Laurence Olivier News

David Ian, producer of the international award-winning musical CHICAGO is delighted to announce that one of Britain's most-loved soap stars, Jessie Wallace, will play Mama Morton in the musical's touring production.

David Ian, producer of the international award-winning musical CHICAGO is delighted to announce that one of Britain's most loved soap stars, Jessie Wallace, will play the role of 'Mama Morton' when the show plays Nottingham Royal Concert Hall (15 - 20 August), Belfast Grand Opera House (5 - 10 September), Liverpool Empire (12 - 17 September), Glasgow King's Theatre (19 - 24 September), Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre (26 September - 1 October), Bromley Churchill Theatre (10 - 15 October), Woking New Victoria Theatre (17 - 22 October), Canterbury Marlowe Theatre (24 - 29 October), Norwich Theatre Royal (31 October - 5 November) and Leeds Grand Theatre (22 - 26 November). www.chicagothemusical.com/uktour. Please see full listings below.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, announced today the initial slate of artists participating in NYMF 2016, taking place from July 11 through August 7 in Midtown Manhattan.

In Shakespeare's 400th anniversary year, Cheek by Jowl is delighted to announce that Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod will return to the French language with a new production of Shakespeare's Pericles opening in Paris and then going on to perform in Europe in 2018. This follows their acclaimed French language production of Ubu Roi which performed worldwide from 2013- 2015.

The Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) is delighted to announce the 32nd annual gala, 'Sondheim No. 5,' to be held today, June 18th, 2016 with two performances: 2:00 pm matinee and the evening at 8:00 pm, at the new beautiful Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210). David Galligan directs and serving as Musical Director for his first time is Michael Orland.

Set inside the sensationalized female murderess craze that swept 1920s Chicago, CHICAGO draws its audience into a world of crime and glitz against the vivid backdrop of the jazz age. A first time production for Pittsburgh CLO, CHICAGO is sure to be 'all that jazz' and more!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its July 2016 schedule, featuring Stacey Kent, The Birdland Big Band 10-Year Celebration, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Nicholas Payton Quintet, Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Tony Yazbeck, Lesli Margherita, Ravi Coltrane, Laila Biali, Barbara Carroll, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

LUNT AND FONTANNE: The Celestials Of Broadway will have its New York Premiere at The New York International Fringe Festival in August. The famous duo of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne are played by real life married actor-couple Mark E. Lang and Alison Murphy, who met fifteen years ago performing in Cape May, New Jersey. They have subsequently worked together numerous times on stage in New Jersey and elsewhere. The play was written by Mark E. Lang, inspired by a comment from a theater-goer who exclaimed, 'You two are becoming the Lunt & Fontanne of South Jersey.'

The Tiger Who Came to Tea roars into Chelsea this summer in the truly magical Olivier Award nominated West End production opening at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 6 August 2016 and running through to Sunday 4 September 2016. For tickets, call 020 7730 4500 or visit https://www.cadoganhall.com/

Shanghai Disney Resort celebrated the global premiere of the first Mandarin production of Disney's THE LION KING Tuesday night in a gala affair at the Walt Disney Grand Theatre. The premiere launched the Grand Opening festivities for the new resort, which officially opens on June 16. A red carpet entry to the new theatre welcomed celebrities, luminaries and Julie Taymor, the Tony Award®-winning director of THE LION KING.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea roars into Chelsea this summer in the truly magical Olivier Award nominated West End production opening at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 6 August 2016 and running through to Sunday 4 September 2016.

Renowned star of stage and screen Maureen Lipman makes a welcome return to panto this year as the Wicked Fairy in Richmond Theatre's spectacular seasonal offering SLEEPING BEAUTY! Joining her, after two hugely successful pantomimes at Richmond, will be CBeebies presenter Chris Jarvis, returning for a third year in a row due to overwhelming popular demand, in the role of Chester the Jester. Sleeping Beauty runs December 2-January 8, 2017, with press night on December 8.

Set inside the sensationalized female murderess craze that swept 1920s Chicago, CHICAGO draws its audience into a world of crime and glitz against the vivid backdrop of the jazz age. A first time production for Pittsburgh CLO, CHICAGO is sure to be 'all that jazz' and more!

Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG), which recently presented the first international production of 'The Bridges of Madison County' and the newly re-imagined production of 'Saturday Night Fever,' is set to premiere a brand new production of the Tony, Olivier, and Grammy Award-winning musical JERSEY BOYS, a biographical musical based on the story of the legendary American doo-wop group Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, on September 23 at Meralco Theatre in Pasig City.

Madison Lyric Stage, now in its fifth year of bringing professional theatrical experiences to the Shoreline, will present the musical Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on July 14, 15, 16 and 21, 22, 23 at the First Church of Christ Scientist, Guilford located at 49 Park Street on the historic Guilford Green.  All shows are at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $30 and can be reserved by visiting www.madisonlyricstage.com or calling 203-779-5258. Tickets are also available for purchase at R.J. Julia in Madison and The Marketplace at Guilford Food Center in Guilford.

Jamie Wilson is delighted to announce casting for the national tour of Curve's all new production of the hit musical comedy SISTER ACT, directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood and opening at Curve on Saturday 30 July 2016. Tour schedule below with further casting to be announced.

The highly-anticipated professional productions at the Kenneth More Theatre begin this September with Paul Ritchie Tomkinson's musical hit BOORSKALE. 

Teatro ZinZanni Seattle today announced the cast of headlining talent set to play in the romantic, original production, Hotel L'Amour. Starring the return of the Tony Award-winning living legend Liliane Montevecchi, Hotel L'Amour also features funny man Frank Ferrante, master illusionist Maestro Voronin, aerialist and choreographer to the stars Dreya Weber, and opera diva Kristin Clayton alongside international circus artists Svetlana, aerialist Rui Ling, and juggler Viktor Lee. When the staff at Hotel L'Amour catches wind of the Madame's return, they literally bend over backward to prepare - champagne flows and dreams never die as the Madame reflects on her life and tales of wonder with gorgeous French flare. Complete with a gourmet multi-course feast, wine pairings, and uniquely curated cocktails, guests will never want to check out of Hotel L'Amour! Hotel L'Amour opens June 16, 2016 and runs through September 25, 2016 at Teatro ZinZanni - tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online atZinZanni.com/Seattle, by calling the Box Office Tuesday-Sunday at (206) 802-0015, or by visiting the Box Office in person at 222 Mercer Street, Seattle.

Following sell-out performances in 2013, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's acclaimed production of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, adapted for the stage by Simon Reade, returns this year to close the 2016 Summer Season ahead of a major UK Tour in September. Opening at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, the tour will then visit Norwich, Cambridge, Salford, Leicester, Woking, Truro, Birmingham and Richmond, with further dates in 2017. There will be a press night at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley on Thursday 22 September at 7.30pm.

The Almeida will broadcast Artistic Director Rupert Goold's production of RICHARD III, with Ralph Fiennes as Shakespeare's most notorious villain and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret, live to cinemas in the UK and around the world on 21 July.