Willy Russell News

Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham is thrilled to announce the fifth show in the Laguna Playhouse 2015-2016 season, Julia Duffy starring in SEX AND EDUCATION, written by Lissa Levin and directed by Andrew Barnicle.

Following his phenomenal decade-long success with The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, which sold over two million tickets and continually played to packed houses all around the UK, comes a new thrilling chapter as Bill Kenwright announces The Classic Thriller Theatre Company and its first production REHEARSAL FOR MURDER.

We talk to the legendary Lyn Paul about taking Blood Brothers out on tour - and how to sing and cry...

Now, for the first time ever, all of Barbara Dickson's major theatre recordings are released together in a special limited edition CD set.

Following a sell-out autumn tour, the international smash hit musical Blood Brothers is set to tour to theatres across the UK into next year. The 2016 UK tour opens in Peterborough on Tuesday 12 January.

Following his phenomenal decade-long success with The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, which sold over two million tickets and continually played to packed houses all around the UK, comes a new thrilling chapter as Bill Kenwright announces The Classic Thriller Theatre Company and its first production REHEARSAL FOR MURDER.

For the third installment of his New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits--a wonderful new monthly series at the Metropolitan Room celebrating award winning and critically acclaimed cabaret shows of the past--Producer Stephen Hanks (and his Cabaret Life Productions) wisely chose Maxine Linehan's What Would Petula Do? A Tribute to Petula Clark. Although this show won no awards, nor received critical acclaim in 2009 (when I first saw it at the Laurie Beechman Theatre), Linehan's revival this past Monday night of one of her first cabaret shows could certainly be considered one the best of this or any year. 

Now, for the first time ever, all of Barbara Dickson's major theatre recordings are released together in a special limited edition CD set.

A quick insight into what's happening this September in London's theatres...

Oakland will be bustling this September when the students return to their dormitories to begin a new year of study. During this time, from tonight, September 3, through September 19, PICT Classic Theatre will present Educating Rita by Willy Russell, which was selected, in part, so that PICT can bid the University of Pittsburgh a fond farewell before leaving the Stephen Foster Memorial in 2016.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's a Super September Preview! We've got the low-down on 16 musical productions you will want to see this month, from city to suburbs, big theaters to small, premieres and old favorites galore! 'Side Show,' 'Dogfight,' 'Next To Normal,' 'Oklahoma!,' 'Spamalot,' 'Blood Brothers,' 'October Sky,' CST's 'Ride The Cyclone' and much more!

BLOOD Brothers returns to The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, nearly 30 years after it premiered there.

Oakland will be bustling this September when the students return to their dormitories to begin a new year of study. During this time, from September 3 through 19, PICT Classic Theatre will present Educating Rita by Willy Russell, which was selected, in part, so that PICT can bid the University of Pittsburgh a fond farewell before leaving the Stephen Foster Memorial in 2016.

A West End diva takes center stage at the Royal Albert Hall!

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre Artistic Director and Co-Founder Fred Anzevino has announced the cast for Blood Brothers, the megahit British musical by Willy Russell that will open the company's 2015-16 season, The musical drama is the story of twin brothers separated at birth - one raised by a rich family, the other by the impoverished birth mother of the boys. In the leading role of the boys' mother, Mrs. Johnstone, will be Kyrie Anderson. Her sons Mickey (the son she kept) and Edward (the son adopted by a wealthy couple) will be played by Charlie Mann and Cody Jolly, respectively. Victoria Oliver and Darren Hill have been cast as Mr. and Mrs. Lyons, the couple who adopt Edward. Dana Anderson will play Linda, the romantic interest of both brothers, and Cullen Rogers will be the criminally inclined Sammy. Jordan Phelps has the role of The Narrator and Whitney Rappana, Ryan Dooley and Ryan Armstrong will comprise the  ensemble.

What is the value of an education? Does consumerism closet society's need to connect with art and literature, a "something more" to be experienced in the world than merely a career? Stage Door Theatre Company at Third Avenue Playhouse revisits these questions in Educating Rita, a 1983 play written by Willy Russell. Many theatergoers may remember the 1983 award-winning film starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters, although the original Russell play has recently been revived in Chichester, England this spring.

A West End diva takes center stage at the Royal Albert Hall!

PICT Classic Theatre will enter its twentieth year in 2016, and today PICT announced a number of changes to its current and upcoming seasons, including an expanded schedule, additional productions and a move to a more flexible model of performance venues.

The John Drew Theater at Guild Hall in East Hampton presents Arthur Miller's award-winning American classic All My Sons starring Alec Baldwin and Laurie Metcalf and directed by Stephen Hamilton. The play will run Tuesdays through Sundays, tonight, June 9, through June 28, and is produced by Guild Hall in association with Roy Furman and Ellen Myers.

Theo Ubique's 2015-16 season will have a decidedly Anglo-American flavor, featuring two of the longest-running musicals from each side of the Atlantic along with cabarets saluting America's all-time favorite crooner and one of England's most successful songwriting teams for theatre and film.