Open auditions announced for Cats 2017 international tour

Open dance auditions are being held for the 2017 international tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats. 

Experienced dancers, aged 21 and over, are invited to register to audition from 9:30 to 12:00 on Monday 15th August at Pineapple Studios in Covent Garden. Auditions will take place between 10:00 and 18:00. 

Auditionees should bring a current CV and headshot along with one musical theatre song which shows your range. Auditionees must be available for rehearsals in London during November and December 2016 and for performances from January 2017. This is a one year contract. The casting call states that "successful auditionees will have the opportunity to travel the world with the musical phenomenon and become part of Cats history".

Andrew Lloyd Webber celebrates having three shows on Broadway!

Last night (31st July) the Broadway revival of Cats opened on Broadway, meaning that legendary British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber now has three musicals on Broadway!

In addition to Cats, The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running musical on Broadway whilst Lloyd Webber's newest musical School of Rock is playing to packed houses ahead of its West End transfer.

To celebrate, Lloyd Webber posed for a special photo with Leona Lewis who plays Grizabella in Cats, Alex Brightman who plays Dewey Finn in School of Rock and James Barbour who plays the title role in The Phantom of the Opera. Check out the photo below (click to enlarge).

Nicole Scherzinger releases statment after withdrawing from Broadway revival of Cats

Nicole Scherzinger has released a statement after withdrawing from the Broadway revival of Cats a week before rehearsals were due to begin.

Last week the musical's composer Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed Scherzinger had  quit the musical so she can instead return to The X Factor UK as a judge alongside Simon Cowell. 

Scherzinger starred as Grizabella in the recent West End revival of Cats, and was long-rumoured to be reprising her role on Broadway.

Speaking to The Economist last week, Lloyd Webber said: "A week before we go into rehearsal on Broadway, which luckily I'm not producing, I get the news that she's decided to do X Factor, having agreed to do everything. 

PICS: Jack Black visits School of Rock on Broadway

Yesterday (1st May), Jack Black visited Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new Broadway musical School of Rock at the Winter Garden Theatre. Black reportedly received two standing ovations; firstly when he took his seat before the show and again after intermission. 

Black, who played Dewey in the original film, met with the cast led by Alex Brightman. He visited the show with fellow actor Paul Rudd and family. Check out images below (click picture to enlarge). 

Andrew Lloyd Webber wants spring 2017 London opening for School Of Rock

Are we in the band? Andrew Lloyd Webber has confirmed that School Of Rock's London transfer has been pushed back. 

Last year producers announced that following its Broadway opening, School Of Rock would open at the London Palladium in autumn 2016.

Speaking to Broadway.com, Lloyd Webber has now said: "This is a big fishing expedition. We need brilliantly talented children who can act, sing and play rock instruments... Our show depends on it.

"If we do [find them], we will open in the West End in spring 2017. So kids, get the metal out, strut the stuff and help us stick it to the man!"

GOSSIP: Tom Hooper to direct CATS film adaptation?

There have been rumours about Universal adapting Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats for the big screen for many years... however, it looks like the film might finally be happening!

Tom Hooper is reportedly in talks to direct the project for Working Title which would reunite the team behind the Les Miserables film adaptation. The Sun suggests filming could begin later this year and that Hooper wants former model Suki Waterhouse to star in the movie.

Cats recently returned to the London Palladium for a second season and is currently embarking on a UK and European tour. The musical is returning to Broadway this summer, opening at the Neil Simon Theatre on 2nd August 2016 (previews from 14th July).

GOSSIP: Andrew Lloyd Webber to acquire St James Theatre to develop new musicals?

Andrew Lloyd Webber has reportedly told the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye that his Really Useful Theatres group is "close to acquiring" the St James Theatre in Victoria. 

The theatre would be run as a not-for-profit venue for the development of new musicals.

Speaking to Bamigboye, Lloyd Webber explained that it would be great to have a venue in London to try out new shows in. The composer workshopped School Of Rock - which opened on Broadway this week - at the Gramercy Theatre in New York and noticed that there isn't an equivalent venue in London. 

PICS: School Of Rock opens on Broadway!

Last night Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of School of Rock officially premiered on Broadway! Check out pics of Lloyd Webber with VIP guests plus production images below (click picture to enlarge). 

Guests included: Joan Collins, Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks, Helen Mirren, Sting and Trudie Styler and Tommy Tune, stars of Downton Abbey Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter and Elizabeth McGovern, as well as Michael Cerveris, Laverne Cox, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Neil Patrick Harris, Perez Hilton, Constantine Maroulis, Josh Radnor, Liev Schreiber, George Takei and Barbara Walters and the complete “kids” cast from the original School of Rock film.

Directed by Laurence Connor, School of Rock began previews at the Winter Garden Theatre last month. The cast is led by Alex Brightman (Wicked/Big Fish) and Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies/It Shoulda Been You) as Dewey Finn and headmistress Rosalie.

PICS: School of Rock movie stars meet Broadway cast

Last night Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of School of Rock played its first preview on Broadway. After the performance, stars from the 2003 film met their Broadway counterparts. Check out images from the evening below!

Directed by Laurence Connor, the show officially at the Winter Garden Theatre on 6th December 2015. The cast is led by Alex Brightman (Wicked/Big Fish) and Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies/It Shoulda Been You) as Dewey Finn and headmistress Rosalie.

Review: Beverley Knight stars in Cats at the London Palladium

Cats

London Palladium

Reviewed on Tuesday 27th October 2015

★★★★

Emma Lee Clark

Hot on the heels of its Blackpool run, Cats has returned to the London Palladium for a second Christmas season. 

When Andrew Lloyd Webber reunited with director Trevor Nunn, associate director/choreographer Gillian Lynne and designer John Napier to bring Cats back to the West End I don't think many predicted what a success the show would be. Performances sold out whilst both Nicole Scherzinger and Kerry Ellis received great acclaim for their portrayals of Grizabella.

Based on T.S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the show is set on a special night of the year when all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball. 

It's important to stress that before seeing Cats you have to leave all common sense outside the theatre and forget about any other musicals you may have seen (Cats can't be compared to anything). Cats shouldn't be over analysed; it is a truly unique show which was revolutionary for musical theatre when it was first staged in 1981.

Full casting announced for Andrew Lloyd Webber's School Of Rock musical

Full casting has been announced for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of School Of Rock. 

Directed by Laurence Connor, the show opens on Broadway on 6th December 2015 (previews from 9th November) at the Main Stem's Winter Garden Theatre. 

As previously announced, Alex Brightman (Wicked/Big Fish) and Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies/It Shoulda Been You) will lead the cast as Dewey Finn and headmistress Rosalie.

Joining the cast are Spencer Moses (Doctor Zhivago) as Ned and Mamie Parris (On the Twentieth Century) as Patty. The child stars include: Evie Dolan as Katie, Carly Gendell as Marcy, Ethan Khusidman as Mason, Bobbie MacKenzie as Tomika, Dante Melucci as Freddy, Brandon Niederauer as Zack, Luca Padovan as Billy, Jared Parker as Lawrence and Isabella Russo as Summer.

PICS: Andrew Lloyd Webber & Cameron Mackintosh visit Cats in Blackpool

Last night (12th August) Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh visited Cats at the Blackpool Opera House and met with the cast, led by Jane McDonald as Grizabella, on stage after the performance. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Cats runs at the Blackpool Opera House until 5th September 2015. The production then returns to the London Palladium for a strictly limited eight week season from 23rd October 2015 with Beverley Knight playing the role of Grizabella.

Watch Beverley Knight perform 'Memory' for the first time with Andrew Lloyd Webber

We didn't think it was possible to love Beverley Knight any more... until we watched this video of her singing 'Memory' with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Watch the video below and prepare to be amazed!

Review: Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Tour) 
Milton Keynes Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 13th July 2015
★★★

In my mind Jesus Christ Superstar is one of the greatest musicals. Having premiered on Broadway in 1971, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera retells a story everyone knows, contains some truly iconic numbers and features two of the best male leading roles in musical theatre. 

GOSSIP: ENO want to stage Sunset Boulevard?

According to The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Andrew Lloyd Webber's show Sunset Boulevard could become the next musical to be staged at the London Coliseum by the English National Opera. 

Bamigboye suggests that the musical could be revived at some point in 2016 or 2017, but stresses that no deals have been made and the ENO are yet to secure the rights.

Producers apparently have Glenn Close "in mind" to star as Norma Desmond. The role was created by Patti LuPone in the original production which opened at the West End's Adelphi Theatre in 1993. Close played Norma Desmond in the original Los Angeles production in 1993 before reprising her performance on  Broadway the following year.

GOSSIP: Andrew Lloyd Webber says School of Rock will play London

Andrew Lloyd Webber has confirmed that he plans to bring his musical adaptation of School of Rock to London.

Speaking to the New York Post, the composer said, "We’ll play London after New York." Lloyd Webber also revealed that he has written twelve new songs for the musical which is based on the 2003 movie starring Jack Black.

It was recently announced that Alex Brightman (Wicked/Big Fish) and Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies/It Shoulda Been You) will star in School of Rock as as Dewey Finn and headmistress Rosalie.

Directed by Laurence Connor, the show opens on Broadway on 6th December 2015 (previews from 9th November) at the Main Stem's Winter Garden Theatre. 

Sierra Boggess & Alex Brightman to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock musical

First casting has been announced for the world premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage adaptation of School of Rock.

The musical opens on Broadway on 6th December 2015 (previews from 9th November) at the Main Stem's Winter Garden Theatre. Laurence Connor directs.

Alex Brightman, who starred in the musical's recent workshop, will lead the cast as Dewey Finn (played by Jack Black in the 2003 movie). His Broadway credits include Big Fish, Matilda, Wicked and Glory Days.

Discussing Brightman's casting, Lloyd Webber said: "I’ve come to consider the casting of an actor named ‘Brightman’ in a starring role something of a good luck charm for a long, healthy run on Broadway. Alex, lucky for us, also happens to be a remarkable Dewey Finn. The wonderful thing about seeing him play this role is that you get the sense that he’s having every bit as much fun performing as we are watching, and the result is positively infectious."

Love Never Dies to launch U.S. tour

It has been announced that Love Never Dies will launch a U.S. tour in 2017. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to The Phantom of the Opera will tour North America in the 2017-18 season. 

The production will be based on Simon Phillips's Australian version of the musical which is also being staged in Germany later this year.

Love Never Dies to be staged in Germany

It has been announced that Love Never Dies - Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to The Phantom of the Opera - will be staged in Hamburg, Germany as Liebe Stirbt Nie.

The production is based on the Australian version of the show which was acclaimed; whereas the original West End production starring Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess was heavily criticised. 

The show has music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and book by Lloyd Webber, Slater and Ben Elton with additional lyrics by Charles Hart. Liebe Stirbt Nie runs at the Stage Operettenhaus later thie year. 

Review: Kerry Ellis stars as Grizabella in Cats at the London Palladium

Cats
London Palladium
Reviewed on Wednesday 18th February 2015
★★★★

When Cats returned to the West End last December nobody predicted what a big hit it would turn out to be. With the 'house full' sign up outside the Palladium most days, producers extended Cats' run and chose Kerry Ellis - the first lady of the West End - to take over from Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella.