Harry Hill News

Cynthia Erivo has won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her role as Celie in THE COLOR PURPLE.

With its UK premiere earlier this year at The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth's fast-paced, hilarious and (slightly) bonkers Monster Raving Loony brings its party fun and punkish anarchy to Soho Theatre next month.  Opening tonight 17 May, Monster Raving Loony by James Graham will run until 18 June.

Cynthia Erivo came straight from London to make her Broadway debut as 'Celie' in John Doyle's glorious revival of THE COLOR PURPLE. Now that she's arrived, there's no stopping this future Broadway superstar. Below, watch as she explains why her nomination means so much to her.

With its UK premiere earlier this year at The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth's fast-paced, hilarious and (slightly) bonkers Monster Raving Loony brings its party fun and punkish anarchy to Soho Theatre next month.  Opening on 17 May,Monster Raving Loony by James Graham will preview from 14 May, and run until 18 June.

Below, BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you an exclusive video of one of the evening's most jaw-dropping performances from one of Broadway's newest superstars. Watch as THE COLOR PURPLE's Cynthia Erivo performs 'A Piece of Sky' from YENTL.

A hip hop dance show that stormed the West End is coming to Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre next month (April).

A hip hop dance show that stormed the West End is coming to Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre next month (April).

THE COLOR PURPLE is an unforgettable story of enduring love and triumph over adversity. With a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this stirring family chronicle follows the inspirational Celie, as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life. This unforgettable and intensely moving new production that has just opened on Broadway months prior, mesmerized audiences when it premiered at London's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory, where critics hailed it as 'a revelation' (Mark Shenton, The Stage). Now, this American classic comes to Broadway with a powerhouse cast including celebrated London star Cynthia Erivo, who recreates her electrifying performance as Celie. 

Due to unprecedented demand, the critically acclaimed production of Funny Girl, which is fast selling out its run, extends booking for a further 4 weeks until 8 October 2016. Tickets for the extension of Michael Mayer's "exhilarating embrace of a production - Independent" starring Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress and "phenomenal talent - Independent" Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice go on sale from 10am on 8 February.

FUNNY GIRL, starring Sheridan Smith, is now running Menier Chocolate Factory through March 5 before transferring to the West End's Savoy Theatre from April 9. According to the Daily Mail, the smash hit production, marking the musical's 50th anniversary year and helmed by Michael Mayer, has just extended its run at the Savoy by four weeks through October 8, 2016.

Theatre Royal Plymouth Artistic Director Simon Stokes today announces the full cast for his production of James Graham's Monster Raving Loony.  Samuel James takes the role of Screaming Lord Sutch, with Joseph Alessi, Camilla Beeput, Joanna Brookes, Jack Brown playing a number of different characters. The production opens on Wednesday 10th February, with previews from Saturday 6th February, and runs until Sat 27th February.

The new Broadway revival of THE COLOR PURPLE opens tonight, December 10, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 W 45th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company and watch highlights from the show!

Following a critically acclaimed opening at the Menier Chocolate Factory this week, the smash hit production of Funny Girl extends its booking period at the Savoy Theatre due to popular demand. Michael Mayer's "exhilarating embrace of a production - Independent" will now run until 10 September 2016 - marking the musical's 50th anniversary year. Tickets for the extended booking period production starring Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress and "phenomenal talent - Independent" Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice go on sale today.

He's back! Clive Rowe is to tread the boards at Hackney Empire once again starring as Dame Daisy Trottin their 2015 pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk, from tonight 21 November 2015 to 3 January 2016.

'[Thank you] to an incredible cast of British and American actors who make the Atlantic look like a little creek you can just kind of pop across,' said Dame Helen Mirren upon receiving her 2015 Tony Award. The stage and screen star reprised her critically-acclaimed performance in THE AUDIENCE after a West End run in 2013, and she was just one of many to 'pop across' an ocean for a stab at Broadway.  An unprecedented amount of British talent took over Broadway last year, bringing us such productions as THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, WOLF HALL: PARTS 1 & 2, and SKYLIGHT.   It doesn't seem like the trend is ending anytime soon. This fall, Broadway will welcome a slew of British actors- some of whom will be making their US stage debuts in incoming productions. And it's not just performers. We're getting some complete British imports in shows like A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and KING CHARLES III. Below, we're taking a moment to shine a spotlight on this season's British imports.

The Old Vic has today announced casting for David Greig's adaptation of Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, directed by Max Webster. Simon Lipkin will play the role of the Lorax, alongside puppeteers Laura Cubitt and Ben Thompson, whilst Simon Paisley Day takes the role of the Once-ler.

Hackney Empire has today announced the full cast of its much-anticipated 2015 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. The full cast will be joining previously announced Olivier Award-nominee Debbie Kurup as Jack, everybody's favourite dame, Olivier Award-winning Clive Rowe as Dame Daisy Trott and Kat B as Snowman. Following their 2014 pantomime which was seen by over 50,000 people Jack and the Beanstalkwill run from 21 November 2015 to 3 January 2016.

Commissioned by the Finborough Theatre, Horniman's Choice brings together four plays by the leading figures of the 'Manchester School' of playwrights - Harold Brighouse, Stanley Houghton and Allan Monkhouse, all originally championed by Annie Horniman, owner of Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, the first regional repertory theatre in Britain. Horniman's Choice runs at the Finborough Theatre, playing Sunday and Monday evenings and Tuesday matinees from Sunday, 27 September 2015 (Press Night: Monday, 28 September 2015 at 7.30pm).

Academy Award-winning actor Jim Broadbent makes his long-awaited return to the stage to play Scrooge in a new version of A Christmas Carol adapted by Patrick Barlow from Charles Dickens' classic story of greed, grief, ghoulish ghosts and eleventh-hour redemption.

He's back! Clive Rowe is to tread the boards at Hackney Empire once again starring as Dame Daisy Trottin their 2015 pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk, from 21 November 2015 to 3 January 2016.