Cedric Neal News

It’s been a bit of a year hasn’t it? To see out the last of 2020, we shared 24 theatre memories from this year on our Instagram account (if you’re not already following us, come on over!) to count down to Christmas. Here is the entire calendar in all its glory with some links to our favourite articles from 2020.

This isn’t the first time that an opening night review has been written when the following day is closing night, but it is hopefully the last. When Tier 3 restrictions were announced at 3.30pm on Monday, the theatre industry heaved a collective sigh of desperation as once again, the rug was pulled out from under them. Of course, regional theatres have been closed for many months, but some is better than none, and seeing London theatres alive these past few weeks gave a glimmer of hope - not to mention employment - to thousands of people.

In her offering for the season, Liz Mikel's Cool Yule pays homage to the jazz and blues influences that live in her music.

Conceived by Feast Creative and spearheaded by WhatsOnStage, the It's Curtains For Theatre Without You campaign launches nationwide today.

David Hunter has certainly been busy during lockdown. We talk to him about his experience performing Songs For A New World at The London Palladium in October, getting to revisit it for a longer run at the Vaudeville Theatre next year and making creative Cameos for fans.

The cast of A Christmas Carol chat to Tom Hayden Millward (@WestEndReporter) about their upcoming West End run at the Dominion Theatre.

Exclusive photography has been released from the rehearsal room with preparations underway for the musical staged concert of A Christmas Carol. Performances will begin at the Dominion Theatre on Monday 7 December.

Greg Barnett is going from performing on the stage to producing (and hosting) his own show at The Apollo. We chats to him about producing in a pandemic, the rise of online theatre and why From Now On is such an anthem for modern times.

Danny Kaan & Sophie Ross from The Digi Creative have announced their creation of a theatrical coffee table book filled with over 140 pages showcasing the arts industry. With exclusive imagery, personalised letters to the audiences, and more, this book is a celebration of theatre and everyone who works in it.  

Dear Audience is a theatrical coffee table book filled with over 140 pages showcasing the Arts industry. With exclusive imagery, personalised letters to the Audiences, and more, this book is a celebration of Theatre and everyone who works in it.

Tickets are on sale now for Monday Night at the Apollo - a brand-new concert series taking place in front of a socially distanced audience at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

A star cast will join Brian Conley in the new, musical staged concert of Alan Menken, Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent's A Christmas Carol, which is set to play a strictly limited season at the Dominion Theatre in London. Performances run from Monday 7 December 2020 to Saturday 2 January 2021.

Jason Robert Brown's Songs For a New World will transfer to the Vaudeville Theatre for a strictly limited run from 9 February, with previews from 5 February, running until 7 March.

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY has announced that in early Summer 2021, it will release the Original Cast Recording to BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical. The musical is scheduled to open in early Summer 2021 at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End and features new music by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard alongside classic songs from the movie.

Songs For A New World played at The London Palladium on Sunday 11 October – marking a return for musical theatre to the West End.

Lucie Jones (Waitress; Rent) will headline the season finale on the 31st October with a Halloween special. Aimie Atkinson (Six; Pretty Woman) is also announced to headline on 24th October.

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical will transfer to the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End following an out-of-town opening at Manchester Opera House in March 2020. Previews will begin on 14 May.

Signature Theatre releases the fifth episode of The Signature Show, featuring a Diner cast reunion, a wig making extravaganza with Anne Nesmith and performances by Inés Nassara, Brent Barrett and Cedric Neal with Kayla Pecchioni, Nova Y. Payton and Shayla Simmons.

Signature Theatre releases the fifth episode of The Signature Show, featuring a Diner cast reunion, a wig making extravaganza with Anne Nesmith and performances by Inés Nassara, Brent Barrett and Cedric Neal with Kayla Pecchioni, Nova Y. Payton and Shayla Simmons. The Signature Show is a free biweekly half-hour digital experience featuring performances by acclaimed artists, interviews, celebration of new musical voices and memories of Signature's past and a glimpse into its future.

The live-streamed production of Jason Robert Brown's Songs For A New World that we enjoyed during lockdown is now coming to the stage, with two socially distanced shows at the London Palladium on 11 October. Rachel Tucker, who is known for Come From Away and Wicked amongst an impressive list of West End and Broadway credits, plays Woman 2 in this contemporary musical song cycle.