The Apollo News

We asked some of our favourite theatre stars for their top theatre tickets of 2013 - here's what they recommend you should go and see!

2013 is the year when some of the big Broadway hits of recent years head to the West End - but there are also lots of plays and new work opening in the UK.

WICKED, the record-breaking West End musical now in its 7th smash hit year at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, hosted a media night yesterday, December 20. Check out photos from the celebration below!

Since bursting onto the international music scene in 2003, The Idan Raichel Project has shattered expectations of Israeli pop with their unique blend of African, Latin American, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern sounds, coupled with a spectacular live show. The project continues to push musical boundaries garnering strong critical praise and winning over audiences worldwide. On January 12 and 13, the complete 12-musician lineup will be headlining two evenings at the prestigious Town Hall in New York City during the APAP conference. The Idan Raichel Project will be performing their biggest hit songs alongside new material from their upcoming album which will be released later in 2013.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return engagement of Leslie Jordan, Emmy Award-winning star of the hit TV comedy "Will & Grace" and author of My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. For the Bay Area debut of his new show, "Fruit Fly", Leslie travels back in time using show-and-tell to take the audience on the ride of a lifetime. Do gay men become their mothers? That is the question asked in Leslie's hilarious and touching new romp featuring childhood recollections combined with perilous teenage shenanigans. Jordan's storytelling skills abound and will make for an evening of fun and thought-provoking theater. The show will run tonight, December 18 through December 22.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the national tour of Million Dollar Quartet in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater from tonight, December 18, 2012 to January 6, 2013. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the electrifying true story of four Rock ‘n' Roll icons is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. Press opening night is Thursday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Welcome to middle age... proceed with caution! Diane Cary, Jane Kaczmarek and Sharon Sharth star as three successful women who challenge themselves to find love and personal fulfillment in the middle years of life. Steven Robman directs the ensemble cast, which also includes Gregory Harrison, James Lancaster and Joel Polis, in the world premiere of The Snake Can by Kathryn Graf (Hermetically Sealed). Performances run January 19 through February 24, presented by Indie Chi Productions at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return engagement of LESLIE JORDAN, Emmy Award-winning star of the hit TV comedy "Will & Grace" and author of My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. For the Bay Area debut of his new show, "Fruit Fly", Leslie travels back in time using show-and-tell to take the audience on the ride of a lifetime. Do gay men become their mothers? That is the question asked in Leslie's hilarious and touching new romp featuring childhood recollections combined with perilous teenage shenanigans. Jordan's storytelling skills abound and will make for an evening of fun and thought-provoking theater. The show will run December 18 through December 22.

On December 7, 1972, NASA launched the Apollo 17 space mission. It was clear from the start that TV coverage of the mission which included the crew of Commander Gene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ron Evans and Lunar Module Pilot Jack Schmitt, would be at kept to a bare minimum.

The Wicked Young Writers' Award announced its winners for 2012 at a prestigious ceremony on 6th December at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, home of the award-winning musical Wicked. The ceremony was hosted by Louise Dearman, who stars as Elphaba, and prizes were presented by Michael Morpurgo, best-selling author of War Horse and Chair Judge of the Award.

Million Dollar Quartet, now in its fifth year in Chicago, continues performances through April 28, 2013 with cast members Brandon Bennett (Elvis Presley), Shaun Whitley (Carl Perkins), Lance Lipinsky (Jerry Lee Lewis), Chris Damiano (Johnny Cash), Tim Decker (Sam Phillips), Whitney Kraus Jones (Dyanne), Marc Edelstein (Jay Perkins/Bass player) and Dan Leali (Fluke/Drummer). The Tony-nominated musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock 'n' roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, celebrates its long run in Chicago, a multiple Tony-nominated New York run, a long-running London production and a national tour that kicked-off in October 2011.

Ballet Hispanico will present the dance event of the holiday season at the legendary Apollo Theater tonight, December 1, 2012 at 7:30 pm. The Apollo Theater is located at 253 West 125th Street, New York City. Tickets start at $33 and are available for purchase in person at the Apollo Theater Box Office, or through Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

2013 is going to be a mammoth year for actress/ comedian Kerry Godliman. Co-starring opposite Ricky Gervais in his new drama comedy 'DEREK', on channel 4 (due for transmission in early 2013), Kerry plays society outsider Derek's (Gervais) unlucky in love, nursing home co-worker and friend in the new series. She will also make a lead appearance in 'OUR GIRL' alongside Lacey Turner for the BBC (due out in Spring 2013) and has a guest lead in the new series 'FRANKIE' also for the BBC later next year. As a comedian she has made a big leap by both writing and starring in 'KERRY'S LIST' for Radio 4 (f2013) and an appearance on the highly prized LIVE AT THE APOLLO for BBC1 on 24th November this year.

The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy has shattered sales records around the globe with more than 32 million copies sold in the United States alone and a 2013 Universal Pictures feature film release is sure to be a cinematic blockbuster. Now, for the first time, the original parody 50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL is coming to the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the national tour of Million Dollar Quartet in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater from December 18, 2012 to January 6, 2013. The Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical inspired by the electrifying true story of four Rock 'n' Roll icons is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. Press opening night is Thursday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Ballet Hispanico will present the dance event of the holiday season at the legendary Apollo Theater on December 1, 2012 at 7:30 pm. The Apollo Theater is located at 253 West 125th Street, New York City. Tickets start at $33 and are available for purchase in person at the Apollo Theater Box Office, or through Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

The Clucked Up Comedy series will return to the intimate City Theatre to present Clucked Up Saturday Night "Access Grant'd" starring actor, comedian and writer Red Grant with special guests Ashima Franklin and Darrell Banks for two performances at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on January 5, 2013. The evening will be hosted by Detroit's own comedian and impressionist, Martini Harris.

The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy has shattered sales records around the globe with more than 32 million copies sold in the United States alone and a 2013 Universal Pictures feature film release is sure to be a cinematic blockbuster. Now, for the first time, the original parody 50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL is coming to Chicago at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., tonight, Nov. 16 and Nov. 17 at 10:30 p.m.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet returns to The Joyce Theater for its annual two-week engagement, today, November 13-25, 2012, featuring two world premieres and two New York premieres.

Virtuoso violinists Kev Marcus and Wilner Baptiste - aka Kev and Wil B of BLACK VIOLIN - return to New York with their funky fusion of classical, jazz, hip-hop, blues and R&B. With DJ TK on the turntables, Beatdown on the drums, and Joe Cello rounding out the band, these Apollo Legends, who played to sold-out New Vic houses in 2009, will perform a concert of new compositions, classic favorites and pop cover tunes at The New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street, from tonight, November 9 through November 25.