Howard Goodall News

The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and The Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Prize 2015 will take place at the Garrick Theatre in London on Sunday 17th May, 3pm. Special Guest Performer and Judge is Elaine Paige with Michael Xavier serving as host.

Gary Naylor talks to Sasha Regan ahead of the UK Tour of her All Male Pirates of Penzance. He learns that some people find that casting unusual, but soon settle into a unique experience.

London previews begin for the new British musical Bend It Like Beckham on 15 May 2015 with opening night on 24 June 2015. In January a further 200,000 tickets were released for sale at the Phoenix Theatre, taking bookings to 24 October 2015. Check out the opening number below!

This May, Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment presents the world premiere of a new musical The Verb, 'To Love' by Andy Collyer.

The West End cast of Bend It Like Beckham spent the day in Southall, West London, where the story of the musical is set. Check out the photos below!

A further 200,000 tickets are released for sale today for this year's new British West End Musical Bend It Like Beckham taking sales at the Phoenix Theatre to 24 October 2015. London previews begin on 15 May 2015 with opening night on 24 June 2015.

Natalie Dew will play football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women's football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower as their coach Joe. Opening at the Phoenix Theatre on 24 June 2015, London previews for Bend It Like Beckham begin on 15 May 2015. Ronni Ancona will play Paula, Jules's Mum, with Jamal Andreas as Jess' good friend Tony. Preeya Kalidas plays Pinky, Jess' sister, with Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke as her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.

The world premiere of the new British stage musical Bend It Like Beckham, directed by Gurinder Chadha, with original music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart, a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha, has found its leading lady. The Daily Mail writes that newcomer Natalie Dew will star as 'Jess' at the Phoenix Theatre this summer.

Ian Gelder - Kevan Lannister in the epic TV drama series Game of Thrones - is to play Frankenstein director James Whale and Will Austin is gardener Clayton Boone, who becomes the object of Whale's obsession, in the world premiere of Gods and Monsters at Southwark Playhouse.

With her production of DOGFIGHT nominated Best Musical in the recent Evening Standard Awards (her leading actress, Laura Jane Matthewman won Best Emerging Talent), and with rehearsals underway for the European premiere of Jerry Herman's 1979 Broadway musical, The Grand Tour, which opens at the Finborough Theatre on January 1, producer Danielle Tarento today announces the world premiere of GODS AND MONSTERS.

A documentary film of the groundbreaking exhibition David Bowie is, created by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A),London, is screening in movie theaters across the US for an encore presentation to coincide with the exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago (MCA).

Tickets go on sale today (7 November) for the world premiere of the new British stage musical Bend It Like Beckham.

Gary Naylor sees a musical performed with great commitment and skill let down by a plodding book and a half-hearted introduction of the question of morality in wartime.

Gurinder Chadha will direct the world premiere of the new British stage musical Bend It Like Beckham. With original music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart, Bend It Like Beckham has a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha; choreography and musical staging by Aletta Collins; set design by Miriam Buether; costume design by Katrina Lindsay; lighting design by Neil Austin; sound design by Richard Brooker; musical direction by Nigel Lilley and orchestrations by Howard Goodalland Kuljit Bhamra. Casting for Bend It Like Beckham will be announced shortly.

According to the Daily Mail, after holding workshops last fall with Samantha Barks as 'Jules' and Tara Divina as 'Jess', the new BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM musical is officially headed to the West End's Phoenix Theatre. Previews will begin May 15, with an opening slated for June 24, 2015. No word yet on who will star.

This October 2014, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris opens at the Charing Cross Theatre for a strictly limited six-week run from today 16 October to 22 November 2014.

The Howard Goodall season continues at the Union Theatre in Southwark, a celebration of a neglected musical theatre composer; this production of Love Story showcases the strengths of one of his most famous pieces but also occasionally highlights its weaknesses.

Of course the launch of voting for the 2014 BWW:UK Awards is the biggest story on this side of the pond this month...but in case you're looking for a new show or two, then London is definitely the place to be.