Imelda Staunton News

Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd transfers to London's West End for a limited season from 10 March 2012. Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd stars distinguished musical performer Michael Ball as the eponymous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as the devoted Mrs Lovett.

La Mirada and McCoy Rigby are set to present the third show of their 2011-2012 season with the Los Angeles regional theatre premiere production of THE 39 STEPS, adapted by Patrick Barlow (based on the Alfred Hitchcock film) and directed by Jessica Kubzansky.

Winner of 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress - Gwyneth Paltrow and Best Supporting Actress - Judi Dench, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE is noted playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard's imaginative restaging and reworking of the story of William Shakespeare which proceeds to present a thesis for how he came to write many of the finest dramas and comedies written in the English language. Boasting gorgeous costumes, breathtaking sets and an unmistakably Shakespearean atmosphere, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE has aged considerably well and looks even more rapturous and resplendent on Blu-ray than it ever has before. The new Blu-ray also comes with a fascinating slew of special features, the most appreciable of all being the two commentary tracks, one from director John Madden and another from assorted cast and crew members. Boasting an all-star cast to best even the Bard's vaunted coterie of performers themselves, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE is lousy with pedigree - and nearly every actor makes his or her mark over the quite tight, terse running time of the film. In addition to the aforementioned Oscar-betrothed leading lady and supporting player, the cast of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE also boasts recent Oscar-winner for THE KING'S SPEECH, Colin Firth, in a memorable role, as well as a charismatic lead performance by Joseph Fiennes as the titular playwright. Additionally, British stage stars Simon Callow, Antony Sher, Imelda Staunton, Tom Wilkinson and Tony Award-winning Australian leading man Geoffrey Rush all make solid impressions in their smaller roles. Yet, as with all of the greatest works of William Shakespeare, the text is the star, and Stoppard's precise and exacting script is much like a modern Shakespeare play in the way it juggles moments of levity, intrigue, history, comedy, tragedy and love into the drama of the film. While SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE may have been somewhat derided at the time for being too light to win over that year's favorite, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, time has been kind to the theatrically-tinged film, and, dare I say, it is even more enjoyable and entertaining now, on Blu-ray, than it may have even been at the time of its release fifteen years ago. All the world may be a stage, by SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE is a Hollywood film relating to Shakespeare worth your time, attention and investment.

The most prestigious event in the UK's theatrical calendar, the presentation of the 36th Olivier Awards with MasterCard will take place for the first time in its entirety at the Royal Opera House, London on Sunday 15 April 2012 when distinguished guests from London's arts and cultural scene will join winners and celebrities at the glamorous red carpet event.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: January 7-13.

La Mirada and McCoy Rigby are set to present the third show of their 2011-2012 season with the Los Angeles regional theatre premiere production of THE 39 STEPS, adapted by Patrick Barlow (based on the Alfred Hitchcock film) and directed by Jessica Kubzansky.

Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd transfers to London's West End for a limited season from 10 March 2012. Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd stars distinguished musical performer Michael Ball as the eponymous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as the devoted Mrs Lovett. Check out a video preview along with photos from the upcoming transfer below!

Our reviewer casts her eye over the recent BBC series looking at the rise of the British musical

La Mirada and McCoy Rigby are set to present the third show of their 2011-2012 season with the Los Angeles regional theatre premiere production of THE 39 STEPS, adapted by Patrick Barlow (based on the Alfred Hitchcock film) and directed by Jessica Kubzansky.

We asked some of our favourite West End folk what they're looking forward to seeing on stage in 2012...

What we're looking forward to in 2012

La Mirada and McCoy Rigby are set to present the third show of their 2011-2012 season with the Los Angeles regional theatre premiere production of THE 39 STEPS, adapted by Patrick Barlow (based on the Alfred Hitchcock film) and directed by Jessica Kubzansky.

THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS is coming to theaters on March 30, 2012 from Sony Pictures. The family adventure is directed by Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt and written by Gideon Defoe. The cast includes Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, Brian Blessed, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, David Tennant, Ashley Jensen, Martin Freeman, Imelda Staunton and Russell Tovey.

The new Columbia Pictures animated family comedy, ARTHUR CHRISTMAS will be in theaters on November 23, 2011

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, November 20, 2011 - Sunday, November 20, 2011.

Today, BroadwayWorld is extremely proud to present an extensive conversation with the modern master of the musical theatre himself, Stephen Sondheim, all about the incredibly revealing and thoroughly riveting second volume of his complete collected (and annotated) lyrics (covering 1981-2011) - following last year's superlative FINISHING THE HAT - titled LOOK, I MADE A HAT. With ample insights pertaining to the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, INTO THE WOODS, ROAD SHOW, THE FROGS and many more, Sondheim and I also discuss some of his Hollywood endeavors - the proposed film adaptation of INTO THE WOODS, as well as the never-produced SINGING OUT LOUD and his Oscar-winning work for Warren Beatty's DICK TRACY - and his affection for - and process of adapting (in the case of WEST SIDE STORY, the CYMBELINE setting in THE FROGS and his recent scoring of the Public Theatre's production of KING LEAR starring Kevin Kline) - the works of William Shakespeare. Additionally, we discuss the upcoming Encores! revival of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, the currently-running revival of FOLLIES starring Bernadette Peters (as well as its brand new cast album), the West End transfer of the Michael Ball/Imelda Staunton-led SWEENEY TODD in the UK and much, much more!

Justin Bieber has revealed a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at his upcoming new music video for the highly anticipated holiday film ARTHUR CHRISTMAS.

Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Kent's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd transfers to London's West End for a limited season from 10 March 2012. Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd stars distinguished musical performer Michael Ball as the eponymous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as the devoted Mrs Lovett.

Baz Bamigboye reports in today's UK Daily Mail that the hit production of the Chichester Festival Theatre's SWEENEY TODD, starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton will indeed, as rumored, transfer to the West End's Adelphi Theatre, beginning on March 10, 1012. The transfer is said to have been approved by Stephen Sondheim who saw the show last week, and delayed a return trip home to see the production a second time. The paper notes that 'he considers the Chichester Sweeney to be a landmark production and would like it, and its two stars, to go to New York.'

A new clip from the upcoming holiday film ARTHUR CHIRSTMAS has just been released. The video is titled 'Sleigh Montage' and show Santa Claus and his team of reindeer heading up into the sky.