musical

INTERVIEW: JAMAAL FIELDS-GREEN (MJ the Musical)

Interview

New York’s Jamaal Fields-Green took over the role of Michael Jackson in the smash hit London production of MJ the Musical 14 January, 2025.

— You’ve played Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical on Broadway, on the US national tour, and now on the West End. Does it feel different performing in London? Or is it really just the same as performing the show anywhere?

I’d say it’s a bit of both. There are actually slight differences in blocking across the companies. Thankfully, audiences all over the world have the same reaction to the show — the love and enjoyment is always there. But where London differs is the reservation the audience has during the show: it’s different from what I’m used to, but I like it. It allows us in the company to further engulf ourselves into the world we’re creating.

— What drew you to this particular role?

It’s Michael Jackson! Honestly, this role allows me to really exercise the ability to be a triple threat. I have to sing, act, and dance at a high level. Getting the chance to do that, while also leading a show, was an opportunity I couldn’t miss out on.

— What are the challenges of performing this show in London, versus performing in New York, or the rest of America? What do you miss?

Really, I would say just the location and the culture… being in a new country. It didn’t take me long to get used to the reserved audiences. Getting to stay in one spot is nice. I hadn’t had that in a while. Other than that, everything else is about the same.

— What’s next for Jamaal Fields-Green?

The world! I have a lot of plans and goals set for myself while I’m here in London. I want to do a play while I’m here, after my time with MJ is over. Between acting, singing and dancing, acting has always been the one I’ve felt most at home with. I have a lot of music on the way — I release music under the name “J. Hasan“. I recently started working on my newest short film, and we’re aiming to shoot it this summer. TV and film is another big thing I’ve been chasing for a while. Overall, I’m looking to grow was an artist, and further cement myself as a force in the industry.

MJ the Musical is playing at the Prince Edward Theatre 6 March 2024 – 13 September 2025.

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INTERVIEW: TOBIAS TURLEY (MAMMA MIA!) | London, Novello Theatre

Interview

Tobias Turley is the winner of ITV’s MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream, a British television talent competition documenting the search for two new, unknown musical theatre performers for Mamma Mia! in the West End.

— Congratulations on winning ITV’s MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream, with a prize that money can’t buy: joining the West End cast as Sky. How are you feeling?

I’m feeling great, thank you, I’m having such a blast in this show. It’s such an incredible feeling seeing so many months of hard work pay off and come to fruition. We started filming the TV show over a year ago now, so it’s very odd to see myself in the position I am currently in, but I am loving every second.

— Since opening in 1999, Mamma Mia! has gone on to be one of the most successful musicals in the whole world.  For you, what makes it so popular and so enduring?

This show is built on a foundation of incredible music. ABBA is timeless and beloved all over the world, so that’s a great start. But also it has a great script, incredible production design and amazing choreography. It’s a good mixture all round.

— Tell us about your character, Sky.

Sky is a charming, bubbly island boy. Who is head over heels for Sophie, but not completely sold on the idea of marriage just yet. He loves adventuring on the island, diving, surfing, very typical island behaviour. He’s very level headed, calm and collected but also incredibly light hearted. He’s a good egg.

— Anything else exciting in the pipeline?

The future is looking very exciting and I’m taking everything as it comes.  Being part of the show’s 25th anniversary celebration, with Björn Ulvaeus joining us on stage, was so special; the same anniversary of ABBA winning Eurovision with “Waterloo”, 50 years ago. I feel so incredibly lucky to be in the position I am in.

Tobias Turley is now performing in the West End production of Mamma Mia!, playing eight shows a week.

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MAMMA MIA! 25th anniversary | London, Novello Theatre

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On Saturday 6 April 2024, the original production of MAMMA MIA! celebrated its 25th anniversary, making it only the third musical in the history of the West End, to reach its Silver Jubilee.

Since premiering in London’s West End in 1999, the exhilarating smash-hit has become a global phenomenon, with a staggering 70 million people having seen it worldwide.

There was quite a celebration on Saturday night. On stage at the Novello Theatre, the cast were joined by Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA, Judy Craymer (creator and producer), Catherine Johnson (book writer), Anthony van Laast (choreographer), as well as original cast members Siobhan McCarthy (original Donna) and Lisa Stokke (original Sophie).

The party continued afterwards at the Palm Court in the Waldorf Hilton.

Playing at the Novello Theatre in London, 8 shows a week.

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COOL RIDER | London, Palladium

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TuckShop, in association with Christopher D. Clegg and James DP Drury, has today announced additional casting of their reunion concert of Cool Rider at the London Palladium on Sunday 14 April at 7pm.  This loving, unofficial parody of the ill-fated movie Grease 2 (1982) had a surprisingly successful run in the West End in 2014, originally conceived and co-produced by Christopher D. Clegg and James DP Drury.

For this one-night-only concert performance, West End stars Aaron Sidwell (Lord of the Rings; Wicked) and Ashleigh Gray (Wicked; Only Fools and Horses The Musical) will reunite and reprise the lead roles of Michael Carrington and Stephanie Zinone.  RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Kitty Scott-Claus (Death Drop) takes on the role of ‘The French One’, while Grease 2 star Maxwell Caulfield (the original Michael Carrington) joins the faculty as Mr. Stuart.  An ensemble of West End talent joins them; some reprising their roles from the original West End run, and some from the musical’s crowd-funded Original Studio Cast Recording.

The cult film told the heady and daring love story of two unlikely lovers and their road to romance from bowling alley to burger joint, sing-along-a-sex education class to talent show, and long (beautifully lit) romantic motorcycle rides to a slightly incongruous ‘luau’ ending. Much like its musical prequel, the story follows the ancient High School motto: if you want the guy/girl, change your personality beyond recognition and wear overly tight leather in the finale.

From the company who brought you Death Drop; Miz Cracker in Who’s Holiday; GALS ALOUD and sell out drag pantos at the Harold Pinter, Trafalgar, and Phoenix theatres, the concert will be directed by Christopher D. Clegg, musical direction and orchestrations by Lee Freeman, choreography by Matt Krzan, original direction by Guy Unsworth, lighting design by Toby Darvill, costumes by Ryan Webster, and sound design by Will Thompson.Cool Rider was originally conceived and co-produced by Christopher D. Clegg and James DP Drury.

Playing at the London Palladium for one night only: Sunday, 14 April 2024, 7pm.

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HADESTOWN | London, Lyric Theatre

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The multi award-winning musical Hadestown will open at the Lyric Theatre, London, with performances from Saturday 10 February 2024. Following its sold-out run at the National Theatre in 2018, Hadestown won 8 Tony® Awards on Broadway in 2019, including ‘Best Musical’.  Blending modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz, the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hadestown won the 2020 Grammy Award® for ‘Best Musical Theatre Album’.

Hadestown takes you on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back, intertwining two mythic love stories – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone. Hadestown features music, lyrics, and book by acclaimed Grammy®-winning singer-songwriter and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winner Anaïs Mitchell, who originated Hadestown as an indie theatre project and acclaimed album. Mitchell then transformed the show into a genre-defying new musical alongside artistic collaborator and Tony® Award-winning director Rachel Chavkin.

The West End cast will include Dónal Finn (Orpheus), Grace Hodgett Young (Eurydice), Grammy® Award-winner Zachary James (Hades), Melanie La Barrie (Hermes), and Gloria Onitiri (Persephone). Bella Brown, Madeline Charlemagne, and Allie Daniel will play the Fates.  Lauren Azania, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, Beth Hinton-Lever, Waylon Jacobs, and Christopher Short will play the Workers.  Lucinda Buckley, Ryesha Higgs, Miriam Nyarko, and Simon Oskarsson are Swings. Casting for the London production is by Jacob Sparrow.

The Hadestown creative team features Obie Award® winner and Chita Rivera Award® winner David Neumann (choreography), Tony Award® winner Rachel Hauck (scenic design), four-time Tony® Award nominee Michael Krass (costume design), two-time Tony Award® winner Bradley King (lighting design), Tony® Award winners Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz (sound design), Liam Robinson (music supervision and vocal arrangements), Tony® Award winners Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose (arrangements and orchestrations), and Ken Cerniglia (dramaturgy).

Playing at the Lyric Theatre 10 February – 4 August 2024.

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I’M EVERY WOMAN: THE CHAKA KHAN MUSICAL | London, West End

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Finally, London is getting a Chaka Khan jukebox musical, chronicling the singer’s extraordinary life. So-called “jukebox” musicals can get a bad name, but there’s no denying that recent UK-born jukebox musicals about Tina Turner, Cher, and The Kinks are big business. This new Chaka Khan musical is set open somewhere on the West End in the autumn of 2024: beyond that, everything else is secret. Until now!

The Prickle had the great privilege of being invited to an industry-only staged reading of the work-in-progress in London, in the presence of Ms Khan herself. Obviously, between now and the real thing, any number of things could change, but let it be said that the work-in-progress is already looking killer. Choreography by Del Mak (a newcomer to musical theatre) is at its most explosive in “I Feel for You”, in an overwhelming sequence that features cameos from Stevie Wonder (Ashley Samuels) and Prince (Hassan Sharif).

But it’s not just the dance and direction (Racky Plews) that astounds. Musical supervisor Ian Oakley also deploys Chaka Khan’s extraordinary back catalogue in the most surprising ways, including a devastating performance of “Pack’d My Bags” by deserting husband Hassan Khan (Duane-Lamonte O’Garro), and an extremely creepy performance of “Like Sugar” by the spiritual embodiment of cocaine (Luke Friend): trust me, it works.

Less persuasive is the slightly reductive “meta” framing device of the whole musical itself being about the development of the Chaka Khan musical, and how difficult it is to find someone to play Chaka Khan. However, there’s definitely something exciting about the tried-and-tested trope of three different actresses portraying different stages of the iconic singer’s life, all to reunite at the end for a massive ensemble sing-along of the title track, “I’m Every Woman”.

It’s unclear how much is going to stay the same and how much is going to change over the next year, but audiences can be sure of a dynamite show: keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale and book early.

Sign up to the mailing list on the official website.

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STARLIGHT EXPRESS | London, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, Starlight Auditorium

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Due to overwhelming demand, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express has already extended bookings through to 16 February 2025. Seen by over 20 million people across the world since its London premiere in 1984, Starlight Express will make its triumphant return to London from 8 June 2024 at the specially designed Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, a state-of-the-art cultural destination only 12 minutes from central London.

A true theatrical event, Starlight Express will fully immerse audiences of all ages inside a world of speed, song and storytelling as an incredible cast of 40 whizz around and above, performing some of musical theatre’s most beloved songs, including “AC/DC”, “Make Up My Heart”, “Light at the End of the Tunnel” and the iconic “Starlight Express”.

As a child’s train set magically comes to life and the engines race to become the fastest in the world, Rusty the steam train has little hope of winning until he is inspired by the legend of the ‘Starlight Express’. Casting and all further information regarding the production will be announced in due course.

The first show by Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, Sunset Boulevard is currently playing at the Savoy Theatre in London. Starlight Express will be the second show produced by Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, the new partnership of Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer of some of the world’s most famous musicals, and Michael Harrison, critically acclaimed, award-winning international producer.

Playing at the Starlight Auditorium 8 June 2024 – 16 February 2025.

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CABARET | London, Kit Kat Club

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Well, isn’t this exciting! “Wilkommen” and “Bienvenue” to Jake Shears and Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem, who will play the roles of The Emcee and Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club from Monday 25 September 2023.

Singer, songwriter, actor and writer Jake Shears is best known as the lead singer of the multiplatinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Brit award-winning glam rock band Scissor Sisters. The band’s hits include ‘Comfortably Numb’, ‘Take Your Mama’, ‘Let’s Have A Kiki’ and the UK number one hit ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’.  As Self Esteem, Rebecca Lucy Taylor won BBC Introducing’s 2022 Artist Of The Year award, and her album Prioritise Pleasure (2021) was crowned both The Guardian and Sunday Times Culture’s Album of the Year.

Also joining the company on 25 September are Wilf Scolding as Ernst Ludwig, Jessica Kirton as Fraulein Kost/Fritzie, Liv Alexander as Texas, Natalie Chua as Frenchie, Taite-Elliot Drew as Hans, Damon Gould as Victor, El Haq Latief as Helga, and Travis Ross as Bobby, joining Laura Delany as Rosie, Grant Neal as Herman/Max and Hicaro Nicolai as Lulu. The cast is completed by Rebecca Lisewski, Ela Lisondra, Nic Myers, Andy Rees, Toby Turpin and Patrick Wilden.

This unique production of Cabaret opened in December 2021 to critical and audience acclaim, widely praised as the ultimate theatrical experience. In April 2022 the production won a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards, the most for any musical revival in Olivier history. The production has also won three prestigious Critics Circle Awards as well as the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Design for designer Tom Scutt.  Transforming one of London’s most famous theatres with an in-the-round auditorium and reimagined spaces, before the show guests are invited to enjoy and explore the Kit Kat Club with pre-show entertainment, drinks and dining all on offer.

The new cast joins the Kit Kat Club from Monday 25 September 2023.

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INTERVIEW: KYLE RAMAR FREEMAN (A Strange Loop)

Interview

Broadway’s Kyle Ramar Freeman stars in the London production of Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Strange Loop, playing at the Barbican 17 June – 9 September, 2023.

– Congratulations on landing the lead role in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, A Strange Loop. How does it feel?

It feels amazing, and full circle that I get to be in this moment with this show. I am forever grateful for the experience, and the opportunity to tell a story that is so authentically itself; that millions of people will be impacted by for the years to come.

– So, do you prefer performing on Broadway or the West End? Be honest.

I would only say I prefer Broadway because my family and friends have access to see me perform more there than they would in London.

– A Strange Loop is very critical of conservative American Christianity, particularly in regards to homophobia. But also, the musical touches on that feeling of being abandoned by God. As a Christian yourself, has it felt difficult to be part of this production?

No, it has not been difficult to be a part of this production in that regard. But I have felt that way in my own life. And coming from a community within church that feels like home to you – but also is a place that does not really love your true self – is a tricky thing to navigate. However, it’s important for the show to speak on an experience that does not often get to be put in the spotlight. Especially for a fat black gay person to tell it, in its raw form, as we get to do in A Strange Loop.

– What’s next for Kyle Ramar Freeman?

The revival of The Wiz on Broadway is what is next for me! I will be the Lion, and I am so thrilled to be a part of the history of that magnificent show. I could not be more thrilled to start that journey.

See Kyle Ramar Freeman live at the Barbican Theatre 17 June – 9 September 2023.

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INTERVIEW: ANTONY LAWRENCE (SHREK THE MUSICAL)

Interview

Antony Lawrence stars as Shrek in the 2023-2024 UK tour of Shrek the Musical.

– Tell me about the prosthetics.

It is going to be a real challenge. I previously did The Lion King where I had a full face of makeup, and I had to spend a lot of time in the mirror to work out how moving my face affected the appearance of that makeup. It’ll be very much the same with this – when I’ve had all the prosthetics on, I’ve looked at myself, and considered how I’ll make myself look friendly, or happy, or scared, or worried. So much of it is going to probably come through the voice.

– What about the costume?

During the rehearsals, I’ll want to be in the costume where possible, because it completely changes the physicality. Every time I’ve had the costume on, I figure out new ways to be in it, thinking about how Shrek would stand, which is completely different to me. You need the framework of the costume during the rehearsal period.

– What attracted you the role of Shrek?

It’s so clichéd to say that it’s a dream role, but it really is. I’m a character actor; I love complex characters that go on a big journey, and Shrek is very much like that. Shrek the Musical was actually the very first show I saw on Broadway: we went to New York for my sister’s eighteenth birthday, and because we loved Shrek so much as a film, we went to see the musical. I remember being so excited when it was coming over to London. I was at drama school at the time, and remember thinking, gosh, I’d love to play this role. Shrek’s song, ‘Who I’d Be’, is one I’ve used at so many auditions.

– How was the audition for this?

I knew ‘Who I’d Be’ very well, but I didn’t know the other songs. I never like to copy other actors’ performances, so I presented my own take on it. I really wanted to show that vulnerable side of the character, and they liked that. For me, the story of Shrek is about not needing to change who you are to fit in in the world, you just need to be yourself.

Playing at select theatres across the UK, 21 July 2023 – 21 April 2024.

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