John Wilson News

The Lyric Hammersmith will welcome Joe Stilgoe and his big band who take up residency at the Lyric for three nights of seasonal mayhem, mischief and romance on Monday 5, 12 and 19 of December 2016. Tickets go on sale today at 10am.

The Ogunquit Playhouse will present the New England premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, on stage from tonight, July 13, to August 6, making The Playhouse one of the first regional theaters in the U.S. to stage this new musical.

 The New Colony is pleased to continue its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the fantastical family drama KIN FOLK, by William Glick, directed by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, playing July 8 - August 14, 2016 at its resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets for KIN FOLK are currently available at www.thenewcolony.org. The press opening is Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 pm.

The musical - or pantomime? - of the year has arrived at the Prince Edward Theatre. We check it out!

The Ogunquit Playhouse will present the New England premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, on stage from July 13 to August 6, making the Playhouse one of the first regional theaters in the U.S. to stage this new musical.

The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company's runaway hit BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI, winner of three 2016 Jeff Awards including Best New Work, returns this summer featuring the full original cast from July 22 - August 21, 2016 as part of Steppenwolf's Visiting Company Initiative at their new 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. The searing new American drama by The New Colony Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, directed by Definition Theatre's Founding Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips, enjoyed two sold-out extensions during its world premiere last winter at The Den Theatre. Tickets for BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI are available at www.steppenwolf.org or by calling (312) 335-1650. The press performance is Monday, July 25 at 8 pm.  

Arion Productions has announced West End leading lady, Anna Jane Casey, as the latest artist to join the line-up of extraordinary performers and industry professionals providing expert 'one day only' training in much-sought-after specialist fields.  These masterclasses take place at Diorama Arts Studios on various Sunday afternoons throughout 2016.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Al(exandra) Silber's Casual Monday, The Broadway Princess Party feat. Laura Osnes, Barbara Cook, Lorna Luft Celebrates Pride Week, and Anything But Love the Musical in Concert.

Disney's new West End musical Aladdin opened last night, June 15, and tickets for the spectacular production are now on sale for performances up to and including February 11, 2017. Go inside opening night below!

Ehrenkranz Artistic Director Jane Moss today announced the schedule for Lincoln Center's seventh White Light Festival, running from October 16 through November 16, 2016. The international multidisciplinary festival, which takes its name from a quotation by the Estonian composer Arvo Part, is an annual exploration of the power of art to illuminate our interior and communal lives. 'I could compare my music to white light which contains all colors. Only a prism can divide the colors and make them appear; this prism could be the spirit of the listener.' - Arvo Part

Last night, Wednesday 15 June, saw the Opening Night of Disney's new West End musical Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre, London. Footage is also available to download featuring the cast's curtain call bows, celebrity arrivals on the carpet and interviews with the Aladdin cast and creative team including Dean John Wilson (Aladdin), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Genie) and Jade Ewen (Jasmine), composer Alan Menken and director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw at the post-show party at the National Gallery.

Aladdin will have its official opening night at the Prince Edward Theatre tonight, June 15. Disney's new West End musical began preview performances on Friday 27 May and tickets for the spectacular production are now on sale for performances up to and including 11 February 2017. For further details please visit www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk

Production images for ALADDIN have been released today ahead of its official opening night at the Prince Edward Theatre on Wednesday 15 June. Disney's new West End musical began preview performances on Friday 27 May and tickets for the spectacular production are now on sale for performances up to and including 11 February 2017. For further details please visit www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk 

The New Colony will continue its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the fantastical family drama KIN FOLK, by William Glick, directed by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, playing July 8 - August 14, 2016 at its resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets for KIN FOLK are currently available at www.thenewcolony.org. The press opening is Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 pm.

"The Hairy Ape"- Eugene O'Neill's expressionist play presented in a stark, brutal and imaginative setting; "Byhalia, Mississippi"- a new work of southern love and forgiveness, and "Rent"- the musical update of "La Boheme" performed in a small storefront theatre, took home the most honors on Monday, June 6, at Park West during the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre. 

Charismatic British conductor John Wilson will join the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for an exciting journey through the golden age of Hollywood when he takes the podium for a program of cinematic highlights from classic films such as Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur, Psycho and Casablanca.

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From Shakespeare and Rattigan to new musicals and an Edward Snowden play, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews...

With 315 hours of rehearsals now complete; 68 tonnes of scenery hung at the Prince Edward Theatre; and 337 custom-designed, hand-made costumes created from over 1,225 varieties of fabric, adorned with millions of Swarovski crystals, Disney's new musical Aladdin will begin previews in the West End tonight.

Ahead of its West End premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre, rehearsal images for ALADDIN have been released today. The new Disney musical previews from May 27, opening on June 15, and is booking till October 1. Dean John-Wilson stars as Aladdin, alongside Jade Ewen as Jasmine, Broadway cast member Trevor Dion Nicholas as Genie, Don Gallagher as Jafar, Peter Howe as Iago, Irvine Iqbal as the Sultan, Nathan Amzi as Babkak, Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Kassim and Rachid Sabitri as Omar.

Disney Theatrical Productions' West End premiere of ALADDIN, based on the classic Academy Award-winning animated film, opens at the Prince Edward Theatre on Wednesday 15 June 2016, with previews from Friday 27 May. In anticipation of its first performance, the production has unveiled a new timelapse video showing the building of the set - check it out below!