All stories by Chris Wiegand on BroadwayStars

Sunday, March 17, 2024

‘Laced with fear and a lot of fun’: Punchdrunk announce new ‘slumber party’ show by Chris Wiegand

Company founder Felix Barrett says Viola’s Room, written by Daisy Johnson, will be an audio-driven production perfect for date nights Punchdrunk’s last immersive production, The Burnt Ci…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:06PM
Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Harry Clarke review – Billy Crudup dives into ‘the deep end of sexy’ in tricksy tale by Chris Wiegand

Ambassadors theatre, LondonA timid midwesterner adopts a geezerish British persona in David Cale’s often shrewdly observed yet meandering monologue Harry Clark is the former lance corporal…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:12PM
Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Romeo and Juliet review – beatboxing lovers in full flow by Chris Wiegand

Polka theatre, LondonA hip-hop take on the tragedy finds the feud blowing up on social media and the balcony scene remixed for FaceTime but it lacks pathos Two hours’ stage traffic becomes…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:03AM
Monday, March 11, 2024

Ava Pickett’s drama of female friendship in Tudor England wins Susan Smith Blackburn prize by Chris Wiegand

Pickett’s ‘very funny and very angry’ play 1536 follows three women as they discuss the arrest of Anne Boleyn The British playwright Ava Pickett has won this year’s Susan Smith Black…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:24PM
Thursday, March 7, 2024

Work It Out review – keep fit drama delivers great results by Chris Wiegand

Home, ManchesterIn Eve Steele’s affecting comedy, mental health is explored through Jennifer Jackson’s inspired movement direction Playwrights are naturally drawn to the brain and heart.…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:54AM
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Little Shop of Horrors review – evergreen musical back for another bite by Chris Wiegand

New Wolsey theatre, IpswichWith its irresistible harmonies, this comedy about a blood-guzzling plant has plenty to savour but it lacks satirical punch and menace ‘Feed me, Seymour!” Alan…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:54PM
Monday, March 4, 2024

‘Astonishing’ British horror film Saint Maud to hit the stage by Chris Wiegand

Acclaimed British movie starring Morfydd Clark will be adapted for Live theatre in Newcastle by Jessica Andrews, with music by Gazelle Twin The British horror film Saint Maud is to be adapte…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:18AM
Thursday, February 29, 2024

The best theatre to stream this month: Peaky Blinders, Prima Facie and more by Chris Wiegand

Our roundup of what to watch at home includes Rambert’s prequel to the hit TV series, Jodie Comer reprising the legal drama and Roald Dahl’s The Magic Finger A doff of the cap to Rambert…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:12PM
Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Feel Me review – innovative show puts audience empathy to the test by Chris Wiegand

Stephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughThe Paper Birds’ new touring production explores forced displacement through physical theatre, interactivity and multimedia What does the rest of the au…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:54AM
Monday, February 26, 2024

Jab review – Kacey Ainsworth and Liam Tobin lock horns in lockdown by Chris Wiegand

Finborough theatre, LondonAn NHS worker’s marriage to her anti-vaxxer husband comes under pressure in James McDermott’s two-hander James McDermott’s new play takes us back to the Covid…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:12AM
Friday, February 23, 2024

Camp Phoenix review – an essential firsthand guide to flaming youth by Chris Wiegand

Gulbenkian Arts Centre, CanterburyTalented students from Canterbury College impress in Zest Theatre’s show, developed through conversations with hundreds of young people In Katie Kirby’s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:24PM
Tuesday, February 20, 2024

One Last Push review – Chris Chibnall’s family farce about birth and beyond by Chris Wiegand

Salisbury PlayhouseA fitfully funny play from the creator of Broadchurch considers the terrifying prospects of parenthood yet never quite delivers Here’s a perfect prop for farce: a huge, …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:12PM
Monday, February 19, 2024

Vanessa Williams to star in Elton John’s West End version of The Devil Wears Prada by Chris Wiegand

Williams said that bringing the fearsome editor Miranda Priestly to life in new musical is ‘a dream come true’ Vanessa Williams has been cast as the formidable fashion magazine editor Mi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:12AM
Friday, February 9, 2024

Before After review – artist’s life becomes a blank canvas in amnesiac musical by Chris Wiegand

Southwark Playhouse, LondonThis two-hander has a high concept and appealing performances but the script and songs lack emotional pull ‘Life’s not one of your paintings,” Ami rages at h…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:42PM
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Two new plays in London up for $25,000 Susan Smith Blackburn prize by Chris Wiegand

Dramas by April De Angelis and Rhianna Ilube have been nominated for the prestigious award honouring female, transgender and non-binary playwrights Two new plays about to open in London have…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:06AM

Tom Holland leaps from Spider-Man to Shakespeare’s Romeo in West End by Chris Wiegand

Jamie Lloyd will direct the star in ‘a pulsating new vision of the immortal tale of wordsmiths, rhymers, lovers and fighters’ Spider-Man star Tom Holland is to return to the London stage…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:48AM
Monday, February 5, 2024

Cara Delevingne to star as Sally Bowles in hit West End show Cabaret by Chris Wiegand

The model and actor will make her stage debut alongside Luke Treadaway who takes over the role of the Emcee Cara Delevingne is to make her stage debut in the West End’s multi-award-winning…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:42AM
Friday, February 2, 2024

Gregory Doran to finally direct 36th play from Shakespeare’s First Folio – for student production by Chris Wiegand

The former RSC director, now visiting professor of contemporary theatre at Oxford University, will stage The Two Gentlemen of Verona When Gregory Doran stepped down as artistic director of t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:32PM

Andrew Scott: sex scenes less ‘embarrassing’ for audience if one actor plays both characters by Chris Wiegand

The Fleabag star, who took all eight roles in the solo show Vanya, says intimate scenes on stage can be discomfiting for viewers During rehearsals for Andrew Scott’s solo version of Chekho…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:18AM

John Cleese brings Fawlty Towers stage show to the West End by Chris Wiegand

Theatrical adaptation of the sitcom, opening at the Apollo theatre in May, will combine three episodes including The Germans Torquay’s hapless hotelier Basil Fawlty is to make his West End…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06AM
Thursday, February 1, 2024

Bronco Billy: The Musical review – Clint Eastwood inspires misfiring caper by Chris Wiegand

Charing Cross theatre, LondonHunter Bird’s often madcap production, based on the 1980 western, has anodyne songs and lacks the film’s weathered perspective Bronco Billy is one of Clint E…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:18AM

The best theatre to stream this month: Free Your Mind, Harry Clarke and more by Chris Wiegand

Our roundup of drama to watch at home includes Danny Boyle’s remix of The Matrix, Billy Crudup’s solo show and the New Wolsey’s Romeo & Juliet As Keanu Reeves’ Neo might say: who…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:36AM
Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Broadway legend Chita Rivera was a triple threat, a trailblazer – and a hoot by Chris Wiegand

The actor, dancer and singer, who has died aged 91, did not just provide great entertainment on stage. She was an eloquent, mischievous chronicler of musical theatre Chita Rivera had been an…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:24AM
Thursday, January 25, 2024

Nice! Cast of The Fast Show to reunite for a UK stage tour by Chris Wiegand

The comedy series’ originators Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse will lead a 30th anniversary live show due to begin in March Swiss Toni, Competitive Dad and a pair of unsuitably smutty t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:48AM

Shakespeare’s Globe criticised for casting able-bodied actor as Richard III by Chris Wiegand

Disabled actors respond to the announcement that Michelle Terry, the Globe’s artistic director, will be taking up the role The announcement of a summer production of Richard III at Shakesp…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:42AM
Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Emma Gladstone, dancer and former artistic director of Dance Umbrella, dies aged 63 by Chris Wiegand

The Akram Khan Company said the death of the dancer, who shaped the art form as a programmer, was ‘an immense loss for the dance community’ Emma Gladstone, an accomplished dancer who hug…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:36AM
Monday, January 22, 2024

Disney’s Frozen musical to close in the West End – but open in UK schools by Chris Wiegand

The show’s run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane will end in September but British schools can then compete to stage it Since the summer of 2021 it has drawn waves of excited theatregoers wearin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:12PM

Billy Crudup to make West End theatre debut as a conman in Harry Clarke by Chris Wiegand

The star of The Morning Show will bring David Cale’s award-winning one-man play to London in March Billy Crudup is to make his West End theatre debut portraying 19 characters in a solo sho…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:36AM
Friday, January 19, 2024

Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical review – peppy return of toxic teenage liaisons by Chris Wiegand

The Other Palace, LondonThere are some excellent performances in an uneven adaptation of the hit film, staged with songs by No Doubt, Ace of Base and Placebo After its hit with a sour bubble…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:36PM
Friday, January 5, 2024

Philip Hedley, former Theatre Royal Stratford East artistic director, dies aged 85 by Chris Wiegand

Clint Dyer leads tributes to director who ran the London venue for 25 years and was a ‘pioneer of diversity in British theatre’ Tributes have been paid to Philip Hedley, who spent a quar…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:24PM
Monday, January 1, 2024

The best theatre to stream this month: Kings of War, David Tennant’s Hamlet and more by Chris Wiegand

If you can’t get tickets to his Macbeth, Tennant’s acclaimed prince of Denmark is online, along with a spectacular take on three Shakespeare plays by Ivo van Hove Binge on Shakespeare’…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:18AM

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