Scarlett Strallen News

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a big musical revival to starry panto and Matthew Bourne's latest, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…

Mark Umbers' diverse work includes Home Fires and Mistresses on screen and, on stage, The Glass Menagerie at the Apollo Theatre and the acclaimed revival of Merrily We Roll Along at Menier Chocolate Factory. He's returned to the Menier for She Loves Me, whose plot - two feuding employees in a Budapest shop are also, unbeknownst to them, one another's romantic pen pals - also formed the basis for the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan film You've Got Mail. Umbers stars opposite Scarlett Strallen, and the show begins previews on 25 November.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, swept the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards last night, winning 20 out of possible 25 awards. Winners of the awards-nicknamed "The Berkies"-were first announced on Monday, October 17, 2016, and awards were presented Sunday, November 13 at a ceremony held at Mr. Finn's Cabaret (36 Linden St) in Pittsfield, MA.

It was appropriate that two-time Tony Award winner William Finn was present at The First Annual Berkshire Theatre Award ceremony held in Pittsfield MA. on  Sunday November 13th. Mr. Finn won a Tony for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which was home grown up in The Berkshires at Barrington Stage Company. Although he didn't have any work in contention for the prestigious award, Finn did accept a few 'Berkies' for some artists who could not receive their awards in person.

DISNEY'S BROADWAY HITS, a concert celebrating two decades of Disney Theatrical's stage musicals on Broadway, the West End and around the world, premiered last night at London's Royal Albert Hall. Featuring an appearance by Tony and eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken - who received an immediate and sustained standing ovation - and the 74 piece BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Keith Lockhart, the evening ended with a surprise appearance by the West End cast of Aladdin in a performance of the show-stopping 'Friend Like Me.'

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces that Scarlett Strallen (Amalia Balash) will be joined by Alastair Brookshaw (Ladislav Sipos), Les Dennis (Mr Maraczek), Callum Howells (Arpad Laszlo), Katherine Kingsley(Ilona Ritter), Dominic Tighe (Steven Kodaly) and Mark Umbers (Georg Nowack), with Rachel Bingham, Peter Dukes, Luke Fetherston, Olivia Fines, Aimee Hodnett, Sarah-Marie Maxwell and Vincent Pirillo for the company's major revival of She Loves Me this Christmas. The production reunites Strallen with director Matthew White, following their previous collaboration at the Menier on Candide. The production opens on 7 December, with previews from 25 November, and runs until 5 March 2017. Full casting will be announced shortly.

Celebrating over 20 years of successful Disney shows on Broadway, the West End and around the World, including smash hits such as Mary Poppins, The Lion King and Aladdin, as well as shorter-running productions, King David, Tarzan and Aida, an all-star cast brought the magic of the movies to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall last night, in the European premiere of Disney's Broadway Hits.

The winners of the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards have been announced. Seventeen arts journalists voted on 120 nominees in 25 categories chosen from artists in the 75 live theatre productions mounted in Berkshire County and adjacent areas between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

In the last twelve months, more than 300,000 people attended a live theatre production in or around Berkshire County. With 75 stage productions employing hundreds of professionals, making theatre is an important cog in the area's cultural economy. In fact, many consider the region a hot spot for Broadway bound shows, and a popular summer destination for theatre-goers from around the nation.

John Barrowman has been confirmed as the performing emcee for the European premiere of Disney's Broadway Hits at the Royal Albert Hall next month, as a small number of extra tickets are released for this hugely popular show.

Scarlett Strallen will return to the Menier Chocolate Factory to lead the company of SHE LOVES ME this Christmas. The production reunites Strallen with director Matthew White, following their previous collaboration at the Menier on Candide. The production opens on 7 December, with previews from 25 November, and runs until 5 March 2017.

The Pirates of Penzance is possibly the most popular comic operetta and its history of adoration has been consistent since its premier in 1879. Revivals of The Pirates of Penzance were ubiquitous throughout the 20th Century with Joseph Papp's production in 1980 becoming the most lauded. This version featured new musical arrangements which pulled the operetta closer to musical theatre, making it accessible for contemporary audiences all while remaining respectful to the original version. Other adaptators have tried their hands only to fall short. Pirates (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd) was a failed experiment that set the story in the caribbean and transformed the Pirate King into a pseudo-Captain Jack Sparrow.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, starring Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.' BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, starring Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.'  BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, starring Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.'

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, starring Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.'

Welcome, to the inside scoop, the backstage pass, the exclusive source, the tell-all...well you know...everything and anything awesome about PIRATES OF PENZANCE at Barrington Stage Company! We arrrrre in our second week of rehearsals here in Pittsfield, MA, and as your resident Pirate/Policeman (trust me, it gets confusing for me too), it is my DUTY to keep you filled in on all of the trouble we're getting into. Did I say trouble? I mean super serious hard work.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, has unveiled full casting for Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, which will star previously announced Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.'

Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: A Funny Thing Happened: Songs from the Road to Broadway; Broadway's Best Musical Comedy Stars!; Tom Wopat at The Metropolitan Room; The Skivvies at 54 Below; and Nicolette Robinson at 54 Below.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.