Sarah Brightman News

It's been a while since original THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA star Sarah Brightman has starred in a theatrical production, but she might be returning to theatre in the near future. When asked in an interview featured on her Facebook page if she would ever return to the stage, she responded: Yes, I particularity would love to entertain performing in a play again.'

Parody must have bite to grab hold of an audience. Since its inception, the Forbidden Broadway series has had the incisors of a shark and the claws of a lion, and theatre folk just clammer to have their gods and divas dished and devoured.

The 25th anniversary spectacular celebrating The Phantom Of The Opera airs on British TV for the first time today. The show, starring Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Hadley Fraser, begins on Channel 5 at 1.40pm.

A few days shy of the holiest week of the year for Christians - aptly named Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter (with Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the most sacred events on the calendar coming between) - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was resurrected on Broadway by TOMMY and JERSEY BOYS director Des McAnuff - modeled after the hit Stratford Shakespeare Festival production last year and comprised of many of the same cast members, including all three leads - to hails of praise and hosannas, mostly. While JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR itself will always divide audiences and critics alike - and not merely because of its controversial content and its button-pushing treatment of the hallowed tale it tells - the magnetism and sheer power that Lloyd Webber's propulsive, throbbing rock score imbues gives the show an energy, vitality and life rare to find in even the most earnestly effervescent and energetic of comparable entities - the recently revived and similarly-themed GODSPELL in a revival a few blocks away included. Then, there are Tim Rice's lyrics - oh-so-spot-on in 1970, but still biting and edgy today in McAnuff's hi-tech and elaborately presented new Broadway production. Using the book of John as the jumping off point, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ (Paul Nolan) and his subsequent betrayal by Judas (Josh Young) and sentencing to death at the hands of King Herod and Pontius Pilate (Tom Hewitt). The twelve apostles, Mary Magdalene and her female companions, lepers, Pharisees, priests and others populate the grand story told almost entirely through song - the show is 90% music - and Webber and Rice's score never, ever lets up. While this may not be the most faithful rendering as far as the Bible is concerned, nor the most historically accurate, SUPERSTAR is now available to experience for a whole new generation thanks to this new revival and the timing could not be more ideal. The time is ripe for a revival of SUPERSTAR, and, as Andrew Lloyd Webber himself has recently related, this new production of the show is the best ever as far as he is concerned. High praise indeed - coming from no less than the Lord.

¡Estas son las imágenes que todos los fans del Fantasma han estado esperando! Las primeras fotos de la nueva producción del 25 aniversario de The Phantom Of The Opera de Andrew Lloyd webber en gira por UK, que se estrena en marzo de 2012 en el Theatre Royal Plymouth.

It's the photos that Phantom Phans have been waiting for - the very first images from the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA premiering which premiered Theatre Royal Plymouth in March 2012.

Hollywood and Broadway award-winners Kaye Ballard, Liliane Montevecchi, and Lee Roy Reams are to star in "Doin' It For Love," a Broadway-style tribute to the standards and the stories behind the music. Celebrating the finale of its Southwest Tour in Los Angeles on March 9 and 10, "Doin' It For Love" features a 10-piece orchestra conducted onstage by David Geist, the show's music director. Hilary Knight, the internationally renowned artist and illustrator, designed the poster art and collectables for the show. The profits from "Doin' It For Love" will go to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Investigation and Rescue Fund supporting undercover investigations and animal rescue efforts.

Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. The 25th Anniversary performance will air on PBS' Great Performances series tonight, March 4th at 7pm.

Broadway veteran Lauren Molina recently started a Youtube series called 'Stripped Down' under the band name The Skivvies, with Nick Cearley. In the video below they perform 'I Feel the Earth Move' by Carole King. For updates subscribe to www.youtube.com/lomo212.

Hollywood and Broadway award-winners Kaye Ballard, Liliane Montevecchi, and Lee Roy Reams are to star in "Doin' It For Love," a Broadway-style tribute to the standards and the stories behind the music. Celebrating the finale of its Southwest Tour in Los Angeles on March 9 and 10, "Doin' It For Love" features a 10-piece orchestra conducted onstage by David Geist, the show's music director. Hilary Knight, the internationally renowned artist and illustrator, designed the poster art and collectables for the show. The profits from "Doin' It For Love" will go to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Investigation and Rescue Fund supporting undercover investigations and animal rescue efforts.

Casa 0101 Theater in association with CoActive Content will present a new co-production of "The King of the Desert," written by Stacey Martino, performed by Rene Rivera, and helmed by Sal Romeo, all Lifetime Members of The Actors Studio.

Headlining the most successful entertainment of all time, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Michael Crawford was actually not the first name the creative team considered for the gothic musical undertaking during its creation in the mid-1980s, believe it or not. Steve Harley famously recorded the original single of the title song with composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's muse Sarah Brightman and subsequently starred in the grandiose Ken Russell fever dream music video. While the public and critics alike assumed Harley's bid for the lead role in the gestating show was all but guaranteed after the video debut, it was not meant to be. Master director Hal Prince had his sights set on a British stage and screen star who had made a name with American audiences decades before in the troubled film versions of two Broadway hits - A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and HELLO, DOLLY! - as well as made a name for himself the world over in the British sitcom SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM. Crawford had also cemented his place in the musical theatre with his roles in FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON and BILLY, but it was PHANTOM that would catapult him into the ranks of iconic musical megastar. So, today, let us take a look at what made Michael Crawford's performance in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA so unforgettable as we celebrate this week's US release of the simply spectacular DVD/Blu-ray of the 25th anniversary production mounted late last year at the Royal Albert Hall starring Ramim Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, loving assembled and presented by original lead producer Cameron Mackintosh and featuring a grand finale complete with original PHANTOM cast-members Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, among a host of other glories.

Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, coming to Blu-ray™ - with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound- DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on February 7, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

A small piece of the national tour of "West Side Story" remains in Sacramento these next two months, but it's not what you might think. And while many anticipate the arrival of the hit musical "Wicked," they can get their Wicked kicks at California Musical Theater's Cosmopolitan Cabaret, but with more humor than magic. Songs from these and many more shows are part of a Broadway revue in downtown Sacramento playing through March 18. But this isn't your typical revue. This revue has four fantastic actors constantly changing from excessive costume to excessive costume as they take on some of the most well know Broadway tunes with a revised, "forbidden" twist. The tunes are there, but the cleverly reinvented lyrics of "Forbidden Broadway" make fun of everything musical theater.

Nick Pitera, known for his one man Youtube medleys, has released a new video that is a medley of hits from Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. 'I am such a huge Phantom fan. Andrew Lloyd Webber is a genius! This is my attempt at paying tribute to such a great piece of musical history!' Pitera wrote.

Since 1990 Meredith has originatied and recorded such roles as 'Betty Schaeffer' in 'Sunset Boulevard', 'Lily' in the RSC's 'The Secret Garden' and playing the iconic roles of 'Eponine' in 'Les Miserables' and 'Christine' in 'The Phantom of the Opera'.

This weekend, BroadwayWorld will be presenting an illuminating InDepth InterView with legendary composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber all about the enchanting new performance capture film version of his PHANTOM OF THE OPERA sequel, LOVE NEVER DIES. Until that chat, let's take a look back at some of the finest Andrew Lloyd Webber-related performances related to the entertainment dynasty built upon his operatic pop musical version of the classic Gaston Leroux novel that is about to celebrate its 10,000th performance on Broadway later this month, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, as well as its continuation, LOVE NEVER DIES, and the two revivals of his two classic 70s hit stage collaborations with previous InDepth InterView participant Sir Tim Rice coming back to Broadway in a big way - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and EVITA. Plus, a look at the new Simon Phillips-directed production of LOVE NEVER DIES coming to Fathom-equipped movie theaters nationwide on February 28 and March 7, with DVD & Blu-ray after that, as well as the PHANTOM 25 DVD & Blu-ray being released in the US on February 7. It's a busy time of year for phans, clearly! Fetch your favorite mask and check out these four Andrew Lloyd Webber delicacies before they arrive!

Happy Birthday Michael Crawford! In 1981, Crawford starred in the Original London production of Cy Coleman's Barnum (1981) as the illustrious American showman P. T. Barnum. He is best known for starring opposite Sarah Brightman in the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera as the title character. In 1986, Crawford began his performance in London, continuing on to Broadway in 1988, and then Los Angeles a year later, in 1989. He played the role for 2½ years and over 1,300 performances, winning an Olivier Award (Best Actor in a Musical) and a Tony Award (Best Performance By An Actor in a Lead Role, Musical). Beginning in February 2011, Crawford has played the role of the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical version of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

Casa 0101 Theater in association with CoActive Content will present a new co-production of "The King of the Desert," written by Stacey Martino, performed by Rene Rivera, and helmed by Sal Romeo, all Lifetime Members of The Actors Studio.