The ten things to remember from this week in the world of musicals! #BaguetteonBroadwayWeekly
Motown announces latest performance in West End
Motown The Musical will conclude its performances at Shaftesbury Theater in London on April 20, 2019 after more than 1330 performances since its premiere in February 2016. The show is shutting down so that major renovations can be undertaken in the theater.
The musical tells the story of Motown founder Berry Gordy and the creation of the legendary label that launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and even Marvin Gaye. Motown the Musical unveils the true story of the legendary label that changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation with songs like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Dancing In The Street" and "My Girl ".
The booklet is signed Berry Gordy, and the staging Charles Randolph-Wright.
A British tour begins in October this year and in January 2019, the Motown record label celebrates its sixtieth anniversary.
Pretty Woman: The Musical premieres on Broadway
After the world premiere in Boston and 11 performances in preview, Pretty Woman: The Musical makes its official premiere at the Nederlander Theater in New York. Based on the 1990 film of the same name by Gary Marshall, the musical adds music by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, a libretto by Garry Marshall and staging and choreography by Jerry Mitchell (already twice winner of the Tony Awards) .
The musical is not well received by critics, as can be read in Guardian criticism : "The story of a predatory banker who flourishes personally after a week spent alongside a prostitute has aged as well as a carton of milk left on a radiator forever". Ouch.
On Thursday August 2, Julia Roberts came to applaud the adaptation of Gary Marshall's film that propelled the actress to fame when she was only 23 years old. She was accompanied by Barbara Marshall (wife of Gary Marshall who died in July 2016) and the entire show crew paid tribute to the director in their presence.
The musical world pays tribute to Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul passed away on August 16 and the artistic world was quick to pay tribute to her. Paul McCartney, Elton John, Cynthia Erivo Tony Bennett and many other music celebrities paid tribute to the musician on social media.
Heathers the musical Announces New Cast and New Song for West End Transfer
The musical, which was sold out until August 4 at Other Palace in London, announced its transfer to the West End for the start of the school year (I told you about it here!). The musical will be played from September 3 at the Theater Royal Haymarket and composed of the same technical team. We find Carrie Hope Fletcher in Veronica, Jodie Steele, T'Shan Williams and Sophie Isaacs in Heathers. Three actors join the original team: Hugh Maynard (Miss Saigon), John Lumsden (Les Misérables) and Merryl Ansah (Beautiful).
The production features a new song, "I Say No", performed by Veronica (Carrie Hope Fletcher) and an updated libretto, both added during the last week of performance at the Other Palace.
Fiddler on the Roof scheduled for November at Menier Chocolate Factory
Trevor Nun (who is known for his staging of Cats et Les Misérables) will lead Fiddler on the Roof.
The classic of Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick and Joseph Stein, mounted 
for the first time in London in 1967 and featuring acts such as "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" tells the story of Tevye, his wife and five daughters marked by Jewish traditions.
This new version will be on view at the Menier Chocolate Factory from November 23 to March 9. The ticket office for the great pubic opens on September 5th.
We are also eagerly awaiting the casting of the Violin sur le Toit programmed at 13e Art in Paris from October 19 to November 25, 2018 with a staging by Ned Grujic and adapted in French by Stéphane Laporte.
The United Kingdom is planning its first StageCon in September.
With Carrie Hope Fletcher, Alice Fearn, Michael Xavier and Christina Bennington among others, you're sure to hear and meet the crème de la crème of the West End. The event will take place on September 3 and 4 at Shoreditch Town Hall and will represent all theater professions with events, concerts and meetings.
Part of the profits will be donated to the Royal Theatrical Fund which supports actors who are no longer able to perform. You can buy your tickets here!
Little Shop of Horrors opens at Regent's Park Open Air Theater
The long-awaited production of Little Shop of Horros directed by Maria Aberg with Marc Antolin (Seymour), Jemima Rooper (Audrey) and American drag queen Vicky Vox (Audrey II) is playing until September 22 at the Regent's Park Open Air Theater. I told you about it in a previous article! The show was well received by critics so get booking this way!
The musical The Color Purple will be repeated at Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome
The two theaters come together to produce The Color Purple which will open at Leicester Curve in June 2019. The musical won 2 Tony Awards when it was revived on Broadway in 2016. It will therefore be a challenge for the director Tinuke Craig who we know for Random / Generations at the Chichester Festival Theater and I call my brothers at the Gate Theater.
Sally Field and Bill Pullman to star in cover of All My Sons at the Old Vic
Sally Field (The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, The Glass Menagerie ) and Bill Pullman (Battle of the Sexes, LBJ) will appear on stage at The Old Vic as Kate and Joe Keller in the play All My Sons (They were my son in French) by Arthur Miller.
In the United States in America in 1947, Joe and Kate Keller live comfortably with their youngest son, yet they are haunted by the disappearance of their eldest son during the war. The return of a figure from the past forces truths buried to the surface. After three years, Kate is still hoping her son is alive.
The play will open in the spring and will be directed by Jeremy Herrin, in a co-production with the Headlong Theater. The distribution and dates are expected to be announced soon.
Eva Noblezada and André de Shields confirmed for Hadestown baseball cap at the National Theater
The 22-year-old actress, who was nominated for the 2017 Tony Award for Best Actress for Miss saigon, returns to the London stage (where she met her husband Leo Roberts) to perform Eurydice. At his side, André de Shields will play Hermes and Reeve Carney will play Orpheus. The musical written by Anaïs Mitchell will play at the National Theater after three months off-Broadway in 2016. The show will then move to Broadway in 2019.
The musical is directed by Rachel Chavkin, scenography by Rachel Hauck with costumes by Michael Krass.
The show is already on sale here and will play from November 2 to January 26
See you soon for new crisp info!
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