Michael Harris News

Rehearsals started today for the new British musical MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, starring TRACIE BENNETT (taking over from Janie Dee who has had to withdraw for personal reasons), which concludes the Theatre Royal Bath summer season, Saturday 15th August - Saturday 5th September, prior to a West End run.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, plans have been underway for the BBC to film the London production of Gypsy this month, and now the news is official. According to the theatre's official Facebook page, equipment is in place to record the show for a later broadcast . 

Four boys have successfully landed parts in Wolverhampton Grand Theatre's pantomime PETER PAN. The roles of Wendy's brothers, Michael and John, will be played by local boys who join a full professional cast for the festive season.

Jonathan Kent's five-star production of Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton as Rose will have its final performance on 28 November 2015 as previously announced.   Having smashed the all time box office record at the Savoy Theatre and subsequently recouped, Kent's production originally opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre in October last year.  Following a second set of five-star reviews, producers Michael Harrison and David Ian announced an extension to the West End run in April.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan's orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie's search.

The nominations for the UK Theatre Awards 2015 have now been announced. The Awards will be presented on Sunday 18 October, and details of the compere for the event and other special guests will be announced in due course.

According to an email sent to a ticket buyer and alerted to BroadwayWorld.com, plans are underway for the BBC to film the London production during the first week of October for potential broadcast and release. At this time no official announcement of either has been made, and the Savoy Theatre's Twitter account has long denied filming being planned, but stay tuned to BroadwayWorld.com for the latest.

On Thursday 3 September, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre officially launched their swashbuckling pantomime, PETER PAN. Produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world's biggest pantomime producer, this year's Christmas show will star The Chuckle Brothers as Paul & Barry Smee, John Altman as Captain Hook, and also flying in for the launch was Ross Carpenter in the role of Peter Pan.

 West Coast Jewish Theatre has announced the second production of its 2015-16 season, the internationally acclaimed comedy Romance.com by Hindi Brooks. Directed by WCJT Artistic Director Howard Teichman, there will be two preview performances on October 8 and 9 with opening set for Saturday, October 10 at 8pm at the Pico Playhouse in West Los Angeles. The engagement will run through November 15.

Otherworld Theatre Company is proud to present Paragon - a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Theatre Short Play Festival.

Michael Harrison and David Ian's brand new production of the musical ANNIE is touring the UK and stars Craig Revel Horwood and Lesley Joseph as 'Miss Hannigan'. The tour launched earlier this summer at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle. Tour schedule with full details of 'Miss Hannigan' casting below.www.anniethemusicaltour.uk. Check out photos of the cast in action below!

Otherworld Theatre Company is proud to present Paragon - a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Theatre Short Play Festival.

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that Elaine C Smith will play the role of 'Miss Hannigan' in their brand new production of the musical "ANNIE" when the show plays the Edinburgh Playhouse (16 - 21 May). Listings detailed below. www.anniethemusicaltour.uk

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that Elaine C Smith will play the role of 'Miss Hannigan' in their brand new production of the musical 'ANNIE' when the show plays the King's Theatre Glasgow (8 - 20 February 2016), His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen (9 - 14 May 2016) and Edinburgh Playhouse (16 - 21 May). Listings detailed below. www.anniethemusicaltour.uk

The official opening night of Cameron Mackintosh and Michael Harrison's production of the musical Barnum at Birmingham Hippodrome was made even more special as one of the show's producers, Michael Harrison, paid tribute to its star BRIAN CONLEY who this month celebrates an outstanding 600th performance at the UK's most visited theatre.

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce further dates and full casting for the brand new production of the musical "ANNIE" starring Craig Revel Horwood and Lesley Joseph as 'Miss Hannigan'."ANNIE" will open on Saturday 11 July 2015 at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle. Tour schedule with full details of 'Miss Hannigan' casting below. www.anniethemusicaltour.uk

DEAD Simple, the second stage adaptation of a Peter James novel, comes to The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, next month (July).

Following last year's record-breaking production of Jack and the Beanstalk, Birmingham Hippodrome has announced another all-star cast for this year's action-packed pantomime Aladdin, which runs from Saturday 19 December 2015 until Sunday 31 January 2016.

The One-Minute Play Festival (Dominic D'Andrea, Producing Artistic Director & Caitlin Wees, Associate Producer) and Actor's Express (Freddie Ashley, Artistic Director & Alex Scollon, Managing Director) have created a dynamic partnership for The 4th Atlanta One-minute Play Festival with part of the proceeds to benefit artist residency and educational programing.

Michael Harrison, David Ian and Nederlander Presentations, Inc. are delighted to announce the North American tour of the hit musical THE BODYGUARD. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the tour will launch in the fall of 2016.Michael Harrison, David Ian and Nederlander Presentations, Inc. have announced the North American tour of the hit musical THE BODYGUARD. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the tour will launch in the fall of 2016.