Michael Grandage News

WICKED, the multi award-winning West End musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, will welcome Martyn Ellis to the role of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' from Monday 17 February. He replaces Sam Kelly who has withdrawn from the production due to ill health.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) announced today another bold season of firsts for 2014–15. As Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers and Managing Director Perryn Leech revealed, coming attractions include the world premiere of A Christmas Carolby Iain Bell—the company's 55th new commission —from award-winning Dickens authority Simon Callow; the continuation of HGO's firstRing cycle, with the North American premiere of La Fura dels Baus's groundbreaking take on Die Walküre; the American premieres of Sir Nicholas Hytner's Magic Flute and Lee Blakeley's Sweeney Todd; and a host of career-shaping artistic role debuts that speak to Patrick Summers's gift for casting. Together with the company's first presentation of John Cox's Otello, and the returns of Göran Järvefelt's belovedCosì fan tutte and Michael Grandage's hit staging of Madame Butterfly, these rich offerings serve once again to illustrate some of the ways that HGO—still the only opera company with two Grammys, two Emmys, and a Tony—epitomizes “one model of what a forward-looking opera company could be” (Greg Sandow, Arts Journal).

From the Olivier & Ivor Novello award-winning comedy by Peter Nichols, the original London cast recording of Privates on Parade is being released today; the latest CD from Stage Door Records. The show focuses on the fictional Song And Dance Unit South East ASIA (SADUSEA) who are stationed in Singapore and Malaysia during the late 1940s.

Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to star in Douglas McGrath's BROOKLYN BRIDGE. Filming will get underway in August.

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, the Michael Grandage Company production of THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, by Martin McDonagh, starring Daniel Radcliffe and the critically acclaimed West End cast, directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Grandage, will open on Broadway during the afternoon of Sunday, April 20 at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street). Previews will begin Saturday, April 12. Tickets are available now through www.Telecharge.com. Below, check out a sneak peek of Radcliffe and the rest of the cast in action!

The Michael Grandage Company production of THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, by Martin McDonagh, starring Daniel Radcliffe and the critically acclaimed West End cast, directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Grandage, will open on Broadway during the afternoon of Sunday, April 20at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street). Previews will begin Saturday, April 12.

Directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford, this is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical, EVITA, since it debuted on Broadway more than 30 years ago. Experience the passion and seduction in this elegant masterpiece at The Buell Theatre today, January 15 through the 26th only.

The stunning new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita will make its Twin Cities premiere January 28-February 2, 2014 at the Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave.) in Minneapolis. This version features updated orchestrations, choreography and scenic design offering a more authentic portrait of Argentinean culture and Eva's rise to and fall from power. Tickets are available now in person at the State Theatre Box Office, online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. It is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as a part of its 2013-14 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season.

American soprano Patricia Racette, known throughout the world for her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San (a.k.a. Madama Butterfly), will star in the Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Puccini's beloved masterpiece, Madama Butterfly, which opens at Lyric with a new cast this Saturday, January 11. There will be six performances - Jan. 11, 14, 17, and 20 beginning at 7:30pm, and Jan. 23 and 26 beginning at 2pm.

Directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford, this is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical, EVITA, since it debuted on Broadway more than 30 years ago. Experience the passion and seduction in this elegant masterpiece at The Buell Theatre January 15 through 26 only.

The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards 2013 will take place on Tuesday 28 January 2014, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, celebrating the 25th anniversary of these unique awards. Hosted by Critics' Circle Drama Section Chairman Mark Shenton, with regular guest speaker comedian Arthur Smith introducing proceedings, the ceremony is firmly established as a highlight of the theatrical calendar and, this year, marks a quarter of a century of recognising the best in British Theatre.

With perhaps the wittiest and most memorable promotional tool thought up in the theatre this year, the national tour of EVITA has introduced an image advertising faux tissue packets emblazoned with the show's iconic logo along with a reference to the mega-musical's biggest song, 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina'.

Stage Door Records are pleased to announce the Original London Cast Recording of 'Privates On Parade' will be released on CD January 27th, 2014.

Henry V, opened at the Noel Coward Theatre last week. Starring Jude Law in the title role, it runs through 22 February 2014. Let's see what the critics had to say:

Ruth Wilson (Saving Mr Banks, Anna Christie, A Streetcar Named Desire, Luther, The Lone Ranger) will star in the London premiere of The El. Train: three one-act plays by Eugene O'Neill (The Web, Before Breakfast and The Dreamy Kid). The plays, written between 1913 and 1918, are being presented together for the first time. Ruth will act in The Web and Before Breakfast, directed by Sam Yates, and will make her directorial debut with The Dreamy Kid. Combining live music with immersive design, all housed in the intimate setting of Grade II listed Hoxton Hall (built 1863, seating an audience of 125), The El. Train will run for a limited four-week season from tonight, 6 December - 30 December, with press nights on the 12 & 13 December. Design is by Richard Kent, with lighting by Neil Austin and original composition and sound design by Alex Baranowski. The El. Train is being produced by Found Productions.

A candid pictorial capture of international stage and screen superstar Jude Law celebrating his spate of rave reviews alongside the company of his increasingly rapturously received revival of Shakespeare's timeless historical tragedy HENRY V is now available to view.

Tickets go on sale today, December 1 at 12:00 pm. Tickets start at $30 and will be available in person at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street, by phone at 414-273-7206, online at MarcusCenter.org or Ticketmaster.com. Groups 10 or more call 414-273-7121 ext. 210.

New York's city-wide plans to celebrate the centenary of prolific UK composer Benjamin Britten will continue in 2014 when the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) stages the US première of Glyndebourne's critically acclaimed opera Billy Budd.

Star of stage and screen Daniel Radcliffe spoke to The Guardian this week while doing a photoshoot for his latest film Kill Your Darlings, in which he portrays beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

Stage and screen superstar Jude Law illuminates his participation in the new Michael Grandage-directed production of HENRY V in London's West End as well as his wishes for his ultimate legacy as a performer as part of a new interview.