Jake Brunger News

According to the Daily Mail, WAR HORSE's Jeremy Irvine and CINDERELLA's Richard Madden have signed on for a reading of Jake Brunger's new work FOUR PLAY.

Old Vic New Voices announces a brand new festival, celebrating the work of exceptional and emerging playwrights. The event, which is generously supported by The TS Eliot Estate and Arts Council England, will see OVNV alumni join new talent in this five week long theatrical extravaganza.

Twelve student finalists from top drama schools across the UK competed for the title of this year's Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY), on Sunday 17th May at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End. Each student sung a song by Stephen Sondheim and, at his personal request, they each sang a new musical theatre song, written by members of Mercury Musical Developments and shortlisted for the Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Prize. Scroll down for photos from the event!

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.

Last night saw the world premiere of new musical The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole at the Curve in Leicester. Being a champion for original writing and aptly being author Sue Townsend's home town, it was only right that this show sees its debut here. Many people hold the books in high regard - myself included - and watching it last night made me reminisce. Set in 1980s Leicester, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole centres around a boy aged 13 and ¾ who is essentially battling through adolescent life; from spots to girls to bullies, Adrian is encountering all of them! Townsend's books are written in Adrian's words and in diary format so I was incredibly intrigued about how this could successfully be adapted for stage.

Curve today announces the full cast for the world premiere of Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ - The Musical. The cast includes Rosemary Ashe (Grandma), Cameron Blakely (Mr Lucas), Amy Booth-Steel (Miss Elf/Doreen Slater/Mrs Lucas), Neil Ditt (George Mole),Kirsty Hoiles (Pauline Mole) and Neil Salvage (Bert Baxter).

Bobby Cronin and NEXT UK brought the hit NYC Inspired Benefit Concert Series to London with INSPIRED UK: A Benefit Concert for Manchester Dog's Home, on SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER at 7:30pm at Freedom Bar in Soho. Hosted by award-winning composer/writer Bobby Cronin, INSPIRED UK featured British musical theatre writers performing songs that have inspired their work...The jam-packed event featured:

Bobby Cronin and NEXT UK bring the hit NYC Inspired Benefit Concert Series to London with INSPIRED UK: A Benefit Concert for Manchester Dog's Home, on SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER at 7:30pm at Freedom Bar in Soho.

With book and lyrics by Jake Brunger and music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary, this new musical of Sue Townsend's best seller will open on 17 March 2015, with previews from 7 March, and runs until 4 April. Tickets are on public sale on Thursday 10 July.

The Daily Mail reports that the Curve, Leicester, and Northampton's Royal & Derngate Theatre held a recent workshop production of Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary's musical adaptation of Sue Townsend's THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE, AGED 13 3/4.

From today, June 23 to June 29, 14 emerging professional songwriters will participate in The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project at Northwestern University -- an intensive weeklong program on the Evanston campus that has produced 2013 Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (nominated for 'A Christmas Story, The Musical'), Fred Ebb Award-winner Sam Willmot, and Latin Grammy Award-winners Obed Bermudez and Jennifer Pena.

From June 23 to June 29, 14 emerging professional songwriters will participate in The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project at Northwestern University -- an intensive weeklong program on the Evanston campus that has produced 2013 Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (nominated for 'A Christmas Story, The Musical'), Fred Ebb Award-winner Sam Willmot, and Latin Grammy Award-winners Obed Bermudez and Jennifer Pena.

Following two critically acclaimed shows earlier in the year, the Back to the Musicals series returns to The Pheasantry on Sundays 30th September 2012 and 11th November 2012, celebrating a selection of songs from a wealth of wonderful musicals from way back when.

Robert Gould reports on West End performer Kieran Brown's second 'Big Fat Musical Cabaret' at Southwark's Union Theatre on July 29.

Today, May 14, 2012 independent label SimG Records releases the Original Cast Recording of A Song Cycle For Soho, a project created for Mercury Musical Developments members to practice their song writing skills, followed by a showcase presented at Soho Theatre during Feb/March 2012.

On May 14, 2012 independent label SimG Records is set to release the Original Cast Recording of A Song Cycle For Soho, a project created for Mercury Musical Developments members to practice their song writing skills, followed by a showcase presented at Soho Theatre during Feb/March 2012.

On May 14th 2012 Independent label SimG Records is to release the Original Cast Recording of A SONG CYCLE FOR SOHO, a writing project created for Mercury Musical Development members to practise the craft of songwriting, and have a showcase presented at London's Soho Theatre.

We talk to Shona about her part in Sunday's showcase!

We talk to the actor about the future of musical theatre writing...

Robert Gould reports on the newly announced cast for SimG Productions Easter With The Composers on the Battersea Barge.