Michael Harrison News

Today, Curve Artistic Director, Nikolai Foster, announces the cast for his production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated actress Cathy Tyson will star as the iconic Lady Bracknell in Foster's stylish reimagining of Wilde's much-loved comedy. Cathy is best known for her role in the multi-award winning film Mona Lisa, classic ITV drama series Band of Gold and her stage work with the RSC and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.

Hot on the heels of a record-breaking, critically acclaimed West End run, this new production of FUNNY GIRL embarks on a major national tour in 2017. The five-star production opens at Manchester Palace, where it runs for a week from 20 February, before touring to venues including Milton Keynes Theatre, Liverpool Empire, Bristol Hippodrome, Stoke Regent Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen, Edinburgh Playhouse, New Victoria Theatre Woking, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury, Birmingham Hippodrome, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Mayflower Theatre Southampton, King's Theatre Glasgow, Nottingham Theatre Royal and Southend Cliffs Pavilion. Further tour dates and casting yet to be announced.

Following their success at the Tony Awards last night, where they won Best Musical Revival for The Color Purple and Cynthia Erivo won Best Actress in a Musical, the Menier Chocolate Factory announces that rehearsals start today in New York for innovative and ground breaking theatre company Fiasco's enchanting reinvention of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's masterpiece Into The Woods. Both Sondheim and Lapine will join the company in rehearsal this week. The production opens on 12 July at the Menier, with previews from 1 July, and runs until 17 September.

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) today announced the date, creative team, host and venue for the 37th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the awards show and party that celebrates extraordinary Toronto talent in the performing arts. Dora Awards Producer Jacoba Knaapen announced that the much-anticipated event will take place on Monday, June 27 and that it will, for the third time in a row, be held under the stars at Harbourfront Centre. Tickets go on sale May 31.

On Saturday 14 May, Birmingham Hippodrome held its sixth successful Gala Dinner on its famous stage for nearly 300 guests.  Over £50,000 was raised for the theatre's award-winning Hippodrome CREATIVE programme of learning, access and free community performance.  

Initial casting is announced today (26 May 2016) for Qdos Entertainment's London Palladium production of Cinderella.  The 32 strong cast will be led byPaul O'Grady as The Wicked Stepmother, Julian Clary as Dandini, Lee Mead as Prince Charming, Paul Zerdin as Buttons, Nigel Havers as Lord Chamberlain and Count Arthur Strong as Baron Hardup.  The roles of Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother and the Ugly Sisters will be announced soon. 

Following great critical success in New York, innovative and ground breaking theatre company Fiasco bring their enchanting reinvention of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's masterpiece Into The Woods to the Chocolate Factory this Summer. The production opens on 12 July, with previews from 1 July, and runs until 17 September.

The One-Minute Play Festival and Actor's Express present the 5th Atlanta One-Minute Play Festival on Sunday, June 12 and Monday June 13 at 8 PM at Actor's Express. The Festival is produced and curated by Dominic D'Andrea.

Michael Harrison, David Ian and Nederlander Presentations, Inc. have announced the 2016-17 U.S. National Tour route of the hit musical THE BODYGUARD. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the tour will commence at Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, NJ on November 25, 2016, prior to the official tour opening at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN on January 10, 2017.

On June 9, National Sawdust, 80 N. Sixth Street, Brooklyn, will present 'Kaze (The Wind) / Harmonic Constellations,' an evening of two premieres starring Mari Kimura, the renowned violinist/composer who is best known for her use of subharmonics and interactive motion sensor technologies. The evening will offer debut performances of 'Kaze (The Wind),' an audio/visual chamber piece composed by Kimura, and 'Harmonic Constellations,' an entrancing work of microtonal harmonies composed for her by Michael Harrison. It will also unveil µgic, a new digital music controller, and launch two CDs.

Qdos Entertainment, the world's biggest pantomime producer, today announces that for the first time in nearly three decades they are bringing pantomime 'home' to the magnificent London Palladium in the very heart of Theatreland. A magical production of the classic rags-to-riches tale Cinderella will be transformed into a breath-taking family extravaganza with glittering sets made especially for this iconic West End stage. The production will run from Friday 9 December 2016 until Sunday 15 January 2017.

The West End revival of Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton, which just took home four Olivier Awards on Sunday night, is still eying a Broadway run. According to the Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson for producers Michael Harrison and David Ian revealed that talks for a Broadway transfer are underway.

The line-up for Wolverhampton Grand Theatre's pantomime ALADDIN just got bigger with the announcement of the addition of Ben Faulks to the cast.  

?Wolverhampton Grand Theatre today announce that X Factor winner Joe McElderry will star in the title role of this year's magical pantomime adventure - ALADDIN.

Birmingham Hippodrome's smash-hit pantomime Aladdin closes on 31 January following a spectacular six week run of 74 performances. With over 118,000 admissions, Aladdin becomes the theatre's best-selling pantomime in 14 years.

Norma Heyman, John Reid, Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Michael Harrison are delighted to announce full casting for the hit new British musical MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, opening at the Noel Coward Theatre onTuesday 9 February 2016, for a strictly limited season, with a press night on Tuesday 16 February 2016.

More good news, Baz Bamingboye reports in the UK Daily Mail that Broadway could indeed be next, writing 'We are actively pursuing and trying to work out the right way to go to New York with Imelda in Gypsy,' said Michael Harrison, who produced the show with David Ian. The Jonathan Kent production recouped its costs and made a profit for investors which (as we know) doesn't happen with every musical production.' He also notes '

Der Produzent der BB Group Ralf Kokemuller, Original Producer Michael Harrison und Associate Director Frank Thompson haben vergangene Woche im Hyatt Regency Hotel Koln die deutsche Inszenierung der Londoner Originalproduktion von BODYGUARD - DAS MUSICAL prasentiert. Eines der Highlights der Veranstaltung war die Vorstellung der beiden Hauptdarsteller Patricia Meeden und Jurgen Fischer. Mit der Deutschland-Premiere von BODYGUARD - DAS MUSICAL am 21. November 2015 kehrt die Domstadt nach funf Jahren zuruck auf die Landkarte der Musical-Metropolen.