Joanna Ampil & MiG Ayesa to star in first international production of The Bridges of Madison County

It has been announced that Joanna Ampil and MiG Ayesa will star as Francesca and Robert in the first international production of The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown. 

Directed by Bobby Garcia, The Bridges of Madison County runs in Manila (the capital of the Philippines) between November and December 2015. Further details and casting to be confirmed. 

The musical - which was named the top show of 2014 by West End Frame - ran on Broadway between January and May 2014, playing 137 performances. The Bridges of Madison County is about to launch a US tour and Robert Brown recently revealed that a London production is "sneakily" being planned.

Could The Last Ship & The Bridges of Madison County be heading to the UK?

Broadway musicals The Last Ship and The Bridges of Madison County could be heading to the UK.

Following its Broadway closure, it has been confirmed that Sting's musical The Last Ship will receive runs in Norway, Sweden and Finland over the next two years. Broadway.com reports that Sting is also in talks about bringing the show home to the UK where it is set.

The Last Ship will play in Oslo in 2016 before opening in Stockholm and Helsinki in 2017. The show is being translated into each country's language.

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 shows of 2014

2014 has been an incredibly diverse year for theatre. Producers have taken some risks and it's great that several off-West End productions managed to make it into the West End. In 2014 I went to the theatre 257 times and, out of everything I have seen (in the West End and on Broadway as well as in off-West End, regional and fringe theatres), below I have highlighted my top ten personal favourite shows...

10

Assassins

Menier Chocolate Factory

"I don't think I breathed once"

Photo Credit: Nobby Clark

Assassins is probably the most intense piece of theatre ever written and Jamie Lloyd's production at the Menier has set theatreland alight (it sold out shortly after opening). I don't think I breathed once for the entire hour and forty-five minutes. The ensemble cast - featuring the likes of Catherine Tate, Simon Lipkin and Aaron Tveit - are remarkably strong. I am still digesting the piece and am hugely looking forward to seeing it a second time next year (I ensured I bought a ticket before publishing my review).

Big Interview: Joanna Ampil

An international musical theatre star from the Philippines, Joanna Ampil made her iconic West End debut aged 17 when she was cast as Kim in Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. She later reprised her acclaimed performance for the musical’s Australian premiere in Sydney as well as for the show’s UK Tour.

Her subsequent West End credits include playing Christmas Eve in Avenue Q (Noel Coward), Fantine and Éponine in Les Miserables (Queens/Palace) and Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyceum).

Joanna’s theatrical career has also seen her play Jasmine in Aladdin (Gordon Craig/Dublin), Sheila in Hair (Gate Theatre), Mimi in Rent (European Tour/Arena Xanten), Heidi in I Sing (Union), Maria in West Side Story (Manila) and Maria in The Sound Of Music (Manila). Most recently she dazzled audiences around the UK as Grizabella in Cats.

She is currently starring in the UK Tour of West End Women. The theatrical concert sees Joanna take to the stage alongside Kerry Ellis and Ria Jones. Together the leading ladies celebrate their careers, performing iconic songs from some of the most successful musicals in history.

I recently spoke to Joanna about why she’s so excited to be working with Kerry and Ria, which songs she’s particularly looking forward to singing in West End Women, Miss Saigon memories and why she was so honoured to receive a letter from Gillian Lynne during her stint in Cats…

How did your involvement in West End Women come about?

Well I just got a phone call from my agent asking if I would be interested in taking part in the show. I was familiar with the guys’ version – West End Men – so straight away I was like, “Oh my god yes! I would love to be one of the pioneers for the women one!” Then I found out I would be working with Kerry Ellis and Ria Jones who I both admire. How could I say no to that?! I was very happy that they asked me.

Tony Awards 2014: Full Winners List

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder was the big winner at the 2014 Tony Awards, winning four awards including the trophy for Best Musical. Hedwig and the Angry Inch also took home four awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. 

Robert Schenkkan’s All The Way won two awards: Best Play and Best Actor for Bryan Cranston. The Tony for Best Revival of a Play was presented to A Raisin in the Sun. The Bridges of Maidison County picked up two awards, including Best Score!

Full winners list below:

Best Musical
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Editor's Blog: We Will Rock You, I Can't Sing, New Musicals, Cats and The Bridges of Madison County

It's all change in theatreland at the moment! On Wednesday I saw We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre for the final time. The Queen musical has divided opinions throughout its twelve year West End run (which ends on Saturday 31st May 2014) and this certainly isn't the last we'll see of it! (Plus there could be a sequel on the way...)

Love it or hate it, We Will Rock You is an extremely important piece of theatre as it has attracted new audiences to the West End for over a decade. There are so many people who would rather stick pins in their eyes than sit through an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, but have seen We Will Rock You countless times.

The musical has been kept alive for all these years by its tremendous casts, and the final company couldn't be stronger. Oliver Tompsett is by far my all-time favourite Galileo, there aren't words to describe his unbelievably incredible vocal talents. It's also nice to see someone bring something new and refreshing to the role.

Sad day for theatre: The Bridges of Madison County to close on 18th May

Today is a very sad day for theatre, following the announcement that The Bridges of Madison County will end its Broadway run on 18th May 2014.

Directed by Bartlett Sher, the stunning musical will have played 137 performances. Earlier this week, The Bridges of Madison County was nominated for four Tony nominations but was controversially snubbed in the Best Musical category. 

In a recent five star review, West End Frame's Andrew Tomlins described the show as "One of the best pieces of theatre" he has ever seen. Click here to read the full review. The production stars five-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara and opposite Steven Pasquale in his Broadway musical theatre debut.

Broadway Review: The Bridges of Madison County - "One of the best pieces of theatre I have ever seen"

The Bridges of Madison County
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
Reviewed on Saturday 5th April 2014 (matinee)

As I arrived at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre I was very excited to be seeing my first ever Broadway show, but I must admit I had absolutely no idea what to expect - I had never read the book or seen the movie and I knew very little about Jason Robert Brown's work. After taking my seat it didn't take long to absorb the simplistic set, I feared it was going to be a cheap and cheerful show but, my oh my, I have never been so wrong.