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FOURTH WALL LIVE

PRESENTS

OSCAR, BAFTA, AND SAG AWARD WINNER

ARIANA DEBOSE

LIVE IN CONCERT

AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM

SATURDAY 1 APRIL 2023

FOURTH WALL LIVE is delighted to announce that Oscar, BAFTA, and SAG Award winning actor, singer, and dancer ARIANA DEBOSE will appear live in concert at the London Palladium on Saturday 1 April 2023 with Musical Director Benjamin Rauhala.

Sign up for exclusive pre-sale access is open now at www.ariana-london.com  

ARIANA DEBOSE won the 2022 Academy Award ®️, British Academy Film Award, Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice Awards for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY. She also recently hosted the 2022 Tony Awards to critical acclaim and has starred in the hit television series Schmigadoon! for Apple TV+, Ryan Murphy’s film adaptation of THE PROM for Netflix, and HBO’s hit series Westworld. Upcoming film projects include Disney’s animated feature film WISH, KRAVEN THE HUNTER (Sony), ARGYLLE (Apple), and the independent feature I.S.S. She is currently in production on the Blumhouse psychological thriller HOUSE OF SPOILS for Prime Video. Her Broadway credits include Hamilton, Bring It On, Company, Pippin and her Tony Award nominated performance in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.

Fourth Wall Live is an entertainment company that produces events, concerts and on-stage shows. In January 2022 FWL presented Bonnie and Clyde The Musical In Concert for two nights to a sold-out audience at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, starring Broadway favourite Jeremy Jordan. The concert broke Drury Lane box office records selling out a two-night run in less than six minutes. The concert was live captured for cinematic/streaming distribution, with its release to be announced in due course.  

In 2022 Fourth Wall Live presented Audra McDonald at the London Palladium, and Jeremy Jordan at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. FWL regularly presents concerts featuring stars of the West End and Broadway including Keala Settle, Chita Rivera, Matthew Morrison and Hannah Waddingham among others.

Fourth Wall Live was also a producer of Bonnie & Clyde the Musical which ran at The Arts Theatre in the West End for 13 weeks during 2022.

BOOKING EXTENDS TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2023 FOR WEST END PRODUCTION OF

H A M I L T O N 

Jeffrey Seller and Cameron Mackintosh, producers of the multi award winning West End production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON, are delighted to announce that booking is extending at the Victoria Palace Theatre to Saturday 30 September 2023. 

HAMILTON has book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire and is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe.

The Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning production opened at the newly re-built and restored Victoria Palace Theatre in London in December 2017 and is produced in London by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Cameron Mackintosh.

Reuben Joseph plays the title role of Alexander Hamilton with Simon-Anthony Rhoden as Aaron Burr, Allyson Ava-Brown as Angelica Schuyler, Shan Ako as Eliza Hamilton, Roshani Abbey as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, Trevor Dion Nicholas as George Washington, Waylon Jacobs as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Emile Ruddock as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jake Halsey-Jones as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and Joel Montague as King George III. At certain performances the role of Alexander Hamilton is played by Alex Sawyer.

The cast also comprises Jade Albertsen, Curtis Angus, Maya Britto, Matthew Caputo, Filippo Coffano, Ashley J. Daniels, Kelly Downing, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Jordan Frazier, Manaia Glassey-Ohlson, Olivia Kate Holding, Barney Hudson, DeAngelo Jones, Phoebe Liberty Jones, Nicolais-Andre Kerry, Travis Kerry, Ella Kora, Natasha Leaver, Aaron Lee Lambert, Louis Mackrodt, Kerri Norville, Samuel Sarpong-Broni, Lindsey Tierney and Brandon Williams.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre:                             Victoria Palace Theatre, Victoria Street, London SW1E 5EA

Dates:                                Now booking to 30 September 2023

Prices:                               Tickets from £20, no booking fee applies

Box Office:                         0344 482 5151

Website:                            hamiltonmusical.com

Social Media:                       facebook.com/HamiltonWestEnd

twitter.com/HamiltonWestEnd

instagram.com/HamiltonWestEnd

#HamiltonLDN

Announcing the launch of MUSICALS magazine, the only print magazine to embrace and celebrate this incredibly diverse genre on an international scale

It is the latest consumer title from the Mark Allen Group, publisher of Gramophone, Jazzwise and Songlines, the leading magazines in classical, jazz and world music

MUSICALS magazine is a celebration of all things Musical Theatre, with a focus on the West End and Broadway, but also covering regional and international productions, and what’s on screen as well as on stage.

Editorially, the magazine is pitched at both the novice and connoisseur of the genre featuring interviews with creative teams, from producers and designers to composers and lyricists as well as the stars of the shows. Reviews are integral to the publication with in-depth analysis of productions as well as recordings.

Edited by Sarah Kirkup, writers for the magazine include the very best critics, presenters, authors and biographers of Musical Theatre, all of whom are steeped in this world and have years of experience of writing about the genre: among these are critic, broadcaster and presenter Edward Seckerson, London theatre critic for the International New York Times Matt Wolf, official Sondheim biographer and London critic for Variety David Benedict, and Deputy Editor of The Stage Matthew Hemley.

Sarah Kirkup says: ‘Whether you’re new to Musical Theatre, an afficionado, or somewhere in between, this magazine is for you. Our cover star of the launch issue is the unstoppable Marisha Wallace who has smashed through barriers to redefine what Musical Theatre in the 21st century looks like, most recently in her unflinching portrayal of Ado Annie in ‘Oklahoma!’ at London’s Young Vic.

“Other features include an appraisal of Sondheim’s legacy by his official biographer David Benedict, while Matt Wolf looks at the most recent successful transfers of stage musicals to the big screen, from this summer’s ‘13’ to the forthcoming ‘Matilda’. Plus, we review UK shows including ‘Bugsy Malone’ and ‘The Famous Five’, Broadway’s ‘MJ’ and ‘A Strange Loop’ and the North American premiere of ‘& Juliet’ in Toronto.

“We’re pleased to include recording reviews too, from the cast recording of ‘Back to the Future’ to John Barrowman’s new album ‘Centre Stage’. And we have the one-and-only Elaine Paige joining us too, for a trip down memory lane – from her earliest encounters with musicals to the starring role in ‘Evita’, which transformed her career.

The first issue of MUSICALS will be on-sale from October 21, 2022 and launched at the Musical Con at London’s ExCel on October 22-23.

The magazine will be distributed throughout UK newsstand (WHSmiths, Waitrose, Tesco & Sainsbury’s) and specialist stockists as well as internationally, and available at retail for three months until January 2023.

MUSICALS will then publish as a bi-monthly magazine from April 2023, available on newsstand and via subscription, in print & digital formats.

BESTSELLING AUTHOR DAVID WALLIAMS HEADING TO BLACKPOOL FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY IN CONVERSATION WITH BLUE PETER PRESENTER RICHIE DRISS.

SPECIAL EVENT AS DAVID WALLIAMS TALKS TO RICHIE DRISS ABOUT HIS BRAND-NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK SPACEBOY!

Join no.1 bestselling children’s author David Walliams for one night only on Wednesday 09 November2022 at the Winter Gardens Blackpool, in conversation with Blue Peter presenter Richie Driss. 

Get ready for an out-of-this-world experience, as David introduces his brand-new book Spaceboy; featuring exciting extracts read live on stage, a cosmic Q&A, hilarious anecdotes, and supersonic entertainment, there is something for the whole family to enjoy!

David Walliams has revolutionised reading for children and has become one of the most influential children’s writers today. Since the publication of his ground-breaking first novel, The Boy in the Dress (2008), Walliams has seen unprecedented growth with global sales exceeding 50 million copies, and his books translated into 54 languages across 34 titles, including two charity releases, Blob (World Book Day 2017) and The Queen’s Orang-utan (Comic Relief 2015). Collectively across his titles, David has celebrated 76 weeks (non-consecutive) at number one in the overall book charts and more than 200 weeks (non-consecutive) at number one in the Children’s charts – an achievement no other children’s writer has reached.

‘As a boy I was fascinated with outer space. I devoured all science fiction books, TV shows and films. So this comedy adventure, set during the space race of the 1960s, was an absolute joy to write and took me back to my own childhood.’ – David Walliams on Spaceboy

About Spaceboy 
America. The 1960s. Ruth loves climbing trees, making a mess and throwing stones. But the thing she loves most is SPACE.
The girl is OBSESSED. She spends her days reading comics about alien invasions, doodling UFOs, watching B-movies about Earth being invaded by creatures from Mars… and gazing at the stars through her old, battered telescope.
Until one night, Ruth creeps out of bed in the attic room of her rickety old farmhouse to watch the stars – and is just dozing off when she spots something blazing across the sky. Something that looks like a flying saucer! Is she dreaming? No! And the flying saucer is on fire…
But when the UFO crash-lands in the cornfield, and Ruth rushes to help, she finds a mystery – and an adventure – beyond her wildest dreams…

TICKETS ON-SALE NOW
An audience with David Walliams, Wednesday 09 November 2022. Book your tickets now at wintergardensblackpool.co.uk and opt for our book & ticket bundle to get your copy of Spaceboy for an exclusive discounted price!

On manoeuvres… rehearsal photos are released from the brand new
production of Tim Rice and Stuart Brayson’s epic musical
‘From Here To Eternity’

Rehearsal photos are released today from the brand new production of Tim Rice and Stuart Brayson’s epic musical  ‘From Here To Eternity’, which  is getting its first London revival in a newly revised production at Charing Cross Theatre, from 29 October – 17 December.

The cast features Jonny Amies, Jonathon Bentley, Desmonda Cathabel, Leonard Cook, Kyerron Dixon-Bassey, Sarah Drake, Dominic Adam Griffin, Cassius Hackforth, Robin Hayward, Callum Henderson, James Mateo-Salt, Rhys Nuttall, Jack Ofrecio, Jaden Oshenye, Eve Polycarpou, Adam Rhys-Charles, Carley Stenson, Alan Turkington, Joseph Vella.

Creative team: Director Brett Smock, Set & Costume Designer Stewart J. Charlesworth, Musical Director, Orchestrations and New Musical Arrangements Nick J Barstow, Choreographer Cressida Carré, Sound Designer Chris Murray, Lighting Designer Adam King, Projection Designer Louise Rhodes-Brown, Costume Supervisor Lucy Lawless, Casting Director Jane Deitch, Production Manager James Anderton, Produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Bill Kenwright and Heartaches Limited, General Management by Chris Matanlé.

Set in the two weeks leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, ‘From Here To Eternity’ is a compelling portrait of humanity, love, duty and redemption set against the backdrop of a beautiful and conflicted paradise.

Adapted from the classic novel by James Jones, this breathtaking musical unites the writing talents of Tim Rice (lyrics), Stuart Brayson (music) and Donald Rice and Bill Oakes (book), and is directed by Brett Smock (Producing Artistic Director/The Rev Theatre Company).

LISTINGS INFO

Aria Entertainment,
Bill Kenwright
and Heartaches Limited
present‘From Here To Eternity’

Adapted from the classic novel
by James Jones

Lyrics Tim Rice, Music Stuart Brayson,
Book Donald Rice and Bill Oakes

Directed by Brett Smock

Charing Cross Theatre
The Arches
Villiers Street
London WC2N 6NL
www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
Box office: 08444 930650

29 October – 17 December

Performances:

Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm

Wednesday,  Saturday and Sunday
at 3.00pm

Prices:
£25.00 – £39.50
Premium seats £49.50 (includes a
programme and a glass of bubbly)

A booking fee applies to phone and internet
orders; no booking fee to personal callers
The box office is open from 2 hours
before curtain time on performance days for
personal callers

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
@FHTEMusicalUK

CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD

TO STAR AS

‘MISS HANNIGAN’

IN THE UK TOUR OF

THE MUSICAL

ANNIE

OPENING AT LEICESTER CURVE

25 FEBRUARY 2023

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that Craig Revel Horwood will star as ‘Miss Hannigan’ in the UK and Ireland Tour of their smash hit production of the musical ANNIE, opening at Leicester Curve Saturday 25 February 2023. Craig will play the role in Leicester, Birmingham, Oxford, Dartford, Stoke, Llandudno, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Nottingham, Woking, Cardiff, Bradford, Southend, Bromley and Norwich. Full tour details below.  www.anniethemusicaltour.uk

As previously announced, Paul O’Grady will play the role of Miss Hannigan in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Southampton, Liverpool, Dublin and Bristol. 

Craig Revel Horwood is probably best known as a judge on all 20 series of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing. He returns to the part of Miss Hannigan having played the role to critical acclaim in this production in both the West End and on tour. His other West End Theatre credits include Munkustrap in Cats, Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Harry in Crazy for You at the Prince Edward Theatre. Craig directed and choreographed Strictly Ballroom The Musical which is currently touring the UK and Ireland, and the 2016/17 tour of Sister Act The Musical as well as the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour. He also choreographed the film Paddington 2.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

ANNIE has Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and a Book by Thomas Meehan. It is directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker.

Grand Opera House York – until Sunday 16th October 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

5*****

The Grand Opera House in York was certainly buzzing last night, with the opening show of the phenomenon that is SIX. This is the global sensation, with excellent reviews, that everyone is raving about. Yorkshire has obviously heard of its reputation for a fabulous night out, it was a packed house, in fact every show of this York run has now sold out.

The story is a thoroughly modern retelling of the lives of King Henry VIII’s six wives. Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, it is a musical comedy presented as a pop concert. First presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 it has gone on to conquer the West End and Broadway.

After an ensemble piece, “Ex Wives”, the wives of Henry VIII decide to compete, to see who has endured and suffered more at the hands of Henry. The winner will then be crowned the groups lead singer. Each Queen takes turns in telling their dramatic story, through song and dance, making digs at each other. This narrative gives The Queens a voice, a chance to tell their stories from their prospective. Who will be the ultimate winner?

Catherine of Aragon (Chloe Hart) was loyal to Henry but couldn’t produce a male heir. After over 20 years of marriage, he wanted an annulment and to ship her off to a nunnery. Divorced! Anne Boleyn (Jennifer Caldwell) complains about Henry’s infidelity, but after trying to make him jealous, is executed for her supposed infidelity. Beheaded! Jane Seymour (Casey Al-Shaqsy) dies just after giving birth to Henry’s only legitimate male offspring. Died! Anne of Cleves (Jessica Niles) is shipped over from Germany. Henry is not impressed, but still marries her before arranging an annulment, where she earns a very generous settlement. Divorced! Katherine Howard (Leesa Tulley) is very young when she catches the king’s eye. A short while after marrying she is accused of adultery. Beheaded! Catherine Parr (Alana Robinson) is the last of the wives, outliving the aged monarch. Survived!

All six queens were truly magnificent, each having a chance to shine, remarkable in their own way. Hart is a vocal powerhouse, owning the stage as she sings. Caldwell is hilarious, with her northern accent and interruptions about losing her head. Al-Shaqsy delivers an emotional, touching performance. Niles plays centre stage to the most bizarre, but glorious, Haus of Holbein, a right rave, very techno with florescent glasses and clothing, all delivered with German accents. Tulley is the pop princess, with her Scottish accent, full of 21st century sass. Robinson delivers the crowning stroke, giving a sense of female empowerment and solidarity. All the while The Queens are joined on stage by the amazing all-female band, Ladies in Waiting, they had the theatre bouncing with their explosive performances.

The costumes and hair were just spectacular, visually striking. Leather, studs, sparkles, and spikes everywhere. The costumes did have a look of Tudor but with a very contemporary twist, check out the little slots they had for their microphones, very inspired.

This show is energetic, full of sass, but poignant at the same time. At only 80 minutes long, there is no interval, it leaves a lasting impression. I learnt more about Henry VIII’s wives from this than I ever did at school, and it has encouraged me to find out more.

This is not your traditional musical, it has the feel of a concert, with amazing songs, set and costumes, with great powerful performances. An absolutely stunning show, the girls smashed it. DO NOT miss this one.

If this comes to a theatre near you make sure you book early. Like I have already mentioned, York is sold out for this tour, but it returns next June, so best be quick in buying your tickets, you will not be disappointed.

Blackpool Winter Gardens – until Saturday 15 October 2022

Reviewed by Debra Skelton

5*****

I am so glad that Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is back in Blackpool, as I never had the chance to watch this highly acclaimed show before. Being able to attend the opening night was so exciting for me and I can truly say that I was not disappointed.

Blood Brothers is a musical about twin brothers separated at birth who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks and both never knowing the truth about their relationship until the very end. The story is set in Liverpool during the mid-eighties where working-class families struggled to make ends meet and unemployment levels were high. By presenting the way families had to live back then, this was crucial to truly understanding the life of Mrs. Johnstone and why the lives of both Mickey and Eddie differed so much. It showed the difference in schooling, their financial situations which defines their class which ultimately divides them and is a motivator for their demise.

The show covers themes from superstition to social class and the very different lives the two brothers were set to lead. Throughout the show, the Narrator (Richard Munday) remains on stage, watching and lurking in the background and keeps reminding the characters of the awful fate if the brothers ever discovered the truth. As the start of the show, we see the bodies of the two men being covered and a mother crying which forewarned the audience from the start that something forbidding is going to happen.

Niki Colwell Evans (from The X-Factor) played the role of Mrs Johnstone to perfection showing how she coped as a single mother with little money and the love and affection for her children. Her amazing voice and presence on the stage was a true pleasure to watch.

Both Sean Jones (Mickey) and Jay Worley (Eddie) provided an entertaining performance of acting like children shooting guns, pulling their sweaters over their knees, and burying worms, to becoming adults which was truly believable.

The whole cast of this production are incredibly talented and showed their ability to be versatile by playing different characters.

The show also needs special thanks to Andy Walmsley for creating such an adaptable set, Dan Samson for the wonderful sound, Nick Richings for the lighting and Matt Malone for the marvellous music.

Hull New Theatre, Hull – until 12th October 2022

Reviewed by Anne Walker

5*****

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this all-male, cross-dressing ensemble, The Trocks, as they are affectionately known, were founded by a group of professional dancers in 1974. The New-York based company is dedicated to presenting off-kilter but technically sound comic interpretations of ballet classics and modern favourites. To date, they have performed in more than 30 countries and 500 cities worldwide.

From the moment I sat down, before the curtain rose, I was chuckling to myself whilst looking through the program. The performers names and back stories were hilarious and gave us a glimpse of what was to come. The lights dimmed and a voice informed us, with some tongue in cheek humour, of some cast changes and reasons for these. They also reassured us that ‘all of our ballerinas are in a very, very good mood’. This show certainly did the same for me and I went away in a very, very good mood.

I have been lucky enough to have seen Swan Lake a few times, by different companies and was certainly interested to see The Trocks version. They did not disappoint. Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music started, the costumes and the choreography were not all that different. However, the expressions exaggerated, the comedy timing impeccable, the steps sometimes over done and subtle trips and stumbles are what gave this ballet its humour and comedy. Queen of the Swans, Vavara Laptopova (Takaomi Yoshino) was beautifully hilarous and Prince Siegried, Jacques d’Aniels (Joshua Thake) let us all know just how in love he was whilst also showing us how handsome and grand he was.

A highlight for us had to be ‘The Dying Swan’ played by Olga Supphozova (Robert Carter) performed with all the skills of a great clown. A few minutes of comedy genius, an aged ballerina with ego, drama, belching and the ability to be able to moult feathers at every step gave us a belly laughing, unique performance.

What a great evening of tutus, tantrums and technical brilliance that left us aching with laughter as well as in awe of the technical brilliance of these fabulous performers.

Lyric Theatre, The Lowry – until 15th October 2022

Review by Rebecca Hampson

3***

Based on the award winning novel by Alice Walker, this adaptation of The Colour Purple uses music and song to tell the story of two sisters Cecile and Nettie.

The vocals of both the actors and actresses in this musical were spectacular and their vocal range and harmonies sent chills down the spines of everyone in the audience.

Although based on the novel which explores dark themes including: rape, domestic abuse and violence, the musical dealt with these themes sensitively. I do feel that in some points of the story the emotion which I felt reading the novel did not transfer in this stage adaptation, however this could have just been me as others around me did get emotional during some dark scenes.

The Greek chorus style singers who narrated in quick snappy scene changes added comedy which was much needed in a play that explores such dark yet important topics.

I was mesmerised by Aaliyah Zhané who played the role of Nettie, and during the second act when Cecile began to read the letters from Nettie her vocals paired with the choreography of the ensemble made us believe we were seeing the very words of the letter and everything she was describing.

I did enjoy the musical but perhaps not as much as I enjoyed reading the book. The cast were outstanding and I do feel this is a musical that you should watch at least once in your life. Please do ensure you read all warnings before attending this musical as the subject may be difficult for some.