Crazy For You at the Chichester Festival Theatre, roaring into life under Susan Stroman’s choreographic wit, is the ultimate song-n-dance show. And, in this year of theatrical resurrection, the timeliest of celebrations of showbiz itself.
‘A whirlwind of dance & vocals’: CRAZY FOR YOU – Chichester Festival Theatre ★★★★
It’s that glorious Gershwin music that carries Crazy For You at Chichester Festival Theatre. Sure, there are some funny lines, and the plot has the classic boy-meets-girl-but-doesn’t-realise-the-moment-is-special trope, but ultimately, it’s the songs and the opportunities for dance that the music provides that lifts this from being a Gershwin greatest hits show to a truly great piece of theatre.
FROM DOWN UNDER: The Australian tour of Broadway hit An American in Paris
Deliberately marooned in Paris at the end of WWII, ex-serviceman Jerry Mulligan juggles art, romance and music as he makes new friends, attracts the attention of a wealthy benefactress and falls helplessly in love with a mysterious young dancer.
‘Impossible to ignore how relevant the story still is’: STRIKE UP THE BAND – Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Occasionally bewildering and frequently ridiculous, Strike Up The Band is nevertheless always great fun.
FIRST-LOOK PHOTOS: The Gershwins Strike Up the Band at the Gatehouse tonight
It’s opening night at London’s highest theatre – Highgate’s Upstairs at the Gatehouse – where the original 1927 version of Gershwin musical Strike Up The Band is now receiving a rare production til 31 March 2019. Check out our first-look gallery of production photography – and then get booking!
PHOTOS: Behind the scenes with Strike Up the Band + director Mark Giesser on this 90-year-old Gershwin debut
More than ninety years after it was first seen, the original version of Gershwin musical Strike Up The Band gets its London debut next week at Upstairs at the Gatehouse. Get a sneak peek behind the scenes with our rehearsal photograph and this great feature with director Mark Giesser. Time to get booking!
NEWS: Richard Emerson leads cast of Gershwin musical Strike Up The Band at Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Casting has been announced for director Mark Giesser’s production of George and Ira Gershwin’s madcap musical hidden gem Strike Up The Band which runs at London’s Upstairs at the Gatehouse from 6 to 31 March 2019 (press night is 8 March).
‘The chorus is the absolute highlight of the piece’: Porgy & Bess – London Coliseum ★★★★
English National Opera celebrates 50 years at the Coliseum with a grandstanding production of Porgy & Bess, the first in its history.
‘Packed with ingenious & witty choreography’: CRAZY FOR YOU – Touring
In their latest touring production, Ken Ludwig’s musical comedy, Crazy For You, Paul Hart and the Watermill Theatre have enhanced a much-loved classic with flights of fanciful footwork and an electric cast of actor-musicians.
‘Brings a great deal of talent to the stage’: CRAZY FOR YOU – Touring ★★★
There’s a lot to enjoy in this production of Crazy for You which brings a great deal of talent to the stage and shows it off well. It’s just that it gets caught up in the fiddly bits of the story when bigger, bolder strokes could serve the plot better.
Mind the Blog’s best shows of 2017
Any number of shows could have been included in this post; frankly it’s ludicrous that I decided to stick with my whole top 12 idea… As I’ve seen about 90 more individual shows than last year.
Mind the Blog’s best shows of 2017
Any number of shows could have been included in this post; frankly it’s ludicrous that I decided to stick with my whole top 12 idea… As I’ve seen about 90 more individual shows than last year.
CRAZY FOR YOU – Newbury
The Watermill has cast the show perfectly, with Tom Chambers and Caroline Sheen leading the Crazy For You company.
OF THEE I SING – Royal Festival Hall
All credit to Elliot Davis, Senbla and the genius of casting director Anne Vosser too, for assembling such a platinum plated cast to perform the little known Of Thee I Sing. But whilst this one-night-only’s company was majestic, the show itself plumbs the crassest depths of jingoistic prejudice, sexism and febrile farce. Quite how it won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize (the first musical ever to do so) beggars belief.
A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS – Chichester Festival Theatre
SUNNY SUMMER KICKS AND SOARING SONGS Here’s a joyful thing: a confection of butterscotch and sunshine, a tale of turrets and twosomes and tap-breaks, friendship and chivalry and secret passages and great legs, with glorious, soaring Gershwin songs to punt … Continue reading →
A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS – Chichester Festival Theatre
In recent years Chichester Festival Theatre has had a knack of creating hit after hit from fresh takes on classic musicals. I suppose it was inevitable then that they would eventually come to launching a brand new show and with A Damsel In Distress they have. Well, kind of. This is a new show made from well-loved old parts that have been lovingly tidied and stitched together. Theatrical upcycling if you will…