News

Les Misérables Concert, Starring Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Returns to the West End in December

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: October 13 2020 @ 12:09 pm

Can you hear the people sing? Les Misérables - The Staged Concert is set to return to the West End for a six-week limited run at the Sondheim Theatre. Performances will begin on December 5 and run through January 17, 2021 to coincide with the musical’s 35th year on Shaftesbury Avenue.

The cast will once again include Michael Ball as Javert, Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Fantine and Matt Lucas as Thénardier. John Owen-Jones will play the role of Jean Valjean at certain performances. Les Misérables - The Staged Concert played the West End's Gielgud Theatre last year and was broadcast live in cinemas across the U.S., U.K. and Ireland. This year's event will have a reduced seating capacity of 750 and COVID-19 safety measures will be in place at the front of house, on stage, backstage and throughout the venue.

"The authors and theater have waived their royalties and rent to give the show a chance to break even, and our leading artists have all agreed to work for appreciably less than their normal salaries. With such a big spectacular show, it is a risk, but with manageable production costs and a short run, it is not …

Watch Now: Laura Osnes and Aaron Tveit Sing “Winter Wonderland”

Source: BroadwayDirect.com | Posted: October 13 2020 @ 11:57 am

The Broadway stars lead the original holiday film, One Royal Holiday, which premieres Oct. 31 at 8 PM ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.

The post Watch Now: Laura Osnes and Aaron Tveit Sing “Winter Wonderland” appeared first on Broadway Direct.

Watch Now: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Official Trailer

Source: BroadwayDirect.com | Posted: October 13 2020 @ 11:08 am

Show the world who you really are. Check out the brand-new trailer for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Inspired by true events, New Regency’s and Film4’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is the film adaptation of the hit musical. Jamie New is 16 and doesn’t quite fit in—instead of pursuing a “real” career he dreams of becoming a drag queen. Uncertain about his future, Jamie knows one thing for sure: he is going to be a sensation. Supported by his loving mom and his amazing friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie stars newcomer Max Harwood, Sarah Lancashire, Lauren Patel, Shobna Gulati, Ralph Ineson, Adeel Akhtar, Samuel Bottomley, with Sharon Horgan and Richard E. Grant. The stage production’s director, Jonathan Butterell, makes his feature-film debut as director, with screenplay and lyrics by Tom MacRae, songs by Dan Gillespie Sells and a score composed by Sells and Anne Dudley. Mark Herbert, p.g.a, Peter Carlton, p.g.a, and Arnon Milchan are producing with Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, Natalie Lehmann, Daniel Battsek, Ollie Madden, Peter Balm, Niall Shamma, and Jes Wilkins serving as executive producers.

The post Watch Now: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Official Trailer appeared first on Broadway Direct.

Ben Brantley: The Exit Interview

Source: ArtsJournal.com | Posted: October 13 2020 @ 11:06 am

“During quarantine, when I couldn’t feed that [reviewing] addiction, I found myself chafing at the place-holding journalism that was required. Then in a Zoom meeting with critics, The Times‘s executive editor, Dean Baquet, lingered over the question of whether arts reviewers should stay in their jobs indefinitely. And I thought, ‘That sounds like an exit […]

Ben Brantley: The Farewell Essay

Source: ArtsJournal.com | Posted: October 13 2020 @ 11:05 am

“‘Don’t you ever want to just sit back and enjoy it?’ That’s a question I’ve often been asked during my 27 years as a daily theater reviewer for The New York Times. And … the short answer to that question is an undiluted ‘no.’ One of the main reasons I never stopped loving this job […]