Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre may say concert on the poster but there is singing, dancing, performing and storytelling nine shows a week.
Lockdown has made me realise, as much as theatre, I’ve been missing live music
It feels slightly odd that my final show before the curtains came down wasn’t a play or musical – instead, it was a dance show.
‘Will be long remembered’: LES MISERABLES – THE STAGED CONCERT – West End
Like its predecessors, 2019’s Les Misérables: The Staged Concert will be long remembered as another notable event in the musical’s performance history, heralding the return of Michael Ball to a show he helped to establish, but this time in the role of Javert.
‘This concert which was outstanding’: An Evening With Jason Robert Brown – London Palladium ★★★★★
Jason Robert Brown opened the show with an emotive song about finding hope in a hopeless situation which he revealed was written the day after the last presidential election.
‘The Radio 2 audience are unlikely to be disappointed’: An evening with Jason Robert Brown – London Palladium ★★★★
A packed Palladium saw Jason Robert Brown, supported by the lush BBC Concert Orchestra and the composer’s own rhythm section record a Friday Night Is Music Night show for future broadcast. The music was grand and with the stunning talents of Betsy Wolfe and Norm Lewis also flown in specially from Broadway to join the British Isle’s very own Rachel Tucker, the vocal talent was top-notch too.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL – London Musical Theatre Orchestra ❄❄❄❄❄
Michael Xavier and Tobias Ungleson make a terrific Bob and Tiny Tim team, with the latter showing all the hallmarks of being a scene-stealer of the future!
THE BARRICADE BOYS: Christmas Cabaret – The Other Palace Studio ★★★★★
The set of 23 songs was varied and extremely well put together with a mixture of festive favourites, Les Mis hits and some more unexpected songs. Standout moments included I’ll Be Home For Christmas/Bring Him Home and Man In The Mirror which both featured tight harmonies and wonderful interaction between the boys.
VELMA CELLI’S WEST END CHRISTMAS – Leicester Square Spiegeltent ★★★★★
Yesterday evening I hot-footed it from the Charing Cross theatre seeing Marisha Wallace’s Soul Holiday concert, to the Spiegeltent in Leicester Square to see Velma Celli in concert and it was so worth the dash.
Marisha Wallace: Soul Holiday ★★★★★
Continuing her conquest of the West End theatre scene, Marisha recently released a Christmas album, Soul Holiday, full of festive treats to get us all in the Christmas spirit, and on Sunday, she performed these musical gems for us at the Charing Cross Theatre.
RACHEL TUCKER – Shoreditch Town Hall ★★★★★
Rachel Tucker is a masterful performer, both in terms of her faultless vocals and her ability to embody and live every song she sings.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH – West End
Like many UK Kristin fans, I saw Wicked when it opened back in 2006, subsequently listened to the Broadway recording and fell in love with the cast. I then entered an obsessive phase where I watched all Kristin videos, listened to every song she’d ever sung, read every interview she’d done and was generally that annoying fan that could talk about nothing else.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH – West End
Like many UK Kristin fans, I saw Wicked when it opened back in 2006, subsequently listened to the Broadway recording and fell in love with the cast. I then entered an obsessive phase where I watched all Kristin videos, listened to every song she’d ever sung, read every interview she’d done and was generally that annoying fan that could talk about nothing else.
SCOTT ALAN – Hippodrome Casino
Both acts were a celebration of Scott’s career with the stars taking the stage to perform theirs and Scott’s favourite compositions. Scott joked how each song he writes is depressing, even his happy songs are emotive ballads which is extremely true and for me, someone who thrives on emotional, depressing music (I have playlist just for it) it was all I couldv’e asked for.
IDINA MENZEL – Royal Albert Hall
If you’re a theatre fan then I’m sure you’ve heard of Idina Menzel. The last time she played the glorious Royal Albert Hall, she was known among the theatre community for creating the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked but since then has reached a stratospheric level of fame.
RACHEL TUCKER LIVE – Zedel
Rachel Tucker is a superstar of the stage and is currently on a long awaited tour around the UK before heading to New York for a stint at the iconic 54 Below. Now I knew Rachel’s voice was good from the I’d Do Anything days, videos online and of course from seeing her in Wicked but I was completely blown away when I saw her solo performance last night.
INTERVIEW: Spotlight On… Rachel Tucker
Rachel Tucker is basically theatrical royalty, with a an impressive resume, an incredible voice and an extremely dedicated following. Currently touring the UK and about to start her second stint at the Zedel in London, Rachel was lovely enough to discuss what we can expect in her concerts, how she stays motivated, her dream role and much more.
Review: Nigel Kennedy (Tower Festival)
Purism is not the issue here. The evening started stately enough with Nigel Kennedy, still sporting his Gary-Rhodes-on-steroids butchered pineapple haircut, leading the Philharmonia orchestra through two melodious movements of Bach. So far, so dignified, so what. What the audience had come for – and got in spades – was a hefty dose of Nige’s […]
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