As summer winds up and we head into fall, it’s comforting to know that there are lots of great productions to catch in the months ahead. Here’s your weekly round-up of all the latest news in the London theatre scene.
Cameron Mackintosh announces casting for Les Misérables at the newly restored Sondheim Theatre opening 18 December. The cast of the new production will feature Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Fantine, Shan Ako as Eponine, Lily Kerhoas as Cosette, Gerard Carey as Thenardier, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thenardier and Ashley Gilmour as Enjolras. Rachelle Ann Go will play Fantine starting next summer.
Storme Toolis will play the title role in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. Her performance will mark the first time in West End history that a disabled actor has been cast in this play. The production will also star Clarence Smith, Lucy Eaton, Toby Stephens, Claire Skinner and Patricia Hodge. A Day in the Death of Joe Egg runs at Trafalgar Studios from 21 September to 30 November.
Michael Brandon, Brenda Edwards, Martha Watson, Danielle Hope and Clare Halse complete the cast of White Christmas at the Dominion Theatre. They join the previously announced Danny Mac and Dan Burton, both reprising their roles from the Curve, Leicester production. White Christmas runs at the Dominion Theatre from 16 November 2019 to 4 January 2020.
Blithe Spirit, starring Jennifer Saunders, will return to the West End next year. Directed by Sir Richard Eyre, this production of Noël Coward’s classic comedy will run for 6 weeks at the Duke of York’s Theatre, from 5 March to 11 April 2020.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will return to London next summer. After its sold-out run this year, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical will return to the London Palladium from 2 July to 6 September 2020. Casting has yet to be announced.
Sadler’s Wells announces its Spring 2020 season, which includes the world premiere of Message In A Bottle. This new dance theatre show by Kate Prince features Sting’s greatest hits. The season also includes a new Irish dance show from Michael Keegan-Dolan, a new production of The Rite of Spring, and the return of Adam Cooper in Singin’ in the Rain.
Phil Nichol and Melissa Jacques join the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. From 30 September, the production welcomes back Phil Nichol, reprising his role as Hugo/Loco Chanelle from the original West End cast. Melissa Jacques, who has understudied the role of Margaret New for more than a year, will now take over the part full time. Other new cast members include Alexander Archer as Mickey and Tilly La Belle Yengo as Fatimah.
Arcola Theatre announces casting for the London premiere of Meet Me at Dawn. Zinnie Harris’ gripping drama inspired by the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice will star Jessica Hardwick and Marianne Oldham. Murat Databan directs. Meet Me at Dawn runs at Arcola Theatre from 9 October to 9 November.
The cast of The Prince of Egypt gathered this week to perform “When You Believe.” Check it out below! The new musical based on the Dreamworks film opens February 2020.
The Jermyn Street Theatre announces casting for Gail Louw’s The Ice Cream Boys. This political thriller set in South Africa will feature Andrew Frances, Jack Klaff and Bu Kuene. Directed by Vik Sivalingam, The Ice Cream Boys runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre from 9 October to 2 November.
The London transfer of A Prayer for Wings will feature an all-Welsh cast. Sean Mathias’ award-winning play will star Llinos Daniel, Alis Wyn Davies and Luke Rhodri, with Mathias directing. A Prayer for Wings comes to the King’s Head Theatre from 30 October to 23 November.
The Young Vic announces casting for Lauren Yee’s in a word. Directed by Dadiow Lin, the production will star Karl Collins (The Bill, Hollyoaks), Michael Elcock (A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Jill Halfpenny (Coronation Street, EastEnders). A critically acclaimed drama about a woman dealing with her son’s disappearance, in a word runs at the Young Vic 23 October to 2 November.
I am waiting for Blumenthal’s 2019-2020 season (Charlotte’s Professional Theater) to start up- that is especially because that one is a pretty strong season coming up. Blumenthal usually has one to two musicals I strongly want to see, but this time that number is four- for me, that would Les Mis, Anastasia, Frozen, and Wicked. Two are repeats and two are not. Glad Character has Blumenthal Performing Arts or else being a musical theatre fanatic would be harder