Laurence Olivier News

Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA' just welcomed some new cast members to Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End. Liam Tamne stars as 'Raoul', and making their West End debuts: John Ellis as 'Piangi' and Alicia Beck as 'Meg. 'THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA' continues to star Geronimo Rauch as 'The Phantom' and Harriet Jones as 'Christine'. Check out photos of the new cast in action below!

Silver Spring Stage presents Orson's Shadow by Austin Pendleton, directed and produced by Seth Ghitelman, which draws back the curtain on a fascinating and witty portrayal of theater titans jockeying for control while rehearsing a new play. Orson's Shadow, the area community theater premiere, will perform weekends January 9 to January 31, 2015.

Tony winner Edward Herrmann died today at age 71. The star had been battling brain cancer, and had been in the ICU according to TMZ, who broke the news.

The theatre community lost one of our own on Christmas Day. Actor David Ryall, best recognized in America as Elphias Doge in Harry Potter, has died at age 79, according to reports.

A one-night only benefit concert for Build Jake's Place, 'Flight Risk' is an evening with Krysten Cummings at the theater that started it all. From Jesus Christ Superstar to Rent, from Broadway to the West End, Krysten will be performing songs from the shows she's starred in, songs she's written, and songs she was never intended to sing.

York Little Theatre will present THE 39 STEPS, a hilarious comedy recreated from Alfred Hitchcock's spy thriller, in The Bon Ton Studio January 16-18 & 22-25.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, opening tonight, December 20, in the West End, stars Tamsin Greig, Haydn Gwynne, Jerome Pradon, Anna Skellern,Ricardo Afonso, Haydn Oakley, Willemijn Verkaik and Seline Hizli.

Tom Hiddleston turned to his official Facebook page to wish his fans happy holidays with a performance of 'Merry Christmas.' Click here to watch

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, beginning tonight, December 17, in the West End, stars Tamsin Greig, Haydn Gwynne, Jerome Pradon, Anna Skellern, Ricardo Afonso, Haydn Oakley, Willemijn Verkaik and Seline Hizli.

Our interviewee is the beloved British actor and Dickens authority Simon Callow. He has mastered the stage but also appeared in Dr. Who (fittingly as Charles Dickens). In his lengthy acting career, he has acted in television, theatre, and film. At the moment, he is the librettist and director for Houston Grand Opera's A CHRISTMAS CAROL and the best person to we can discuss this fresh, modern take on the beloved Christmas story with.

The Geffen Playhouse announces the cast for its West Coast premiere production of Conor McPherson's The Night Alive, helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney. This production will feature Paul Vincent O'Connor (August: Osage County at the National Theatre, London), Fiona O'Shaughnessy (Utopia), Dan Donohue (The Lion King on Broadway), Denis Arndt (Basic Instinct), and Peter O'Meara (Band of Brothers).

Main Street Theater begins 2015 with the Stephen Sondheim musical revue Putting It Together. The production will be at Ovations Night Club in Rice Village (next door to MST's village home) while the theater undergoes renovation.

Shakespeare Uncovered continues with a second season on PBS, beginning Friday, January 30 at 9 p.m. (check local listings) and continuing the following two successive Fridays.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announce dthe second production in its 20th Anniversary Season of Sondheim, the Chicago premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim, February 6 - March 15, 2015, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by James Lapine, direction by Nick Bowling with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Sheffield Theatres have announced that due to popular demand, an extra performance of SHREK THE MUSICAL. at the Lyceum Theatre on Sunday 7 June at 5.00pm has been added to the run. Tickets for the extra performance go on sale at 10.00am on Friday 12 December.

Everyone knows Scrooge and Mr. Potter, but can the holiday spirit work its magic on everyone's favorite man of mystery? Back for a fourth year, Raven Theatre's Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose follows Holmes and Watson as they investigate the mysterious theft and even more mysterious discovery of the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle, today, December 10-January 4.

The play's afoot! Sherlock Holmes battles one of his greatest mysteries to date at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, a world-premiere adaptation from Tony Award-winning playwright Ludwig (Broadway's Lend Me a Tenor). Adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved The Hound of the Baskervilles, this fast-paced comedic tale of murder, intrigue and a wild hound is directed by Amanda Dehnert (Arena Stage's The Fantasticks) as part of Arena Stage's 65th anniversary season. A co-production with McCarter Theatre Center, Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery runs January 16-February 22, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater.

Disney's THE LION KING set a record for the highest-grossing week in Milwaukee theatrical history with a gross of $1,687,572.60 at The Milwaukee Theatre for the week ending November 30, 2014. This breaks the previous record of $1.6 million set by THE LION KING during its premiere engagement for the week ending March 2, 2008. This four-week return, which concluded on Sunday, December 7, entertained more than 94,000 patrons during 32 performances and generated over $6 million at the box office during the entire run. Group Sales contributed $1,288,500 of the $6 million generated and surpassed the amount generated by groups during the last engagement of THE LION KING.

Coming direct from London, where it was seen live on stage by nearly a million people, the UK and Ireland tour of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane production of SHREK THE MUSICAL is directed by Nigel Harman who starred as Lord Farquaad in the west end production, winning him the 2012 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical.

Socrates in the City presented a very special onstage interview with legendary TV personality, Dick Cavett, December 3rd at W83 Space in Manhattan. The interview, conducted by bestselling author and founder of Socrates in the City, Eric Metaxas, focused on Cavett's new book Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments and Assorted Hijinks.