All stories by Mark Shenton on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

David Bowie’s Lazarus Opens in London Tonight by Mark Shenton

Michael C. Hall, Michael Esper, and Sophia Anne Caruso reprise their New York roles in the production.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, November 7, 2016

State Fair review at Cadogan Hall, London – ‘musical theatre heaven’ by Mark Shenton

This gold-plated, five-star musical theatre event could change the face (or at least the sound) of how vintage musicals are heard and

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:29AM

Mark Shenton’s week: 40 years of the National Theatre on the South Bank by Mark Shenton

Last Sunday morning, I landed at Heathrow and hit the ground running with not one but two 40th anniversary events. At the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Saturday, November 5, 2016

Glenda Jackson in King Lear review at the Old Vic – ‘a tour de force’ by Mark Shenton

The RSC is about to bring its (mostly) traditional period garb King Lear to the Barbican, starring 67-year-old classicist Antony Sher, but

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:09AM

What’s Hot In London: October 29-November 4 by Mark Shenton

Harry Potter announces the release of more tickets, Bat Out of Hell will take the stage, and the new Royal Court season has been revealed.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, November 4, 2016

Cy Coleman’s The Life to Receive U.K. Premiere by Mark Shenton

Michael Blakemore, who helmed the original production, will direct.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:46AM

Bat Out of Hell Musical Announces Full Creative Team and Cast by Mark Shenton

Performances begin at the London Coliseum in June 2017.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:44AM

Sheena Easton to Star in London 42nd Street Revival by Mark Shenton

Previews will begin in March 2017.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:38AM

60,000 More Tickets To Be Released for West End's Harry Potter by Mark Shenton

Tickets will go on sale November 22 for performances from December 2017 to February 2018.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:53AM

Mark Shenton’s top 10 leading ladies on Broadway right now by Mark Shenton

Broadway is still the king of musicals globally; and its reigning queens are the leading ladies who populate them most regularly. I’ve

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Thursday, November 3, 2016

Dead Funny review at the Vaudeville Theatre – ‘brutal stuff’ by Mark Shenton

Comedies were once a staple of the West End, but the current Society of London Theatre guide currently lists just four, three

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:18PM

U.K.’s Ambassador Theatre Group to Implement Staff Redundancies by Mark Shenton

New chief executive declares aim is “to generate some funds to invest in some really exciting areas of the business.”

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:26AM

Beautiful—The Carole King Musical to Launch U.K. Tour by Mark Shenton

It will begin at Bradford's Alhambra Theatre in September 2017.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:03AM

Mark Shenton: Has theatre got too many publicists for its own good? by Mark Shenton

The brilliant, award-winning designer Lez Brotherston, who recently won the UK Theatre Award for best designer for his productions of Flowers for

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years review at St James Theatre – ‘poignant’ by Mark Shenton

In the summer of 2015 the St James Theatre offered a brilliant showcase to composer Jason Robert Brown’s first New York calling

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:35PM

Mark Shenton: The shows that come back again and again (and again) by Mark Shenton

Critics tend to review the first night of a show and move on. There’s always another new show to see, and then

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Monday, October 31, 2016

Royal Court Season Includes New Plays by Jez Butterworth and Simon Stephens by Mark Shenton

Amongst the directors are Sam Mendes, Simon McBurney, John Tiffany, and Katie Mitchell.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:15AM

Bat Out of Hell Musical Sets West End Premiere by Mark Shenton

It will preview first in Manchester from February to April

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:17AM

Bat Out of Hell Musical Sets West End Premiere by Mark Shenton

The new Jim Steinman musical is based on the cult 1977 Meat Loaf album.

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:17AM

Mark Shenton’s week: Gyllenhaal sings Sondheim in New York by Mark Shenton

A New York-based theatre friend told me the other day it was nearly time to shake off this mortal coil. No, he

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Saturday, October 29, 2016

What’s Hot In London: October 22-28 by Mark Shenton

Artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe will leave after only two seasons, director Howard Davies dies at 71, casting announcements and more.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, October 28, 2016

Revised Version of Young Frankenstein Announces U.K. Premiere in Newcastle, Ahead of West End by Mark Shenton

Susan Stroman will reprise duties as director and choreographer of the Mel Brooks musical.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:42AM

Tom Stoppard’s Travesties to Transfer to West End’s Apollo Theatre by Mark Shenton

Tom Hollander will reprise his performance in Patrick Marber’s production.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:30AM

Casting Complete for New West End Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Mark Shenton

Luke Treadaway and Imogen Poots will join the already-announced Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill.

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:48AM

Mark Shenton: My top 10 New York producing theatres by Mark Shenton

Just as there’s much more to London theatre than just the commercial outposts of the West End, there’s also much more to

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Thursday, October 27, 2016

Jonathan Bailey: ‘I’m more in awe of musical theatre actors now than ever’ by Mark Shenton

There’s a fan blog devoted to the oeuvre and appreciation of all things Jonathan Bailey with the memorable URL, fuckyeahjonnybailey. But the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:00AM

Stephen Schwartz: ‘I had no idea how cut-throat and mean theatre was’ by Mark Shenton

By 1976, when he was just 28 years old, Stephen Schwartz had three hit musicals playing side by side on Broadway –

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:31AM

Mark Shenton: Will Blood Brothers end up outrunning Les Mis? by Mark Shenton

The 1980s were the decade when the British musical – for so long cowed and overshadowed by Broadway – came vibrantly into

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Veteran British Theater Director Howard Davies Dies, Age 71 by Mark Shenton

The three-time Tony nominee directed the original RSC production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses that transferred to Broadway.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:00AM

Mark Shenton: The pros and pitfalls of inviting critics to the first night by Mark Shenton

Critics typically attend first nights, or designated performances ahead of it that we are invited to see, by which time the production

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM