RENT breaks box office records at the St James Theatre

RENT has become the fastest selling show in the history of the St. James Theatre, having sold the most tickets not only in a 24-hour period after on-sale but also in the first week of an on-sale period. 

The 20th Anniversary production of Jonathan Larson’s musical also breaks the record for the most amount of money taken on the first day of sales, beating the theatre’s previous fastest selling show record-holders, Sideways and The Pianist of Willesden Lane.

Producer Robert Mackintosh says: "I am delighted that the reaction to the 20th Anniversary production of RENT, by way of ticket sales, has been so strong, especially for my first venture with co-producers Ingrid Sutej and Miguel Esteban.”

Review: Sideways at the St James Theatre

Sideways 
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 31st May 2016
★★★

Adapted from his 2004 novel, Rex Pickett's stage adaptation of Sideways has some funny moments but is yet to be fine-tuned. The piece follows two middle-aged men, Miles and Jack, as they head to Santa Barbara for a week of wine-tasting before Jack's wedding. Things don't run smoothly, with both men heading towards a whopper of a midlife crisis.

Review: My Mother Said I Never Should at the St James Theatre

My Mother Said I Never Should 
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 18th April 2016

★★★

Charlotte Keatley’s 1985 debut play My Mother Said I Never Should made its mark with an Olivier nomination for her as Most Promising Newcomer, and in 2000 it was listed as one of the 100 Significant Plays of the Twentieth Century by the National Theatre. While I wouldn’t personally bestow that sort of honour on it, this is a both moving and often very funny examination of relationships and social pressures told through the lives of four female members of the same family.

Paul Taylor-Mills joins Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group to work on programming at the St James Theatre

Paul Taylor-Mills will join Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group as advisory producer. 

Whilst continuing to work independently on his own productions, Taylor-Mills will also begin working on selected Really Useful Group titles, and supporting the programming and incubation of new work at the newly owned St James Theatre. 

Taylor-Mills says: "I'm thrilled and humbled to be working with Andrew and his exceptional team at RUG on the next phase at St. James Theatre. London has been crying out for a home dedicated to staging new work and our plan is to make St. James the destination venue at which to do this. 

Exposure The Musical to receive world premiere at the St James Theatre

It has been announced that Exposure The Musical: Life Through A Lens will receive its world premiere at the St James Theatre this summer.

The new musical will open on 28th July (previews from 16th July) and run for a limited season to 27th August 2016.

The book for Exposure The Musical was written by Mike Dyer, with Quentin Russell as script consultant and dramaturgy by Phil Willmott, who is also directing production. 

Mike Dyer has also written the lyrics & music with co-writers Philip Cohen, Vince Hudson, Fred Johanson, Clayton Moss, Sara Eker Peller, Mark Street and Adrian Wyatt. Exposure The Musical has a unique partnership with Getty Images, enabling the production to feature iconic and compelling imagery from one of the world’s most remarkable collections. 

Review: Miss Atomic Bomb at the St James Theatre

Miss Atomic Bomb
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 14th March 2016
★★★★

Transporting us back to 1952 Las Vegas, Miss Atomic Bomb is a bold new musical with a satirical style not everybody is going to get. For the first ten minutes I sat in my seat wondering what on earth I was watching, but after the first few numbers I embraced the style and found myself laughing all evening.

Taking no prisoners, Adam Long, Gabriel Vick and Alex Jackson-Long's musical finds humour in the strangest of places. Miss Atomic Bomb sees the U.S. military testing its atomic bombs and taking control of the city. Despite an array of characters being faced with life-or-death situations, everyone is far more concerned about who will have their 'life changed' by being crowned the Miss Atomic Bomb beauty queen. It's bizarre, surprising fun.

The piece is still a little rough around the edges, but the supreme cast cover it up well. There are some stand out songs along the way; Dean John-Wilson and Simon Lipkin lead a showstopping tap number in the first half whilst Florence Andrews raises the roof in the second act with her solo number 'The Sun Went Down'. Lipkin is the driving force behind the piece - he can do no wrong. 

Sideways by Rex Pickett to receive UK premiere at the St James Theatre

A brand new production of Rex Pickett’s novel and play Sideways will open at the St James Theatre, marking its UK premiere.

Directed by David Grindley, Sideways will open on 31st May (previews from 26th May) and run until 9th July 2016 with full casting snd creatives to be announced.

Pickett says: "From the moment my play Sideways was successfully staged in the U.S. it's been my express dream to bring it to London. That is not hyperbole. I've been a lifelong, die-hard fan of U.K. films, literature, thespians, and, of course, London's rich history of theatre and her undying love of language and for the spoken word. The Brit influence on my work is incalculable, my debt enormous. Bringing Sideways to London is that dream realized in Technicolor, that debt remunerated in the only way I'm capable of expressing my immeasurable gratitude."

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. 

Review: Around The World In 80 Days at the St James Theatre

Around The World In 80 Days 
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 3rd December 2015
★★★

Laura Eason's new stage adaptation of Around The World In 80 Days takes families back to the heart of storytelling this Christmas. 

Review: Pig Farm at the St James Theatre

Pig Farm
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 28th October 2015
★★

Pig Farm by Greg Kotis is a peculiar play set on an American farm. With pig prices falling, an inspection from the Federal Protection Agency looming and his marriage hitting the rocks, farmer Tom (Dan Fredenburgh) reaches breaking point. 

Review: Pure Imagination - The Songs of Leslie Bricusse at the St James Theatre

Pure Imagination: The Songs of Leslie Bricusse
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 28th September 2015
★★★

Hot on the heels of Bacharach Reimagined’s success, Pure Imagination celebrates the songs of Leslie Bricusse who is one of the most successful screen and stage composers of our time. 

Competition: Win a pair of tickets to see the world premiere of Pure Imagination – The Songs of Leslie Bricusse

We are giving away a pair of tickets to the world premiere of Pure Imagination at the St James Theatre. To enter the competition, simply sign up to West End Frame's mailing list below.

The winner will be randomly selected at 10am on Tuesday 22nd September 2015 (entries after this time will not be included). The prize is valid for Monday to Thursday performances until 17th October.

Even if you already subscribe to West End Frame's newsletter you still have to input your details below to enter this particular competition. You will not receive our newsletter twice (assuming you enter the same email address). Please read the terms and conditions below. 

Pig Farm to receive UK premiere at the St James Theatre

It has been announced that Pig Farm will receive its UK premiere at the St James Theatre later this year.

Written by Tony Award winner Greg Kotis, the production opens on 28th October (previews from 21st October) and runs until 21st November 2015. 

Pig Farm will be directed by Katharine Farmer with the full creative team and cast to be announced. 

Kotis, whose writing credits also include Urinetown The Musical, said: "I am thrilled beyond measure to be returning to London and the St James Theatre with Pig Farm. Every American playwright dreams of having his or her work brought to life on a London stage, and I feel very lucky indeed that this dream is coming true once again."

Stardust Road cancels London run following financial problems

Producers of Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road have cancelled the musical's upcoming London run.

Directed by Susan H Schulman, the show was scheduled to play between 27th October and 21st November 2015 at the St James Theatre, marking its world premiere.

Producer Hoagy B. Carmichael said: "We are terribly saddened to reveal that due to issues with a potential investor we have had to cancel the run in London. It would have been irresponsible to everyone involved in the production to have moved ahead without this vital piece of financing in place. 

Review: Songs For A New World at the St James Theatre

Songs For A New World 
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 24th July 2015
★★★★

Written by Jason Robert Brown when he was only twenty-five, Songs For A New World has become truly iconic. I had forgotten just how many incredibly written numbers are in the show, which is celebrating twenty years since its off-Broadway premiere.

Big Interview: Dean John-Wilson, starring in Songs For A New World

Dean John-Wilson is currently starring as Man 1 in Adam Lenson’s production of Songs For A New World by Jason Robert Brown at the St James Theatre.

Written when Jason Robert Brown was only 25, Songs for a New World broke the mould of the ‘showstopper’ Broadway musical. The show debuted off-Broadway in 1995 and has since been seen in hundreds of productions around the world. It received its UK premiere in 2001 at the Bridewell Theatre.

Weaving characters, locations and time periods together in one extraordinary evening, this production also stars Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple/Sister Act), Jenna Russell (Urinetown/Merrily We Roll Along) and Damian Humbley (Forbidden Broadway/Merrily We Roll Along).

Most recently Dean starred as Aquino in the UK premiere of Here Lies Love at the National Theatre. His theatre credits also include: understudy Prewitt and Maggio in From Here To Eternity (Shaftesbury), Zack in Bare (Union Theatre) and understudy Pablo and TJ in Sister Act The Musical (UK tour). He also reached the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2008.

I recently spoke to Dean about why this production of Songs For A New World is going to surprise people, the beauty of Jason Robert Brown’s music, his path into the theatre world, why Here Lies Love was a dream job and his upcoming concert with Scott Alan, plus much more…

How familiar were you previously with Songs For A New World?

I think Songs For A New World has been part of every young, tenor’s life since drama school – everybody knows the American cast album. To be honest, I was aware of it but had never actually sung any of the material. Well I did one of the group numbers back in college when I was sixteen, but never sung any of the solos; I had just listened to them. Now I’m really going back to the text and getting thoroughly involved in it. It’s quite fulfilling actually, I’ve suddenly seen a completely different side to my perception of it from when I was younger.

Lloyd Daniels, Sarah Earnshaw & Sophie Evans cast in You Won’t Succeed on Broadway if You Don’t Have Any Jews

It has been announced that You won’t succeed on Broadway if you don’t have any Jews will open at the St James Theatre on 27th August (previews from 25th August) for a limited run until 5th September 2015.

The show will star  Lloyd Daniels (X Factor/Joseph UK Tour), Sarah Earnshaw (Wicked/Spamalot) and Sophie Evans (The Wizard of Oz) with David Albury, Alex Marshall, John Barr, Danny Lane, Yiftach Mizrahi, Natalie Lipin, Rebecca Wicking and Jackie Marks completing the cast.

Broadway wouldn’t be what it is today without the Jewish composers and writers whose melodies we so greatly adore. You Won’t Succeed on Broadway if You Don’t Have Any Jews is not in any way political. It is simply a joyous celebration of over 80 years of the Jewish contribution to Musical Theatre. 

Around the World in 80 Days to be staged at the St James Theatre this Christmas

A new stage production of Jules Verne’s classic 1873 novel Around the World in 80 Days will premiere at the St James Theatre this Christmas.

Directed by Lucy Bailey and adapted by Laura Eason, the show will open on 3rd December 2015 (previews from 26th November) and run until 16th January 2016. Casting will be announced shortly.

Press Night Pics: McQueen at the St James Theatre starring Stephen Wight & Dianna Agron

Two press nights were held earlier this week for McQueen at the St James Theatre on 19th and 20th May 2015. Celebrity guests were in attendance as well as Alexander McQueen's family. Check out images below (click picture to enlarge).

McQueen stars Stephen Wight in the title role and Dianna Agron as Dahlia as well as Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock. Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank, James Revell and Carrie Willis complete the cast.

Production images released for McQueen

Production images have been released for the world premiere of James Phillips’ new play McQueen which is currently breaking box office records at the St James Theatre. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

McQueen stars Stephen Wight in the title role and Dianna Agron as Dahlia as well as Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock. Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank, James Revell and Carrie Willis complete the cast.