If there is one sure sign that Christmas has truly arrived, it's the inescapable onslaught of the pantomime season. Theatres across the country ring to the shouts of 'he's behind you', the boos and hisses, and the singalong family favourites. Often acclaimed as the UK's biggest pantomime, Birmingham Hippodrome present a first class production every single year, and 2016 is no exception. The magical pantomime adventure Dick Whittington stars John Barrowman as the eponymous hero, alongside Steve McFadden (King Rat), Jodie Prenger (Fairy Bowbells) and The Krankies.
To celebrate the opening of Dick Whittington in Birmingham, principal cast members JOHN BARROWMAN, STEVE MCFADDEN, THE KRANKIES, JODIE PRENGER, MATT SLACK, ANDREW RYAN and DANIELLE HOPE took to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage for a fairy-tale appearance earlier this afternoon in countdown to the opening performance at 2.30pm on Monday 19 December. Scroll down for photos!
John Barrowman hosts an evening of Disney's Broadway hits from the Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart, broadcasting on BBC Radio 2 this Friday 16 December from 8 to 10 p.m.
Jest End has returned to London's Waterloo East Theatre one year on from its most recent run at the venue. Lovingly pointing the finger at the West End's latest shows, best-loved stars and recent hot topics, Jest End is London's answer to off-Broadway sensation Forbidden Broadway.
The annual spectacular pantomime at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh has built a reputation for being one of the best in the country, and this year's production of Jack and the Beanstalk does not disappoint. From start to finish, it is a feast of laughter, music, colour and fun, and is sure to delight young and old alike.
With panto season just around the corner, Birmingham Hippodrome has today announced details of a new fundraising campaign which aims to raise over £12,000 to help support its growing programme of Relaxed Performances for audiences with special access needs and complex learning disabilities in 2017.
With less than one month to go until the opening of Birmingham's favourite pantomime, Qdos Entertainment and Birmingham Hippodrome are delighted to announce that West End actress and singer DANIELLE HOPE will join JOHN BARROWMAN, STEVE MCFADDEN, THE KRANKIES, JODIE PRENGER and MATT SLACK in this year's magical, festive production of Dick Whittington from Mon 19 Dec 2016 - Sun 29 Jan 2017.
The producers of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the stage adaptation of the beloved classic film, have announced today that Lorna Luft will reprise her role as Martha Watson in the upcoming National Tour. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
Beginning this month, a host of stars from the world of entertainment will light up the stages in twenty four towns and cities around the UK for this year's Qdos Entertainment pantomime season. From Aberdeen to Plymouth, over 60 well-known actors, comedians and entertainers will lead the casts of the nation's favourite pantomimes in theatres across the country including, for the first time in nearly three decades, a return to the capital's London Palladium.
After you've had enough turkey and family drama this Thanksgiving, why not join us for an evening of comedy, music and sequins!
Liberace lived a life of flamboyance, sparkle, and lavish costumes. In this funny and touching tribute, the virtuoso musician gets one last chance to glitter and shine as he tickles the ivories through his favorite songs. Miss Peggy Lee is beyond description.
To celebrate Glenn Close's return in SUNSET BOULEVARD, BroadwayWorld has rounded up a salute to the iconic musical with some of our favorite performances of the iconic music. Check it out!
DISNEY'S BROADWAY HITS, a concert celebrating two decades of Disney Theatrical's stage musicals on Broadway, the West End and around the world, premiered last night at London's Royal Albert Hall. Featuring an appearance by Tony and eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken - who received an immediate and sustained standing ovation - and the 74 piece BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Keith Lockhart, the evening ended with a surprise appearance by the West End cast of Aladdin in a performance of the show-stopping 'Friend Like Me.'
Celebrating over 20 years of successful Disney shows on Broadway, the West End and around the World, including smash hits such as Mary Poppins, The Lion King and Aladdin, as well as shorter-running productions, King David, Tarzan and Aida, an all-star cast brought the magic of the movies to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall last night, in the European premiere of Disney's Broadway Hits.
Actor Alistair Brammer played the lead role of Chris in the acclaimed West End revival of Miss Saigon. During his run, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala performance recently broadcast in the US, and appearing in UK cinemas for one night only on 16 October.
Make no mistake about it, to know Lauri Gregoire is to love her - just ask the legions of people lucky enough to know her throughout her life, particularly those who have come to know her in the 20-plus years she's lived in Nashville. She's beautiful, to be certain, but perhaps more to the point, she is bright, clever, intelligent, empathetic, kind and committed to her family and friends, her career and business and to living the kind of life that has created a legacy of creativity and art in her adopted hometown.
Further empowering their ethos of preserving 'lost' British theatre, Stage Door Records are releasing their latest cast album, Maddie, with a 20th Anniversary Deluxe edition bumper pack of a CD. Originally developed at Oxford University in 1990 during a Stephen Sondheim masterclass, emerging and ambitious producer Kenny Wax opened the show at Salisbury Playhouse in 1996 following a series of workshops. The production then went on to open in the West End the next year following superb reactions from the critics. The two-disc album includes the original recording, alongside a collection of studio demos which include cut songs and alternate versions, and three bonus tracks recorded this year.
Soap star royalty arrived in Birmingham this week as Britain's favourite soap baddie, Steve McFadden paid an exclusive visit to the city's premiere theatre in countdown to the arrival of Birmingham's biggest panto!
John Barrowman has been confirmed as the performing emcee for the European premiere of Disney's Broadway Hits at the Royal Albert Hall next month, as a small number of extra tickets are released for this hugely popular show.
Following last year's record-breaking production of Aladdin attended by nearly 120,000 people, Birmingham Hippodrome is thrilled to play host to another unmissable pantomime production of the rags-to-riches tale, Dick Whittington, this Christmas season. Scroll down to meet the cast!
Stage Door Records are pleased to announce a 2 CD Deluxe Edition issue of the 'Maddie' Original London Cast Recording will be released on October 14th, 2016. The album features 5 previously unreleased 1991 recordings by John Barrowman alongside a host of top West End performers. The CD release celebrates the 20th Anniversary of 'Maddie' and continues Stage Door's commitment to preserve 'lost' British theatre scores of the past 50 years.
