David Furnish News

As 2018 comes to a close, we are reflecting on those we have lost in the Broadway and theatre communities throughout the year.

A special Gala Charity event for Tim Firth's award-winning new musical THE BAND, with the music of Take That, is being hosted by the musical's co-producers, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams, with David Furnish, Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Gala will take place at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on Tuesday 4 December 2018.

El proximo mes de mayo llega a nuestros cines ROCKETMAN, biopic que cuenta el ascenso a la fama del iconico cantante britanico Sir Elton John.

Paramount Pictures has released the first teaser trailer for ROCKETMAN, an epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John's breakthrough years, starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Filming for the Elton John biopic Rocketman is well underway and this evening we got our first glimpse of star Taron Egerton in full Elton drag on the set of the film. See the first photo below!

On Monday, November 5, 2018, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) will host its annual New York Fall Gala at Cipriani 42ndStreet in New York City.  At this year's gala, EJAF Founder Sir Elton John and Chairman David Furnish will honor Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, philanthropist Patricia Hearst, and long-time advocate Joe McMillan, CEO and Chairman of DDG, with EJAF's Enduring Vision Award.  Nine-time Grammy Award Winning Singer, Songwriter Sheryl Crow will be the special musical guest, and Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and the new National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, will be the featured speaker. CBS This Morning co-anchor and journalist Gayle King will host the event.

According to Variety, Bryce Dallas Howard is set to play Elton John's mother in Paramount's biopic “Rocketman.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount has picked up the Elton John biopic Rocketman, Taron Egerton is set to play the superstar.

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) celebrates Britweek with independent cinema on April 28th with a selection of films from the United Kingdom, along with local Los Angeles films. Five filmmakers from the United Kingdom, Polly Steele, Blake Harrison, Simon Ryninks and Garry Crystal will be joining NFMLA for the event, with flights generously provided by Norwegian Airlines. The night begins with UK feature film Let Me Go by Polly Steele, an intergenerational story about the unraveling of a family secret and its emotional impact on three mothers and three daughters. Second is InFocus: Britweek, a collection of short films from by UK filmmakers that include stories of love, family strife, foreboding and the search for human connection, featuring the world premiere of Blake Harrison's (The Inbetweeners) directorial debut. The night concludes with a narrative shorts program highlighting local Los Angeles talent and prominently features themes of finding, losing and letting go. Feature Film Let Me Go - Directed by Polly Steele United Kingdom/Austria Los Angeles Premiere About the Director - Polly is an award winning UK based, independent, filmmaker renowned for her ability to tell the most compelling and sensitive stories. Her work includes BAFTA-winning documentary project Video Diaries (BBC). She has made films for all of the UK's major broadcasters, and produced/developed fiction as MD for Rocket Pictures with Elton John and David Furnish and for her own company In Trust Films. She wrote and directed Let Me Go starring Juliet Stephenson, Johdi May and Lucy Boynton, with Radiohead's Philip Selway composing. Shorts Program #1: Infocus: Britweek The Fox and The Rabbit - Directed by Garry Crystal United Kingdom West Coast Premiere About the Director - In addition to being a History and Law graduate, Garry Crystal is a former television actor, having appeared in leading UK dramas such as 'Fat Friends', 'Peak Practice' and 'Children's Ward.' This background has provided him with strong critical evaluation skills and an appreciation of story-telling, which he considers as essential tools for film-making. He has edited BAFTA, EMMY, Grierson and RTS winning and nominated documentaries and films, and is now venturing into directing. Hooves of Clay - Directed by Blake Harrison United Kingdom World Premiere About the Director - As an actor, Blake Harrison starred in three series and two subsequent films of the multi-award winning comedy 'The Inbetweeners' as Neil Sutherland. He also starred in the 2016 remake of Dad's Army where he played Private Pike alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sir Michael Gambon. His other film work includes Keeping Rose, Madness in the Method and Reuniting the Rubins. Harrison's TV work includes three series of US comedy 'The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret' for IFC, 'Prime Suspect: 1973' & 'Houdini & Doyle' for ITV. 'Way to Go,' 'Him & Her,' 'The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff' & 'Trust Me' for BBC. As well as 'Tripped' for E4. Hooves of Clay is his directorial debut. Real Gods Require Blood - Directed by Moin Hussain United Kingdom About the Director - Moin Hussain is a London and Norfolk based director with a background in short films and music videos. After being selected by the Directors Guild of Great Britain to take part in a scheme for new talent, Moin's first short film Holy Thursday was funded by Creative England and went on to screen internationally. His latest short Real Gods Require Blood premiered at Cannes film festival and was produced by BAFTA Award Nominated Producer Michelle Stein. Us - Directed by Will Darbyshire United Kingdom North American Premiere About the Director - Will Darbyshire is a 24-year-old British filmmaker with a following of nearly 700K followers on his YouTube channel, as well as a large audience on his Instagram and Twitter channels. Will has published a book of curated love letters, 'This Modern Love,' to great acclaim worldwide reaching no.1 on the UK Sunday Times Bestseller List. Contractor 014352 - Directed by Simon Ryninks United Kingdom About the Director - Simon is a director living and working in London. He has just completed his third short film Contractor 014352, starring Johnny Flynn (Genius, Lovesick, Song One), which had its world premiere at Palm Springs International Shortfest 2017 and has played at 9 festivals internationally, winning several awards. Previously he had been a finalist of the Sundance London Short Film Competition and IMdB New Filmmaker award. Shorts Program #2 The Shuttle - Directed by Lu Han Dear Sister - Directed by Jess Harbeck EVOKE - Directed by Asia LeMasters My Treasure - Directed by Michael Flores Additional event information is available at www.nfmla.org Founded in 2007, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. NFMLA's programs annually serve approximately 25,000 patrons in the Greater Los Angeles area. NFMLA has screened over 2,500 films from 75+ countries, highlighting local and international talent.

Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland announce the full lineup for Signature Theatre's 2018/19 season.

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) celebrates Britweek with independent cinema on April 28th with a selection of films from the United Kingdom, along with local Los Angeles films. Five filmmakers from the United Kingdom, Polly Steele, Blake Harrison, Simon Ryninks and Garry Crystal will be joining NFMLA for the event, with flights generously provided by Norwegian Airlines. The night begins with UK feature film Let Me Go by Polly Steele, an intergenerational story about the unraveling of a family secret and its emotional impact on three mothers and three daughters. Second is InFocus: Britweek, a collection of short films from by UK filmmakers that include stories of love, family strife, foreboding and the search for human connection, featuring the world premiere of Blake Harrison's (The Inbetweeners) directorial debut. The night concludes with a narrative shorts program highlighting local Los Angeles talent and prominently features themes of finding, losing and letting go. Feature Film Let Me Go - Directed by Polly Steele United Kingdom/Austria Los Angeles Premiere About the Director - Polly is an award winning UK based, independent, filmmaker renowned for her ability to tell the most compelling and sensitive stories. Her work includes BAFTA-winning documentary project Video Diaries (BBC). She has made films for all of the UK's major broadcasters, and produced/developed fiction as MD for Rocket Pictures with Elton John and David Furnish and for her own company In Trust Films. She wrote and directed Let Me Go starring Juliet Stephenson, Johdi May and Lucy Boynton, with Radiohead's Philip Selway composing. Shorts Program #1: Infocus: Britweek The Fox and The Rabbit - Directed by Garry Crystal United Kingdom West Coast Premiere About the Director - In addition to being a History and Law graduate, Garry Crystal is a former television actor, having appeared in leading UK dramas such as 'Fat Friends', 'Peak Practice' and 'Children's Ward.' This background has provided him with strong critical evaluation skills and an appreciation of story-telling, which he considers as essential tools for film-making. He has edited BAFTA, EMMY, Grierson and RTS winning and nominated documentaries and films, and is now venturing into directing. Hooves of Clay - Directed by Blake Harrison United Kingdom World Premiere About the Director - As an actor, Blake Harrison starred in three series and two subsequent films of the multi-award winning comedy 'The Inbetweeners' as Neil Sutherland. He also starred in the 2016 remake of Dad's Army where he played Private Pike alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sir Michael Gambon. His other film work includes Keeping Rose, Madness in the Method and Reuniting the Rubins. Harrison's TV work includes three series of US comedy 'The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret' for IFC, 'Prime Suspect: 1973' & 'Houdini & Doyle' for ITV. 'Way to Go,' 'Him & Her,' 'The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff' & 'Trust Me' for BBC. As well as 'Tripped' for E4. Hooves of Clay is his directorial debut. Real Gods Require Blood - Directed by Moin Hussain United Kingdom About the Director - Moin Hussain is a London and Norfolk based director with a background in short films and music videos. After being selected by the Directors Guild of Great Britain to take part in a scheme for new talent, Moin's first short film Holy Thursday was funded by Creative England and went on to screen internationally. His latest short Real Gods Require Blood premiered at Cannes film festival and was produced by BAFTA Award Nominated Producer Michelle Stein. Us - Directed by Will Darbyshire United Kingdom North American Premiere About the Director - Will Darbyshire is a 24-year-old British filmmaker with a following of nearly 700K followers on his YouTube channel, as well as a large audience on his Instagram and Twitter channels. Will has published a book of curated love letters, 'This Modern Love,' to great acclaim worldwide reaching no.1 on the UK Sunday Times Bestseller List. Contractor 014352 - Directed by Simon Ryninks United Kingdom About the Director - Simon is a director living and working in London. He has just completed his third short film Contractor 014352, starring Johnny Flynn (Genius, Lovesick, Song One), which had its world premiere at Palm Springs International Shortfest 2017 and has played at 9 festivals internationally, winning several awards. Previously he had been a finalist of the Sundance London Short Film Competition and IMdB New Filmmaker award. Shorts Program #2 The Shuttle - Directed by Lu Han Dear Sister - Directed by Jess Harbeck EVOKE - Directed by Asia LeMasters My Treasure - Directed by Michael Flores Additional event information is available at www.nfmla.org Founded in 2007, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. NFMLA's programs annually serve approximately 25,000 patrons in the Greater Los Angeles area. NFMLA has screened over 2,500 films from 75+ countries, highlighting local and international talent.

Universal Theatrical Group, Working Title Films, Greene Light Stage, Michael Coppel Entertainment and Louise Withers Presents are delighted to announce that Billy Elliot the Musical will return to Australia in 2019 for its 10th Anniversary Tour. The hugely successful West End musical premiered in Australia in 2007 as the first international production outside of the UK, prior to its Broadway premiere. With the first Australian tour concluding in Melbourne in 2009, this new 10th Anniversary tour kicks off in 2019, ten years after the curtain came down in Australia.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish will host the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF)'s 26th annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. BVLGARI is the gala event's generous Presenting Sponsor.

Boyslikeme is proud to bring to Melbourne the Tony Award nominated play NEXT FALL.

BILLY ELLIOT runs January 27th - February 26th at Wheelock Family Theatre.

While global superstar Elton John strongly voiced his support for Hillary Clinton throughout the 2016 Presidential campaign, a key adviser to Donald Trump claims that the Grammy winner will perform at Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20th

The producers of the multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the four boys who will play the title role in the first ever UK and Ireland tour of the iconic musical are Adam Abbou (12 years old from Liverpool), Matthew Lyons (11 years old from Leeds), Haydn May (11 years old from Bath) and Lewis Smallman (12 years old from West Bromwich).

The producers of the multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the four boys who will play the title role in the first ever UK and Ireland tour of the iconic musical are Adam Abbou (12 years old from Liverpool),Matthew Lyons (11 years old from Leeds), Haydn May (11 years old from Bath) and Lewis Smallman (12 years old from West Bromwich). The boys were cast following nationwide auditions and after months of intensive rehearsals began alternating in the role following the show's opening earlier in the year.  Billy Elliot the musical opens at The Bristol Hippodrome on Tuesday 25thOctober and runs until Saturday 26th November 2016.

The producers of the multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the four boys who will play the title role in the first ever UK and Ireland tour of the iconic musical are Adam Abbou (12 years old from Liverpool), Matthew Lyons (11 years old from Leeds), Haydn May (11 years old from Bath) and Lewis Smallman (12 years old from West Bromwich).

Last night, Saturday 9 April 2016, after 4,600 performances and prior to the theatre's previously announced refurbishment programme, the final Victoria Palace Theatre performance of Billy Elliot The Musical took place in front of a packed house with guests including past and present Billy Elliots, original cast members and members of the show's creative team.  The over 1530 strong audience rose to their feet for the curtain call to join the Company in celebrating a very special evening and a phenomenal eleven year run in the West End.  Director Stephen Daldry, writer Lee Hall and composer Elton John joined the company on stage accompanied by 32 past and present Billy Elliots (the most Billy Elliots to ever appear on stage together), 24 past Michaels and 18 past Debbies as well as several adult members of the original Company.