Daniel Evans News

A chance for audiences worldwide to watch a stream of our highly acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific.

The production is led by Gina Beck (Matilda, Show Boat, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera) as Nellie*, Julian Ovenden (Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel, BBC Proms) as Emile, Joanna Ampil (Cats, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon) as Bloody Mary, Keir Charles (Quiz, Back To Life) as Luther Billis and Rob Houchen (Les Misérables, The Light in the Piazza) as Cable. 

Following the news that Gina Beck is pregnant, Chichester Festival Theatre has announced that in the forthcoming production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, she will rehearse and open the role of Nellie Forbush as planned with performances from 5 July and a press night on 13 July. From 5 August, Alex Young will share the role of Nellie and take over full-time from 23 August for the remainder of the run.

May 17 has long held near-sacrosanct status in and around London theatreland. That's the date earmarked for a return to live performance, albeit to limited audiences, with a further diary entry worth marking of June 21 (the summer solstice no less) when all restrictions on social contacts will be removed and playhouses may - one stresses the word may - be allowed to return to something resembling pre-pandemic capacity.

Artistic Director Daniel Evans and Executive Director Kathy Bourne announce today that Chichester Festival Theatre will reopen its doors with its summer musical: Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, running from 5 July – 4 September.

Earlier this month, we marked the 91st birthday of the living legend that is Stephen Sondheim with a look back at five London productions of his work that are embedded in my memory. This week, we honour a quintet of performances that has achieved the same result, even if this has meant choosing from an astonishing array of riches that could populate a column like this ten times over. In any case, here are just a few of the Sondheim star turns that linger in the mind.

ArtsEd has announced the appointment of Jonathan O'Boyle to the role of Director of the School of Musical Theatre, effective November this year. 

This dazzling cornucopia of music and song – originally staged last autumn to celebrate the musical legend’s 90th birthday year – sees CFT Artistic Director Daniel Evans joined on the Chichester Festival Theatre stage by stars from London’s West End to perform numbers from some of Sondheim’s major and lesser-known works, broadcast on the composer’s 91st birthday.

Today (March 22) in live streaming: CFT is Celebrating Sondheim, BKLYN is back, Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards, and more!

This dazzling cornucopia of music and song – originally staged last autumn to celebrate the musical legend’s 90th birthday year – sees CFT Artistic Director Daniel Evans joined on the Chichester Festival Theatre stage by stars from London's West End to perform numbers from some of Sondheim’s major and lesser-known works, broadcast on the composer’s 91st birthday.

Last week, we acknowledged the forthcoming birthday of Andrew Lloyd Webber via a look back at five defining London stagings of his work. This time, we offer the same tribute to Stephen Sondheim, with whom Lloyd Webber, 18 years Sondheim's junior, shares a birthdate of March 22: on that day, the great man turns 91.

On Tuesday, March 9, Dress Circle Publishing will release of THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BROADWAY, VOLUME 4, the latest in a series by acclaimed historian and producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Can't wait to get your hands on it? Let BroadwayWorld hold you over with a special sneak peek!

On this day in 2008, the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, Sunday in the Park with George opened on Broadway.

Chichester Festival Theatre has announced its upcoming spring season of streamed events , including FACING THE MUSIC interviews with Sheila Hancock, Philip Quast, Patricia Routledge, Imelda Staunton and Giles Terera, an encore screening of Celebrating Sondheim, and more!

Theatre503 announced US playwright and activist Pravin Wilkins as the winner of the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. Pravin accepted the Award from his home in Pittsburgh at an online event attended Theatre503's community of writers, industry & friends, hosted by the theatre's Chair Erica Whyman and Artistic Director Lisa Spirling.

The cast album of the hugely acclaimed musical Flowers for Mrs Harris, recorded by the Chichester Festival Theatre company, will be released on 3 December. With a book by Rachel Wagstaff and music and lyrics by Richard Taylor, Flowers for Mrs Harris captures the glowing humanity of the novel by Paul Gallico on which it is based.

Following the COVID-19 lockdown until 2 December, Chichester Festival Theatre has had to cancel or postpone some of the shows in the Autumn season.

Five outstanding new writers from the UK, Australia and the US are the finalists for the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting. Ayad Andrews, Gina Stevensen, Pravin Wilkins, Safaa Benson-Effiom and Zoe Ashford Cooper were chosen from 1,719 scripts sent in from 45 countries.

Chichester Festival Theatre's sell-out concert CELEBRATING SONDHEIM: Sunday In The Park With Daniel will be live-streamed from the Festival Theatre stage on Sunday 1 November at 7pm.

Lily James shares how she lost her voice before finding out she scored her role in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, addresses rumors about a third Mamma Mia! film and sets up what her film Rebecca is about.