Mark Thompson News

With 24 of the 33 cast members changing on Monday 10 June 2013 at the Novello Theatre, this represents the largest cast change the London production of the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! has seen since it first opened at in 1999.

The National Theatre's international smash-hit comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, which has now been seen by over 1 million people worldwide, this week celebrates its third year in London with an additional 150 000 new tickets released for sale today taking bookings at the Theatre Royal Haymarket through to 1 March 2014.

Creator/Producer Judy Craymer has announced that MAMMA MIA!, the global smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will transfer from the Winter Garden Theatre to the Broadhurst Theatre in late 2013.

On Saturday 6 April, MAMMA MIA! celebrated its 14th birthday in London and now enters its 15th year. The show has also extended its booking period to 5 April 2014.

According to the Daily Mail, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will begin previews on May 17 instead of May 18 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Opening night is still set for June 25. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will star Olivier and Tony Award-winning Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet).

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25 June 2013. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will star Olivier and Tony Award-winning Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. Featuring ingenious stagecraft, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). Click below to watch the show's creative team talk about the writing process!

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, is set to return to Sacramento. Performances begin tonight, March 13 2012, and run through March 18 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, 1301 L Street, Sacramento.

What happened when C.S. Lewis met Sigmund Freud? Australian audiences will soon find out when Freud's Last Session opens at Sydney's Theatre Royal on August 15, 2013. Winner of the 2011 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Play, Freud's Last Session tells of an exquisite intellectual duel between two great minds of last century.

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick's production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th June 2013, directed by Sam Mendes. In the videos below, Mendes introduces the show and takes you inside the set design for this whimsical production!

From 4 February Rufus Hound leads the new cast in Nicholas Hytner's five star West End production of Richard Bean's One Man, Two Guvnors as loveable chancer Francis Henshall, he is joined by Sam Alexander (Stanley Stubbers), Ian Burfield (Charlie Clench), Amy Cudden (Rachel Crabbe), Harry Kershaw (Alan Dangle), Kelly Price (Dolly) and Hugh Sachs (Harry Dangle). Martin Barrass (Alfie), David Benson (Gareth), Rhona Croker (Pauline) and Derek Elroy (Lloyd Boateng) continue in the production and Mensah Bediako, Owen Brazendale, Gillian Budd, Max Hutchinson, Tom Lorcan, Aimee Parkes and Claire Sundin complete the ensemble. Check out the photos below!

Peter and the Starcatcher will follow Avenue Q, Rent and Million Dollar Quartet by opening off Broadway at New World Stages. According to Telecharge, the show will begin off-Broadway on March 18. The show just played its final performance on Broadway yesterday, January 20, and BroadwayWorld brings you coverage from the final curtain call below!

After Peter and the Starcatcher plays its final performance on Broadway on January 20, 2013, the show will follow Avenue Q, Rent and Million Dollar Quartet by opening off Broadway at New World Stages. According to Telecharge, the show will begin off-Broadway on March 18. Casting has yet to be announced for the show's next incarnation.

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick today announced further casting for Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25th June 2013, directed by Sam Mendes.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Nigel Planer and Myra Sands will play Grandpa Joe and Grandma Georgina in the West End's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, joining leading man Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka. Previews begin May 18 at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, leading up to a June 25 opening.

After Peter and the Starcatcher plays its final performance on Broadway on January 20, 2013, the show will follow Avenue Q, Rent and Million Dollar Quartet by opening off Broadway at New World Stages. No dates or casting have been announced for the show's next incarnation.

From 4 February 2013 a new cast will perform in Nicholas Hytner's five star West End production of One Man, Two Guvnors. As previously announced, Rufus Hound will take the lead as loveable chancer Francis Henshall. He will join new cast members Sam Alexander, Ian Burfield, Amy Cudden, Harry Kershaw, Kelly Price and Hugh Sachs. Martin Barrass will return to the production to play Alfie, and current cast members David Benson, Rhona Croker and Derek Elroy will continue. Mensah Bediako, Owen Brazendale, Gillian Budd, Max Hutchinson, Tom Lorcan, Aimee Parkes and Claire Sundin complete the ensemble.

From 4 February 2013 a new cast will perform in Nicholas Hytner's five star West End production of One Man, Two Guvnors. As previously announced, Rufus Hound will take the lead as loveable chancer Francis Henshall. He will join new cast members Sam Alexander, Ian Burfield, Amy Cudden, Harry Kershaw, Kelly Price and Hugh Sachs. Martin Barrass will return to the production to play Alfie, and current cast members David Benson, Rhona Croker and Derek Elroy will continue. Mensah Bediako, Owen Brazendale, Gillian Budd, Max Hutchinson, Tom Lorcan, Aimee Parkes and Claire Sundin complete the ensemble. Check out the headshots of the cast below!

The producers of Peter and the Starcatcher, the five-time Tony® Award-winning play by Rick Elice which tells the back story of Peter Pan, announced today that they have partnered with the NYC Department of Education to hold a special matinee for theater students on Wednesday, December 5 at 11:30 AM, with a post-show talkback following the performance.