Valda Aviks News

Wondering how the classic has been updated now that it's back in London? Harvey Fierstein, who reworked the book for FUNNY GIRL's UK return, said he immediately cut 40 pages from the script. 'There was a diamond in there and it needed to be cut out,' he told the Mail. 'It's not that I've cut it to make it shorter -- I've edited it to make it stronger.' Fierstein added that he 'reshaped the show so it's all seen through Brice's eyes.'

Broadway's dreams of a Lea-Michele-led Funny Girl might be fading, but support for Menier Chocolate Factory's production, starring Sheridan Smith, is skyrocketing. The Daily Mail reports that the sold-out production will transfer to the West End's Savoy Theatre beginning April 9, 2016.

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces full casting for their production of Funny Girl. Joining Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice are Valda Aviks (Mrs O'Malley), Natasha J Barnes (Emma/Mrs Meeker), Darius Campbell (Nick), Marilyn Cutts (Mrs Brice), Maurice Lane (Mr Keeney), Bruce Montague (Ziegfeld), Joel Montague (Eddie), Gay Soper (Mrs Strakosh); withEmma Caffrey, Matthew Croke, Joelle Dyson, Rebecca Fennelly, Luke Fetherston, Leah Harris, Kelly Homewood, Sammy Kelly and Stuart Ramsay completing the ensemble.

In the process of assuring fans that Sheridan Smith's portrayal of the iconic 'Fanny Brice' will be all her own when Funny Girl opens at Menier Chocolate Factory this November, the Daily Mail has revealed more of the musical's cast!

After much public demand, the London cast of Once have recorded a five-song EP, now streaming online. Featuring Falling Slowly, Gold, Say It To Me Now, When Your Mind's Made Up and North Strand. Check out the renditions below!

The eight time Tony award-winning musical Once is currently booking at the Phoenix Theatre to 31 May 2014. With a cast led by Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cviteši? as Guy and Girl respectively, John Tiffany's West End production of the hit musical opened at the Phoenix Theatre in April this year where it has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. At each performance, live on stage, the Company play 10 CF Martin guitars, 2 violins, 1 melodica, 1 cello, 2 mandolins, 1 ukelele, 1 bass guitar, 1 banjo, 2 cajon's, 1 drum kit, 1 piano, 1 harmonica and 1 concertina and on the West End's only on stage bar, audience members can join the cast for the start of the show and at the interval. Check out a first look below!

Today, Friday 14 June 2013, the Company of the eight time Tony award-winning Once made history as the first West End musical cast to busk on the London Underground. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the licensed busking scheme on the Tube, the cast of Once spent two hours in Leicester Square Tube station performing songs from the show alongside some of the station's regular buskers.

The Producers of the eight-time Tony award-winning musical Once today announce that booking for the West End production extends to 31 May 2014, releasing over 200,000 new tickets for sale at the Phoenix Theatre.

Our reporter Alice Chappell goes behind the scenes of ONCE, which is garnering rave reviews at London's Phoenix Theatre.

Once London shook convention up by encouraging an audience not to turn off their phones during a special performance and Q and A.

Glen Hansard, Academy Award winner and co-writer of the music and lyrics for Once, visited the Phoenix Theatre to meet with Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitesic, the leading actors in the critically acclaimed West End production.

The London production of Once, which is playing at The Phoenix Theatre, is currently booking to 30 November 2013. BroadwayWorld brings you a just-released promo for the West End production below!

Let's see what the critics had to say...

The London production of Once opened last night, April 9 at The Phoenix Theatre and is currently booking to 30 November 2013. Check out photos from the opening night curtain call and after party below!

The London production of Once, which is in previews at the Phoenix Theatre opens on 9 April and is currently booking to 30 November 2013. Check out new production shots from the show below!

This past weekend the cast of the Grammy award and eight time Tony award-winning Dublin based musical Once joined together to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. On stage in the show's fully functioning bar at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End proved to be the ideal setting for their celebrations.

The London production of Once will open at the Phoenix Theatre on 9 April, with previews from 16 March 2013 and is currently booking to 30 November 2013.

The London production of Once will open at the Phoenix Theatre on 9 April, with previews from 16 March 2013 and is currently booking to 30 November 2013. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look of the West End cast in action below!