If you’re a fan of Les Misérables, Dear Evan Hansen, or Tina–boy have we got news for you! Discover it all in your weekly London theatre scoop.
Michael Ball will play Javert in a concert production of Les Misérables this summer, joined by Alfie Boe, John Owen-Jones, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas. Ball played Marius in the original production of Les Misérables at the Barbican in 1985, and on Broadway. Alfie Boe and John Owen-Jones will share the role of Jean Valjean, with Carrie Hope Fletcher (who previously played Eponine in the West End) as Fantine and Matt Lucas as Thenardier, a role he played in the 25th anniversary concert at the O2 and in the West End production. But if you dreamed a dream of getting tickets… you might have to dream a little longer. Demand is so high, the ticket booking site for the event has already crashed. Of course, you can always go see the classic production at the Queen’s Theatre.
It’s official. Dear Evan Hansen will begin performances at the Noël Coward Theatre this fall. While the hunt for a perfect cast is still on, the musical is set to begin previews on 27 October, with an opening night of 19 November. Priority tickets (for those who have already registered) go on sale 28 February. General sale begins on 8 April.
The Young Vic announces full casting for Death of a Salesman. Wendell Pierce, making his UK stage debut, will play Willy Loman, with Sharon D. Clarke as Linda Loman and Arinzé Kene as Biff Loman. The rest of the cast includes Ian Bonar as Bernard, Trevor Cooper as Charley, Martins Imhangbe as Happy Loman, Joseph Mydell as Ben Loman, Nenda Neurer as Letta, Jennifer Saayeng as Miss Forsythe, Matthew Seadon-Young as Howard Wagner and Stanley and Maggie Service as the Woman and Jenny. Marianne Elliott (Company, Angels in America) will co-direct the production with Miranda Cromwell. Previews begin on 1 May, with an opening date of 9 May.
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical will release a cast album featuring Adrienne Warren. The first single, “River Deep – Mountain High,” dropped this week.
The Play That Goes Wrong announces a new cast. Now in its fourth year at the Duchess Theatre, the comedy welcomes a new cast that includes Kazeem Tosin Amore, Jake Curran, Catherine Dryden, Bobby Hirston, Benjamin McMahon, Gabriel Paul, Steven Rostance and Elena Valentine. The new cast will take over 26 February.
Kelli O’Hara will return to London in November for a solo concert at Cadogan Hall. A Tony Award-winner who’s also been nominated for an Emmy and two Grammy Awards, O’Hara last wowed London audiences in The King and I. She’ll give two concerts on 10 November 2019. Tickets are on sale now.
& Juliet announces additional casting. Cassidy Janson, Oliver Tomspett, Melanie La Barrie, Arun Blair-Mangat, Jordan-Luke Cage and Tim Mehendran will join Miriam-Teak Lee in this joyous pop musical inspired by Shakespeare’s tragedy.
The Donmar Warehouse production of Sweat will transfer to the West End for a limited run this summer. Starring Tony Award-winner Martha Plimpton, Sweat will give 50 performances at the Gielgud Theatre starting 7 June.
Night of the Living Dead, a new immersive show based on the film, will open later this year in the West End. Audience members will find themselves trapped in an old farmhouse surrounded by zombies. Casting and dates are still to come.
School of Rock is gearing up to celebrate its 1000th performance–and welcome a new cast. On 23 February, the musical will welcome a new cast of young rock stars; and on 6 March, the show will play its 1000th performance. School of Rock is now booking to January 2020.
Over in the United States, I already saw my first musical this year: Fiddler on the Roof in St. Louis. In two weeks, seeing Miss Saigon in Charlotte.
I do have two more musicals I hope to see this year. In September, Charlotte is getting Aladdin, which I haven’t see live; want to see it. In addition trying to back it make to Les Mis when the US Tour comes to Charlotte (which is the 2nd time on tour Charlotte gets it). I am obsessed with Les Mis- already saw it three times in 2013 in Charlotte at Central Piedmont Community College (once with family and twice as an usher), once in 2015 (West End), and once in 2017 (US Tour in Greenville).