New Musicals Inc. has announced that nine writing teams (with a total of 17 writers and composers) have been selected to participate in the 2017 New Voices Project, a musical theatre development program hosted by New Musicals Inc. in Los Angeles (with support from Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment), now in its fifth year.
Set against a backdrop of Manhattan decadence and 1920's excess, The Wild Party tells the story of Queenie and Burrs, a Vaudeville showgirl and a Vaudeville clown whose relationship is marked by vicious behaviour and recklessness. In an attempt to salvage their toxic union, they decide to throw a party to end all parties.
The Wild Party is plenty wild enough, but its overly ambitious book and parade of cookie-cutter characters means that it never lands a knockout punch - or song.
London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a major Albee revival to starry Shakespeare and a steamy musical, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews...
Frances Ruffelle and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt perform 'Best Friend' from the forthcoming West End production of The Wild Party. Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie, The Wild Party will begin previews at The Other Palace on Monday, February 13th, 2017.
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's top news: YOURS UNFAITHFULLY, starring Max Von Essen, opens Off-Broadway, and THE VIEW goes behind the scenes with Whoopi Goldberg for her ALADDIN cameo!
Frances Ruffelle is perhaps best known for originating the role of Eponine in Les Miserables. She's since done numerous other stage roles, produced several albums and represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest, and will soon star as Queenie in The Wild Party, the opening musical of Andrew Lloyd Webber's revamped The Other Palace; the show begins previews on 13 February.
Transatlantic songwriting duo Anderson & Petty returned The St. James Studio over the holidays to present 'An Anderson & Petty Christmas' featuring a host of West End and TV stars stars.
In addition to the stars below, 'An Anderson & Petty Christmas' has recently added Katie Brayben, Lynne Wilmot, and Declan Egan to the line-up of this one-night-only concert on December 19.
Full casting is announced today for Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party, which receives its first major London production at The Other Palace, playing from Monday 13 February to Saturday 1 April 2017, with a press night on Monday 20 February.
Transatlantic songwriting duo Anderson & Petty are thrilled to be returning to The St. James Studio to present 'An Anderson & Petty Christmas' featuring a host of West End and TV stars.
As Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party will receive its first major London production at The Other Palace, playing from Saturday 11 February to Saturday 1 April 2017, with a press night on Monday 20 February. Directed and choreographed by 2016 Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie and starring Tony Award winner Frances Ruffelle, The Wild Party will be the inaugural production at The Other Palace, formerly St. James Theatre, when it reopens in February 2017 as the newest addition to The Really Useful Theatres Group and a home for new musical theatre.
Andrew Lloyd Webber today announces plans for The Other Palace, the newest addition to The Really Useful Theatres Group. The Other Palace is situated less than 100 yards from Buckingham Palace and close to the Victoria Palace, hence its name.
This weekend's big news: Roundabout Underground's KINGDOM COME brings online dating to the stage tonight, Lisa Lampanelli's STUFFED premieres this evening Off-Broadway, and LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES begins on Broadway this Saturday!
Baz Bamignoye of The Daily Mail has reported that Les Miserables original 'Eponine', Frances Ruffelle, will star in a West End revival of Michael John LaChiusa's jazz age musical drama, THE WILD PARTY. Ruefelle is set to star as 'Queenie' in the musical, which features music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa and a book co-written by George C. Wolfe.
There's something to be said about Ms. Ruffelle embracing her own originality and zest for life, and selecting songs that emphasize she's very much her own person and does things her own way. Her cabaret was unlike any other you'd experience from most of the women who have graced the Broadway or West End stages. Uniqueness can be a good thing.
Today in 1987, Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 6680 performances. Written by Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is set in early 19th-century France. The plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. An ensemble that includes prostitutes, student revolutionaries, factory workers, and others joins the lead characters. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city: the original show at London's West End; the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production at the original home of the show, the Barbican Centre; and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, Donna Vivino as Young Cosette, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thenardier, Leo Burmester as Thenardier, Randy Graff as Fantine, and Terrence Mann as Javert.
Continuing the new season of programming at The Hippodrome Theatre, Club 11 London and The Hippodrome Casino are excited to bring you a night with Musical Theatre star, Tony Award winner and Les Mis's original Eponine, Frances Ruffelle. Tickets available here. Frances Ruffelle is bringing her critically acclaimed solo show 'I Say Yeh-Yeh' to the Hippodrome for the first time.