Rosemary Ashe News

It was hockey sticks to the fore at Bablake School this week as the stars of new musical comedy CRUSH went 'back to school' for an afternoon of traditional team-spirit, riotous routines and lashings of old-school charm.

Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Big Broad Productions present CRUSH, the brand new musical, which will premiere at Belgrade Theatre Coventry running from Friday 4 to Saturday 19 September 2015.   CRUSH will then run at Theatre Royal Brighton (22-26 September) and Richmond Theatre (29 September-3 October). 

Last night saw the world premiere of new musical The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole at the Curve in Leicester. Being a champion for original writing and aptly being author Sue Townsend's home town, it was only right that this show sees its debut here. Many people hold the books in high regard - myself included - and watching it last night made me reminisce. Set in 1980s Leicester, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole centres around a boy aged 13 and ¾ who is essentially battling through adolescent life; from spots to girls to bullies, Adrian is encountering all of them! Townsend's books are written in Adrian's words and in diary format so I was incredibly intrigued about how this could successfully be adapted for stage.

Curve today announces the full cast for the world premiere of Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ - The Musical. The cast includes Rosemary Ashe (Grandma), Cameron Blakely (Mr Lucas), Amy Booth-Steel (Miss Elf/Doreen Slater/Mrs Lucas), Neil Ditt (George Mole),Kirsty Hoiles (Pauline Mole) and Neil Salvage (Bert Baxter).

Award winning director, Andrew Keates will be departing Clapham's Landor Theatre, leaving the post of their theatre manager and artistic consultant. He will be developing newly formed and innovative theatre production company Arion Productions Ltd as its artistic director and founder as well as directing upcoming productions of Martin Sherman's ground-breaking play Passing By at the Finborough Theatre this September and returning to the Landor as a director for the world premiere of A Winter's Tale by Howard Goodall and Nick Stimson and developed by Keates in November 2012.

Today we are talking to one half of the supremely talented composing team responsible for ZOMBIE PROM, THE FIX, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, and, now, BROTHER RUSSIA, the lyricist of the formidable Dempsey/Rowe himself, John Dempsey. In this career-spanning conversation, Dempsey and I discuss major and minor details of his handful of skillfully written and entertaining shows written with the collaboration of composer Dana Rowe (who will also be highlighted in this column next week), in particular their affiliation with legendary producer Cameron Mackintosh and Signature Theater founder and director Eric Schaeffer, director of the US premieres of three of their musicals, including the most current one opening later this month - as well as touch on his work with Boublil & Shonberg on THE PIRATE QUEEN and his musical adaptation of the religious-themed film SAVED! As if all of that were not enough, Dempsey and I also dissect the finer points of the new Dempsey/Rowe show in previews in Washington, D.C., BROTHER RUSSIA, as he outlines its inspiration, purpose, style and the intriguing story of the new heavy metal fairy tale meta rock opera - all of that and much, much more.

Theatrica Ltd, in association with The Landor Theatre, is delighted to announce that Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim's classic musical, Gypsy, will play for four weeks as part of the theatre's Autumn season, with iconic musical theatre actress Rosemary Ashe as the formidable Rose.

Following the announcement in the Summer of 2011 that Dress Circle may be faced with closer for financial reasons, STANDING OVATION was produced by Danny Davies of Pirate Management over the month that followed. Comprising works from artists and songwriters who share in the concerns for Dress Circle`s future, this CD is a tribute to the shop, and it is hoped that it may contribute in some way to the positive future. The album will be released on August 17 and can be purchased here.

Stuart Matthew Price and James Yeoburn gather the West End's finest for a one-off celebratory gala at the West End home of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical, The Phantom of the Opera. A press release issued in May 2011 announcing that Dress Circle was facing imminent closure caused a phenomenal response from theatre lovers who were saddened by the possibility of losing the 'Greatest Showbiz Shop in the World'. The shop was founded in 1978 with the intention of providing an unrivalled selection of musical theatre and cabaret related merchandise. After celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008, Dress Circle claims to be the longest running show business and musical theatre shop in the world.

Gary Naylor sees a second musical comedy in a week - anyone would think this was the silly season!

Stuart Matthew Price and James Yeoburn gather the West End's finest for a one-off celebratory gala at the West End home of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical, The Phantom of the Opera. A press release issued in May 2011 announcing that Dress Circle was facing imminent closure caused a phenomenal response from theatre lovers who were saddened by the possibility of losing the 'Greatest Showbiz Shop in the World'. The shop was founded in 1978 with the intention of providing an unrivalled selection of musical theatre and cabaret related merchandise. After celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008, Dress Circle claims to be the longest running show business and musical theatre shop in the world. In the video below, the West End's finest stars unite to promote the big event!

Stuart Matthew Price and James Yeoburn gather the West End's finest for a one-off celebratory gala at the West End home of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical, The Phantom of the Opera. A press release issued in May 2011 announcing that Dress Circle was facing imminent closure caused a phenomenal response from theatre lovers who were saddened by the possibility of losing the 'Greatest Showbiz Shop in the World'. The shop was founded in 1978 with the intention of providing an unrivalled selection of musical theatre and cabaret related merchandise. After celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008, Dress Circle claims to be the longest running show business and musical theatre shop in the world.

Dress Circle has just announce that tickets for the celebratory gala are now on sale. The gala as produced by Stuart Matthew Price and James Yeoburn, will be performed on Sunday 7th August 2011 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, the West End home of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical Phantom of the Opera.

Theatrica Ltd, in association with The Landor Theatre, is delighted to announce that Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim's classic musical, Gypsy, will play for four weeks as part of the theatre's Autumn season, with iconic musical theatre actress Rosemary Ashe as the formidable Rose.

The Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End - home to Mamma Mia! since 2004 - will be host the 2011 Whatsonstage.com Awards. The awards are in their 11th annual presentation this year. Actor Christopher Biggins, perhaps best known for his various comedy roles for the better part of three decades, will host the event.

The Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End - home to Mamma Mia! since 2004 - will be host the 2011 Whatsonstage.com Awards. The awards are in their 11th annual presentation this year. Actor Christopher Biggins, perhaps best known for his various comedy roles for the better part of three decades, will host the event.

After its hugely successful run of shows in 2010, including Bent, Smokey Joe?s Cafe, Closer Than Ever and Tomorrow Morning, The Landor Theatre is seeing in the New Year with the ?rst of its exciting new cabaret season, ?A Spotlight On...? - a series of one night only performances from some of the leading musical theatre artists from London's West End and Broadway.

After its hugely successful run of shows in 2010, including Bent, Smokey Joe?s Cafe, Closer Than Ever and Tomorrow Morning, The Landor Theatre is seeing in the New Year with the ?rst of its exciting new cabaret season, ?A Spotlight On...? - a series of one night only performances from some of the leading musical theatre artists from London's West End and Broadway.