All stories by Chris Wiegand on BroadwayStars

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
Saturday, July 1, 2023

The best theatre to stream this month: Like Water for Chocolate, Heart and more by Chris Wiegand

Our roundup of the drama to enjoy at home in July includes a glorious adaptation of the Laura Esquivel novel and Saoirse Ronan in The Tragedy of Macbeth Food and forbidden love are at the c…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:49AM
Monday, June 12, 2023

Hamilton star Reuben Joseph to play Macbeth for the RSC by Chris Wiegand

The West End actor says the Shakespearean role has ‘the disastrous consequences of ambition’ in common with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “They think me Macbeth,” sings Reuben Josep…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:37PM

Incredible scenes! Prague stages design spectacular with a giant cat, tiny flats and a 16-legged theatre by Chris Wiegand

With dozens of installations from around the world, the quadrennial returns to bring the Czech capital an extravaganza of performance design ‘Hello stranger.” This cheery neon greeting, …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:43AM
Thursday, June 8, 2023

Sarah Jessica Parker to make West End debut with husband Matthew Broderick by Chris Wiegand

The pair will star in a revival of Neil Simon’s marriage comedy Plaza Suite, which transfers from a hugely successful Broadway run Sarah Jessica Parker is to make her West End stage debut …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:43AM
Tuesday, June 6, 2023

‘I was living in a fool’s paradise’: Adrienne Kennedy on meeting the Beatles and losing control of her play by Chris Wiegand

The great American playwright, who made her Broadway debut last year aged 91, recounts what happened when she adapted a John Lennon book for Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre In the mid-…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:49AM
Monday, June 5, 2023

The Invisible Man review – an ingenious show you’ll want to see again by Chris Wiegand

Unicorn theatre, LondonConstantly surprising, this fresh take on the ‘it’s behind you!’ routine leaves its young audience asking ‘how did they do that?’ Suppose you put on a play a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:12AM
Thursday, June 1, 2023

The best theatre to stream this month: Blues for An Alabama Sky, Macbeth and more by Chris Wiegand

Our roundup of drama to enjoy at home includes the National Theatre’s Pearl Cleage revival and David Tennant taking on the Scottish king for the first time Lynette Linton’s consummate Na…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:18AM
Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Newsroom satire Drop the Dead Donkey to return in stage revival by Chris Wiegand

The stage version of the much-loved sitcom, which finished on TV 25 years ago, will be written by the duo behind the original series and feature several members of the original cast Snooty n…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:42AM
Monday, May 29, 2023

Encore! Surefire shows returning for the Edinburgh festival in 2023 by Chris Wiegand, Anya Ryan, Brian Logan, Mark Fisher, Kate Wyver, Arifa Akbar and David Jays

In the run-up to the festival, our writers will choose new productions that have caught their eye – but here’s a selection of those we’ve already reviewed Richard Marsh has clearly see…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:24AM
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

‘I was going to be a nun!’ Broadway legend Chita Rivera on Chicago, West Side Story – and her love of sumo wresting by Chris Wiegand

The singing, dancing and acting superstar originated some of the best roles in musicals – yet none of it would have happened had she not fallen through a table at the age of nine The one a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:42AM
Friday, May 19, 2023

New playwriting prize for comedy launched in honour of Victoria Wood by Chris Wiegand

Conceived by the artistic director of Birmingham Rep, Sean Foley, the award will be open to all with the winner receiving £25,000 A new playwriting prize dedicated to comedy has been launch…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:32AM

A Brief List of Everyone Who Died review – a lifetime of loss by Chris Wiegand

Finborough theatre, LondonFrom childhood pets to octogenarian friends, playwright Jacob Marx Rice addresses mortality in a warm and thoughtful play RIP Buster. He’s in a better place where…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM
Monday, May 15, 2023

Cush Jumbo to join David Tennant in Macbeth at London’s Donmar Warehouse by Chris Wiegand

The actor, who has previously starred as Hamlet at the Young Vic, is to play Lady Macbeth among a wave of star-powered Shakespeare productions this year Cush Jumbo is to play Lady Macbeth th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06PM
Thursday, May 11, 2023

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella to close on Broadway by Chris Wiegand

The musical will close on 4 June, after receiving mixed reviews from US critics and failing to receive a nomination at the Tony awards Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella is to close on B…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:48AM
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

4000 Miles review – Eileen Atkins and Sebastian Croft connect in tale of distant relations by Chris Wiegand

Minerva theatre, ChichesterAmy Herzog’s play about a grandmother surprised by her grandson is given a contemplative staging by Richard Eyre Timothée Chalamet and Eileen Atkins were fully …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06PM
Friday, May 5, 2023

August in England review – Lenny Henry’s remarkable one-man show about the Windrush scandal by Chris Wiegand

Bush theatre, LondonThe actor makes his debut as a playwright with a richly detailed character study, performing with warm humour and outrage at injustice ‘Have you seen Theresa May dance?…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:32AM
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Shelley Maxwell: the soul-stirring master mover who makes superheroes dance by Chris Wiegand

From The Secret Life of Bees to The Marvels, she is the choreographer everyone wants. The Jamaican dynamo talks about turning humans into horses, turbo-charging TV debates and a dream Bob Ma…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:36AM
Monday, May 1, 2023

The best theatre to stream this month: Heathers, Alvin Ailey and more by Chris Wiegand

Our roundup of drama to watch at home includes Panti Bliss’s drag journey, Athol Fugard’s ballroom dreamers and Alain Platel’s nightmarish dance-theatre How very! The sour bubblegum mu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:42AM
Friday, April 28, 2023

Kenneth Branagh to direct and star in King Lear in London and New York by Chris Wiegand

The play, which the actor has described as being pertinent to our ‘savage and judgmental’ political climate, will run for 50 performances in the West End before transferring to the US Ke…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM
Thursday, April 27, 2023

Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma to star in Macbeth staged in warehouses by Chris Wiegand

The production, directed by Simon Godwin, will open in Liverpool before heading to Edinburgh, London and Washington DC Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma are to star in a new site-specific produ…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:12AM
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Jules and Jim review – an affecting love triangle but no match for Truffaut by Chris Wiegand

Jermyn Street theatre, LondonWhile there is compassion and curiosity in Timberlake Wertenbaker’s adaptation, this production lacks the whirlwind quality of Roché’s novel and the film Sh…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:36AM
Monday, April 17, 2023

Patsy Ferran wins Critics’ Circle theatre award for 11th-hour Streetcar role by Chris Wiegand

Lizzie Annis wins best newcomer and Arthur Hughes wins best Shakesperean performance as actors with disabilities take two prizes Patsy Ferran has been named best actress at the Critics’ C…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:12PM
Monday, April 3, 2023

Beverley Knight hails growing diversity of theatre audiences by Chris Wiegand

The Sylvia star, who won best supporting actress in a musical at the Olivier awards, said Old Vic show attracts ‘people of all kinds of everywhere’ Olivier awards: full list of winners T…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:42AM

Jodie Comer praises ‘sisterhood’ of backstage theatre workers by Chris Wiegand

Killing Eve star, who won best actress prize at the Olivier awards for Prima Facie, pays tribute to women behind the scenes of Suzie Miller’s play Olivier awards: full list of winners Jodi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:36AM
Saturday, April 1, 2023

The best theatre to stream this month: Emilia Clarke in The Seagull, the RSC’s Tartuffe and more by Chris Wiegand

Our roundup of drama to watch at home includes a Big Night of Musicals, You Bury Me and James Earl Jones in King Lear Game of Thrones stars Emilia Clarke and Indira Varma reunited for Jamie …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:42AM
Friday, March 31, 2023

Bat Out of Hell musical stopped due to disruptive audience member by Chris Wiegand

Incident at Peacock theatre in London comes amid growing concerns about antisocial audience behaviour A performance of the musical Bat Out of Hell in London’s West End was halted for sever…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:18AM
Thursday, March 30, 2023

London’s Riverside Studios to enter administration by Chris Wiegand

The Hammersmith arts centre, which faces soaring energy bills and debt from its redevelopment, said it has struggled to rebuild revenue streams after the pandemic London’s Riverside Studio…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:02PM
Wednesday, March 29, 2023

My Neighbour Totoro to return to the Barbican by Chris Wiegand

The Studio Ghibli adaptation, which is up for nine Olivier awards this weekend, will open in November The Barbican in London is to bring back the furry woodland spirits, mischievous soot spr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24PM
Tuesday, March 28, 2023

London’s County Hall to host immersive Paddington Bear theatre show by Chris Wiegand

The Paddington Bear Experience, a family-friendly show based on Michael Bond’s character, will be at the ex-GLC building on the South Bank The world of Michael Bond’s irrepressible, marm…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:18AM

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