With the new High School Musical stage adaptation hitting the West End this summer, it’s time for kids of all ages to get excited and I for one, a 24 year old man, am no exception.

After being forced to watch the film version with my girlfriend and her niece, I was pleasantly suprised at how much I enjoyed it. The story line is a typical American teenage love story with an obvious outcome. However, with the catchy dance moves and sing-a-long songs, I couldn’t believe that I (a man who in the past has rubbished all forms of musical and theatrical productions), loved the film so much. I watched it twice over the same weekend!

In my eyes, this modern day version of Grease, will hopefully be a smash hit and may one day settle in the West End to amaze and thrill audiences for years to come. However, the male population will definitely need some convincing. My proof that all men enjoy the occasional escape from the masculine world, was confirmed with my older and younger brothers obvious enjoyment of the film. Two typical modern day beer swilling, football watching lads (not too dissimilar from myself) suffered the same fate of loving the film!

I would personally advise that grown men with no interest at all in anything remotely musical give this show a chance and if you have kids, then that is all the more reason to let out your inner child and embrace an evening of cheesy fun!

Plus with Letitia Dean playing the role of Ms Darbus, the overtop drama teacher, there is an added bonus for the older gentleman to keep awake! I urge everyone to catch High School Musical at the Hammersmith Apollo whilst you still can, the show is due to close in August. Fingers crossed that it extends its West End run as I would definitely go more than once!

Here’s a quick taster for those who remain unconvinced of the merits of High School Musical, this clip is from the original film version:

Technorati Tags: hammersmith apollo, high school musical, high school musical hammersmith, high school musical on stage, high school musical west end, letitia dean, letitia dean ms darbus, london shows, west end shows

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Hollywood hearthrob Josh Harnett is set to star in a West End reworking of the 1989 movie classic Rain Man. Hartnett will play ‘Charlie’, the role taken in the original by Tom Cruise… the title doesn’t look quite so daft now does it.

Adapted by Dan Gordon, who last year converted Terms of Endearment for the stage, the plot mirrors that of the Oscar winning film. However, according to producer Nick Burns “This is not the film on stage, it’s a theatrical adaptation of what is a really great story.”… I see.

I suppose my only question is, quite simply: WHY?

Why do it? Why adapt a perfectly good film, that EVERYONE has seen, for the stage? Dustin Hoffman only won a flipping Oscar for his outstanding performance; how could you possibly top that? What insight could you bring to the plot after 19 years? If the producers wanted to explore the perception of Autism in today’s society than why don’t they do everyone the common courtesy of staging a new play. The prospect of sitting through a re-hashed yarn that is dragged up to date by clumsily chucking in the odd reference to the internet and mobile phones just makes want to cry salt tears of sheer boredom.

So what, theatre producers think it’s a safe option to stick a well known star into a well known story? It all sounds so crippling dull doesn’t it?

Or am I wrong? Is this just what the West End needs? Let me know what you think.

Technorati Tags: josh hartnett, josh hartnett rain man, rain man, rain man west end, theatre, tom cruise, west end shows

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William Shakespeare? Ha! Never heard of him.

Yes, you may have guessed it by now; the fantastic lives of Posh and Becks are to be made into a new comedy musical… and it’s going to be based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, believe it or not.

Brought to the unsuspecting people of Dublin, this little satirical jig is produced by the same chaps behind I Keano. A hilarious spoof musical that followed Roy Keane’s walkout on the Irish international football team, I Keano played a host of provincial theatres around Ireland and received rave reviews. This new show however, is thought to be of wider appeal and so is rumoured to be looking for a transfer to the West End.

This all may be mere speculation, but so far the script seems to have caused quite a stir in theatre circles in and around Dublin. “We’re very excited by the script” says Long Road Productions director Ronan Smith, “It’s a wild comedy romp that borrows from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, as well as Cyrano de Bergerac.”

Apparently, Victoria Beckham is portrayed as an ambitious virago who forces husband David to sacrifice the integrity of his footballing career so that she may live the high life in Madrid and Los Angeles. Sound familiar anyone?

The cast is yet to be announced but it is believed that the writers, Gary Cooke and Malachy McKenna, will take on major roles themselves. They have their casting work cut out for them though because this musical contains a supporting cast that includes characters like Sir Alex Ferguson and one time England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson. It’s even been hinted that someone will get their hands dirty playing Becks’s infamous PA Rebecca Loos. A sticky situation is certainly on the cards no?

Too easy.

If you want to see this new comedy musical than, at least for the time being, you’ll have to nip over to the twinkly Emerald Isle to catch it. Until we hear of a West End switch then the ball’s in their… half, so to speak. Still, we think it’ll be a right laugh. What do you think? Reckon ole Golden Balls will bounce his way all the way to the West End?

Technorati Tags: alex ferguson, becks, david beckham, golden balls, musical, musicals, posh, posh and becks, rebecca loos, roy keane, victoria beckham

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Much like its predecessors, How Do you Solve a Problem Like Maria and Any Dream Will Do, the BBC’s talent hunt I’d Do Anything has prided itself on sparking the careers of several of its unlucky finalists. For example, ex-Nancy Niamh is set to star in a new musical called Only the Brave whilst Samantha Barks and Jessie Buckley have been in hush hush talks with Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh about possible future projects. One of the most outspoken cast-offs however, was Brummie graduate Amy Booth-Steel who had landed a part in the new “sex-musical” All Bob’s Women at the Arts Theatre.

Booth-Steel had been fairly upbeat about the whole thing when she talked to the Stage magazine last month. Speaking about appearing on I’d Do Anything, Amy declared that “It’s raised my profile”, before hastily launching into a description of the fairly saucy plot of All Bob’s Women. When praised for finding work so soon after being the first contestant booted off the show, Amy even agreed “Yes, I’ve done really well”

Mmmm… well… maybe not that well Amy.

All Bob’s Women is set to close after just 6 performances.

Not even a week after it opened, All Bob’s Woman is to be consigned to musical history after a complete mauling by the critics. I say mauling… and I mean it. In fact, it got a right ruddy pasting.

Charles Spencer from the Telegraph claimed that: “Russell Labey’s production proves devoid of pace, point and even basic clarity” Oouch. At least Spencer concluded his level-headed review by recommending the show to one section of society: “This is a show fit only for masochists” As pannings go, that’s got to be pretty much up there. Mr Shenton from The Stage also found All Bob’s Women, well, let’s say: not to his taste. He described the show as “biliously bad”

Maybe this wasn’t your big break after all Booth-Steel. Still, I’m sure something will come up sooner or later. Big Bill’s Flops or Bad Bob’s Chops or whatever the thing was called will soon be relegated to the dusty corners of peoples’ minds. Yesterday’s fish and chip paper; that’s what you’ve got to remember.

Anyway, it could’ve been worse Amy. I mean look on the bright side, at least no one saw it.

Technorati Tags: all bobs woman, amy booth steel, id do anything, jessie buckley, mega flop, nancy, nancys, niamh perry, samantha barks, theatre disaster

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In the light of Eric Idle’s great glittery success with Spamalot, it looks like fellow ex-Python John Cleese is trying his hand at writing a musical. Not to be outdone, Cleese is said to be in cahoots with his 24 year old daughter Camilla about penning the prospective production based on his 1988 film A Fish Called Wanda. Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Cleese declared that: “We’ve knocked the story into shape. We’re going to try a few lyrics and if it turns out we are no good – which is what I expect – we’ll get a new lyricist in.”

‘Well’, I hear you gasp, ‘Wanda in the West End huh?’ To be honest we’re not sure how the film would translate to the stage this end either. Was there really enough scope in the (albeit very funny) script to squeeze in some song and dance numbers? I can remember Kevin Kline’s ghastly driving skills and poor old Micheal Palin getting a portion of the ole pommes frites jabbed up his nose, but any music?

Still, it’s not as if John Cleese isn’t one of the most respected comedy writers in the world… ever. A brief look at his back catalogue is like peering into Aladdin’s cave of TV gems. The Frost Report, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Faulty Towers etc., reads like a roll call of the nation’s favourites doesn’t it? If anyone can pull off a musical adaptation of A Fish Called Wanda it’s got to be Mr (and Miss) Cleese surely.

Cleese was quick to relent last week that “It’s very early days yet” so who knows when this show could materialise? Here’s guessing at 2009 sometime but as for anything more specific?

What do you think? Reckon Cleese can knock out a musical to match the Spamalot boys? Or is he flogging a dead parrot with this one? Drop us a comment and let us know what you think…

Technorati Tags: a fish called wanda, a fish called wanda the musical, cleese, eric idle, john cleese, monty python, musical, spamalot, spamalot the musical, west end shows

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As we reported in our article Spamalot announces new King Arthur on 3rd of June, TV star Sanjeev Bhaskar is to take over as the new lead in the popular Monty Python musical. Speaking to the Stage this week, Sanjeev admits “I’ve never really thought of myself as a stage musical kind of person.” But then insists that he took on the role “because I wanted to learn something and to make myself try a little harder.”
Famous for his comic turns on both Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at no. 42, Bhaskar has become somewhat of a national treasure… but singing and dancing? Now, if you were going to have me pinned down and force-fed some kind of truth serum, I’d have to admit to being just a little bit surprised to hear Bhaskar’s name linked with the popular musical. In fact I can remember my reaction rather vividly:

NATHAN: (confused) Bhaskar? The chap off the Kumars??…

EVERYONE ELSE: Yes.

NATHAN: (intense confusion) In a musical??? The Monty Python musical? Are you sure?

EVERYONE ELSE: Yes.

NATHAN: (pause) Hmm… What a brilliant idea!

I mean think about it, Bhaskar as the King of the Britons in a silly little musical by the Python bunch. It just works doesn’t it? Bhaskar has often gone on record about his love for the anarchic comic troupe. “Quoting Python sketches” he added last week, “was one of the things that bonded us together when we were all working on Goodness Gracious Me.” I love it when a plan comes together.

In keeping with Bhaskar’s own humour, his knack of focussing on everyday family and community tensions and then undercutting them with a healthy dose of pure straight silliness, Spamalot seems like the perfect avenue for his already glittering career. Respected comedian, author, documentary maker and all round good egg, Bhaskar as the King of the Britons sounds like a super idea too hilarious to be missed. We’re booking our seats right now!

What do you think? Reckon Bhaskar can pull in the crowds in for the final summer leg of this popular West End musical? Leave us your comment and let us know what you think.

Technorati Tags: bhaskar, goodness gracious me, in the west end, king arthur, kumars at 42, monty python, python, sanjeev bhaskar, spamalot, spamalot the musical, the kumars, west end, west end musicals

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It has been a busy couple of weeks in the already action packed life of Andrew Lloyd Webber. As if holding down a multi-million pound theatre empire, working on the Phantom sequel and lording it over the destiny of dozens of hopeful young actors is not enough for one man. Webber has also popped over to Deutschland, received yet another award and seized control of a small island off the coast of Haiti with the intention of forming a workforce of almost-Nancy’s and not-quite-Oliver’s to carve a 70 foot likeness of his face into an active volcano. Ok I made the last bit up, Mr Webber has not invaded anywhere, yet, but he has been a very busy chap.

On May 21st Webber received the Woodrow Wilson award for his services to the arts through music at a Gala in London’s Guildhall. The honour is given out several times a year by the US Smithsonian Institution to both business and public figures who they feel have shown exemplary commitment to the values of twenty-eighth US president Woodrow Wilson, whose dreams of the dynamic exchange of knowledge and opinion are the basis of the awards.

Now lets just stop there for just a second. It may just be me but doesn’t that sound just the tiniest bit stuffy? Surely the free exchange of opinion is covered in the knighthood Mr Webber received in 1992 but hey, another award can’t hurt I suppose. The Woodrow Wilson award seems to slightly lack validity this side of the pond, what with Woodrow Wilson being quite an obscure reference over here. Fair enough being the first person to receive it in the UK is a honour for Webber but with a Hollywood star and scores of Grammys and Tonys under his belt I think it is unlikely that Webber will be clearing space in his bulging award cabinet for the little known American trophy. Perhaps a nice spot in the downstairs loo or maybe eBay, even Webber must enjoy positive feedback.

No doubt Mr. Webber was pleased to attend a far more interesting Gala in Bochum, Germany with the delightful Arlene Phillips on Sunday. Webber attended the 20th anniversary of Starlight Express at the Starlighthalle, a venue built especially to stage the show in 1988. Starlight Express has been showing near continually since the venues record breaking one year construction and it has been seen by more than 12 million people. It is clear that even after 20 years Starlight Express is still a firm favourite with German audiences. Recently a television casting show called “Musical Showstar 2008″ was aired to find the next Rusty and Pearl for the Starlighthalle production of Starlight Express.
It must be a real pleasure for Mr Webber to see something he created so long ago still flourishing, guaranteeing a leisurely retirement on an island just off Haiti….with a volcano.

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Last month saw bubbly northerner Jodie Prenger crowned queen of the Nancys when she was cast as the lead in Cameron Mackintosh’s upcoming revival of Oliver!. She will, no doubt, go on to lead a glittering and lime-lit career in London’s West End. But what, you may well ask, will happen to the 11 unlucky finalists that made it to ‘Nancy School’ but failed to make the grade? Where’s Tara now? Or Amy Booth Steel? Or Jessie? Well, let’s just have a little root around and see if we can’t come up with one or two answers…

In correct fashion I suppose we should begin with the first Nancy to bite the proverbial, trained actress Amy Booth Steel. In the wee link appended to this blog you can see the young redhead strut her stuff through a rendition of RESPECT by Aretha Franklyn. Frankly, judging by that clunkathon, it’s hardly surprising that Webber booted her in to touch so early. But, Booth Steel proved her mettle by getting straight back in the game and winning a part in the brand new (and by all accounts pretty saucy) musical All Bob’s Women. Speaking to the Stage last week, Amy said “I did not win the role, but I won a career” Hmmm… we’ll see I suppose.

Tara Bethan, remember her? She was the star of Welsh TV that belted out a quite unmistakable rendition of “Suddenly I Seeyahhh” which, I am told, is something close to a song KT Tunstall brought out a year or two ago. Tara was worried about how her voice came across on television and had feared that she’d done her career more harm than good. These doubts were quashed however when Bill Kenwright cast her as ‘the Narrator’ in the touring production of Joseph. Surrounded by a host of unlucky Any Dream Will Do finalists, Tara is contracted until the end of January. She says she’s “loving every minute of it”, let’s hope the rest of the cast feel the same way.

Actually, talking of ex-Any Dream Will Do chaps, did you know that Ben is now the lead in the current hilarious production of Hairspray?… Small world.

Anyway, sorry about that. Back to it: what, I hear you ask, about the two runners up, Jessie Buckley and Samantha Barks? Have they landed roles in upcoming shows? Well, no, not as yet anyway. But then I wouldn’t despair, both Sam and Jessie were big hits with the public. In fact, when Jessie spoke to the press last week she was just on her way to have a private audience with Webber and Mackintosh. Who knows what schemes those two get up to when in cahoots? Samantha on the other hand is playing it very cool. She abandoned her A level studies to perform in the competition and is now weighing up her options. One only has to remember electric performances like her rendition of Sway though and it’d be madness to think that there wouldn’t be something major looming for her just over the way.

What about the others? Well, what do you think? Do you reckon we’ll see Keisha belting it out in the West End? Or Rachel crooning on Broadway? Maybe see Francesca on Crimewatch… Up for charges of ‘murdering’ show tunes? Or Niamh living out of some bins on the outskirts of Watford? -Wait, what are we saying; Niahm’s going to be a star. I’d put my house on it… if I could afford one.

But enough from us, what do YOU think? And how do you think Jodie’s going to get on? Have a look at these and let us know your predictions. We’d love to hear from you…

Technorati Tags: all bobs women, amy booth steel, bbc talent shows, hairspray, id do anything, jessie, jodie, joseph, nancy, nancys, niamh, samantha, tara, west end casts, what happened next, what happened to them

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Crazy stuff seems to happen on a Friday 13th and today is no exception, I stumbled across this gem and thought to myself - only in America.
Get ready ladies and gentlemen - The Shrek Musical is coming to Broadway this November.
Yep that’s right, the green ogre and his loveable donkey will not only be dazzling audiences with their witty dialogue but also with catchy songs and choreographed dance moves. I don’t quite know what to make of it, if the costumes are anything like “Finding Nemo on Ice” it’ll be absolutely ridiculous. I kind of think these stories are best left to film because I don’t think a stage version could do it justice, I mean the underlying adult humour would just come across as cheesy. It’ll be like a Butlins stage show - a bit of nudge nudge wink wink action going on.

What’s worse is the strapline, it reads “Bringing Ugly Back”, this just conjures up images of Shrek doing his own version of Justin Timerlake’s “Sexy Back” - it actually made me shudder, I really REALLY hope that does not happen. That being said the cast does look quite impressive and I can’t see them signing up for something that could potentially ruin their careers. Who knows, they could actually pull this off and it could be as popular as The Little Mermaid Musical.

.

With Oscar winning Sam Mendes and Avenue Q director Jason Moore heading the production, it will hopefully steer away from Butlins and head into something incredible. It’s also being backed by film studio Dreamworks who hopes to “ape the success enjoyed by Disney with its musical versions of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King”.

Shrek’s story is loved by both young and old, and unlike Disney, it challenges the fairy-tale genre and creates something unique and interesting to watch. Hopefully Mendes and Moore will do the same for musicals and create something which has never been seen before - we say roll on Shrek The Musical we welcome your uniqueness!

At the moment there isn’t a lot information about it, but you know Show and Stay, as soon as we hear more - we’ll let you know first.

Technorati Tags: dreamworks, jason moore, sam mendes, shrek, shrek musical, shrek musical america, shrek musical broadway, shrek musical seattle, shrek the musical, the musical shrek

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The academy award winning Brokeback Mountain is soon to be made into an opera!

The New York City Opera has commissioned Charles Wuorinen to compose an opera based on the 1997 short story in which two cowboys start an affair when they meet on a mountain in 1963.

This extraordinary tale was a big box office hit in 2005 and saw the late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal shoot to fame. It’s quite a controversial story and it certainly kicked up a stink when it was released due to its content.

However I’m not sure if the same can be said for the upcoming opera, will it be a smash in theatreland?
I feel that the intensity of the story and range of emotions seen in the film would be lost on stage, the emphasis would be on the singing rather than powerful silences and meaningful dialogue. However the passion and intensity seen in operas could bring out the best in this incredible story. It’s going to be a tricky transition from screen to stage, but I am actually quite intrigued about it.

I’ll bring you more news on this story as and when we hear about it.

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