Stephen Mear News

A new production of Johann Strauss Jr.'s New Year's Eve classic, the comedic operetta Die Fledermaus, will open at the Met on December 31. Jeremy Sams, writer and creator of the Met's Baroque pasticheThe Enchanted Island, makes his company debut as director with the new staging, which is set in Vienna at the turn of the 20thcentury. Sams also contributes new lyrics for Strauss's work, which will be performed entirely in English; Tony Award-nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane makes his Met debut with new dialogue. Adam Fischer conducts a cast of rising opera stars and Broadway performers. The cast is led by Susanna Phillips and Christopher Maltman as the unhappily married Rosalinde and Eisenstein; Jane Archibald as Rosalinde's feisty maid, Adele; Anthony Roth Costanzo as Prince Orlofsky; Michael Fabiano as Rosalinde's former lover, Alfred; Paulo Szot as the bumbling Dr. Falke; and Patrick Carfizzi as the prison superintendent, Frank. Broadway stars Danny Burstein and Betsy Wolfe make Met debuts as the drunken jailer, Frosch, and Adele's sister, Ida. Robert Jones is set and costume designer for the production, with lighting design by Jennifer Schriever and choreography by Stephen Mear in their Met debuts.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose new musical, STEPHEN WARD, opened last week in London's West End, isn't sure how many news productions he's got left in him.

Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hamptonand lyricist Don Black, opened last night, 19 December 2013 at the Aldwych Theatre. The production, directed byRichard Eyre, is currently previewing with booking to 1 March 2014. Set and Costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography byStephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hamptonand lyricist Don Black, opens tonight, 19 December 2013 at the Aldwych Theatre. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently previewing with booking to 1 March 2014. Set and Costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography by Stephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

Perfect Pitch Artistic Director Wendy Barnes and Royal & Derngate Artistic Director James Dacre are delighted to announce the finalist writing teams for the 2013/14 Perfect Pitch Award.

Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hamptonand lyricist Don Black, opens on 19 December 2013 at the Aldwych Theatre. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently previewing with booking to 1 March 2014. Set and Costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting byPeter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography by Stephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group. In the video below, Andrew Lloyd Webber discusses the sex, lies, and espionage of the story!

Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hamptonand lyricist Don Black, opens on 19 December 2013 at the Aldwych Theatre. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently previewing with booking to 1 March 2014. Set and Costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography by Stephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

Following a critically acclaimed, sold-out run, Chichester Festival Theatre's sparkling production of the Broadway smash hit musical, The Pajama Game, directed by Richard Eyre, transfers to the West End on 1 May playing until 13 September 2014.

Andrew Lloyd Webber just stopped by the Graham Norton Show, where he chatted about creating the new show and the possibility of changing the ending. Check out the full interview below!

Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black, opens on 19 December 2013 at the Aldwych Theatre. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently previewing with booking to 1 March 2014. Set and Costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography by Stephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

A new production of Johann Strauss Jr.'s New Year's Eve classic, the comedic operetta Die Fledermaus, will open at the Met on December 31. Jeremy Sams, writer and creator of the Met's Baroque pastiche The Enchanted Island, makes his company debut as director with the new staging, which is set in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. Sams also contributes new lyrics for Strauss's work, which will be performed entirely in English; Tony Award-nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane makes his Met debut with new dialogue. Adam Fischer conducts a cast of rising opera stars and Broadway performers. The cast is led by Susanna Phillips and Christopher Maltman as the unhappily married Rosalinde and Eisenstein; Jane Archibald as Rosalinde's feisty maid, Adele; Anthony Roth Costanzo as Prince Orlofsky; Michael Fabiano as Rosalinde's former lover, Alfred; Paulo Szot as the bumbling Dr. Falke; and Patrick Carfizzi as the prison superintendent, Frank. Broadway stars Danny Burstein and Betsy Wolfe make Met debuts as the drunken jailer, Frosch, and Adele's sister, Ida. Robert Jones is set and costume designer for the production, with lighting design by Jennifer Schriever and choreography by Stephen Mear in their Met debuts.

The publication reports that the acclaimed composer will launch a campaign tomorrow with Mandy Rice-Davies and lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, petitioning to 'overturn the 50 year guilty verdict of the man at the centre of the Profumo affair, claiming he was let down by friends who wanted to save themselves.'

Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest musical, STEPHEN WARD, is just days away from beginning performance in London's West End. In anticipation, the acclaimed composer opened up to The Telegraph, telling them that he believes the modern musical has left music behind - and he hopes 'WARD' can break today's mold.

The UK Daily Mail is reporting that Richard Eyre's Chichester Festival production of THE PAJAMA GAME will move to London's West End, opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre in May of 2014. No official dates or casting has yet been announced.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is set to greet Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall as they arrive at his theatre, The Palladium, for the Royal Variety performance tomorrow, 25 Nov., BroadwayWorld has confirmed.

Stephen Ward, which has music byAndrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black, previews at the Aldwych Theatre from 3 December 2013 with press night on 19 December 2013. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently booking to 1 March 2014. The cast album is set to be released by Decca on March 3, 2014. CLICK HERE to preview tracks from the show and HERE for a free download of 'Human Sacrifice' and preorder the album.

Earlier today at a special event at The Box in Soho, Stephen Ward was launched with cast and creative team as well as VIP guest MAndy Rice-Davies. Opening in the West End later this year, Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black, previews at the Aldwych Theatre from 3 December 2013 with press night on 19 December 2013. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently booking to 1 March 2014. Set and Costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography by Stephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group. Check out highlights from today's event below!

Today (30 September 2013) at a special event at The Box in Soho, Stephen Ward was launched with cast and creative team as well as VIP guest Mandy Rice-Davies. Opening in the West End later this year, Stephen Ward, which has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by playwright Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black, previews at the Aldwych Theatre from 3 December 2013 with press night on 19 December 2013. The production, directed by Richard Eyre, is currently booking to 1 March2014. Set and Costume designs are by Rob Howell, with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Paul Groothuis, projection design by Jon Driscoll and choreography by Stephen Mear. Stephen Ward is produced by Robert Fox Limited and The Really Useful Group. Check out a look back at today's event below!

The Milwaukee Rep embarked on a new journey when Mark Clements presented a resplendent Ragtime to open the company's 60th anniversary season in September 2013. As Clements begins his second term as Artistic Director, this Ragtime production carries the audience for a ride on the 'wheels of a dream' with a lingering presence few will encounter. Every theatrical and musical detail, from the casting, costumes, lighting and stage design rose above any expectations the audience previously envisioned. Opening night for the Rep's 60th season proved awe inspiring, almost angelic, assuring the supreme possibilities inherent in any art performance.

The cast for the World Premiere of Stephen Ward, directed by Richard Eyre, will comprise Alexander Hanson as Stephen Ward, Charlotte Spencer as Christine Keeler, Charlotte Blackledge as Mandy Rice Davies, Anthony Calfas Lord Astor, Daniel Flynn as John Profumo, Joanna Riding as Valerie Hobson, Ian Conningham as Ivanov, Chris Howell as Murray, Ricardo Coke Thomas as Lucky Gordon and Wayne Robinson as Johnny Edgecomp. Other cast members are Martin Callaghan, Kate Coyston, Jason Denton, Julian Forsyth, Amy Griffiths, Paul Kemble, Emma Kate Nelson, Carl Sanderson, Emily Squibb, John Stacey, Helen Ternent and Tim Walton.