS WEEK’S OPENINGS

The year starts with with two shows that were supposed to open before Christmas — but were delayed, respectively, by cast illness and a cast replacement.

  • Tuesday January 10

LONDON: Watch on the Rhine (Donmar Warehouse) December 9-February 4, press night January 10 (postponed from December 15). Ellen McDougall directs a cast that includes Kate Duchêne, Caitlin FitzGerald, Patricia Hodge and John Light in Lillian Hellman’s 1941 play, set in the summer of that year, in which a Washington DC mother anxiously awaits the return of her daughter and her German husband as they flee Europe with their children. Press contact: Kate Morley, kate@katemorleypr.com; Website: https://booking.donmarwarehouse.com/events/8601AVPPNNBTVGDHCLBCTPRSLGQPDSBRD?_ga=2.229014427.649449794.1665478808-973653908.166547880

  • Thursday January 12

LONDON: A Streetcar Named Desire (Almeida Theatre) December 17-February 4, press night January 12 (postponed from December 20). Rebecca Frecknall, whose production of Tennessee Williams’s Summer and Smoke transferred from the Almeida to the West End, returns to Islington to direct another Williams play, starring Patsy Ferran (replacing the originally announced Lydia Wilson) as Blanche, with Paul Mescal as Stanley, Anjana Vasan as Stella and Dwane Walcott as Mitch. Press contact: Alexander Milward, amilard@almeida.co.uk Website: https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/a-streetcar-named-desire/10-dec-2022-4-feb-2023

OPENINGS FURTHER AHEAD

* Tuesday January 17

LONDON: George Takei’s Allegiance (Charing Cross Theatre) January 7-April 8, press night January 17. The Star Trek star George Takei (famous for playing Mr Sulu) stars in the London premiere of the 2015 Broadway musical inspired by his own true childhood experience, when as a child he and his family were placed in internment camps along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans, after the bombing of Pearl Harbour during the Second World War. Takei reprises his Broadway role, as does Telly Leung (best known as Wee from Glee), who plays Takei’s character’s younger self, in this entirely new production, specially conceived for the Charing Cross Theatre, directed and choreographed by Tara Overfield Wilkinson. The musical has a book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. In a press statement, Takei has commented,  “Allegiance is a story from America’s past, but it has great relevance today. Once again, fascism is on the march, and whole communities are under attack. Again, the freedoms so many take for granted are gravely imperilled. Allegiance is my legacy. We must learn the lessons of our past so that we may never repeat them. That’s why we tell our story. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to ensuring we collectively honour the commitment, ‘Never again’.”  Press contact:  Kevin Wilson,  kevinwilsonpr@gmail.com Website: https://allegiancemusical.com/

  • Wednesday January 18

LONDON: Alex Edelman — Just for Us (Menier Chocolate Factory) January 11-February 26, press night January 18. Transfer from Off-Broadway, where it premiered at the Cherry Lane Theatre last year, this solo autobiographical show is directed by Adam Brace. According to the press release, “After a string of anti-Semitic abuse is directed at Edelman online, he decides to covertly attend a gathering of White Nationalists in New York City and comes face-to-face with the people behind the keyboards. The result is a hair-raising encounter that gives Just For Us its title and final, jaw-dropping twist.” Press contact: Kate Morley, kate@katemorleypr.com

  • Thursday January 19:

LONDON: The Unfriend (Criterion Theatre) January 15-April 16, press night January 19. Steven Moffatt’s dark comedy transfers from Chichester’s Minerva Theatre, where it played last summer, in a production directed by Mark Gatiss (Moffat’s co-writer on TV’s Sherlock and Dracula) that reunites the original Chichester cast led by Reece Shearsmith, Amanda Abbington and Frances Barber, and also featuring Michael Simkins, Marcus Onilude, Gabriel Howell and Maddie Holliday. Press contacts: Samantha Montague samantha@breadandbutterpr.uk and Ben Chamberlain ben@breadandbutterpr.uk. Website: https://theunfriend.com/

  • Wednesday January 25

LONDON: Noises Off (Phoenix Theatre) January 19-March 11, press night January 25. The current 40th anniversary production of Michael Frayn’s backstage farce transfers to the West End for a limited eight week season. The cast comprises Felicity Kendal as Dotty Otley, Matthew Kelly as Selsdon Mowbray and Joseph Millson as Garry Lejeune (pictured above), and also Tracy-Ann Oberman as Belinda Blair, Alexander Hanson as Lloyd Dallas, Sasha Frost as Brooke Ashton, Pepter Lunkuse as Poppy Norton Taylor and Jonathan Coy as Fredrick Fellows. It is directed by Lindsay Posner, who also directed the last London revival at the Old Vic. Press contact: Lewis Jenkins at Storehouse PR, lewis.jenkins@storyhousepr.co.uk; Website: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/noises-off/phoenix-theatre/

Friday January 27

LONDON: My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) (Ambassadors Theatre) January 25-March 18, press night January 27. Rob Madge brings their solo autobiographical show back to the West End, where it originally played a two-week run last October at the Garrick (though some of the performances were lost because of illness), for an extended run.  Originally seen at Battersea’s Turbine Theatre, before a.sell-out run at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe festival, it is directed by Luke Shepherd (& Juliet), with songs by Pippa Cleary. Press contact: Niamh Cleland, Emma Holland PR, niamh@emmahollandpr.com. Website: https://www.theambassadorstheatre.co.uk/shows/my-sons-a-queer-but-what-can-you-do

  • Saturday January 28

REGIONAL: The Bodyguard (King’s Theatre, Glasgow) January 28-February 4, then touring. Melody Thornton – formerly with The Pussycat Dolls — is set to play Rachel Marron in a new tour for the stage version of the hit film, kicking off in Glasgow. She has previously played the role when the show toured China. Press contacts: Simon Raw, Emily Webb or Daniel O’Carroll at Raw PR, simon@rawpr.co.uk, emily@rawpr.co.uk, daniel@rawpr.co.uk. Full tour dates: https://www.thebodyguardmusical.com/uk-tour-dates/

  • Tuesday January 31

LONDON: Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (Harold Pinter Theatre) January 18-March 18, press night January 31, then at Manchester Opera House and Brighton Theatre Royal. Jenna Coleman and Aidan Turner star in the West End premiere of Manchester-born playwright Sam Steiner’s Edinburgh fringe hit. Described as romantic comedy about what we say, how we say it, and what happens when we can’t say anything anymore., it is directed by Josie Rourke, former artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse.  Press contact: Laura Myers at About Grace, laura@aboutgracepr.com. Website: https://lemonstheplay.co.uk/

  • Wednesday February 1:

LONDON: 2.22 A Ghost Story (Lyric Theatre) January 21-April 23, press night Feb 1. Danny Robins’ play transfers to its 4th West End address (after originally opening at the Coward, it played the Gielgud and Criterion in turn), with Cheryl Cole making her West End stage debut, joined by Hugo Chegwin, Louise Ford and Scott Karim. Press contacts: Bread and Butter PR — Clair Chamberlain clair@breadandbutterpr.uk, Ben Chamberlain ben@breadandbutterpr.uk. Website: https://222aghoststory.com

REGIONAL: Spitting Image Live: Featuring The Liar King (Birmingham Rep) February 1-March 12. Sean Foley, artistic director at Birmingham Rep, directs and co-writen with Al Murray and Matt Forde, a new live show based on the Spitting Image puppets. According to the press release, “Join the circle of lies and see the puppets live on stage for the first time ever. Witness a monstrous cast of stars including The Liar King himself, Boris Johnson. Plus Tom Cruise & Michael Gove (together on stage for the very first time), Adele, Tyson Fury, Harry and Meghan, Stormzy, Beyoncé, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, and many more.” Press contact: Ben Wooldridge  ben.Wooldridge@birmingham-rep.co.uk. Website: https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/spitting-image-live/

  • Thursday February 2:

REGIONAL: The Tempest (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon) January 26-March 4, press night February 2. Alex Kingston plays Prospero, with Jessica Rhodes as Miranda and Jamie Ballard as Antonio, in the RSC’s new production of The Tempest, directed by Elizabeth Freestone. Press contact: Bethany Arnold bethany.arnold@rsc.org.uk Website: https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-tempest/

Wednesday February 8

LONDON: The Lehman Trilogy (Gillian Lynne Theatre) January 24-May 20, press night February 8. Sam Mendes’s production of Stefano Massini play, adapted by Ben Power, returns to London, after originally premiering at the National and transferring to Broadway.  The new company will star Michael Balogun, Hadley Fraser and Nigel Lindsay as the Lehman brothers. Press contact: Clare McCormack via cmccormack@nationaltheatre.org.uk Website: http://thelehmantrilogy.com/

  • Thursday February 9

LONDON: Phaedra (National’s Lyttelton Theatre) February 1-April 8, press night February 9 . Simon Stone, whose work has mostly been seen in the UK at the Young Vic, makes his NT debut with his own play Phaedra, after Euripides, Seneca and Racine. Janet McTeer plays the title role, with Assaad Bouab and Mackenzie Davis also featured. Press contact: Louisa Terry lterry@nationaltheatre.org.uk. Website: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/phaedra

BROADWAY: Pictures from Home (Studio 54) January 13-April 30, opening night February 9. Nathan Lane, Danny Burstein and Zoë Wanamaker star in Sharr White’s play based on the landmark photo memoir by Larry Sultan, about a mother, father and son who photographed their lives. Bartlett Sher directs. Press contacts: Matt Polk / Alana Karpoff/ Lilly Claar / Nicolette Carcaldi at Polk & Co.  Website: https://picturesfromhomebroadway.com/

Monday February 13

LONDON: Standing at the Sky’s Edge (National’s Olivier Theatre) February 9-March 25, press night February 13. Originally premiered at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 2019, Richard Hawley and Chris Bush’s musical, set on Sheffield’s Park Hill Estate, transfers to the National. Directed by Sheffield Theatres’ artistic director Robert Hastie, it is described as a love letter to Sheffield, charting the hopes and dreams of three generations over the course of six tumultuous decades. The cast includes Darragh Cowley, Ahmed Hamad, Samuel Jordan, Bobbie Little, Robert Lonsdale, David McKechnie, Maimuna Memon, Baker Mukasa, Alastair Natkiel, Faith Omole, Adam Price, Nicola Sloane, Jake Small, Deborah Tracey, Rachael Wooding and Alex Young. Press contact: Ruth Greenwood, rgreenwood@nationaltheatre.org.uk. Website: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/standing-at-the-skys-edge

Winner’s Curse (Park Theatre) February 8-March 11, press night February 13.  Clive Anderson leads the cast in an interactive theatrical look at the difficult world of international relations, written by former ambassador and Middle East peace negotiator Daniel Taub with Dan Patterson. It is directed by Jez Bond, and the company also includes Barrie Rutter and Nichola McAuliffe. Press contact: Flavia Fraser-Cannon at Mobius, flavia@mobiusindustries.com. Website: https://parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/winners-curse

  • Tuesday February 14

LONDON: Sylvia (Old Vic) January 27-April 1, press night February 14. Beverley Knight (pictured above) stars as Emeline Pankhurst in the world premiere of a hip-hop musical, directed and choreographed by Kate Prince, that was previously presented in workshop form at the theatre four years ago. It is co-produced by the Old Vic and Zoo Nation, in association with Sadler’s Wells. Prince has also written the lyrics and co-written the book with Priya Parmar; the music is by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde. In a press statement, Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus commented, “At long last, we are delighted to deliver the completed version of this hugely uplifting show, which first appeared at The Old Vic in an embryonic workshop version four years ago. Even then, this thrillingly kinetic, fun and emotional show was a giant hit with audiences and I’d urge you not to miss the much-anticipated finished article.” Prince states, “As ZooNation celebrates our 20th anniversary this month, I’m incredibly grateful to be able to announce, together with The Old Vic, the premiere of our musical Sylvia, celebrating the story of Sylvia Pankhurst and the Suffragette movement – five years after I first started writing it, and four years after it was first shared with audiences as a ‘work in progress’. I’m particularly grateful for this second chance and to be able to finish what has been the most extraordinary creative challenge yet of my life! I’m over the moon that Beverley Knight is returning to the role of Emmeline Pankhurst and that Sharon Rose will be joining the cast as her daughter Sylvia. The musicians, performers and creatives collaborating together on Sylvia are all extraordinary. They inspire me every day. I’m truly excited to finally share this work and Sylvia’s wonderful, inspiring story.” Press contacts: Katie Marsh katie.marsh@oldvictheatre.com, Armani Ur-Rub armani.ur-rub@oldvictheatre.com     

  • Friday February 17

LONDON: Medea (@sohoplace) February 11-April 22, press night February17. Dominic Cooke directs his second production for his new independent theatre company Fictionhouse which he co-founded with producer Kate Horton, following Good that recently completed its run at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Sophie Okonedo and Ben Daniels, two actors he has regularly worked with, star as Medea and Jason/Creon/Aegeus respectively. They are joined by Marion Bailey, Penny Layden, Jo McInnes and Amy Trigg. In a press statement, Cooke has said, “I have been friends with Sophie Okonedo since we were in our teens. We’ve worked together many times including on Arabian Nights at the Young Vic in 1998 and The Hollow Crown: Wars of the Roses for the BBC in 2015. Sophie is one of our most visceral, emotionally connected actors and I have long thought she’d be a brilliant Medea. I am over the moon that it’s now happening as the second West End production for Fictionhouse, run by Kate Horton and myself. I’m also really looking forward to working again with the super talented Ben Daniels after our hugely fulfilling collaboration on The Normal Heart at the National Theatre. Ben and Sophie have been an explosive onstage partnership in the past and I can’t wait to see them playing these iconic roles together in Nica Burns’ thrilling new auditorium @sohoplace.” Press contacts: Kitty Greenleaf kitty@joallanpr.com, Jo Allan Jo@joallanpr.com, Freya Cowdry freya@joallanpr.com. Website: https://sohoplace.org/whats-on/medea

LONDON: Bat out of Hell – The Musical (Peacock Theatre) February 17-April 1, 2023. Previously seen in London at the Coliseum and Dominion Theatres in 2017-2019, Bat out of Hell returns to London as part of its current UK and Ireland tour that began in September 2021. This tour is dedicated to the memory of its composer Jim Steinman, who sadly passed away on April 19 2021, and its original star Meat Loaf, who passed away on January 20, 2022.  The production is directed by Jay Scheib, with choreography adapted by Xena Gusthart, and set and costume design by Jon Bausor. Press contact: Sarah Wharton at Amanda Malpass PR, sarah@amandamalpass.com. Website: https://www.batoutofhellmusical.com/uk-tour

Monday February 20

LONDON: Trouble in Butetown (Donmar Warehouse) February 10-March 25, press night February 20.  Tinuke Craig directs the world premiere of Diana Nneka Atuona’s play set in an illegal boarding house in Cardiff’s Button, during the Second World War. Press contact: Kate Morley, kate@katemorleypr.com; Website: https://booking.donmarwarehouse.com/events/9201AHVHRSJHSLBLCDVNMMJTBCSRGGTMK?_ga=2.261643146.649449794.1665478808-973653908.1665478808

Tuesday February 21

LONDON: Romeo and Julie (National’s Dorfman Theatre) February 14-April 1, press night February 9. Rachel O’Riordan directs a new play by Gary Owen, inspired by Romeo and Juliet. It is co-produced with Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre, where Owen and O’Riordan previously collaborated on Iphigenia in Splott (currently being revived at Lyric Hammersmith, which O’Riordan now runs. The cast is led by Callum Scott Howells and Rosie Sheehy in the title roles, joined by Catrin Aaron, Paul Brennen and Anita Reynold. Press contact: Ruth Greenwood, rgreenwood@nationaltheatre.org.uk. Website:  https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/romeo-and-julie

  • Wednesday February 22

LONDON: Women, Beware the Devil (Almeida Theatre) February 11-March 25, press night February 22. Rupert Goold directs the world premiere of a play by Lulu Raczka, described as a “deadly new play of treachery and trickery.” The cast features Leo Bill, Carly-Sophia Davies, Aurora Dawson-Hunte, Ioanna Kimbook, Nathan Laryea, Lydia Leonard, Alison Oliver and Lola Shalam. Press contact: Press contact: Didi Ralph at Emma Holland PR. didi@emmahollandpr.com Website: https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/women-beware-the-devil/11-feb-2023-25-mar-2023

  • Friday February 24

LONDON: The Walworth Farce (Southwark Playhouse Elephant, February 17-March 18, press night February 24. The first major new production at the brand-new Southwark Playhouse Elephant, following two community shows, is a revival of Enda Walsh’s play, directed by Nicky Allpress. Walworth Road, where the play is set, is on the theatre’s doorstep. Located on Dante Place in SE11, it houses two spaces: a reconfigurable auditorium that seats up to 310 people; and a youth and community space, exclusively for the use of Southwark Playhouse’s extensive community and participation work. The new theatre will run concurrently with its existing venue, renamed Southwark Playhouse Borough, on Newington Causeway SE1. Press contact: Jessica Clot jessica.clot@southwarkplayhouse.co.uk. Website: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/the-walworth-farce/

Tuesday February 28

LONDON: Oklahoma! (Wyndham’s Theatre) February 16-September 2, press night February 28. Daniel Fish’s Tony winning Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, re-orchestrated and re-imagined for the 21st century, transfers to the West End, after previously having a sell-out run at the Young Vic in May 2022. Press contact: Kate Morley, kate@katemorleypr.com Website: https://www.Oklaoklahomawestend.com/

  • Wednesday March 1

LONDON: Shirley Valentine (Duke of York’s) February 16-May 6. Sheridan Smith returns to the West End in the title role of Willy Russell’s 1986 play that was premiered in Liverpool and subsequently opened in the West End (with Pauline Collins taking over the title role, that she subsequently also played on Broadway and in the 1989 film version). It was last seen in London in a production at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2010 starring Meera Syal that also transferred to the West End.  This new production is directed by Matthew Dunster and produced by David Pugh. Press contact: Simon Raw, Emily Webb, Daniel O’Carroll at Raw PR, simon@rawpr.co.uk,   emily@rawpr.co.uk,  daniel@rawpr.co.uk. Website: https://shirleyvalentineonstage.com/

  • Thursday March 2

The Merchant of Venice (1936) (Watford Palace Theatre) February 27-March 11, press night March 2, then Home, Manchester, March 15-25, press night March 16. Tracy-Ann Oberman and Brigid Larmour’s re-imagining of Shakespeare’s play, relocating the action to London’s East End in the 1930s, receives its world premiere, with Oberman playing Shylock and Hannah Morrish as Portia. Press contact: Flavia Fraser-Cannon at Mobius, flavia@mobiusindustries.com; Websites: Watford https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/the-merchant-of-venice-1936/; Manchester https://homemcr.org/prodTracuction/the-merchant-of-venice-1936/

  • Saturday March 4

LONDON: Bonnie & Clyde (Garrick Theatre) March 4-May 20. Frank Wildhorn’s short-lived 2011 Broadway musical — which ran for just one month then — gets an extended life in London, transferring after its recent Arts Theatre run to the Garrick around the corner for an 11-week season, in Nick Winston’s production that was originally staged as a one-nighter at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Frances Mayli McCann and Jordan Luke Gage will reprise the title roles that they previously played at the Arts. Press contacts: Raw PR: Emily Webb emily@rawpr.co.uk  Simon Raw  simon@rawpr.co.uk. Website: https://bonnieandclydemusical.com/

  • Monday March 6

LONDON: The Great British Bake Off Musical (Noel Coward Theatre) February 25-May 13, press night March 6. The TV baking show comes to the stage in a musical first seen at Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre in August, starring John Owen Jones as Phil Hollinghurst, the esteemed blue-eyed, silver-fox judge, joined by Haydn Gwynn as a fellow judge. The presenters are played by Scott Paige and Zoe Birkett, with Claire Moore, Catriana Sandison, Charlotte Wakefield, Damian Humbley, Jay Saighal, Michael Cahill, Aharon Rayner and Grace Mouat as the contestants. Rachel Kavanaugh directs the show, which is written by Jake Brunger (book and lyrics) and Pippa Cleary (music and lyrics). Press contact: George Franks george@borkowski.co.uk, Dee McCourt dee@borkowski.co.uk,  Website: https://bakeoffthemusical.com/

  • Thursday March 9

BROADWAY: A Doll’s House (Hudson Theatre) February 13 to June 4, opening night March 9. Jessica Chastain stars as Nora Helmer in Jamie Lloyd’s new production of Ibsen’s play, presented in a new version by Amy Herzog, that was originally due to premiere in London in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. It now opens on Broadway instead. Chastain is joined by joined by Arian Moayed (Stewy in TV’s Succession) as Torvald Helmer, Jesmille Darbouze as Kristine Linde, Tasha Lawrence as Anne-Marie,,Michael Patrick Thornton as Dr. Rank and Okieriete Onaodowan as Nils Krogstad. The Jamie Lloyd Company production is co-produced on Broadway by Ambassador Theatre Group, Gavin Kalin Productions, and Wessex Grove, Press contacts: Rick Miramontez / Aaron Meier / Briana Sanchez / Timmy Boyko rick@omdkc.com / aaron@omdkc.com / briana@omdkc.com / timmy@omdkc.com Website: https://adollshousebroadway.com/ 

  • Tuesday March 14

LONDON: Guys and Dolls (Bridge Theatre) March 3-September 2, 2023, press night March 14. Nicholas Hytner directs a new “immersive” production of the Broadway classic Guys and Dolls, based on Damon Runyon’s stories and characters, with a score by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. The production is choreographed by Arlene Phillips, with designs by Bunny Christie. The cast is led by Daniel Mays (as Nathan Detroit), Andrew Richardson (Sky Masterson), Celinde Schoenmaker (Sarah Brown) and Marisha Wallace (Miss Adelaide). Press contacts: Janine Shalom/Grace Barber at Premier Communications. Janine.shalom@premiercomms.com or Grace.barber@premiercomms.com  Website: https://bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/guys-and-dolls/

  • Wednesday March 15

LONDON: Marjorie Prime (Menier Chocolate Factory) March 9-May 6, press night March 15. UK premiere for Jordan Harrison’s 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist, premiered at LA’s Mark Taper Forum in2 014 and subsequently seen at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights’ Horizons. The play explores the mysteries of human identity and the limits — if any — of what technology can replace. It’s the age of artificial intelligence, and 85-year-old Marjorie — a jumble of disparate, fading memories — has a handsome new companion who’s programmed to feed the story of her life back to her. What would we remember, and what would we forget, if given the chance? Press contact: Kate Morley, kate@katemorleypr.com

Thursday March 16

BROADWAY: Parade (Bernard B Jacobs Theatre) Previews from February 21, opening night March 16. Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond reprise their performances as Leo Frank and his wife in Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry’s 1998 musical that they first gave in Michael Arden’s revival at New York City Center in the autumn.In a press statement, Brown and Uhry have commented, “Alfred Uhry and Jason Robert Brown said, “Twenty-five years ago, we were honored to bring the story of Leo Frank to the musical stage, guided by our visionary director, Hal Prince. It was an extraordinary gift to watch a whole new audience connect with Parade at City Center under the thrilling direction of a new visionary: Michael Arden. We couldn’t be more grateful that this production is now moving to Broadway where even more people will get to see Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond deliver phenomenal performances and lead this large and gifted cast.”  Press contacts:  Rick Miramontez / Aaron Meier / Amanda Meyer / Ellie Detweiler at O&M; rick@omdkc.com / aaron@omdkc.com / amanda@omdkc.com / ellie@omdkc.com.  Website: https://paradebroadway.com/

  • Sunday March 19

BROADWAY: Dancin’ (Music Box Theatre). Previews from March 2, opening March 19. The dance revue celebrating the work of choreographer Bob Fosse that was originally premiered ion Broadway in 1978, returns, with one of the stars of the original production Wayne Cilento, now directing, re-imagined for the 21st century. It recently played at San Diego’s Old Globe.  Press contact: Rick Miramontez / Gerilyn Shur / Evie Freeman at O&M,  rick@omdkc.com / gerilyn@omdkc.com / evie@omdkc.com. Website: https://dancinbway.com/

Thursday March 23

BROADWAY: Bad Cinderella (Imperial Theatre) Previews from February 17, opening night March 23. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cinderella that had a troubled West End gestation and shortened run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre that saw a replacement cast for the original company dismissed before they began rehearsals earlier this year now transfers to Broadway, re-titled Bad Cinderella. It will star newcomer Linedy Genao, replacing Carrie Hope Fletcher in the title role. It is being brought to Broadway by producers he musical is produced on Broadway by No Guarantees (Christine Schwarzman, President; Darren Johnston, Executive Vice President) and Really Useful Group, with Wagner Johnson Productions serving as Executive Producers. In a press statement,  Mrs. Schwarzman commented, “We are honored to be introducing this modern Cinderella story to Broadway, and it is a dream come true to work with Andrew Lloyd Webber, especially on a score that sits among his very best. Working with this extraordinary creative team, we’ve created a new Cinderella for today’s audience. It’s so joyful and unique; we can’t wait to share it!” Lloyd Webber adds: “We have been working hard on a few new songs for our Broadway opening and, with such brilliant team, led by the spectacular Linedy, I know this is going to be really special.” Press contacts: Rick Miramontez / Marie Bshara / Kendall Edwards rick@omdkc.com / marie@omdkc.com / kendall@omdkc.com. Website: https://badcinderellabroadway.com/

  • Sunday March 26: 

BROADWAY: Sweeney Todd (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre) Previews from February 26, opening night March 26. Josh Groban plays the title role, with Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs Lovett, in a new Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s 1979 musical. It is directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton), with choreography by Steven Hoggett. Press contact: Matt Ross PR,  Matt@mattrosspr.com. Website: https://sweeneytoddbroadway.com/

  • Thursday March 30

LONDON: A Little Life (Harold Pinter Theatre) March 25-June 18, press night March 30, following a run at Richmond Theatre, March 24-28. Ivo van Hove brings his stage version of Hanya Hanagihara’s novel to London, re-staged with a British cast in the play’s English language premiere, after previously presenting his original Dutch production at the Edinburgh International Festival in the summer.  The cast is led by James Norton as Jude St Francis, the lawyer whose traumatic past the play uncovers. Also in cast are Luke Thompson, Omari Douglas, Zach Wyatt, Elliot Cowan, Zubin Varla, Nathalie Armin and Emilio Doorgasingh. The lead producers are Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Playful Productions.  Press contact: Kate Morley, kate@katemorleypr.com. Website: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/a-little-life/

BROADWAY: Life of Pi (Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre) Previews from March 9, opening night March 30. The hit West End stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel, written by Lolita Chakrabarti still running at Wyndham’s in a production directed by Max Webster, transfers to Broadway. It has sets and costumes by Tim Hatley, and puppetry and movement design by Finn Caldwell. Press contacts: Matt Polk / Wayne Wolfe / Lilly Claar / Nina Chae-Gordon at Polk and Co. Website: https://lifeofpibway.com/

  • Tuesday April 4

LONDON: The Secret Life of Bees (Almeida Theatre) April 4-May 27, press night to be announced. UK premiere of a musical, originally premiered at New York’s Atlantic Theatre, with a book by Lynn Nottage, music by Duncan Sheik, and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd. Set in South Carolina in 1964, it is about a group of women ignited by rebellion and longing for acceptance. It will be directed by Whitney White. Press contact: Alexander Milward, amilard@almeida.co.uk Website: https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/the-secret-life-of-bees/4-apr-2023-27-may-2023

BROADWAY: Shucked (Nederlander Theatre) Previews from March 8, opening April 4. New original musical comedy, with a book by Tony winner Robert Horn (Tootsie) and score by Nashville songwriting team Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, will be directed by Jack O’Brien and feature John Behlmann, Kevin Cahoon, Andrew Durand, Caroline Innerbichler, Ashley D. Kelley and Alex Newell in the cast. In a joint statement, Horn, Clark and McAnally have commented, “Shucked is a passion project. There was something about this idea, this style of humor and this music, that kept this little engine going. What will be on stage at the Nederlander is a story about how we all have the gift of heroism inside us, and about learning to open our hearts to those who are different than us so that growth can happen… and of course, about corn… because the basic thing that unity and acceptance need for survival, is a kernel of truth.” Press contact: Rick Miramontez / Aaron Meier / Briana Sanchez / Timmy Boyko at O&M,  rick@omdkc.com / aaron@omdkc.com / briana@omdkc.com / timmy@omdkc.com. 

  • Wednesday April 5

REGIONAL: The SpongeBob Musical (Mayflower Theatre, Southampton), April 5-8,  then touring, including London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, July 26-August 26. The 2017 Broadway musical based on the Nickelodeon TV series launches a UK tour. Written by Kyle Jarrow and conceived by Tina Landau, it features original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I. Press contacts: Raw PR simon@rawpr.co.uk, emily@rawpr.co.uk, daniel@rawpr.co.uk. Website:  https://www.spongebobstage.com/

Thursday April 6

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial (Ambassadors) April 6-May 20. Transfer of the verabatim play from Wyndham’s, where it has been playing a limited run of once-a-week performances on the dark night of Life of Pi, for a longer  run. Adapted from seven days of High Court transcripts by Liv Hennessy (finalist in the Paines Plough’s Women’s Prize for Playwriting) and directed by Lisa Spirling (Artistic Director of Theatre503), it is produced by Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Eileen Davidson Productions. Press contact; Chloe Pritchard-Gordon at About Grace PR, chloe@aboutgracepr.com; Website: https://wagathaplay.com/

  • Tuesday April 11

REGIONAL: Richard III (Liverpool Playhouse) April 6-22, press night April 11, then Rose Theatre, Kingston, April 26-May 13, press night April 27. Adjoa Andoh directs and plays the title role in a co-production between Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and Kingston’s Rose Theatre. According to the press release, “Reflecting on her own childhood in rural England in the 1960s, Adjoa Andoh sets out to explore how pathologising the body and ascribing evil intent due to a person’s physical appearance can wear away at the soul.” She has commented, “Richard is a character I have loved since childhood. Growing up in a tiny Cotswold village in the 1960s & 70s, I immediately felt a connection to someone singled out because of their appearance. On first reading Shakespeare’s play as a child, I was outraged at the way Richard was portrayed, but now appreciate one of the questions Shakespeare posits – what happens to a person and their sense of self, if throughout their life bad intentions are ascribed to them based solely on their appearance? I call this body pathologising. It happens to many people in many circumstances across the world to this day, and in this production, I want to explore the story, and that question through the lens of race.” Press contacts: for Liverpool, Martin Shippen shippen.martin@gmail.com; for the Rose, Freya Cowdry freya@joallanpr.com. Website: Liverpool, https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/whats-on/richard-iii; Kingston, https://rosetheatre.org/whats-on/richard-iii

Wednesday April 12


BROADWAY: Fat Ham (American Airlines Theatre) Previews from March 21, opening night April 12. James Ijames’s 2022 Pulitzer Prize winning play based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet reaches Broadway after premiering at the Public Theater in 2022. Saheem Ali directs. Press contacts: Matt Polk, Jeffrey Fauver, Chaliece Dillon at Polk and Co. Website: https://www.fathambroadway.com/

  • Thursday April 13

BROADWAY: Camelot (Vivian Beaumont Theatre) Previews from March 9, opening April 13. Lincoln Center Theatre presents a revival of Lerner and Loewe’s 1960 musical, starring Andrew Burnap (Tony winner as Best Actor in a Play for The Inheritance in 2021) as King Arthur, Phillipa Soo as Guinevere and Jordan Donica as Lancelot Du Lac, directed by Bartlett Sher and presented in a new version by Aaron Sorkin. A 30-piece orchestra will perform the original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett and Philip J. Lang. Press contact: Nick Buchholtz Nick.Buchholz@lct.org. Website: https://www.lct.org/shows/camelot/

Tuesday April 18

LONDON: Dancing at Lughnasa (National’s Olivier Theatre)  April 6-May 27, press night April 18. Josie Rourke directs a revival of Brian Friel’s 1990 play,, originally premiered at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre and subsequently transferring to the National in 1991 and then Broadway in 1992. It was last revived in London in a production at the Old Vic in 2011 that featured real-life sisters  Sorcha, Niamh and Sinéad Cusack as three of the unmarried five sisters at the heart of the play. The National’s new production will feature  Siobhán McSweeney, Louisa Harland, Bláithín Mac Gabhann, Justine Mitchell, Alison Oliver, Ardal O’Hanlon and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor. Choreography is by Wayne McGregor. Press contact: Louisa Terry at National Theatre, lterry@nationaltheatre.org.uk. Website: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/dancing-at-lughnasa

  • Wednesday April 19

LONDON: Village Idiot (Theatre Royal Stratford East) April 13-May 6, press night April 19. Nadia Fall directs Samson Hawkins’s play, set in a South Northamptonshire village, about family feuds. It is co-produced with Nottingham Playhouse and Ramps on the Moon. Press contact: Freya Cowdry, freya@joallanpr.com

BROADWAY: Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ethel Barrymore Theatre) Previews from March 17, opening night April 19. Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields’s version of JM Barrie’s play, first seen at London’s Pleasance Theatre in 2013 before Christmas West End runs in 2015 and 2016, makes its Broadway debut, with the authors co-starring along with other Mischief Theatre regulars. It is directed by Adam Meggido, and produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, Kenny Wax, Stage Presence, and Catherine Schreiber. Press contacts: Adrian Bryan-Brown / Jackie Green / Angela Yamarone. Website: https://pangoeswrongbway.com/

  • Thursday April 20

LONDON: Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations (Prince Edward Theatre) Previews from March 31, opens April 20. Des McAnuff’s Broadway production transfers to the West End, reuniting the creative team that includes choreography by Sergio Trujilio that won him the 2019 Tony Award. In a press statement, Otis Williams, the group’s founding member and an executive producer of the show said, “The UK has always loved our music and embraces it as much today as it did 60 years ago. All of us involved with the show can’t wait to share this very production with you all.” Press contact: Simon Raw, Emily Webb or Daniel O Carroll simon@rawpr.co.uk; emily@rawpr.co.uk; daniel@rawpr.co.uk. Website: https://www.princeedwardtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/aint-too-proud

LONDON: The Meaning of Zong (Barbican Theatre) April 20-23. Actor-turned-playwright Giles Terera’s debut play, originally premiered at Bristol Old Vic, comes to London, with Terera reprising his own performance in it which recently won him the 2022 UK Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Play. Based on real-life events of a massacre aboard a slave ship that led the abolition movement in the UK, it is co-directed by Tom Morris and Terera. Press contact: Anna Arthur anna@annaarthurpr.com. Website: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2023/event/the-meaning-of-zong-giles-terera

  • Sunday April 23

BROADWAY: Prima Facie (Golden Theatre) Previews from April 11, opening April 23. Jodie Comer reprises her West End star turn in Susie Miller’s solo play, directed by Justin Martin, for a limited 10 week run. In a press statement, Comer has commented,  “I cannot wait to continue the journey with Prima Facie on Broadway this coming spring. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine having the opportunity to play on Broadway with a story as unique and thought provoking as this one. I’m honored that a theatre as rich in history as the Golden Theatre will be home to it.” Press contacts:  Jim Byk/Kelly Guiod/Louisa Pancoast/Nina M. Ward at the Press Room. Website: https://primafacieplay.com/

  • Monday April 24

BROADWAY: Good Night, Oscar (Belasco Theatre) Previews from April 7, opening night April 24. Sean Hayes stars as Oscar Levant — Hollywood actor, concert pianist, and the most subversive wit ever to appear on television during its Golden Age — in Doug Wright’s new play, directed by Lisa Petersen. Press contacts: Adrian Bryan-Brown /Jackie Green/ Faith Maciole at Boneau/Bryan Brown. Website: https://goodnightoscar.com/

Tuesday April 25

LONDON: Dixon and Daughters (National’s Dorfman Theatre) April 15-June 3, press night April 25.  Róisin McBrinn directs Deborah Bruce’s new play, co-produced by Clean Break, the ground-breaking company producing theatre with and about women affected by the criminal justice system.In the play, Mary has just been released from prison. She wants to come home and forget all about it, but Briana has other ideas. Over a tumultuous two days a family is forced to confront not just their past but themselves. Because even if you refuse to hear the truth, the truth doesn’t go away. The cast includes Alison Fitzjohn, Yazmin Kayani, Andrea Lowe, Posy Sterling and Liz White. Press contact: Camilla Dervan at National Theatre, CDervan@nationaltheatre.org.uk. Website: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/dixon-and-daughters

  • Wednesday April 26

BROADWAY: New York, New York (St James Theatre) Previews from March 24, opening night April 26. Susan Stroman directs and choreographs a new musical, featuring the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb written for the 1977 movie musical of the same name, with an original story by original story by David Thompson with Sharon Washington and additional lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Press contacts: Matt Polk / Colgan McNeil /Alex Seeley / Nicolette Carcaldi at Polk & Co. Website: https://newyorknewyorkbroadway.com/

Tuesday May 2

LONDON: The Motive and the Cue (National’s Lytttelton Theatre) April 20-June 10, press night May 2. Sam Mendes directs a new play by Jack Thorne, inspired by the making of Burton and Gielgud’s Hamlet. The cast includes Johnny Flynn as Burton, Mark Gatiss as Gielgud and Tuppence Middleton as Elizabeth Taylor. The cast also includes Allan Corduner, Ryan Ellsworth, Aysha Kala, Luke Norris, Michael Walters and Laurence Ubong Williams. The play is inspired by William Redfield’s Letters from an Actor and Richard L. Sterne’s John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet. It  was commissioned by Neal Street Productions and has been developed and co-produced by the National Theatre and Neal Street Productions.Press contact: Camilla Dervan at National Theatre, CDervan@nationaltheatre.org.uk. Website: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-motive-and-the-cue

  • Tuesday May 9

LONDON: Operation Mincemeat (Fortune Theatre) March 29-July 8, press night May 9. SpitLip theatre company, comprising David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts, bring their fringe hit, originally premiered at the New Diorama before going on to extended runs at Southwark Playhouse and then Riverside Studios earlier this year, to the West End, newly directed by Rob Hastie and choreographed by Jenny Arnold.  It is presented in the West End by Avalon in association with SpitLip. In press materials, the show is described thus: “The year is 1943 and we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse.  Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Noel Coward meets Noel Fielding, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. The question is, how did a well-dressed corpse wrong-foot Hitler?” Press contact: Victoria Wedderburn at Avalon, VWedderburgn@avalonuk.com. Website: https://www.operationmincemeat.com/

  • Wednesday May 17

LONDON: Once on this Island (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park) May 10-June 10, press night May 17. Ahrens and Flaherty’s 1990 Broadway musical based on Rosa Guy’s novel My Love, My Love is revived in a new production by director Ola Ince to open this year’s summer season at Regent’s Park. Press contact; James Lever, james@joallanpr.com. Website: https://openairtheatre.com/production/once-on-this-island

42nd Street (Curve, Leicester) May 17-June 3, then Sadler’s Wells, June 7-July 2, then touring. Jonathan Church will direct a new production of the Broadway classic, co-produced by Curve and Sadler’s Wells. Choreography will be by Bill Deamer, with design by Rob Jones. Press contact: Simon Raw, Emily Webb, Daniel O’Carroll simon@rawpr.co.uk, emily@rawpr.co.uk, daniel@rawpr.co.uk

  • Thursday May 25

LONDON: Aspects of Love (Lyric Theatre) Previews from May 12, press night May 25. Michael Ball reunites with director Jonathan Kent, who previously collaborated on a Chichester revival of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, for a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1989 musical Aspects of Love, based on the novel by David Garnett and featuring lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart. Ball starred in the original production as the young romantic lead Alex; now he will play the older man George. In a press statement, he asks: “We are just at the start of our journey so the big question is will I be singing my favourite song Love Changes Everything – what do you think? All will be revealed soon…”. Press contact: David Bloom at Storyhouse,  david.bloom@storyhousepr.co.uk.. Website: https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/aspects-of-love/

  • Friday June 2

LONDON: We will Rock You (London Coliseum) June 2-August 27. The jukebox musical constructed out of the back catalogue of Queen, featuring some 24 of their greatest hits and a script by Ben Elton which ran for over 12 years at the Dominion from 2002, returns to London for a summer season. Press contact: Emma Harlen at Neil Reading PR Emma@neilreadingpr.com; Website:  https://wewillrockyoulondon.co.uk/

  • Tuesday June 6

LONDON: Patriots (Noel Coward Theatre) May 26-June 19, press night June 6. Peter Morgan’s play, originally premiered at the Almeida, transfers to the West End, with Rupert Goold directing a cast that has Tom Hollander reprising his performance as Boris Berezovsky, the ‘kingmaker’ behind Vladimir Putin, with Will Keen also returning to play Putin and Luke Thallon as Abramovich. Press contact: Emma Holland, emma@emmahollandpr.com. Website: http://patriotstheplay.com/

  • Thursday June 8

LONDON: Groundhog Day (Old Vic Theatre) May 20-August 12, press night June 8. The 2017 musical based on the 1993 film returns to the London theatre where it originally premiered before transferring to Broadway in 2018. With music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Danny Rubin, who also wrote the original film, it is directed by Matthew Warchus, and will have Andy Karl reprising his Olivier Award winning performance as Pittsburgh television weatherman Phil Connors. Press contact: Armani r-Rub at Old Vic, armani.ur-rub@oldvictheatre.com, Katie Marsh, katie.marsh@oldvictheatre.com Website: https://www.oldvictheatre.com/

  • Thursday June 22

LONDON: Mrs Doubtfire (Shaftesbury Theatre) Previews from May 12, opens June 22. The fast Broadway flop version of the 1993 film comes to the West End, after a try-out at Manchester’s Opera House earlier this year, with Gabriel Vick starring in the Robin Williams role of Daniel Hillard, who — engaged in a custody battle with his ex-wife — disguises himself as a Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire to stay in his children’s lives.  The cast will also feature Carla Dixon-Hernandez, Cameron Blakely, Marcus Collins and Ian Talbot, under the direction of Jerry Zaks. Press contact: Lewis Jenkins at Storehouse, lewis.jenkins@storyhousepr.co.uk Website: https://www.mrsdoubtfiremusical.co.uk/

LONDON: Tambo & Bones (Theatre Royal Stratford East) June 16-July 15, 2023, press night June 22. Matthew Xia directs the UK premiere of Dave Harris’s off-Broadway play about two characters trapped in a minstrel show, co-produced by Stratford East with Actors Touring Company that Xia leads. According to the press release, the play – part distorted clown-show, part spectacular hip-hop concert, part absurdist Afro-futuristic lecture (with robots!) – interrogates the commodification and commercialisation of Black pain in a satirical roller coaster of a show. Press contact: Diana Whitehead at Fourth Wall diana@fourthwallpr.co.uk

BROADWAY: Once Upon a One More Time (Marquis Theatre) Previews from May 13, opening night June 22. An original musical “empowered by the hits of Britney Spears”, scripted by Jon Hartmere. Press contact: Vivacity Media, hello@vivacityny.com. Website: https://onemoretimemusical.com/

  • Friday June 23

LONDON: Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-Written (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park) June 17-July 22, press night June 23. Melly Still directs Carl Grose’s new take on the classic tale, told (according to the press release) with epic storytelling, stirring songs, and absolutely no green tights (well, maybe just a flash). Press contact; James Lever, james@joallanpr.com. Website: https://openairtheatre.com/production/robin-hood

  • Monday July 3

LONDON: Crazy for You (Gillian Lynne Theatre) Previews from June 24, press night July 3. Last summer’s Chichester Festival Theatre revival of the Gershwin musical makeover transfers to the West End, with its Chichester stars Charlie Stemp, Carly Anderson and Tom Edden reprising their roles. The production is directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, who was also the show’s original choreographer. In a press statement, its co-producers Joey Parnes, Sally Horchow and Michael Harrison commented, “Susan Stroman’s exuberant production of Crazy For You was the most infectiously joyful show of the year. Charlie and Carly’s performances brought both great romance and spectacle to its heart, and Tom Edden was absolutely hilarious! We are so thrilled that London audiences will now be able to experience this dazzling musical in the superb setting of the Gillian Lynne Theatre.” Press contact: David Bloom/ Lewis Jenkins at Storehouse PR, david.bloom@storyhousepr.co.uk,  lewis.jenkins@storyhousepr.co.uk. Website: https://crazyforyoumusical.com/

REGIONAL: In Dreams (Leeds Playhouse’s Courtyard Theatre) July 3-August 5, press night to be announced. New musical structured around the back catalogue of Roy Orbison, written by David West Read, who also wrote the book for the Max Martin jukebox musical & Juliet, and reunites him with Luke Sheppard, who also directed & Juliet. According to the press release, the show explores legacy and how we would like to be remembered. Read has commented, “When I was growing up in Canada, the iconic music of Roy Orbison was playing on repeat in my household, and it has been a lifelong ambition of mine to build a contemporary musical around his classic songs. To bring this show to the Leeds audience, in this theatre, in this moment, is quite literally a dream come true.” Press contact: Rachel Marriner rachel.marriner@leedsplayhouse.org.uk. Website:  https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/in-dreams/

  • Thursday July 6

LONDON: The Wizard Of Oz (London Palladium) Previews from June 23, opens July 6. The 2011 stage version of the iconic film that was originally premiered at the London Palladium, featuring additional new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, returns to the venue, in a new production directed by Nikolai Foster that is currently premiering at Curve in Leicester (where Foster is artistic director) as their Christmas attraction. Co-produced by Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group, who have recently announced a creative partnership, Harrison has commented, “The London Palladium is the home of the summer blockbuster musical, and there really will be no place like the Palladium for Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion, as they embark on their journey down the Yellow Brick Road. Nikolai Foster and his team have created a new and magical production of this beloved musical, and we can’t wait to open the doors to audiences from next June.” Casting is still be announced.  Press contacts: David Bloom david.bloom@storyhousepr.co.uk and Rebecca Byers rebecca.byers@storyhousepr.co.uk Website: https://wizardofozmusical.com/

  • Thursday July 13

REGIONAL: Miss Saigon (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield) July 8-August 12, press night July 13. First regional non-replica production of the 1989 Boublil and Schönberg’s musical retelling of Madame Butterfly set during the Vietnam war, originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh and premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where it ran for a decade. This new production is reimagined by Crucible artistic director Robert Hastie and RTYDS Associate Director Anthony Lau. It will star Jonanna Ampil, who previously played the role of Kim in the West End, Australia and on a UK tour, will play the Engineer. In a press statement, Anthony Lau has commented, “Robert Hastie and I are thrilled to be directing a new version of the musical, Miss Saigon. With one of the most extraordinary scores in musical theatre history, we are looking forward to offering a fresh perspective on a musical that so many people have an opinion on. We want this project to ignite conversation and Cameron [Mackintosh] has encouraged us to be bold and original in our approach. The subject matter compels us to delve sensitively and deeply into the complications of two cultures entwined. At a time when it feels like there is more division than ever in society, epic stories like this give us the opportunity to embrace nuance and complexity in exploring the human experience.” Press contacts: James Lever  james@joallanpr.com, Kitty Greenleaf kitty@joallanpr.com, Jo Allan jo@joallanpr.com. Website: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/Mis miss-saigon

Thursday July 20

BROADWAY: Here Lies Love (Broadway Theatre) Previews from June 17, opening night July 20. David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s immersive disco pop musical, first seen at the Public Theatre in 2013 and then receiving its UK premiere at the NT’s Dorfman, transfers to Broadway at last. Charting the rise and fall of Philippines’ first lady Imelda Marcos, it is directed by Alex Timbers and choreographed by Annie-B Parson. It will transform the venue’s traditional proscenium floor space into a dance club environment, where audiences will stand and move with the actors. A wide variety of standing and seating options will be available throughout the theater’s reconstructed space. Press contact: : Adrian Bryan-Brown / Michelle Farabaugh at Boneau/Bryan-Brown. Website: https://herelieslovebroadway.com/

  • Thursday August 3

BROADWAY: Back to the Future: The Musical (Winter Garden Theatre) Previews from June 30, opening night August 3. The current West End hit stage version of the 1985 film, now running at the Adelphi, transfers to Broadway, in John Rando’s production. Press contacts: Matt Polk / Colgan McNeil / Alex Seeley / Nicolette Cacaldi at Polk & Co. Website: https://www.backtothefuturemusical.com/new-york/

  • Tuesday August 8

LONDON: La Cage Aux Folles (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park) July 29-September 16, press night August 8. Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman’s 1983 musical, based on the play by Jean Poiret, is revived at Regent’s Park by artistic director Timothy Sheader.  Press contact: James Lever, james@joallanpr.com. Website: https://openairtheatre.com/production/la-cage-aux-folles

  • Tuesday August 22

LONDON: Next to Normal (Donmar Warehouse) Donmar artistic director Michael Longhurst directs the UK premiere of Tom Kitt and Michael Yorkey’s 2009 Broadway musical, which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, that revolves around a suburban wife and mother living with bipolar disorder. Press contact: Kate Morley, kate@katemorleypr.com; Website: https://booking.donmarwarehouse.com/events/9601AVDDJDNPPDCBTDGNSVVJSTBLBSPNQ?_ga=2.234789657.649449794.1665478808-973653908.1665478808

  • Thursday September 15

REGIONAL: Boys from the Backstuff (Royal Court, Liverpool) September 15 to October 28. 40 years on from Alan Bleadale’s ground-breaking TV series, James Graham adapts it for the stage in a new production that will be directed by Stockroom artistic director Kate Wasserberg. In a press statement, Graham has commented, “Alan Bleasdale is one of the reasons I became a writer. Watching his work as I was growing up, hearing those voices and seeing those worlds, meant a lot to someone from my background. I could never have dared dream that years later I would be working with him, and on his most famous, heartbreaking, hilarious masterpiece. But Alan is the most generous and supportive of collaborators and it’s been one of the honours of my writing life thus far to work on this show.” Press contact: David Burns, david@davidburnspr.com

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