• A Quick Round Up

    It’s been a busy week for theatre news, starting with the Tony Awards held last Sunday (June 7th) in New York.

    Dame Helen Mirren proved once again that really is the queen of everything, winning Best Leading Actress in a Play for her role of Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience.

    Fun Home was the night’s big winner, taking home six awards. Could we see a West End appearance soon? We’ll have to wait and see.

    One show we are promised though is Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Creator John Cameron Mitchell received a Tony special recognition award for his work on the musical, having played the role on film and now twice on stage.

    Currently starring Glee’s Darren Criss, Hedwig is outrageous, decadent and a whole heap of fun. It is also surprisingly deep and emotional and well worth watching. Now Mitchell has revealed the show is “definitely coming to the West End” – and added that the team are “trying to get the right person” for the lead role.

    Could we see Neil Patrick Harris reprising his role? Or will Criss carry it overseas when he is replaced by Taye Diggs in July? Maybe they’ll search for an unconventional Brit for the role. Who knows? Whatever their casting choice might be, I think the West End is more than ready for Hedwig and her Angry Inch.

    Back on this side of the pond, it has been confirmed that Chichester’s Guys and Dolls will make its West End transfer, opening at the Savoy in January 2016. Sophie Thompson and Jamie Parker will reprise their roles as Miss Adelaide and Sky Masterton, with the rest of the casting news to follow.

    It is also rumoured that Sheridan Smith is being courted for the role of Fanny Brice in a revival of Funny Girl at the Menier. The Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye does stress that her casting is far from a done deal, so we will have to wait and see but let’s face it, Smith would be more than capable of pulling this one off. She is set to meet with director Michael Mayer to discuss the deal so hopefully there will be news soon.

    I am surprised there’s not been more talk around a Broadway revival starring Lea Michele, especially since Glee creator Ryan Murphy owns the rights and she is his muse. There was buzz and speculation about it this time last year but it all seems to have died down now she is starring in his new TV comedy horror, Scream Queens.

    It seems as though 2016 is shaping up to be a great year for British theatre, with new shows coming in, including those mentioned above and of course, the sure-to-be sensational season at the Garrick.

    Are there any other shows you’d like to see appearing in the West End?

    Categories: Theatres

    Leave a Reply