Perfect Pitch announce Michael Ball as patron & team up with Digital Theatre to release From Up Here & LIFT

Perfect Pitch have announced Michael Ball (pictured right) as their patron; as well as a brand new partnership with DigitalTheatre.com!

Speaking today Michael Ball said: "It feels wonderful to be a patron of Perfect Pitch and officially support the company in its work to nurture and develop new musical theatre shows with up-and-coming writing talent. 

"We have a wonderful tradition of creating great musicals in this country and, to ensure its bright future, it’s essential that we give emerging writers every opportunity to develop their craft and create the hit shows of tomorrow. It’s fantastic that Perfect Pitch can offer such great opportunities and I’m really pleased to be able to play my part."

Andy Barnes, Executive Producer of Perfect Pitch added: "Michael shares our passion in supporting emerging talent with new ideas for musicals, particularly contemporary ideas that relate to an evolving audience. We are delighted that he’s committed some of his valuable time to further this cause."

Album Review: Rush Of Life by Julie Atherton

Rush Of Life
Julie Atherton
Theatre Bench Records
★★★★

In the land of musical theatre West End star Julie Atherton is known as the Queen of new writing. As well as showcasing her remarkable vocals, Atherton's latest studio album Rush Of Life features material by some of the industry's most exciting new writing talents.

Big Interview: Craig Adams

Craig Adams’ new musical Thérèse Raquin, based on the classic French novel, opens tonight at the Finborough Theatre.

Craig (music) has adapted Émile Zola’s novel for the stage with Nona Shepphard (book and lyrics). The production features a stellar cast, including Julie Atherton (LIFT/Avenue Q) and Ben Lewis (Candide/Australian production of Love Never Dies).

Craig is a composer, lyricist, and arranger. He was the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer at the Finborough Theatre, facilitated by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network UK. 

His first musical LIFT, developed in association with Perfect Pitch, received its world premiere at Soho Theatre in February 2013 and received an Off Broadway run in November 2013. The show was ranked #2 in West End Frame’s top ten shows of 2013.

Craig’s other writing credits include: DEFECT (as part of Vibrant 2013 – A Festival of Finborough Playwrights at the Finborough Theatre), 101 Dalmatians (The Castle, Wellingborough), Ghosts Of The Past and The Watchers (YMT:UK), Ballet People (The Place), Battlement (Vanbrugh Theatre), Let Him Have Justice (Cochrane Theatre), Spell, The Frog Prince (Wimbledon Studio Theatre and Edinburgh Festival) and Alice in Wonderland (Edinburgh Festival and tour). 

He is currently working an adaptation of the Terry Pratchett novel Soul Music for YMT:UK, and a dance piece based on acclaimed children’s book Bob Robber and Dancing Jane entitled Shadowthief which will premiere in summer 2014. 

Recently I spoke to Craig about why he decided to write Thérèse Raquin, the overwhelming success of LIFT and the state of new writing… 

How have you felt over the past few weeks with the build up to the opening of Thérèse Raquin?

Very nervous… [laughs] really nervous! It’s a really hard show; the subject matter is hard anyway because the book is very naturalistic. It doesn’t centre itself on emotion; it’s about how people deal with the story. When writing the music it was hard to not wallow in the emotion, it has to be more of a commentary. The score is really, really tricky – the cast have done a phenomenal job. It’s been hard but rewarding work!

Editor's Blog: Top 10 Shows of 2013

When people ask what I do for a living and I explain that I am the Editor of a theatre website I am always asked two questions. Firstly, 'Don't you get bored of going to the theatre every night?' and secondly 'What's the best show you've ever seen?'

My answer to the first question is always no - I do not and never could get bored of going to the theatre every night due to the incredible variety we are so lucky to have in London. If I saw a big West End musical every night I would become bored. If I saw a small fringe play every night I would become bored. But 2013 has seen so many different productions staged all over London which really have pushed theatrical boundaries.

I often find it hard to answer the second question, so throughout the year I have been working on a list of my top ten personal favourite shows of the year... and below is the finished version. I would also just like to thank everyone for their unbelievably amazing support throughout 2013. It has been a very exciting year for West End Frame and, quite simply, we couldn't do it without you. Happy New Year!

10. Chess at the Union Theatre
February 2013 - March 2013

Photo Credit: Mug Photography

For me the most exciting thing about seeing Chess at the Union Theatre was that I was able to be completely open minded as I had absolutely nothing to compare it to. On press night I was surrounded by people discussing how it compared to the original West End production but I had the joy of discovering the show for the first time. Chess was one of the most exciting productions I saw in 2013, the entire run sold out before the first preview! The show took so many risks, all of which paid off. Sarah Galbraith gave the most mesmerising performance as Florence and Christopher Howell and Steven Harris' direction was nothing short of mind-blowing. Their attention to detail was sublime.

Big Interview: Julie Atherton

Julie Atherton is currently starring in the world premiere of Another Way at the Cockpit Theatre. The new musical features a book by Sarah Henley and Tori Allen-Martin and music by Benedict.

Another Way is three short stories about three London-based couples - friends, family and lovers - over the course of three months. It’s about luck in its different forms, from feeling lucky to being struck by luck, by a chance meeting. It’s about hope, it’s about getting stronger, and staying up later, for the 'dawn of our glory days'.

Julie Atherton famously created the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut in the original West End production of Avenue Q (Noël Coward & Gielgud). She made her West End debut as Sophie in Mamma Mia (Prince Edward) and went on to play Serena Katz in Fame (Aldwych & UK Tour).

Her other theatre credits include: Emily in The Hired Man (Mercury Colcester & Curve Leicester), French Teacher in Lift (Soho Theatre), Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act (UK Tour), Deb in Ordinary Days (Trafalgar Studios & Finborough), Cathy in The Last 5 Years (Theatre Royal Haymarket) and Kolokolo Bird in Just So (Chicester Festival).

Julie has also released two studio albums, 'A Girl of Few Words' and 'No Space for Air' and continues to support new writing. Later this year she will star alongside Daniel Boys in The Opinion Makers which will run in Derby and Colchester. Yesterday I chatted to Julie about what attracted her to starring in Another Way, why she feels so strongly about supporting new writing and what it was like to perform in Scott Alan’s recent concert at the IndigO2...

How are rehearsals for Another Way going so far?

Really well, we’ve got a lot to cram in! I’m trying to learn my lines at the moment so we’re at that stressful stage but I’m really enjoying it, the music is incredible!

Interview: Nikki Davis-Jones, starring in Lift at the Soho Theatre

Nikki Davis-Jones will star as Secretary in Lift, the world premiere of a new musical by Craig Adams and Ian Watson about love, life and loss in a London lift. Later this year she will play Maureen in the 20th Anniversary Concert UK Tour of Rent. Nikki's many theatre credits include Standby Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria), Serena in Fame (UK Tour), Never Forget (Savoy Theatre), Lisa in Mamma Mia (West End) and Linda in Blood Brothers (West End).

Nikki chats to West End Frame about what it's like being part of a brand new musical, her time in Wicked and how she's excited about touring the UK with Rent!

Are you looking forward to starring in Lift?

I am so excited! The show is definitely going to be something special. As it’s a brand new show we are creating the roles which is so exciting, the buzz in the rehearsal studio has just been amazing! 

How are rehearsals going? 

Brilliant! We started on Monday and have been doing a lot of singing and the harmonies are just unbelievable – Craig Adams is a genius! The eight part harmonies sound incredible. It’s very hard, much harder than I was expecting it to be, but it’s brilliant and so much fun to be part of. 

Julie Atherton & Nikki Davis-Jones to star in new musical 'Lift'

Full casting for the World Premiere of new musical Lift, which will run in the Main House at Soho Theatre from Wednesday 30th January – Sunday 24th February 2013. 

The show will star Julie Atherton as ‘French Teacher’, Nikki Davis-Jones as ‘Secretary’, Cynthia Erivo as ‘Lap Dancer’, Jonny Fines as ‘Ballet Dancer’, Luke Kempner as ‘Bright Young Thing’, Ellie Kirk as ‘Athletic and Wearing a Thong’, George Maguire as ‘Busker’ and Robbie Towns as ‘Tall, Dark and Handsome’.

Julie Atherton has just finished touring the UK as ‘Sister Mary Robert’ in “Sister Act”, and will be playing the title role in “Cinderella” at the Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas. West End theatre credits include ‘Kate Monster’ in the original London cast of “Avenue Q”, ‘Serena Katz’ in “Fame” and ‘Sophie’ in “Mamma Mia!”. Julie has also released two studio albums, “A Girl of Few Words” and “No Space for Air”.