Racky Plews News

Full casting is announced for Green Day's explosive award-winning Broadway musical American Idiot as it blasts into the UK from 17 July, at The Arts Theatre, Leicester Square.  Check out a first look at the rehearsals below!

A quick glance into what's entering and departing the West End this month. Happy viewing!

Full casting is announced for Green Day's explosive award-winning Broadway musical American Idiot as it blasts into the UK from 17 July, at The Arts Theatre, Leicester Square. The full cast are Luke Baker (Theo), Natasha Barnes (Heather), Alexis Gerred (Tunny), Llandyll Gove (Gerard), Raquel Jones (Extraordinary girl), Natasha Karp (Alysha) Robyn Mellor (Libby), Lucas Rush (St. Jimmy), Steve Rushton (Will), Aaron Sidwell (Johnny) and Ross William Wild (Joshua). They join the previously announced X Factor star, Amelia Lily who is playing Whatshername.

I've just seen a news headline saying that a cougar has been seen loose around town. Turned out it was referring to a town in California and not the stars of Cougar the Musical which has just opened at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry for its UK premiere, following two very successful years playing Off-Broadway.

On the prowl from Sat 16 May - Sat 6 June in B2, Cougar - The Musical is a hilarious, raunchy and insightful new musical about three women of a certain age saying yes to life and learning that true happiness lies within.

X Factor star, Amelia Lily (playing Whatshername), will star in Green Day's explosive, award-winning Broadway musical American Idiot, as it blasts into the UK for its West End premiere from the 17 July at The Arts Theatre, Leicester Square. Running until 27 September 2015, with press night on 22 July, American Idiot - The Musical features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The musical is being directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with sound by Chris Whybrow, design by Sara Perks and lighting by Tim Deiling. Further casting will be announced in due course.

The Daily Mail writes that THE X FACTOR's Amelia Lily will lead the Green Day rock musical AMERICAN IDIOT at the Arts Theatre this summer, July 17 to September 27.

Protect your children, there's Cougars in Coventry as casting was today announced for the U.K premiere of Cougar The Musical, playing at the Belgrade Theatre this May.

A new adaptation of Jekyll and Hyde opens at Greenwich Theatre tonight 11 February 2015 (press night Thursday 12 February, 7.30pm) prior to a 33 date UK Tour.

Casting is announced today for a new adaptation of Jekyll and Hyde, which will open at Greenwich Theatre on Wednesday 11 February 2015 (press night Thursday 12 February, 7.30pm) prior to a 33 date UK Tour. On sale now; full tour schedule attached.

Fresh off the back of its recent UK & Ireland Tour, Sell a Door's smash hit musical AVENUE Q lands in Hong Kong November 2014. Under the same gut-busting direction (by Cressida Carre), the talented cast revive their roles, giving voice to a cast of shameless fuzzy fur and felt which sold scores of tickets up and down the UK.

Alex Parker (Putting It Together, Stephen Ward, The Pajama Game) brings a concert of the music of the Oscar, Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Pulitzer prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch to the St James Theatre for two performances only, Sunday, 24 August at 3.30pm and 7pm in 'HAMLISCH: The Music Of The Legendary Marvin Hamlisch'.

Lost Boy will end its current five-week season at Charing Cross Theatre as planned on Saturday 15 February. The theatre then has a 2-week hire. Lost Boy will re-open on Monday March 3 and run to Saturday 29 March.

Gary Naylor sees a salute to lost innocence, one hundred years on.

A stirring, controversial and unexpected opening to a year commemorating the centenary of the Great War, the world premiere of a new British musical from Phil Willmott - following the huge success of his musical Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi, in Liverpool, London and the USA - Lost Boy, opens at the Finborough Theatre where it will play for two weeks, premiering on New Year's Eve Tuesday, 31 December before moving to Charing Cross Theatre for a further five week run, opening on Monday, 13 January.

SuzAnna Rosenthal for London's Free Open-Air Theatre Season presents THE THEBANS SEASON, directed by Phil Willmott. The Thebans Season will feature two fully staged productions inspired by the ancient Greek city of Thebes. Performance dates for this year are today, 7 August - 1 September, with shows on Wednesdays - Sundays. Press night is Thursday 15 August at 6.00pm.

Cult rock musical BARE will transfer to Greenwich Theatre for a limited run from Wednesday 9 to Saturday 27 October 2013 (press night Friday 11 October) following its sold-out European Premiere at the Union Theatre, it was announced today. Full listings attached, tickets on sale now. New casting to be announced.

Suzanna Rosenthal for London's Free Open-Air Theatre Season presents THE THEBANS SEASON, directed by Phil Willmott. The Thebans Season will feature two fully staged productions inspired by the ancient Greek city of Thebes. Performance dates for this year are 7 August - 1 September, with shows on Wednesdays - Sundays. Press night is Thursday 15 August at 6.00pm.

Thirteen years after its Los Angeles debut, the cult musical Bare will get its European premiere at the Union Theatre, running 24 April-25 May 2013, directed by Paul Taylor-Mills. Opening night is set for April 30 at 7.30pm. Cast to be confirmed.

The Union Theatre has proved once again how excellent fringe theatre can be, with this superb presentation of a challenging musical. bare: the rock musical runs at the Union Theatre until 25 May 2013.