Michael Crawford News

Variety has reported that Disney/Pixar's robot love story 'Wall-E' was named best picture of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. yesterday Tuesday December 9th, marking the first time in the org's 33-year history that an animated film has taken the top prize.

To mark 40 years since her West End debut Elaine Paige, the UK's ?First Lady of Musical Theatre', will embark on a concert tour of the UK in February and March 2009. She will perform some of her best known and most loved musical memories alongside an orchestra visiting 14 cities along the way.

A bright ray of light burst on the Great White Way this past week and gave us a wee bit of hope in this bleakest of seasons, no it wasn't a brand new Broadway bound hit, well not in the strictest sense, it was a young boy from New Orleans who dared to make his musical theatre dreams come true.

The UK's Daily Mail Newspaper is reporting that Michael Ball is in very early talks to star in the upcoming West End Revival of Barnum. Rob Ashford is said to be directing and choreographing the show as well. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, the show is slated for 2010.

Happy Holidays Everyone! Well ... here it is ... our BIGGEST CD coverage EVER and just in time for some last minute 'stocking-stuffer' inspiration ... even though a few of these are better used as coal, if you know what I mean.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel is reporting that country superstar Reba McEntire may be back on Broadway next year, starring in a revival of 'Anything Goes' for the Roundabout.

With today being Halloween, we thought it was a perfect time to re-run one of our most popular interviews EVER, a very special chat with the original 'man behind the mask' of the Phantom of the Opera, Michael Crawford.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces final casting for the special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009.

Philip Fortenberry, a solo pianist, improvisational composer and cast member of 'Jersey Boys,' has debuted his new intimate acoustic cabaret-style piano performance, 'Liberace and Me,' for a limited engagement at the Liberace.

The photographs of celebrated theatre photographer Reg Wilson are to be exhibited at the Playhouse Theatre by the Victoria & Albert Museum Theatre Collection as part of the Society of London Theatre's centenary celebrations.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004. The official Opening Night will be Saturday, December 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004.

The smash hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA' at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, which recently played its 9000th performance will celebrate its 22nd birthday tonight, Thursday 9 October.

Polydor Records celebrates the 60th birthday of Andrew Lloyd Webber, indisputably the most successful composer of our time, with the release of '60'. This amazing 3 CD, 60 track set spans the whole of Andrew's illustrious career and includes hits from all of his most famous musicals - Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Starlight Express, Evita, Sunset Boulevard and of course The Phantom Of The Opera.

Tony-winner Michael Crawford's official web site is listing much news about the star including the upcoming November 11 release of The Fantastic World of Michael Crawford on DVD and a reported one-man show in the works.The stars most recent concerts have included the addition of new songs, video material and biographical bits as of late as the first tastes of what's said to be a brand-new show.

From October 23rd through November 16th, just in time for election season, America's beloved cowboy humorist is brought to vivid life in WILL ROGERS' AMERICA, a 90-minute one-man-show of homespun wit, the working man's voice and small-town common sense-complete with vintage film clips and live rope tricks! Adapted and performed by veteran actor Rich Hoag, this production will be directed by Hoag's long-time friend and Rubicon Artistic Director James O'Neil.

London Calling with Champaign Charlie September 12th 2008.

There will be major cast changes from Monday 8 September in the smash hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA' at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, which recently played its 9000th performance and which will celebrate its 22nd birthday on Thursday 9 October.

According to the Times Online Sir Cameron Mackintosh wants to revive BARNUM on the West End, and his choice for the part originated by Michael Crawford? Hugh Jackman.

The Cherwell, Oxford University's student newspaper reports that renowned UK singer and performer John Barrowman is mulling the choices to star as either P.T. Barnum in a late-2009 West End revival of the musical Barnum or join the upcoming 'Phantom 2', Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to his mega hit, The Phantom of the Opera.