Thom Southerland News

Gary Naylor sees a magnificently realised revival of a show that has never been more relevant since the novel was published in 1975.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's ever popular State Fair will be performed for the first time on the London stage as a symphonic concert by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra under award winning director and Evening Standard Awards nominee Thom Southerland. 

It was the music of something beginning... Ragtime, the landmark Broadway musical, will play the Charing Cross Theatre (The Arches, Villiers Street), in London's West End, beginning October 8th and run through December 10th in a strictly limited engagement. Opening night is set for October 17th.

Maury Yeston, the composer and lyricist best-known for Nine and Titanic, visited the West End a few months before the West End opening of his new musical, Death Takes a Holiday. Based on a film (which was based on a play) this story tells of how Death changed his perspective. He used to not quite understand why everyone he came to collect was quite so aggrieved to die, until he met a particular woman who allowed him to realise quite what makes life worth clinging to. The side effect of Death's occupation being, though, that he can't collect anyone else while he's so distracted - Death the person and death the concept take a break!  Maury was kind enough to discuss his musical background, some of his better-known works and his latest venture for the stage.

Earl Carpenter, who starred in the West End and on Broadway as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables, and West End star Anita Louise Combe, Tessie Tura in Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre and both Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in Chicago, head the cast of a major new actor-musician production of RAGTIME at Charing Cross Theatre. Click below to watch Anita Louise Combe, as Mother, singing RAGTIME's 'Back To Before' in the recording studio!

Ako Mitchell stars as Harlem musician Coalhouse Walker Jr., one of the central characters in the musical 'Ragtime'. This stunning new actor-musician version, with a cast led by West End and Broadway stars EARL CARPENTER and  ANITA LOUISE COMB, will follow critically acclaimed 'Titanic' as the second in-house production at Charing Cross Theatre.

Earl Carpenter, who starred in the West End and on Broadway as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables, and West End star Anita Louise Combe, Tessie Tura in Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre and both Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in Chicago, are to head the cast of a major new actor-musician production of RAGTIME.

Gary Naylor sees a show that had been forgotten, but is thrillingly brought to the London stage for the first time

Production photos have been released for the professional European premiere of  Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO. The musical opened on Broadway in 1947, their third collaboration for the stage following Oklahoma! and Carousel, and has been revived by producer Danielle Tarento and director Thom Southerland, the award-winning team behind Grey Gardens, Grand Hotel, Titanic, Parade and Mack & Mabel. Southerland is working on a new adaptation of the book and the production will have brand new orchestrations. The production runs 5 August-10 September at the Large at Southwark Playhouse.

The eagerly awaited professional European premiere of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, which opened on Broadway in 1947, and was their third collaboration for the stage following Oklahoma! and Carousel, begins tonight, August 5, at Southwark Playhouse.

Director Thom Southerland has built a career on revelatory musical revivals in smaller fringe venues, from Me and Juliet and The Grand Tour at Finborough Theatre to Titanic, Grand Hotel and Grey Gardens at Southwark Playhouse. He's programmed an enticing range of musicals for his first season as artistic director of Charing Cross Theatre, but first up is the European premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's little-seen Allegro, playing at Southwark from August 5.

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From the new Groundhog Day musical and Shakespeare in a department store to a highly anticipated Branagh performance, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…

The first images have been released of Gary Tushaw as Joseph Taylor, Jr in the eagerly awaited professional European premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's ALLEGRO.

The Broadway musical TITANIC just unveiled stunning video footage from its run at Charing Cross Theatre, as its critically acclaimed 10-week season extends to August 13. Check it out below!

DOPEIn the video below, Katie Bernstein sings the iconic number 'The Gentleman Is A Dope' from Rodgers and Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, directed by Thom Southerland and produced by Daniedlle Tarento, playing at Southwark Playhouse 5 Aug - 10 Sept 2016. Click below to watch her perform!

Record-breaking 10-week season at Charing Cross Theatre is extended to Saturday 13 August.

Full casting and creative team are announced today for the eagerly awaited professional European premiere of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, which opened on Broadway in 1947, and was their third collaboration for the stage following Oklahoma! and Carousel.

Gary Naylor sees a big, bold production deliver a tremendous evening's entertainment as a 2013 smash hit is revived to great acclaim.

The thrilling 2013 London premiere of the Broadway musical Titanic became one of the hottest must-see shows, winning  a clutch of Best Musical awards, 4 and 5 star rave reviews across the board and it was Critics Choice in most national newspapers. Now the multi award-winning production, first seen at Southwark Playhouse, is coming back to London with director Thom Southerland once again at the helm. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action - check it out below!

Based on actual characters aboard the greatest ship in the world, Maury Yeston (Nine, Grand Hotel) and Peter Stone's stunning musical focuses on their hopes and aspirations. Unaware of the fate that awaits them, the Third Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the newly-enfranchised Second Class dream of achieving the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and the millionaire Barons of the First Class dream of their hegemony lasting forever. Check out an exclusive look at a recent curtain call; check it out below!