Novello News

After the success of Michael Frayn's Noises Off, his gripping cold war drama Democracy, opening 20 June, extends for a further two weeks until 28 July at the Old Vic Theatre.

Gary Milner will be joining real-life wife Sally Ann Triplett in the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! at the Prince of Wales Theatre from tonight, 11 June 2012. Milner, who will play Sam Carmichael opposite Sally's Donna Sheridan, most recently appeared on stage playing the title role in Pericles at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

This autumn Ken Stott, Anna Friel and Samuel West are united together on stage for the first time in one of Anton Chekhov's undisputed masterpieces, Uncle Vanya. Adapted by Christopher Hampton, Uncle Vanya uniquely blends sparkling wit and earthy humour to brilliant comic effect. Directed by Lindsay Posner with designs by Christopher Oram, this new production opens at the Vaudeville Theatre on 2 November 2012 with previews from 24 October.

The Public Theater announced today that Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare has been cast as The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. INTO THE WOODS will be O'Hare's Shakespeare in the Park debut. Previews begin on Monday, July 23 at the Delacorte Theater and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

As the summer days near, BroadwayWorld rounded up our worldwide community - from Australia to Spain, California and beyond! - to bring you our top picks for the best of summer theater in each of our main markets! Looking for the best of the summer venue and production offerings in your area? Let's hear from a sampling of the BroadwayWorld experts!

The Summer Season at the Finborough Theatre continues with rediscoveries of EVENTS WHILE GUARDING THE BOFORS GUN and MERRIE ENGLAND. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the death of playwright John McGrath, and unseen in a professional production in London since 1966, John McGrath's Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre for a limited four-week season from Tuesday, 22 May 2012 directed by Robert Hastie. Merrie England plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening performances and Tuesday matinees, opening tonight, 27 May 2012.

The Summer Season at the Finborough Theatre continues with rediscoveries of EVENTS WHILE GUARDING THE BOFORS GUN and MERRIE ENGLAND. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the death of playwright John McGrath, and unseen in a professional production in London since 1966, John McGrath's Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre for a limited four-week season from tonight, 22 May 2012 directed by Robert Hastie. Merrie England plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening performances and Tuesday matinees, opening on Sunday, 27 May 2012.

The White House program, which was taped by WETA Washington, D.C. as part of the 'In Performance at the White House' series, will premiere on PBS stations nationwide tonight, May 21, 2012 at 9 p.m. EDT (check local listings) as 'Burt Bacharach & Hal David: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song In Performance at the White House.' BroadwayWorld has just received preview clips of tonight's broadcast and brings them to you below! Click to watch Mike Myers, Sheryl Crow, Smokie Robinson and more honor the musical greats at the White House presentation and be sure to tune into PBS tonight for the full show.

On May 8, The Library of Congress kicked off a series of events honoring Grammy- and Academy-Award-winning songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, recipients of the 2012 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, culminating a special tribute delivered by President Barack Obama. The prize commemorates George and Ira Gershwin, the legendary American songwriting team whose extensive collection resides in the Library of Congress. The White House program, which was taped by WETA Washington, D.C. as part of the 'In Performance at the White House' series, will premiere on PBS stations nationwide tonight, May 21, 2012 at 9 p.m. EDT (check local listings) as 'Burt Bacharach & Hal David: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song In Performance at the White House.'

Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Chocolate Factory Productions open Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party at Wyndham's Theatre tonight, May 18.

Andrew Lloyd Webber will receive a BASCA Fellowship at this year's Ivor Novello Awards tonight 17 May. The BASCA Fellowship is the highest accolade which a composer can receive, bestowed by composers in the UK. It recognises unique creative talent in music writing together with iconic achievement for and on behalf of composers. BASCA Fellows are exceptional artists and ambassadors for the song-writing and composing profession and BASCA's role within it.

Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Chocolate Factory Productions previously announced the transfer of Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party to Wyndham's Theatre from tonight, 15th May.

Following her current run in Sondheim's 'Follies' in Los Angeles Elaine Paige will return to the UK and prepare for a tour 'down under' which kicks off in Hamilton, New Zealand on 14th October, Christchurch on 16th and then travels across to Australia for Perth on 20th, ending in Brisbane on 30th.

Andrew Lloyd Webber will receive a BASCA Fellowship at this year's Ivor Novello Awards on Thursday 17 May. The BASCA Fellowship is the highest accolade which a composer can receive, bestowed by composers in the UK. It recognises unique creative talent in music writing together with iconic achievement for and on behalf of composers. BASCA Fellows are exceptional artists and ambassadors for the song-writing and composing profession and BASCA's role within it.

Derren Brown's 2012 Olivier award-winning show SVENGALI will take up residence at London's Novello Theatre for 27 performances only, from July 12 - Aug 11. This is the last chance to see the live show that has performed in over 150 venues across Britain.

Hampstead Theatre's World Premiere of CHARIOTS OF FIRE, opens tonight, 9 May and runs to Saturday 16 June 2012. For tickets and more information, visit: www.hampsteadtheatre.com.

97.3 KBCO & Z2 Entertainment present Richard Thompson at the Boulder Theater on Saturday, June 16th, 2012. Tickets go on sale today, May 4th at 10:00am for $22.50 general admission, $30 reserved & $40 gold circle.

Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen take the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont in Top Hat, which is currently playing at the Aldwych Theatre in the West End. The show is currently booking until 26 January 2013 with press night on 9 May 2012. See photos of Chambers, Strallen and the rest of the company in Top Hat below!

97.3 KBCO & Z2 Entertainment present Richard Thompson at the Boulder Theater on Saturday, June 16th, 2012. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 4th at 10:00am for $22.50 general admission, $30 reserved & $40 gold circle.

Gary Milner will be joining real-life wife Sally Ann Triplett in the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! at the Prince of Wales Theatre from 11 June 2012. Milner, who will play Sam Carmichael opposite Sally's Donna Sheridan, most recently appeared on stage playing the title role in Pericles at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.