Michael Xavier News

UK editor in chief Carrie Dunn follows the Oliviers Party in the Piazza, red carpet and the ceremony, and gives her opinions on the runners and riders...

If you haven't had the chance to catch up on your theater news, look no further than today's recap of all things theater - exclusive features, interviews, reviews and more! - around the Broadway World for the week of April 22!

Michael Xavier, twice an Olivier nominee himself, will be well and truly outside the ceremony this year. He'll be presenting alongside Claudia Winkleman on the stage in Covent Garden Piazza in what's becoming an annual free event for theatre fans, where people can watch a live stream of what's going on inside the Royal Opera House as well as enjoy live performances from Audience Award contenders Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot and Matilda.

Click below to watch a medley featuring 'I Dreamed a Dream', 'Bring Him Home' and 'One Day More' from LES MISERABLES, performed at the Laurence Olivier Awards in December 1985!

Dancer, choreographer and director Gillian Lynne will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at this month's Oliviers. In recognition of her work, we've got access to archive clips that show her in action throughout her career.

Two of musical theatre's biggest worldwide stars Matthew Morrison and Idina Menzel will be giving special solo performances at the 2013 Oliviers, while Michael Xavier will be co-presenting from the BBC Radio 2 Stage in the Covent Garden Piazza.

Casts of Cabaret, A Chorus Line, Top Hat and The Bodyguard also to feature!

The producing team behind The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Arts Theatre) and The Children of Eden Gala Concert (Prince of Wales Theatre), Aria Entertainment and Knockhardy Productions present a concert revival of Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman's three times Tony Award winning musical The Secret Garden.

The producing team behind The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Arts Theatre) and The Children of Eden Gala Concert (Prince of Wales Theatre), Aria Entertainment and Knockhardy Productions are delighted to announce the cast for their forthcoming concert revival of Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman's three times Tony Award winning musical The Secret Garden.

After a weekend of frenzied Twitter chat about the 2012 BWW:UK Awards, voting has been boosted by fans getting their votes in for their favourites as we enter the last weeks of polling!

Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) is an organisation dedicated to the development and presentation of new musical theatre writing, and on Sunday 14 October, the Novello Theatre will play host to MMD's 20th Anniversary Gala. We caught up with Madalena Alberto, Dougal Irvine and Grant Olding to find out a bit more about this star-studded evening.

2012 marks Mercury Musical Developments' 20th Anniversary and to celebrate they are holding an all-star 20th Anniversary Gala Concert at the Novello Theatre in London today, Sunday 14th October 2012 at 8pm, hosted by Anita Dobson.

2012 marks Mercury Musical Developments' 20th Anniversary and to celebrate they are holding an all-star 20th Anniversary Gala Concert at the Novello Theatre in London on Sunday 14th October 2012 at 8pm, hosted by Anita Dobson.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mercury Musical Developments, performers including Michael Xavier, Janie Dee, Claire Moore, Hayley Gallivan, Maria Friedman, Danielle Hope, Alison Jiear, Haydn Gwynne, Sally Anne Triplett, David Bedella, Tam Mutu, Paul Kaye, Stuart Matthew Price, Lucy May Barker, Madalena Alberto and Jenna Russell will feature at a gala concert on October 14 at the Novello Theatre.

Michael Xavier, Janie Dee, Claire Moore, Hayley Gallivan, Maria Friedman, Danielle Hope, Alison Jiear, Haydn Gwynne, Sally Anne Triplett, David Bedella, Tam Mutu, Paul Kaye, Stuart Matthew Price, Lucy May Barker, James Bourne, Madalena Alberto and Jenna Russell are now confirmed as the full line up of artists for Mercury Musical Developments 20th Anniversary Gala on Sunday 14 October 2012 at the Novello Theatre.

Soho Cinders does what it says on the tin - it's a cheeky London W1 reworking of the classic Cinderella tale, centred on Robbie (Tom Milner), a cute but savvy young gay man with very little family but many dreams. He has ugly sisters (the deliciously vulgar, lycra-clad Suzie Chard and Beverly Rudd), a wicked stepfather we never meet and of course a Buttons-style soulmate full of unrequited love for him. This is Velcro (the standout performance from Amy Lennox), a loveable, ballsy blonde who works in his dead mother's launderette.

Soho Cinders is directed by Jonathan Butterell with music by George Stiles, lyrics by Anthony Drewe, book by Anthony Drewe & Elliot Davis, choreography by Drew McOnie, design by Morgan Large and lighting design by Hugh Vanstone. Press night will be held at the Soho Theatre on Thursday, 9th August at 8.00pm, and the show runs through Sunday, 9th September, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Following the sold-out concert performance of Soho Cinders at the Queen's Theatre in October 2011, Stiles & Drewe's new musical receives its world premiere at Soho Theatre running from tonight, 2nd August to 9th September 2012. The full-scale production with a live band features an all-star cast, including Jenna Russell and Michael Xavier, and featuring the voice of Stephen Fry.

Raj Ghatak, Thomas Milner, Gerard Carey and Neil McCaul will join Jenna Russell and Michael Xavier in the world premiere of Stiles & Drewe's SOHO CINDERS at Soho Theatre running from 2nd August to 9th September 2012. The full-scale production with a live band also features the voice of Stephen Fry.

Perfect Pitch has released a concept album of LIFT, a new British musical by Craig Adams and Ian Watson. This recording, now available to buy. It features West End names including Louise Dearman, Michael Xavier, Jennifer Tierney, Paul Ayres, Julie Atherton and Jack Shalloo.