Old Vic: Minchin’s Groundhog Day musical to help fund future?

As Kevin Spacey’s imminent retirement as Artistic Director of the Old Vic was honoured with a Gala this week, he spoke passionately about the need to endow the theatre to ensure the continued viability of the building and of the company’s ability to be an elite production house. Incoming Artistic Director Matthew Warchus unveiled his first season’s offering as well – and there was a hint at a new approach which may help the Old Vic on its planned road to financial security for the next generation. Continue reading

Review: The Producers (UK Tour)

I had the pleasure of seeing the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane UK premiere production of The Producers a decade ago – with the star power of Nathan Lane and Lee Evans. 10 years on and a new production has just started touring. How does this production measure up to the blockbuster original? Continue reading

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to the Secret Cinema rescue!

News just in…

As the Secret Cinema debacle continues with another cancellation tonight, ticket holders are being offered an alternative.

Rufus Hound appears to have announced on his blog that ticket holders for tonight’s Back To The Future screening can attend Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for no charge.

http://rufushound.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/secret-cinema-folk-some-good-news/

They simply have to turn up to the Savoy Theatre…

A nice gesture from the Scoundrels team – and some positive PR for the show as well. Win-win.

The only question is: what if meaningful numbers of people take them up on the offer? Can they really have that many empty seats on a Friday evening?

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MAJOR Changes at Foxwoods Theater

Interesting article on the home of the Spiderman debacle….

Ultimate Broadway

In the course of one week, three stories broke about one of the largest theaters in New York City.
The theater, with an extravagant facade, has been known for having a barn-like interior that, despite millions invested for Spiderman, just can’t be reinvigorated.
The 1,900 seat theater has been infamous for housing shows that underperformed. Audiences didn’t show up for “Young Frankenstein,” “The Pirate Queen” or “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” And need we remind you about “Spiderman: Turn off the Dark” which made history for being the most successful (and arguably the most disappointing show) in history? That isn’t the best track record.
It was assumed that “King Kong,” having finished a critically acclaimed run in Melbourne, would find a home on Broadway at the Foxwoods, given the magnitude of the production, but Thursday they announced that they’ll be looking else where.
One of the reasons for this move was…

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The extraordinary cost of Elphaba’s costume

Theatrical costumes can be eye-wateringly expensive. But is the cost justified? And why does Elphaba’s black dress cost so much? And why does it matter?WickedTK372

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