Doctor Zhivago starring Tam Mutu announces Broadway closure

It has been announced that Doctor Zhivago will close on Broadway this Sunday (10th May 2015).

The musical, which stars West End actor Tam Mutu, opened on 21st April 2015. At the time of closing, the musical will have played 26 preview and 23 regular performances at the Broadway Theatre.

Speaking to the New York Times, composer Lucy Simon said: "We've had a lot of bumps. I think we were very brave to do it - it was a big challenge, and some people really love it, which is wonderful."

Producer Anita Waxman said: "We are all incredibly proud of this emotional and important work our amazing creative team has put together. There has been extraordinary dedication and inspiring work from the cast and entire Doctor Zhivago team, both onstage and off. We look forward to this soaring and beautiful new musical having a long future with productions playing not only North America, but also around the world."

West End Frame Awards 2014: Full Winners List

Readers of West End Frame were invited to vote for five awards throughout 2014. The West End Frame Awards recognise brand new and long-running plays and musicals, combining male and female actors into the same categories. Voting opens for one award at a time. We were thrilled to receive over 52,000 votes this year! Take a look at the full list of winners below:

Publicly Voted Awards

	Best West End Debut Willemijn Verkaik  for playing Elphaba in Wicked Runners Up Rachelle Ann Go for Miss Saigon Alexandra Burke for The Bodyguard Click here for full result / Photo Credit: Darren Bell
	Best Performance of a Song in a Musical Tam Mutu  for his rendition of 'Stars' in Les Miserables Runners Up Carrie Hope Fletcher for Les Miserables Gerónimo Rauch for The Phantom of the Opera Click here for full result
	Funniest West End Show The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre Runners Up The Commitments at the Palace Theatre Urinetown at the St James Theatre Click here for full result
	Understudy of the Year Carolyn Maitland for understudying Ellen in Miss Saigon Runners Up Tanya Manalang for Miss Saigon Layla Harrison for The Phantom of the Opera Click here for full result
	London Fringe Production of the Year Chicken Shop at the Park Theatre Runners Up Love Story at the Union Theatre Damn Yankees at the Landor Theatre Click here for full result / Photo Credit: Kim Hardy

Editor's Choice

Editor's Blog: Top 10 performances of 2014

2014 has been an incredible year for theatre. Established stars have reminded us why they are known as theatrical legends whilst some new faces have stepped into the limelight for the first time. After looking back at every single show I have seen this year (including West End, Broadway, off-West End, fringe and regional theatre), below I have highlighted ten performances which particularly stood out for me...

10

Angela Lansbury

Blithe Spirit

Gielgud Theatre

Photo Credit: Johan Persson

In March Angela Lansbury returned to the West End stage for the first time in over thirty years to reprise her role as Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's masterpiece, Blithe Spirit. She didn't hold back one bit, I have never seen a performance like it! A true legend, Lansbury received huge applause each time she entered and exited the stage - she was utterly sensational.

Photo Feature: City Of Angels production images

The Donmar Warehouse has released the first production images for City Of Angels which officially opens tonight (16th December). Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

City Of Angels runs until Saturday 7th February 2015. The entire run is sold out; however, the Donmar will be releasing more than 550 tickets each week, including Barclays Front Row (released 10am every Monday throughout the run) and Day Tickets (available in person at the Box Office every day). 

Tam Mutu to make Broadway debut in Doctor Zhivago

It has been announced that West End Frame Award winner Tam Mutu will make his Broadway debut as the title role in Doctor Zhivago.

The show has book by Michael Weller, music by Lucy Simon and lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers. Directed by Des McAnuff, the show opens at the Broadway Theatre on 21st April 2015 (previews from 27th March).

In May this year, Mutu won the WEF Award for Best Performance of a Song in a Musical for his rendition of 'Stars' in Les Miserables. He joins fellow WEF Award winner Rachel Tucker who is currently starring in The Last Ship on Broadway. She won Best Performance of a Song in a Musical in 2012 for her rendition of Defying Gravity in Wicked.

Sneak peek at... the cast of City Of Angels in rehearsals

The Donmar Warehouse has released images of Samantha Barks, Rosalie Craig, Katherine Kelly, Peter Polycarpou, Marc Elliott and the West End Frame Award winning Tam Mutu in rehearsals for City Of Angels. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

City Of Angels opens on Tuesday 16th December 2014 (previews from 5th December) and runs until Saturday 7th February 2015. The entire run is sold out; however, the Donmar will be releasing more than 550 tickets each week, including Barclays Front Row (released 10am every Monday throughout the run) and Day Tickets (available in person at the Box Office every day).

Full casting announced for City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse

Full casting for City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse has been announced. 

Joining the previously announced Samantha Barks, Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser are Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street), Tam Mutu (West End Frame Award winner for Les Mis, pictured right), Peter Polycarpou (Chichester's Guys and Dolls/The Pajama Game) and Rebecca Trehearn (Ghost/Dogfight).

They are joined by Nick Cavaliere, Cameron Cuffe, Marc Elliott, Adam Fogerty, Kadiff Kirwan, Sandra Marvin, Mark Penfold, Jennifer Saayeng, Jo Servi and Tim Walton.

City Of Angels opens on Tuesday 16th December 2014 (previews from 5th December) and runs until Saturday 7th February 2015.

GOSSIP: Katherine Kelly, Tam Mutu & Peter Polycarpou join City Of Angels cast

According to the Daily Mail, Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street), Tam Mutu (West End Frame Award winner for Les Mis) and Peter Polycarpou (Chichester's Guys and Dolls/The Pajama Game) have joined the cast of City Of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse.

 They join the previously announced Samantha Barks, Hadley Fraser and Rosalie Craig. The Donmar's Artistic Director, Josie Rourke, will direct Cy Coleman, David Zippel and Larry Gelbart’s musical.

UPDATE: Further information has been announced. Click here more more.

Although the production is already sold out, Baz Bamigboye has revealed 500 tickets a week will be on sale during the run from December. City Of Angels runs between 5th December 2014 and 7th February 2015.

Best Performance of a Song 2014: Full Result

Earlier today we announced that Tam Mutu has won the 2014 West End Frame Award for Best Performance of a Song in a Musical. We received over 14,500 votes during the seventeen day voting period and the support was absolutely incredible, even performers with smaller percentages received hundreds of votes. Take a look at the full result below.

Speaking to West End Frame, Tam said: "Wow! What a wonderful surprise! Thank you so much to everyone who voted. It is a huge honour to get to sing a song that has been performed by so many great artists over the years. To be given this award is very humbling. I am truly overwhelmed. Thank you!"

We would like to thank everyone who voted! It has been incredible to see so much dedicated support for the West End's top performers. Best Performance of a Song in a Musical is about recognising and celebrating performers who blow audiences away night after night with their tremendous talents. We received countless Tweets, comments and messages about the phenomenally high standard of the nominees, all of whom would have been worthy winners.

Tam Mutu wins Best Performance of a Song Award!

Tam Mutu

Following an exciting seventeen day voting period, we are thrilled to announce that Tam Mutu has won the 2014 West End Frame Award for Best Performance of a Song in a Musical.

The performer picks up the prize for his rendition of 'Stars' in the West End production of Les Miserables.

Speaking to West End Frame, Tam said: "Wow! What a wonderful surprise! Thank you so much to everyone who voted. It is a huge honour to get to sing a song that has been performed by so many great artists over the years. To be given this award is very humbling. I am truly overwhelmed. Thank you!"

Tam, who stars as Javert in the West End's longest running musical, wins with 34% of the final vote. We received over 14,500 votes making Best Performance of a Song 2014 the biggest West End Frame Award to date.

Tam's co-star Carrie Hope Fletcher (‘On My Own’) comes second, marking the first time performers from the same show have dominated the two top spots in a West End Frame Award. This is also the first time Les Mis has won a WEF Award. The Phantom of the Opera's Gerónimo Rauch (‘The Music of the Night’) comes third, Wicked's Savannah Stevenson ('Popular') comes fourth and Once's Arthur Darvill (‘Say It To Me Now’) comes fifth. Click here for the full result.

More cast changes at Les Miserables

Sierra Boggess will play ‘Fantine’ and Samantha Dorsey will play ‘Cosette’, joining the previously announced Geronimo Rauch as ‘Jean Valjean’, Tam Mutu as ‘Javert ‘ and Danielle Hope as ‘Eponine’. Craig Mather will continue to star as ‘Marius’, Cameron Blakely as ‘Monsieur Thenardier’ and Liam Tamne as ‘Enjolras’. Linzi Hateley will also join the company as ‘Madame Thénardier’ on Monday 10 September. Until Saturday 8 September, the role of ‘Madame Thénardier’ will continue to be played by Katy Secombe.

Linzi Hateley is no stranger to “Les Misérables”, having played ‘Eponine’ at the Palace Theatre in 1988. Linzi will also be appearing in the forthcoming film of “Les Misérables” starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.

As well as celebrating its 25th Birthday in October 2010, the legendary musical made theatrical history with an international first - three different productions playing in London simultaneously. The Original Production at the Queen’s Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, the acclaimed New 25th Anniversary Production at the Barbican (where the show originally premiered in 1985) and the celebratory concert at The O2.

Les Miserables originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen’s Theatre on 3 April 2004. When “LES MISÉRABLES” celebrated its 21stLondon birthday on 8 October 2006, it became the World’s Longest Running Musical, surpassing the record previously held by “Cats” inLondon’sWest End. In January 2010, theWest End production broke another record by celebrating its historic 10,000th performance.

Visit http://www.lesmis.com/ for information and to book tickets!