Matthew McKenna News

Matthew McKenna is unmasked today as the star and handsome hero of Bananaman the Musical.

Glenn Close (Norma Desmond),Michael Xavier (Joe Gillis), Siobhan Dillon (Betty Shaefer) and Fred Johanson (Max Von Mayerling) were joined by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Christopher Hampton and Dan Black on stage following the opening night performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard (4 April 2016).  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!

Still not over Sara Bareilles coming to the rescue during a Waitress technical glitch? Didn't have time to check in on your favorite Broadway stars? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.' Highlights from this week include THE CRUCIBLE opening on Broadway, 1776 comes to Encores!, Alfie Boe takes his opening night bow in FINDING NEVERLAND and SO much more!

Just in! Glenn Close (Norma Desmond), Michael Xavier (Joe Gillis), Siobhan Dillon (Betty Shaefer) and Fred Johanson (Max Von Mayerling) star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard with Anna Woodside as Hedda Hopper, Emily Bull as Hedy Lamarr, Julian Forsyth as Cecil B DeMille, Mark Goldthorp as Sheldrake, Fenton Gray as Manfred, Haydn Oakley as Artie Green and James Patersonas Jonesy. Further company members include Carly Anderson, Michelle Bishop, Jacob Chapman, Nadeem Crowe, Cornelia Farnsworth, Ria Jones, Katie Kerr, Aaron Lee Lambert, Matthew McKenna, Jo Morris, Tanya Robb, Ashley Robinson, Vicki Lee Taylor, Gary Tushaw, Adam Vaughan and Stuart Winter.  BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

Rehearsals began just last month for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard at the English National Opera. Since then, star Glenn Close stopped by Graham Norton to chat about the production and revealed her hopes that it will lead into something more. She said, 'I'm hoping very much that this will lead directly to making a movie... this like a revving up. It's a very elaborate rehearsal.' Check out the full interview below!

Today (22 February 2016) rehearsals for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard begin at the English National Opera Rehearsal Studios as the full cast is announced. Check out a sneak peek at the cast preparing for rehearsals below!

Adam Spiegel Productions, Robert G. Bartner and the Ambassador Theatre Group present the UK and Ireland tour of 'LOVE ME TENDER' - the new musical inspired by and featuring the music of Elvis Presley (a revised version of Broadway's ALL SHOOK UP). Starring in the production are Mica Paris as 'Sylvia', Sian Reeves as 'Mayor Matilda Hyde' and Shaun Williamson as 'Jim' with Ben Lewis as 'Chad'. The rest of the company includes: Mark Andersonas 'Dennis'; Aretha Ayehas 'Lorraine'; Chris Howell as 'Sheriff Earl'; Felix Mosse as 'Dean'; Laura Tebbutt as 'Natalie'; Kate Tydman as 'Miss Sandra'; Sophie Ayres; Jamie Hughes-Ward; Will Jeffs;Jacob Maynard; Matthew McKenna; Elliot Powell;Stephanie Rojas; Ruthie Stephens; Paulo Teixeira;Lindsey Tierney; Sharon Wattis and T'Shan Williams.

Adam Spiegel Productions, Robert G. Bartner and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce the full cast for the UK and Ireland tour of "LOVE ME TENDER" - the new musical inspired by and featuring the music of Elvis Presley. 

Adam Spiegel Productions, Robert G. Bartner and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce the full cast for the UK and Ireland tour of "LOVE ME TENDER" - the new musical inspired by and featuring the music of Elvis Presley.

Stage Acts Entertainment's smash hit tribute to one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time, An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show has today announced new casting and summer tour dates. Now in its 4th smash-hit year, the show is a fully choreographed highly interactive celebration of the music from the iconic movie.

Stage Acts Entertainment's smash hit tribute to one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time, An Evening of Dirty Dancing: The Tribute Show has today announced new casting and summer tour dates. Now in its 4th smash-hit year, the show is a fully choreographed highly interactive celebration of the music from the iconic movie.

'Rocky Horror Show' is currently playing the national theatre in Hamburg. The musical runs till 21 August 2011. Check out photos from the production below!

The Rose Theatre's first ever musical, co-produced by Broadway producer, Bud Martin, has now been fully cast for its Christmas run at the Rose from 27 November 2010 - 2 January 2011.

The original London live cast recording of Legally Blonde The Musical starring Sheridan Smith, Duncan James, Jill Halfpenny, Peter Davison and Alex Gaumond and coordinated for First Night Records by John Craig, will be released on 16 August 2010. Recorded at the Savoy Theatre and featuring music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, the Legally Blonde cast album features eighteen numbers from the show including Omigod You Guys, Serious, Whipped Into Shape, Bend and Snap and So Much Better. The cast of Legally Blonde The Musical will be signing the new cast recording at Dress Circle (57-59 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9DG) on Saturday 21 August at 12noon.

As previously reported and confirmed today by Whatsonstage.com, West End's 'Elle Woods' and 'Paulette,' Sheridan Smith and Jill Halfpenny, respectively, will be departing LEGALLY BLONDE on October 23, 2010. It has been rumored that Jennifer Ellison was in talks to take over the role of Elle, in addition to Broadway's original Elle Woods, Laura Bell Bundy.

The original London live cast recording of Legally Blonde The Musical starring Sheridan Smith, Duncan James, Jill Halfpenny, Peter Davison and Alex Gaumond and coordinated for First Night Records by John Craig, will be released on 16 August 2010.

The original London live cast recording of Legally Blonde The Musical starring Sheridan Smith, Duncan James, Jill Halfpenny, Peter Davison and Alex Gaumond and coordinated for First Night Records by John Craig, will be released on 16 August 2010. Recorded at the Savoy Theatre and featuring music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, the Legally Blonde cast album features eighteen numbers from the show including Omigod You Guys, Serious, Whipped Into Shape, Bend and Snap and So Much Better. The cast of Legally Blonde The Musical will be signing the new cast recording at Dress Circle (57-59 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9DG) on Saturday 21 August at 12noon.

Actress Sheridan Smith will depart the West End's LEGALLY BLONDE on October 23, whatsonstage.com reports. Smith, who plays Elle Woods, made the announcement via her twitter account. As previously reported on BroadwayWorld, Jennifer Ellison is being considered to replaced Smith; however, no official announcement has been made.

Actress Jennifer Ellison is in 'talks and talks' to take on the role of Elle Woods in the West End production of LEGALLY BLONDE, The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports. Ellison would replace Sheridan Smith, who is currently playing the role and is to leave in September or October.

Richard Fleeshman will join the cast of the critically acclaimed Legally Blonde The Musical from 16 June to play Warner Huntington III opposite Sheridan Smith as Elle Woods, Jill Halfpenny as Paulette, Peter Davison as Professor Callahan and Alex Gaumond as Emmett. Fleeshman takes over the role of Warner Huntington III from Duncan James whose final performance will be 14 June 2010. Legally Blonde The Musical, which opened at the Savoy Theatre earlier this year, is currently booking until 20 February 2011.