Lee Mead News

Big band sound transforms the Lincoln Theatre into a Duke Ellington jazz club as Arena Stage presents Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, choreographed by and starring Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Uptown... It's Hot!) with direction by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Guys and Dolls and Blue).

Arena Stage's record-breaking and critically acclaimed production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies will now continue its run at the historic Lincoln Theatre through June 27, 2010. The production, which is the highest grossing show in Arena Stage's 60 year history, was directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and choreographed by its star, the legendary Broadway veteran Maurice Hines.

Arena Stage announced today that at 9:00 a.m. EST, Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and starring and choreographed by Maurice Hines, officially became the best selling show in company history based upon gross sales.

Arena Stage has announced that its smash-hit production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies will extend its run at the historic Lincoln Theatre with six additional performances through June 6, 2010. The production, choreographed by and starring the legendary Maurice Hines and directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, has broken several long-standing sales records, and is on track to become the highest grossing show in Arena's history, replacing the 2002 production of South Pacific directed by Molly Smith.

Catch up with Rachel Tucker, who came fourth in the search for Nancy.

WICKED, recently voted London's 'Most Popular Show' (2010 Laurence Olivier Awards) and 'Best West End Show' (2010 Whatsonstage.com Awards), tonight (10 May 2010) welcomes LEE MEAD to the cast as ‘Fiyero'.

Wicked, London's hugely popular musical that tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, has announced that Lee Mead is to play Fiyero at the Apollo Victoria Theatre starting Monday, May 10th.

Join Maurice Hines and cast members of Arena Stage's Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies for the 18th Annual Arena Stage Benefit for Community Engagement: Swingin' with Sophisticated Ladies, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at the Lincoln Theatre.

Big band sound transforms the Lincoln Theatre into a Duke Ellington jazz club as Arena Stage presents Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, choreographed by and starring Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Uptown... It's Hot!) with direction by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Guys and Dolls and Blue).

Big band sound transforms the Lincoln Theatre into a Duke Ellington jazz club as Arena Stage presents Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, choreographed by and starring Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Uptown... It's Hot!) with direction by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Guys and Dolls and Blue).

Following his hugely popular and critically acclaimed revivals of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, A Woman of No Importance, The Importance of Being Earnest, and the legendary Peter Hall production of An Ideal Husband, Bill Kenwright presents Trevor Baxter's acclaimed adaptation of one of Wilde's most celebrated stories, Lord Arthur Savile's Crime.

Following his hugely popular and critically acclaimed revivals of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, A Woman of No Importance, The Importance of Being Earnest, and the legendary Peter Hall production of An Ideal Husband, Bill Kenwright presents Trevor Baxter's acclaimed adaptation of one of Wilde's most celebrated stories, Lord Arthur Savile's Crime.

Big band sound transforms the Lincoln Theatre into a Duke Ellington jazz club as Arena Stage presents Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, choreographed by and starring Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Uptown... It's Hot!) with direction by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Guys and Dolls and Blue).

Originally written more than forty years ago as a 30-minute pop cantata for performance in schools, Joseph was one of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's first collaborations. Fueled by early praise and a desire to expand the show, Rice and Webber modified the script, and Joseph was professionally staged as a full-scale musical in 1972. It achieved worldwide acclaim on professional stages and tours, and quickly became a regular fixture on amateur stages and in church performances. Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, Phillip Schofield, Gareth Gates and Lee Mead have all played the title role of Joseph in major productions.

Join Maurice Hines and cast members of Arena Stage's Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies for the 18th Annual Arena Stage Benefit for Community Engagement: Swingin' with Sophisticated Ladies, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at the Lincoln Theatre.

The 26th Helen Hayes Awards were presented at the historic Warner Theatre on Monday April 5.

The New York Times reports today that the producers of WICKED in the West End are cracking down on piracy, threatening an indefinite ban from the show for anyone who illegally records the musical live. This announcement comes on the heels of one fan had recorded the entire musical from their seat and posted it on YouTube.

This weekend, Over The Rainbow continues Andrew's search for a Dorothy to star in his upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz; and on Easter Monday 5th April, a BBC special gives you the chance to catch up on what happened to the contestants of Andrew's previous TV talent searches - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do? and I'd Do Anything.

Theatre artists and productions nominated for The 26th Annual Helen Hayes Awards were announced this evening at a press conference hosted by The National Theatre in its Helen Hayes Gallery. The complete list of nominees can be found below.

Julia Hogg braves the crowds to see what Rachel Tucker and Louise Dearman are like as witches...