All stories by Chris Wiegand on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

The best theatre to stream this month: Cloud Gate, Best of Enemies and more by Chris Wiegand

The Taiwanese group’s compelling dance and William F Buckley Jr and Gore Vidal’s heated debates are among November’s offerings – plus an interactive theatrical quest Cloud Gate Dance…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:33AM
Sunday, October 29, 2023

To Wong Foo the Musical review – fabulous fantasia keeps it frothy by Chris Wiegand

Hope Mill theatre, ManchesterAdapted from the 1995 film, this musical about three drag queens stuck in a US small town is low on tension but has plenty of heart – and wigs Manchester’s m…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:13AM

Romeo & Juliet review – slow jams, Asda bags and trackie tops in a Manchester love story by Chris Wiegand

Royal Exchange theatre, ManchesterNicholai La Barrie’s production edits out some of Shakespeare’s characters, but amps up the modern-day relevance of this play about a divided community …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:07AM
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Owners review – Caryl Churchill’s 1970s housing comedy is still bleakly relevant by Chris Wiegand

Jermyn Street theatre, LondonOften outrageously funny, Churchill’s play grimly reveals the costs and risks involved in private renting This revival of Caryl Churchill’s pungent 1972 come…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:07PM
Thursday, October 5, 2023

Laura Waldren wins Papatango new writing prize for Some Demon by Chris Wiegand

The playwright and actor’s debut drama about life on an eating disorder unit will have its world premiere at the Arcola theatre in London next summer The Papatango new writing prize has be…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:55PM

‘Deeply shocked’ National Theatre Wales may close in six months after funding cut by Chris Wiegand

The Arts Council of Wales has withdrawn its long-term financial support of the English-language theatre company National Theatre Wales (NTW) has warned that it will be forced to close in six…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:25AM
Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Mean Girls musical to be staged in London on film’s 20th anniversary by Chris Wiegand

The Broadway hit, written by Tina Fey and now on its second North American tour, will open at the Savoy in June For Mean Girls fans, this is so fetch: the film’s musical adaptation, which …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:19AM

Woody Harrelson returns to London stage in ‘riotous’ Ulster American by Chris Wiegand

The Hollywood star will appear alongside Andy Serkis and Louisa Harland in David Ireland’s black comedy Woody Harrelson is to return to the London stage in a new production of David Irelan…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:13AM
Sunday, October 1, 2023

The best theatre to stream this month: That Face, Macbeth and Dance Umbrella by Chris Wiegand

Our roundup of stage shows to watch at home includes a revival of Polly Stenham’s debut play, London’s international dance festival and Patrick Stewart suffering toil and trouble The fir…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:55AM
Thursday, September 28, 2023

Michael Gambon, star of Harry Potter and The Singing Detective, dies aged 82 by Chris Wiegand

The Olivier award-winning actor, whose major film roles included Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, has died • ‘An actor who let his heart and soul crack open’: David Jays on…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:04AM
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

The Yellow Wallpaper review – Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story given hi-tech staging by Chris Wiegand

Coronet theatre, LondonAurélia Thierrée narrates the tale of a confined ‘hysterical’ woman while Fukiko Takase dances on a screen behind her The putrid wallpaper in Charlotte Perkins G…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:07AM
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Steve Coogan to star in Armando Iannucci’s Dr Strangelove play by Chris Wiegand

Coogan will follow in Peter Sellers’ footsteps to play multiple roles in stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 satirical war film Steve Coogan is to star in Armando Iannucci’s sta…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:03AM
Wednesday, August 30, 2023

New version of The Nutcracker explores ‘tough nut’ masculinity by Chris Wiegand

Choreographer Drew McOnie’s version of the festive sweet-treat ballet will have a male hero and aims to ‘represent those who felt it wasn’t for them’ It is a sweet treat of a ballet …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:13PM
Friday, August 25, 2023

Pilot review – party games and profound thoughts in a knotty fringe show by Chris Wiegand

Summerhall, EdinburghLekan Lawal’s one-man multimedia performance mashes storytelling, comedy and dance into a richly stimulating hour This knotty and stimulating multimedia show created a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:55AM

Heart review – revelatory romance told in the flush of love by Chris Wiegand

Roundabout @ Summerhall, EdinburghIn sync with beatboxer Grace Savage, Jade Anouka performs a fleet-footed and clear-sighted debut play Actor Jade Anouka’s debut play, Heart, has been kept…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:43AM

Brave Space review – no false moves in this wondrous up-close circus by Chris Wiegand

Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, EdinburghThe US company Aloft invite audiences to assist them in an intimate and astonishing acrobatic show You have heard how it takes a village to…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:13AM
Thursday, August 24, 2023

Fool’s Paradise review – roll up for the clown wedding by Chris Wiegand

Summerhall, EdinburghBritt Plummer is waiting to get married to fellow clown Otto in this playful and wistful comedy Clowns at the Edinburgh fringe are proving that banana gags are far from…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:19PM
Wednesday, August 23, 2023

The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality review – rowdy circus riff on Romeo and Juliet by Chris Wiegand

Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, EdinburghThe enthralling Canadian company offer up a fast-paced but often jarring show that treats Shakespeare like the Super Bowl Here is a twist o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:25AM

The Life Sporadic of Jess Wildgoose review – feverish financial comedy by Chris Wiegand

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghVoloz Collective’s satirical thriller set during the subprime mortgage crisis is staged with style but has little emotional impact Who needs a load of props w…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:43AM
Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Troll review – sweetly silly Nordic comedy is monstrous fun by Chris Wiegand

Underbelly Cowgate, Edinburgh The real beasts – not the internet kind – have come to teach us their ways, learn human stuff and dish the dirt on billy goats It’s not easy being green. …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:25PM
Monday, August 21, 2023

Shoot the Cameraman review – film crew follows a dance to the death by Chris Wiegand

Assembly Roxy, EdinburghNoirish onstage scenes between a couple are shown on a live feed which only makes fitful sense in this mysterious production A gun rests on a shiny serving platter at…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:37PM

Until Death review – brief encounters with mortality and Marilyn Merlot by Chris Wiegand

theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, EdinburghNalini Sharma makes an engaging fringe debut, using clowning skills and audience participation in a show inspired by her hospital stay “What’s your fav…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:19AM

Terrence the T-Rex review – dino entertainers lock horns by Chris Wiegand

Bedlam theatre, EdinburghIn this comic two-hander, uptight Terrence is hawking a prehistoric children’s show when he’s forced into collaborating with upfront Tri-Sarah-Tops Is the Edinbu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:07AM

James Rowland: Piece of Work review – an affecting account of fathers, sons and Shakespeare by Chris Wiegand

Summerhall, EdinburghRowland’s beautifully crafted show considers his, and our, little lives in the context of the Bard’s words Content warning: the next hour, James Rowland tells us, ma…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:04AM
Saturday, August 19, 2023

Two Cats on a Date review – one-woman show is a frenzy of feline fun by Chris Wiegand

Zoo Playground, EdinburghUS actor-writer Griffin Kelly proves a performer to her fingertips with this highly physical comedy show For the first few minutes of Griffin Kelly’s playful solo …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:04PM
Monday, August 14, 2023

‘Raring to take on this challenge’: musicians Jake Shears and Self Esteem to star in Cabaret by Chris Wiegand

The Scissor Sisters singer will play the Emcee while Self Esteem will make her theatrical debut as Sally Bowles in Rebecca Frecknall’s Olivier-winning musical The musicians Jake Shears and…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:33PM
Tuesday, August 1, 2023

The best theatre to stream this month: Doctor Who does Shakespeare, and a visit to the nit nurse by Chris Wiegand

Ncuti Gatwa stars in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Zadie Smith relocates Chaucer to Kilburn, plus dance, storytelling and fringe drama It’s seven years since Emma Rice swung into Shakesp…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:25AM
Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Kylie Minogue to appear digitally in new Stock Aitken Waterman musical by Chris Wiegand

The I Should Be So Lucky singer will play a ‘specially created character’ in the touring show which will feature a string of pop hits by the songwriting trio Kylie Minogue is to step ba…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:04AM

Patrick Marber to direct Nachtland, a play about Hitler’s art and ‘rise of the new right’ by Chris Wiegand

Satire by German playwright Marius von Mayenburg will open next year at the Young Vic in London which will also revive Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming Patrick Marber is to direct a new play…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:33AM
Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Richard II in a hot tub, Much Ado done anew: Canada’s Stratford festival puts shocks into Shakespeare by Chris Wiegand

A disco king hits the dancefloor, Beatrice and Benedick’s romcom gets a feminist framing and Lear faces dystopia as the revered rep company returns in full force Drive west of Toronto for …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:25AM

Grand Magic review – tricksy comedy asks how to use your illusion by Chris Wiegand

Tom Patterson theatre, Stratford, OntarioAntoni Cimolino directs a sophisticated and stimulating production of Eduardo De Filippo’s funny yet poignant play It starts with a carefree round …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:19AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards