All stories by Mark Shenton on BroadwayStars

Saturday, July 30, 2016

What’s Hot in London: July 23-29 by Mark Shenton

Reviews (and some of the secrets) are out for Harry Potter, and re-runs for two 1960s hits, Half a Sixpence and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, return.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, July 29, 2016

Mark Shenton’s top venues: Watermill Theatre, Newbury by Mark Shenton

There’s hardly a nicer, more charming or welcoming theatre to visit anywhere than Berkshire’s Watermill Theatre, down a country lane near Newbury

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Thursday, July 28, 2016

Cast Set for Premiere of Grinning Man Musical, Based on Victor Hugo Novel by Mark Shenton

Louis Maskell will star in the title role with Julian Bleach, co-creator of Shockheaded Peter, also in the company.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:31PM

London’s West End Joins Mayor’s #LondonIsOpen Campaign by Mark Shenton

38 shows have released photos with casts in support of the campaign.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:03PM

Thousands More Tickets to Be Released for West End's Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Mark Shenton

Tickets will go on sale August 4 for performances through December 10, 2017.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:10AM

Mark Shenton’s theatre picks: July 28 by Mark Shenton

Hot on the heels of the two-part, nearly six-hour Harry Potter double bill, the National imports Chichester’s Chekhov trilogy, which runs to

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Jamie Parker: ‘I’m under no illusion the role of Harry Potter belongs to me’ by Mark Shenton

It was in the original company of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys that Jamie Parker first made his mark, just two years

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:30AM

Mark Shenton: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child can change the way we see theatre by Mark Shenton

It is impossible to draw conclusions of this nature from a couple of performances, but I’ve seen the Harry Potter and the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Freddie Fox Joins Romeo and Juliet After Richard Madden and Understudy Injured by Mark Shenton

Injuries force producers to draft in Fox, who recently played the role in Sheffield.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:50PM

Mark Shenton: How do we reinvigorate the great British musical? by Mark Shenton

The Stage columnist and independent producer Richard Jordan recently wrote a column in which he lamented how far the West End lags behind

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Monday, July 25, 2016

David Bowie's Lazarus Announces London Cast and Dates by Mark Shenton

Michael C. Hall, Michael Esper and Sophia Anne Caruso to reprise New York roles.

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:08AM

Mark Shenton’s week: Provincetown? Broadway-on-Sea, more like by Mark Shenton

I’ve just had my eighth summer vacation, as they call them over in the US, in Provincetown, on the farthest point of

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Saturday, July 23, 2016

What’s Hot in London: July 16-22 by Mark Shenton

Will critics #KeeptheSecrets of Harry Potter? Plus, Amber Riley reveals a powerhouse Effie, Jesus Christ Superstar returns to London, and seats with no view at all are offered for sale for t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:57AM
Friday, July 22, 2016

Jonathan Kent: ‘You have to frighten yourself if you aspire to be an artist’ by Mark Shenton

The director Jonathan Kent exudes a relaxed, laid-back confidence, but it was not always thus. When I ask him if there’s something

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00AM
Thursday, July 21, 2016

Mark Shenton’s theatre picks: July 21 by Mark Shenton

The biggest event of the theatre year finally lifts its review embargo this week – the eagerly anticipated Harry Potter and the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Original Set of War Horse Puppets To Be Auctioned in London by Mark Shenton

One of eight sets of the famous full-size puppets are available for public auction.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:42AM
Monday, July 18, 2016

Mark Shenton’s week: Summer delights on Broadway by Mark Shenton

There’s invariably a thinning out of Broadway as the summer advances – with the Tony Awards in June (inevitably) anointing Hamilton as

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Saturday, July 16, 2016

What’s Hot in London: July 9-15 by Mark Shenton

Kit Harington defends West End audiences, Rebel Wilson opens to raves in Guys and Dolls, Fiasco’s Into the Woods comes to London, and Sheridan Smith returns to Funny Girl.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, July 15, 2016

Groundhog Day Musical Begins Tonight in London by Mark Shenton

Broadway's Andy Karl stars.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:11PM

Harry Potter Actor Will Star in London Premiere of Owen McCafferty's Unfaithful by Mark Shenton

Cast will also include Ruta Gedmintas, Sean Campion and Niamh Cusack.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:17AM

Anne Archer: ‘I only ever grow as an actor when I’m doing theatre’ by Mark Shenton

When Anne Archer was Academy Award-nominated in 1988 for her appearance in Fatal Attraction, she was already 40 years old. But, surprisingly,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:00AM

Anthony Neilson: ‘Writing can become very isolating and depressing’ by Mark Shenton

Anthony Neilson is one of our most confrontational and frequently controversial playwrights, whose work – as well as manner of working –

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00AM

Mark Shenton’s top venues: Studio 54/54 Below by Mark Shenton

New York’s Studio 54 – located, as the name suggests, on 54th Street – was a mid-70s to mid-80s nightclub that has

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM

Meet the New Face of Hermione Granger by Mark Shenton

Now that Noma Dumezweni has previews under her belt (and wand in hand), Playbill talks with the buzzed-about actress about embodying Harry Potter’s Hermione.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Performances Begin Tonight for West End Return of The Bodyguard by Mark Shenton

Beverley Knight returns to the show with Ben Richards in the title role.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, July 14, 2016

Mark Shenton’s theatre picks: July 14 by Mark Shenton

It’s a slow week for big openings, but I’m particularly looking forward to welcoming the Union Theatre to a new home – directly

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Mark Shenton: Sometimes a star rating just isn’t appropriate by Mark Shenton

We are used to reducing everything to soundbites. What is Twitter if not soundbites writ large (or rather small, comprising 140 character

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Gawn Grainger Replaces John Hurt in West End Revival of The Entertainer by Mark Shenton

Actor will play the father to Kenneth Branagh's Archie Rice.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:03AM

Cush Jumbo to Appear in London’s White Rabbit, Red Rabbit by Mark Shenton

Part of Good Chance's London season, the premiere will take place August 7.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:30AM

Mark Shenton: Is theatre doing enough to protect workers’ mental health? by Mark Shenton

We crave happy endings in life and the theatre. The two happily coincided last week with the return, after a nine-week unscheduled

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM