From cast changes in Olivier Award winning productions and revival announcements, to much-anticipated on-sales for upcoming shows, it's been another busy week in the West End!
Here's a round-up of the latest stagey news!
Cast announcements in the West End
There's been lots of cast announcements in Theatreland this week. From current musicals to upcoming productions, here's who coming to the West End!
Cabaret
Maude Apatow and Mason Alexander Park to join the cast of Cabaret
There's going to be some new faces joining the Kit Kat Club from May 29! The new cast are:
- Maude Apatow (HBO's Euphoria) as Sally Bowles
- Mason Alexander Park (Netflix's The Sandman) as Emcee
- Beverley Klein (Caroline, or Change) as Fraulein Schneider
- Teddy Kempner (Company) as Herr Schultz
At certain performances, the role of Sally Bowles will be played by Emily Benjamin.
The final performance for John McCrea as Emcee and Aimee Lou Wood as Sally Bowles will be Saturday 27 May 2023.
Hamilton
The new cast of Hamilton
Don't throw away your shot to see the new cast of Hamilton, who have their first performance on 19 June. Currently booking until the 2 March 2024, the new company are:
- Declan Spaine (Get Up, Stand Up!) as Alexander Hamilton
- Ava Brennan (Les Misérables) as Angelica Schuyler
- Simbi Akande (The Prince of Egypt) as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds
- Dom Hartley-Harris (Bonnie & Clyde) as George Washington
- Lemuel Knights (Choir of Man) as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson.
Joining the ensemble will be: Gabriela Acosta, Elizabeth Armstrong, Alishia-Marie Blake, Aimie Hibbert, Sam Holden, Christian Knight, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Stacey McGuire, Lewis Newton, Hassun Sharif, Alex Tranter and Maddison Tyson.
Oklahoma!
The new cast of Oklahoma begin performances on the 15 May
The Olivier Award winning production of Oklahoma has announced some new cast who are joining the reimagined adaptation of this classic musical. Running until September, the new cast joining on the 15 May are:
- David King-Yombo (The Visit) as Mike
- Paige Peddie (Dreamgirls -The Musical) as Ado Annie
- Sally Ann Triplett (Billy Elliott at the Curve Theatre) as Aunt Eller
Currently running at the Wyndham's Theatre until 2 September, you can't say no to this amazing revival.
Patriots
Ahead of its West End transfer to the Noel Coward Theatre on 26 May, the full cast has been announced for Peter Morgan's new play, Patriots.
Joining the previously announced Tom Hollander (White Lotus, The Night Manager) as Boris Berezovsky, Will Keen (His Dark Materials) as Vladimir Putin and Luke Thallon (Albion) as Roman Abramovich, (and also reprising their roles from the original Almeida production) are:
- Matt Concannon as Assistant/Daniel Kahneman/Russian Captain
- Ronald Guttman as Professor Perelman
- Sean Kingsley as Voloshin /Nurse
- Paul Kynman as Korzhakov/Yeltsin/FSB Boss/Reporter/Bodyguard
- Jessica Temple as Anna Berezovsky/Newscaster/Journalist/Secretary/Pianist)
New cast members are:
- Josef Davies as Alexander Litvinenko
- Ashley Gerlach as Lawyer/Home Office
- Howard Gossington as Teacher/Compromised Newscaster
- Stefanie Martini as Marina Litvinenko/Nina Berezovsky
- Evelyn Miller as Tatiana/Katya/Judge/Lover
The understudies are Peter Eastland, Lydia Fraser and Matt McClure.
Recently awarded the Critics' Circle Award for Best New Play 2023, it became the fastest-selling new play when it ran at the Almeida last year - so book your tickets before they sell out again!
Peter Pan
The cast of Peter Pan at the Palladium has been announced
We may be several months away from feeling festive, but the initial cast of the annual London Palladium panto has already been confirmed. This year the Palladium will be home to Peter Pan, and the cast announced so far are:
- Jennifer Saunders as Captain Hook
- Rob Madge (My Son's A Queer, But What Can You Do?) as Tink
- Julian Clary as Seaman Smee
- Paul Zerdin as Starkey
- Nigel Havers as Pirate Nigel
- Gary Wilmot as Mrs Henrietta Hook
The Wizard of Oz
Georgina Onurah is returning to The Wizard of Oz
Georgina Onurah will reprise her role of Dorothy in the upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz this summer. Onurah previously played the role in the production last year when it ran at the Curve Theatre in Leicester.
Opening at the London Palladium on 6 July, Onurah will join the previously announced cast of Jason Manford (The Cowardly Lion), Ashley Banjo (The Tin Man), Dianne Pilkington (The Wicked Witch of the West), Louis Gaunt (The Scarecrow), Christina Bianco (Glinda The Good Witch) and Gary Wilmot (The Wizard/Professor Marvel).
Closing shows in the West End
You've not got long to book your tickets to these shows - they're all closing in the next seven days!
Dirty Dancing
Closing date: 29 April
After having the time of their lives, Dirty Dancing is leaving the Dominion Theatre this weekend. Witness the iconic film come to life on stage in an emotional, fantastic, and triumphant live show.
Featuring memorable songs like Hungry Eyes, Do You Love Me? And (I've Had The) Time Of My Life, book your tickets before this musical dances away and out of London.
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is closing on 29 April
Closing date: 29 April
After four cushty years at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Only Fools and Horses The Musical is saying au revoir to the West End. Written by the son of the original creator of the TV show, Jim Sullivan, alongside the comedy legend Paul Whitehouse, this lovely jubbly musical will be much missed in the West End.
So don't be a plonker - book your tickets for an adventure with the Trotters that you'll never forget.
Book Only Fools and Horses tickets
Blue
Closing date: 4 May
A UK debut, Blue is the story of an African-American family, as the patriarch's job as a policeman clashes with his activist son's notions of equality and justice. An intimate family drama with a devastating emotional core, Blue's score has been created by Tony-Award winning composer Jeanine Tesori, and is directed by 'fast-rising' (The Guardian) star of British theatre Tinuke Craig.
Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs
Closing date: 6 May
One of contemporary music's finest works: Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs has been reimagined for the London Coliseum.
Focusing on themes of motherhood, love and loss, this adaptation showcases multiple perspectives across centuries, from a mother losing their child to a child separated from their parents. Its initial production became the best-selling contemporary work of our time, and now Isabelle Bywater, designer of ENO's production of La Boheme, directs this exciting revival.
Book Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs tickets
Marjorie Prime
Closing date: 6 May
Starring Anne Reid and Richard Fleeshman, Marjorie Prime is a Pulitzer Prime nominated play that explores themes of human identity and whether AI can substitute human emotion.
When 85-year-old Marjorie (Anne Reid) starts to lose touch with reality, a handsome companion appears who can recall the story of her life. But who is he? And where did he come from? Find out by booking tickets!
Village Idiot
Closing date: 6 May
Village Idiot is an audacious comedy, where family feuds kick off around a country fair that all you townies are invited to.
Townies have decided they want a lie in, so they're building a new high-speed railway. Issue is, it's going right through Barbara Honeybone's house. Barbara's grandson Peter works for the townies and it's his job to convince the village that having a two-tonne bullet hurtling through the cabbage patches will actually be for the best. Then there's Harry, Barbara's younger grandson, he isn't that bothered about trains, he's only got eyes for Debbie Mahoney. But the only thing Barbara hates more than townies is the Mahoneys.
All performances are relaxed performances and captioned.
Extensions in the West End
Not managed to book tickets to these productions yet? Don't worry, they've just been extended!
Operation Mincemeat - Extending until 19 August 2023
Book Operation Mincemeat tickets
Guys and Dolls - 2 September 2023
Wicked - Extending until 2 June 2024
New shows in the West End
Get your diaries out and add this upcoming production to your diary!
Elf
Elf the Musical is returning to the West End
After wowing audiences at the Dominion Theatre last year, Elf returns to the same theatre this November to spread more Christmas cheer!
Based on the iconic film, Philip Wm. McKinley returns to direct the production, and it will also feature choreography by Liam Steel, original sets and costumes by Tim Goodchild, lighting by Patrick Woodroffe, sound by Gareth Owen and video design by Ian William Galloway. Cast to be announced at a later date.
What are you seeing in the West End this week? Tag us on social media in your theatre trips and share your memories with us!
While we've been finishing off our Easter chocolate and enjoying a few extra days off, Theatreland has been keeping busy announcing new shows, new casts and more!