Julia McKenzie News

Classic musical comedy GUYS & DOLLS, international hit WAR HORSE, Tom Stoppard's ARCADIA and a legendary Judi Dench-led production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC top a poll of the finest productions presented in the last half-century by the vaunted National Theatre in London's West End.

Today we are talking to a three-time Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress who has made a major mark on the West End with her peerless string of richly varied performances - ranging from premiere UK productions of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and PASSION to LADY IN THE DARK, RAGTIME and THE WOMAN IN WHITE, as well as her various solo engagements, who now also excels as a director of theatre and opera, as well - the gifted Maria Friedman. Discussing all aspects of the recent West End production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's anomalous musical experiment MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG - cited by the master himself as the best production of the show to date - and now the fantastic Fathom film presentation of it arriving in movie theaters nationwide (and around the world) on October 23. Detailing the finer points of the reverse-chronological tale of show business ambition and its effects on friendships and relationships, Friedman paints a vivid portrait of her process in bringing the emotionally bracing and musically thrilling stage show to the big screen byway of this passionately played, dramatically captivating and incredibly detailed film preservation. Additionally, Friedman also sheds some light on participating in the Haymarket Theatre production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG herself as an actress nearly twenty years ago and the effect, if any, that experience has had on her perception of the dense and fiercely idiosyncratic musical now, as a director of the piece. Plus, Friedman also touches upon some of her most celebrated roles to date in other Sondheim shows as well as abundantly imparts her deeply held appreciation and affection for his work and personal friendship in her own life, citing his elemental influence on MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG as well as her career in general. All of that and much, much more awaits!

Fans of the short-lived and relatively obscure Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents musical comedy ANYONE CAN WHISTLE are now witness to a miracle of our very own - the long-awaited JAY Records complete recording of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE has been announced to be completed and a generous thirteen-minute-plus sample from the recording has now, at long, long last been released!

Click below to watch a medley featuring 'I Dreamed a Dream', 'Bring Him Home' and 'One Day More' from LES MISERABLES, performed at the Laurence Olivier Awards in December 1985!

Dancer, choreographer and director Gillian Lynne will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at this month's Oliviers. In recognition of her work, we've got access to archive clips that show her in action throughout her career.

Casts of Cabaret, A Chorus Line, Top Hat and The Bodyguard also to feature!

The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Competition (SSSSPOTY), now in its seventh year, was created to give musical theatre students a platform to showcase their work before graduation.

As reported by the Daily Mail, 'Downton Abbey' star Hugh Bonneville is set to co-host this year's Olivier Awards with Sheridan Smith at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden on April 28, 2013. Nominations will be revealed March 26.

ITV will be the official television broadcast partner for the 37th Olivier Awards with MasterCard, the UK's highest stage honours, which take place on Sunday 28 April 2013 at the prestigious Royal Opera House.

Starting today, Acorn TV, the first British TV focused streaming service, streams one of its few non-British series with the first season of the most critically-acclaimed theater series ever, SLINGS & ARROWS featuring Paul Gross, Rachel McAdams, and Mark McKinney.

THE LAST SONG is the long awaited final studio album from legendary performer Anthony Newley. Recorded in London between 1996 and 1997, these timeless songs represent Anthony Newley's final recordings and have remained unreleased, until now.

Anthony Newley has had an extremely successful career since the 1950's. A star of stage, screen and music; this new album The Last Song is a celebration of his work and features fourteen previously unreleased tracks including duets with Petula Clark, Julia McKenzie and Marti Webb.

THE LAST SONG is the long awaited final studio album from legendary performer Anthony Newley. Recorded in London between 1996 and 1997, these timeless songs represent Anthony Newley's final recordings and have remained unreleased, until now.

The twelve finalists for this year's Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Competition will be judged by Danielle Hope (Dorothy in Wizard of Oz and soon to be in the film of Les Miserables), Michael McCabe (Producer, Wicked), David Shrubsole (Conductor, London Road) and Laurie Sansom (Artistic Director, Derngate Theatre, Northampton). The chairman of the judges will be Edward Seckerson, Chief Classical Music and Opera Critic for The Independent and the prize will be awarded by Julia McKenzie and a representative of Overtures: The Bunnett-Muir Musical Theatre Archive Trust, sponsors of the SSSSSPOTY first prize. The event is being hosted by Claire Moore (London Road/Miss Saigon) and takes place at 3pm on Sunday 27 May at the Queen's Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

Following a string of sell out shows, 2nd Company Productions (2ndCP) will be moving from the 56-seat Pleasance Studio Space to the 288 seat Main Space for its latest and most ambitious project to date, Stephen Sondheim's ASSASSINS. It will run from 20th March to 8th April at The Pleasance Theatre Main Space in Islington.

Following a string of sell out shows, 2nd Company Productions (2ndCP) will be moving from the 56-seat Pleasance Studio Space to the 288 seat Main Space for its latest and most ambitious project to date, Stephen Sondheim's ASSASSINS. It will run from 20th March to 8th April at The Pleasance Theatre Main Space in Islington.

The Landor has announced the first three months worth of artists for their second year of 'A Spotlight On... The Landor Theatre West End Cabaret Series', including Lucy Williamson, Nick Hayes and Roni Page.