Musical Theatre

There have been instances where a performer has stepped into a role at short notice, but I don't think I've ever come across one where the performer wasn't even a member of the cast (not even as a swing), and had never done the show before.

At the UK revival of the musical adaptation of The Lord of the Rings a couple of days ago, when cast member Aoife O’Dea (Arwen) was off ill, the production had to call upon Tricia Adele-Turner, who has previously performed in Dear Evan Hansen in the West End. Adele-Turner, whose husband Aaron Sidwell is also in the cast (as Aragorn), took on the role with four hours’ notice, despite having never rehearsed the show before.

Sidwell explained on social media: “Today with four hours’ rehearsal Tricia Adele-Turner will be playing Arwen in Lord of the Rings at the Watermill”, adding that she’d “seen the show once, and not listened to the score until yesterday afternoon.”

Adele-Turner reflected on the experience, adding: “A crazy weekend stepping in last minute to play Arwen opposite my Aaron Sidwell at the Watermill, huge congratulations to Sioned Saunders and the company for going above and beyond to cover illness and sending the beautiful Aoife O’Dea a speedy recovery!”

Sidwell also expressed equal awe for his co-star Sioned Saunders, who is the on-stage musical director and part of the company in the show. Saunders, as Sidwell explained on Saturday: “had spent the last 24 hours re-scoring the show to cover absentees as well as raising two babies and playing Galadriel.”

Praise also went to the show’s assistant stage manager Nat Toney, who had to puppeteer through the show to make up for absences.

Maestra Mentorship is a six-month partnering program which connects early career mentees ages 18+ who are interested in pursuing a professional career in making music for the theatre with professional women and nonbinary people currently working in the musical theatre industry.

Prospective musical theater music directors, orchestrators, arrangers, conductors, copyists, composers, lyricists, instrumentalists, sound designers, electronic music programers, and rehearsal pianists are all encouraged to apply. This program is offered free of charge.

The application will close at 5pm EDT on Friday, October 6, 2023.

Learn more about Maestra Mentorship.

Apply for the 2023-24 mentorship program.

With Gutenberg! The Musical! opening on Broadway soon, it’s no wonder that folks are wondering about other times that beloved actors have appeared in more than one Broadway show together. Gutenberg boasts a reunion of Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad, two of the original stars of The Book of Mormon. Those who loved their on-stage chemistry and camaraderie as Elders Price and Cunningham back in 2011 will undoubtedly thrill to see the two tearing up the stage together yet again.

This article explores some of the other instances where this has happened - including Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald; Stokes and Marin Mazzie; Sara Bareilles and Gavin Creel; Sutton Foster and Shuler Hensley; Idina Menzel and Anthony Rapp; and Gwen Verdon and Liza Minnelli.

The team behind Muriel’s Wedding The Musical – the singer, her husband Keir Nuttall and star Max McKenna – have reunited for Bananaland, a musical inspired by watching a lot of Wiggles.

An essay on the socio-political commentary in Avenue Q, South Park and The Book of Mormon, and how the times have changed since these shows have premiered.

It includes a link to this timeline of lyric changes in the Avenue Q's closing number, "For Now"

The American film and stage actor, renowned for her roles in the composer’s musicals, on making her West End debut in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, a celebration of his music.

She also talks about Sunday in the Park with George, what she does to stay performance fit during a run, being a child actor, unemployment, her bucket list roles and her love of dogs and the non-profit Broadway Barks event she founded.

A24's first-ever movie musical, Dicks: the Musical, made its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival this week. The new film from comedians Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp stars Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Bowen Yang, and Grammy-winner Megan Thee Stallion. Read the reviews for Dicks: The Musical in this BroadwayWorld roundup.

As of right now the movie has a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 12 critics reviews.

BroadwayWorld spoke with Iconis about the process of bringing The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical to the stage, what audiences can expect to see and hear with the musical, his recently released album, upcoming performances, and more.

The New York Times' roundup of musicals, plays and festivals opening in New York over the next few months. Musicals include:

September

RUN BAMBI RUN Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes and the playwright Eric Simonson (?Lombardi?) have collaborated on this new true crime saga in the form of a musical. With new songs from Gano, Simonson?s book is based on the story of Lawrencia Bembenek, a Milwaukee police officer who was convicted in 1981 of killing her husband?s ex-wife. Known as Bambi, Bembenek escaped from prison, was later caught and maintained her innocence until her death in 2010. Mark Clements directs. (Sept. 13-Oct. 22, Milwaukee Repertory Theater)

MELISSA ETHERIDGE: MY WINDOW From her Kansas childhood to her years in the male-dominated rock business, Melissa Etheridge entertains with stories and many of her songs. Seen Off Broadway at New World Stages last year, Etheridge?s show has a lot of humor and a few gut punches too (her son died of a drug overdose). The almost-solo show (a roadie character is along for the ride) heads to Broadway with the same director, Amy Tinkham. (Sept. 14-Nov. 19, Circle in the Square Theater)

GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! I still remember how much my abs hurt ? back in 2011 ? from laughing at Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells in ?The Book of Mormon.? So their reunion is a season highlight. This time, they play aspiring (and inept) musical theater creators doing a backer?s audition of their new play about the inventor of the printing press. If the subject sounds dry, don?t worry ? they have injected plenty of wildly inaccurate history into their script to spice things up. The show, written by Scott Brown and Anthony King (?Beetlejuice?), started out at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and has run Off Broadway. Alex Timbers directs. (Sept. 15-Jan. 28, James Earl Jones Theater)

BILLY STRAYHORN: SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR This new musical tells Strayhorn?s story, from his poor upbringing in Pittsburgh to fame as one of the greatest jazz composers, including his collaborations with Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday, and his life as an openly gay Black man living through the early days of the civil rights movement. The Broadway veteran Darius de Haas (who did the vocals for the Shy Baldwin character in ?The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel?) stars as Strayhorn, with J.D. Mollison as Ellington. The book is by Rob Zellers and Kent Gash, who also directs. The music and lyrics are by Strayhorn, and Matthew Whitaker will conduct a nine-piece jazz band. (Sept. 19-Oct. 11, Pittsburgh Public Theater)

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez star in this Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth?s musical about three friends trying to make it in showbiz. The story is told in reverse chronological order, allowing us to see the broken ties of later life before the starry-eyed hopefulness of younger days. Maria Friedman directs. The 1981 Broadway debut was a flop, but this production, with a sold-out, well-reviewed run at New York Theater Workshop, might have the makings of a smash. (Sept. 19-March 24, Hudson Theater)

THE WIZ This musical ? an adaptation of L. Frank Baum?s children?s book with an all-Black cast ? was a hit in 1975 with Andr? De Shields in the title role. The new production kicks off a national tour in Baltimore, starring Alan Mingo Jr. as the Wiz, Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy and Deborah Cox as Glinda. The show is intended to hit Broadway in spring 2024, with Wayne Brady stepping into the title role in time for appearances in San Francisco and Los Angeles. ?The Wiz? features a book by William F. Brown, with additional material by Amber Ruffin and a score by Charlie Smalls (and others). Schele Williams (?The Notebook?) directs. (Tour begins Sept. 23, Hippodrome Theater)

HERE WE ARE Stephen Sondheim fans will get to see one more new musical by the master, who died in 2021, when this long-gestating show, a collaboration with the playwright David Ives and the director Joe Mantello, has its world premiere. The musical is adapted from two Luis Bu?uel films, ?The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie? and ?The Exterminating Angel.? Sondheim was guarded about the exact story, telling The New York Times days before he died: ?I don?t know if I should give the so-called plot away, but the first act is a group of people trying to find a place to have dinner, and they run into all kinds of strange and surreal things, and in the second act, they find a place to have dinner, but they can?t get out.? The talented cast includes Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Denis O?Hare, Steven Pasquale and David Hyde Pierce. (Sept. 28-Jan. 7, the Shed?s Griffin Theater)

October

STEREOPHONIC A rock band recording a new album in the mid-1970s is catapulted to stardom much quicker than its members could have imagined in this new play by David Adjmi (?Marie Antoinette?), featuring music by Will Butler, formerly of Arcade Fire. Does the group make it, and stay together? Daniel Aukin directs. (Oct. 6-Nov. 19, Playwrights Horizons)

I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE Santino Fontana stars in a revival of this 1962 musical about a shamelessly corrupt Depression-era shipping clerk. The original book, by Jerome Weidman, based on his 1937 novel, has been revised by his son, John Weidman, with music and lyrics by Harold Rome. Trip Cullman directs a cast that also includes Adam Chanler-Berat, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Judy Kuhn, Sarah Steele and Julia Lester. (Oct. 10-Dec. 3, Classic Stage Company)

THE GREAT GATSBY The heartthrob Jeremy Jordan is the eccentric millionaire Jay Gatsby in this new musical based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, about a man on a mission to pursue the love of his life: Daisy Buchanan (Eva Noblezada of ?Hadestown?). The book is by Kait Kerrigan (?The Mad Ones?), the score by the Tony Award nominees Nathan Tysen and Jason Howland (?Paradise Square?), with Marc Bruni (?Beautiful: The Carole King Musical?) directing. (Oct. 12-Nov. 12, Paper Mill Playhouse)

HARMONY After many years of development, this musical by Barry Manilow (music) and Bruce Sussman (book and lyrics) is Broadway bound. And no, it?s not a Manilow jukebox musical (though I don?t hate that idea). Instead, ?Harmony? is based on the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a wildly successful singing group formed in Berlin in 1927, and follows them during the rise of Nazism. The ubiquitous Warren Carlyle directs a cast including Chip Zien, Julie Benko and Sierra Boggess. (Performances begin Oct. 18, Ethel Barrymore Theater)

THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA The adolescent years of the director and choreographer Graciela Daniele, who grew up in Argentina during the fascist regime of Juan Per?n, form the basis for this musical featuring a book, music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa. The show had its premiere at the Old Globe Theater in 2021 and will be presented in New York by Lincoln Center Theater. Daniele, still working at 83, directs and co-choreographs with Alex Sanchez. (Oct. 19-Dec. 31, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater)

HELL?S KITCHEN Ali, a 17-year-old girl growing up in a tiny New York apartment with her single mother, has big dreams but feels trapped. When she hears a neighbor playing the piano, she sees a path out. This show features music and lyrics by Alicia Keys (some new music and some previous hits), and is loosely based on her experience growing up in the Hell?s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, surrounded by a community of artists. The project, more than a decade in the making, will now have its world premiere at the Public Theater. The book is by Kristoffer Diaz, choreography by Camille A. Brown, and Michael Greif directs. (Oct. 24-Dec. 10, Public Theater)

SPAMALOT The over-the-top, delightfully goofy Monty Python musical set during the days of King Arthur (and the Knights Who Say ?Ni!?) is returning to Broadway, where it first had us in stitches more than a decade ago. This new production, whose cast includes James Monroe Iglehart, Christopher Fitzgerald, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Michael Urie and Ethan Slater, had a well-received run in May, with Josh Rhodes directing and choreographing, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The book and lyrics are by Eric Idle, music by Idle and John Du Prez; Rhodes directs and choreographs again. (Performances begin Oct. 31, St. James Theater)

November

PAL JOEY The nightclub singer and cad Joey Evans is transformed into an ambitious (but more redeemable) Black jazz singer, played by Ephraim Sykes in this new version of the 1940 musical based on stories by John O?Hara, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. Richard LaGravenese and Daniel Beaty are rewriting its book to include the original songs along with other Rodgers-Hart classics like ?My Heart Stood Still.? Savion Glover and Tony Goldwyn direct this City Center gala presentation. (Nov. 1-5, City Center)

HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO A group of young adults on the autism spectrum prepares for a spring dance, hoping to learn to better navigate social challenges in this musical that had its premiere at Syracuse Stage last year. It?s based on a 2015 documentary by Alexandra Shiva, and features a cast made up largely of autistic actors from the Syracuse production. The book and lyrics are by Rebekah Greer Melocik and music by Jacob Yandura, with Sammi Cannold directing. (Performances begin Nov. 15, Belasco Theater)

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB A group of great talents from the golden age of Cuban music in the 1940s and 1950s gathered in Havana for a week in 1996 to record the album ?Buena Vista Social Club.? This new musical, with a book by Marco Ramirez (?The Royale?), tells the story of these artists and the creation of the unlikely blockbuster album and a 1999 documentary. Saheem Ali (?Fat Ham?) directs the world premiere for Atlantic Theater Company, featuring music from the album. Musical direction by David Yazbek (?The Band?s Visit?) and choreography by Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck. (Nov. 17-Dec. 31, Linda Gross Theater)

SWEPT AWAY After a brutal storm sinks their whaling ship off the Massachusetts coast, four men struggle to survive in this new musical with a book by John Logan (?Red?) and music and lyrics by the Avett Brothers, based on their 2004 album ?Mignonette? (which, in turn, was inspired by a 1884 shipwreck off the Cape of Good Hope). The show premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theater last year, and among the cast returning for this Arena Stage run are John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe and Wayne Duvall. Michael Mayer directs. (Nov. 25-Dec. 30, Arena Stage)

December

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES Ana, full-figured and fresh out of high school, dreams of an education, but as a first-generation Mexican American in 1987 Los Angeles, she must battle her immigrant mother and the expectation she works in a sweatshop. This new musical is based on the 1990 play by Josefina L?pez that inspired the 2002 film by L?pez and George LaVoo. The new musical version features music and lyrics by Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez and a book by Lisa Loomer, with the Tony winner Sergio Trujillo directing and choreographing. (Dec. 8-Jan. 21, American Repertory Theater)

January

ILLINOIS This new dance-theater hybrid is based on Sufjan Stevens?s 2005 concept album ?Illinois,? about people, places and events in the Prairie State. With a story by Jackie Sibblies Drury (?Fairview?) and choreography and direction by Justin Peck, the show had a premiere at the Fisher Center at Bard this past summer. (Jan. 12-28, Chicago Shakespeare Theater)

THE CONNECTOR A talented up-and-coming journalist faces off with a diligent copy editor in this new musical, conceived and directed by Daisy Prince. The book is by Jonathan Marc Sherman and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown (?Parade?), who also leads the band in this MCC Theater world premiere. (Jan. 12-Feb. 18, Newman Mills Theater)

ENCORES! Don?t be fooled by the words ?staged concert readings?; these productions, now in their 30th year, are more elaborate and moving than simple readings. This season includes ?Once Upon a Mattress,? the 1959 musical comedy adapted from the fairy tale ?The Princess and the Pea? (Jan. 24-Feb. 4), directed by Lear deBessonet and starring Sutton Foster; ?Jelly?s Last Jam,? the 1992 musical about the life of the jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton (Feb. 21-March 3), directed by Robert O?Hara; and ?Titanic,? a 1997 musical recounting of the famous maritime disaster (June 12-23), directed by Anne Kauffman. (New York City Center)

February

THE NOTEBOOK Nicholas Sparks?s 1996 novel about romantic idealism and lifelong love comes to Broadway as a new musical (there was a screen adaptation in 2004 too, of course). The book is by Bekah Brunstetter, music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson, and Michael Greif and Schele Williams direct. ?The Notebook? arrives in New York following a well-received premiere last year at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. (Performances begin Feb. 6, Gerald Schoenfeld Theater)

REDWOOD Idina Menzel stars in a new musical about a seemingly successful businesswoman who suffers heartbreak and escapes her life and family to immerse herself in the redwoods of Northern California. Tina Landau wrote the book and directs this world premiere; the music is by Kate Diaz and lyrics by Diaz and Landau, with additional contributions from Menzel. (Feb. 13-March 17, La Jolla Playhouse)

TEETH I can?t believe a team decided to adapt the 2007 cult classic film about a young woman with toothed genitalia. Talk about pushing boundaries. The film, about an evangelical Christian teenager whose body bites back, didn?t even get the greatest reviews, but I?m in. The book is by Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson (?A Strange Loop?), with music by Jacobs and lyrics by Jackson. Sarah Benson (?Blasted?) directs. (Performances begin Feb. 21, Playwrights Horizons)

March

THE OUTSIDERS It?s the poor Greasers vs. the rich Socs in this new musical about angsty teenagers in 1960s Tulsa based on the S.E. Hinton novel (as well as Francis Ford Coppola?s 1983 film starring C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon and a bunch of other now-famous actors). The show, which had its premiere at La Jolla Playhouse earlier this year, features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine and music and lyrics by the folk duo Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Levine. Danya Taymor directs. (Performances begin March 16, Bernard B. Jacobs Theater)

April and beyond

THREE HOUSES A new musical by Dave Malloy (?Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812?) is always going to be a highlight. In his latest, Malloy employs book, music and lyrics to explore our post-pandemic world, bringing together three strangers after a long period of a time that was as communal as it was solitary. Annie Tippe directs. (April 30-June 9, Pershing Square Signature Center)

CABARET Eddie Redmayne starred in a recent, lauded London revival of this 1966 Kander and Ebb musical that shows us the Nazi rise to power through the lives of people in a Berlin nightclub. Redmayne is expected to reclaim the role of the Emcee when this new production, directed by Rebecca Frecknall, opens on Broadway. The book is by Joe Masteroff, music by Kander and lyrics by Ebb. (Previews begin in the spring, August Wilson Theater)

GATSBY American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., is planning its own musical adaptation of the Fitzgerald novel, directed by Rachel Chavkin. The A.R.T. production will feature a score by Florence Welch (Florence + the Machine) and Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) with a book by Martyna Majok (?Cost of Living?). (May 25-July 21, 2024, American Repertory Theater)

Between the unexpected musical twist this season for Only Murders In The Building and the fantastic recent Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode “Subspace Rhapsody,” we’ve been thinking about musical television lately. It’s always a treat when a series that isn’t known for musical moments decides to spend an installment putting on a show, especially when the cast gets a chance to display hidden talents. These episodes give characters an excuse to express their feelings in completely new ways because, according to the rules of musicals, when words aren’t enough to contain their feelings, the characters sing, and when singing isn’t enough, they dance. Musical episodes can move a story forward a great deal, or they can just be a fun little break from the darker stuff. Either way, we’re here for them.

These are our favorite examples of musical episodes throughout the years. For the purposes of this list, we’re only ranking episodes from shows that aren’t inherently musical in nature, so you won’t find anything from the likes of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Schmigadoon!, or Glee. We also aren’t including series where the performances are part of a show within the context of the story. If the characters aren’t surprised to be suddenly bursting into song or the music they’re singing to is being played by instruments onscreen, then it doesn’t qualify. That still leaves us with plenty of stellar, re-watchable gems, as you’ll see—and hear.

Eddie Perfect is undertaking a three-year residency at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) to deliver classes and assist students. This will include an original Australian musical theatre production facilitated by Perfect which will premiere in 2026 to celebrate the opening of the in-development Edith Cowan University (ECU) City Campus.

Eddie Perfect, who graduated from WAAPA’s Music Theatre course in 2001, is an award-winning lyricist, composer, playwright, musician, comedian and performer, whose stage works include his 2008 comedy Shane Warne: The Musical (for which he picked up a Helpmann, a Green Room Award and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award), Vivid White, The Beast, Songs from the Middle and King Kong Live on Broadway.

Perfect’s work as composer of the Beetlejuice musical on Broadway won him a nomination for Best Original Score at the 2019 Tony Awards. An Australian production of the musical was recently announced.

A new Australian musical, VILLAINY, will premiere in Melbourne from 2 to 12 November 2023.

Villainy features book, music and lyrics by Craig Christie, with music arranged and produced by Craig Bryant. Tim Paige directs.

The cast includes Stephen Mahy as Captain James Hook (Peter Pan), Chelsea Gibb as Eve (the Wicked Queen from Snow White), Francesca Arena as Madame Defarge (A Tale of Two Cities), Karlis Zaid as Jekyll/Hyde (Dr Jekyll and Mister Hyde), Tod Strike as Vlad (Dracula), Angela Scundi as Drizella (the Ugly Step Sister from Cinderella) and Jess Faulkner as Lily, a young girl claiming to come from the real world.

Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre will stage the North American premiere of Elvis: A Musical Revolution this fall.

Elvis: A Musical Revolution features a book by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti, as well as orchestrations, arrangements, and additional music and lyrics by Abbinanti. The musical is based on a concept by Floyd Mutrux.

The production will be directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun and begins previews 3 October 2023. Lucas Pastrana will star as Elvis Presley in the Walnut Street production, alongside Jenna Pastuszek as Priscilla Presley/Dixie, Rebecca Robbins as Gladys Presley, and Paul L. Nolan as Vernon Presley. The role of Young Elvis will be shared by Joey Caroto and Hunter Silverman.

The musical actually received its world premiere in Australia recently, where it is currently in the last week of a run in Sydney, before pulling up up stumps and heading to Melbourne. The Australian production stars Rob Mallett as Elvi, Noni McCallum as Gladys Presley, Ian Stenlake as Colonel Parker, Annie Chiswell as Priscilla Presley, Kirby Burgess as Ann-Margret, Matt Heyward as Vernon Presley, Sienna Embrey as Dixie, Ben Hall as Sam Phillips, Aidan O Cleirigh, Hanlon Innocent and Connor Morel.

Not sure if the creatives are using Australia as an out-of-town tryout (similar to the way Doctor Zhivago had its world premiere in Sydney back in 2011 before heading to Broadway), or if the show has been more or less frozen, with Australia just being the first territory in the world to license it.

Vincent Jamal Hooper will take on the role of Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King from 26 September 2023. Hooper will replace Brandon A. McCall, who departs 24 September.

Isabelle McCalla made her debut as Maizy in the Broadway production of Shucked earlier than planned. McCalla was set to begin her run on September 8, but made her debut on 6 September. Caroline Innerbichler left the production on 3 September as she is expecting a baby early next year.

The London production of Moulin Rouge will have a cast change on 16 October 2023 as the West End production enters its third year. Tanisha Spring will play Satine alongside Dom Simpson who will play co-lead Christian. Continuing in their roles, Matt Rixon will play Harold Zidler, Ian Carlyle will play Toulouse-Lautrec and Ben Richards will play The Duke. Joining them will be Ivan De Freitas as Santiago and Charlotte Gooch as Nini, with Anthony Cragg who continues with the cast and steps into the role of Baby Doll, Hannah Jay-Allan as Arabia, Rochelle Sherona – who also remains with the cast as Arabia (maternity cover) -Bernadette Bangura as La Chocolat, and Angela Marie Hurst who will play Alternate Satine.

The 2023-2024 North American tour of Come From Away has announced its cast. (https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Full-Cast-Revealed-for-COME-FROM-AWAY-2023-24-Tour-20230906) The non-Equity production will star Danny Arnold, Kathleen Cameron, Trey DeLuna, Addison Garner, Andrew Harvey, Andrew Hendrick, Hannah Kato, Chelsea LeValley, Kristin Litzenberg, Miranda Luze, Stanton Morales, Candace Alyssa Rhodes, Molly Samson, Jason Tyler Smith, Nathan David Smith, Shawn W. Smith, Dekontee Tucrkile and Andre Williams. The Come From Away US tour will start in Columbia, SC on 17 October.

The new UK tour of Wicked has announced its cast. The cast will be led by Sarah O’Connor (Glinda), Donna Berlin (Madame Morrible), Jed Berry (Boq), Megan Gardiner (Nessarose), and Casey Al-Shaqsy (Standby for Elphaba) will join the previously announced Laura Pick (Elphaba), Carl Man (Fiyero), and Simeon Truby (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond). Other cast members include Jed Berry (Boq), Megan Gardiner (Nessarose), Casey Al-Shaqsy (Standby for Elphaba), Thomas Charles, Julie Cloke, Charlotte Coggin, Freddie Conway, Áine Curran, Jade Davies, Kamau Davis, Russell Dickson, Maddison Firth, Lydia Gerrard, James Gower-Smith, Shoko Ito, Holly Lawrence, Nick Len, Stephanie Lindo, Will Lucas, Will Luckett, Rozz Mbwembwe, Georgia McElwee, Conor O’Hara, Shereen Osman, Stuart Rouse, Christina Shand, Adam Stickler, and Frazer Woolcott. The 2023-2025 Wicked tour opens at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 7 December 2023 and continues to Bristol, Birmingham, Bradford, Southampton, Liverpool, Dublin, Sunderland, Cardiff, and Manchester.

The North American tour of Hadestown changes casts in Los Angeles next month, with Amaya Braganza as Eurydice, Lana Gordon as Persephone, and Will Mann as Hermes joining the company on 3 October.(https://playbill.com/article/amaya-braganza-will-mann-lana-gordon-more-to-join-cast-of-hadestown-tour) Marla Louissaint, Lizzie Markson, and Hannah Schreer will also step into the roles of The Fates. Matthew Patrick Quinn and J. Antonio Rodriguez will continue as Hades and Orpheus, respectively. Current principals Nathan Lee Graham (Hermes), Maria-Christina Oliveras (Persephone), and Hannah Whitley (Eurydice) as well as Fates Dominique Kempf, Belén Moyano, and Nyla Watson will play their final performances at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, California, October 1. The Workers Chorus will feature Sevon Askew, Jamal Lee Harris, Courtney Lauster, Daniel Tracht, and Racquel Williams. Swings for the tour will include Ian Coulter-Buford, KC Dela Cruz, Colin LeMoine, and Cecilia Trippiedi.

Some poor bugger at Playbill went through the resumes of every Broadway actor during the 2022-23 season (from May 2022 to April 2023) to see which college or university they went to. The top ten institutions represented on the Great White Way last year via their alumni are:

1. New York University (NYU) - by a considerable margin by the looks of it
2. University of Michigan
3. American Musical and Dramatic Academy
4. Carnegie Mellon
5. Yale
6. Juilliard
7. Boston Conservatory
8. University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
9. Pace
10. Northwestern

Honourable mentions include Penn State, Elon, Syracuse and the only non-American institution - London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Some performers are alumni of multiple institutions, for example Victoria Clark graduated from both Yale (BA) and NYU (MFA), so both unis can claim her.

The Broadway musical “Here Lies Love” brings to life a violent period in the Philippines with song and dance. Jeff Yang shares how watching this show revealed for him deeper nuances of how musical theater performances can grapple with personal and international histories.

The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), is an opportunity for high school students all across the US to develop and showcase musical compositions that could be part of a musical theater production.

Winning writers will be invited to New York City in June 2024 to work with mentors, culminating in a concert of their songs.

Submissions close 4 December 2023.

Music Theatre International (MTI) and arts advocacy and development organization Latiné Musical Theatre Lab (LMTL) announced a partnership to create culturally sensitive bilingual versions of MTI's 30 and 60-minute Broadway Junior musicals.

Broadway Junior musicals are author-approved, condensed versions of classic musicals and modern works, custom-tailored to the needs of young people and schools.

The partnership between MTI and LMTL will help to create equal opportunities for Spanish-speaking and bilingual students and performers, while expanding accessibility for Spanish-speaking and bilingual households and audiences. In educational settings, students from English-speaking backgrounds will have the opportunity to learn and practice a second language in an immersive environment.

The first show slated for development is Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire's Shrek The Musical JR. In this bilingual world of Shrek JR., all characters speak two languages equally well. And yet as in real life, each character has their own language preference for thinking, speaking, and singing. The actors auditioning for principal characters will choose (based on their linguistic abilities and preferences) the language in which their character primarily works - American English or Latin American Spanish. This will create a bespoke version of the show for each production, where the primary language of each principal character will be based on the actor cast in the role.

In related news, Broadway will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, starting with the concert ¡Viva! Broadway: Aquí y Allá (Here and There) on 9 September 5pm (New York time).

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has acquired the archive of Thomas Meehan, an American librettist. The archive, dating from the 1960s to 2017, contains drafts for his major theater work, as well as notes, programs, press clippings, agreements, and audio and video recordings

Meehan, who died in 2017, received the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times: in 1977 for Annie, 2001 for The Producers, and 2003 for Hairspray. He remains the only librettist with three Broadway shows whose original productions ran for more than 2,000 performances. His other credits include Young Frankenstein, Cry-Baby, Elf, I Remember Mama, Annie Warbucks, Bombay Dreams, Death Takes a Holiday and Rocky the Musical, among others.

The filmed West End stage musical The Prince of Egypt will be released on BroadwayHD on November 15, and available to buy or rent on digital from December 5.

The theatrical version of the DreamWorks animated film, The Prince of Egypt was filmed live at London’s Dominion Theatre before its run ended in January 2022. The show features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Philip LaZebnik. Schwartz has penned 10 new songs to join his original five from the 1998 film.

Leading the cast are Luke Brady (Moses), Liam Tamne (Ramses), Christine Allado (Tzipporah), Alexia Khadime (Miriam), Joe Dixon (Seti), Debbie Kurup (Tuya), Oliver Lidert (Jethro), Mercedesz Csampai (Yocheved), Adam Pearce (Hotep), Nardia Ruth (Nefertari), and Silas Wyatt-Barke (Aaron).

The Entertainment Community Fund announced that the September 4 Stars in the House Labor Day Special has raised more than $55,000 so far, bringing the total amount raised by Stars in the House for the Fund to over $1,253,780 since March 2020.

I have to say that what Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, and the broader musical theatre and entertainment community, have achieved in response to Covid is awe-inspiring. Working in theatre is a financially precarious endeavour for many people, and Rudetsky and Wesley have organised online reunions and mini concerts (my favourites were the Ragtime and Fame movie ones) to help support those most in need during this time.

Past episodes of Stars in the House are available on YouTube

Mine is The Music Man. Love all the music and the counterpoint duets!

West End Musical Halloween is a one-night concert at London's Lyric Theatre on 29 October 2023, featuring numbers from Sweeney Todd, Little Shop Of Horrors, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Phantom Of The Opera, Carrie and Beetlejuice. Appearing will be Joanna Ampil (Miss Saigon), Michael Ahomka-Lindsay (Newsies, Legally Blonde), Aimie Atkinson (Death Note, Pretty Woman, Six), Maddison Firth (Heathers), Jacob Fowler (Heathers), Joaquin Pedro Valdes (Death Note) and Shanay Holmes (Miss Saigon, Get Up Stand Up).

The new West End company of Six has been revealed. Starring from 17 October 2023 will be Nikki Bentley as Catherine of Aragon, Thao Therese Nguyen as Anne Boleyn, Kayleigh McKnight as Jane Seymour, Reca Oakley as Anna of Cleves, Inez Budd as Katherine Howard and Janiq Charles as Catherine Parr. They will be joined by Gabriella Stylianouas Alternate Aragon/Seymour and Dance Captain, Naomi Alade as Alternate Boleyn/Cleves, Hannah Lowther as Alternate Howard/Parr, Meg Dixon-Brasil as Super Swing and Natalie Pilkington as UK Super Swing.

To Wong Foo The Musical (the Douglas Carter Beane / Lewis Flinn show based on the 1995 film) has announced casting for its Hope Mill Theatre run in Manchester. Peter Caulfield plays Vida Boheme, Gregory Haney plays Noxeema Jackson and Pablo Gómez Jones plays Chichi Rodríguez. Joining them are Carolyn Maitland (as Carol Ann), Duncan Burt (Sheriff Dollard), Alexander Kranz (Bobby Ray), Arthur Boan (Tommy Paul), Ayesha Maynard (Beulah June), Emily Ooi (Bobby Lee), Jermaine Woods (Willie Joe/John Jacob), Lee Harris (Ed Earl/Crazy Elijah), Natalie Day (Mary Lou), Scott Hunter (Billy Budd), Susie Fenwick (Clara Pearl), Samantha Bingley (Rose of Sharon), Theo Maddix (Rachel Tensions/Jimmy Jack), Jamil Abbasi and Megan Davies-Truin. To Wong Foo will begin performances 21 October 21 2023 for a limited run until 17 December.

Madagascar the Musical has unveiled its new touring cast Karim Zeroual will lead the cast of the tour as King Julien, alongside Laura Marie Benson (Kowalski), Francisco Gomes (Marty), Aidan Harkins (Swing), Joseph Hewlett (Alex), James Hilton (Ensemble), Gabriel Hinchliffe (Swing), Ella Howlett (Rico), Connor Keetley (Skipper/ Maurice), Brogan McFarlane (Private/ Mort), Joshua Oakes-Rogers (Melman) and Jarnéia Richard-Noel (Gloria). The 2023 tour kicks off in Plymouth on 20 October 2023, before heading to Cheltenham, Peterborough, Aylesbury and Sunderland. Following international visits to Monaco, Hong Kong and Singapore, the UK and Ireland tour will recommence in February 2024, playing Manchester, Bradford, Blackpool Swansea, Belfast, Birmingham, Grimsby, Liverpool, Dublin, Oxford, Edinburgh, Inverness, Wimbledon, Stoke-on-Trent, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Dartford, Eastbourne, Barnstaple, Cardiff, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Southend, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Matthew Wolfenden and Tom Chambers will star in the West End musical Elf from as Buddy and Walter Hobbs respectively, from 15 November 2023 until 6 January 2024. They join the previously announced Georgina Castle as Jovie, Rebecca Lock as Emily Hobbs, Nicholas Pound as Santa, Kim Ismay as Debs and Dermot Canavan as Store Manager. Ben Lancaster will alternate the role of Buddy at certain performances. The book of Elf is by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, with songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin.

Darren Day will play Hugo/Loco Chanelle in the UK tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie from 21 November – 30 December 2023. Day will appear in the show at Blackpool Winter Gardens, Venue Cymru in Llandudno, and for the three week Christmas season at Oxford New Theatre. Harriet Payne will also join the tour as Miss Hedge in Llandudno and Oxford. They join Ivano Turco as Jamie New, Rebecca McKinnis as Margaret New, Shobna Gulati as Ray and Talia Palamathanan as Pritti.

Waitress: The Musical will be released into movie theatres via Bleecker Street and Fathom Events on 7 December 2023.

The show was captured live on stage in 2021 during the musical’s reprise on Broadway and stars composer-lyricist Sara Bareilles in the lead role.

Brett Sullivan directed the film and Jessie Nelson is creative advisor. Waitress: The Musical also stars Eric Anderson, Charity Angeìl Dawson, Christopher Fitzgerald, Drew Gehling, Caitlin Houlahan, Dakin Matthews and Joe Tippett.